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Sunday, February 2, 2014

Morning Wink 2-2-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS




LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 2-2-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: New York: Help The State Assembly Choose New Regents Who Oppose High-Stakes TestingThe New York State legislature will shortly decide which candidates, among more than twenty applicants, will be appointed to four Regents positions. There are four candidates who have made a firm commitment to oppose high stakes testing and would bri
by mike simpson / 0min 
2-2-14 Wait What? All Week
Wait What?: Malloy to Retired Teachers: Will you forget the past if I give you a little tax break?After undermining, maligning and insulting retired teachers and teachers for the past three years, with nine months to go before the next gubernatorial election, Governor Malloy has had an epiphany and is now offering retired teachers a “tax break.” Malloy’s proposal plan would reduce the state income
by mike simpson / 2min 
2-2-14 Ed Notes Online Week
Ed Notes Online: Norm in The Wave: Three Weeks of the Good, the Bad, and the UglyPublished January 31, 2014by ed notes online / 3h 2-1-14 Ed Notes Online WeekEd Notes Online: Ed Notes OnlineNYSUT Rift Update: The Fat Lady Hasn't Sung as Hobart and Cortese Endorse Iannuzzi SlateRumore is making a gambit that Mulgrew would defend his local better than Iannuzzi? Who is he kidding? ... Comment on ed n
by mike simpson / 4min 
2-2-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida ALL Week
Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education: Corporate Educatio Reform Continues to Lose Conservative IntellectualsMany conservative republicans are considering the once unthinkable: The Bush’s were wrong about education. President George W. Bush with No Child Let Behind and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush with hi
by mike simpson / 7min 
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Week… 2-2-14 …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EF
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: From The Archives: “Developing Teacher Leadership for the Long Haul”I’ve recently re-started an effort I’ve tried to do previously by regularly highlighting previous posts and articles I’ve shared in previous years that I think might be worth a second look. I gave a keynote to last year’s K-12 Online Conference on developin
by mike simpson / 10min 
2-2-14 Fred All Week Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher
Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Making pension theft issue one in the 39th State Rep race.Since the start of this election season I have advocated for those who oppose so-called pension reform to find candidates who can primary every Democrat who voted in favor of pension theft. In the the 39th senate district we have Bob Galhotra c
by mike simpson / 13min 
All Week @ The Answer Sheet 2-2-14
The Answer Sheet: How we teach kids to cheat on testsHere is a piece about a cheating scandal in Wisconsin that speaks to a much larger problem about how and why kids cheat on tests. It was written by Vicki Abeles, a filmmaker, attorney and advocate for students and education. She is the co-director and producer of the education documentary “Race to Nowhere” and founder of […]    by Valerie Straus
by mike simpson / 17min 
2-2-14 Schools Matter All Week
Schools Matter: Join the Battle to Stop Corporate Shutdown of Memphis SchoolsAction News 5 - Memphis, TennesseeMEMPHIS, TN -(WMC-TV) – Parents and students from Westhaven Elementary have been fighting for their school for months. Saturday they took to the streets to get signatures to try to keep their school open.They are asking the community to get behind their efforts and it's not every day you
by mike simpson / 21min 
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 2-2-14
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Nine Lausd Schools Compete In Healthy-Cooking ContestBy Brenda Gazzar, Los Angeles Daily News | http://bit.ly/1bk7Vi8 LAUSD "Cooking Up Change" culinary competition for high school students held at LA Trade Technical College. First place winners from Manual Arts High School are Jenifer Mendez, left ,and Kimberly Sanchez. BBQ Chicken Pizza, Spi
by mike simpson / 24min 
All Week 2-2-14 @ THE CHALK FACE
@ THE CHALK FACE: SC’s Low Self-Esteem, Florida Addiction, and Education PolicyIn the 1980s and 1990s, the decades of my career as a public high school English teacher, South Carolina was early and all-in as an accountability/standards/testing education reform state. One interesting aspect of that commitment is that SC has had at least 4 generations of standards and tests (including the current ad
by mike simpson / 26min 
2-2-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD
the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): New Criticism, Close Reading, and Failing Critical Literacy AgainWhen the Common Core debates drift toward advocacy or critiques of the standards themselves, I have refused, mostly, to engage with that conversation because I believe debating the quality of CC concedes to
by mike simpson / 28min 
2-2-14 EmpathyEducates!
empathyeducates: Fight Over Effective Teachers Shifts to CourtroomSome of the students who are suing the State of California over tenure for teachers walked to a news conference this week outside Superior Court in Los Angeles. Monica Almeida/The New York Times By Jennifer Medina | Originally Published at The New York Times. January 31, 2014 […]by empathy / 5h 2-1-14 EmpathyEducates!1-25-14 empathy
by mike simpson / 31min 
2-2-14 Perdido Street School Week
Perdido Street School: David Wildstein Ruins Super Bowl Weekend For Chris ChristieEver since that the letter David Wildstein's lawyer sent to the Port Authority alleging that Christie had lied about the GWB lane closures made it into the news on Friday night, Chris Christie has been having a miserable time.First he had to sneak into Howard Stern's 60th birthday party on Friday so as not to have to
by mike simpson / 35min 
NYC Educator: Governor Andy and the Unions
NYC Educator: Governor Andy and the Unions: Governor Andy and the UnionsLast month at the Delegate Assembly, Jamaica HS chapter leader James Eterno introduced a resolution to withhold support from NY Governor Andrew Cuomo in his bid for a second term. This makes a lot of sense to me. After all, Governor Cuomo ran for his first term on a platform of taking on the unions. I'm a lifelong Democrat, an
by mike simpson / 43min 
"That no children died or were even seriously hurt is... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com
"That no children died or were even seriously hurt is... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: "That no children died or were even seriously hurt is testament to the caring and resourcefulness of those frontline workers" COMMENT(20) 0 48 10 58View Larger FROM NATHAN DEAL'S WEBSITEAt about 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Gov. Nathan Deal attends a state Capitol ceremony to unveil Georgia’s new Gone With
by mike simpson / 44min 

YESTERDAY

Reopening an Employment Door to the Young - NYTimes.com
Reopening an Employment Door to the Young - NYTimes.com: Reopening an Employment Door to the YoungLaunch media viewerKoren ShadmiMost of the leaders with whom I work as a management consultant are a level-headed lot. They rarely let their personal feelings interfere with business decisions.But recently, I’ve noticed some executives becoming irritated, even angry, when I tell them how important it
by mike simpson / 9h 
What Teach for America Says When It Talks to Itself | deutsch29
What Teach for America Says When It Talks to Itself | deutsch29: What Teach for America Says When It Talks to ItselfFebruary 1, 2014As I was researching my “Bill Pays to Help Arne” post, I came across a discussion site, Wall Street Oasis, where those hoping to Make It Big on The Street are able to connect in order to solve issues related to their career ambitions.The site has a link for Teach for
by mike simpson / 9h 
An Open Letter to Mr. Albert Garibaldi, Superintendent: Banta School District | Chess Musings
An Open Letter to Mr. Albert Garibaldi, Superintendent: Banta School District | Chess Musings: An Open Letter to Mr. Albert Garibaldi, Superintendent: Banta School DistrictMr. Albert Garibaldi, Superintendent: Banta School DistrictFirst of all, let me congratulate you on the success of Banta Elementary School District’s charter with the River Island Technology Academy in Lathrop. I have been invol
by mike simpson / 10h 
Part 2: High stakes testing and opting out: The types of tests | Parents Across America
Part 2: High stakes testing and opting out: The types of tests | Parents Across America: Part 2: High stakes testing and opting out: The types of tests For the first part in this series, see Part 1: High stakes testing: A little history.High Stakes Testing and Opting Out: The Types of Tests There are different types of tests that students typically take in a school year. One test the teacher creat
by mike simpson / 11h 
V.A.M.: Value Added Measure: Charteropoly
V.A.M.: Value Added Measure: Charteropoly: CharteropolyIn this Bloomberg-era game of not-so-much chance as planned privatization of education, you can build your way to personal fortune by closing N.Y.C. public schools and opening more charter schools.  I was very pleased to learn that Mayor Di Blasio is redirecting money meant for charter-school expansion towards universal pre-K.  Hallelujah!Whe
by mike simpson / 14h 
Opt-Out Orlando: Madama Butterfly | Reclaim Reform
Opt-Out Orlando: Madama Butterfly | Reclaim Reform: Opt-Out Orlando: Madama ButterflyPosted on February 1, 2014by Ken PrevitiWhat do the mothers in Opt-Out Orlando and Puccini’s opera, Madama Butterfly, have in common? They face the loss of control over the fates of their children.What is the difference? The mothers in Orlando will not accept a tragic ending.As I sit and listen to the Madama Butte
by mike simpson / 14h 
Save Our Schools March – Join the Valentine’s Day “Love-in” Protest
Save Our Schools March – Join the Valentine’s Day “Love-in” Protest: Join the Valentine’s Day “Love-in” ProtestJoin the Valentine’s Day “Love-in” ProtestParents Are Not HelplessWhat can parents do when the politically connected and the powerful create education policy that ignores Campbell’s law? My advice, parents, is to fight the power, and Opt Out! Learn more information about opting out.Not re
by mike simpson / 16h 
Dialing 911 for Math Homework Help? | EdCentrist
Dialing 911 for Math Homework Help? | EdCentrist: Dialing 911 for Math Homework Help?Leave a commentBy far, this is the cutest audio clip I’ve heard in a while. Even though it’s illegal to call 911 for anything other than a life-threatening emergency, this little four-year old boy dials 911 because he needs help solving subtraction (“take away”) problems. I can’t help but laugh at the mom’s reacti
by mike simpson / 18h 
2-1-14 Saturday Matinée Special Double Feature Corporate Reform News Breakout
Saturday Matinée Special Corporate Reform School Girls News BreakoutSpecial  Sneak Preview - Witch Hunter starring Campbell Brown  News BreakComing to a theater near you!Peg with Pen: Refuse the Tests in 2014 - The Tipping PointPeg with Pen: Refuse the Tests in 2014 - The Tipping Point: Refuse the Tests in 2014 - The Tipping Point Opt-Out/Refusal Guides for each State | United Opt Out NationalOpt-
by mike simpson / 19h 
Peg with Pen: Refuse the Tests in 2014 - The Tipping Point
Peg with Pen: Refuse the Tests in 2014 - The Tipping Point: Refuse the Tests in 2014 - The Tipping Point Opt-Out/Refusal Guides for each State | United Opt Out NationalOpt-Out/Refusal Guides for each State | United Opt Out National: OPT-OUT/REFUSAL GUIDES FOR EACH STATEAll documents are for informational purposes only and do not substitute as legal advice or legal counsel. The information containe
by mike simpson / 20h 
PA NAACP opposes high school graduation test in a powerful letter to the PA State Board of Education | Seattle Education
PA NAACP opposes high school graduation test in a powerful letter to the PA State Board of Education | Seattle Education: PA NAACP opposes high school graduation test in a powerful letter to the PA State Board of EducationI’ll let members of the NAACP speak for themselves. The letter is also posted on the NAACP Pennsylvania State Conference website.September 3, 2013TO: The Pennsylvania State Board
by mike simpson / 21h 
Are Educators Passionate About Their Profession? | Connected Principals
Are Educators Passionate About Their Profession? | Connected Principals: Are Educators Passionate About Their Profession?by Sam LeDeaux • February 1, 2014 • 0 CommentsEducators, do you have to go to work? Or do you get to come to school? There’s a BIG difference between the two…I enrolled my 5 year old son into a hip hop dance class. The sessions are held in a sound proof studio with a window that
by mike simpson / 21h 
The Daily Censored » Bill Gates and the end of poverty: The Children of the world will pay for our excesses
The Daily Censored » Bill Gates and the end of poverty: The Children of the world will pay for our excesses: Bill Gates and the end of poverty: The Children of the world will pay for our excesses“Hunger is not an issue of charity. It is an issue of justice.”- Jacques Diouf, Food and Agricultural Organization Director-generalOn January 24th, 2014 Microsoft chairman Bill Gates told Sky News in Engla
by mike simpson / 21h 
2nd Banana 2-1-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post #EDchat #EDreform #RealEdTalk #p2 #1u
BIG EDUCATION APE 2ND BANANARECAP OF LAST WEEK'S BEST POSTHow to Steal Public Schools for Dummies (excerpts)Corporate Ed Reformers Want To Own Your School - Let'S Check Their Record #Edreform #ChoiceCHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS WEBSITEA compilation of news articles about charter schools which have been charged with, or are highly suspected of, tampering with admissions, grades, attendance and testing;
by mike simpson / 22h 
The curious case of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce's upcoming Education Summit | Twin Cities Daily Planet
The curious case of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce's upcoming Education Summit | Twin Cities Daily Planet: The curious case of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce's upcoming Education SummitBy Sarah Lahm, Eyes on EducationJanuary 31, 2014Who is sponsoring the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce's upcoming Education Summit, and why are their names no longer listed on the official promotional piece for t
by mike simpson / 23h 
Morning Wink 2-1-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS solidaridadsolidaridad: As a UCLA Classical Civilization major, President Obama's vapid Art History comments reek of anti-intellectualismAs a #UCLA Classical Civilization major, @BarackObama's vapid Art History comments reek of anti-intellectualism. http://t.co/RQvarDveh7— Robert D. Skeels (@rdsathene) February 1, 2014 My comments on the Washington Post:
by mike simpson / 1d 




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LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 2-2-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all:



Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch




Bob Braun Reports: Newark School Closings May Be Illegal
Veteran journalist Bpb Braun cites a report by New Jersey’s Education Law Center that the planned school closings in Newark may well be illegal. Superintendent Cami Anderson, appointed by the Chris Christie Administration, plans to close as many as half the city’s public schools and turn the students over to charter corporations. The Education Law Center cites the lack of compliance with state l
by dianeravitch / 16min 

Louisiana: Anti-Teacher Law Ruled Invalid, Again
In 2012, Governor Bobby Jindal rammed through the legislature his compleat program of privatization of public schools and dismantling the teaching profession. But things have not gone well since then because of the judiciary. The funding if the voucher program was held unconstitutional and so was the act that outraged teachers. The latter was overturned a second time. The courts continue to be
3 by dianeravitch / 20min 

Breaking News: NC School Board Balks at Imposing Tenure Law
School officials in Guilford County, North Carolina, are balking about implementing a law that offers the “best” teachers a bonus of $500 to abandon their right to due process. Ironic, isn’t it, that it is the “best” teachers who are expected to give up their right to a fair hearing? The local newspaper wrote: “GREENSBORO — Guilford County school board members are pushing back against a law that
3 by dianeravitch / 21min hide  //  save
Ohio Cheats 92% of Kids to Offer Choice
This year, Ohio will spend $1 billion on charters and vouchers. These schools enroll 8% of students in the state. Their funding is taken from public schools, most of which are far superior to the choice schools. Stephen Dyer writes: I get and am sympathetic to the argument that kids need opportunities to escape struggling schools. And I have little problem with the few really excellent school cho
18 by dianeravitch / 1h 

Superintendent: For Arne Duncan, It Is Always Someone Else’s Fault
A superintendent, here using a pseudonym for obvious reasons, is fed up with Arne Duncan. Duncan, he says, is always blaming someone else, never looking in the mirror. According to Duncan, our kids are dumb. Their parents spoil them.  The kids don’t work hard enough. Furthermore, our culture stinks: No one takes education seriously, except Duncan, of course. Everyone else is lying to the children.
2 by dianeravitch / 21min 


New York: Help The State Assembly Choose New Regents Who Oppose High-Stakes Testing
The New York State legislature will shortly decide which candidates, among more than twenty applicants, will be appointed to four Regents positions. There are four candidates who have made a firm commitment to oppose high stakes testing and would bring excellent experience.  You can read about these candidates here: http://www.nysape.org/nysape-endorses-full-slate-of-candidates-for-the-board-of-r
6 by dianeravitch / 30min 
Good News: Los Angeles Gets Price Cut from Apple, with No Curriculum
Los Angeles, which was teaching the nation what not to do with technology, is getting a new deal from Apple for its iPads. Apple will cut the price. Apple will sell L.A. new iPads instead of obsolete models. The iPads will not be loaded with pre-set Pearson curriculum. Howard Blume of the LA Times writes: “The Los Angeles Unified School District will pay substantially less for thousands of iP
8 by dianeravitch / 1h hide  //  save
Heroes in a Storm: Bus Drivers, Teachers, School Staff Protect Children
In the past few years, as one tragedy after another has befallen schools by nature or at the hands of the malevolent, our school personnel have time and again risen to the occasion. In the recent wintry blast that shut down transportation across large sections of the South, Atlanta was hit hard. School officials made the unwise decision to keep schools open despite the gathering storm, and it was
48 by dianeravitch / 2h 
Data Mania: What Gets Measured?
The Education Commission of the States has compiled a graph showing what states are measuring in the way of student data. One interesting note is that the idea of A-F letter grades for schools started in Florida, the brain-child of Governor Jeb Bush. There are now 14 states that use letter grades. In my view, this is an especially pernicious form of data. Imagine how a parent would feel if their c
14 by dianeravitch / 3h 
Michigan’s “Educational Achievement Authority”: A Dismal, Frightening Failure
It is hard to choose which state has done the most to undermine public education: Louisiana, Tennessee, North Carolina, Ohio, and Wisconsin come to mind, but Michigan is right up there as a state whose Governor Rick Snyder is working hard to crush public education. There is the fact that some 80% of the charters in Michigan are run by for-profit operators. And note too that entire low-performing d
400+ by dianeravitch / 4h 


LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 2-1-14 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2
Diane Ravitch's blogLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONGDIANE RAVITCH'S BLOGIndianapolis: Plan to Hand Over Public Schools to Private Managers AdvancesThe Indiana State Teachers Association reports on a bill to privatize more public schools in Indianapolis. Privatization is not new. It is the theme song of the Obama administration in collaboration with libertarian think tanks and far-right govern
by mike simpson / 1h 




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2-2-14 Wait What?

Wait What?:






And meanwhile…. “Beyond Orwell’s Worst Nightmare”
Here at Wait, What? we tend to stick to the boundaries of the state of Connecticut with a special focus on the building movement to take back our public schools and beat back the corporate education reform industry. But from time to time it is worth trying to part the haze of war, at least […]The post And meanwhile…. “Beyond Orwell’s Worst Nightmare” appeared first on Wait What?.
3 by jonpelto / 20min 

Common Core Standardized Testing: Lessons from Los Angeles
The cost of ramping up Connecticut’s public schools for the new Common Core Smarter Balanced Test (SBAC) will easily exceed $100 million or more.  In fact, the Malloy administration, in conjunction with the Obama administration, have mandated the new test but never bothered to conduct a meaningful study as to how much this new test […]The post Common Core Standardized Testing: Lessons from Los Ang
by jonpelto / 9min 


Malloy to Retired Teachers: Will you forget the past if I give you a little tax break?

After undermining, maligning and insulting retired teachers and teachers for the past three years, with nine months to go before the next gubernatorial election, Governor Malloy has had an epiphany and is now offering retired teachers a “tax break.” Malloy’s proposal plan would reduce the state income tax on teacher’s pension by 25% in Fiscal […]The post Malloy to Retired Teachers: Will you forget
by jonpelto / 2min  
2-1-14 Wait What? All Week
Wait What?:  Wait What? All WeekMalloy to retired teaches; I know I tried cutting your legs off with that health insurance cut last year but…A year ago this month, a Wait, What? Blog post began with the words: There are a lot of crazy, irresponsible and down-right mean things in Governor Malloy’s budget proposal, but his plan to totally eliminate Connecticut’s contribution to the retired teachers’
by mike simpson / 37min 


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2-2-14 Ed Notes Online Week

Ed Notes Online:






Norm in The Wave: Three Weeks of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Published January 31, 2014
by ed notes online / 3h 
2-1-14 Ed Notes Online Week
Ed Notes Online: Ed Notes OnlineNYSUT Rift Update: The Fat Lady Hasn't Sung as Hobart and Cortese Endorse Iannuzzi SlateRumore is making a gambit that Mulgrew would defend his local better than Iannuzzi? Who is he kidding? ... Comment on ed notesOur pals at Port Jefferson Station have posted this. For NYC people Hobart and Cortese may not mean much but they have been heavy hitters in NYSUT. I've n
by mike simpson / 40min 
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2-2-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida ALL Week

Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education:









Corporate Educatio Reform Continues to Lose Conservative Intellectuals

Many conservative republicans are considering the once unthinkable: The Bush’s were wrong about education. President George W. Bush with No Child Let Behind and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush with his corporate financed foundations are more responsible that anyone for imposing today’s education reforms that are anchored in test data. The two enjoyed total buy-in by members of their own party; an
by Bob Sikes / 2min 
 
2-1-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida ALL Week
Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education:Scathing Purple Musings  Color me purple in Florida ALL WeekMavericks Charter School President Frank Biden Says “We’re Going to Take You Down”Scathing Purple Musings was pretty hard on redifinED editor Ron Matus this week for his charter school cheerleading, but he played
by mike simpson / 27min 






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