Dissent Magazine - Arguing The World - Who Is Victimizing Chicago’s Kids? -

Dissent Magazine - Arguing The World - Who Is Victimizing Chicago’s Kids? -:

Who Is Victimizing Chicago’s Kids?

Joanne Barkan - September 14, 2012 11:38 pm

Yes, schoolchildren in Chicago are victims, but not of their teachers. They are victims of a nationwide education “reform” movement geared to undermine teachers’ unions and shift public resources into private hands; they are victims of wave after wave of ill-conceived and failing policy “innovations”; they are victims of George Bush’s No Child Left Behind law, which turned inner-city public schools into boot camps for standardized test prep; they are victims of Barack Obama’s Race to the Top program, which paid states to use student test scores—a highly unreliable tool—for teacher evaluations and to lift caps on the number of privately managed charter schools, thus draining resources from public schools. Chicago’s children are victims of “mayoral control,” which allows Rahm Emanuel to run the school system, bully parents and teachers, and appoint a Board of Education dominated by corporate executives and political donors.
The city’s current reform wave began in 2004 with Mayor Richard Daley’s Renaissance 2010—a massive program, funded in part by $90 million from the Bill and Melinda 

One Teacher's Perspective: Paul Ryan Disappoints Young People on Gay Rights

One Teacher's Perspective: Paul Ryan Disappoints Young People on Gay Rights:

Paul Ryan Disappoints Young People on Gay Rights

by Imagine Wisconsin

Guest blogging this week is my nephew, Thomas Strieker, who shares a memorable 2005 meeting with Paul Ryan. Thousands have viewed my take on Paul Ryan.  Readers seem interested in perspectives from Ryan's hometown of Janesville. Thomas was raised in Janesville and graduated from Parker High School.

Janesville feels so far off the map that when someone gets any national attention my heart beats faster.  So I was excited when Mitt Romney tapped Paul Ryan as his running mate.  The all-seeing eye of American Politics gazes on my 

Thousands Gather in Support of Chicago Teachers - NYTimes.com

Thousands Gather in Support of Chicago Teachers - NYTimes.com:

Thousands Gather in Support of Chicago Teachers

By STEVEN YACCINO

 CHICAGO — Thousands of people gathered here on Saturday for a rally in support of public school educators who have been locked in a contentious contract battle. It was the largest show of union force since teachers in this, the nation’s third largest school district, went on strike nearly a week ago.

The crowd, which included some teachers and union supporters from Wisconsin and Minnesota, shook homemade protest signs in the air and wore the signature red T-shirts of the Chicago Teachers Union as they descended on Union Park, just west of downtown. The city skyline rose behind a stage from which a lineup of politicians, teachers, students and

School Tech Connect: It's A Social Movement Now

School Tech Connect: It's A Social Movement Now:

It's A Social Movement Now

by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman)

Rally. Huge. Signs. People. Speeches. Music.

The event unfolding in Union Park today is a phenomenon. I kinda sorta feel that the kettle's on the boil now, that people understand that there's been an assault on the school system, that the assault has been bought and paid for by people with an agenda, and that our mayor is one of those people.

I feel that if Karen Lewis were to run for mayor, and the election were held today, she would beat Rahm in a landslide, even with all of Donald Trump's birther money on the other side.

However, this is all just prologue to the coming fight--- the mayor has ambitious plans to open a galaxy of charter schools and close 100 neighborhood schools--- in the hugest privatization coup d'état in U.S. history.

That's going to take boots on the ground to fight off. It's going to take 

What has the NEA done to support the CTU? NEA Media answers my question. « Fred Klonsky

What has the NEA done to support the CTU? NEA Media answers my question. « Fred Klonsky:

What has the NEA done to support the CTU? NEA Media answers my question.

by Fred Klonsky

A visit yesterday to the NEA website concerned me. There was not one word about the historic strike of Chicago teachers. I checked their press section and could only find a press release  of a support statement from NEA Presisident Dennis Van Roekel on September 10th, the first day of the strike and a week ago.
I sent an email to NEA Media asking about this.
Here is their reply in full:

Hi Fred and Mike,
I’ve been following both of your posts re: the CTA strike and sharing them here at NEA. This week 

30,000 filled the park. “We are still on strike.”

by Fred Klonsky

CTU President Karen Lewis told the crowd of 30,000 that the CTU was still on strike.
No rush. No Rahm tricks.
And the 30,000 roared their approval.
The House of Delegates meets tomorrow to look at what they got.

Teachers may win more than better contract Parents United for Responsible Education

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Teachers may win more than better contract:

Teachers may win more than better contract

by admin

The Sun-Times quotes me suggesting that the possibly-winding-up strike will have at least one positive outcome beyond whatever contractual benefits are won –  higher morale for teachers who have been under relentless attack from Hollywood, Bill Gates, Rahm, astroturfers, Republican candidates, etc:

“I think the children are going to benefit from teachers who are newly invigorated and excited about the work that they do. It’s not just that they have been able to come together as a profession; they’ve seen the 

Former CT Education Deputy and Stamford Superintendent put on leave in Warwick, RI. - Wait, What?

Former CT Education Deputy and Stamford Superintendent put on leave in Warwick, RI. - Wait, What?:

Former CT Education Deputy and Stamford Superintendent put on leave in Warwick, RI.

by jonpelto

Thanks to a Wait, What? reader from Rhode Island, I’ve learned that according to press reports, Peter Horoschak, Superintendent of Schools in Warwick, RI, that state’s second largest school district, was put on administrative leave today.  According to the Warwick School Committee’s Vice Chairman, the action was due to a personnel matter.  Superintendent Horoschak reported that he is unaware of what the issue may be.

Few may realize that Horoschak served as the Deputy Commissioner of the Connecticut State Department of Education, and Assistant Secretary of the State Board of Education, in the mid-1970s.  He also served as Superintendent of Schools in Stamford, Connecticut

THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: Everyone: Watch and Understand that Chicago's Education Problems are America's Education Problems, h/t Jim Horn.

THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: Everyone: Watch and Understand that Chicago's Education Problems are America's Education Problems, h/t Jim Horn.:

Everyone: Watch and Understand that Chicago's Education Problems are America's Education Problems, h/t Jim Horn.

by The Perimeter Primate

Videos like this could, and should, be produced on behalf of students in every public school district bombarded with the misguided corporate-style education reform.

HT Jim Horn at Schools Matter

Popout

Please send the video link or embed it and post everywhere you can, in every county, state, and country.  

Karen Lewis: Why We’re Striking in Chicago | Seattle Education

Karen Lewis: Why We’re Striking in Chicago | Seattle Education:

Karen Lewis: Why We’re Striking in Chicago

by seattleducation2011

This statement was issued on Monday, September 10, 2012 and a reminder of what this strike is all about:

Karen Lewis, president of the Chicago Teachers Union

Negotiations have been intense but productive, however we have failed to reach an agreement that will prevent a labor strike. This is a difficult decision and one we hoped we could avoid. Throughout these negotiations have I remained hopeful but determined. We must do things differently in this city if we are to provide our students with the education they so rightfully deserve.
Talks have been productive in many areas. We have successfully won concessions for nursing mothers and have put more than 500 of our members back to work. We have restored some of the art, music, world language, technology and physical education classes to many of our students. The Board also agreed that we will now 

Schools Matter: NCTQ Is An Advocacy Group for Corporate Education Reform--Someone Tell the NYTimes

Schools Matter: NCTQ Is An Advocacy Group for Corporate Education Reform--Someone Tell the NYTimes:

NCTQ Is An Advocacy Group for Corporate Education Reform--Someone Tell the NYTimes

by Jim Horn

For years I've continued to watch the New York Times pretend they believe that the morally-compromised Kate Walsh and National Council on Teacher Quality represent a "nonprofit, nonpartisan research group," when, in fact, they would know if have visited the NCTQ website that even NCTQ admits that 

The National Council on Teacher Quality advocates for reforms in a broad range of teacher policies at the federal, state and local levels in order to increase the number of effective teachers. . .

NCTQ is funded by corporate money for corporate reasons and run by corporate acolytes.  NCTQ is a corporate 

CUNY Administration Declares War On Rebel Faculty « Student Activism

CUNY Administration Declares War On Rebel Faculty « Student Activism:

CUNY Administration Declares War On Rebel Faculty

by Angus Johnston

This is an astounding story.
On Wednesday the English department at Queensborough Community College voted not to adopt a policy of the City University of New York to reduce composition course credits from four to three. In so doing, they rejected the CUNY Pathways initiative, a proposal for streamlining and centralizing CUNY curricula which many facultyregard as antithetical to students’ needs.
Administrators didn’t like this. And in fact they disliked it so much that Queensborough announced two days later that they’re dismantling the QCC English department in retaliation.
In an email sent to the department chair yesterday QCC Vice President Karen Steele announced that because 

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Charter Open Thread

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Charter Open Thread:

Charter Open Thread

by Melissa Westbrook

So one reader, Rachel, had posted a link to an interesting article out of Philadelphia (from the parent blog, The Notebook) about a very exclusive charter where you can only pick up their application form one time a year and that's usually at their open house, held either at a private golf club or country club.  

Interested families couldn't find Green Woods’ application online. They couldn't request a copy in the mail. In fact, they couldn't even pick up a copy at the school.

Instead, Green Woods made its application available only one day each year. Even then, the application was only given to families who attended the school’s open house – which most recently has been held at a private golf club in the Philadelphia suburbs.

Is this just an isolated incident there?

But this spring, that very office found that Green Woods and 17 other charters

Chicago teachers stage rally amid hopes of strike’s end | The Raw Story

Chicago teachers stage rally amid hopes of strike’s end | The Raw Story:

Chicago teachers stage rally amid hopes of strike’s end

By David Ferguson

Saturday, September 15, 2012 12:12 EDT

Topics: chicago public schools ♦ Chicago Teachers Union ♦ Mayor Rahm Emanuel

 

The Chicago Teachers’ Union (CTU) will hold a rally on Saturday as a show of solidarity amid hopes that a tentative deal reached on Friday with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will hold.  According to Reuters, the “Standing Strong With Chicago Teachers Rally” is intended to keep pressure on Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who ignited a firestorm earlier this year when he tried to ram through a set of controversial new education policies.

CTU President Karen Lewis said that while hopes are high, teachers are wary of Emanuel, who has been called a “liar” and a “bully” by union officials.

“They (union members) are very suspicious. You have to understand that we have been burnt by the (school) board in the past. You have to understand we want to make sure all our I’s are dotted 

Jersey Jazzman: Chicago Teachers Making Reformies Nervous

Jersey Jazzman: Chicago Teachers Making Reformies Nervous:

Chicago Teachers Making Reformies Nervous

by Duke

Reformy eyes from all over the country are looking at the Chicago teachers strike; do they like what they see?

Newark teachers, in the thick of their own contract negotiations, are closely watching the developments in the Chicago teachers strike.

Several issues under negotiation in Newark — where teachers have been without a contract since 2010 — are the same as the sticking points in Chicago, including new teacher evaluations and pay based on experience and degrees, said Joe Del Grosso, the Newark Teachers Union president. He said his members could be swayed by the outcome in Chicago.

“You have members who look at the news,” he said. “If the teachers there prevail in their way, 

Is Educational Choice a Good Thing? Yes, If…. | IDEA

Is Educational Choice a Good Thing?  Yes, If…. | IDEA:

Is Educational Choice a Good Thing?  Yes, If….

by Kristan Morrison in democracy.edu
I am caught in a weird place. I am a public university professor in a teacher education program who prepares people to be state-licensed teachers in our public schools. Thus, some critics would argue that I am a tool of the public school/government monopoly over education. But I am also an advocate of many other types of schools -free schools , homeschooling (especially of the unschooling variety), Montesorri schools, Waldorf schools, Quaker schools, etc.....pretty much any school along the progressive end of the spectrum. My support of the latter types sometimes causes some to perceive me as an enemy or traitor to public education. 

I have had many conversations with people who choose private (or home-based) alternatives for their children and who argue in favor of charters and vouchers because they believe that if public educational dollars followed each child, then more families would be able to send their children to schools with progressive educational practices. I 

Testing teacher through “VAM: « Deborah Meier on Education

Testing teacher through “VAM: « Deborah Meier on Education:

Testing teacher through “VAM:

by debmeier

It’s like  a doctor offering me a pill that he knows doesn’t work because he hasn’t found one as cheap and easy to take that works. But at least we can say “no” to our doctors. But can we say “no” to putting teachers lives on the line for a “pill” that doesn’t work?  Alas, increasingly the answer is “we can’t”, and the poison pill spreads.  Hurrah for Chicago’s teachers for saying no–but even they probably can’t stop it. Is a compromise better than nothing?   Probably yes. Scary stuff. Read below for more info to add to the info on why this VAM-pill is nonsense.  And thank you, Chicago teachers.

From: Leonie Haimson
Subject: [nyceducationnews] Fwd: Analyzing Released NYC Value-Added Data Part 6

 

What it means to win…

by debmeier

Quoting Ted Sizer’s hopes for the Coalition of Essential Schools in 1983. “I hope that we can change the conversation.” Well, Chicago teachers, you have. Sometimes, as John Dewey noted, you can only learn when you are moving, in action, exploring, experimenting, taking risks. You’ve unparalyzed us,  Chicago. Victory is already yours and ours–even before I’ve read any new contract language.

Jersey Jazzman: Who Cares What Whitney Tilson Thinks?!

Jersey Jazzman: Who Cares What Whitney Tilson Thinks?!:

Who Cares What Whitney Tilson Thinks?!

by Duke

What bizarre sort of logic does CNN use to select their guests?

Whitney Tilson is not an educator. He has no degrees, experience, or training in education. He has no labor relations background. He is completely unqualified to discuss the topic in any meaningful way. Why, then, would CNN think he was a good guest for a segment about the Chicago teacher strike?

Both he and Christine Romans are an embarrassment here. For example:

- Romans's xenophobic worry about China's and India's alleged large numbers of engineers is totally misplaced. The US dominates the world in true engineering training; according to experts, the Chinese definition of an 

What research really says on teacher evaluation - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

What research really says on teacher evaluation - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:

What research really says on teacher evaluation

By Valerie Strauss

The Chicago teachers strike has put the issue of teacher evaluation front and center in the education debate. The popular “value added” method of using student standardized test scores to figure out how effective a teacher is highly controversial; I wrote about it here. Here is a new important look by an education expert, Richard Rothstein.

Rothstein is a research associate at the Economic Policy Institute, a non-profit organization created to broaden the discussion about economic policy to include the interests of low- and middle-income workers. He was the national education columnist of The New York 

What My Students Wrote in a Free Write About the Strike | K-12 News Network

What My Students Wrote in a Free Write About the Strike | K-12 News Network:

What My Students Wrote in a Free Write About the Strike

by David

The Friday before the strike was anticipated to possibly start here in Chicago. I asked my students the simple question at the end of a quiz, “Should your teachers go on strike?”
Here is a sampling of their responses. This was a free write so I just typed what they had written.
“I Support my teachers cause they need more pay so they can help us get ready for the future” — Hakeem
“I honestly think you should go on strike. I don’t think it’s fair that you have to work longer hours without getting the pay y’all deserve. Even though we gonna be out of school and we gonna make up those days it’s fine.” — Chakira
“I really support the teachers for going on strike, because I think teachers should fight for their rights.” — Harvey

An Urban Teacher's Education: The Good Teachers Unions Can Do

An Urban Teacher's Education: The Good Teachers Unions Can Do:

The Good Teachers Unions Can Do

by James Boutin

The way people talk about teachers unions these days, you’d be forgiven for thinking they serve no useful purpose. It seems all we hear about is how teachers unions do a disservice to students and public education by keeping bad teachers in front of students. It is disturbing, therefore, how few people actually understand what unions do and how they help students, schools, communities and teachers. As a teacher, neither entirely supportive nor entirely cynical of unions, I think that needs to change. The discussion needs to be more fleshed out, and our understanding more mature.

I do not come from a background supportive of unions. As far as I know, I’m the only person in my extended family who belongs to (or has ever belonged to) a union. I was pretty cynical of unions when I began teaching.