Morning Wink 5-4-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS

5-4-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Sunday reads.This week teachers at Brooklyn’s International High School at Prospect Heights said no to pointless and testing. Veteran New York teacher and union Chapter leader Arthur Goldstein explains why he is against the contract to Diane Ravitch who wrote that it was a good deal. The Sunday New Yo

by mike simpson / 0min 

5-4-14 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE: Celebrities, Thank You, But…Celebrities, Thank You, But…. via Celebrities, Thank You, But….by plthomasedd / 6min  All Week 5-3-14 @ THE CHALK FACE@ THE CHALK FACE : All Week @ THE CHALK FACE Incompetent Pearson “Wins” PARCC Contract. Big Surprise.In his six-minute videoed speech on the necessity of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), billionaire Bill Gates patiently explains 

by mike simpson / 5min 

5-4-14 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): Celebrities, Thank You, But…My formative years, thanks to my mother, included George Carlin, The Firesign Theater, and Richard Pryor. I am convinced a powerful line from Carlin to Kurt Vonnegut remains the most important foundation of who I am outside of the people direc

by mike simpson / 8min 

Remarks by the President at White House Correspondents' Dinner | The White House

Remarks by the President at White House Correspondents' Dinner | The White House: Remarks by the President at White House Correspondents' Dinner10:21 P.M. EDTTHE PRESIDENT:  Thank you so much, everybody.  Have a seat, have a seat.  Before I get started, can we get the new presidential setup out here? (Aides bring out two ferns.)It was worked before.  (Laughter and applause.)  That’s more like it.I

by mike simpson / 12min 

STOP COMMON CORE, FOR THE CHILDREN | Gene McVay On Guard

STOP COMMON CORE, FOR THE CHILDREN | Gene McVay On Guard: STOP COMMON CORE, FOR THE CHILDRENCommon Core or ObamaEd descended on America like a sandstorm from Hell. With Federal Dollars as bait, State Legislators jumped on the Band Wagon in droves. They passed the Bill and then found out what’s in the Bill. Not all states drank the ObamaEd Kool-Aid, Texas for example. Former U.S. assistant secretar

by mike simpson / 42min 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 5-4-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Why the Anti-Teacher Book Is Not Selling, ExplainedAt first I thought that Paul Peterson’s new book about how teachers are blocking school reform was selling poorly, despite a vigorous public relations campaign, because people actually like teachers. Now, I am not so sure. Look at the recommended reading levels and grade levels for

by mike simpson / 51min 

Stephen Krashen Blog 5-4-14

SKrashen: "Pressing needs" in American EducationS. KrashenDiane Ravitch recently observed that there has been a big hurry to implement the Common Core. In 2009, she urged the authors of the Common Core to field test it before implementation, advice they did not follow. Again in 2010, at the White House, she urged field testing, but officials "quickly dismissed the idea. They were in

by mike simpson / 53min 

Are We Dumb Enough to Passively Accept Common Core? | Missouri Education Watchdog

Are We Dumb Enough to Passively Accept Common Core? | Missouri Education Watchdog: Are We Dumb Enough to Passively Accept Common Core?inShareTwitter users commented on this George Carlin graphic and how it addresses the Common Core intent:Hence the enormous emphasis on the narrow learning captured by PISA, NAPLAN etc. Educators should NEVER forget this.*Obama’s definition of College & Career R

by mike simpson / 55min 

5-4-14 empathyeducates – Can Big Data Transform Social Justice?

empathyeducates – Can Big Data Transform Social Justice?: Can Big Data Transform Social Justice?Tracking police stops and use of force will allow researchers to analyze police behavior across the country, says Phillip Goff | Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty ImagesBy Phillip Atiba Goff | Originally Published at Cable News Network [CNN]. Updated May 2, 2014 1:08 PM EDTEditor’s note: Phillip Atiba Goff i

by mike simpson / 56min 

5-3-14 Wait What?

Wait What?: One more gimmick laden State Budget before the 2014 election for governorWhen Dan Malloy was running for governor in 2010 he wrote, We have to be committed to getting our fiscal house in order…the current budgeting is a perfect example of irresponsible budgeting…Why?  Because this administration, once again, took the easy way out…the current budget was balanced on phantom cuts and one-

by mike simpson / 59min 

5-4-14 Schools Matter

Schools Matter: "Pressing needs" in American educationS. Krashen  Diane Ravitch recently observed that there has been a big hurry to implement the Common Core. In 2009, she urged the authors of the Common Core to field test it before implementation, advice they did not follow. Again in 2010, at the White House, she urged field testing, but officials "quickly dismissed the idea. They

by mike simpson / 1h 

Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"

Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement": New Not-Very-Useful Survey Finds That Teachers Want More Parent InvolvementEducation Week reports on a new survey that finds most teachers want more involvement from the parents of their students (see Survey: Most Teachers Want Involved Parents But Don’t Have Them). Unfortunately, it didn’t really define what “parent involv

by mike simpson / 1h 

Marie Corfield: Happy Teacher Appreciation Week: Tales from the front lines

Marie Corfield: Happy Teacher Appreciation Week: Tales from the front lines: Happy Teacher Appreciation Week: Tales from the front linesTuesday is National Teacher Appreciation Day, and all across the country PTOs and PTAs will be honoring us for the work we do. I am continually grateful for and humbled by all the PTO does at my school this week because they already do so much for us throughout th

by mike simpson / 1h 

US teachers nowhere as diverse as their students - SFGate

US teachers nowhere as diverse as their students - SFGate: US teachers nowhere as diverse as their studentsBy JESSE J. HOLLAND, Associated PressUpdated 6:05 am, Sunday, May 4, 20141 of 2Lyle Alderson, left, a former teacher, with his wife Jan Alderson, a high school science teacher, both of Overland Park, Kansas, and Kevin Gilbert, 42, of Ridgeland, Miss., right, a member-at-large on the National

by mike simpson / 1h 

NYC Educator: Top 10 Reasons Common Core Isn't Good for Bill Gates', John King's, Andrew Cuomo's, or Barack Obama's Kids

NYC Educator: Top 10 Reasons Common Core Isn't Good for Bill Gates', John King's, Andrew Cuomo's, or Barack Obama's Kids: Top 10 Reasons Common Core Isn't Good for Bill Gates', John King's, Andrew Cuomo's, or Barack Obama's KidsHave you ever seen a guinea pig with a silver spoon in its mouth?Have you ever wondered why educational reform is supposedly good for most people's children, but not for mo

by mike simpson / 1h 

YESTERDAY

A Letter to Educators Who Embrace the #commoncore | National Education Policy Center

A Letter to Educators Who Embrace the #commoncore | National Education Policy Center: A Letter to Educators Who Embrace the #commoncore    Peggy RobertsonJune 21, 2013Schools Matter @ the Chalk Face Blog  Curriculum and Teaching  Equity and Social Justice  Philosophy of Education  Standards-Based ReformDear Educator Friends,While the common core may not be an issue for you, or your school, do know

by mike simpson / 12h 

Call on the Koch Brothers to Have a Public Debate on Climate Change — Petitions — NextGen Climate

Call on the Koch Brothers to Have a Public Debate on Climate Change — Petitions — NextGen Climate: CALL ON THE KOCH BROTHERS TO HAVE A PUBLIC DEBATE ON CLIMATE CHANGEThe Koch Brothers have always been shrouded in secrecy, their labyrinth of shadowy organizations have spent hundreds of millions of dollars benefiting candidates who deny basic science and push legislation that enables climate change.

by mike simpson / 15h 

Nite Cap 5-3-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2

James Baldwin said it best: "For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAPThe Amazon.com Ranking of My Book: Thank you! | deutsch29The Amazon.com Ranking of My Book: Thank you! | deutsch29: The Amazon.com Ranking of My Book: Thank you!May 3, 2014I want to thank all who have purchased my newly-released book, A Chronicle

by mike simpson / 16h 

The Amazon.com Ranking of My Book: Thank you! | deutsch29

The Amazon.com Ranking of My Book: Thank you! | deutsch29: The Amazon.com Ranking of My Book: Thank you!May 3, 2014I want to thank all who have purchased my newly-released book, A Chronicle of Echoes: Who’s Who in the Implosion of American Public Education.On April 27, 2014, my book became available on on Amazon.com.That was a Sunday night. As soon as I found out, I posted this announcement.The ne

by mike simpson / 18h 

Computerized Grading: Purloining the Analysis, the Most Fundamental Exposition of Humanity - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

Computerized Grading: Purloining the Analysis, the Most Fundamental Exposition of Humanity - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Computerized Grading: Purloining the Analysis, the Most Fundamental Exposition of HumanityBy Anthony Cody on May 3, 2014 1:20 PMLes Perelman, a researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has been doing some interesting experiments to test the capac

by mike simpson / 18h 

City and state still locked in battle over responsibility for Philly schools | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

City and state still locked in battle over responsibility for Philly schools | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: City and state still locked in battle over responsibility for Philly schoolsby Dale Mezzacappa on May 03 2014 Posted in Latest newsOn Monday, at its annual budget hearing, City Council will hear pleas from School District leaders for more money.It is a familiar scenario. The same thi

by mike simpson / 18h 

Camp Philos, Andrew Cuomo and the Rise of the Corporate Democrats | Clemsy's Corner

Camp Philos, Andrew Cuomo and the Rise of the Corporate Democrats | Clemsy's Corner: Camp Philos, Andrew Cuomo and the Rise of the Corporate Democrats"Now everything's a little upside down..." ~Bob DylanSome years ago while driving to work I heard, on the local NPR affiliate, then Commissioner of Education Richard Mills say something to the effect that "We have to get out of the min

by mike simpson / 20h 

Ashamed to be a teacher today | Opine I will

Ashamed to be a teacher today | Opine I will: Ashamed to be a teacher todayToday was the first day I was ever ashamed to be a teacher.Today I finished administering the sixth day of New York State Common Core assessments. I was a facilitator in a process that made my 10 year old students struggle,to the point of frustration, to complete yet another 90 minute test. I sat by as I watched my students

by mike simpson / 22h 

Close Reading Exercise of the Day: The STL Post-Dispatch and Its Lack of Understanding of Common Core Issues | Missouri Education Watchdog

Close Reading Exercise of the Day: The STL Post-Dispatch and Its Lack of Understanding of Common Core Issues | Missouri Education Watchdog: Close Reading Exercise of the Day: The STL Post-Dispatch and Its Lack of Understanding of Common Core IssuesinSharePostcard from Mound City, May 3St. Louis Post-Dispatch Editorial CartoonIt’s interesting that the St. Louis Post-Dispatch insists on running edit

by mike simpson / 22h 

School superintendent candidates at a glance - Times Union

School superintendent candidates at a glance - Times Union: School superintendent candidates at a glanceBy The Associated PressUpdated 11:57 am, Saturday, May 3, 2014NAME: Tom TorlaksonAGE: 64. Born in San Francisco July 19, 1949PARTY: DemocratEXPERIENCE: State Superintendent of Public Instruction, 2010-present; state Assembly, 2008-2010, 1996-2000; state Senate, 2000-2008; Contra Costa County Boa

by mike simpson / 22h 

2nd Banana 5-3-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post #EDchat #EDreform #RealEdTalk #p2

BIG EDUCATION APE 2ND BANANARECAP OF LAST WEEK'S BEST POSTAnother View: Withdrawing from federal waiver best for students - California Forum - The Sacramento BeeAnother View: Withdrawing from federal waiver best for students - California Forum - The Sacramento Bee: Another View: Withdrawing from federal waiver best for studentsBy Patrick KennedySpecial to The BeePublished: Sunday, Apr. 27, 2014 -

by mike simpson / 22h 

With scant oversight, schools in the South are becoming segregated once again

With scant oversight, schools in the South are becoming segregated once again: With scant oversight, schools in the South are becoming segregated once againBy Moyers & CompanySaturday, May 3, 2014 11:30 EDT The desegregation of America’s schools was one of the crowning achievements of the civil rights movement.But getting there was a wrenching process that threatened to tear apart the very fab

by mike simpson / 23h 

Morning Wink 5-3-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSNYC Educator: In Which I Give NYC an Interest-Free Loan of $40,000NYC Educator: In Which I Give NYC an Interest-Free Loan of $40,000: In Which I Give NYC an Interest-Free Loan of $40,000That's what I'm doing, isn't it? After all, the cops, the firefighters, and the sanitation workers got an 8% raise four years ago. I won't get mine until 2020, according to

by mike simpson / 23h 

2nd Banana 5-3-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post 

2nd Banana 4-26-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 4-19-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 4-12-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 4-5-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post 

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5-4-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.:

Rauner’s tip-line is a fraud and will Rauner fear push our union leaders into the arms of Michael Madigan.

It turns out that Bruce Rauner’s tip-line is a fraud. Like everything else about the guy. The caucus, as I like to call John, Glen, Ken and myself, heard about Rauner’s campaign ploy of setting up a state corruption tip-line phone number. He meant it as a dig at Squeezy. But we thought it would be good to encourage people to call that number to report on the biggest state-sponsored theft of them

by Fred Klonsky / 21min

Todd Mertz. Billionaires Persuade Pension Reform Judges. What?

- Todd Mertz is a teacher and IEA political activist. Now this is the craziest thing I have heard.  In fact, I would have bet this wasn’t even legal. Many teachers and public employees have been worried about their fate in the hands of the Illinois Supreme Court Justices because they believe Michael Madigan has several of the Supreme Court Justices in his back pocket. But the craziness gets crazie

by Fred Klonsky / 3min 

Sunday reads.

This week teachers at Brooklyn’s International High School at Prospect Heights said no to pointless and testing. Veteran New York teacher and union Chapter leader Arthur Goldstein explains why he is against the contract to Diane Ravitch who wrote that it was a good deal. The Sunday New York Times Magazine money issue is all about income inequality. The ad on the first page is for the Baccarat Hot

by Fred Klonsky / 0min

5-3-14 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.: Fred All Week Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacherSupport the people who serve the NEA staff.- From UniteHere Local 23. Seasons Culinary, the food service company that operates the cafeteria in the National Education Association headquarters building in Washington DC, is refusing

by mike simpson / 8h 

5-4-14 @ THE CHALK FACE

@ THE CHALK FACE:

“It’s poverty stupid!”

What follows below is nothing original.  It’s simply another reminder. I know this is an unpopular thing to say in certain education circles but someone has to say it: Common Core State Standards and the Smarter Balanced Assessments will do little to nothing to help eliminate the achievement gap! Why? Because the achievement gap is really […]

3 by Timothy D. Slekar / 16min

Celebrities, Thank You, But…

Celebrities, Thank You, But…. via Celebrities, Thank You, But….

by plthomasedd / 6min 

All Week 5-3-14 @ THE CHALK FACE

@ THE CHALK FACE : All Week @ THE CHALK FACE Incompetent Pearson “Wins” PARCC Contract. Big Surprise.In his six-minute videoed speech on the necessity of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), billionaire Bill Gates patiently explains that it is not enough for individual states to implement their own standards because “scale is good for free market competition.” Here is the reality of “free marke

by mike simpson / 8h 

5-4-14 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):

Celebrities, Thank You, But…

My formative years, thanks to my mother, included George Carlin, The Firesign Theater, and Richard Pryor. I am convinced a powerful line from Carlin to Kurt Vonnegut remains the most important foundation of who I am outside of the people directly in my life. So I am offering here first my indebtedness to comedians, including my much more recent affinity for Margaret Cho, Sarah Silverman, and Louis

9 by plthomasedd / 20min 

5-3-14 the becoming radical EMPATHYEDUCATES! | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD

THE BECOMING RADICALRadical ScholarshipEMPATHYEDUCATES!the becoming radical  A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by We Socialize Girls To Be Better at School But Set Them Up For Failure in the Real WorldCredit: Shutterstock By Sarah Jane Glynn | Originally Published at Think Progress. April 30, 2014 2:43 PM The New York Times’s Upshot blog reported on Tuesday that the “behavior gap” (which includes

by mike simpson / 8h 

Remarks by the President at White House Correspondents' Dinner | The White House

Remarks by the President at White House Correspondents' Dinner | The White House:

Remarks by the President at White House Correspondents' Dinner

10:21 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you so much, everybody.  Have a seat, have a seat.  Before I get started, can we get the new presidential setup out here? 

(Aides bring out two ferns.)

It was worked before.  (Laughter and applause.)  That’s more like it.

It is great to be back.  What a year, huh?  I usually start these dinners with a few self-deprecating jokes.  After my stellar 2013, what could I possibly talk about?  (Laughter.)

I admit it -- last year was rough.  Sheesh.  (Laughter.)  At one point things got so bad, the 47 percent called Mitt Romney to apologize.  (Laughter.)

Of course, we rolled out healthcare.gov.  That could have gone better.  (Laughter.)  In 2008 my slogan was, “Yes We Can.”  In 2013 my slogan was, “Control-Alt-Delete.”  (Laughter.)  On the plus side, they did turn the launch of healthcare.gov into one of the year’s biggest movies.  (Laughter.)

But rather than dwell on the past, I would like to pivot to this dinner.  Let’s welcome our headliner this evening, Joel McHale.  (Applause.)  On “Community,” Joel plays a preening, self-obsessed narcissist.  So this dinner must be a real change of pace for you.  (Laughter.)

I want to thank the White House Correspondents Association for hosting us here tonight.  I am happy to be here, even though I am a little jet-lagged from my trip to Malaysia.  The lengths we have to go to get CNN coverage these days.  (Laughter and applause.)  I think they’re still searching for their table.  (Laughter and applause.)

MSNBC is here.  They’re a little overwhelmed.  (Laughter.)  They’ve never seen an audience this big before.  (Laughter.)

But, look, everybody is trying to keep up with this incredibly fast-changing media landscape.  For example, I got a lot of grief on cable news for promoting Obamacare to young people on Between Two Ferns.  But that’s what young people like to watch.  And to be fair, I am not the first person on television between two potted plants.  (Laughter and applause.) 

Sometimes I do feel disrespected by you reporters.  But that’s okay.  Seattle Seahawk cornerback Richard Sherman is here tonight.  (Applause.)  And he gave me some great tips on how to handle it.  Jake Tapper, don’t you ever talk about me like that!  (Laughter.)  I’m the best President in the game!  (Laughter.) 

What do you think, Richard?  Was that good?  A little more feeling next time?

While we’re talking sports, just last month, a wonderful story -- an American won the Boston Marathon for first time in 30 years.  (Applause.)  Which was inspiring and only fair, since a Kenyan has been president for the last six.  (Laughter and applause.)  Had to even things out.  (Laughter.)

We have some other athletes here tonight, including Olympic snowboarding gold medalist Jamie Anderson is here.  We’re proud of her.  (Applause.)  Incredibly talented young lady.  Michelle and I watched the Olympics -- we cannot believe what these folks do -- death-defying feats -- haven’t seen somebody pull a “180” that fast since Rand Paul disinvited that Nevada rancher from this dinner.  (Laughter.)  As a general rule, things don’t like end well if the sentence starts, “Let me tell you something I know about the negro.”  (Laughter.)  You don’t really need to hear the rest of it.  (Laughter and applause.)  Just a tip for you -- don’t start your sentence that way.  (Laughter.)

Speaking of Rand Paul -- (laughter) -- Colorado legalized marijuana this year, an interesting social experiment.  I do hope it doesn’t lead to a whole lot of paranoid people who think that the federal government is out to get them and listening to their phone calls.  (Laughter.)  That would be a problem.  (Laughter.)

And speaking of conservative heroes, the Koch brothers bought a table here tonight.  But as usual, they used a shadowy right-wing organization as a front.  Hello, Fox News.  (Laughter and applause.)

I’m just kidding.  Let’s face it, Fox, you’ll miss me when I’m gone.  (Laughter.)  It will be harder to convince the American people that Hillary was born in Kenya.  (Laughter and applause.)

A lot of us really are concerned about the way big money is influencing our politics.  I remember when a Super PAC was just me buying Marlboro 100s instead of regulars.  (Laughter.)

Of course, now that it’s 2014, Washington is obsessed on the midterms.  Folks are saying that with my sagging poll numbers, my fellow Democrats don’t really want me campaigning with them.  And I don’t think that’s true -- although I did notice the other day that Sasha needed a speaker at career day, and she invited Bill Clinton.  (Laughter.)  I was a little hurt by that.  (Laughter.)

Both sides are doing whatever it takes to win the ruthless game.  Republicans -- this is a true story -- Republicans actually brought in a group of consultants to teach their candidates how to speak to women.  This is true.  And I don’t know if it will work with women, but I understand that America’s teenage boys are signing up to run for the Senate in droves.  (Laughter.)

Anyway, while you guys focus on the horserace, I’m going to do what I do -- I’m going to be focused on everyday Americans.  Just yesterday, I read a heartbreaking letter -- you know I get letters from folks from around the country; every day I get 10 that I read -- this one got to me.  A Virginia man who’s been stuck in the same part-time job for years; no respect from his boss; no chance to get ahead.  I really wish Eric Cantor would stop writing me.  (Laughter.)  You can just pick up the phone, Eric.  (Laughter.)

And I’m feeling sorry -- believe it or not -- for the Speaker of the House, as well.  These days, the House Republicans actually give John Boehner a harder time than they give me, which means orange really is the new black.  (Laughter and applause.)

But I have not given up the idea of working with Congress. In fact, two weeks ago, Senator Ted Cruz and I, we got a bill done together.  And I have to say, the signing ceremony was something special.  We’ve got a picture of it I think.  (Laughter.)

Look, I know, Washington seems more dysfunctional than ever.  Gridlock has gotten so bad in this town you have to wonder:  What did we do to piss off Chris Christie so bad?  (Laughter and applause.)

One issue, for example, we haven’t been able to agree on is unemployment insurance.  Republicans continue to refuse to extend it.  And you know what, I am beginning to think they’ve got a point.  If you want to get paid while not working, you should have to run for Congress just like everybody else.  (Laughter and applause.)

Of course, there is one thing that keeps Republicans busy.  They have tried more than 50 times to repeal Obamacare.  Despite that, 8 million people signed up for health care in the first open enrollment.  (Applause.)  Which does lead one to ask, how well does Obamacare have to work before you don’t want to repeal it?  What if everybody’s cholesterol drops to 120?  (Laughter.)  What if your yearly checkup came with tickets to a Clippers game?  (Laughter.)  Not the old, Donald Sterling Clippers -- the new Oprah Clippers.  Would that be good enough?  (Laughter.)  What if they gave Mitch McConnell a pulse?  (Laughter.)  What is it going to take?  (Laughter.) 

Anyway, this year, I’ve promised to use more executive actions to get things done without Congress.  My critics call this the “imperial presidency.”  The truth is, I just show up every day in my office and do my job.  I’ve got a picture of this I think.  (Laughter and applause.)  You would think they’d appreciate a more assertive approach, considering that the new conservative darling is none other than Vladimir Putin.  (Laughter.)  Last year, Pat Buchanan said Putin is “headed straight for the Nobel Peace Prize.”  He said this.  Now I know it sounds crazy but to be fair, they give those to just about anybody these days.  (Laughter.)  So it could happen.

But it’s not just Pat -- Rudy Giuliani said Putin is “what you call a leader.”  Mike Huckabee and Sean Hannity keep talking about his bare chest, which is kind of weird.  (Laughter.)  Look it up -- they talk about it a lot.  (Laughter.) 

It is strange to think that I have just two and a half years left in this office.  Everywhere I look, there are reminders that I only hold this job temporarily.  (Laughter.)

But it’s a long time between now and 2016, and anything can happen.  You may have heard the other day, Hillary had to dodge a flying shoe at a press conference.  (Laughter and applause.)  I love that picture.  (Laughter.)

Regardless of what happens, I’ve run my last campaign and I’m beginning to think about my legacy.  Some of you know -- Mayor Rahm Emanuel recently announced he is naming a high school in Chicago after me, which is extremely humbling.  I was even more flattered to hear Rick Perry, who is here tonigh, is doing the same thing in Texas.  Take a look.  (Laughter.)  Thank you, Rick.  It means a lot to me.  (Laughter and applause.) 

And I intend to enjoy all the free time that I will have.  George W. Bush took up painting after he left office, which inspired me to take up my own artistic side.  (Laughter.)  I’m sure we’ve got a shot of this.  (Laughter.)  Maybe not.  The joke doesn’t work without the slide.  (Laughter.)  Oh well.  Assume that it was funny.  (Laughter.)  Does this happen to you, Joel?  It does?  Okay.

On a more serious note, tonight reminds us that we really are lucky to live in a country where reporters get to give a head of state a hard time on a daily basis -- and then, once a year, give him or her the chance, at least, to try to return the favor.  

But we also know that not every journalist, or photographer, or crewmember is so fortunate, because even as we celebrate the free press tonight, our thoughts are with those in places around the globe like Ukraine, and Afghanistan, and Syria, and Egypt, who risk everything -- in some cases, even give their lives -- to report the news. 

And what tonight also reminds us is that the fight for full and fair access goes beyond the chance to ask a question.  As Steve mentioned, decades ago, an African American who wanted to cover his or her President might be barred from journalism school, burdened by Jim Crow, and, once in Washington, banned from press conferences.  But after years of effort, black editors and publishers began meeting with FDR’s press secretary, Steve Early.  And then they met with the President himself, who declared that a black reporter would get a credential.  And even when Harry McAlpin made history as the first African American to attend a presidential news conference, he wasn’t always welcomed by the other reporters.  But he was welcomed by the President, who told him, I’m glad to see you, McAlpin, and I’m very happy to have you here.

Now, that sentiment might have worn off once Harry asked him a question or two -- (laughter) -- and Harry’s battles continued.  But he made history.  And we’re s proud of Sherman and his family for being here tonight, and the White House Correspondents Association for creating a scholarship in Harry’s name.  (Applause.)

For over 100 years, even as the White House Correspondents Association has told the story of America’s progress, you’ve lived it, too -- gradually allowing equal access to women, and minorities, and gays, and Americans with disabilities.  And, yes, radio, and television, and Internet reporters, as well.  And through it all, you’ve helped make sure that even as societies change, our fundamental commitment to the interaction between those who govern and those who ask questions doesn’t change.  And as Jay will attest, it’s a legacy you carry on enthusiastically  every single day.

And because this is the 100^th anniversary of the Correspondents’ Association, I actually recorded an additional brief video thanking all of you for your hard work.  Can we run the video?

(Video fails to play.)

THE PRESIDENT:  What’s going on?  (Laughter.)  I was told this would work.  Does anybody know how to fix this?  (Laughter.) 

(Secretary Sebelius enters from backstage.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Oh, thank you.  (Laughter and applause.)  You got it?

SECRETARY SEBELIUS:  I got this -- I see it all the time.  There, that should work. 

(Video plays.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much, everybody.  God bless you.  And God bless America, and thank you, Kathleen Sebelius.  (Applause.) 

END

10:40 P.M. EDT

STOP COMMON CORE, FOR THE CHILDREN | Gene McVay On Guard

STOP COMMON CORE, FOR THE CHILDREN | Gene McVay On Guard:

STOP COMMON CORE, FOR THE CHILDREN

Common Core or ObamaEd descended on America like a sandstorm from Hell. With Federal Dollars as bait, State Legislators jumped on the Band Wagon in droves. They passed the Bill and then found out what’s in the Bill. Not all states drank the ObamaEd Kool-Aid, Texas for example. Former U.S. assistant secretary of education Diane Ravitch complains that the standards are untested and are not sufficiently benchmarked. She has company in the liberal Brookings Institution, which worries that national standards won’t fix persistent achievement gaps within states. Brookings has an ally in the libertarian Cato Institute.

Meanwhile, both national teachers unions support the standards, though they want more time before teachers are held ACCOUNTABLE for results.

Here is what Parents need to know before it’s too late to save their children from yet another Grand Socialist Experiment.

DOES COMMON CORE PREPARE STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE?

Not for a 4-year university. It minimally prepares students for the non-collegiate workforce or for non-selective community colleges. Jason Zimba, a key Common Core creator, said that the Common Core can prepare students for non-selective colleges but that it does not prepare students for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers. He said: “I think it’s a fair critique that it’s a minimal definition of college readiness… but not for the colleges most parents aspire to… Not only not for STEM, it’s also not for selective colleges. For example, for U.C. Berkeley, whether you are going to be an engineer or not, you’d better have precalculus to get into U.C. Berkeley.” Precalculus is a course with college-level algebra and trigonometry that is designed to prepare students for the study of calculus.

IS THERE AN AMENDMENT PROCESS FOR VOTERS TO ALTER THE COMMON CORE?

No. When it changes, it will be changed by those who wrote them. You might call it Education without Representation.

ARE COMMON CORE STANDARDS LOCALLY CONTROLLED?

No. They are under copyright by an unelected, private D.C. group STOP COMMON CORE, FOR THE CHILDREN | Gene McVay On Guard:

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 5-4-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

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

Happy Birthday, Horace Mann!

Thanks to Bertis Downs of Athens, Georgia, a public school parent and a director of the Network for Public Education, for sharing this nugget of inspiration about one of the primary founders of public education: “From Garrison Keillor’s Writer’s Almanac daily email: http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/ It’s the birthday of the man who said, “Education is our only political safety. Outside of th

3 by dianeravitch / 30min

Teachers United Against TFA

The resistance to teach for America continues to grow. Here is another organization bringing together teachers against TFA. Here is their Facebook page. The leading group of college students organized to resist TFA and to foght for professional teachers is SUPE: Students United for Public Educatuon. SUPE has a mission: “Students United for Public Education (SUPE) evolved out of the work of col

4 by dianeravitch / 10min

If You Love Dogs As I Do, This Video Is for You

This is the Ultimate Dog Tease. It will make you smile.

3 by dianeravitch / 56min 

This Is What Is Wrong with American Education

In Jefferson County, Colorado, the state’s largest school district, there is an opening for a school superintendent. Representative Mark Waller, who dropped out of the Attorney General’s race, has applied for the job. Waller has no educational credentials. He has never been a teacher, a principal, a supervisor, or a scholar of education. But all his references say he is a really swell guy who gets

20 by dianeravitch / 36min 

Why the Anti-Teacher Book Is Not Selling, Explained

At first I thought that Paul Peterson’s new book about how teachers are blocking school reform was selling poorly, despite a vigorous public relations campaign, because people actually like teachers. Now, I am not so sure. Look at the recommended reading levels and grade levels for “Teachers Versus the Public.” If you know any one-year-olds or first-graders who want to read polling data about vouc

2 by dianeravitch / 48min hide  //  save

Arthur Goldstein: Why I Don’t Like the New Teachers’ Contract in NYC

Arthur Goldstein is a high school English teacher and chapter chair of the United Federation of Teachers at Francis Lewis High School. He is part of the opposition to the Unity Caucus that leads his union, the UFT in New York City. In response to my post praising the recent contract agreement between New York City and the UFT, Goldstein wrote this dissent:   ************   It’s been almost six yea

34 by dianeravitch / 1h 

My Visit to Louisville and the Grawemeyer Award

I was thrilled to learn last winter that I had been chosen to receive the Grawemeyer Award in Education for 2014. To me, the Grawemeyer Award is the most important recognition of work in the five fields it honors: education, music, religion, world order, and psychology.   I was especially honored because the award had previously gone to my friends Linda Darling-Hammond and Pasi Sahlberg for their

5 by dianeravitch / 2h 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 5-3-14 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2

Diane Ravitch's blogLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONGDIANE RAVITCH'S BLOGBias in Reporting at Chalkbeat?Chalkbeat is a news organization that covers New York City and recently expanded to Memphis. It was previously called Gotham Schools. Daniel Katz of Seton Hall University recently complained that Chalkbeat is biased in favor of charter schools. He notes that it is funded by the Gates Foundat

by mike simpson / 8h 

Stephen Krashen Blog 5-4-14

SKrashen:

"Pressing needs" in American Education

S. KrashenDiane Ravitch recently observed that there has been a big hurry to implement the Common Core. In 2009, she urged the authors of the Common Core to field test it before implementation, advice they did not follow. Again in 2010, at the White House, she urged field testing, but officials "quickly dismissed the idea. They were in a hurry. They wanted Common Core to be rolled out as qu

by skrashen / 9h 

Stephen Krashen Blog 5-3-14

SKrashen:Four years of math?Sent to the Washington Post, May 2, 2014.Maryland will now require all high school students to take four years of math ("Maryland to require math for all years of high school; universities also adjust rules," May 2). The fourth year, moreover, must be "non-trivial," such as algebra 2, trigonometry, pre-calculus, calculus, statistics and college algeb

by mike simpson / 8h