Thursday, January 14, 2021

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Thursday, January 14, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #COVIDVACCINE #IMPEACHED #TWICE

THE TOP BANANA
TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES

Bill Banning Locked Seclusion and Face-Down Restraints in Illinois Schools Stalls as Lawmakers Run Out of Time http://feeds.propublica.org/link/9499/14215389/illinois-seclusion-restraint-bill-stalls

Education Matters: The Duval County school board just doesn't get it - https://jaxkidsmatter.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-duval-county-school-board-just.html

Remote Control https://www.bitchmedia.org/article/fandom-improves-remote-learning

Trump administration tries to hamstring Biden on student loan forgiveness https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/13/trump-biden-student-loan-forgiveness-459085

Former Michigan Gov. Snyder charged in Flint water crisis - POLITICO - https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/13/flint-water-michigan-governor-snyder-459218

And Still She Rises: Dr. Maya Angelou Is One of Barbie's 'Inspiring Women' https://theglowup.theroot.com/and-still-she-rises-dr-maya-angelou-is-one-of-barbies-1846053800

Thousands of NOLA Public Schools students ‘chronically absent’ amid pandemic | The Lens https://thelensnola.org/2021/01/13/thousands-of-nola-public-schools-students-chronically-absent-amid-pandemic/

Can school districts require teachers to be vaccinated? https://www.njspotlight.com/video/can-school-districts-require-teachers-to-be-vaccinated/

Less than one third of open NYC schools offering five days of in-person classes to all students https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/ny-five-days-a-week-in-person-instruction-20210113-fonjvyyzsfa3ndzqhoxmkbq6hm-story.html#ed=rss_www.nydailynews.com/arcio/rss/category/new-york/education/

‘We have a very clear timeline’: NYC officials pledge to expand access to ‘gifted’ programs by phasing out entrance exam https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/ny-gifted-test-phase-out-changes-20210113-dw4utaxknrgpfpizzf2mewna2u-story.html#ed=rss_www.nydailynews.com/arcio/rss/category/new-york/education/

Private Schools Cashed in on P.P.P. Funding https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/13/us/private-schools-ppp-fundig.html

Trying to improve remote learning? A refugee camp offers some surprising lessons https://hechingerreport.org/trying-to-improve-remote-learning-a-refugee-camp-offers-some-surprising-lessons/

OPINION: Reclaiming the role of the humanities in our democracy https://hechingerreport.org/opinion-reclaiming-the-role-of-the-humanities-in-our-democracy/

NYC graduation rates increased slightly after diploma policy changes amid COVID pandemic https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/ny-nyc-high-school-graduation-rate-increase-20210114-iycgmxzlrbh3xpv66ja3jlliei-story.html#ed=rss_www.nydailynews.com/arcio/rss/category/new-york/education/

Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham in Conversation with Eve L. Ewing on Black Futures | NewBlackMan (in Exile) - https://www.newblackmaninexile.net/2021/01/kimberly-drew-and-jenna-wortham-in.html

Thursday’s Must-Read Articles On School Reopenings | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/?p=114785 on @Larryferlazzo

Big district superintendents, Newsom advisers remain at odds on back to school plan http://edsource.org/?page_id=646719 via @edsource

COVID-19 vaccine rollout begins for SCUSD staff https://fox40.com/news/local-news/covid-19-vaccine-rollout-begins-for-scusd-staff/

6 in 10 Philly kids still attend low-performing schools, report says - https://www.inquirer.com/education/philadelphia-school-district-enrollment-access-choice-20210113.html#new_tab via @PhillyInquirer

Locked-out CPS teachers outside home of Chicago Board of Education president Miguel del Valle - Chicago Sun-Times - https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2021/1/13/22228764/coronavirus-chicago-public-schools-remote-learning-teachers-union-locked-out-covid-del-valle-home#new_tab

Tennessee’s new Senate education leader is pro-voucher attorney - Chalkbeat Tennessee - https://tn.chalkbeat.org/2021/1/13/22229071/tennessees-new-senate-education-leader-is-pro-voucher-attorney#new_tab on chalkbeat

PAE President: "White Privelege" Behind Parents Demand for Hybrid - https://newstalk870.am/pae-president-white-privelege-behind-parents-demand-for-hybrid/#new_tab on @Newstalk870

Indiana backtracks on counting hundreds of hidden dropouts - Chalkbeat Indiana - https://in.chalkbeat.org/2021/1/13/22229976/indiana-reverses-decision-to-count-hundreds-of-hidden-dropouts-home-school#new_tab on chalkbeat

‘Disturbing reports’ about Seattle schools spark civil-rights probe by U.S. Department of Education | The Seattle Times - https://www.seattletimes.com/?p=13489706 by @HannahFurfaro on @seattletimes

US Department of Education investigating Indiana's special education services during COVID https://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2021/01/13/us-department-of-education-investigating-indiana-special-education-services-during-covid-19/4152012001/ via @indystar

Calls to reopen classrooms grow as teachers get vaccinated - https://apnews.com/article/us-coronavirus-deaths-1-day-over-4300-1efb7805ae0ff217a4753ee89550771d#new_tab on @ap

Former Broward schools administrator arrested in grand jury corruption probe https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/schools/fl-ne-broward-administrator-arrested--20210113-jtldhelcenfxnbl2tbe33bsvwm-story.html

Analysis | No, viral video doesn’t show police removing barriers for Capitol rioters — and other news literacy lessons on insurrection https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/01/14/no-viral-video-doesnt-show-police-removing-barriers-capitol-rioters-other-news-literacy-lessons-insurrection/?tid=ss_tw

Big Education Ape: David Labaree on Schooling, History, and Writing: Do No Harm: Reflections on the Impact of Educational Research | National Education Policy Center - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/01/david-labaree-on-schooling-history-and.html

Big Education Ape: The Riot at the Capitol: Classroom Lessons?* | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-riot-at-capitol-classroom-lessons.html

Big Education Ape: Republicans Usher in the Land Free from the Truth: Free Speech v. Free Markets – radical eyes for equity - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/01/republicans-usher-in-land-free-from.html

Schott Foundation's 2020 Grantmaking Impact + Eight #EdJustice Policy Wins that Give us Hope for 2021 | Schott Foundation for Public Education

by Mike Simpson / 51min

Schott Foundation's 2020 Grantmaking Impact | Schott Foundation for Public Education Schott Foundation's 2020 Grantmaking Impact Fueling the frontlines of social progress with philanthropic support is central to Schott’s strategy to advance racial justice in public education. In a year like no other, Schott’s 2020 grantmaking was more nimble, diverse, and participatory than ever before. $1.64 mil

NANCY BAILEY: 6 Ways High-Stakes Standardized Testing Destroys Student Voice

by Mike Simpson / 51min

6 Ways High-Stakes Standardized Testing Destroys Student Voice 6 Ways High-Stakes Standardized Testing Destroys Student Voice The National Council of the Teachers of English is Helping Students Find Their Voices in Challenging Times. This title stood out as well worth exploring, but it’s also a reminder that since public education became focused on high-stakes standardized testing, public schools

Stop the Spring Tests! Support the Children! | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 51min

Stop the Spring Tests! Support the Children! Ann Cook, executive director and co-founder of the New York State Performance Standards Consortium, and Phyllis Tashlik, director of the Consortium’s Center for Inquiry in Teaching and Learning, argue in this article in the New York Daily News that the spring testing should be canceled. The Consortium, a group of a few dozen high schools in New York,

Teacher Tom: Getting Straight A's

by Mike Simpson / 51min

Getting Straight A's Over the New Year's break, I spent a few days reorganizing our laundry room/storage closet. Among the items in there were boxes of keepsakes, which is why it was a multiple-day project: I found myself considering each item, remembering, and telling myself and my family the stories they evoked. Among the memorabilia I found my very first report card from Meadowfield Elementar

Understanding and Countering Islamophobia - Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

by Mike Simpson / 51min

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond and Experts Discuss Approaches to Understanding and Countering Islamophobia SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today joined leaders from the Islamic Networks Group (ING) in a virtual classroom session on understanding and countering Islamophobia. The event was the third in a series of ongoing virtual classroom and professional d

NYC Educator: UFT Delegate Assembly January 13, 2021--Waiting for Vaccines

by Mike Simpson / 51min

UFT Delegate Assembly January 13, 2021--Waiting for Vaccines 4:19 UFT President Michael Mulgrew welcomes us. National --Has been difficult week. Tough for teachers to explain. We've never had students seeing everything happening in real time all the time. This is on top of all the other issues. We have to guide students through this craziness. We get no support at all from DOE. Hopefully things

Washington Privacy Act, SB5062, does not go far enough to protect consumers or students | Parent Coalition for Student Privacy

by Mike Simpson / 51min

WASHINGTON PRIVACY ACT, SB5062, DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH TO PROTECT CONSUMERS OR STUDENTS On January 14, 2021, the Washington state legislature will hold a hearing on a privacy bill, The Washington Privacy Act, SB 5062 which is weak and does not fully protect consumers’ right to privacy: SB5062 does nothing to better protect educational, teacher, or student data. SB5062 does not apply to state or

CURMUDGUCATION: AZ: Teachers Slapped Yet Again

by Mike Simpson / 51min

AZ: Teachers Slapped Yet Again Arizona is one of a handful of states that owe a debt to Florida; were it not for the Sunshine State, Arizona would be a strong contender for State Most Hostile To Public Education. And now their governor is sticking it to teachers yet again. Arizona has a long-standing problem with convincing teachers to work there ; they are one of the states that was recruiting

YESTERDAY

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Wednesday, January 13, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #COVIDVACCINE #DEVOSRESIGNS

by Mike Simpson / 19h

Big Education Ape THE TOP BANANA TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES It Appears That Biden May Now Be Realistically Looking At A Fall Timeline To Reopen Schools | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... -

Big Education Ape

David Labaree on Schooling, History, and Writing: Do No Harm: Reflections on the Impact of Educational Research | National Education Policy Center

David Labaree on Schooling, History, and Writing: Do No Harm: Reflections on the Impact of Educational Research

This post is a short piece I wrote in 2011 for a special issue of the journal Teacher Education and Practice on “Enhancing Teaching and Learning Through Scholarship.” My one take is that research in education is not necessarily well positioned to enhance education; on the contrary, it often does more harm than good. See what you think. Here’s a link to the original.

Do No Harm

Education is a field of dreams and so is educational research. As educators, we dream of schools that can improve the lives of students, solve social problems, and enrich the quality of life; and as educational researchers, we dream that our studies will enhance the effectiveness of schools in achieving these worthy goals. Both fields draw recruits who see the possibilities of education as a force for doing good, and that turns out to be a problem, because the history of both fields shows that the chances for doing real harm are substantial. Over the years, research on teaching and teacher education – the topic of the discussion in this special issue – has caused a lot of damage to teaching and learning and learning-to-teach in schools. So I suggest a good principle to adopt when considering the role of research in teacher education is a version of the Hippocratic Oath: First do no harm.

The history of educational research in the United States in the twentieth century supports a pessimistic assessment of the field’s impact on American school and society. There was Edward L. Thorndike, whose work emphasized the importance of differentiating the curriculum in order to provide the skills and knowledge that students would later need in playing sharply different roles in a stratified workforce. There was David Snedden, who labored tirelessly to promote CONTINUE READING: David Labaree on Schooling, History, and Writing: Do No Harm: Reflections on the Impact of Educational Research | National Education Policy Center

The Riot at the Capitol: Classroom Lessons?* | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

The Riot at the Capitol: Classroom Lessons?*

In an earlier post, I pointed out the obvious fact that tax-supported public schools were political institutions. Not in the partisan sense of Republican and Democrat but in serving the community in socializing community values in the next generation including respect for and pride in the nation. When taxpayers want their schools to instill core values in students (e.g., respect for individual, being part of a community, equal treatment) those are political decisions.

In light of January 6, 2020 attack on the Capitol instigated by President Donald Trump and the subsequent riot and destruction that occurred including the loss of five lives, the issue of teaching about this signal event in U.S. history in elementary and secondary classrooms again comes to the attention of teachers and non-teachers.

So should teachers and students deal with the attack upon the Capitol in classroom lessons? Yes, it is controversial and yes, it is highly political in that a Republican President egged on a rally of supporters to march down Pennsylvania Ave. to the Capitol where Democrats CONTINUE READING: The Riot at the Capitol: Classroom Lessons?* | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Republicans Usher in the Land Free from the Truth: Free Speech v. Free Markets – radical eyes for equity

Republicans Usher in the Land Free from the Truth: Free Speech v. Free Markets

We know of course there’s really no such thing as the “voiceless.” There are only the deliberately silenced, or the preferably unheard.
ARUNDHATI ROY: THE 2004 SYDNEY PEACE PRIZE LECTURE

Labeled as “surreal” by Emilia Petrarca, Marjorie Taylor Greene (R – Georgia) wore as “censored” face mask while speaking from the floor on Congress.

First, we must recognize that statistically no one in the U.S. has the sort of access to a bully pulpit that a member of Congress has (535 out of 330 million people), and then, we must consider whether Greene is incredibly dishonest, spectacularly ignorant, or both.

After the insurrection at the Capitol by rightwing domestic terrorists supporting Trump—and emboldened by Trump and many Republicans in office—conservatives and Republicans across the U.S. has evoked “censorship,” “First Amendment,” and “freedom of speech” tirades in response to Trump being banned from several social media platforms as well as many Republicans losing followers on those platforms.

Here is the disturbing thing that Greene represents among conservatives and Republicans: There appears to be the same sort of dishonesty/ignorance running rampant because there is essentially no relationship between private businesses and free speech guaranteed in the Constitution since the First Amendment is about the role of government in protected speech.

Let’s not forget very recent history when Republicans and conservatives CONTINUE READING: Republicans Usher in the Land Free from the Truth: Free Speech v. Free Markets – radical eyes for equity

Schott Foundation's 2020 Grantmaking Impact + Eight #EdJustice Policy Wins that Give us Hope for 2021 | Schott Foundation for Public Education

Schott Foundation's 2020 Grantmaking Impact | Schott Foundation for Public Education

Schott Foundation's 2020 Grantmaking Impact

Fueling the frontlines of social progress with philanthropic support is central to Schott’s strategy to advance racial justice in public education. In a year like no other, Schott’s 2020 grantmaking was more nimble, diverse, and participatory than ever before. $1.64 million in philanthropic support went to the education justice movement: to continue our work with longstanding partners, to supply quickly-needed resources to mutual aid groups in the wake of COVID-19, and to seize the movement moment to help advocates win police-free schools. In addition to our direct grantmaking support, Schott staff supported our community partners in obtaining an additional $380,000 in support from other foundations.

Schott Foundation makes grants across the United States, including Puerto Rico. The geographic impact of our grants reflect our ongoing commitment to the US South and to movement building efforts in the Northeast and in California.

Grantmaking by Region

LCRF Formed early last spring, our Loving Communities Response Fund for Racial Justice (LCRF) was the first COVID-specific response fund formed in the philanthropic sector that, in responding to the movement’s needs, soon expanded its work from supporting mutual aid into organizing in response to demands for police-free schools.

In 2020, LCRF made 55 grants to local, community-based organizations, most at the $5,000-$10,000 level, determined by an advisory board of grassroots education justice organizations.

LCRF Grants by Region

In addition to giving grants, Schott also contributed nearly 900 hours of technical assistance and support to the education justice movement: our staff worked with our grantees on communications, fundraising, and strategy helping to elevate their important work and increase their capacity. Learn more about our 2020 work here, including our sponsored webinars and top blog posts >

Amid the lockdowns from COVID-19 and the racial justice uprisings against police brutality, our partners and allies achieved significant wins in 2020, from police-free schools to protecting DACA to restoring school district voting rights. See the eight key policy wins from 2020 that inspire us for the year ahead >

Your support of the Schott Foundation is critical to helping us nurture and grow the education justice movement. 2021 must be a transformative year: please join and support us in order to ensure all children have the opportunity to learn.

Schott Foundation's 2020 Grantmaking Impact | Schott Foundation for Public Education

Eight #EdJustice Policy Wins that Give us Hope for 2021 | Schott Foundation for Public Education - http://schottfoundation.org/node/4300

NANCY BAILEY: 6 Ways High-Stakes Standardized Testing Destroys Student Voice

6 Ways High-Stakes Standardized Testing Destroys Student Voice

6 Ways High-Stakes Standardized Testing Destroys Student Voice

The National Council of the Teachers of English is Helping Students Find Their Voices in Challenging Times. This title stood out as well worth exploring, but it’s also a reminder that since public education became focused on high-stakes standardized testing, public schools’ emphasis has been on scores, not students’ voices.

Student’s thoughts and ideas should be valued and also challenged in school but heard. Public schooling has not been about that for years, if ever. When the focus is on testing, it’s about results, not students.

The focus has been on how students perform, what they prove on a test with narrow questions that have driven what teachers teach, and how they teach it.

Students rotate through grades in packed classes. If they’re lucky, they connect with a teacher who is permitted to add personalized (not online) instruction by finding a way to care how a student thinks or behaves. Journal writing comes to mind.

Public schools were depersonalized by testing, and now computers are doing it more. There’s nothing personal about sitting in front of a screen unless there’s a teacher on the other end that a student knows in person and who will be around for face-to-face CONTINUE READING: 6 Ways High-Stakes Standardized Testing Destroys Student Voice

Stop the Spring Tests! Support the Children! | Diane Ravitch's blog

Stop the Spring Tests! Support the Children!

Ann Cook, executive director and co-founder of the New York State Performance Standards Consortium, and Phyllis Tashlik, director of the Consortium’s Center for Inquiry in Teaching and Learning, argue in this article in the New York Daily News that the spring testing should be canceled. The Consortium, a group of a few dozen high schools in New York, has an exemption from most state testing and has produced better academic outcomes (graduation rates, college entry, college retention) than the other public schools in the city with similar students. My guess is that they could make a powerful argument that standardized testing is unnecessary and wasteful.

Across the country, national and local groups — including the majority of parents — are calling on the federal government to waive standardized testing requirements for states in the spring. New York should be one of the leaders of that effort. Instead, it remains one of only 10 states to link standardized exams, in this case Regents exams, to high school graduation.

We’re in the throes of a pandemic with no consistency to school attendance, WiFi reception, or access to CONTINUE READING: Stop the Spring Tests! Support the Children! | Diane Ravitch's blog

Teacher Tom: Getting Straight A's

Getting Straight A's

Over the New Year's break, I spent a few days reorganizing our laundry room/storage closet. Among the items in there were boxes of keepsakes, which is why it was a multiple-day project: I found myself considering each item, remembering, and telling myself and my family the stories they evoked. Among the memorabilia I found my very first report card from Meadowfield Elementary School. It was a document that Miss McCutcheon had filled in by hand. I'd received straight A's.

I'd been proud of that accomplishment, although considering it from the vantage point of some four decades later, the feeling is much more complicated. For instance, as an eight-year-old I'd capably done the calculation, figuring that what Miss McCutcheon was telling me with these high marks was that I was the smartest kid in the class. I knew enough to not voice this aloud, but I thought it. Also, in looking back, I know that those grades also indicate that I must have been a "teacher's pet," which is to say an obedient goody-two-shoes.

I don't recall comparing report cards with any of my classmates. For all I know, Miss McCutcheon gave everyone CONTINUE READING: Teacher Tom: Getting Straight A's

Understanding and Countering Islamophobia - Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond and Experts Discuss Approaches to Understanding and Countering Islamophobia

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today joined leaders from the Islamic Networks Group (ING) in a virtual classroom session on understanding and countering Islamophobia. The event was the third in a series of ongoing virtual classroom and professional development sessions that are part of the Education to End Hate Initiative, a multifaceted effort to use the power of public education to drive change and confront racism and bigotry.

“After seeing so many symbols of hate paraded through our nation’s capital last week, it’s clear that we must recommit ourselves to addressing and understanding all manifestations of hate such as Islamophobia,” said Thurmond. “And we must also commit to working together and discussing ways to create a future that’s inclusive and safe for all students. I launched the Education to End Hate Initiative in September to confront incidents of hate, bigotry, and racism rising across the state and nation—and it’s abundantly clear that it’s important now more than ever.”

Over the past few months, State Superintendent Thurmond and the California Department of Education (CDE) have hosted a series of virtual classroom and educator professional development sessions designed to engage students, educators, and families in a wide-ranging dialogue about the many forms of bias young people face across California and ways schools can lead efforts to end discrimination.

This virtual classroom session, “Understanding and Countering Islamophobia,” featured Maha Elgenaidi, the founder and Chief Innovation Officer of ING, and Ishaq Pathan, ING’s Bay Area Director. The presentations focused on showing how Islamophobia is enabled and disseminated, the impact of Islamophobia, and how it can be countered. They also drew the connection between Islamophobia, anti-blackness, and the “othering” of minoritized populations by showing how Muslims are racialized. The presenters also connected these concepts to the experiences of students and provided strategies for teachers to avoid harmful racist stereotypes. More information on Islamophobia, including an educator toolkit, is on the ING website.

The Education to End Hate initiative has three components: Educator training grants, which have been awarded to schools and districts across the state and will be used to support the improvement and development of curriculum as well as address systemic problems in policies and procedures; this virtual classroom series; and the upcoming creation of a roundtable with leaders, social justice organizations, educators and lawmakers to brainstorm additional ideas for ways schools can influence the change necessary to ensure a physically and emotionally safe learning environment that is inclusive for all students.

This was the third event in the virtual classroom series. Previous sessions included “Understanding Contemporary Anti-Semitism: An Introduction for California Educators” in December and “Pedagogical Approaches to Teaching about Native Americans” in November. Future offerings will be announced on the CDE’s social media pages.

An archived broadcast of this virtual classroom session can be found on the CDE Facebook page

. Members of the public with questions and feedback on the initiative are encouraged to reach out at edtoendhate@cde.ca.gov.

# # # #

Tony Thurmond — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

Understanding and Countering Islamophobia - Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

NYC Educator: UFT Delegate Assembly January 13, 2021--Waiting for Vaccines

UFT Delegate Assembly January 13, 2021--Waiting for Vaccines

4:19 UFT President Michael Mulgrew welcomes us.

National--Has been difficult week. Tough for teachers to explain. We've never had students seeing everything happening in real time all the time. This is on top of all the other issues. We have to guide students through this craziness. We get no support at all from DOE. Hopefully things will turn around. From feds we need vaccine and funding. DeVos quit, tried to remove equity, to privatize, to help vulture lenders, to help all we're against. Probably worst Ed. Sec. of all time. We should see a strong contrast with a lifelong educator in this position.

Stimulus--Last one passed. NY State should get 4.5 billion, Much should go to NYC. First was one billion, but was completely supplanted by governor, as he took another billion out. We know students will be hurt by this situation. People will look to us to deal with various crises. Social and emotional stress, isolation--this is deeper than just learning loss. If state continues to supplant federal money will be huge problem. State is taking away money to help children in crisis. 2.4 billion coming our way, and children need to be prioritized. Will also effect CONTINUE READING: NYC Educator: UFT Delegate Assembly January 13, 2021--Waiting for Vaccines

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Thursday, January 14, 2021