Chicago Strike: Whose Policies Are At Issue?
Norm Scott, a retired teacher who is a blogger and film producer (“The Inconvenient Truth Behind ‘Waiting for Superman’”), wrote a provocative explanation of the Chicago strike and its political implications.
He says that President Obama can’t support the Chicago teachers because they are striking against his Race to the Top policies. And he can’t oppose the teachers because he needs the votes of teachers in the election. So he supports the kids.
He says that President Obama can’t support the Chicago teachers because they are striking against his Race to the Top policies. And he can’t oppose the teachers because he needs the votes of teachers in the election. So he supports the kids.
What Does Mayor Rahm Want?
The real difference between the CTU and Mayor Rahm Emanuel is not money. By all accounts, the union and the mayor are close on compensation.
The real differences are about the corporate reform agenda. The mayor wants merit pay, more charters, evaluation of teachers by test scores, and all the other components of the national corporate reform agenda.
But little noticed by the national media is that none of these so-called reforms works or has any evidence to
Why John White Loves New Voucher Study But Shouldn’t
The real differences are about the corporate reform agenda. The mayor wants merit pay, more charters, evaluation of teachers by test scores, and all the other components of the national corporate reform agenda.
But little noticed by the national media is that none of these so-called reforms works or has any evidence to
Why John White Loves New Voucher Study But Shouldn’t
A researcher in Louisiana notes that John White and his fellow advocates for vouchers were overjoyed by the latest study by voucher advocate Paul Peterson of Harvard and Matthew Chingos of the Brookings Institution.
Here, they hoped, was proof that the Louisiana voucher program would boost college enrollment rates for African
Here, they hoped, was proof that the Louisiana voucher program would boost college enrollment rates for African
Will President Obama Join CTU on Picket Line?
Jon Pelto has placed an order for a comfortable pair of walking shoes for President Obama, so he can walk alongside the striking teachers in Chicago.
He even paid for priority shipment from L.L. Bean.
Mr. President, remember when you said that “workers deserve to know that somebody is standing in their corner”?
So far, President Obama has had no comment. Like Mitt Romney, he is on the side of the students.
President Obama, the teachers are on the side of the students. They want the students to have smaller classes, art classes, access to a social worker, a library, and the help they need to succeed.
Mr. President, please join CTU on the picket line to show your support for the students and teachers of Chicago.
He even paid for priority shipment from L.L. Bean.
Mr. President, remember when you said that “workers deserve to know that somebody is standing in their corner”?
So far, President Obama has had no comment. Like Mitt Romney, he is on the side of the students.
President Obama, the teachers are on the side of the students. They want the students to have smaller classes, art classes, access to a social worker, a library, and the help they need to succeed.
Mr. President, please join CTU on the picket line to show your support for the students and teachers of Chicago.
Everything You Wanted to Know about the Broad Center (Almost)
The Broad Center–established by billionaire Eli Broad–runs an unaccredited training program for school leaders, where aspiring superintendents learn Broad’s philosophy of school management. Eli Broad is a businessman who made his billions in home-building, mortgage lending, and insurance (AIG). The Broad Center has a powerful network.
By happenstance, a memo from the Center fell into the hands of critics, who wrote about the Center’s plans to produce more disruptive and transformative leaders. The critics wrote about the memo; the Center responded; and the critics responded to the Center’s response.
If you want an insight into the thinking of the Broad Center, read on
By happenstance, a memo from the Center fell into the hands of critics, who wrote about the Center’s plans to produce more disruptive and transformative leaders. The critics wrote about the memo; the Center responded; and the critics responded to the Center’s response.
If you want an insight into the thinking of the Broad Center, read on
What Should Teachers’ Unions Do?
The Chicago Teachers Union strike has encouraged many educators around the nation, who are fed up with the virulent attacks on them by people who couldn’t manage a classroom for ten minutes. Or five, maybe.
Judging by the comments I am getting, CTU has lifted the spirits of teachers who were feeling as though no one would stand up to the shellacking they were taking.
CTU has stood up.
And we can expect counter-attacks. They have started. I read one news story fired by about 50 comments
Judging by the comments I am getting, CTU has lifted the spirits of teachers who were feeling as though no one would stand up to the shellacking they were taking.
CTU has stood up.
And we can expect counter-attacks. They have started. I read one news story fired by about 50 comments
The Real Story Behind The CTU Strike
Count on Stephanie Simon of Reuters to get the story that eluded every other reporter.
She is the one that got the inside story on Louisiana, TFA, and for-profit investors.
Now she has the scoop on Chicago.
The strike in Chicago is not about money.
It is a national story.
It’s about the survival of public education.
Read her story.
She is the one that got the inside story on Louisiana, TFA, and for-profit investors.
Now she has the scoop on Chicago.
The strike in Chicago is not about money.
It is a national story.
It’s about the survival of public education.
Read her story.
A True Value-Added Plan
From a reader in Maine:
I’ve always thought that teachers should suggest a better approach–Getting a percentage of their students’ incomes after high school graduation. The logic is that teachers who add value will produce students who make more money; therefore, to align incentives property, the teachers should get a cut of the incomes from their graduates.
Just think how much Steve Jobs’s estate owes California’s teachers! :-)
Do Not Trust Reformers with Trojan Horse Gifts
I’ve always thought that teachers should suggest a better approach–Getting a percentage of their students’ incomes after high school graduation. The logic is that teachers who add value will produce students who make more money; therefore, to align incentives property, the teachers should get a cut of the incomes from their graduates.
Just think how much Steve Jobs’s estate owes California’s teachers! :-)
Do Not Trust Reformers with Trojan Horse Gifts
Glen Brown is a teacher and poet.
In this post he explains why he does not trust Advance Illinois, Stand for Children, or other pseudo-reform groups that do not respect teachers or value genuine education.
He writes:
Carefully examine the goals of public education. They are not the goals of Stand for Children and Advance
Value-Added Nonsense
In this post he explains why he does not trust Advance Illinois, Stand for Children, or other pseudo-reform groups that do not respect teachers or value genuine education.
He writes:
Carefully examine the goals of public education. They are not the goals of Stand for Children and Advance
Value-Added Nonsense
If you add the scores on standardized tests for five years in a row, can you tell who the best and worst teachers are?
No.
But that’s the theory behind value-added assessment.
The idea is that an “effective” teacher raises test scores every year. The computer predicts what the test scores
No.
But that’s the theory behind value-added assessment.
The idea is that an “effective” teacher raises test scores every year. The computer predicts what the test scores
What Does Rahm Emanuel Believe?
When Mayor Rahm Emanuel is talking about youth crime, he assigns responsibility to parents and families for the values and attitudes and behavior of what he calls “gang bangers.”
When he talks about schools, however, he forgets that parents and families have any influence on how students behave and the effort they are willing to expend on their studies. All of a sudden, teachers alone control test scores, no one else.
When he talks about schools, however, he forgets that parents and families have any influence on how students behave and the effort they are willing to expend on their studies. All of a sudden, teachers alone control test scores, no one else.
