Latest News and Comment from Education

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-18-13 #thankateacher #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



#Blended Learning is cheap learning, isn’t it? #edtech – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 45 seconds ago
#Blended Learning is cheap learning, isn’t it? #edtech – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: #Blended Learning is cheap learning, isn’t it? #edtech by Chalk Face, PhD [image: #Blended Learning is cheap learning, isn't it? #edtech] This isn’t a reaction to anything in particular, but when I do happen to glance at something about “Blended learning,” I always feel like advocates want to get the same learning for half the price. Technology in this instance means to replace certain more expensive teaching functions with videos and other nonsense. When the private schools get blended ... more »

Fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published | The Raw Story

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 45 seconds ago
Fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published | The Raw Story: * * *Fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published* [image: Human brain image via Shutterstock] Some people diagnosed with Asperger’s are unhappy about the coming change. Carol Povey, director of the National Autistic Society‘s Centre for Autism, said: “The term Asperger Syndrome is a core part of their identity for many people and they understandably feel anxious about moves to remove the term. The changes won’t prevent people from continuing to use ... more »

Blue Jersey:: NJ Education News Round-Up, 5/18/13

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Blue Jersey:: NJ Education News Round-Up, 5/18/13: NJ Education News Round-Up, 5/18/13 by Jersey Jazzman Here's this week education news for the Garden State:*- Christie Christie: A Gigantic Fraud* Chris Christie told teachers, cops, firefighters, and other public employees that he was "saving" our pensions.What a crock: More important, however, is that no one in the press seems to be interested - in this election year - in getting Christie's plan on the record, once and for all, to come up with the $5.5 billion a year he's going to need starting in 2018 to fund the pensions.Let... more »

Update on parent trigger | Parents Across America

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Update on parent trigger | Parents Across America: Update on parent trigger by pureparents The parent trigger is a hot issue in many states now. It started in California, launched by the organization Parent Revolution, a fake-grassroots operation founded by charter-school mogul Steve Barr and funded by the likes of Gates, Walton et al. Here’s a summary of the current parent trigger landscape in California and a brief history of the previous parent triggers, put together from California sources who have followed the issue. Parent Revolution currently has two or three parent trigger... more »

Katie Lapham: Data Shows Not Enough Teaching - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Katie Lapham: Data Shows Not Enough Teaching - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Katie Lapham: Data Shows Not Enough Teaching by Anthony Cody *Guest post by Katie Lapham* As all U.S. teachers in public education know, in today's schools there exists a huge emphasis on data collection and analysis. Schools have formed data inquiry and teacher inquiry teams, and three-hole punching print-outs of students' test scores consumes many a prep period. I did some of my own data analysis to determine how many school days will be non-teaching for me this year. It does not include ... more »

UPDATE: something still wrong Daily Kos: If you want to understand the real challenges of education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Daily Kos: If you want to understand the real challenges of education: something still wrong with our medical system by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) is the way prescriptions are handled. No, I am not talking about Medicare Part D and the donut hole, or the ban against negotiation of prices or of reimportation, all of which are important issues. I am talking about the tilting of the playing field against independent pharmacies. This is from personal experience, twice in recent months, first with my wife and then with me. Under her federal employee health insurance we have full cover... more »

Diane in the Evening 5-18-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: This Man Loves Disruption by dianerav Clayton Christiansen loves disruption. He loves the idea that almost everything familiar to us will die and be replaced by competition. Many corporate reformers swear by him. They think disruption is creative. I wish they would get out of our lives and make money selling something other than disruption. The Stupidity of the Michigan Legislature, Simply Explained by dianerav This blogger wants you to understand legislation that is sailing through the Michigan legislature. The t... more »

My Discussion with Matt Barnum Part 3 | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
My Discussion with Matt Barnum Part 3 | Gary Rubinstein's Blog: My Discussion with Matt Barnum Part 3 by Gary Rubinstein Dear Gary, I’ve often heard teachers complain about the latest reform “fad.” It’s understandable insofar as veteran teachers have been around for many rounds of “reform,” only to see each and every one swept abashedly into a locked closet in the back of the class (right next to where I surreptitiously put those pre-tests I never got around to grading). I think there’s a lot of truth to that, and I suspect that you agree. Where we’d probably part ways is the take... more »

Betrayal, Deception, Investigation, Robocalls: SB2404 | Reclaim Reform

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Betrayal, Deception, Investigation, Robocalls: SB2404 | Reclaim Reform: Betrayal, Deception, Investigation, Robocalls: SB2404 by kenpreviti [image: robocall2] John Cullerton, Democratic Senate President, wrote Amendment 002 to his own “shared sacrifice compromise” pension bill, SB2404, on May 8. Two past-presidents and the present president of IEA have endorsed the bill while IEA robocalled and emailed all active teachers to support SB2404. WHY? SB2404 GIVES US A CHOICE OF PAYING 100% OF AN UNDISCLOSED AMOUNT AND EVERCHANGING COST INCREASES FOR WHATEVER IS CHARGED FOR HEALTHCARE – OR... more »

UPDATE: NY 3rd Graders Under Investigation – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
UPDATE: NY 3rd Graders Under Investigation – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: UPDATE: NY 3rd Graders Under Investigation by Kris Nielsen According the local paper in Albany, New York, the teacher of the students has been put on administrative leave and the investigation continues. http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/School-s-exams-under-scrutiny-4527051.php If the Test Security Unit decide that cheating took place, the teacher could be charged with a misdemeanor. Let me repeat that: a *misdemeanor*. I want to know more. The state should be talking. My friend, Michael Lam... more »

UPDATE: What Cinda Klickna doesn’t say + Chicago’s West Side says no to closing schools. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Chicago’s West Side says no to closing schools. | Fred Klonsky: Compare and contrast. Under SB2404 will health care be a vested contractual right? by Fred Klonsky What the IEA says about SB2404: *“Access to State-provided healthcare/insurance is currently not guaranteed by the constitution. If SB 2404 is passed, State-provided healthcare would become a vested and enforceable contractual right, a status it does not have today.”* What John Cullerton says about SB2404: *The vested and enforceable contractual right to a program of health benefits is NOT offered as, and * What Cinda ... more »

Ed Notes Online: UFT Tilts to Thompson: Tisch, D'Amato, New Action Overjoyed, de Blasio branded as"Left" While SEIU Endorses him

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Ed Notes Online: UFT Tilts to Thompson: Tisch, D'Amato, New Action Overjoyed, de Blasio branded as"Left" While SEIU Endorses him: UFT Tilts to Thompson: Tisch, D'Amato, New Action Overjoyed, de Blasio branded as"Left" While SEIU Endorses him by ed notes online 3-card monte scam*This [1199/SEIU de Blasio] endorsement is a direct slap to Thompson. The African American candidate getting all those rich white people to support him politically and financially doesn't get 1199's endorsement because those members know who Thompson will represent if he is elected mayor. ... Reality Base... more »

Suspension - California Teachers Association

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Suspension - California Teachers Association: Rethinking suspension By Sherry Posnick-Goodwin [image: image] Aaron Harkey discusses classroom behavior with Marssy Are student suspensions hurting academic achievement? Some CTA members are helping kids stay in school by finding alternatives to suspension while keeping safety as the first priority. “Zero tolerance” policies emphasizing suspending or expelling unruly students became widespread in the 1990s as schools responded to fears of violence, weapons and drug use. California schools issued 778,084 suspensions and expulsions in 2009-... more »

UPDATE: Jersey Jazzman: Latest "Chiefs For Change" Fail: Bowen in ME

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: Latest "Chiefs For Change" Fail: Bowen in ME: Latest "Chiefs For Change" Fail: Bowen in ME #2 by Duke I just posted about Maine "Chief For Change," Steven Bowen, and how he's had to back off on plans - written by his patron, Jeb! Bush - to fast-track for-profit virtual charter schools into the state. Before we move on to another state and another CFC Fail, however, let's take a moment to enjoy the twisted logic of Commissioner Bowen: Second, the Press Herald seems to feel that the new A-F grading system suffers from a fatal flaw because it does not discriminate betw... more »

Teacher’s Special Education Program MOVEs Kids Ahead - Journeys - Davis, CA Patch

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Teacher’s Special Education Program MOVEs Kids Ahead - Journeys - Davis, CA Patch: Teacher’s Special Education Program MOVEs Kids Ahead Gloria Osorio encourages her students to reach beyond their apparent limits. Sponsored by Grape-Nuts. Posted by Lauren Gibbs (Editor), May 18, 2013 at 07:02 am ** Comment ** ** Recommend ** ** - - - *Article written by **Katharine Blossom Lowrie* In 1971, Gloria Osorio began working as an assistant at Charles Leroy Lowman Special Education Center, a school for the disabled in North Hollywood. Inspired by the students at the school,... more »

Fiery Chicago teachers union president reelected

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Fiery Chicago teachers union president reelected: Fiery Chicago teachers union president reelected By Valerie Strauss, Published: May 18, 2013 at 11:02 amE-mail the writer 0 Comments More [image: CT CT-MET-KAREN-LEWIS-A_CTMAIN 0911 SR]Karen Lewis, the fiery leader of the Chicago Teachers Union who led a strike last year and became a nationally known anti-school reform figure, has been elected to another three-year term as president. Today she will leadthe first of three days of protests against Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to close 54 public schools. The Chicago Sun-Times reported that... more »

Saturday coffee. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Saturday coffee. | Fred Klonsky: Saturday coffee. by Fred Klonsky [image: lewsi] It’s a beautiful Chicago Spring morning. The dogwood in the backyard is showing its blossoms. The vine is filling in the lattice. The temperature is expected to hit 80 today. At 8:30 it is already 70. In about an hour Anne and I will head over to Lafayette School on Augusta in West Town. It is one of the 54 schools Rahm has targeted for shutdown in his plan to close a historic number of neighborhood public schools while opening more charters. He wants to spend millions on a new basketball arena for the p... more »

MORNING UPDATE LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 5-18-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] *LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 5-18-13 * How Corporate Reform Discourages Prospective Teachers by dianerav I have heard repeatedly in the past few years that teachers don’t want student teachers in their classrooms. The teachers are so focused on raising test scores that they can’t take the time to mentor the younger generation, and they are afraid to lose ground if they let a student teacher try a practice class. Consequently, the o... more »

May ← 2013 ← NPE News Briefs

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
May ← 2013 ← NPE News Briefs: *NPE New* 1 2 3 4 5 6 … 70 Next » UTLA Member to Leadership: Let’s SupportMonica NOW! | Diane Ravitch’s blog MAY 18 2013 by a United Teachers Los Angeles member – If Sanchez wins and becomes (as could be expected) Monica Garcia’s and Deasy’s biggest ally on the board, no one will hear excuses from you (UTLA leadership) that you could not change the endorsement. You certainly have not tried very hard to change it, nor to notify ... read more → **Activism · Billionaires · Broad Foundation · Los Angeles · Southwest ·Teacher Issues Chicago Teachers Unio... more »

Grassroots Report: The high price of charters | The Network For Public Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Grassroots Report: The high price of charters | The Network For Public Education: Grassroots Report: The high price of charters by admin [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] By Deborah Keisch Polin and Tim Scott NORTHAMPTON — Once again, the Northampton public schools are facing a budget crisis. In a series of meetings in April, the mayor discussed a $1.3 million deficit for the city. What is rarely pointed out in budget discussions is that the amount that the school system pays to area charter schools has increased yearly, as more students enroll in those sc... more »

Testing Support for TFA and KIPP: Whose Children Matter? – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Testing Support for TFA and KIPP: Whose Children Matter? – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: Testing Support for TFA and KIPP: Whose Children Matter? by plthomasedd Testing Support for TFA and KIPP: Whose Children Matter? During the first years of the Obama administration, Secretary Arne Duncan has risen to the forefront of public debates about education reform, paralleling the growing public nature of that debate that includes the entrepreneur reformers such as Bill Gates and Geoffrey Canada along with a harbinger of things to come with the popularity of the documentary *Wai... more »

NEWS FLASH: Connecticut Charter Schools outperform public schools…in suspending kindergarten students! - Wait, What?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
NEWS FLASH: Connecticut Charter Schools outperform public schools…in suspending kindergarten students! - Wait, What?: NEWS FLASH: Connecticut Charter Schools outperform public schools…in suspending kindergarten students! by jonpelto *Well, we’ve finally found proof that charter schools do outperform their public school counterparts.* *In the percentage of children 6 and under who get suspended from school.* In a stunning story that was posted on the CT Mirror website late today, the CT Mirror’s Jacqueline Rabe examines a new report that revealed that, “at least 1,967 students age 6... more »

Social Media Partially Responsible For Rise in Potentially Suicidal Students « CBS Sacramento

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Social Media Partially Responsible For Rise in Potentially Suicidal Students « CBS Sacramento: Social Media Partially Responsible For Rise in Potentially Suicidal Students DAVIS (CBS13) — A spike in potentially suicidal students in Davis schools has administrators working against social media peer pressure. According to the Davis Joint Unified School District, the number of students being screened for possible suicidal behavior rose from 52 two years ago to 94—an 81 percent increase. Psychotherapist Mark Foster says part of the increase has to do with the rise in social media ... more »

Are school vouchers losing steam?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Are school vouchers losing steam?: Are school vouchers losing steam? By Valerie Strauss, Published: May 18, 2013 at 5:00 amE-mail the writer 2 Comments More [image: vouchers]Vouchers have been at the center of the school choice movement for many reformers, but they may be in trouble. Here making that argument is Abby Rapoport of The American Prospect, where this appeared. By Abby Rapoport When news broke earlier this month that the Louisiana Supreme Court struck down Louisiana’s voucher system, which uses public dollars to pay for low-income students to go to private schools, the fig... more »

National Social Study Framework; Teacher Prep; Using Data to Support Teachers | Outside the Cave

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
National Social Study Framework; Teacher Prep; Using Data to Support Teachers | Outside the Cave: National Social Study Framework; Teacher Prep; Using Data to Support Teachers by Stephen Lazar I’m catching up on sharing a few things I’ve helped produce recently: First, I wrote a piece for the Shanker Blog this week: Proposed National Civics Framework Shows Great Promise. Please take the time to read and then take action; I believe the C3 Framework is a huge step forward for our field: Simply put, the proposed C3 Framework is brilliant. It is exactly what our nation needs to ens... more »

NYC Educator: Quest for a Union-Friendly Mayor

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
NYC Educator: Quest for a Union-Friendly Mayor: Quest for a Union-Friendly Mayor by NYC Educator It's good to see UFT President Michael Mulgrewtalking of mayoral dictatorship. Clearly, with 8 of 13 votes on the PEP, our fake school board, what Bloomberg wants, Bloomberg gets. Of course, this was apparent when mayoral control was established in 2002. At that time, the UFT supported it, perhaps even enabling it. As if that weren't enough, we supported it again in 2009. Now we're contemplating throwing our support to a Democratic mayoral hopeful. That, in itself, is probably a good i... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: SB210 Is Laid Aside

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: SB210 Is Laid Aside: SB210 Is Laid Aside by Anngie Today politics prevailed. The interests of the people were laid aside with SB210 allowing a state department to continue ducking the public's questions and the legislature's authority. Our countdown clock continues and will remain at the top of our page awaiting DESE's response to at least *some* of the questions the public has about Common Core. We may never get answers to the conflicting comments we have heard about common core. The National Governor's Association and common core proponents in gen... more »

Louisiana Educator: Public School Haters: Their M. O.

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Louisiana Educator: Public School Haters: Their M. O.: Public School Haters: Their M. O. by Michael Deshotels Diane Ravitch recently asked: "What kind of a strategy causes a general to turn his artillery on his own troops?" She was referring I believe to the group of State Superintendents who have named themselves the *Chiefs for Change* to promote the implementation of the most radical parts of today's education reforms in their states. Ravitch was referring to the destructive use of inaccurate VAM systems for evaluating teachers and the promotion of vouchers and charter schoo... more »

The in box. “What a screw job!” | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
The in box. “What a screw job!” | Fred Klonsky: The in box. “What a screw job!” by Fred Klonsky [image: images] Fred, Excellent work Fred! I questioned the same remark but fell asleep before pursuing it. I was at an IFT sponsored healthcare meeting Thursday with reps from TRS and Central Management Services. CMS stated that our total premium for TCHP Is about $1,000.00 per month. currently the state pays half and we pay half. This would make SB 2404 a cost of $12,000 a year Question to the IEA Board of Directors this morning: Did you know about cutting off the subsidy to TRIP? b... more »

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 5-18-13

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
*4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:* *4LAKIDS - SOME OF THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT* LA TIMES & ED WEEK ON THE MAY REVISE; Capitol Dems, Sacramento Bee and Center for Oral Health weigh-in …+ John Deasy tweets on the wonderfulness thereof smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 2 days ago Read the Governor’s May Revision proposal at www.ebudget.ca.gov. Even with added revenue revised plan for all spending is $1.2 billion less than the one he put forward in January If they can get out the votes, Legislative Democrats theoretically have both a Republican-proof and ... more »

This Week's Education Research Report 5-18-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Education Research Report *THIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORT* * * Investigating the Effects of Teacher Characteristics and Student Teaching Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 1 hour ago Some believe the solution to improving instructional quality in K-12 schools lies in identifying and recruiting certain kinds of individuals to the profession (e.g., academically talented, stronger commitment). Others believe that talented or committed individuals cannot become effective or enduring teachers without adequate preparation. Most prior literature examines either recr... more »

Mural project celebrates spirit of closing school; Half will follow students to William Land | Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Mural project celebrates spirit of closing school; Half will follow students to William Land | Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.: Mural project celebrates spirit of closing school; Half will follow students to William Land The spirit of an elementary school slated for closure next fall was expressed and preserved on Sunday, April 21 when students and staff came together to create a gigantic, multi-part mural under the direction of celebrated artist Milton Bowens. Washington Elementary School, established in 1869, is one of seven under-enrolled elementary schools that the Sacrament... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Breaking: Bonaparte's Retreat -- Karen Lewis and CORE Win Big

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Breaking: Bonaparte's Retreat -- Karen Lewis and CORE Win Big: Breaking: Bonaparte's Retreat -- Karen Lewis and CORE Win Big by Mike Klonsky Friday, May 17th marked another dark day for Emperor Rahm and his patrons.*Karen Lewis* and her CORE Caucus have emerged victorious in a landslide victory (80%) over the Rahm/CPS-backed W*hatsername* Caucus (Sorry but their names still escape me). Lewis and the CTU have been leading the charge against the mayor's massive school closing plan and have organized a 3-Day March of thousands, starting tomorrow. The ... more »

Breaking: Karen Lewis wins with 80% of the vote. A smashing victory. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Breaking: Karen Lewis wins with 80% of the vote. A smashing victory. | Fred Klonsky: Breaking: Karen Lewis wins with 80% of the vote. A smashing victory. by Fred Klonsky From the CTU: *CHICAGO –* National Board Certified Teacher Karen GJ Lewis has retained her position as president of the Chicago Teachers Union, according to unofficial, preliminary results from today’s election, receiving an overwhelming 80 percent of the votes. In addition, the Caucus of Rank and File Educators (CORE) has also retained the remaining officer positions including Jesse Sharkey as vice president, M... more »

StudentsFirst (again) Distorts Numbers | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
StudentsFirst (again) Distorts Numbers | Gary Rubinstein's Blog: StudentsFirst (again) Distorts Numbers by Gary Rubinstein StudentsFirst has raised tens of millions of dollars on the lie that they, alone, care about students who need to be defended from all the teachers who only care about themselves. The biggest distortion of their numbers is their claim that they have 1.3 million members. Many of these ‘members’ are people who are completely opposed to StudentsFirst’s agenda, but have accidentally signed up by clicking on a button on a form that said something like “Click here ... more »

Kansas Lawmakers Consider Defunding Common Core | Truth in American Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Kansas Lawmakers Consider Defunding Common Core | Truth in American Education: Kansas Lawmakers Consider Defunding Common Core by Shane Vander Hart Taking a page from the Michigan House playbook, Common Core defunding may be coming in Kansas. Via *The Wichita Eagle*: The implementation of new education standards could come to a screeching halt under a proposal floated by Republican lawmakers Thursday. Republican budget negotiators said they’ll consider a move to block any money that would be spent to implement Common Core standards for reading and math or Next Generation Science ...more »

Why I am Running for School Board – by Sue Peters | Seattle Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Why I am Running for School Board – by Sue Peters | Seattle Education: Why I am Running for School Board – by Sue Peters by seattleducation2011 Why I am Running for School Board – by Sue Peters For the past nine years, I have been deeply involved in Seattle’s public schools, as a parent of two, a school volunteer, an education blogger, a member of district task forces and as a local and national public education advocate. I would like to help steer the largest school district in Washington State in a positive direction. I believe that I can serve the Seattle school community even... more »

Celia Oyler and Merryl Tisch. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Celia Oyler and Merryl Tisch. | Fred Klonsky: Celia Oyler and Merryl Tisch. by Fred Klonsky Merryl Tisch is the wealthy chairperson of the New York Board of Regents, which is responsible for most of the educational policies of the State University and public school systems Celia Oyler is a professor of education at Teachers College at Columbia University. We both were graduate students together at the University of Illinois at Chicago. At one time we shared teacher assistant teaching duties of undergraduates. I will admit that I stole most of my class activities from her. She ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Host families needed for foreign exchange students

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Host families needed for foreign exchange students: Two Board Races with Three Candidates Each; Patu Unopposed by Melissa Westbrook It looks like - at 5 pm - that there will be three candidates for the Central region race and three for the Ballard/Magnolia/QA/downtown race. No one filed against Director Patu and so she will retain her seat. *For the Central Region:* Stephan Blanford Olu Thomas LaCrese Green *For Magnolia/QA/downtown/Ballard Region:* Dean McColgan Sue Peters Suzanne Dale Estey This means a real race in the primary so it is important... more »

Transforming Learning and Teaching Through the Pedagogy of Confidence — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Transforming Learning and Teaching Through the Pedagogy of Confidence — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: ASCD Whole Child Bloggers]Transforming Learning and Teaching Through the Pedagogy of Confidence May 17, 2013 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers [image: ASCD Annual Conference and Exhibit Show] *Post written by Jessica DuBois-Maahs, a Medill School of Journalism candidate at Northwestern University concentrating in finance reporting and interactive publishing. Starting this month, she will be a business reporter for MediaTec Publishing in Chicago, Ill.* Yvette Jackson... more »

David Letterman and Teach For America | the gindenburg

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
David Letterman and Teach For America | the gindenburg: David Letterman and Teach For Americaby Andrew Ginden David Letterman is a legendary figure in comedy and television. He recently received the highest honor an American performer can be given at the 35th Annual Kennedy Center Honors in Washington D.C. From the Kennedy Center website: *In 1992 he received the Peabody Award for taking “one of TV’s most conventional and least inventive forms…and infusing it with freshness and imagination.” In 1981, he won two Daytime Emmy Awards as writer and host for his first show, a quickly ... more »

Online Forum by Parents Across America – The Parent Trigger from California to Florida – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Online Forum by Parents Across America – The Parent Trigger from California to Florida – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: Online Forum by Parents Across America – The Parent Trigger from California to Florida by rdsathene The Parent Trigger from California to FloridaSunday, May 26, 2013 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM (PDT)Online Forum - **Email - **Share - **Tweet - FREEParent Trigger Webinar 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ... more »

Chicago Schools, 2013: Still Separate, Still Unequal | Diane Ravitch's blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Chicago Schools, 2013: Still Separate, Still Unequal | Diane Ravitch's blog: Chicago Schools, 2013: Still Separate, Still Unequal by dianerav The Chicago Teachers Union issued a report on segregation in the Chicago public schools: *New Report Unravels the Sordid History of Racial Segregation in Chicago Public Schools* *On anniversary of *Brown v. Board of Education*, “Still Separate, Still Unequal” examines continued acceptance of de facto segregation and injustices in district schools*** * * * * * * * * *CHICAGO*—On was is the 59th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmar... more »

Teamster Nation: Corporations using prison labor to grab even more cash

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Teamster Nation: Corporations using prison labor to grab even more cash: Corporations using prison labor to grab even more cash by Teamster Power Big business is always looking for a cheaper way to build a widget. And they have found a disturbing solution right here in the U.S. – prison labor. Inmates at the private Lockhart Texas prison, for example, took over the production of circuit boards used by companies such as IBM and Compaq. Meanwhile, at San Quentin State Prison in California, prisoners are handling work previously done at an assembly plant in Mexico. These practices ar... more »

“An old-style civil rights march.” May 18th, 19th and 20th. Chicago. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
“An old-style civil rights march.” May 18th, 19th and 20th. Chicago. | Fred Klonsky: “An old-style civil rights march.” May 18th, 19th and 20th. Chicago. by Fred Klonsky [image: Untitled] The mayor and Board of Education want to destroy 54 school communities. This will be the largest destruction of schools in U.S. history. We need our neighborhood schools and we should all fight together to save them. Join parents, teachers, students, public school workers, clergy, activists and others in the threeday citywide march across the city. They want to divide us. But this is our city, o... more »

Ed Notes Online: Hypocrisy and Protest Over Merryl Tisch Teachers College Award

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Ed Notes Online: Hypocrisy and Protest Over Merryl Tisch Teachers College Award: Hypocrisy and Protest Over Merryl Tisch Teachers College Award by ed notes online There are activists in the educational community and TC alumni who are debating whether to call for a protest of the Merryl Tisch award at your graduation [May 21]. While there are different opinions on this topic, they are all asking if there will be a protest from the graduating students. They realize that you are entering teaching at a very difficult time and they admire your courage. They are hoping that as beginni... more »

GUEST POST: What the Baltimore Sun Won’t Publish – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
GUEST POST: What the Baltimore Sun Won’t Publish – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: GUEST POST: What the Baltimore Sun Won’t Publish by Chalk Face, PhD The following is a “readers response” I sent to the *Baltimore Sun* in response to a commentary posted in the newspaper. Sadly I have had no reply. I am not holding my breath. Silence and ignorance are tools of the oppressive reform movement. Informed community members are a danger to their efforts. *Lost in Translation: A response to “Six Steps for Post-Alonso School Reform”* In their commentary (May 14th, 2013, p.17) called... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Tying Socio-Economic Status to Test Scores

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: Tying Socio-Economic Status to Test Scores: Tying Socio-Economic Status to Test Scores by Anngie In speaking to groups about common core and the data collection that is occurring because of it and simultaneously to it, we often get the question, "What is the government's plan for all that data? What are they going to do with it." USA Today reported on a a new white paper released, the U.S. Department of Education which may partially answer that question. The paper (*Improving the Measurement of Socio-Economic Status for the NAEP*) "proposes classifyi... more »

Education Reform in the New Jim Crow Era

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Education Reform in the New Jim Crow Era: Education Reform in the New Jim Crow EraFriday, 17 May 2013 00:00By P.L. Thomas, Truthout | Op-Ed *[image: OFFICERS SCHOOLS CRIME 7 main]Officer Craig Davis, a former municipal policeman now with the Houston school district force, monitors a hallway at E.L. Furr High School in Houston, March 20, 2013. (Photo: Michael Stravato / The New York Times)There are significant parallels between the war on drugs and market-oriented education reform, and both create an underclass - especially among African American males, according to Thomas, who tra...more »