Latest News and Comment from Education

Sunday, September 9, 2012

FAIR CONTRACT RALLY MONDAY AT 3:30PM Chicago Teachers Union | Strike Central

Chicago Teachers Union | Strike Central:


CTU members rally on may 23rd. Signs read Whatever We Do We Will Do Together and Love Our Students

Latest Information

As of 12:01 a.m. we will be on strike. Please report to your picket location by 6:30 a.m. Click here for the latest press release on negotiations.
Click here for our first daily strike bulletin, On the Line.

FAIR CONTRACT RALLY
MONDAY AT 3:30PM
125 SOUTH CLARK 


CTU Strike Headquarters is located at Teamster City.

On Van Buren between Ashland and Paulina on the north side of I-290 - the Eisenhower Expressway.
Use Ashland Avenue exits from I-290 in either direction. 
The CTU Strike Hotline (with regularly updated recorded message) is 312-329-6209! 
Sign up for text messaging:
Send a text to 69238 (MYAFT) with "CTU1" as the body of the message.
Click here for a flyer geared toward parents.
A new Spanish version can be downloaded here.
Click here for previous contract bulletins.
We have received messages and donations in solidarity from around the country and even the world!Click here for a map.

Chicago's Teachers Just Went On Strike -- Here's Everything You Need To Know About Why | Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC)

Chicago's Teachers Just Went On Strike -- Here's Everything You Need To Know About Why | Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC):


THE DAILY CHANGE: CHICAGO’S TEACHERS JUST WENT ON STRIKE — HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHY



During a press conference tonight the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) announced that it will be going on strike, its first action of the sort in 25 years.
Why are these 29,000 teachers and school workers going on strike in the nation’s third-largest public school district?
Because they want what all workers want: fair pay and decent working conditions. They also want what all teachers want — to serve their students to their best of their abilities.
Here’s a few things you need to know about the strike, and why the CTU is right and Mayor Rahm Emanuel — who has failed to fairly bargain with the union — is wrong:
  • Powerful Outside Interests Worked With Rahm To Cripple CTU’s Ability To Strike (They Failed): Last year, outside groups education privatization groups like Stand for Children worked with the city council and mayor to raise the strike threshold limit to 75 percent — meaning that 3/4 of teachers had to vote to strike. Jonah Edelman, who works for the group, bragged during the Aspen Ideas Festival that they had essentially eliminated teachers’ ability to strike. But in June, nearly 90 percent of CTU members voted to authorize a strike, easily surpassing the barrier that the city and education privatization groups had placed on them. But outside groups haven’t stopped taking aim at union rights. They’ve even paid protesters to demonstrate against CTU.
  • Rahm Refuses To Pay Teachers What They Were Promised: Being a teacher takes hard work, and it’s one of the most most poorly-paid professions relative to the work load. The leadership of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) had agreed to offer teachers a four percent raise last year, but Mayor Emanuel canceled this agreement. The district has refused to address this raise in negotiations. While gutting teachers’ pay increases, CPS is calling for longer school days. Would you want to work more hours without being fairly compensated for it?
  • The City Won’t Agree To Limit The Number Of Kids In Classrooms:Over-crowded classrooms are bad for students, teachers, and parents. That’s why 32 states have limits on classroom size. Illinois does not. CTUwants to see limits on class sizes in its contract, but the city refuses to discuss it.
  • Rahm Is Intent On Shifting Funds To Untested And Unproven Charter Schools: Rahm has been laying the groundwork for a rapid expansion of charter schools, and wants to create nearly 250 more within five to ten years (this would amount to half the system). This massive diversion of funds from the public system is not based on the facts of what actually works for students. The most comprehensive study of charter schools in the United States found that most deliver results similar to those of public schools. Not surprisingly, Chicago’s charter schools are largely devoid of unions and the benefits they provide for students and teachers alike. Charter school teachers tend to earn 8 percent less than normal public school teachers — which makes them an attractive tool for austerity-prone conservatives. CTU wants a more fair distribution of funds.
If you’re a bold progressive who wants to side with these teachers who are fighting for their students and communities, here’s a few ways to do it:
  • Contribute to the CTU Solidarity Fund: The CTU has set up a Solidarity Fund to allow the union to do educational outreach and activism. Clickhere to donate to it.
  • Spread The Word On Social Media: Use the hashtags #FairContractNow and #CTUStrike to spread the word about the strike. Use the social media buttons on this post (Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit) to explain to your friends and family about why it’s important to stand with Chicago’s teachers. A number of Twitter users have already changed their Twitpics to the logo of the Chicago Teachers Union. Doing so on Twitter or Facebook will help spread the word.
We’ll keep you updated on the CTU strike and everything you can do to help the city’s teachers. 

BREAKING: Chicago Teachers to strike after negotiations fail looms - Chicago News and Weather | FOX Chicago News

Teacher contract negotiations continue as deadline looms - Chicago News and Weather | FOX Chicago News:


BREAKING: Chicago Teachers to strike after negotiations fail


More Sharing Services

Posted: Sep 07, 2012 2:25 PM PDTUpdated: Sep 09, 2012 8:12 PM PDT
CHICAGO (FOX Chicago News) -
UPDATE: Chicago teachers to strike for first time in 25 years after negotiations with district fail.
The Chicago Teachers Union and district officials have until midnight Sunday to reach an agreement on a new contract to try to avoid a strike on Monday. Teachers are ready to walk off the job for the first time in 25 years over issues that include pay raises, job security and teacher evaluations.
Talks between the two sides are scheduled to continue Sunday at 11 a.m. at the Chicago Teachers Union's


Read more: http://www.myfoxchicago.com/story/19487179/chicago-teachers-ready-to-strike-hoping-for-a-deal#ixzz2627iTrxK

School Tech Connect: I Stand With The Union

School Tech Connect: I Stand With The Union:


I Stand With The Union

from the Labor Day Rally
I stand with Karen Lewis, the CTU negotiating team, the united Chicago Teachers' Union. I'm not a member of their union, but I've been paying attention. What's happening in Chicago is a full-scale assault on communities and public education in the guise of "reform." The national fetish for teacher-hating has its epicenter here in Chicago, where Rahm Emanuel has decided that his personal agenda is the only way forward, without negotiation, without the assent of the communities impacted by one terrible policy after another.  I know there's a faction within the Democratic party that likes the smack-down, likes the head-cracking bravado of this mayor, but when you live in the communities roiled by school closings and the constant upheaval and the top-down, we-know-better-than-you attitude, you begin to see how far to the right this issue has lurched. Our kids have been tested into submission, told ad nauseum that they're failures, dispersed, disciplined, and disposed of. They've seen their teachers blamed for every ill, and they've grown up in a city that's starved its schools, sabotaged its schools, and sold its schools off.    Enough is enough. The fight that's coming is worth the cost. It has to be done, here, in our city, on our streets, in Chicago.

"A job is a lot more than a paycheck. It's about dignity. It's about respect." -Vice President Joe Biden.

Peg with Pen: On the Eve of the Strike: Thank you CTU

Peg with Pen: On the Eve of the Strike: Thank you CTU:


On the Eve of the Strike: Thank you CTU



As a former public school teacher who has been out of the system for six years, who feels as though no large body of people have ever – ever - stood up for educators –  for me - for public schools – for students – in my professional lifetime – I just want to say thank you.

For all of the professionals – teachers – who are out there tonight – remember who you are – while I remember who I am.  CTU is making sure I remember.

We are professionals with high expertise in a field of study that our nation must have in order to keep our democracy thriving.

We are professionals who are required to wear many different hats due to the nature of our job and the inability of our government and our society to recognize and take responsibility for the disgraceful poverty in our wealthy nation.

We know best practices and we have heart – none of which add up to a number.

We are the protectors of America's children.

We are the catalyst for the creativity, brilliance and problem solving found in the leaders across our country.

We help create beauty, bravery and confidence found in the citizens who can save our country from its current pending fall.

We are teachers.

I look to CTU.

I look to CTU and expect the nation to follow. While our public schools are dismantled, while children are abused by the policies of corporate education reformers, while teachers work in environments full of fear, while communities are torn apart, I have great hope that the rebuilding will occur as CTU lays the foundation.

Teachers across the nation, be proud tonight, you are valued and you are not replaceable, no matter what the media, politicians, billionaires or your community says.

Chin up. Stand with CTU, smile tonight and send them immense amounts of good energy. Midnight is the deadline.  CTU stands up for me.  I am a teacher.

Thank you CTU.

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 9-9-12 #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



Jersey Jazzman: Overpaid Teachers? As If!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 minutes ago
Jersey Jazzman: Overpaid Teachers? As If!: Overpaid Teachers? As If! by Duke *But I need those people to find new ways to blame teachers for... everything!* When Chris Christie first came on the scene, he would go on and on about greedy teachers getting big raises while everyone else was struggling. What he failed to tell his constituents is that most NJ teacher contracts are for three years; that means there is a lag in wage inflation changes between the general workforce and teachers. Now it's been a few years since the recession hit. How are those "overpaid" teachers doing? ... more »

Online Education's Lucrative Bottom Line | OurFuture.org

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 minutes ago
Online Education's Lucrative Bottom Line | OurFuture.org: Online Education's Lucrative Bottom Line by Sam Pizzigati *Corporate execs and billionaire ideologues are creating — at taxpayer expense — a network of schools where learning takes a back seat.* The sounds of September: school bells ringing, looseleaf binders snapping open, sneakers squeaking on gymnasium floors. Next to apple pie, what could be more American than sounds like these — and the local public schools where we hear them? But times change. Blackboards and chalk no longer grace every classroom. We have whiteboards ... more »

Evening Time with Diane 9-9-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 minutes ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: Tomorrow, Wear Red for ED to Support Chicago Teachers FairTest: Give Arne a Warm Welcome by dianerav The nation’s leading anti-testing organization has issued a call to its supporters to turn out and welcome Secretary Duncan if he visits their communities on his cross-country bus tour. Tell him why his teach-to-the-test policies are failing. Tell him why high-stakes testing is bad for the quality of education. Tell him that children need time to play and dance and sing, not just take test prep. Tell him that it is wrong to ditch physical education and the art... more »

The in box. “As a teacher, I am vilified and my profession is denigrated by the mayor and his office’s media tactics.” « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 minutes ago
The in box. “As a teacher, I am vilified and my profession is denigrated by the mayor and his office’s media tactics.” « Fred Klonsky: The in box. “As a teacher, I am vilified and my profession is denigrated by the mayor and his office’s media tactics.” by Fred Klonsky The Reality of Education: *Each year I teach five sections of high school English. That’s thirty (or more!) students in a room. That means that in my short career, I’ve already influenced almost 500 people directly! This doesn’t even include students I’ve taught in summer or night school, students who I mentor, h... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: BEX IV - the Battle To Come

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 32 minutes ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: BEX IV - the Battle To Come: BEX IV - the Battle To Come by Melissa Westbrook [image: No on 1240 (click on picture)] Next week is the first of the BEX IV community meetings (Thursday, the 20th at Whitman at 6:30 p.m.). It now looks like a real battle brewing and the Board will certainly have a decision to make. For your consideration: - the Downtown Seattle Association has made the unfortunate decision to continue to pressure the Board/City Council for a downtown school. To their credit, they took a meeting with me and I outlined why, at this j... more »

Tomorrow, Wear Red for ED to Support Chicago Teachers Continuing Change

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Continuing Change: Tomorrow, Wear Red for ED to Support Chicago Teachers by gatorbonbc Reblogged from Diane Ravitch's blog: I will be wearing red in solidarity with the Chicago Teachers Union tomorrow, in support of whatever decision they make. If they should strike, they have my support. If they don’t, they also have my support. I am not giving my support unthinkingly or blindly. I support their right to bargain collectively. Knowing Karen Lewis, I believe she has the best interests of the children of Chicago in her heart. Read more… 132 more words Diane Ravitch supports Chicag... more »

NYC Educator: Why Do We Need Union?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
NYC Educator: Why Do We Need Union?: Why Do We Need Union? by NYC Educator Here's a sign from Chicago--ground zero as of midnight tonight.

Seattle Schools Community Forum: SPS News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: SPS News: SPS News by Melissa Westbrook [image: No on 1240 (click on picture)] Yesterday, Superintendent Banda and Mayor McGinn announced a new partnership called "*Evening Community Meetings in School Libraries*" that would open every school library for use by community/neighborhood groups. The cost would be $15 for meetings held after school hours. From SPS Communications: *Any local community group or nonprofit organization is eligible to sign up, but the libraries are not available for business or commercial uses, nor for events that have ad... more »

The Education Report: Immigration policy and local high schools -- and an Oakland school board candidate's residency challenge - Inside Bay Area

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
The Education Report: Immigration policy and local high schools -- and an Oakland school board candidate's residency challenge By Katy Murphy Oakland Tribune Posted: 09/09/2012 12:00:00 AM PDT This is a sampling of The Education Report, Katy Murphy's Oakland schools blog. Read more atwww.IBAbuzz.com/education. Follow her at Twitter.com/KatyMurphy. Sept. 5: A recent story in the Oakland Tribune examined how the federal "deferred action for childhood arrivals" immigration policy might provide added inspiration to some students to graduate from high school and go to college. The pr... more »

Jimmy Fallon sings James Taylor Parody at DNC2012 – Oh, I’ve seen Romney, I’ve seen Bain. VIDEO « Continuing Change

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Jimmy Fallon sings James Taylor Parody at DNC2012 – Oh, I’ve seen Romney, I’ve seen Bain. VIDEO « Continuing Change: Jimmy Fallon sings James Taylor Parody at DNC2012 – Oh, I’ve seen Romney, I’ve seen Bain. VIDEO by gatorbonbc *Kudos to Jimmy Fallon – He sings this James Taylor Parody at DNC2012, beautifully.* *“Oh, I’ve seen Romney, I’ve seen Bain. I’ve seen Clinton speeches I thought would never end, I’ve seen crazy guys talking to invisible men — so I’ll probably vote Obama, one more time again. “* *Watch Video Here:* *‎”We seen both sides and we seen both guys,* *But 2016... more »

UPDATE: Clueless Citizens are Good For PWCS « PWC Education Reform Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Clueless Citizens are Good For PWCS « PWC Education Reform Blog: Accentuating the Postivie or Misleading the Public? by pwceducationreform September 9, 2012 — pwceducationreform Most of us who have ever worked for a private business have experience in trying to highlight the things we do well. A restaurant with an extensive wine list will emphasize the variety of wines they offer in adverts, and maybe not mention that they don’t serve dessert. A business that’s received awards for processing the greatest volume of home mortgages won’t mention how many of their mortgages ended up ... more »

“Will Standards Save Public Education?” « Deborah Meier on Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
“Will Standards Save Public Education?” « Deborah Meier on Education: When Books Were..Over My Head. by debmeier I still get publishers’ materials about the latest education books. And I can’t sop myself from looking–and alas, getting discouraged. Heinemann! I used to love-ya. Trust Heinemann…and implement th Como Core with confidence.” I hate the idea of “implementing” books. One book “Explicitly links instruction to the standards for nonfiction.” We’re moving away, incidentally, from fiction. Some of these may be great…well, good…well, as good as they can be, given…that you’d n... more »

Chicago Teachers Union | Diane Ravitch: Tomorrow is Decision Day in Chicago.

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Chicago Teachers Union | Diane Ravitch: Tomorrow is Decision Day in Chicago.: Diane Ravitch: Tomorrow is Decision Day in Chicago. BY *DIANE RAVITCH* | 09/09/2012 Tomorrow, Wear Red for ED to Support Chicago Teachers Mayor Rahm Emanuel has tried to bully the Chicago Teachers Union and its leader Karen Lewis. Lewis was elected by the members because they knew she would stand up for them. Emanuel has the support of the Wall Street hedge fund managers organization, somewhat absurdly called Democrats for Education Reform. He also has the other big-monied people in Chicago, as mentio... more »

“Won’t Back Down” and “Will Stand Up” | Parents Across America

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
“Won’t Back Down” and “Will Stand Up” | Parents Across America: “Won’t Back Down” and “Will Stand Up” by pureparentsBy Lorie Barzano [image: Stealing Schools = Won't Back Down (click Picture)] Chair of Coalition SAUS (Strengthen Austin Urban Schools), a parent led group representing inner-city public schools working to ensure accessible, quality Public Education for all children and healthy, thriving Public Schools in Austin’s urban core. I saw “Won’t Back Down” last week with two other parents from Coalition SAUS. A free, pre-screening hosted by the Charter School Association, ... more »

Diane in the Afternoon 9-9-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: *Diane in the Afternoon 9-9-12* I Can Determine the Winner of the Presidency by dianerav Good grief. It just occurred to me that I can swing the election. Not with my vote. My personal vote doesn’t count. I live in New York, a state so blue that Romney won’t bother to campaign here, although he will surely come here to raise money on Wall Street and in the Hamptons, where the super-rich gather to play and ride horses and sail. New York will give Obama a huge majority, so I am free to vote my conscience. The election, I hear, will be decided in Ohio and Michigan... more »

Is Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee taking over the Democratic Party? - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Is Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee taking over the Democratic Party? - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: Is Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee taking over the Democratic Party? By Valerie Strauss An Atlantic magazine article is entitled, “How Michelle Rhee Is Taking Over the Democratic Party.” Is she really? The story says that “there are signs that Rhee’s persona non grata status in her party is beginning to wane.” Persona non grata status in the Democratic Party? When was that? Rhee was hired by a Democratic mayor, Adrian Fenty, in Washington, D.C,. in 2007 as chancellor... more »

Today All Who Love Public Education Are Members of the Chicago Teachers Union | Strike Central

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Chicago Teachers Union | Strike Central: For Members » Strike Central [image: CTU members rally on may 23rd. Signs read Whatever We Do We Will Do Together and Love Our Students] Latest Information At this point, negotiations continue between the Chicago Teachers Union and the Chicago Board of Education. While we are always hopeful for a resolution, we continue to prepare for a strike. Click here for the latest press release on negotiations. Click here for a flyer geared toward parents. (A Spanish version can be downloaded here. An updated Spanish version will be available soon). Cli... more »

NYC: Solidarity March for Chicago Teachers, Monday 9/10 | OccupyWallSt.org

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
NYC: Solidarity March for Chicago Teachers, Monday 9/10 | OccupyWallSt.org: NYC: Solidarity March for Chicago Teachers, Monday 9/10 Posted 38 minutes ago on Sept. 9, 2012, 1:29 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt Tags: chicago, education, labor, nyc, solidarity, strike, teachers, union [image: Solidarity with CTU] Chicago teachers are likely to strike tomorrow, Monday, September 10th. Please join MORE(Movement of Rank-and-File Educators) and Occupy Wall Street to stand with them in solidarity! *When: Monday, September 10th at 5pm* *Where: Meet at the south side of Union Square (14th Street)* Teac... more »

Won’t Back Down Movie Review: My (ex) PTA President’s Point of View « Beccarama

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Won’t Back Down Movie Review: My (ex) PTA President’s Point of View « Beccarama: Won’t Back Down Movie Review: My (ex) PTA President’s Point of View September 8, 2012 by Rebecca Levey This week I went to a screening of Won’t Back Down starring Viola Davis andMaggie Gyllenhaal. The movie is about a mom and a teacher who band together and use the Parent Trigger law (which is never mentioned by name) to take over and turnaround a failing elementary school in Pittsburgh. The film is loosely based on real events (though in my research I couldn’t find anything other than the Los Ange... more »

More About That Atlantic Puff Piece on Rhee « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
More About That Atlantic Puff Piece on Rhee « Diane Ravitch's blog: More About That Atlantic Puff Piece on Rhee by dianerav Sharon R. Higgins is an Oakland parent activist. She diligently follows the money. Check out her website Charter School Scandals. She sent the following comment: *Any article about Michelle Rhee published by the Atlantic Media Company should disclose Rhee’s extremely close ties to AMC’s CEO and owner, and his wife (David and Katherine Bradley).* *The Bradleys hosted Rhee at their Massachusetts Heights home three times between January 2008 and March * * * *Be s... more »

Daily Kos: Lost Hope: Obama's Failing Education Agenda

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Daily Kos: Lost Hope: Obama's Failing Education Agenda: Lost Hope: Obama's Failing Education Agenda byplthomasEdDFollow 3 PERMALINK1 COMMENT In the 2008 presidential election, I cast a symbolic vote for Barack Obama. I would have eagerly done the same for Hillary Clinton. I believed deeply in the need to confront the lingering and corrosive racism and sexism that haunt the promise of democracy and equity that the U.S. represents (but has yet to achieve). My vote for Obama had little to do with the hope and change that drove his campaign. I am far too skeptical of politicians to be... more »

Tracking School Children With RFID Tags? It's All About the Benjamins | Threat Level | Wired.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Tracking School Children With RFID Tags? It's All About the Benjamins | Threat Level | Wired.com: Tracking School Children With RFID Tags? It’s All About the Benjamins - BY DAVID KRAVETS - EMAIL AUTHOR - 09.07.12 6:30 AM Student body ID cards with RFID-embedded chips. *Image: Northside Independent School District* Just as the U.S. Department of Agriculture mandates Radio Frequency Identification Device chips to monitor livestock, a Texas school district just begun implanting the devices on student identification cards to monitor pupils’ movements on campus, and to track... more »

More than bake sales: Utah parents debate merits of PTA vs. PTO | The Salt Lake Tribune

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
More than bake sales: Utah parents debate merits of PTA vs. PTO | The Salt Lake Tribune: More than bake sales: Utah parents debate merits of PTA vs. PTO Some are leaving for financial reasons; others claim reasons are driven by political anger. By Lisa Schencker | The Salt Lake Tribune First Published Sep 07 2012 10:27 pm • Last Updated Sep 08 2012 12:10 am As in hundreds of schools across the state, parents at Muir Elementary in Bountiful mingled, sold colorful T-shirts and discussed plans for the year ahead as part of a back-to-school night. Unlike at other schools, two major Utah... more »

Solidarity with Chicago Teachers: Action for the Week of 9/9/2012 | United Opt Out National

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Solidarity with Chicago Teachers: Action for the Week of 9/9/2012 | United Opt Out National: Solidarity with Chicago Teachers: Action for the Week of 9/9/2012 by admin *United Opt Out National joins TAG, The Network of Teacher Activist Groups, in expressing our solidarity with CTU.* *First, join us by sending a message of support.* *Second, pledge to support CTU by doing one of the following:* - *Teach about labor history and the importance of unions for working people;* - *Organize a discussion and solidarity statement in my school, educational program, or community;* ... more »

Bridgeport, Bass Pro and the 1st Amendment of the United States Constitution - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Bridgeport, Bass Pro and the 1st Amendment of the United States Constitution - Wait, What?: Bridgeport, Bass Pro and the 1st Amendment of the United States Constitution by jonpelto Now it’s true that Bass Pro sells guns, so I’d expect the 2nd Amendment to come up in the discussion about Bass Pro coming to Connecticut, but Freedom of the Press and the 1st Amendment? (really?) For those eager to see how “politics” really works, let’s return to last week’s Wait, What? post about how Bass Pro and Carbela’s have been extraordinarily successful in getting taxpayers to fund their constru... more »

Teachers For Social Justice: TSJ Strike Support Actions Update 9/9

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Teachers For Social Justice: TSJ Strike Support Actions Update 9/9: TSJ Strike Support Actions Update 9/9 by sarah-ji TSJ will be handing out flyers and talking to parents at many of the holding schools Rahm has set up. Join us! Be there at 8am when parents arrive or at 12:30pm when they pick up their children. When you arrive at the school, find the CTU picket captain and tell them you are there with TSJ. You can download flyers to print here. Neighborhood actions *Albany Park* Contact Erin (emomoore[at]gmail.com) - Sunday, leafleting @ Lindo Michoacan w APNC, 1-3pm - Sund... more »

Teachers Don't Suck !: I saw this on FB ! Aint He Just Grand!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Teachers Don't Suck !: I saw this on FB ! Aint He Just Grand!: I saw this on FB ! Aint He Just Grand! by Walt S. I saw this on FB saw this on FB and I copied the picture and some of the comments: "There is alot of talk about him running for Governor of New Jersey?" "Love my Cory." "Love his quote...don't preach to me about your religion...show me by example." "Love this guy." "Did you listen to his speech last night at the convention. AWESOME!!" Here's my comment:

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Times Vision for Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Times Vision for Education: Seattle Times Vision for Education The Seattle Times printed a long, comprehensive Vision for public education in Washington State. They propose a number of changes in the fundamental perspective on education, the most significant of which is an expansion of the State's role in education from K-12 to 3-to-23. There's a lot here, some good, some flawed, some banal. It is recommended reading. Washington state must embrace a new vision for education

Morning UPDATE: Will Chicago Teachers Strike? LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 9-9-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Will Chicago Teachers Strike? by dianerav Tomorrow is Decision Day in Chicago. Mayor Rahm Emanuel has tried to bully the Chicago Teachers Union and its leader Karen Lewis. Lewis was elected by the members because they knew she would stand up for them. Emanuel has the support of the Wall Street hedge fund managers organization, somewhat absurdly called Democrats for Education Reform. He also has the other big-monied people in Chicago, as mentioned in this article in the Chicago Tribune, including billionaire ... more »

Radical Scholarship: IAP Edited Volume on Obama Education Agenda Wins AESA Award

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Radical Scholarship: IAP Edited Volume on Obama Education Agenda Wins AESA Award: IAP Edited Volume on Obama Education Agenda Wins AESA Award by P. L. Thomas Co-editor Paul Carr (along with Brad Porfilio) has announced *The Phenomenon of Obama and the Agenda for Education: Can Hope Audaciously Trump Neoliberalism? *has just won a 2012 Critics Choice Book Award of theAmerican Educational Studies Association (AESA). The AESA conference is in Seatte in late October. See related essays in a 2011 special issue of *Journal of Inquiry and Action in Education, 4*(1). The Phenomenon of Ob... more »

UPDATE: The Sunday Mail - Why I do not support the IEA’s framework for a solution to the pension issue.. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
The Sunday Mail. « Fred Klonsky: The Sunday Mail. by Fred Klonsky Why I do not support the IEA’s framework for a solution to the pension issue. by Fred Klonsky The Illinois Education Association issued another of it’s press releases today concerning the state’s pension debate. Written by IEA Communication Director Charlie McBarron, the IEA tries to explain why there has been no progress over the summer. Pension legislation stalled because of union opposition and because Democrats *Chicago paleta cart. Photo. Adam Heenan* *This week’s Pension Vocabulary by John Dillon:* *Gr... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: You Can Read a Common Core Standard Lesson and Take a Quiz Every School Day!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: You Can Read a Common Core Standard Lesson and Take a Quiz Every School Day!: You Can Read a Common Core Standard Lesson and Take a Quiz Every School Day! by stlgretchen Is this the type of literature used in CCSS? You can find out for yourself1 Forget about the wisdom imparted in the "page of the day" on desk calendars. You can now read a Common Core lesson every day in the Learning Network Blog in the New York Times and see what your children are learning in public school! You can decide for yourself if these unproven and untested standards will ... more »

St. John’s School Board Expected to Pass Resolution On High Stakes Testing; Meanwhile Rick Scott Plans Listening Tour | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
St. John’s School Board Expected to Pass Resolution On High Stakes Testing; Meanwhile Rick Scott Plans Listening Tour | Scathing Purple Musings: St. John’s School Board Expected to Pass Resolution On High Stakes Testing; Meanwhile Rick Scott Plans Listening Tour by Bob Sikes Writes Teresa Stepzinski for the *St. Augustine Record*: The board for the state’s best school district is poised to criticize Florida’s reliance on high-stakes testing to measure student achievement. The St. Johns County School Board has proposed a resolution asking Gov. Rick Scott and the state Board of Educat... more »

Short Notes: Another Check and Balance for President Obama | The Jose Vilson

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Short Notes: Another Check and Balance for President Obama | The Jose Vilson: Short Notes: Another Check and Balance for President Obama by Jose President Barack Obama Short Notes are back! These are some pieces I’ve been reading throughout last week. Enjoy! A few notes: - Some notes on President Barack Obama’s first term as president, assuming there’s a second. [TruthOut] - Wear Red on Tuesday, for teachers in Chicago. I know I will. [Chicago Teachers Union] - Most trolls I know happen to be men, and when men attack women online, they can be particularly hostile... more »

A Call For Principals And Administrators That Advocate Balanced Literacy To Be Terminated Immediately.southbronxschool.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
http://www.southbronxschool.com: A Call For Principals And Administrators That Advocate Balanced Literacy To Be Terminated Immediately by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) We here at SBSB bashed Lucy Calkins and her cult of Teacher's College Reader's and Writer's Workshop on these pages and rightfully so. However, in going through our writings we have discovered we have left one demographic out of our cross hairs. The principals of the schools that enable, or rather disable, the student's of their schools chances to ever read. We here at SBSB call for charges, removal, and event... more »

Chicago Teachers May Strike, Teach Political Lesson : NPR

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Chicago Teachers May Strike, Teach Political Lesson : NPR: Chicago Teachers May Strike, Teach Political Lesson [image: Members of community group Parents 4 Teachers display pro-teacher posters outside City Hall Friday in Chicago. The Chicago Teachers Union has threatened to strike Monday if negotiations fail.] by BECKY VEVEA Twenty-five thousand Chicago teachers are planning to walk off the job Monday if they don't have a contract by midnight Sunday. As the Democrats look to unions to help them get out the vote, a strike by Chicago teachers might just put a crimp in those plans. On... more »

My NBC Nightly News Interview on One Size Does Not Fit All: A Student’s Assessment of School

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
My NBC Nightly News Interview on Teachers « Cooperative Catalyst: My NBC Nightly News Interview on Teachers POSTED BY NIKHIL GOYAL ⋅ SEPTEMBER 8, 2012 ⋅ 1 COMMENT Yesterday, I was interviewed on NBC News on my recently released book One Size Does Not Fit All: A Student’s Assessment of School.The Kindle/Nook version is out next week! Here it is! I’d love to hear what you think in the comments. Time to treat teachers like “nation builders.” Here’s the video: One Size Does Not Fit All: A Student’s Assessment of School. View more videos at: http://nbcnewyork.com.

School Tech Connect: The Missing Metric

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
School Tech Connect: The Missing Metric: [image: School Tech Connect] The Missing Metric by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) I've been thinking about the rise of meaningless data-worship in schools over the past decade, and how it's taken a toll on the communities that need the most help. I remember when it started, at the start of NCLB. You'd get these consultants from Texas visiting your school, talking about their miraculous *data-driven* model that had transformed their state into a beacon of academic excellence. All the while Texas remained basically stagnant and near the bo... more »

Schools Matter: The Atlantic's Love-fest for Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee, Inexcusable

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Schools Matter: The Atlantic's Love-fest for Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee, Inexcusable: The Atlantic's Love-fest for Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee, Inexcusable by P. L. Thomas *The Atlantic* is championing the self-aggrandizing agenda of non-educator Michelle Rhee: How Michelle Rhee Is Taking Over the Democratic Party The writer of the article needs to hear from the progressive education community that Rhee and the Obama education agenda are not popular or credible; email Molly Ball at mball@theatlantic.com Note this response from Diane Ravitch: Is Michelle Rhee Takin... more »

Jersey Jazzman: K12, Booker's Reformy Patrons, In Hot Water

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Jersey Jazzman: K12, Booker's Reformy Patrons, In Hot Water: *K12's money is turning into kryptonite! * K12, Booker's Reformy Patrons, In Hot Water by Duke Oh, my: The new school year appears to be starting off with plenty of headaches for leading online educator K12. Like a seventh-grader caught flipping to the answers in the back of the book, a Florida county nailed the one-time Wall Street darling for apparently misleading regulators and parents about who was teaching its students. From the moment it secured its contract to run Seminole County’s Virtual Instruction Program in

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, will join the Secretary for Back To School Tour | ED.gov Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Back To School Tour | ED.gov Blog: *Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, will join the Secretary for the W.Va., events * * * [image: Tour Logo] ** The “Education Drives America” Back-to-School Bus Tour takes Secretary Arne Duncan and senior ED staff coast-to-coast highlighting education successes and engaging communities in conversations about school reform (P-12), college affordability and completion, and the link between education and jobs. Bus Sneak Peek and Final Details Released Posted on September 7, 2012 by Cameron Brenchley [image: Education D... more »

The in box. My neighborhood teacher writes to us. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
The in box. My neighborhood teacher writes to us. « Fred Klonsky: The in box. My neighborhood teacher writes to us. by Fred Klonsky *“People who have lost their hunger for justice are not ultimately powerful. * *They are like sick people who have lost their appetite for what is truly* *nourishing. Such sick people should not frighten or discourage us. They* *should be prayed for along with the sick people who are in the hospital.* *“The love for justice that is in us is not only the best part of our being* *but it is also the most true to our nature.”* *-Cesar Chavez* *Hello Neighbors,*... more »

An Open Letter to Our Black Youth Coalition for Public Education/CoaliciĂłn por la EducaciĂłn PĂşblica

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Coalition for Public Education/CoaliciĂłn por la EducaciĂłn PĂşblica: *An Open Letter to Our Black Youth* *www.theafricanamericanchild.com* We, the individual members of the NATIONAL BLACK EDUCATION AGENDA (NBEA) are mothers and fathers, grandparents, God-parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers and sisters entrusted as the loving adults and tradition-keepers who hold together our own Black families. We are also your neighbors, mentors, counselors, coaches, pastors, teachers and professors. It is in the spirit of love and family responsibility, that we write to you— our urban Af... more »

Diane in the Evening 9-8-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: Is Michelle Rhee Taking Over the Democratic Party? by dianerav An article in The Atlantic by a political reporter named Molly Ball claims that Michelle Rhee is “taking over” the Democratic Party. It curious that Rhee owns the party but was not invited to speak and explain her views. So many speakers ridiculed Mitt Romney because, they said, he likes to fire people. Funny, Rhee likes to fire people too. When she ran the DC schools, she invited a PBS camera crew to watch her fire a principal. I wrote to the author of this article. You should too. Post a copy he... more »






Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 9-8-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 9-1-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 8-25-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 8-18-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 8-11-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 8-4-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post




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