Diane Ravitch Notes from Inauguration Day | A site to discuss better education for all

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

Diane Ravitch Notes from Inauguration Day  

Peter Greene Confesses: Trump is Right: I am Flush with Cash and I Don’t Teach Anything!

6by dianeravitch / 38min

Peter Greene admits that Trump called him out. Peter is rolling in dough because he is a teacher. He has a maid and a butler and a Lexus and a BMW. His school is flush with cash. When he is in school, he is careful never to teach anything to anyone, certainly not to the beautiful ones. If he makes a mistake and accidentally teaches something, he could be in trouble with the union. Oh, no! It’s th

YESTERDAY

Ombudsman for the New York Times Admits the Paper Suppressed the Trump-Russia Story During the Election

19by dianeravitch / 8h

Liz Spayd, the public editor of the New York Times, published a shocking report on the newspaper’s tortured decision not to report on the federal government’s investigation of communications between the Trump camp and the Russian government. The title of her article: “Trump, Russia, and the News Story That Wasn’t.” The federal investigators did not want the story to get out because they did not w

Hackers Called “Anonymous” Warn Donald Trump

3by dianeravitch / 9h

The hackers’ collective called “Anonymous” sent a series of tweets to Donald Trump warning that they have damaging information about him and plan to release it. This is a dangerous world we live in. Hacking should be illegal. It is theft. It should not have been done to the DNC or John Podesta and should not be done to Trump. Trump invited the Russian government to hack Hillary Clinton’s emails.

David Sanger: Trump’s Dark Vision of “America First”

14by dianeravitch / 9h

For those of us old enough to remember the origins of the term “America First,” it reminds us of Charles Lindbergh (the political part of him), Nazism, anti-Semitism, and a determination to let Hitler seize all of Europe. Trump made “America First” a theme of his inaugural speech. It seems to be the definition of his foreign policy and his economic policy too. David Sanger, veteran reporter for t

DeVos Vote Delayed: Contact Your Senators!

54by dianeravitch / 10h

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions delayed its vote on Betsy zdeVos from January 24 to January 31. Maybe a few senators became indecisive when they saw how uninformed she was about the Department of Education, federal laws, and policies. Maybe they were shocked to hear to hear her say that it was up to state’s to decide whether to comply with the federal law that prote

Washington Post Fact Checks Trump’s Gloomy Inaugural Speech But Overlooks His Smear of Education

31by dianeravitch / 10h

Trump has spent most of his days living in a billionaire’s bubble, most recently in a gold-plated penthouse, so to his limited vision, the rest of us live in squalor. Everything’s a mess, everyone is poor (other than the members of his cabinet), the cities are crumbling, no one has a job, the schools are “flush with cash,” but no one learns anything. The Washington Post fact checked his speech an

Notes from Inauguration Day

14by dianeravitch / 17h

There is a certain expectation that a new president’s inaugural speech will unite the nation and present a vision of a better future for all. Ever surprising, Trump used his inaugural speech to continue the dark and divisive themes of his campaign. Things are terrible, and he alone cane save us. George Will, the conservative columnist, called it the most dreadful inaugural speech ever. https://ww

John Merrow: Stopping by Washington on a Snowy Evening

9by dianeravitch / 19h

I didn’t know John Merrow was a poet. But he is. Stopping by Washington on a Snowy Evening Whose swamp this is, I think I know: Hails from Kenya, name starts with ‘O.’ He’s been dumped. I’m President Trump It’s time for that loser to go. He came to Washington talking about ‘hope.’ Nobel Prize or not, that makes him a dope. To that mope, I say ‘nope.’ Let’s go find us some chicks to grope. That ho

A Century of Skills Movements

10by dianeravitch / 20h

I wrote about this topic in 2010. Year after year, decade after decade, some educational “authority” tells us that the world is changing fast, and that the schools must teach useful skills, not academic knowledge. The article appeared in the AFT’s American Educator magazine in spring 2010. If I were to rewrite the article today, I would add the Common Core to the list, because it is a collection

Forbes: A Frightening Portrayal of “What Life Will Be Like Under Trump”

25by dianeravitch / 20h

Melik Kaylan, writing in Forbes magazine, has spent the past two decades reporting on foreign affairs, with much time spent in authoritarian (“populist”) regimes. [Please do not ask me to explain why an authoritarian regime is called a “populist” regime; I don’t know.] Kaylan begins like this: This column is about what life will be like under Trump, based on discernible patterns in other countrie

Carol Burris: Betsy DeVos Did Not Tell the Truth

65by dianeravitch / 21h

Carol Burris, executive director of the Network for Public Education, has spent countless hours working with lawyers to get the tax status of our organization established, one that is charitable (c3) and one that is political (c4). She knows the laws, and they are exacting. When she heard Betsy DeVos tell the Senate committee that she was not on the board of her mother’s foundation and that the l

A Poem by W.H. Auden for Inauguration Day

12by dianeravitch / 22h

This is one of my favorite poems. September 1, 1939 I have read it for years. I thought I understood its meaning. But it reads differently now. More ominous because more personal. More relevant.

Michael Winship: 12 Great Films About Demagogues for This Weekend

4by dianeravitch / 23h

Michael Winship writes the daily Bill Moyers & Co. blog. Here he suggests a dozen classic American films about demagogues. These will help you get through the weekend. There is, of course, “Elmer Gantry.” And “Citizen Kane.” My favorite on the list, appropriate for now, is “The Manchurian Candidate.” Think of it as “The Siberian Candidate.”

Greg Fuchs: Make America America Again

13by dianeravitch / 1d

I believe that art and humor will help us survive the next four years, because both express our untrammeled spirit and encourage individuality and freedom of thought. Greg Fuchs sent the following comment and poem, which he wrote: “Art, music, and poetry can transform the greed and hate. It can empower all of 

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

Makersspace: Making Protest Posters! - SF Public School Mom

Makersspace: Making Protest Posters! - SF Public School MomSF Public School Mom:

Makersspace: Making Protest Posters!

I have to admit. I’m not usually a marching type of gal. Not that I’ve got anything against marching. I’m just not really into crowds usually. (To be honest, when I’m in a large boisterous group, you could say I’m a people person that hates people.) I don’t enjoy seeing marching bands (unless I’m in viewing in the comfort of my home), don’t like parades, I only go to concerts I REALLY like… Maybe this is the introvert part of me…

That said, I’ve always really appreciated those folks who DO march and make folks uncomfortable and disrupt the status quo.

So, despite the fact that I don’t really like being cold, or around large groups of people or chaos in general.. with this new predator in chief taking office, I knew it was time to get off my duff and get out in the streets. We simply can’t normalize this presidency. We have to stand up and speak out for our rights, for democracy. We have to stand up and protect folks who will be targeted by this presidency.

Time to make protest poster!

I may not be a person who like messy public spaces. Nonetheless, I AM a crafty mama. I’ve NEVER made a protest poster before, but hey, I like a challenge. With all this in mind, I reached out to my good friend and protest poster diva Tula Jeng for some advice. Based on our convo, I put together a quick and “nasty” list of tips and tricks to help any family whip up some really great posters in no time flat! (well actually about an hour.)

Quick DIY Tutorial on How to Make a Protest Poster

Check out my Snapstory below and the list of tips and let me know what you think in the comments. :)

More info…

Get Materials

Go an art store and buy foam core or poster board with a bit of heft. You will ultimately want two piece (front an back) for one poster. You can choose white or black depending on your design. I’d also recommend getting colorful art paper for cut outs, thick tipped poster markers, glue (rubber cement works well), scissors, and poster (tempra) paint are also good choices. If you want to make a sign with a Makersspace: Making Protest Posters! - SF Public School MomSF Public School Mom:

for the love of learning: You Say you want this, so why are you doing that...Redux

for the love of learning: You Say you want this, so why are you doing that...Redux:

You Say you want this, so why are you doing that...Redux

It is with mixed emotions that I write on Joe’s blog today.  His wife Tamara has asked me to do this, and I feel ready just after a year of losing my best friend.  

Joe Bower  will always have a profound impact  on my life, just like he has on many people he came into contact with and I am a better teacher and person for knowing him for over 15 years.  Joe and I talked about so many topics over that time, most of those represented well in his blog.  Joe was a prolific writer, and suggested I pen some of my own thoughts.  We would be talking and he would  yell “That’s a blog post Kelly!”   so here I  go…

You Say you want this, so why are you doing that… Redux

In 2011, Joe wrote a blog post about this topic and I aim to expand it a little.  

After teaching for 27 years, I have come to the conclusion that the vast majority of people in education are in it for the right reasons and are principled in their intentions.  I also find, however, that there are many educational practices that do not jive with what I feel kids really need.  

  Now, I am not SO arrogant that I think all share my progressive values, so I try my best to have conversations with my colleagues from time to time about educational philosophy.  Most of the time, the dialogue is engaging, messy, and thought provoking ( at least to me…). I see the passion in these people, they love kids, they love teaching. They DO see the chasm between what they know kids need and what schools often deliver- and it often makes them sad.

So….If teachers want to make changes, why don’t they act on it?  Some of the answers, I believe, are:

• They think they need permission
• They do not want to hurt peoples feelings or feel they are being unprofessional by not doing what others are doing
• They often do not have a forum for such discussion

For the sake of brevity, I will focus on the last point.

I find it interesting that we find it important to have teacher education programs that include philosophy of teaching and learning, but once student teachers for the love of learning: You Say you want this, so why are you doing that...Redux:

Trump says our schools are “Flush with Cash!?” They’re Falling Apart! | gadflyonthewallblog

Trump says our schools are “Flush with Cash!?” They’re Falling Apart! | gadflyonthewallblog:

Trump says our schools are “Flush with Cash!?” They’re Falling Apart!

Donald Trump lies.

If you haven’t learned that yet, America, you’ve got four more cringe-inducing years to do so.

Even in his inaugural address, he couldn’t help but let loose a whooper about US public schools.

“Americans want great schools for their children, safe neighborhoods for their families and good jobs for themselves,” he said. “But for too many of our citizens, a different reality exists. … An education system flush with cash but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of all knowledge.”

To which nearly every poor, nonwhite public school parent, student and teacher in the country replied, “What’s that heck did he just say now!?”

Los Angeles Unified School district routinely has broken desks and chairs, missing ceiling tiles, damaged flooring, broken sprinklers, damaged lunch tables and broken toilet paper dispensers.

They’re flush with cash!?

New York City public schools removed more than 160 toxic light fixtures containing polychlorinated biphenyls, a cancer causing agent that also hinders cognitive and neurological development. Yet many schools are still waiting on a fix, especially those serving minority students.

They’re flush with cash!?

At Charles L. Spain school in Detroit, the air vents are so warped and moldy, turning on the heat brings a rancid stench. Water drips from a leaky roof into the gym, warping the floor tiles. Cockroaches literally scurry around some children’s Trump says our schools are “Flush with Cash!?” They’re Falling Apart! | gadflyonthewallblog:

CURMUDGUCATION: Confessions of a Trumpistan Teacher

CURMUDGUCATION: Confessions of a Trumpistan Teacher:
Confessions of a Trumpistan Teacher

Look, give me just a few minutes. I need to tell someone. 

Well, I screwed up.

Understand, I was on edge. Maria didn't get our cups of espresso out on the veranda until a full minute after she had served the toast, and the toast was already cold. Do you know how hard it is to spread the butter when the toast isn't quite warm enough to melt it? Do you? I mean, seriously, do you, because I don't. I have people for that. But it certainly looked like Maria was having a hard time buttering my toast, and she cut some little divots out when she tried. The toast was edible, but it was bothersome and firing Maria made us a full five minutes behind schedule.

Then, to top it off, Lawrence pulled the Lexus around when I had told him clearly that I wanted the BMW for this morning. I think it's a little more somber, more appropriate for the mood of the day.

Of course, they swore Trump in today as President, and that means the gravy train is over for all of us at East Egg Elementary School and all the other public schools around the country. It's frustrating, and upsetting. Even Wallace gave me a look when he was holding open the door to the teachers' lounge. He almost looked me straight in the eye. Can you imagine? But I guess even a public school teachers' doorman can tell that the winds of change are shifting against us.

You would think Trump would respect us, one wealthy individual to another, but for some reason my vast wealth doesn't get me the respect of the truly elite in this country. I suppose it's that we didn't CURMUDGUCATION: Confessions of a Trumpistan Teacher: