Monday, January 30, 2012

My Problem(s) With #Educon | Connected Principals

My Problem(s) With Educon | Connected Principals:

My Problem(s) With Educon



As I reflect on my third Educon experience, I feel the need to get a few things off my chest in regards to the conference put on by Mr. Lehmann and his crew at Science Leadership Academy.

  1. The sessions – What’s up with so many great conversations in each time slot? I am used to attending conferences where I struggle to find one quality session in each time slot.
  2. Between the sessions – The conversations between the sessions are better than the actual sessions at most conferences. As I speak with other conference goers about the sessions they attended, I hear one

PARENTS COMPLAIN ABOUT LONGER SCHOOL DAY « Teachers Fight Back

PARENTS COMPLAIN ABOUT LONGER SCHOOL DAY « Teachers Fight Back:

PARENTS COMPLAIN ABOUT LONGER SCHOOL DAY

A mini revolt is being staged by parents of some elementary school children in Chicago. The Chicago public school administrators increased class time at several schools. The school day is now up to seven and a half hours at some schools. Many parents are upset that they had to change bedtimes, reset alarm clocks, and alter homework and dinner schedules for their little ones.

The biggest parental complaints seem to involve the fact that the young children are not happy with the time change. Parents were quoted making statements such as, ” For the first time this year, we’ve heard our daughter say that she hated school.” Parents complained about their children being exhausted. One parent was quoted as saying, “my son is physically exhausted when he gets off the bus.”

The poor CPS administrators. They were probably sure that parents would love the longer day and the additional instruction that their children were receiving. CPS administrators need to understand that the majority of parents care about the happiness of their children more than anything else. It doesn’t matter how beneficial something

PAA on real parent empowerment – an antidote to phony “parental choice” « Parents Across America

PAA on real parent empowerment – an antidote to phony “parental choice” « Parents Across America:


PAA on real parent empowerment – an antidote to phony “parental choice”

Digital Educators Needed for 21st Century Digital Learners! « Diary of a Public School Teacher!

Digital Educators Needed for 21st Century Digital Learners! « Diary of a Public School Teacher!:

Digital Educators Needed for 21st Century Digital Learners!

"Teachers & Parents for Real Education Reform": IFF Study Released to Criticism of Research Methodology

"Teachers & Parents for Real Education Reform": IFF Study Released to Criticism of Research Methodology:


IFF Study Released to Criticism of Research Methodology



Quality Schools, Every Child, Every Neighborhood Indeed
A response by Teachers and Parents for Real Education Reform

The Illinois Facilities Fund report titled: Quality Schools, Every School, Every Child, Every Neighborhood was released last week at a briefing by Deputy Mayor for Education De’Shawn Wright. There were no surprises in the report. Back in November, local analyst Mary Levy had accurately predicted the analysis and recommendations that would be forthcoming based on the reports IFF has written in five other cities.

Flawed Methodology Brands Schools for Closing and Staff for Firing

When IFF’s Director of Educational Research Jovita Baber presented the overview, the methodological problems in the report became clear. The IFF report’s methodological problems can be summarized as follows:
  • The researchers created a zero-sum game in which schools are divided into four “Tiers” based on

Teachers Inject Their Own Message Into Union-Busters' Twitter Campaign | Truthout

Teachers Inject Their Own Message Into Union-Busters' Twitter Campaign | Truthout:

Teachers Inject Their Own Message Into Union-Busters' Twitter Campaign

by: Adam Bessie, The Daily Censored | Op-Ed

In the last year, the national education debate has been occupied by economists, billionaires, hedge-fund managers, corporate columnists and party-politicians –indeed, it seems like the further a person is from the classroom, the more weight his opinion carries.

Call it the Gates Paradox – the power of your voice in the “education reform” debate is proportional to the distance from the classroom, multiplied by the amount of money you earn. Needless to say, public school teachers – especially veterans – score very low on this test.

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Everyone seems to get a voice on how students should be taught but the teachers themselves, who have been framed as lazy, unmotivated, self-interested slobs in desperate need of discipline from the Free Market. And in the rare moments real public

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top 1-30 Early Evening Posts #ows #edreform


Teacher Unionism Reborn | The Indypendent

Teacher Unionism Reborn | The Indypendent: Teacher Unionism RebornBYLOIS WEINERJANUARY 30, 2012 In the past five years, we have witnessed a demonization of teachers unions that is close to achieving its goal: destruction of the most stable and potentially powerful defender of mass public education. Teacher unionism’s continued existence is imperiled — if what we define as "existence" is organizations having the legal capacity to bargain over any meaningful economic benefits and defend teachers’ rights to exercise professional judgment about ... more »

A Guide to Understanding the Sweetwater Scandal - voiceofsandiego.org: Education

A Guide to Understanding the Sweetwater Scandal - voiceofsandiego.org: Education:A Guide to Understanding the Sweetwater ScandalStoryCommentsImageShareSharePrintCreate a hardcopy of this pageFont Size:Default font sizeLarger font sizeFile Photo by Sam HodgsonConstruction workers at Chula Vista High School working on projects funded by a $644 million borrowing plan. The Sweetwater school district's construction spending is at the center of an ongoing political corruption scandal there.Posted: Monday, January 30, 2012 6:45 am |Updated: 7:16 am, Mon Jan 30, 2012.By Rob Davis The corrup... more »

In Case You Missed It: High-performing schools on the block; conflicting reports on new schools’ success « EdVox

In Case You Missed It: High-performing schools on the block; conflicting reports on new schools’ success « EdVox:In Case You Missed It: High-performing schools on the block; conflicting reports on new schools’ successby edvoxnyHere on EdVox we’re excited to bring you the latest news about education issues and policies affecting our communities. It can be hard to keep up with all of the events and happenings, so – in case you missed it… Here is a recap of the latest ... more »

Shanker Blog » Getting Ready For The Common Core

Shanker Blog » Getting Ready For The Common Core:Getting Ready For The Common Coreby Susan NeumanOur guest author today, Susan B. Neuman, is a professor in Educational Studies at the University of Michigan specializing in early literacy development and a former U.S. Secretary of Education for Elementary and Secondary Education. She and her colleagues at the University of Michigan have also partnered with the Albert Shanker Institute in sponsoring a summer institute for early childhood educators, focusing specifically on oral ... more »

MENSAJE SEMANAL: El plan específico del Presidente incluye la renovación de los valores de EE.UU. | The White House

MENSAJE SEMANAL: El plan específico del Presidente incluye la renovación de los valores de EE.UU. | The White House:LA CASA BLANCAOficina del Secretario de Prensa______________________________________________________________________________DEL SÁBADO, 28 DE ENERO, 2012MENSAJE SEMANAL: El plan específico del Presidente incluye la renovación de los valores de EE.UU.WASHINGTON, DC— En su mensaje semanal, el Presidente discute el plan específico que él presentó esta semana en su discurso del Estado de la Unión para crear una economía construida para que perdure. Después de concentrarse ... more »

Part 3: Washington State Bill Proposals HB 2427/SB 6203 and HB 2451: Teacher evaluations based on test scores: The Washington Education Association responds | Seattle Education

Part 3: Washington State Bill Proposals HB 2427/SB 6203 and HB 2451: Teacher evaluations based on test scores: The Washington Education Association responds | Seattle Education:Part 3: Washington State Bill Proposals HB 2427/SB 6203 and HB 2451: Teacher evaluations based on test scores: The Washington Education Association respondsby seattleducation2011It looks like my query went out far and wide. I have received responses from all over the country on teacher evaluations particularly as it pertains to the Washington State House and ... more »

Julea Ward Gets a Court Victory « Student Activism

Julea Ward Gets a Court Victory « Student Activism:Julea Ward Gets a Court Victoryby Angus JohnstonA federal appeals court gave a conservative Christian counseling student’s lawsuit new life last week, ruling that Julea Ward’s case against Eastern Michigan University could go forward.Ward was expelled from EMU’s graduate counseling program in early 2009. As I wrote at the time, Ward asked to be reassigned off the case of a gay counseling client. In a letter she read during her disciplinary hearing, ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top 1-30 Early Morning Posts #ows #edreform

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top AM Posts 1-30 #edreform #owsBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-3 minutes agoKick In The Door, Wavin’ The 44 [On Writing To Kick Ass] | The Jose VilsonBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-4 hours agoKick In The Door, Wavin’ The 44 [On Writing To Kick Ass] | The Jose Vilson:Kick In The Door, Wavin’ The 44 [On Writing To Kick Ass]by JoseBiggieOne of the questions people ask me is how I do ... more »

Schools Matter: Further Confessions of an Outlier

Schools Matter: Further Confessions of an Outlier:Further Confessions of an Outlierby P. L. ThomasFurther Confessions of an OutlierAbout five or so weeks ago, I made this confession:"I graduated high school eighth in my class, and then proceeded through undergraduate and graduate school to achieve a doctorate, almost exclusively making As along the way and being regularly praised for my academic ability. But let me pause for a moment about those K-12 years. "To this day, I cannot recall really trying ... more »

Five More Years: Of What Exactly? :: Frederick M. Hess

Five More Years: Of What Exactly? :: Frederick M. Hess:Five More Years: Of What Exactly?by Frederick M. Hess • Jan 30, 2012 at 7:52 amCross-posted from Education Week Print Send RSS ShareHidy all, I'm back. Lots of excitement while I was away, including the bizarre GOP primary season and the President's SOTU speech.For what it's worth, I thought the SOTU's seven-minute education section was embarrassing. The President could've said that NCLB waivers are a poor substitute for legislation, and signaled ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top AM Posts 1-30 #edreform #ows

Kick In The Door, Wavin’ The 44 [On Writing To Kick Ass] | The Jose VilsonBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-4 hours agoKick In The Door, Wavin’ The 44 [On Writing To Kick Ass] | The Jose Vilson:Kick In The Door, Wavin’ The 44 [On Writing To Kick Ass]by JoseBiggieOne of the questions people ask me is how I do this. Whatever this is. I’m reminded of this every semester or so when a random professor asks students to ... more »

NYC Educator: Mayor Bloomberg and Merit Pay

NYC Educator: Mayor Bloomberg and Merit Pay:Mayor Bloomberg and Merit Payby NYC EducatorMayor Michael Bloomberg, after denying educators the 8-plus percent all other city employees got for the 2008-2010 bargaining period, is now touting a $20,000 raise for those teachers who can manage to be rated "highly effective" two years in a row. There are caveats, of course, including the fact that the evaluation system on which this is based does not yet exist, the tests that would help determine ... more »

solidaridad: Schools Matter: Peas in a pod: Koret Foundation, The Hoover Institution, and Democrats for Education Reform

solidaridad: Schools Matter: Peas in a pod: Koret Foundation, The Hoover Institution, and Democrats for Education Reform:Schools Matter: Peas in a pod: Koret Foundation, The Hoover Institution, and Democrats for Education Reformby Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene"I tell you, my friends, the trouble with this whole country is that so many are selfish! Here's a hundred and twenty million people, with ninety-five per cent of 'em only thinking of self, instead of turning to and helping the responsible business men ... more »

Should we switch to weighted student funding and do it now? | Thoughts on Public Education

Should we switch to weighted student funding and do it now? | Thoughts on Public Education:Should we switch to weighted student funding and do it now?SharePosted on 1/30/12 • Categorized as Equity issues, Finance, Student spending,UncategorizedBy forumIn next year’s budget, Gov. Jerry Brown proposes to rearrange school funding based on a weighted student formula – a concept that State Board of Education President Michael Kirst fleshed out in a 2008 brief. Beyond a flat grant for all students, districts with ... more »

Schools Matter: Robert D. Skeels: How Administration Tries to Cow Teachers Into Submission

Schools Matter: Robert D. Skeels: How Administration Tries to Cow Teachers Into Submission:Robert D. Skeels: How Administration Tries to Cow Teachers Into Submissionby Robert D. Skeels * rdsatheneTalk by PESJA/CEJ activist and District 2 LAUSD Trustee Candidate Robert D. Skeels at the Support Cadre Resisting Administrative Maltreatment (SCRAM) Caucus Meeting at CTA State Council of Education on January 29, 2012.Special thanks to John Cromshow of KPFK and SCRAM for arranging the event.

When Did Physical Education Become An Issue of Social Justice?

Missouri Education Watchdog: When Did Physical Education Become An Issue of Social Justice? Do School Districts Using Polar Bracelets Understand the Goals of Producing Fit Workers for the System?:When Did Physical Education Become An Issue of Social Justice? Do School Districts Using Polar Bracelets Understand the Goals of Producing Fit Workers for the System?by stlgretchenThe Suburban Journal wrote about Polar bracelets in use at the Parkway School District (suburban St. Louis area) and questioning privacy issues involved in wearing them ... more »

Jeb Bush Takes His Ed Privatization Show on the Road Again | Scathing Purple Musings

Jeb Bush Takes His Ed Privatization Show on the Road Again | Scathing Purple Musings:Jeb Bush Takes His Ed Privatization Show on the Road Againby Bob SikesFormer governor Jeb Bush continues his US tour that’s bankrolled by education corporations and billionaires toLouisiana today and New Jersey on Thursday. Whether or not Bush receives speaking fees is not known. He’s never asked about that or who pays for his travel. Bush prefers to be seen as a pure reformer whose vision ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Big Questions About Charter Applications in NJ

Jersey Jazzman: Big Questions About Charter Applications in NJ:Big Questions About Charter Applications in NJby DukeSo I'm still left wondering how exactly Pastor Amir Khan got his charter school approved when the community clearly doesn't want it. To help figure out this mystery, I made a timeline of the events that led up to the approval:January, 2010: Pastor Amir Khan and his wife, Aughtney Khan, are featured in a video produced by the Star-Ledger that shows the couple demonstrating against ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES:WEEKEND QUOTABLESby Mike KlonskyJesse Jackson Keep your finger in your pocket," Gov. Brewer. -- Sun-TimesRichard RothsteinEducation “reformers” have a common playbook. First, assert without evidence that regular public schools are “failing” and that large numbers of regular (unionized) public school teachers are incompetent. --‘Reformers’ playbook on failing schools fails a fact checkWarren Buffet"If this is a war, my side has had the nuclear bomb," Buffett

California Education Update « InterACT

California Education Update « InterACT:California Education Updateby David B. CohenCalifornia State Senator Joe Simitian represents the 11th Senate District in our state (which is where I live and work), and a couple of times each year, he hosts education town hall meetings. These meetings provide a useful opportunity for various stakeholders in the community to hear from the Senator, and for him to hear from all of us. Senator Simitian is a particularly good person to hear from on education ... more »