Tuesday, August 28, 2012

UPDATE: Diane in the AFTERNOON 8-28-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

Diane Ravitch's blog:

What Can Be Done to Stop the “Vandals at the Gate”?

This is one of the sharpest commentaries I have read about the depredations of the Jindal-White gang in Louisiana, who are intent on destroying public education in the state as well as the teaching profession.
Everyone can pick their favorite line; there are many.
What I appreciate is the writer’s slashing criticism of the silent education professors, who have lost their tongues, unable or unwilling to defend the people they trained, mute in the face of the vandals at the gate.


Reformer Squabble in Connecticut

A progressive website published a “leaked document” that allegedly shows bad blood between Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst and Connecticut’s Parent Union.
Both are supposed to be working together to promote the parent trigger in Connecticut but it seems they got into a slugfest over money.
Read it for yourself.


Did He Miss Class That Day?

I posted earlier about Mayor Michael Nutter of Philadelphia, who said he could not see the difference between public, private and religious schools.
A teacher asks:
I wonder where these politicians are getting their education from. Did they miss class on the days when the Constitution and First Amendment were discussed?

Who Teaches in NYC Charters?

Bruce Baker just released a fascinating summary of research on NYC charter schools.
The teachers are younger than district teachers, but not right out of college.
They typically have six years of experience, less than district teachers.
Their salaries are comparable to those of public

Good Grief! Look at #2 in Texas Education Agency

While there was a fair amount of attention paid to Governor Rick Perry’s choice to be Commission of the Texas Education Agency, almost unnoticed was his selection of the second in command. She is Lizzette Gonzalez-Reynolds.
She worked as a legislative associate for then-Governor George W. Bush and after he became President, she was rewarded with an  appointment as the U.S. Department of Education’s regional representative in Texas (that is a political, not an educational, appointment). In 2007, she gained minor notoriety when she worked in an advisory capacity for the Texas Education Agency; she called for the director of the science curriculum to resign


Jersey Jazzman Enters the KIPP Fray Once More

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more!
Jersey Jazzman has a few choice words for the KIPP shock troops, who appear unable to tolerate a question, let alone a discussion or a debate without sliming those who dare to question their carefully honed image.
Jersey Jazzman corrects some overstatements and errors.
In case you wondered, I read this in Mrs. Ratliff’s class at San Jacinto High School in Houston, Texas, in 1955.


Neil Armstrong Thanked His Teacher

As he was preparing for his historic journey into outer space, Neil Armstrong took the time to write a letter to his favorite teacher.
He wrote to her on the occasion of her retirement to thank her for the part she played in his life.
She taught him math in elementary school.
He never forgot her.
If you teach, you cannot imagine how many people will remember how you changed their life.



Randi Weingarten Responds to Parent Trigger Film

TO:     Interested PartiesFrom:  AFT President Randi Weingarten
Date:   August 28, 2012
RE:      “Won’t Back Down”
 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
One can’t help but be moved by the characters and story portrayed in Walden Media’s film “Won’t Back Down.” The film is successful in driving home the sense of urgency parents and educators feel to do everything they can to provide the best possible education for their children. That is abundantly evident in this film—it’s what I hear as I visit schools across the country, and it’s what I heard when I sat down with parent and community groups 


Why Not Evaluate Everyone?

A teacher asks a reasonable question: Why are teachers the only ones to be evaluated?
Evaluate everyone!


The Importance of Humor

In tough times, it is important to laugh.
Laughter is good for you.
Some people say it extends your life.
If you see any great videos or websites that help educators laugh at the absurdities now piled on their heads, please send them to me and I’ll share them.
Here is a terrific website created by a teacher to laugh about the nutty ideas now popular among policymakers.
The “hero” of this website is a make-belief upper-crust reformer who is totally clueless.
Enjoy.