Latest News and Comment from Education

Sunday, July 22, 2012

The Educated Reporter: Student Loan Crisis Needs Congressional Intervention: Consumer Protection Bureau

The Educated Reporter: Student Loan Crisis Needs Congressional Intervention: Consumer Protection Bureau:


Student Loan Crisis Needs Congressional Intervention: Consumer Protection Bureau

Not surprisingly, the repercussions of the nation's student loan debt crisis continue to grow. A new consumer protection agency, in a report to Congress and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, compared private loans to the subprime mortgages which contributed to the housing bubble and the disastrous fallout when it burst.

(For a first-rate overview of the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's report, read Libby Nelson piece on Inside Higher Ed.)

In a call with reporters late last week, the bureau's director Richard Cordray said that the findings revealed that "students were yet another group of consumers that were hurt by the boom and bust of the financial crisis ... Too 

NJ Spotlight | Fine Print: Charter School Performance Framework

NJ Spotlight | Fine Print: Charter School Performance Framework:


Fine Print: Charter School Performance Framework
The rules and regulations for the charter schools, specifically the nine newest
Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991

 print |  | 
What it is: The state Department of Education last week released a 23-page checklist for all new charter covering academic, financial and other operations. The framework sets standards on everything from how well students must fare on state tests to financial data on how much debt a school is carrying.
What it means: The Christie administration has continued to revise its accountability standards for charter schools as it faced increasing pressure from critics and local school districts. The new framework was announced at the same time that the administration cleared the way for another nine charter schools to open in the fall, including two that will provide a mix of online and in-person instruction.
Where it came from: The standards were developed in conjunction with the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, an increasingly influential organization working with the state in not 

Chicago Teachers – Canaries In The American Coalmine | OurFuture.org

Chicago Teachers – Canaries In The American Coalmine | OurFuture.org:


Chicago Teachers – Canaries In The American Coalmine

When a leading conservative pundit compliments a labor union leader for getting something right, it's usually worth noticing.
That's exactly what happened recently when The Washington Post's conservative op-ed columnist George Willpraised Karen Lewis, the head of the Chicago Teachers Union, and its members for being "not all wrong" to pick a fight with Chicago mayor Rham Emanuel.
Will pointed out that Emanuel is forcing tough new "accountability" policies, including "merit pay," on teachers and schools at time when the city is "experiencing an epidemic of youth violence," "social regression," and "family disintegration."
His perfectly reasonable conclusion is that the mayor is ratcheting up the demands on teaching at a time when 

Seattle Schools Community Forum: News Round-Up

Seattle Schools Community Forum: News Round-Up:


News Round-Up

In the ever-continuing line of "is there nothing Michelle Rhee won't say to get her way", comes this latest videofrom her group, Students First.  It's a play on the Olympics (by the way, Michelle, you might want to watch that usage because the REAL Olympics is highly territorial about the use of the word).   It's a cheap shot video that has earned her a lot of criticism.

There are rumblings coming out of Chicago, which may have a teachers strike, that TFA is going to roll in with 5,000 TFAers.  There is a word for people who cross picket lines and if that happens, it will not be pretty.  It will be ugly and it may mark a very dark day for TFA.  We have many, many teachers in this country and if you are in a union, as hired TFAers are, you NEVER cross a picket line against others in your union.  Quit the union and then try it - you'd be better off.   I have to shake my head at the idea.  

On the upside for TFA, a story of bravery and one young woman's willingness to stand with her city and not TFA. 

From the Huffington Post, we have the story of a very brave former TFAer who was not going to play the TFA 

In box. Health care isn’t free now for retired teachers. « Fred Klonsky

In box. Health care isn’t free now for retired teachers. « Fred Klonsky:


In box. Health care isn’t free now for retired teachers.

Fred:
I think another area of clarification when explaining to others our pension benefits, is that a large number of state pensioners who were part of AFSCME, etc. do get free health care, we’re not part of that group. My neighbors and friends have no idea the difference between AFSCME, TRS, SERS, etc. and the pension benefits for each system/group. My neighbors think I’m pulling the wool over their eyes when I tell them we’re not part of that group that gets free health care. I’ve been trying to educate them in that area. I find that I’m a bit more successful by acknowledging 

Remarks by the President After Hospital Visit | The White House

Remarks by the President After Hospital Visit | The White House:


Remarks by the President After Hospital Visit

University of Colorado Hospital
Aurora, Colorado
6:40 P.M. MDT
     THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everybody.  I want to begin by just thanking all the state, local, and federal officials who have responded magnificently to this tragedy. 
     Governor Hickenlooper, who has already been dealing with a range of natural disasters here in the state, has been an extraordinary example of strength.  The Mayor, who has only been on the job seven months, and obviously has responded with great strength and leadership.  The Police Chief, who -- we had an opportunity to speak over the phone -- Chief Oates has been dealing with as difficult a set of circumstances as any law enforcement officer deals with, and he and his officers have done everything right, by the book, with great courage and great determination.  And so we are very proud of them.  And I think I speak for the entire congressional delegation who is here as well.
     Scripture says that "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more.  Neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."  And when you have an opportunity to visit with families who have lost their loved ones -- as I described to them, I come to them not so much as President as I do as a father and as a husband.  And I think that the reason stories like this have such an impact on us is because we can all understand what it would be to have somebody that we love taken from us in this fashion -- what it would be like and how it would impact us.
     I had a chance to visit with each family, and most of the conversation was filled with memory.  It was an opportunity for families to describe how wonderful their brother, or their son, or daughter was, and the lives that they have touched, and the dreams that they held for the future.  I confessed to them that words are always inadequate in these kinds of situations, but that my main task was to serve as a representative of the entire country and let them know that we are thinking about them at this moment and will continue to think about them each and every day, and that the awareness that not only all of America but much of the world is thinking about them might serve as some comfort.
     I also tried to assure them that although the perpetrator of this evil act has received a lot of attention over the last couple of days, that attention will fade away.  And in the end, after he has felt the full force of our justice system, what will be remembered are the good people who were impacted by this tragedy. 
     And I also had a chance to give folks some hugs and to shed some tears, but also to share some laughs as they remembered the wonderful lives that these men and women represented.
     I also had a chance, fortunately, to visit some folks who are going to be okay, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the staff at this hospital.  And I just want to thank everybody who's worked tirelessly here to deal with this tragedy. 
     Some of the stories are remarkable.  You see young people who've come in and just two days ago, or 36 hours ago, or even 24 hours ago, it wasn’t certain whether they'd make it.  And now suddenly, their eyes are open, they're alert and they're talking. And it reminds you that even in the darkest of days, life continues, and people are strong and people bounce back and people are resilient.  And particularly, given the fact that so many of the victims were young, it is a great blessing to see how rapidly they're able to recover from some pretty devastating injuries.
     There's one particular story I want to tell because this was the last visit that I had and I think it's representative of everything that I saw and heard today.  I had a chance, just now, about five minutes ago, to visit with Allie Young -- Allie is 19 years old -- and I also had a chance to visit with Allie's best friend, Stephanie Davies, who's 21.  Stephanie was actually downstairs with Allie as well as Allie's parents when I walked into the room.
     And I don't think this story has been heard -- at least I hadn’t read it yet -- but I wanted to share it with you.  When the gunman initially came in and threw the canisters, he threw them only a few feet away from Allie and Stephanie, who were sitting there watching the film.  Allie stood up, seeing that she might need to do something or at least warn the other people who were there.  And she was immediately shot.  And she was shot in the neck, and it punctured a vein, and immediately she started spurting blood.
     And apparently, as she dropped down on the floor, Stephanie -- 21 years old -- had the presence of mind to drop down on the ground with her, pull her out of the aisle, place her fingers over where she -- where Allie had been wounded, and applied pressure the entire time while the gunman was still shooting.  Allie told Stephanie she needed to run.  Stephanie refused to go -- instead, actually, with her other hand, called 911 on her cell phone.
     Once the SWAT team came in, they were still trying to clear the theater.  Stephanie then, with the help of several others, carries Allie across two parking lots to where the ambulance is waiting.  And because of Stephanie's timely actions, I just had a conversation with Allie downstairs, and she is going to be fine.
     I don't know how many people at any age would have the presence of mind that Stephanie did, or the courage that Allie showed.  And so, as tragic as the circumstances of what we've seen today are, as heartbreaking as it is for the families, it's worth us spending most of our time reflecting on young Americans like Allie and Stephanie, because they represent what's best in us, and they assure us that out of this darkness a brighter day is going to come.
     To the entire community of Aurora, the country is thinking of you.  I know that there's going to be a vigil and an opportunity for everybody to come together.  And I hope that all those who are in attendance understand that the entire country will be there in prayer and reflection today.
     So thank you.  God bless you.  God bless all who helped to respond to this tragedy.  And I hope that over the next several days, next several weeks, and next several months, we all reflect on how we can do something about some of the senseless violence that ends up marring this country, but also reflect on all the wonderful people who make this the greatest country on Earth.
     Thank you very much, everybody. 

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-22-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2



James Baldwin said it best: 

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."

A Big Education Ape Nite Cap


"A Subsidy For Charters" Brown's Tax Initiative "Compromise" Pushes Priv...

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Lets Unite All Public Workers and Fight Back The United Public Workers For Action is a network and political organizing committee that seeks to unite the 1.5 million California public workers and to take collective action to defend public education and public services. We believe that there are structural problems that have been put in place in order to marginalize and destroy public services. We also believe that there needs to be a basic political education campaign with public workers, working people, students and the oppressed to illuminate the systemic problems in our society.... more »

Voucher Proponents Question Need for Playgrounds at Schools « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Voucher Proponents Question Need for Playgrounds at Schools « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Voucher Proponents Question Need for Playgrounds at Schools by millerlf ** *If you have the time, please attend the Common Council Meeting, Tuesday, July 24, 2012, 9:00 a.m., 3rd Floor – City Hall. We need your support!* *Playgrounds may be mandatory at new elementary schools* *A move to require outdoor play spaces at new elementary schools draws worry from supporters of voucher schools.* By Erin Richards of the Journal Sentinel July 19, 2012 New elementary schools in the city ... more »

On My Two Recommendations for Gregory Michie and Daniel Willingham | The Jose Vilson

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
On My Two Recommendations for Gregory Michie and Daniel Willingham | The Jose Vilson: On My Two Recommendations for Gregory Michie and Daniel Willingham by Jose Here’s my first big confession of 2012: I’ve been reading a lot. You’d think, Vilson, that’s not a big deal for you. I’d reply, “As a matter of fact, yes it is.” Huge. Not just my monthly GQ / Wired fix, either (with dabbles of Men’s Health). In the last few months, I’ve read about a book every two weeks on average. More importantly, a couple of them hadn’t even come out to the general public yet … Until this month. I’m pro... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Winners and Losers (So Far) in House Appropriations

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Winners and Losers (So Far) in House Appropriations: Winners and Losers (So Far) in House Appropriations by Melissa Westbrook [image: kitten in hat animated gif] From the House Appropriations Committee work of last week, comes these results (via Ed Week): *Winners:* Extension of allowing teachers in alternative certification programs to count as "highly qualified" through the 2014-2015 school year. This would include those "higly qualified" TFA 5-week trained teachers. *Losers*: organizations, many of whom support disabled/Special Ed students,... more »

Daily Kos: Political Fundamentalism: Misreading the Right to Bear Arms

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Daily Kos: Political Fundamentalism: Misreading the Right to Bear Arms: Political Fundamentalism: Misreading the Right to Bear Arms byplthomasEdDFollow 8 PERMALINK1 COMMENT Fundamentalism is often associated with religion, specifically when literal interpretations of religious texts drive dogma. Religious fundamentalism exposes how commitments to the material *thing* can often create behaviors that contradict the larger principles. Consider how interpreting the scripturally-based truism "spare the rod, spoil the child" (Proverbs 13:24) as license for physically spanking or beating... more »

Update: Microsoft Paperclip Goes to College « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Microsoft Paperclip Goes to College « Diane Ravitch's blog: Microsoft Paperclip Goes to College by dianerav A reader sent me the following press release. It describes how college freshmen who get a scholarship will have an electronic monitoring system, where they are expected to check in and report. It appears that the system relies on the student to check in regularly and interact with his or her electronic tracking system. Maybe this will be helpful. Or maybe it will be like that accursed Microsoft Paperclip that used to pop up uninvited and offer to help you whether you wanted... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Tom Moran: Listen To Your Readers!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: Tom Moran: Listen To Your Readers!: Tom Moran: Listen To Your Readers! by Duke So I opened up my dead tree version of the Star-Ledger this morning and read yet another charter cheerleading editorial by Tom Moran and crew. And I was dreading firing up the laptop and writing yet another post that says - yet again: *"Successful" charter schools in New Jersey do not serve the same students as neighboring public schools. They owe much of their "success" to the fact that they have fewer poor children, fewer children who speak a language other than English at home, and fe... more »

Explaining Why Florida’s School Grade System is Fatally Flawed and Why Its Dooms Parent Trigger | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Explaining Why Florida’s School Grade System is Fatally Flawed and Why Its Dooms Parent Trigger | Scathing Purple Musings: Explaining Why Florida’s School Grade System is Fatally Flawed and Why Its Dooms Parent Trigger by Bob Sikes Matt Di Carlo didn’t know that the Florida Department of Education would be changing 213 school grades when he posted his data in a Shanker Institute blog post on Friday. A well-respected senior research fellow, Dr. Di Carlo effectively shows that Florida’s school grad formula reveals that a remarkable correlation exists between poverty and of performan... more »

Defy gravity! - Arlington, VA, United States, ASCD EDge Blog post - A Professional Networking Community for Educators

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Defy gravity! - Arlington, VA, United States, ASCD EDge Blog post - A Professional Networking Community for Educators: Defy gravity! This past week I listened to Dr. Gene Carter, Executive Director of ASCD, deliver his opening remarks at our Leader to Leader conference in a crowded ballroom of eager ASCD leaders from around the world. He addressed many important themes for the conference, but one phrase jumped out of me in its startling simplicity: “Defy gravity!” I tweeted it out right away, and then let it sit with me the next few days of the conference to appreciate its full im... more »

Leonard Pitts Jr.: Texas GOP wages war on thinking - San Jose Mercury News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Leonard Pitts Jr.: Texas GOP wages war on thinking - San Jose Mercury News: Leonard Pitts Jr.: Texas GOP wages war on thinking By Leonard Pitts Jr. Posted: 07/22/2012 06:00:00 AM PDT Some recent headlines from the alternate universe of modern conservatism: Rush Limbaugh claims the bad guy in the new Batman movie was named Bane to remind voters of Mitt Romney's controversial tenure at Bain Capital. Michelle Bachmann, citing zero credible evidence, accuses a Muslim-American aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of conspiring with the Muslim Brotherhood. Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio...more »

Taking College Classes in High School Keeps Low Income Kids on Track - Education - GOOD

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Taking College Classes in High School Keeps Low Income Kids on Track - Education - GOOD: Taking College Classes in High School Keeps Low Income Kids on Track [image: students] Dual high school/college programs that shorten the time it takes to earn a high school diploma and let students earn up to two years of college credit for free are growing in popularity. But the programs have more benefits than just saving cash-strapped families money. A new study from California's Community College Resource Center says students from low-income communities who participate in dual programs re... more »

Schools Matter: ALEC and the Privatization Agenda

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Schools Matter: ALEC and the Privatization Agenda: ALEC and the Privatization Agenda by Jim Horn Great short video, less than 5 minutes, that connects many dots, especially in relation to the virtual school corporate welfare program. HT to Monty Neill: Popout

Charter schools, the privatization of education & the Gulen schools In The US | Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Charter schools, the privatization of education & the Gulen schools In The US | Seattle Education: Charter schools, the privatization of education & the Gulen schools In The US by seattleducation2011 Sharon Higgins, an education activist and a founding member of Parents Across America, has followed the Broad Foundation for several years and is editor of the Broad Report, as well as Charter School Scandals and the Perimeter Primate. Two years ago she began to investigate the Gulen charter schools and to follow is an in-depth interview with Ms. Higgins on that topic: CHARTER SCHOOL... more »

How Much and What Kind of Teacher Education Do Novices Need? | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
How Much and What Kind of Teacher Education Do Novices Need? | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: How Much and What Kind of Teacher Education Do Novices Need? by larrycuban An official with an influential foundation eager to transform teacher education was convinced that: *[T]eacher education could occur rapidly given the long tenure in classrooms already served by intending teachers:* *The underlying assumption was that bright candidates, after spending sixteen years in elementary, secondary, and college classrooms, have inevitably absorbed a good deal of knowle... more »

teacher/poet/musician glen brown: I'm On Your Side by Diane Ravitch

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
teacher/poet/musician glen brown: I'm On Your Side by Diane Ravitch: I'm On Your Side by Diane Ravitch In the spring of 2010, I went out to college campuses to talk about my new book. The book was unusual for me because it was not a history; it was not a policy book; it was not a memoir. It was all three. I wanted to explain why I had come to realize that many of the ideas I had championed were wrong. I wanted to explain how testing and choice policies were undermining education. Testing was ruining curriculum and instruction. Choice threatened the survival of public education. ... more »

Public Education Is Not a Business « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Public Education Is Not a Business « Diane Ravitch's blog: Public Education Is Not a Business by dianerav I have posted a number of comments on the subject of whether, when and how schools are like businesses. This reader says that public education is not a business. Of course, it is important to understand that the purpose of the accountability measures and the choice policies is to get us all in the habit of thinking we are shoppers, consumers of education services that compete for our children and our dollars. Parents are supposed to take the school letter grades and go shopping... more »

Geaux Teacher!: PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH COUNCIL - TOO LITTLE TOO LATE!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Geaux Teacher!: PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH COUNCIL - TOO LITTLE TOO LATE!: PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH COUNCIL - TOO LITTLE TOO LATE! by noreply@blogger.com (Lee Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT) This letter from the Public Affairs Research Council dated July 17 to Superintendent John White calls on him to develop REAL accountability for the voucher receiving private and parochial schools. Where was the PAR when this legislation was being debated? Where were our legislators when they voted on legislation that gave John White virtually singular control of most aspects of the law. THEY will be held

Sunday links. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Sunday links. « Fred Klonsky: Sunday links. by Fred Klonsky *Diane Ravitch* tells my pal Glen Brown, *“I recognized that I have a mission to support teachers in a terrible time.”* *Chicago’s Lupe Fiasco* explains it all to Bill O’Reilly. *The Illinois Teacher Retirement System* is a huge job creator in Illinois. *Is the ”the google-eyed homunculus hired by Koch Industries* to manage their midwest subsidiary formerly known as the state of Wisconsin” getting closer to being indicted? *Romney:* *“The dog ate my tax returns.”* *If only all working mothers* had to face the challenges

NYC Educator: Bloomberg Fails, Yet Does Not Get Letter Grade

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
NYC Educator: Bloomberg Fails, Yet Does Not Get Letter Grade: Bloomberg Fails, Yet Does Not Get Letter Grade by NYC Educator Very sharp article in the Daily News today on how Bloomberg's signature initiative, school closings, has been an abject failure. It's important to note that the US Education Department favors similar programs, based on Arne Duncan's Renaissance 2012, also an abject failure. It's pretty clear that high-needs students do not, in fact, disappear as a result of school closings (except at charter schools). Also, poverty does not simply disappear when you treat t... more »

Guns, Rick Santorum, the Koch brothers, Islamophobia and Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee | The Political Carnival

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Guns, Rick Santorum, the Koch brothers, Islamophobia and Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee | The Political Carnival: Guns, Rick Santorum, the Koch brothers, Islamophobia and Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Posted on Thursday, February 9, 2012, 2:54 pm by GottaLaff [image: Google Gmail][image: Facebook][image: Twitter][image: LinkedIn][image: StumbleUpon][image: Reddit][image: Fark][image: Digg][image: Tumblr][image: Blogger Post][image: Delicious][image: FriendFeed][image: NewsVine][image: Google Bookmarks][image: Google Reader][image: Multiply][image: Posterous][image: Email][... more »

Charter gamble is no sure bet

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Charter gamble is no sure bet: Charter gamble is no sure bet Inquirer Editorial [image: The SRC´s Joseph Dworetzky, Feather Houstoun, and Pedro Ramos.] The SRC's Joseph Dworetzky, Feather Houstoun, and Pedro Ramos. READER FEEDBACK Post a comment ALSO ON PHILLY.COM Charter gamble is no sure bet The School Reform Commission may be taking too big a gamble by investing $139 million in charter-school expansions when there is evidence that many charters perform no better than traditional schools academically, and the lack of adequate regulation has birthed charters that misspend taxpayer... more »

Education Reform: U.S. schools making little progress in improving student achievement - UPI.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Education Reform: U.S. schools making little progress in improving student achievement - UPI.com: Education Reform: U.S. schools making little progress in improving student achievement (1) | | | President Barack Obama poses with 2nd graders at Long Branch Elementary School in Arlington, Va., on Dec. 17, 2010. Obama reads book, including his new book "Of Thee I Sing," to approximately 90 children. UPI/Olivier Douliery/POOL License photo Published: July 22, 2012 at 5:01 AM By MARCELLA S. KREITER CHICAGO, July 22 (UPI) -- We haven't heard much of late about why Johnny can't r... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-22-12 Diane Ravitch's blog - A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Those Wacky Economists Are at It Again by dianerav Through Twitter, I met an amazing blogger named Larry Ferlazzo. When I traveled to Sacramento earlier this year, I met the real Larry Ferlazzo. Larry is a teacher who makes amazing lists of everything you need to know. He also scours the Internet for everything interesting. I constantly learn from Larry. Once again, he hit the jackpot with this post. As we know, many of our economists treat test scores as the best and sole measure of learning. They spend T... more »

Spelling Being (Guest Post by cian saywer) « Cooperative Catalyst

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Spelling Being (Guest Post by cian saywer) « Cooperative Catalyst: Spelling Being (Guest Post by cian saywer) POSTED BY DLOITZ ⋅ JULY 22, 2012 ⋅ 1 COMMENT *FILED UNDER* ALFIE KOHN, GUEST POST, READING, SPELLING BEE, UNSCHOOLING A couple of months ago, a very reluctant participant in the school spelling bee – my daughter Lauryn – went on stage and spelled for 26 rounds. After about eight rounds, it was between her and one other person. Every time she stepped up to the microphone and the word was given to her – despite my original nonchalance – I became a little bit more shaky, my h... more »

Learning as leaders. | Connected Principals

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Learning as leaders. | Connected Principals: Learning as leaders. July 22, 2012 By Lyn Hilt From Scott McLeod’s Pinterest As part of Pennsylvania’s Inspired Leadership (PIL) program, as a principal I have the opportunity to participate in professional development sessions offered through the National Institute for School Leadership. I’m now involved in the fourth and final course of the program, which includes three units: *The Principal as Driver of Change*, *Leading for Results*, and a culminating simulation. The program is comprehensive, and over the past few years I’ve experience... more »

“Muddled Models” — A View Of Economists From…The Economist Magazine | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
“Muddled Models” — A View Of Economists From…The Economist Magazine | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…: “Muddled Models” — A View Of Economists From…The Economist Magazine by Larry Ferlazzo Coincidentally, the same day I criticized economists for looking at everything, including schools, through the lens of financial incentives (see “If you only have a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail” — Economists Go After Schools Again), The Economist Magazine ran a column called “Muddled Models” saying the same thing. Here are some excerpts: *Do economists have an accurate mod... more »

Q&A: New Oakland teachers union leader hopes to end marathon stalemate in contract negotiations, get a raise for members - Inside Bay Area

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Q&A: New Oakland teachers union leader hopes to end marathon stalemate in contract negotiations, get a raise for members - Inside Bay Area: Q&A: New Oakland teachers union leader hopes to end marathon stalemate in contract negotiations, get a raise for members By Katy Murphy Oakland Tribune Posted: 07/22/2012 12:00:00 AM PDT Related - Jul 22: - The Education Report: Is failure to report child abuse in schools a matter of policy? OAKLAND -- The Oakland teachers union and the school district administration have a notoriously strained -- some would say, dysfunctional -- re... more »

School Tech Connect: What I Learned From My Google Class

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
School Tech Connect: What I Learned From My Google Class: What I Learned From My Google Class by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) This is a pretty good summary of the Google Power Search course, which was so intensely boring I couldn't complete it. I knew many of these things from Twitter, of course. The one thing that the Google Power Search course has reaffirmed for me is that a flipped classroom can be just as deadly as a non-flipped classroom. If you want to take the Google Power Search course, my advice would be to just read the summary I've linked to and then Google any fur... more »

The in box. More pension bullet points. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
The in box. More pension bullet points. « Fred Klonsky: The in box. More pension bullet points. by Fred Klonsky *Fred,* *Add these to your bullet points:* *Please MAKE SURE you CONTACT YOUR STATE REP. & SENATOR, ESPECIALLY USING THE SHORT & SWEET BULLET POINTS LISTED AT THE END!!! * *AND–TELL EVERY TEACHER YOU KNOW, TELLING THEM TO TELL EVERY TEACHER THEY KNOW to CONTACT THEIR Reps. & Senator!.TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS, RELATIVES & NEIGHBORS to CONTACT THEIR Reps. & Senators! Tell those (be polite but truthful!) who are not teachers–if they ? you or taunt you (about how good we have i... more »

“If you only have a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail” — Economists Go After Schools Again | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
“If you only have a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail” — Economists Go After Schools Again | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…: “If you only have a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail” — Economists Go After Schools Again by Larry Ferlazzo Last month, I wrote about a questionable study that touted the idea of “loss aversion” as a successful strategy to get students to do better at tests. In other words, they gave students a trophy or some cash before they took the test and told them they would have to give it back if they didn’t do well. As one of the... more »

First ever StudentsFirst video that I did not laugh at | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
First ever StudentsFirst video that I did not laugh at | Gary Rubinstein's Blog: First ever StudentsFirst video that I did not laugh atby Gary Rubinstein I think it is an understatement to say that Michelle Rhee is not known for her humor. Sure, she got a lot of chuckles when she recounted the time she taped her students’ mouths shut with masking tape and the pain (and blood) that resulted when the tape was removed. (I also did plenty that I was not proud of my first year, but never taped any mouths shut.) Still, though, I generally get a laugh out of any of the videos on the S... more »

Let's Get Rid of Subs - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Let's Get Rid of Subs - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: Let's Get Rid of Subs by Nancy Flanagan stereotypical substitute teacher If there were ever an outmoded, past-its-prime practice in education--something that deserves the dustbin--it's "covering" classes of absent teachers with substitutes. Doesn't matter what you call them (in my building, it was "guest teacher," as if students were politely entertaining distinguished visitors)--the stereotypical substitute teacher suffers from a lack of authority, relevance and dignity. (Please note: stereotypical.) I ... more »

Democurmudgeon: Since Milwaukee's Voucher program began in 1992, Wisconsin became one of the slowest improving states.

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Democurmudgeon: Since Milwaukee's Voucher program began in 1992, Wisconsin became one of the slowest improving states.: Since Milwaukee's Voucher program began in 1992, Wisconsin became one of the slowest improving states. by Democurmudgeon Funny thing about the education reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; seems she forgot one important detail. Maybe it’s not important, but I thought I’d bring it up anyway. Isn’t it an odd coincidence that in a new study that covered the years 1992 through 2011, ’92 being the first year of Milwaukee’s voucher system, Wisconsin became on... more »





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