Saturday, August 20, 2011

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: CA LEGISLATURE TO STUDY STATUS OF BOYS AND MEN OF COLOR

CA LEGISLATURE TO STUDY STATUS OF BOYS AND MEN OF COLOR Themes in the News for the week of Aug. 15-19, 2011 by UCLA IDEA | http://bit.ly/puuKjl 08-19-2011 - California legislators have embarked on a yearlong examination of school attainment, health, incarceration and other issues that affect the well-being ...

STATE AUDITOR CALLS CALSTRS A HIGH RISK: SB27 - Anti-spiking bill - will be test of Legislature's resolve By John Fensterwald - Educated Guess | http://bit.ly/p5ONUX 8/19/11 • State Auditor Elaine Howle has added the teachers’ pension fund, CalSTRS, to the state’s high-risk list, adding urgency to the imperative to reduce taxpayers’ liability for the ...

GRADUATION DATA ‘A BIG WIN’ FOR CALPADS AND ACCOUNTABILITY - Torlakson: Reliable numbers allow for a sharper focus on reducing dropout rates CALIFORNIA SCHOOL NEWS FROM THE California School Boards Asso.| http://bit.ly/pozU71 August 16, 2011 - The latest report on graduation and dropout rates for California students generated some rare good press for California’s beleaguered student data ...

4LAKids - News: MR. WRONG SAYS THE RIGHT THING

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: News: MR. WRONG SAYS THE RIGHT THING

News: MR. WRONG SAYS THE RIGHT THING

BY SMF FOR 4LAKIDSNEWS

20 August 2011

“I'm here to shine a light on a dark cloud hanging over California," Villaraigosa said during a speech to the Sacramento Press Club [on Tuesday]. "I'm here because I believe there's an opportunity for a grand bargain, but it's going to mean including broad stakeholders to acknowledge that we need to fund government. That we need to make government more efficient."http://bit.ly/pCKHxc
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Excuse me while the peanut gallery takes the obvious cheap shots, but:

Geaux Teacher!: Reform Idol - Was There Ever Any Doubt?

I Heard it By the Grapevine . . . not the Picayune Now, more than ever, the public needs to be fully informed about education policy and the governing body that makes it in Baton Rouge. The Times-Picayune has not been forthcoming with complete coverage of the education reform debacle so here's a story ...

Reform Idol - Was There Ever Any Doubt? The Thomas B. Fordham Institute, which claims to be ". . . * the nation's leader in advancing educational excellence for every child through quality research, analysis, and commentary, as well as on-the-ground action and advocacy in Ohio," *has in fact ...

New Orleans Charter Testing Drama 101 Times-Picayune journalist Sarah Carr published this story today http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2011/08/new_orleans_charter_testing_dr.html My comment posted on NOLA.com as a response to BayouBud follows: comment will appear. [image: lbarrios] * ...

Former Florida Ed Commissioner Under Jeb Bush Says Current School Grade Formula Demonstrates a “Disconnect” that “Sends the Wrong Signal” | Scathing Purple Musings

Former Florida Ed Commissioner Under Jeb Bush Says Current School Grade Formula Demonstrates a “Disconnect” that “Sends the Wrong Signal”

by Bob Sikes

Oh. my.

A top state education official — and one of the architects of the A+ plan first put in place by Gov. Jeb Bush –said a new formula for grading the state’s high schools is flawed.
John Winn, a former education commissioner now working as chief of staff for Commissioner Gerard Robinson, said Thursday that students are getting a disservice with a new grading system that is more complex than previously used performance-based rankings.
The changes in the grading system, which were implemented during the 2009-2010 school year,

How the Broad virus & Gates infection are hurting Kansas City kids « Parents Across America

How the Broad virus & Gates infection are hurting Kansas City kids

by leoniehaimson

This was written by a Kansas City teacher who prefers to remain anonymous because she fears retaliation. There is no research, by the way, that indicates that paying teachers more will cause them to work harder; or be able to overcome the disadvantages to kids of being crammed into a large class. This contrasts with thevoluminous research on class size, which shows that class size reduction is one of the very few ways to narrow the achievement gap and one of only four reforms cited by the Institute of Education Sciences as proven to work through rigorous evidence.

As far as we know, none of the following information has yet been reported in the local Kansas City media or the national press:

Last week at a school board

Walking to School: I thought I knew TFA but...

I thought I knew TFA but...

Teach for America (TFA) sounded like a good idea the first time I heard about it. Get the best and brightest into hard-to-staff classrooms and hope their experiences stick and then "the best" will make a career out of helping our neediest children.

It is appealing in the same way the selfless programs of the "Peace Corps" and "Americorps" from the Kennedy era of asking what can we do for our country appealed to my sense of humanity.

But in practice TFA has left much to be desired. After extensive reading, it's clear the revolving door of TFA recruits damages students in urban areas, destroys the community of a school, and has a 'wolf in sheep's clothing' agenda to change education policy

Jersey Jazzman: I've Been Banned By B4K

I've Been Banned By B4K

by Duke

"First, they ignore you...."

Derrell Bradford's B4K runs a Facebook page, ostensibly to further a dialog about education "reform." Guess who's banned from the page? Sorry, let me rephrase that: guess who anyone posting to the page can never quote from or mention?

Just so you know: I objected to the fact that no practicing teachers were part of the panels for MSNBC's A

The Rick Scott-Michelle Rhee-Charter USA Pep Rally Debacle | Scathing Purple Musings

The Rick Scott-Michelle Rhee-Charter USA Pep Rally Debacle

by Bob Sikes

It was clear from the start the decision from Charter USA to bus in 2000 teachers and administrators to a Michelle Rhee-Rick Scott rally on Thursday was a bad idea. With media coverage and outrage by public school officials on record before the event, both Scott and Rhee’s were forced to alter their comments for the employees of the states 25 for-profit charters in a way which was far from a pep talk.

Charter schools have to prove themselves worthy of existing, Gov. Rick Scott said Thursday during a back-to-school rally for charter school teachers in Orlando.
Scott urged them to say, “hold me accountable.”
He said charters and traditional public schools should compete for excellence. Then
students who can choose among them will be the winners, he said.
“We want great charter schools, and we want great public schools,” Scott said during the

Big Education Ape - PostRank Today's 15?

Big Education Ape - PostRank Today's 18?

Cheer the President, Boo His Motives - Hispanically Speaking News Cheer the President, Boo His Motives - Hispanically Speaking News Cheer the President, Boo His Motives 0 Comments August 20, 2011 | by HS News Staff [image: Image] Photo Credits: Obama on Deportations The decision made by the Obama administration this ...

What is Conscious Community in the Field of Education (and Parenting)? « Cooperative Catalyst What is Conscious Community in the Field of Education (and Parenting)? « Cooperative Catalyst What is Conscious Community in the Field of Education (and Parenting)? by Ba Luvmour Community is created by individuals who share common values. Conscious ...

Make Your Own Kind of Music ( Mama Cass Elliott )

Ackerman dares bosses to fire her - Philly.com Ackerman dares bosses to fire her - Philly.com Ackerman dares bosses to fire her Of 258 schools, 110 achieve federal standard August 19, 2011|By Kristen A. Graham, Inquirer Staff Writer - - - - - - - ...

My thoughts on homework… | Connected Principals My thoughts on homework… | Connected Principals My thoughts on homework… by Justin Tarte I recently wrote a blog post titled “*5 conversations to improve your school right now*!” The 5 topics I recommend each school to discuss are: *1) – Homework in ...

New Orleans charter testing drama casts light on how cheating allegations are handled | NOLA.com New Orleans charter testing drama casts light on how cheating allegations are handled | NOLA.com New Orleans charter testing drama casts light on how cheating allegations are handledPublished: Friday, August 19, 2011, 10:45 PM [image: Sarah Carr, The ...

SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: Mr Spock Opines On Princess Sydney Morris SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: Mr Spock Opines On Princess Sydney Morris Mr Spock Opines On Princess Sydney Morris by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) *Tonight's blog welcomes a special guest blogger. We would like to welcome Mr Spock, science officer and first ...

How the Science World Tells Black Kids 'Do Not Enter' - Education - GOOD How the Science World Tells Black Kids 'Do Not Enter' - Education - GOOD How the Science World Tells Black Kids 'Do Not Enter' by Liz Dwyer [image: george.washington.carver] Back in 2009, President Obama launched his "Educate to Innovate" program, ...

Dougco seeks stay of voucher injunction | EdNewsColorado Dougco seeks stay of voucher injunction | EdNewsColorado Dougco seeks stay of voucher injunction by Nancy Mitchell Douglas County School District and state officials have filed a motion seeking a stay of the injunction halting their voucher pilot this ...

Henderson: Gray ‘exceeded expectations’ - D.C. Schools Insider - The Washington PostHenderson: Gray ‘exceeded expectations’ - D.C. Schools Insider - The Washington Post Henderson: Gray ‘exceeded expectations’ by Bill Turque The words “Mayor Vincent C. Gray” and “exceeded expectations” haven’t spent much quality time in the same ...

Privatization & The War Against California Teachers-Fired CTC Attorney ... Attorney and whistleblower Kathleen Carroll was fired by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing CTC in September 2010 after she began to expose the systemic corruption and cronyism at the agency. The commission plays a critical role in ...

Seeking questions about new year for education heavyweights | GothamSchools Seeking questions about new year for education heavyweights | GothamSchools Seeking questions about new year for education heavyweights by Philissa Cramer The start of school in three weeks comes as initiatives to revamp instruction, assessment, and ...

Race and the War on Drugs - Forbes Race and the War on Drugs - Forbes Race and the War on Drugs by E.D. Kain [image: marijuana_graphic] In New York City, 90 percent of the cases the Brooklyn Family Defense Project handles in which kids were removed from the home due to allegations of ...

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Celebrate a victory – Gov Quinn to sign CPS facilities law Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Celebrate a victory – Gov Quinn to sign CPS facilities law Celebrate a victory – Gov Quinn to sign CPS facilities law by admin SB 630, the fair CPS facilities bill, will become law tomorrow, and ...

Racial gap in DC pass rates unchanged despite Rhee's rheeforms Racial gap in DC pass rates unchanged despite Rhee's rheeforms Racial gap in DC pass rates unchanged despite Rhee's rheeforms Written by Guy Brandenburg for GFBrandenburg’s blog. Read the entire article here. *“On the whole, it is clear that the ...

Sara Mosle – Journalist, TFA Alum, Princeton Grad and Current School Teacher Dissects Steve Brill’s “Class Warfare” | Scathing Purple Musings

Sara Mosle – Journalist, TFA Alum, Princeton Grad and Current School Teacher Dissects Steve Brill’s “Class Warfare”

by Bob Sikes

I’ve come to accept that part of effective blogging is frequently dismissed by accusations of “taking things out of context.” This is a fair enough point, but the most effective bloggers do so for the purpose of advancing debate and providing analysis. The blogging writing form has become accepted as even well-know journalists are using it now to promote their own endeavors.

Why I felt the need to explain this here is because I’m about to use someone’s piece…..about someone else’s. On Sunday the well-respected New York Times Book Review will publish a review of Steve Brill’s Class Warfare by Sara Mosle.

It is the reviewer, Mosle, whom readers of this blog will find fascinating. In setting up her piece by detailing Brill’s

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… - “Teacher Home Visits Are Important, But The Post’s Jay Mathews Misses The Point”

“Teacher Home Visits Are Important, But The Post’s Jay Mathews Misses The Point”

by Larry Ferlazzo

Teacher Home Visits Are Important, But The Post’s Jay Mathews Misses The Point is the title of a new post I’ve written at my other blog, Engaging Parents In School.

It’s a reaction to a recent column on teacher home visits by The Washington Post’s Jay Mathews, where..he misses the point.

Jersey Jazzman: Rupert Loves Rhee Loves Bradford

Rupert Loves Rhee Loves Bradford

by Duke

Rheefirst confirms what you already knew:

In his new book, Class Warfare, Steven Brill confirms that Michelle Rhee is being funded by Rupert Murdoch. Murdoch, CEO of News Corp., is currently embroiled in a growing cell phone hacking scandal. Rhee’s mentor, Joel Klein, serves as Murdoch’s chief legal counsel. News Corp is the parent company of far-right FoxNews.
Last month Rhee refused to confirm or deny whether she and her front group had taken Murdoch money.
According to credible sources, Rhee took as much as $50M from Murdoch.

Broad-Trained Superintendent Dr. Marie Goodloe-Johnson Reappears in Broward County, Florida | Seattle Education

Broad-Trained Superintendent Dr. Marie Goodloe-Johnson Reappears in Broward County, Florida

by seattleducation2011

For all of the folks in Broward County, we have something to share with you regarding a candidate for superintendent who is listed on the Broward School District’s website, Dr. Marie Goodloe-Johnson.

The following article should be a red flag to you about hiring anyone who has anything to do with Bill Gates or the Broad Foundation.

I would highly recommend that you personally vet each candidate even if it’s a quick Google search, for instance with the candidate’s name and the words “broad foundation”. If there is no connection, great, then continue to

Jersey Jazzman: The "Other" Ben Chavis - Reformy Maniac

Bob "Hoover" Ingle Update

by Duke

It's been a while since I've checked in with Chris Christie's favorite suck-up, Bob "Hoover" Ingle:

Should public school districts be allowed to use tax money for lawsuits that seek to keep charter schools from opening? As charter schools increasingly go from urban to suburban it's a question that needs the public spotlight.
The Princeton International Academy Charter School seeks to bring attention to the issue by suing three public school districts, contending that for two years Princeton Regional, South Brunswick and Plainsboro-West Regional districts

The "Other" Ben Chavis - Reformy Maniac

by Duke

I want to start this with a hat tip to some terrific bloggers who were nice enough to drop by here and leave some great information for this post:

Robert D. Skeels over at solidaridad.
The Perimeter Primate
South Bronx School (not anything about Chavis, but plenty on the NYC schools and Moskowitz)

You should check them out - they're all on my blogroll at the left.

I honestly had not heard of Ben Chavis (no, not that Ben Chavis, this Ben Chavis), before his disastrous and

Schools Matter: The National Standards Discussion: A Weapon of Mass Distraction

The National Standards Discussion: A Weapon of Mass Distraction

by skrashen

We are again invited to give our opinions about the content of national standards (http://www.parcconline.org/parcc-content-frameworks). We are not invited to discuss whether we need national standards and their spawn, national tests. For those who haven't been paying attention, the Department of Education is

TEACHERS AND FACEBOOK « Teachers Fight Back

TEACHERS AND FACEBOOK

by alkleen

News item - a central Florida teacher faces disciplinary action after reports that he posted comments blasting same-sex marriage on his personal Facebook page.

I am not going to support this teacher, even though his comments were on his PERSONAL page. Listen carefully teachers everywhere, NEVER MAKE A DEROGATORY COMMENT ABOUT ANYONE OR ANY GROUP! Never comment on a person’s age, race, gender, sexual orientation, political leanings or anything remotely related to those items!

This is one of the many things that makes being a teacher so difficult and why only a select few people have the overall qualities necessary to be a teacher. When you become a teacher you must take a vow to yourself that you will accept all human beings as equal. You will never judge a student on any aspect of their life other than what is necessary in classroom evaluations. You must never offer negative opinions about particular types or groups of people, because you might have one of those people in a classroom of yours.

I’m sorry, part of being a good teacher is virtually giving up some of your first amendment rights. If you aren’t

All Education Matters: [Announcement] New Series: The Author's Hour

[Announcement] New Series: The Author's Hour

by C. Cryn Johannsen

I am pleased to announce a new series on AEM called "The Author's Hour." This series will entail interviews with authors who are already published or on their way to being published. The subjects will be wide ranging. We'll talk to experts from the fields of economics, history, sociology, political science, philosophy, literature, etc. The intent of this new series is to connect with authors whose work intersects with my own. This way, it will allow me to introduce my readers to other authors who are:

concerned about the student lending crisis
other major societal problems
interested in my work as a political activist for the indentured educated class

These conversations will also provide me with new insights for my ongoing research and projects on the student

School Tech Connect: Crops and Stuff

Crops and Stuff

by noreply@blogger.com (Tim)

Scout sniffing for any signs of Arne Duncan's Chicago Miracle.

Like Scout, here, I've been sniffin' around for something to write about. The start of the school year wipes me out-- there's so much to do all at once. In technology, there's so much to learn and explain and distribute and fix that there's really isn't time left over to comment on the latest reformy atrocity. Work has kept me away from writing on a daily basis, which as you know is the key to writing anything worthwhile at all. If I step away from writing even for a day, then the smallest writing task seems too large to bother with.

I can vaguely remember a time before I wrote regularly; writing was such an at-school-only hoop-jumping exercise that it seemed pointless and endlessly frustrating. Nothing I said was ever right. Then I signed up for a writing class just to be with my friend, and the teacher of that class was

Daily Kos: So you want to write/opine about education?

So you want to write/opine about education?

by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken)

Good for you.

But before you do, I have four questions for you. I'd like you to be able to describe and/or explain each of the following, if you would be so kind.

1. Reggio Emelia

2. Campbell's Law

3. Simpson's Paradox

4. The Zone of Proximal Development

What, you are not even sure you've heard of most of them?

Congratulations, that might, based on my experience at a conference with a number of members of the