Her name is Laporshia Massey and our hearts are breaking | Parents United for Public Education

Her name is Laporshia Massey and our hearts are breaking | Parents United for Public Education:

Her name is Laporshia Massey and our hearts are breaking

Posted on October 10, 2013 by PARENTSUNITEDPHILALeave a comment

(Photo: City Paper via family of LaPorshia Massey)

Our hearts are breaking over the death of beautiful 12 year old Bryant Elementary student Laporshia Massey, who died following an asthma attack that apparently started at school.  We grieve for her entire family and the Bryant community.

According to the City Paper, Laporshia became ill during the school day. No nurse was scheduled. Laporshia called a family member, telling her repeatedly, “I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.” A staff person drove the sixth grader home.

Seeing his daughter’s state when she arrived home at about 3:15 p.m., [father Daniel] Burch says, he immediately gave her medication and then rushed her to the hospital. She collapsed in the car, at which point Burch flagged down a passing ambulance in the middle of traffic. Burch says his daughter later died at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, which could not confirm any details, including the time of her arrival, due to privacy constraints.

“They told her school was almost out, and she’d get out of school and go straight home,” says one district source, who requested anonymity because she was not authorized to speak to the press. “She went to the teacher,” who told her “there’s no nurse, and just to be calm.”

LAUSD to encourage teachers to wear LGBT 'ally' badges - latimes.com

LAUSD to encourage teachers to wear LGBT 'ally' badges - latimes.com:

LAUSD to encourage teachers to wear LGBT 'ally' badges

The front, left, of badges being distributed by the LAUSD has the word "ally" in seven languages. On the front is a list of resources on the back. Teachers and staff members are being encouraged to wear them.(L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center)

 By Ari Bloomekatz

October 10, 2013, 2:10 p.m.

Beginning Friday, thousands of rainbow "ally" badges will be passed out to Los Angeles Unified teachers and staff members that they can wear to identify themselves as allies of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students.

The "Out for Safe Schools" initiative coincides with National Coming Out Day on Friday and was announced Thursday by leaders of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and the school district.

"We want all our youth and staff to know that it is safe to be you in LAUSD," Supt. John Deasy said in a statement.

The badges have the word "ally" in seven languages on the front and a list of resources on the back. Teachers and staff members will be encouraged to wear them.

“Every day, LGBT kids are vulnerable to taunts and abuse -- physical and verbal -- simply because they’re different,” Alan Acosta, the center’s director of strategic initiatives, said in a statement. “Beginning tomorrow, every one of L.A.’s 655,000 public school students will know and see there are adults at their school who support and care about LGBT kids." 

Reclaiming the Promise of Public Education | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights

Reclaiming the Promise of Public Education | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights:

Reclaiming the Promise of Public Education

By American Federation of Teachers on October 10, 2013

By Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
As the school year starts, I keep thinking about how teachers never really get a break. Despite the myth about “summers off,” I was with several thousand educators this July – not at the beach, but atTEACH, the AFT’s largest gathering of educators focused on their professional practice and growth. Teachers spent long days learning from fellow educators and other experts about concrete ways to improve teaching and learning. Many teachers told me how they were spending the rest of their summer: writing curriculum aligned to the new, challenging Common Core State Standards; taking classes, because teachers are lifelong learners; and working with students – in enrichment camps and programs to stem summer learning loss. So much for the dog days of summer.
And our conferees did much more. We also committed to reclaim the promise – the promise of public education. Not as it is today or as it was in the past, but as what public education can be to fulfill our collective obligation to help all children succeed.
Yet even amidst this dedication and inspiration there is a great frustration. The promise of a great public education for all children is under pressure not only from out-of-touch legislators, but from economic and societal factors outside school that make it much more difficult to achieve success within the classroom. Nearly 1 out of every 2 students in public schools lives in poverty, and educators have become the first responders to their stress, hunger, and hardships. But these factors don’t keep us from teaching, they keep us up at night.
Public education is also under assault from people whose brand of “reform” consists of 

Tele-Town Hall with Diane Ravitch: Wednesday, Oct. 16th at 8:00 pm EDT | Reclaim Reform

Tele-Town Hall with Diane Ravitch: Wednesday, Oct. 16th at 8:00 pm EDT | Reclaim Reform:

Tele-Town Hall with Diane Ravitch: Wednesday, Oct. 16th at 8:00 pm EDT

Posted on October 10, 2013by Ken Previti

Tele-Town Hall with Diane Ravitch: Wednesday, Oct. 16th at 8:00 pm EDT

In September a group of about a hundred bloggers was invited to a tele-conference conversation with Diane Ravitch. Earlier, we had all been asked to write and blog our own book reviews of her new book, Reign of Error. Our reviews had yet to be blogged. (We were, of course, free to write whatever we believed of her book.) Never having experienced anything like this before, the directness, openness and raw sincerity of it all was quite astounding to me. Imagine “Data Meets Empathy.”

Diane herself spoke about the educational issues that we all grapple with. I knew that what we were doing that day was special and unique. I was glad to be part of it all.

If this coming Tele-Town Hall is as revealing as that September tele-conference was, please make certain that you take part in it. Be part of the discussion. No spin-doctors, TV personalities with careers to sharpen, or uncivil pundits will be part of it. Sign-up for the limited cyber-space available to whatever technology the Action Network has to offer.
Sign-up HERE.
Please RSVP by Saturday, October 12.

NYC Educator: UFT Moratorium--Too Little Too Late

NYC Educator: UFT Moratorium--Too Little Too Late:

UFT Moratorium--Too Little Too Late

It's fairly amazing to see Gotham Schools write that "the teachers union is already hoping to slow things down."  While it's true this is the first year junk science evaluation is officially in place, the fact is UFT officials were party to the law that mandated them. UFT supported it then, supported it through negotiations, and continued to support it when it was clear Reformy John King would make all decisions about it. In fact, UFT sources called people ignorant for objecting to King John's fiat, suggesting they didn't understand negotiation.

Unlike Gotham Schools, some of us have an attention span of years rather than weeks. We remember the selling point when this first surfaced. UFT bigshots said junk science only counted for 40%, while in other states it counted 50 or more. They neglected to point out that if you happen to fail the junk science portion it becomes 100%, and you're facing unemployment if it should happen the following year. Even when that became clear, UFT supported it.

In fact, UFT still supports junk science evaluations. UFT also supports Common Core, though it's never been field tested or proven valid 

Social Darwinism Resurrected for the New Gilded Age - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

Social Darwinism Resurrected for the New Gilded Age - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:

Social Darwinism Resurrected for the New Gilded Age

By Anthony Cody on October 10, 2013 2:20 PM

Over at the Bridging Differences blog, a fascinating dialogue is occurring, where Michael Petrilli has been laying out the philosophical arguments for a two tier educational system. I appreciate Mr. Petrilli, because while some reformers hide their intentions behind mushy rhetoric, he has laid out his argument plainly, where it can be debated.

His latest attempts are to be found in his recent post, The Especially Deserving Poor. 

Here he builds on a theme he sounded last January, when he wrote in defense of high expulsion rates for DC charter schools, suggesting that these schools were "serving the strivers,"   and thus should be allowed to cast off the less motivated or compliant students. He wrote:

 In my view, we should admit--even celebrate--this phenomenon and be proud of the charter schools that are identifying and serving high-potential low-income students--kids who are committed to using education to escape poverty and are often supported in that effort by supportive parents. 

I wrote then that this was essentially advocating for a two-tier educational system, one that leaves behind the English learners, the disabled, and those most affected by poverty.  

 Mr. Petrilli now is extending this theme, with his construct of the "especially deserving poor."

 He begins by denying the reality so many of us see before us, and which is supported by 

Why the Sacramento Bee Did Not Mention My Visit | Diane Ravitch's blog

Why the Sacramento Bee Did Not Mention My Visit | Diane Ravitch's blog:

Why the Sacramento Bee Did Not Mention My Visit

 When I spoke in Sacramento last week about today’s failed fads in education, the town’s leading newspaper ignored my appearance. They ignored it even though I was introduced by Tom Torlakson, the state superintendent of education, and even though 1,000 people filled historic Memorial Hall.

Now I know why.

They published five stories about Shaq O’Neill!

I have nothing against Shaq. He is great. When I was in Argentina two years ago, the grand hotel Alvear Palace put us in a suite with a bed custom made for Shaq. No other rooms were available. Wow! Thanks, Shaq.

But some debate about where we are heading in education would not be a bad idea in Sacramento. None at all is a very bad idea.

This Is Not A Test: A New Narrative on Race, Class, and Education: Jose Vilson, Karen Lewis: 9781608463701: Amazon.com: Books

This Is Not A Test: A New Narrative on Race, Class, and Education: Jose Vilson, Karen Lewis: 9781608463701: Amazon.com: Books:

This Is Not A Test: A New Narrative on Race, Class, and EducationPaperback – May 6, 2014

by Jose Vilson (Author) , Karen Lewis (Foreword)

---

• Paperback 
  $11.94 1 New from $11.94
  
  José Vilson writes about race, class, and education through stories from the classroom and researched essays. His rise from rookie math teacher to prominent teacher leader takes a twist when he takes on education reform through his now-blocked eponymous blog, TheJoseVilson.com. He calls for the reclaiming of the education profession while seeking social justice.
  José Vilson is a middle school math educator for in the Inwood/Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. He writes for Edutopia, GOOD, and TransformED / Future of Teaching, and his work has appeared in Education Week, CNN.com, Huffington Post, and El Diario / La Prensa.

The Whole Child Blog 10-10-13 — Whole Child Education

The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education:

THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG

Early Childhood Education: Balancing Expectations and What Young Learners Really Need

October 10, 2013 by Whole Child Podcast

Download Podcast Now [Right-Click to Save]

What does "education" mean for our youngest learners? The first years of school are as important for an educated population as any other period, perhaps more. Additionally, research shows that implementation of high-quality preschool programs can be beneficial for the lifelong development of children in low-income families and that an upfront commitment to early education provides returns to society that are many times more valuable than the original investment.

With the current focus on standards and academic achievement, is learning and testing coming too early? Curriculum and assessment should be based on the best knowledge of theory and research about how children develop and learn with attention given to individual children's needs and interests in a group in relation to program goals. In this episode, we discuss the importance of early childhood education and the specific social, cognitive, and emotional needs these learners have that are different than those of older learners. You'll hear from

• Thomas Armstrong, an award-winning author and speaker with more than 40 years of teaching experience from the primary through the doctoral level. More than 1 million copies of his books are in print on issues related to learning and human development, including the 2012 ASCD book, Neurodiversity in the Classroom: Strength-Based Strategies to Help Students with Special Needs Achieve Success in School and Life.
• Laura Bornfreund, a senior policy analyst for the New America Foundation's Early Education Initiative. Bornfreund examines early education (birth through grade 3) studies and policies and researches and writes original policy papers. She contributes to Early Ed Watch, the Early Education Initiative's blog, 

 

Community School Collaborations: A Lifeline for Early Learning Program Success

Post written by Janet Brown, Senior Early Childhood Program Specialist, and Kwesi Rollins, Director of Leadership Programs at the Institute for Educational Leadership In Lifelines for Poor Children, economist and Nobel laureate, James Heckman, argues that quality early learning programs represent our best national education investment, due to evidence of societal benefits from longitudinal studi

by ASCD Whole Child ... / 27min 

Afterschool and Summer: Ideal Times for STEM Learning

Post written by Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance; Sarah Pitcock, interim CEO of the National Summer Learning Association; and Gina Warner, executive director of the National AfterSchool Association There's no getting around it—to stack the odds in favor of career success and a competitive nation, kids today must embrace and develop proficiency in science, technology, en

by ASCD Whole Child ... / 27min 

YESTERDAY

Community School Collaborations: A Lifeline for Early Learning Program Success

Post written by Janet Brown, Senior Early Childhood Program Specialist, and Kwesi Rollins, Director of Leadership Programs at the Institute for Educational Leadership In Lifelines for Poor Children, economist and Nobel laureate James Heckman argues that quality early learning programs represent our best national education investment due to evidence of societal benefits from longitudinal studies

by ASCD Whole Child ... / 1d 

Community School Collaborations: A Lifeline for Early Learning Program Success

Post written by Janet Brown, Senior Early Childhood Program Specialist, and Kwesi Rollins, Director of Leadership Programs at the Institute for Educational Leadership In Lifelines for Poor Children, economist and Nobel laureate James Heckman argues that quality early learning programs represent our best national education investment due to evidence of societal benefits from longitudinal studies of

by ASCD Whole Child ... / 1d 

OCT 08

ED Pulse Poll Results: Where Does Early Childhood Education Fit Within Our National Priorities?

ASCD continually seeks to provide solutions to the challenges that face educators of all levels. Recently the ASCD SmartBrief ED Pulse poll addressed where quality early education falls within U.S. priorities and goals. The topic of early childhood education has always been important to certain groups in the U.S. But recently it has received more widespread discussion as the government and busine

by Kit Harris, ASCD ... / 1d 

PEACE at Oxon Hill Middle School

As kings and queens arrive at school, they are greeted with warm smiles, hand shakes, and student-initiated hugs to staff members and one another. They can't wait to get to school! It is clear that PEACE (Positive Energy Activates Constant Elevation) lives here. "Peace King, Peace Queen." Here it seems that positive energy activates constant elevation. Situated in the suburbs of Ft. Wa

by Ashanti Foster / 2d 

Throughout October: Early Childhood Education

What does "education" mean for our youngest learners? The first years of school are as important for an educated population as any other period, perhaps more. Additionally, research shows that implementation of high-quality preschool programs can be beneficial for the lifelong development of children in low-income families and that an upfront commitment to early education provides retur

by Klea Scharberg / 2d 

OCT 07

Throughout October: Early Childhood Education

What does "education" mean for our youngest learners? The first years of school are as important for an educated population as any other period, perhaps more. Additionally, research shows that implementation of high-quality preschool programs can be beneficial for the lifelong development of children in low-income families and that an upfront commitment to early education provides retur

by Klea Scharberg / 2d 

Why Resilience Is Critical in a Learning Environment

Resilience is a life skill that all teachers should focus on throughout students' educational careers. In many classrooms, resiliency and perseverance may be discussed early in the year and then left out of the classroom dialogue, or not discussed at all. As members of the school environment, we cannot wait for resilience to materialize organically for each student. To place an emphasis on resili

by Tammy Russell / 2d 

Now that Texas has a waiver from No Child, what will Michael Williams and team do about evaluating teachers and principals? | Dallas Morning News

Now that Texas has a waiver from No Child, what will Michael Williams and team do about evaluating teachers and principals? | Dallas Morning News:

Now that Texas has a waiver from No Child, what will Michael Williams and team do about evaluating teachers and principals?

By Bill McKenzie / Editorial Columnist
wmckenzie@dallasnews.com
12:26 pm on October 10, 2013 | Permalink

1

2

0

Texas Education Agency Commissioner Michael Williams

Here is my question: Will the state of Texas come up with a serious evaluation system for teachers and principals now that theU.S. Education Department has givenTexas a waiver from the rules of the No Child Left Behind Act?

A couple of weeks ago, the department gave Texas the latest in a series of state waivers. I can see giving states some flexibility, but I fear these waivers are a way for Washington and the states to give up quietly on the belief that all children can learn at grade level.

But they are being given, so the next question is how will states use them. The stipulation for Texas is that it must now design a new evaluation system for teachers and principals.

You may recall that the Legislature tried to do this during its 2011 session. GOP Sen. Florence Shapiroof Plano crafted a bill that said teacher evaluations would be linked in part to data from their classrooms.

At first, she wanted about half of the evaluation to consist of such data. But she compromised on the amount. The Senate bill ended up with data counting for around 30 percent of a teacher’s evaluation.

The bill failed in the House, however. So, Texas has no requirement that data be used in classroom