Saturday, January 5, 2013

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 1-5-13




4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:

4LAKIDS - SOME OF THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT



LAPD, SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES BEGIN PATROLS AT L.A. SCHOOLS ON MONDAY

By Barbara Jones, Staff Writer, LA Daily News | http://bit.ly/VBghdc 1/04/2013 06:27:04 PM PST  ::  Police officers and sheriff's deputies who have simply cruised by elementary and middle schools in the past will add campus visits to their daily patrols beginning Monday, the first day that LAUSD students will be back in class since the Dec. 14 school shootings in Connecticut. Officials from

L.A. COUNCILMAN GARCETTI WANTS $1 A YEAR RENT TO SAVE VAN NUYS AVIATION SCHOOL

By Rick Orlov, Staff Writer, LA Daily News | http://bit.ly/ZnhwQd Friday, 1/04/2013 05:31:52 PM PST  ::  Calling it a way to promote middle-class jobs, Councilman Eric Garcetti called Friday for a report on how to continue the Aviation Center at Van Nuys Airport to train aircraft mechanics. The school, operated by the Los Angeles Unified School District, has been threatened with closure

SANDY HOOK: A picture worth 10,000 words + 1,042 words – The New Yorker and the AALA Update

“We know that when children do not feel safe, they cannot focus on learning. When staff members do not feel safe, they cannot give 100 percent to students.” – AALA Update   New Yorker Cover 1/7/2013 by Chris Ware ●●smf: I started to write a long form essay on Sandy Hook and what it means in the new year. I started on New Years Eve Day, at the counter at Langer’s Deli, waiting on a

AB51: CALIFORNIA LAWMAKER’S BILL PUSHES S.T.E.M. COLLEGE DEGREE FOR $10,000.

By Laurel Rosenhall, Sacramento Bee | http://bit.ly/UJrPKs Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013 - 10:03 am  ::  With the cost of going to college already more than $30,000 a year at many California campuses, is it possible to earn a bachelor's degree for just $10,000 – total? Assemblyman Dan Logue, R-Marysville, hopes so.>> Borrowing an idea being promoted by Republican governors in Texas and Florida,

Mercury News editorial: BROWN HAS COMMON SENSE IDEAS FOR SCHOOL FUNDING

smf: Unfortunately common sense outcomes are not reached in political processes – as evidenced by anything  recently from Beaudry,  Sacramento or Washington DC Mercury News Editorial | http://bit.ly/X3ZUEU 01/03/2013 02:00:17 PM PST  ::  Gov. Jerry Brown does not shy away from the big challenges. But he's going to need all the help he can get to accomplish school funding reform in

LAO Report: CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS FACE RISING SPECIAL ED COSTS

The Associated Press in Ventora County Star | http://bit.ly/10VjGai January 3, 2013 at 12:12 p.m  ::  LOS ANGELES — A state report on special education in California has found that school districts are shouldering an increasing share of the cost of educating students with disabilities. The report released Thursday by the state Legislative Analyst's Office says state and federal funds for

AN AILING SCHOOL SYSTEM SEES A FRAUGHT PLAN TO SOLVENCY: Philadelphia School District Plans to Close Dozens of Schools

Financial problems caused by decreasing enrollment is largely because of the lure of local charter schools. By JON HURDLE, nEW yORK tIMES | http://nyti.ms/12TbdE0 Mark Makela for The New York Times - A class at University City High School in Philadelphia this month. Students there will be forced to transfer if a proposal to close and consolidate district schools is passed in March. More

BABES IN ARMS

By BILL KELLER, Op-Ed Columnist, New York Times | Illustration: Nicholas Blechman Published: December 31, 2012 Related N.R.A. Envisions ‘a Good Guy With a Gun’ in Every School (December 22, 2012) Times Topic: National Rifle Association M E M O From: David

Viewpoint: NEW STATE BUDGET SHOULD DELIVER FOR STUDENTS

By Paul Murre, Special to The Sacramento Bee | http://bit.ly/12YoIlJ Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013 - 12:00 am  ::  Last November, California avoided billions of dollars in cuts to our public schools and colleges with the passage of Proposition 30. California is now at a crossroads and with the political momentum from Proposition 30, our state has the opportunity to renew a historic commitment to an

BROWN PLANS EXTENSIVE CHANGES FOR SCHOOL FUNDING IN 2013

He says he wants more of the state's dollars to benefit low-income and non-English-speaking students. ‪‪He would also scale back dozens of rules that districts must abide by to receive state funds. By Anthony York, Los Angeles Times | http://lat.ms/WkNR3J Gov. Jerry Brown talks to the media after the passage of Proposition 30. Winning approval of the tax increase, the first accepted by

FIVE FEMALE TEACHERS AMONG SEVEN KILLED BY GUNMEN IN PAKISTAN

By Alex Rodriguez and Zulfiqar Ali, LA Times |http://lat.ms/S55GrV Pakistani men carry the body of a teacher who was killed Tuesday by gunmen from a hospital for burial in Swabi, Pakistan. (Mohammad Sajjad / Associated Press / January 1, 2013)   January 1, 2013, 7:10 a.m.  ::  ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Gunmen ambushed a van in northwest Pakistan Tuesday and shot to death seven aid workers — five

KINDERGARTENERS, PACKING HEAT

from the LA Times smf: “Satire,’” Lenny Bruce says, “is tragedy plus time. You give it enough time, the public, the reviewers will allow you to satirize it. Which is rather ridiculous, when you think about it.”   I enjoyed Daniel Akst's satirical Op-ed in the Times last week  – but it made me uneasy- my pleasure was guilty. Not enough of Bruce’s’ ridiculous tine had passed. Of course my

LAUSD ALL CITY MARCHING BAND MARCHES IN THE 124th ROSE PARADE ON NEW YEARS DAY

photos from LA ALL CITY BAND.COM |http://bit.ly/WjDkFZ   Download your Free 16" X 9" High Resolution Digital Picture Tournament of Roses Parade President Sally Bixby and other City and California Officials formally welcome All City to their 41st consecutive parade.

Today’s Assignment: THE END OF HOMEWORK

by Louis Menand , The New Yorker | http://nyr.kr/WjBfK2 December 17, 2012  ::   Here is something you probably didn’t know about France: its President has the power to abolish homework. In a recent speech at the Sorbonne, François Hollande announced his intention to do this for all primary- and middle-school students. He wants to reform French education in other ways, too: by shortening the

LAWNDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOOD SERVICES DIRECTOR CHARGED WITH TAKING BRIBES FROM PIZZA VENDOR

By Rob Kuznia, Staff Writer. Daily Breeze | http://bit.ly/VvCIgD 12/29/2012 02:34:31 PM PST  ::  The food services director at the Lawndale elementary school district was arrested earlier this month and is facing felony charges for allegedly accepting kickbacks from a restaurant that sold pizza to the district for school lunches, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

LAUSD HONOR BAND PUTS IT ALL TOGETHER FOR ROSE PARADE

By Barbara Jones, Staff Writer, LA Daily News | http://bit.ly/VrQktk Members of the All-District High School Honor Band of the Los Angeles Unified School District rehearse in the parking lot at Dodger Stadium on Dec. 28, 2012. During the final two weeks before the Rose Parade, the band spends more than 160 rehearsal hours on the rolling hills of the immense parking lots at Dodger Stadium

IN-SHAPE STUDENTS OUTSCORE HEAVY PEERS ACADEMICALLY, STUDY FINDS

By Nirvi Shah, Ed Week Rules for Engagement blog |  http://bit.ly/X7Qcox From guest blogger Bryan Toporek: December 7, 2012   ::  Middle school students in prime physical shape outperform their overweight and obese peers both on tests and grades, according to new research from Michigan State University. The study, published Thursday in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness,

NAEP DATA ON VOCABULARY ACHIEVEMENT SHOW SAME GAPS

By Erik W. Robelen, Ed Week | http://bit.ly/UfX7WR December 12, 2012  ::  A new analysis of federal data that provide a deeper and more systematic look into students’ ability to understand the meaning of words in context than was previously available from “the nation’s report card” finds stark achievement gaps in vocabulary across racial and ethnic groups, as well as income levels. The analysis

CALIFORNIA OFFICIAL SAYS NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND LAW 'NULL AND DEFUNCT'

Adolfo Guzman-Lopez |  Pass / Fail : 89.3 KPCC  | http://bit.ly/VNMxWb Download Audio | [2 min 41 sec] December 29th, 2012, 12:58pm  ::  One of California’s top education officials said the federal No Child Left Behind law is no longer credible or legitimate because too many states have been given a waiver. “They have already disowned the program in terms of the U.S. Department of Education

KPFK - Politics or Pedagogy: Recap of Broadcasts about Charter Schools – Today @ 11AM

KPFK 90.7 FM  |  kpfk.org Politics or pedagogy? EDUCATION REPORT with John Cromshow Saturday, December 29, 2012 11:00 AM      Smiley and West      w/education issues commentary by John Cromshow     (following hosts" introduction) TOPIC: 2012 Broadcasts About Charters

GARCETTI URGES EFFORT TO SAVE AVIATION MECHANICS SCHOOL

The councilman says he will ask the city airport agency and L.A. Unified to explore ways to keep the program running at Van Nuys Airport. By Dan Weikel, Los Angeles Times | http://lat.ms/VnB8R5 Students work on a jet engine at the aviation mechanics school at the North Valley Occupational Center-Aviation Center at Van Nuys Airport. (Ricardo DeAratanha, Los Angeles Times / December 11,

Attack on Adult Ed Continues: AIRCRAFT MECHANICS SCHOOL AT VAN NUYS AIRPORT THREATENED BY BUDGET CUTS

L.A. Unified may close or move the vocational facility. Loss of the program would be a blow to those seeking technical careers in the aviation industry. By Dan Weikel, Los Angeles Times | http://lat.ms/12K9CjK Students Ronald Quijada, Mayko Alonso and Chandana Koralalage, front to back, go through the starting and shutting down procedures on a TH-13T helicopter. (Ricardo DeAratanha /

NATIONAL TEACHERS UNIONS, STATE UNIONS + LAWMAKERS REJECT ARMING EDUCATORS IN SCHOOLS

Teachers Unions Reject Arming Educators In Schools Posted by Valerie Strauss Washington Post/Answer Sheet | http://wapo.st/V3Gi23 A school bus nears a memorial for victims of the Newtown school shootings. (Charles Krupa/Associated Press)>> December 20, 2012 at 2:01 pm  ::  The National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers, the nation’s dominant teachers unions

ORGANIZATION WANTS TO RECOGNIZE PRESCHOOL TEACHERS’ HARD WORK

Deepa Fernandes | Pass / Fail :  89.3 KPCC http://bit.ly/TYYGJY   Maya Sugarman/KPCC : Children's Center teacher Karina Diaz reads a book to preschoolers. December 24th, 2012, 3:21pm  ::  With preschools around the Southland closed for the holidays, most little children are home running rings their parents. And no doubt those parents are appreciating the work their preschool teachers do every

SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE LINING UP AGANST L.A. COUNTY’S CLEAN WATER FEE

By Kelly Puente, Staff Writer, Long Beach Press Telegram/la dAILY nEWS http://bit.ly/WRmc0c 12/25/2012 09:29:12 PM PST  ::  LONG BEACH - The county's Clean Water, Clean Beaches Measure is meant to clear polluted waters, but educators say the plan will drain millions of dollars from cash-strapped schools. Under the plan, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is proposing

CONTESTED UTLA HOUSE OF REPS ELECTIONS SIGNAL INTERNAL FISSURES

Some union members fear outside groups – funded by non-profits like the Gates Foundation - encouraged teachers to run for UTLA's decision-making body to influence policy. By Howard Blume and Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times | http://lat.ms/W52LLa December 26, 2012, 4:56 a.m.  ::  The young staff at the Alexander Science Center has been hard hit by seniority-based layoffs, the main factor

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE U.S. DEPT OF ED: CA schools will have to keep striving to meet unachievable goals and be punished for missing them

CALIFORNIA FAILS TO WIN WAIVERS FROM RESTRICTIVE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND EDUCATION LAW By Sharon Noguchi, San Jose Mercury News | http://bit.ly/V01VAg 12/24/2012 05:46:01 PM PST  ::  Signaling that California again is marching to its own drum -- perhaps trailing the parade -- the federal government has denied the state's request for a waiver from a key U.S. education law, thus assuring

NRA’s IDEA TO MILITARIZE OUR SCHOOLS WON’T MAKE US SAFER + smf’s 2¢

Editorial by LA Daily News/LA Newspaper Group Opinion staff | http://bit.ly/VmZqGv << The National Rifle Association executive vice president Wayne LaPierre pauses as he makes a statement during a news conference in response to the Connecticut school shooting on Dec. 21, 2012 in Washington. The National Rifle Association broke its silence Friday on last week's

THE NRA & THE SCHOOL ARMS RACE: Why deescalate when you can escalate?

"The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun." - NRA honcho Wayne LaPierre “The only thing that stops a really bad idea is the combination of truth and education.” - smf A defiant NRA calls for armed guards in every school By Matea Gold, Los Angeles Times |  http://lat.ms/UXNk8Q National Rifle Assn. Chief Executive Wayne LaPierre speaks at a news

CLAIM OF FUNNY BUSINESS ON PETTITIONS + smf’s 2¢

by Hillel Aron in LA Schools Report | http://bit.ly/UXHVhZ Posted on December 21, 2012Two LAUSD School Board candidates — school library aide Franny Parrish and 4LAKids blogger Scott Folsom – say they paid a man named James T. Law to gather signatures needed to qualify for the ballot. The City clerk deemed too many of Folsom’s signatures invalid for him to qualify to be a candidate for