Latest News and Comment from Education

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Can’t Wait to Have Students Read This | Outside the Cave

Can’t Wait to Have Students Read This | Outside the Cave:

Can’t Wait to Have Students Read This

There’s an interesting op-ed in Thursday’s New York Times, “Why China’s Political Model Is Superior.” The author Eric X. Li, makes some claims in it that are beyond radical from an American perspective:

In the history of human governance, spanning thousands of years, there have been two major experiments in democracy. The first was Athens, which lasted a century and a half; the second is the modern West. If one defines democracy as one citizen one vote, American democracy is only 92 years old. In practice it is only 47 years old, if one begins counting after the Voting Rights Act of 1965 — far more ephemeral than all but a handful of China’s dynasties.

The power of this piece for helping students develop is that its perspective is so radically foreign. Were any US

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts 2-18 #soschat #ReclaimingReform


LAUSD Supt. John Deasy addresses Miramonte sex-abuse allegations - latimes.com

LAUSD Supt. John Deasy addresses Miramonte sex-abuse allegations - latimes.com:LAUSD Supt. John Deasy addresses Miramonte sex-abuse allegationsIn the wake of teachers being charged with lewd acts with students, Los Angeles Unified School District Supt. John Deasy has sought to reassure teachers and staff in a video address.In his four-minute address, which was sent to the employees districtwide, Deasy said the investigation into the allegations at Miramonte Elementary School, where two teachers were removed and face criminal charges, has been completed.He ... more »

Arne Duncan on the Jon Stewart Daily Show – Reading through the Rhetoric – Why won’t he hear us? « Continuing Change

Arne Duncan on the Jon Stewart Daily Show – Reading through the Rhetoric – Why won’t he hear us? « Continuing Change:Arne Duncan on the Jon Stewart Daily Show – Reading through the Rhetoric – Why won’t he hear us?by gatorbonbcArne Duncan on the Jon Stewart Daily Show – Reading through the Rhetoric – Why won’t he hear us?thu-february-16-2012-arne-duncanHe says:“I think our biggest challenge, Jon, is that we have become too complacent. We’re 16th in the world today in college ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Evening Posts 2-18 #SOSchat #p2 #edreform

Jersey Jazzman: Hackuva Job, Cerfie!Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-1 hour agoJersey Jazzman: Hackuva Job, Cerfie!:Hackuva Job, Cerfie!by DukeTom Moran is once again is in a huff; he can't understand why anyone would have a problem with the bestest education commissioner ever!Chris Cerf has been steering education policy in New Jersey for more than a year now, and no one disputes that he has brought talent and devotion to the work.But you can’t call him commissioner because the boys ... more »

How Florida’s Parent Trigger Bill is a “Charter School Bill About Profit” | Scathing Purple Musings

How Florida’s Parent Trigger Bill is a “Charter School Bill About Profit” | Scathing Purple Musings:How Florida’s Parent Trigger Bill is a “Charter School Bill About Profit”by Bob SikesKathleen Oropeza is a tireless public school advocate. Along with co-founders, Christine Bramuchi and Linda Kolbert, Oropeza’s Fund Education Now has been a leading voice in maintaining proper public school funding and in opposing what’s become a clear agenda by many to privatize Florida’s schools. With her permission, the following is her ... more »

Exclusive - Must see TV - watch this three part interview! Then ask why is Duncan in this job? #soschat #edchat

Exclusive - Arne Duncan Extended Interview Pt. 1 - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - 02/16/12 - Video Clip | Comedy Central:The Daily Show with Jon StewartThursday February 16, 2012Exclusive - Arne Duncan Extended Interview Pt. 1In this unedited, extended interview, Arne Duncan explains Race to the Top and its anticipated long-term effects on America's education system.Arne Duncan(07:43)views: 5449Moment of Zen - Tribute to Gary Carter(00:26)views: 42152/16/12 in :60 Seconds(01:00)views: 8561Exclusive - Arne Duncan Extended Interview Pt. 1(07:46)views: 44480Exclusive ... more »

THE UNSEEN PRESSURES OF TEACHING « Teachers Fight Back

THE UNSEEN PRESSURES OF TEACHING « Teachers Fight Back:THE UNSEEN PRESSURES OF TEACHINGby alkleenThe high school where my kids attended has just come up with a new policy as regards the dances held at the school. Apparently there has been a lot of problems with students dancing in an obscene manner,(imagine that). The new policy requires all students at the dance to wear a wrist band. If a student is dancing in a manner that “simulates a sex act”, the ... more »

Top Content this Week - The Educator's PLN

Top Content this Week - The Educator's PLN:Top Content Rank1Why mobile learning?Added by Thomas Whitby on February 10, 20122Peter Senge - Navigating Webs of InterdependenceAdded by Thomas Whitby on February 9, 20123Are Teachers the New Illiterates?Added by Anne Beck on November 17, 20114All Kids Can SUCCEED-BE the "1"Added by Bill Burkhead on February 11, 20125Put Out or Get OutAdded by Anne Beck on February 13, 20126How do you keep students engaged in your online classroom?Posted by Jackie Savini on February ... more »

Saturday coffee + Old school. « Fred Klonsky

Saturday coffee. « Fred Klonsky:Saturday coffee.by Fred KlonskyOn the front door of Brian Piccolo Elementary School, Chicago.Our favorite barista is back from a trip to Spain. As we were having our coffee, she brought by her boyfriend from Argentina and introduced us.“Remember the customers I told you about who gave me the Occupy Wall Street posters?”That would be us.Then we were off to Brian Piccolo school on the west side where parents are occupying the building to stop The in ... more »

How Florida’s Privatization Zealots Want to Advance Their Agenda on the Backs of Disabled Kids | Scathing Purple Musings

How Florida’s Privatization Zealots Want to Advance Their Agenda on the Backs of Disabled Kids | Scathing Purple Musings:How Florida’s Privatization Zealots Want to Advance Their Agenda on the Backs of Disabled Kidsby Bob SikesFlorida Times-Union reporters Teresa Stepzinski and Topher Sanders wrote Thursday of plans by the State Board of Education to include students with developmental disabilities to be included in the calculation of school grades. Duval and St. Johns county superintendents, Ed Pratt-Daniels and Joe Joyner spoke to ... more »

Occupy This! Occupy your Future! « Bill Ayers #soschat #ows

Occupy This! Occupy your Future! « Bill Ayers:Occupy This! Occupy your Future!by billayersFebruary 18, 2012:Parents are occupying Brian Piccolo School on Chicago’s west side in a dramatic attempt to stop Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s closing plans.Early Friday the parents tried to get a meeting with the mayor, or His Highness as he seems to prefer. No luck.Some of the parents are inside. Some have set up camp outside. Piccolo is on Keeler off of Augusta in West Humboldt Park, among the ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Hackuva Job, Cerfie!

Jersey Jazzman: Hackuva Job, Cerfie!:Hackuva Job, Cerfie!by DukeTom Moran is once again is in a huff; he can't understand why anyone would have a problem with the bestest education commissioner ever!Chris Cerf has been steering education policy in New Jersey for more than a year now, and no one disputes that he has brought talent and devotion to the work.But you can’t call him commissioner because the boys in the Senate won’t confirm him, for reasons that are beyond ridiculous. ... more »

Major Bill Actions in Education » - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress

Education - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress:Bill Introduced: H.R.4034 Mentor-Mentee Teen Pregnancy Reduction Act of 2012To amend title V of the Social Security Act to provide grants for school-based mentoring programs for at risk teenage girls to prevent and reduce teen pregnancy, and to provide student loan forgiveness for mentors participating in such programs.Bill Introduced: S.2106 Josh Miller Helping Everyone Access Responsive Treatment in Schools Act of 2012A bill to establish a grant program for automated external defibrillators in elementary schools ... more »

Three Pro-Public School Posts to Make You Smile | Re:education in Baltimore

Three Pro-Public School Posts to Make You Smile | Re:education in Baltimore:Three Pro-Public School Posts to Make You Smileby Edit BarryThree Pro-Public School Posts to Make You SmileA parent-artist painted this mural in my neighborhood public school. What have you done for your public school lately?“If progressives want to improve schools, we shouldn’t empty them out. We ought to flood them with our kids, and then debate vociferously what they ought to be doing.”These are the concluding lines of Dana ... more »

PBS: Is online learning beneficial for students? | Dangerously Irrelevant

PBS: Is online learning beneficial for students? | Dangerously Irrelevant:PBS: Is online learning beneficial for students?by dr.scott.mcleod@gmail.com (Scott McLeod)Earlier this month, PBS Learning Matters sponsored a discussion about online learning for students. I was asked to contribute a short piece. Here's a paragraph from my response to the question, Is online learning beneficial for students?As online enrollments have rapidly expanded, so too have accompanying concerns. Educators and parents worry about losing the nurturing intimacy of teachers and students who are ... more »

A Pause in Testing Madness « Parents Across America

A Pause in Testing Madness « Parents Across America:A Pause in Testing Madnessby pagrundyThis time last year, residents of Charlotte, North Carolina faced a massive expansion of high-stakes standardized testing, aimed at making the students in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools the most tested in the nation.That spring, students, teachers and parents endured the outbreak of what we soon called “testing madness.” On top of the regular state tests, teachers across Mecklenburg County were required to administer 52 new high-stakes standardized tests, part ... more »

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, EFL:This Week’s “Round-Up” Good Education Policy Posts ArticlesLarry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 8 hours agoHere are some recent good education policy posts and articles: Pasi Sahlberg, the expert and author on education in Finland, has a blog. I’ve added it to The Best Resources To Learn About Finland’s Education System. ‘Lesson Study,” Japanese Strategy … Continue reading →New Pinterest ResourcesLarry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's ... more »

Battling skepticism. | Connected Principals

Battling skepticism. | Connected Principals:Battling skepticism.by Lyn Hilt“Skepticism has many definitions, but generally refers to any questioning attitude towards knowledge, facts, or opinions/beliefs stated as facts, or doubt regarding claims that are taken for granted elsewhere.”Source: WikipediaYesterday in a conversation with an elementary principal colleague, I allowed myself to become irritated.I wasn’t irritated with Bill. He seems to be a genuinely great person who works hard to bring the best learning opportunities to his school. I’ve never actually met him, ... more »

March 1st Day of Action: March and Rally | Seattle Education

March 1st Day of Action: March and Rally | Seattle Education:March 1st Day of Action: March and Rallyby seattleducation2011Join with Occupy Seattle Education, Parents Across America and Social Equality Educators for a march and rally culminating at the headquarters of the Gates Foundation. an organization that represents the push towards school privatization and high-stakes testing. We will be bringing a simple message:We refuse to pay for the crisis created by the 1%.We refuse to accept the dismantling of our schools ... more »

Katehi survives no confidence vote at UC Davis - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Katehi survives no confidence vote at UC Davis - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee:Katehi survives no confidence vote at UC DavisShareBy Brad Brananbbranan@sacbee.comPublished: Friday, Feb. 17, 2012 - 6:56 pm A motion asking for a vote of no confidence in UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi failed to gain a majority of votes needed to pass, school officials said tonight.The motion received 312 yes votes and 697 no votes, out of 2,693 eligible voters ... more »

FROM CHUTZPAH TO MOLLYCODDLING « Teachers Fight Back

FROM CHUTZPAH TO MOLLYCODDLING « Teachers Fight Back:FROM CHUTZPAH TO MOLLYCODDLINGby alkleenNice to see some teachers with chutzpah for a change instead of legislators and education administrators. The Chicago Teachers Union is asking for a 30% raise over two years because the administration is mandating an extra 90 minutes of instruction next year. The C.T.U. also wants class size reductions and several other items. Wow, how refreshing.Just heard from a friend who is a teacher in an upper middle class ... more »

School Tech Connect: Occupy #twill #soschat #ows

School Tech Connect: Occupy #twill:

Occupy #twill

I've been in the suburbs all day, at the fabulously managed Students in Technology Conference at Stephenson High School in Lincolnshire. Let me just say two things: first, I work with some of the brightest, most articulate and involved students that I've known in lo these past 27 years. They blow me away. Second, my feet are on strike. They're apparently not going to let me stand up again until I agree to their terms, which evidently include staying off my feet all day. I'm going to have to bring in Pinkerton's and some permanent replacement feet. But first, I'm bashing my feet in the press.

Meanwhile, back in my hometown, where parents have to commit civil disobedience to get very, very basic

Modern School: The Best Curriculum Money Can Buy—The Real Climategate Coming to a School Near You

Modern School: The Best Curriculum Money Can Buy—The Real Climategate Coming to a School Near You:

The Best Curriculum Money Can Buy—The Real Climategate Coming to a School Near You


When internal documents from British scientists were leaked to the press, inaugurating “Climategate,” the Heartland Institute was one of the myriad right-wing climate-denial conspiracy organizations that cherry-picked quotes from the scientists and demanded punitive action against them. The scientists have since been cleared of any wrongdoing and their research has been vindicated, but Heartland Institute has continued its attack.

Now internal documents have been leaked from the Heartland Institute itself, revealing its funding of leading climate change skeptics and a plan to teach climate change skepticism in schools. The documents were published by

Linda Darling-Hammond critiques Branstad school plan #soschat

Trapit:

Professor, author critiques Branstad school plan

Font Size:
Default font size
Larger font size

Stanford University Professor Linda Darling-Hammond. (courtesy photo)

WATERLOO, Iowa --- A Stanford University professor and author of a book on inequities in the U.S. educational system gave mixed reviews Thursday to Gov. Branstad's school reform proposals.

Linda Darling-Hammond held a two-hour video conference with more than 45 Cedar Valley residents presented by the University of Northern Iowa's Center for Multicultural Education. Participants gathered at two libraries, Lincoln Elementary School in Waterloo and Malcolm Price Laboratory School in Cedar Falls.

The event was a follow-up to a fall study of Darling-Hammond's book "The Flat World and Education: How America's Commitment to Equity will Determine Our Future," sponsored by Cedar Valley Citizens for Undoing Racism.

One aspect of the Branstad administration proposa



Read More: http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/professor-author-critiques-branstad-school-plan/article_e3c5af18-1147-5680-bf42-f47cc55bd2bc.html#ixzz1mmhvWzZm