Latest News and Comment from Education

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Afternoon UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 9-8-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

Diane Ravitch's blog:

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Advice from a Private School Teacher

Some people assume that private schools are inherently better than public schools.
Not really.
They select their students and remove those who don’t meet their demands.
One big advantage they have is they are free of meddling politicians.
This private school parent gives her views:


What He Learned by Studying the History of Education

David Lentini, a reader in Maine, comments (in response, I promise to do some instruction on this blog about the history of school reform, which has been an American pastime for over a century):
I started reading about the history of education reform in America about 10 years ago, when our national insanity was becoming too extensive to ignore under the reign of “W”.  Wondering how a country could boast both the most widely and extensively educated population in history and also have the greatest disdain—if not outright 



GERM Outbreak in Australia

Please read the latest news from Australia.
The Prime Minister Julia Gillard is obsessed with test scores.
She has a serious case of what Pasi Sahlberg of Finland has called GERM (the Global Education Reform Movement of testing, accountability, and choice).
She is disheartened that Australia is not number one on PISA.
She wants the children pushed, prodded, test-prepped, whatever it takes, until Australia moves up in the ratings 



The Most Segregated Big-City Districts in the Nation

Thanks to a reader for sending this story from the New York Times. It has a graph showing the most racially segregated big-city school districts in the United States.
The winner of this disgraceful award: Chicago.
Second place: Dallas
Third place: New York City
Fourth place: Philadelphia
Fifth place



Why The Chicago Teachers Union Deserves Support

http://withabrooklynaccent.blogspot.com/2012/09/press-statement-on-chicago-teachers.html


Press Statement on Chicago Teachers Strike
Dr Mark Naison, Fordham University

The Chicago Teachers strike is an incredibly important development because it is a the first 



A Hero For Democracy

The public schools in several poor communities have been under state control for more than a decade, proving that state education departments don’t know how to run schools while obliterating democracy.
State Senator Ron Rice has called for a restoration of democratic control in Newark, Jersey City, and Patterson.
The state has been in control of Newark since 1995, Patterson since 1991, and Jersey City since 1989.
He has joined a coalition of local groups and clergy to call for an investigation of the state education department.



Why Texas Does Not Need Vouchers

Sara Stevenson, librarian at O. Henry Middle School in Austin, Texas, is a tenacious, fearless writer of letters and articles about education. She has been the kind of stand-up leader that every community and every school needs. Here is her latest.
                       The Texas GOP and Pro-Choice in Education
“If a students feels, a family feels they need a better opportunity,



Did Deval Patrick Sell Out to Profiteers?

A reader asks: did Deval Patrick sell out?
I feel ashamed for Deval.  I am one of his many, many progressive supporters, and we’re all baffled by how he got into this situation.  I worked harder for his election than I did even for Obama, and I never doubted his integrity or strength.  

Through all the vicious attacks on him during that first campaign, he stayed steady and clear. 



Florida Charters Slam the Door on Children with Disabilities

I missed this article when it was published several months ago.
It says that 86% of charters in Florida have no students with severe disabilities.
Thats not right.



A Hero Legislator for Public Schools

State Representative Reggie Fullwood is a hero for public education in Florida. He is encouraging the state board of education to select a state commissioner who will advocate for the state’s beleaguered public schools, not vouchers and rapacious charter entrepreneurs. He also wants a sane testing system that is not high stakes.



Common Core in Connecticut

Will it matter?
Common Core focuses on cognitive skills.
It neglects non-cognitive skills?
Can it succeed with a narrow focus?
Or do students need more?



What No Teacher Ever Said

Pithy sayings collected on Twitter by Larry Ferlazzo.
What no teacher ever said.



Non-Cognitive Skills Are Just As Important as Test Scores

I recently blogged a new study by economist Henry Levin about the crucial importance of non-cognitive skills.
What matters most? Persistence, motivation, reliability, team work, the ability to work well with others,