CATCH UP WITH CURMUDGUCATION + ICYMI: Spooky Edition (10/31)

CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Spooky Edition (10/31)

Spooky Edition

The Board of Directors will be out scrounging for candy dressed as a member of Koo Koo Kangaroo and a Construction Guy. I will be on the front steps of the Institute handing out candy to costumed wanderers of all ages. Hope you are having a fun evening wherever you are.

Where Facts Were No Match For Fear

Not actually about education, but certainly provides some insights into the kind of stuff we're seeing these days. The New York Times looks at an attempt to raise tourism in Montana.

Why we are suing Pennsylvania over school funding

Yes, that's happening in PA, and will probably provide a lesson of one sort or another for activists in other states. On The Morning Call.

This is the problem with ranking schools

I never get tired of watching people chastise US News and their crappy ranking lists. This time it's Ethan Hutt in the Washington Post.

Methods for comparing school site spending (and correctly making charter school comparisons)

Bruce Baker at School Finance 101. I know, it doesn't sound very sexy, but it's awfully useful for making comparisons that are actually valid.

A look at the groups supporting school board protesters nationwide

Anya Kamenetz at NPR giving a good overview of all these various outfits stirring the pot these days. 

Grit has been called the secret to success. New research says maybe not.\

Inc. has some unsurprising news--grit might not be the great be-all that Angela Duckworth and friends suggested it was.

Need teachers?

Nancy Flanagan looks at the staffing problems faced in districts across the country. Gee, what could the problem be?

Texas law due for a rework

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch editorial board has a few thoughts about the poorly-written Texas gag law that led to a call for both-sidesing the Holocaust 

A Gay Music Teacher Got Married. The Brooklyn Diocese Fired Him.

This story from the New York Times explains how a religious school can get away with this, and will continue to.

The GOP's grievance industrial complex invades the classroom

Jennifer Berkshire in The Nation offers more perspective on the current dust-up across the country that has drawn a target on school districts.

Schools facing critical race theory battles are diversifying rapidly, analysis finds

This NBC piece from back in September is worth revisiting because it offers an answer to the question, "What do all these up-in-arms districts have in common." The answer may be that white folks have become less of a majority there.

Matt Krause’s campaign for attorney general comes with a reading list

Texas state rep Matt Krause has a list of 850 questionable books that he wants schools to reconsider. He's also running for state attorney general. Great opening line in this Texas Tribune piece-- "Book bans don't really work, except in politics."

Critical race theory: a case study in appropriation

From Friend of the Institute Barth Kleck at CT News Junkie, a great reminder of how we got here. They said what they were going to do, they said they were doing it, they bragged about how successful they were at doing it, they said they'd done it. 

Your new Glenn Youngkin-approved AP English curriculum

Alexandra Petri is a national treasure. Sharp satire at the Washington Post.

CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Spooky Edition (10/31)

CATCH UP WITH CURMUDGUCATION

AND DON'T FORGET PETER GREENE ON FORBES CLICK HERE 

Universal Pre-K: Can The Feds Build It Without Messing It Up? - https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2021/10/30/universal-pre-k-can-the-feds-build-it-without-messing-it-up/?sh=5f9586822ddd by @palan57 on @forbes

What If Religious Schools Replaced Public Education? - https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2021/10/27/what-if-religious-schools-replaced-public-education/?sh=2745924119a9 by @palan57 on @forbes

The Sentences Computers Can't Understand

by Peter Greene / 2d

Alternate title: Reason #451,632 that computer software, no matter how many times its vendors call it AI, should be allowed to assess student writing. Though you can also file this under "reasons that content knowledge is the foundation of literacy." Our ability to use language is astonishing and magical. Now that the Board of Directors are 4.5 years old, I've again lived through the absolutely a

How I Taught Controversial Texts

by Peter Greene / 3d

So the critical race theory panic has, in many cases, boiled down to a good old-fashioned desire to ban books, most notably in Virginia where, somehow, Toni Morrison's Beloved is being debated (and, I should add, spoiled for those who haven't read it). I am not going to make my argument against banning here, because that's a book in itself. But I am going to talk about what the teaching of these

What Can Schools Learn From Learning Pods

by Peter Greene / 4d

This is not hard. Really. Not hard at all. But Lisa Chu somehow dances around it. She's writing for the Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) , an advocacy group for charter-flavored ed reform. Founded by Paul Hill and now headed by Robin Lake, who was heavily invested in the push for Washington state charters and who at one point rejected the mantle of reformer even as she continued to em

Betsy DeVos Plays The Hits (NAEP Edition)

by Peter Greene / 4d

Before Betsy DeVos was Secretary of Education, she was a relentless, wealthy privatization advocate, and there was never any chance that she would walk away from her old job once she was done with the new one. It's just that now she can put that "former secretary" in front of her name. So it should come as zero surprise that she turned up last week sharing an op-ed on Fox News , joining in that po

What The WSJ Anti-Public Ed Op-Ed Gets Wrong

by Peter Greene / 5d

Last Friday, the Wall Street Journal (Fix News' upscale sibling) p ublished an op-ed from Philip Hamburger, a Columbia law professor and head of the New Civil Liberties Alliance , a Koch-funded pro bono firm that takes cases primarily to defend against the "administrative state." It's a hit job on public education with some pretty bold arguments, some of which are pretty insulting. But he sure sa

ICYMI: No Staff Shortage Here Edition (10/24)

by Peter Greene / 7d

The advantage of having the Curmudgucation Institute operated with a staff of one, unpaid, is evident at times like these. I would give me a raise, but the Institute can't afford to stretch our budget of $0.00. I mention this because we all need to be periodically reminded that all one needs to be a policy spokesperson, think tank, or important activist group, is one person, a point of view, and

Another Faux Diverse Viewpoint Ed Site

by Peter Greene / 8d

I have reached the point where I really appreciate a website that says "We are here to promote the right wing education agenda," rather than one like Chalkboard Review* that leads with lines like "Everyone is a stakeholder in

CURMUDGUCATION - http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Saturday, October 30, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform #TEACHtheTRUTH #CRT

  Big Education Ape

THE TOP BANANA
TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES

Stories from School AZ: The Problem of Choice | National Education Policy Center - https://nepc.colorado.edu/node/11114 on @NEPCtweet

An abundance of progressives. Two Illinois Latinx districts. - by Fred Klonsky - Fred Klonsky in Retirement - https://fredklonsky.substack.com/p/an-abundance-of-progressives-two

SMOKE ON THE WATER, FIRE IN THE SKY – Dad Gone Wild - https://wp.me/p4d08y-2Y9 via @norinrad10

U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Overturn Maine Vaccine Mandate That Excludes Religious Exemption | Diane Ravitch's blog - https://wp.me/p2odLa-uWs via @dianeravitch

Illinois: Parent Groups Sue to Remove COVID Safety Measures | Diane Ravitch's blog - https://wp.me/s2odLa-illinois via @dianeravitch

Grassroots Education Network- October 2021 Newsletter - Network For Public Education - https://networkforpubliceducation.org/grassroots-education-network-october-2021-newsletter/ via @Network4pubEd

Don’t Gamble with your Life or Health | Lloyd Lofthouse - https://wp.me/p2mPRS-Xg via @lflwriter

When Teachers Write about Their Practice | Teacher in a strange land - https://wp.me/p1Wvaa-f8 via @nancyflanagan

New Hampshire: How Libertarians Captured the Republican Party in the State | Diane Ravitch's blog - https://wp.me/p2odLa-uTL via @dianeravitch

North Carolina: Vote to Save Your Public Schools! | Diane Ravitch's blog - https://wp.me/p2odLa-uWv via @dianeravitch

Scranton: Teachers Will Go on Strike https://popularresistance.org/scranton-teachers-will-go-on-strike/

NYC Educator: Meaningless Tests, Suicide Prevention, and Election Day - http://nyceducator.com/2021/10/meaningless-tests-suicide-prevention.html

Florida Bars State Professors From Testifying in Voting Rights Case - The New York Times - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/29/us/florida-professors-voting-rights-lawsuit.html on @nytimes

Orlando Sentinel Skewers ‘Fraud’ Ron DeSantis’ COVID-19 Spin: ‘How Orwellian’ | HuffPost Latest News - https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ron-desantis-orlando-sentinel-editorial-board_n_617cf240e4b0657357493805

Texas School Censors All Of ‘Huck Finn’ Except The N-Words - https://www.theonion.com/texas-school-censors-all-of-huck-finn-except-the-n-wo-1847956839?utm_medium=sharefromsite&utm_source=_twitter on theonion

KANSAS STATE EUCATION CODE: Full Text - https://www.kansasregents.org/about/policies-by-laws-missions/board_policy_manual_2/chapter_ii_governance_state_universities_2/chapter_ii_full_text

Schools facing critical race theory battles are diversifying rapidly, analysis finds - https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/schools-facing-critical-race-theory-battles-are-diversifying-rapidly-analysis-n1278834 by NBCNews on @NBCNews

Schools facing critical race theory battles are diversifying rapidly, analysis finds - https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/schools-facing-critical-race-theory-battles-are-diversifying-rapidly-analysis-n1278834 by NBCNews on @NBCNews

Philly student athletes participating in winter and spring sports must be vaccinated - Chalkbeat Philadelphia - https://philadelphia.chalkbeat.org/2021/10/29/22753381/philly-student-athletes-participating-in-winter-and-spring-sports-must-be-vaccinated-against-covid on chalkbeat

Ancestry Offers a Missing Link for Black Families with the Release of Freedmen's Bureau Records | NewBlackMan (in Exile) - https://www.newblackmaninexile.net/2021/10/ancestry-offers-missing-link-for-black.html via @NewBlackMan

SPI Celebrates Literature Day - Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education) - https://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr21/yr21rel87.asp

Three New Resources To Help Teach About Climate Change | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/?p=119781 on @Larryferlazzo

glen brown: The Teachers' Retirement System of Illinois: Actuarial Review Shows Improvement in Long-Term Finances/State Contribution to Increase by 4% - https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2021/10/the-teachers-retirement-system-of.html

Meet ProPublica’s Emerging Reporters for the 2021 School Year https://www.propublica.org/article/meet-propublicas-emerging-reporters-for-the-2021-school-year#1153081

Florida Program to Aid Brain-Damaged Kids Often Told Families No. It’s Promising to Change. https://www.propublica.org/article/florida-program-to-aid-brain-damaged-kids-often-told-families-no-its-promising-to-change#1150927

BE AFRAID: Spooky Season is here for election officials and democracy itself, too | Eclectablog - https://www.eclectablog.com/?p=73175 on @Eclectablog

Introducing our new GOTMFV Show podcast co-host, MoReno Taylor II! | Eclectablog - https://www.eclectablog.com/?p=73178 on @Eclectablog

Support the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act https://educationvotes.nea.org/?p=49770#.YX1g69GzZj4.twitter via @EdVotes

Updated Build Back Better framework unveiled https://educationvotes.nea.org/?p=49769#.YX1hE406uF4.twitter via @EdVotes

Will Critical Race Theory Hysteria Influence Future of Affirmative Action? https://www.laprogressive.com/will-critical-race-theory-hysteria-influence-future-of-affirmative-action/

FDA authorizes first Covid vaccine for kids ages 5-11 https://www.politico.com/news/2021/10/29/fda-authorizes-first-covid-vaccine-for-kids-ages-5-11-517679

Why sugar may be the scariest part of Halloween https://www.salon.com/2021/10/29/why-sugar-may-be-the-scariest-part-of-halloween/

Court turns away religious challenge to Maine’s vaccine mandate for health care workers https://www.scotusblog.com/2021/10/court-turns-away-religious-challenge-to-maines-vaccine-mandate-for-health-care-workers/

How Folklore Helped Me Reclaim Halloween: An Afro-Caribbean Tale https://www.theroot.com/how-folklore-helped-me-reclaim-halloween-an-afro-carib-1847966957

Ain’t Nothing Funny: Nassau County School District Says Video of White Students Using the N-Word, Wearing White Hood Was Meant to Be a ‘Joke’ https://www.theroot.com/ain-t-nothing-funny-nassau-county-school-district-says-1847965150

Head of Prep School Who Uninvited Nikole Hannah-Jones Is Taking a Leave of Absence https://www.theroot.com/head-of-prep-school-who-uninvited-nikole-hannah-jones-i-1847964422

NAACP Urges Athletes To Avoid Signing With Texas Teams Over Voting, Abortion Laws https://sacobserver.com/2021/10/naacp-urges-athletes-to-avoid-signing-with-texas-teams-over-voting-abortion-laws/

NOLA Public Schools centralized admissions process — formerly called OneApp — launches Nov. 1, with a new name and new selective admission schools https://thelensnola.org/2021/10/29/nola-public-schools-centralized-admissions-process-formerly-called-oneapp-launches-nov-1-with-a-new-name-and-new-selective-admission-schools/

With 1.9% enrollment drop, NYC schools have lost about 64,000 students since pandemic started https://ny.chalkbeat.org/2021/10/29/22753067/enrollment-decline-nyc-schools via @ChalkbeatNY

Three New Resources To Help Teach About Climate Change https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2021/10/29/three-new-resources-to-help-teach-about-climate-change/

Children ages 5 to 11 are a step closer to being eligible for the Pfizer vaccine https://www.npr.org/2021/10/30/1050782599/children-ages-5-to-11-are-a-step-closer-to-being-eligible-for-the-pfizer-vaccine

Halloween means trick, not treat, for some children http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRawStory/~3/AdOuG5q-Y4Q/

The dark history of American antisemitism http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRawStory/~3/g589i__V9do/

White student wears KKK outfit to school – his classmate says ‘friends of color’ encouraged him http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRawStory/~3/7tbVMMaFa1w/

After a Billionaire Designed a Dorm, an Architect Resigned in Protest https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/30/us/charlie-munger-ucsb-dorms.html

A Black Ex-High School Track Coach Alleges His Firing Was a Racially-Motivated Act of Retaliation Against Him https://www.theroot.com/a-black-ex-high-school-track-coach-alleges-his-firing-w-1847969205

Florida blocks professors from testifying against voting law pushed by DeSantis https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2021/10/30/florida-blocks-professors-from-testifying-against-voting-law-pushed-by-desantis-1392142

Big Education Ape: THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Saturday, October 30, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform #TEACHtheTRUTH #CRT - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/10/the-top-banana-todays-education_30.html

Big Education Ape: Big Education Ape: TOP POSTS THIS WEEK Saturday, October 30, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform #TEACHtheTRUTH #CRT - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/10/big-education-ape-top-posts-this-week_30.html

Big Education Ape: THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Friday, October 29, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform #TEACHtheTRUTH #CRT - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/10/the-top-banana-todays-education_29.html

Big Education Ape: KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edleadership #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/10/keep-up-catch-up-with-diane-ravitchs_30.html

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/10/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos_30.html

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK Education Research Report - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/10/this-week-education-research-report_30.html

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/10/this-week-with-newblackman-in-exile-blm_30.html

Big Education Ape: SSPI TONY THURMOND: STUFF THIS WEEK FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/10/sspi-tony-thurmond-stuff-this-week-from_30.html

Big Education Ape: TEACHER TOM THIS WEEK IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/10/teacher-tom-this-week-in-early_30.html

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK'S WILDNESS Dad Gone Wild Nobody reads it, everybody quotes it - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/10/this-weeks-wildness-dad-gone-wild_30.html

Big Education Ape: Network for Public Education Blog Post of the Day This Week #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edleadership #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/10/network-for-public-education-blog-post_30.html

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK'S TENNESSEE EDUCATION REPORT - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/10/this-weeks-tennessee-education-report_30.html

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK NEWS FROM DR. MIGUEL CARDONA AND THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/10/this-week-news-from-dr-miguel-cardona_30.html

Big Education Ape: THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Saturday, October 23, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform #TEACHtheTRUTH #CRT - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/10/the-top-banana-todays-education_23.html

Big Education Ape: Big Education Ape: TOP POSTS THIS WEEK Saturday, October 23, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #TEACHtheTRUTH #CRT - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/10/big-education-ape-top-posts-this-week_23.html

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