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Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Nite Cap 12-10-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #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

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12-10-13 Schools Matter: Did AFT Offset Costs of Anti-Corporate Crusade with Corporate Cash?
Schools Matter: Did AFT Offset Costs of Anti-Corporate Crusade with Corporate Cash?: Did AFT Offset Costs of Anti-Corporate Crusade with Corporate Cash?The following is from AFT in 2009, when the future for corporate ed reform seemed ascendant, and Randi was on a wave.  AFT has scrubbed the video from their site, but I plugged it in to where it had been previously deleted from the Press Release.  Do have a look, and note the venue for this big announcement. Were no dark alleys available?With AFT now spending a million bucks on their new Pretenderby Jim Horn / 13min 12-9-13 Schools MatterSchool
John Thompson: Time is Right for "Principles that Unite Us" - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher
John Thompson: Time is Right for "Principles that Unite Us" - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: John Thompson: Time is Right for "Principles that Unite Us"By Anthony Cody on December 10, 2013 4:23 PM Guest post by John Thompson.The seeds of the defeat of the accountability-driven reform movement, ironically, were sown in 2009 when union leaders decided that they had to keep their own counsel, or to at least keep a low profile when warning against test-driven reform. Union leadership felt they had no choice but to acquiesce when the incoming Democratic President B
How Public Schools Have the Edge Over Private Schools | NEA Today
How Public Schools Have the Edge Over Private Schools | NEA Today: How Public Schools Have the Edge Over Private SchoolsDecember 10, 2013 by twalker  Filed under Featured News, Top StoriesLeave a CommentBy Tim WalkerThe fuel that drives much of the pro-market education reform agenda is the belief that public institutions are inherently inferior. Therefore, all that ails the nation’s schools, according to so-called “reformers,” can only be addressed by injecting market-based remedies into the system, or basically taking the “public” out of public education. But evidence is beginning to mount th

TODAY

PSAT for 12-10-13: Send us your test schedules Parents United for Responsible Education
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » PSAT for 12-10-13: Send us your test schedules: PSAT for 12-10-13: Send us your test schedulesMore Than a Score is meeting with CPS testing officials later this week. Among the items on our agenda is a discussion of the actual number of tests given in CPS schools this year. You may remember that CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett announced at the
Bill Ayers Talks Obama, Nelson Mandela, and Toni Preckwinkle | Chicago magazine
Bill Ayers Talks Obama, Nelson Mandela, and Toni Preckwinkle | Chicago magazine: Bill Ayers Talks Obama, Nelson Mandela, and Toni PreckwinkleHe loves Cook County’s president, isn’t disappointed in POTUS, and would be happy to be a Supreme Court justice.Bill Ayers is now 68 years old and retired after 20 years as a UIC education professor. He’s slight, intense, balding, wears two hearing aids and t
Call Out by Parents to Protest at Board Meeting Wednesday | Classroom Struggle
Call Out by Parents to Protest at Board Meeting Wednesday | Classroom Struggle: Call Out by Parents to Protest at Board Meeting Wednesday On Wednesday, Dec 11, OUSD’s School Board will be discussing how millions of dollars are going to be used this year and how the entire district budget will be divided over the following year.Parents, teachers, students, and school workers are organizing all over
New Era of Cooperation in Newark Schools Gives Way to Animosity - NJ Spotlight
New Era of Cooperation in Newark Schools Gives Way to Animosity - NJ Spotlight: NEW ERA OF COOPERATION IN NEWARK SCHOOLS GIVES WAY TO ANIMOSITYJOHN MOONEY | DECEMBER 10, 2013One year after celebrated signing of teacher contract, national union president charges officials have reneged on promisesA year after final approval of Newark’s teacher contract – a “Kumbaya” moment hailed nationally as a lan
12-10-13 Jersey Jazzman
Jersey Jazzman: How The "Reform" Virus Is Spreading To NJ's Suburban SchoolsNew Jersey's schools are considered to be at the top of the nation; our suburban schools, in particular, are among some of the very best in the world. Nonetheless: the "reform" virus is spreading out from the urban areas into the 'burbs with frightening speed.How is this happening? Let's look at a test
Charter Schools Continue Dramatic Growth Despite Controversies
Charter Schools Continue Dramatic Growth Despite Controversies: Charter Schools Continue Dramatic Growth Despite ControversiesPosted: 12/10/2013 2:01 pm EST  |  Updated: 12/10/2013 2:19 pm ESTProtesters demonstrated outside Freire Charter School during a visit by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), Monday, Sept. 23, 2013, in Philadelphia. In Cantor's remarks he demanded that Attorney Genera
Why Illiterate Educators? | My Island View
Why Illiterate Educators? | My Island View: Why Illiterate Educators?December 10, 2013 by tomwhitbyWhen it comes to an understanding of the term “literacy” most people understand it as the ability to read and write in an effort to communicate, understand and learn. That has been the accepted understanding of literacy for centuries. Of course with the advancement of technology in our world today th
12-10-13 THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG ED Pulse Poll Results: How Interested Are You in Multicultural Competency Training? — Whole Child Education
ED Pulse Poll Results: How Interested Are You in Multicultural Competency Training? — Whole Child Education: ED Pulse Poll Results: How Interested Are You in Multicultural Competency Training?ASCD continually seeks to provide solutions to the challenges that face educators of all levels. Recently, the ASCD SmartBrief ED Pulse poll addressed the need for and the interest in multicultural competency
Is Andy Shallal the next Bill de Blasio? | Ward 8 DC Teacher
Is Andy Shallal the next Bill de Blasio? | Ward 8 DC Teacher: Is Andy Shallal the next Bill de Blasio?by ANGEL CINTRON JR. • DECEMBER 10, 2013If yesterday’s WTU-sponsored town hall event is any sign of things to come, then the 2014 D.C. mayoral race will turn out a “game changer” in the education reform landscape within the nation’s capital. Although education reform in D.C. is often a one-sided d
Did Michelle Rhee's Policies In D.C. Work?
Did Michelle Rhee's Policies In D.C. Work?: Did Michelle Rhee's Policies In D.C. Work?DIANE RAVITCH – DECEMBER 10, 2013, 11:31 AM EST240Michelle Rhee has been one of the most polarizing figures in American education in recent years. Some consider her the face of the current “reform” movement. After serving for nearly four years as chancellor of the D.C. public schools, she then created a group cal
On the way to Madiba's Freedom there was Stephen Bantu Biko | South African History Online
Stephen Bantu Biko | South African History Online: Names: Biko, Stephen BantuBorn: 18 December 1946, Tylden, Eastern Province (now Eastern Cape), South AfricaDied: 12 September 1977, Pretoria, South AfricaIn summary: Black Consciousness Movement (BCM) leader, South Africa’s most influential and radical student leader in the 1970s, law student, banned person, political prisoner. Biko was killed in
12-10-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Tuesday Open ThreadSo no snow in my area so here's hoping yours is dry as well. I received my Seattle Public Library newsletter and wanted to alert readers with high school students about a new scholarship opportunity.  It's the Stim Bullitt Civic Courage Scholarship.  (This is a bequest from the late Stimson Bullitt who supported public libraries.) High school sen
Cali Education Headlines Tuesday, December 10, 2013
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: California schools fear losing millions for low-income studentsEducation HeadlinesTuesday, December 10, 2013FCMAT provides links to California K-12 news stories as a service to the industry. However, some stories may not be accessible because of newspapers' subscription policies.Tracy Unified, union reach dealA tentative contract agreement ra
Choosing Democracy: Reclaim School Reform from the Corporate Raiders
Choosing Democracy: Reclaim School Reform from the Corporate Raiders: Reclaim School Reform from the Corporate RaidersReclaim School Reform The NationOne of the greatest challenges facing American education today is a fantasy, spun by billionaire-funded “think tanks” and often repeated uncritically by
politicians and pundits, that our schools are failing, that teachers are shirking their responsib
Common Core Standards Distract From Real Educational Reform - US News and World Report
Common Core Standards Distract From Real Educational Reform - US News and World Report: A Distraction from Real Education ReformThe emphasis on common standards is drawing attention away from bigger problemsBy ERIC HANUSHEKOctober 28, 2013 RSS Feed PrintComment ()inShare6Policymakers and reform advocates alike have rallied around introducing a set of national content standards, suggesting that thi
Morning Wink 12-10-13 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS mark as readLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-10-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: AFT Video: The Real Lessons of PISAThe AFT prepared an excellent video about the real lessons of PISA. It shows graphically what the high-performing nations are doing. It shows tha
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-10-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: AFT Video: The Real Lessons of PISAThe AFT prepared an excellent video about the real lessons of PISA. It shows graphically what the high-performing nations are doing. It shows that poverty matters. It shows that equitable resources matter. It shows that teachers need to be supported and to work in a collaborative environment. It s
Community schools gaining traction under state’s new funding formula | EdSource Today
Community schools gaining traction under state’s new funding formula | EdSource Today: Community schools gaining traction under state’s new funding formulaDecember 9th, 2013 | Add a Comment | By Jane Meredith AdamsStudents participate in an after-school program at Oakland High School, a community school. Credit: Jane Meredith Adams, EdSource TodayEfforts to create full-service community schools th
12-10-13 Wait What?
Wait What?: Jepsen, Malloy and playing politics with the law…Call it naïve, but some would claim that while politics is political, America’s legal system is supposed to be above or separate from the day-to-day world of politics. But as we Americans we are learning, our legal system is, in fact, extremely political and appears to becoming more political by the day. At the federal […]The post Jepsen
12-10-13 The Answer Sheet
The Answer Sheet: Millions in private money poured into Common Core promotionIt cost money to implement and promote the Common Core State Standards. Here’s a post about where some of the funding is coming from, written by award-winning Principal Carol Burris of South Side High School in New York.  Burris has  chronicled on this blog the many problems with the test-driven reform in New York (here,
12-10-13 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: “Male Teachers ‘Walking A Tight Rope’”Male Teachers ‘Walking A Tight Rope’ is Part Two in my series at Education Week Teacher on the challenges of being a male teacher. It features guest responses from New York City teacher José Vilson and Sacramento educator Alice Mercer.by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h Nelson Mandela’s Memorial Ser
Predictions about Technology in K-12 and Higher Education for 2024 | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
Predictions about Technology in K-12 and Higher Education for 2024 | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Predictions about Technology in K-12 and Higher Education for 2024For the past four years I have offered predictions of what I see around the corner for high-tech in K-12 schools (see December 26, 2009, December 30, 2010, December 29, 2011, and December 27, 2012 posts).But not
12-10-13 Fred Klonsky | Running for our pensions. | VOTE 4 Fred Klonsky
Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Pension thieves.  Robyn Gabel is a Democratic State Representative from the 18th District of Evanston. She targets older people, retired police, fire fighters, public service workers, public school teachers and state university employees. Approach with care. She should be considered a Republican and d
12-10-13 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Eva Moskowitz' Success Academy Gets Preferential DOE Treatment, Emails Show- DUHHH!NEW YORK CITY — When Eva Moskowitz starts a new charter school, top officials at the city’s Department of Education move heaven and earth to meet her demands.During the past two years, the DOE gave Moskowitz’s controversial chain, Success Academy, rent-free space in city school buildings to open 14
12-10-13 teacherken at Daily Kos
teacherken at Daily Kos: An interesting African perspective on Mandelacan be found in today's Washington Post in an op ed titled The roots of Mandela’s service.  The author, Temba Maqubela is headmaster at Groton School in Groton, Massachusetts. He fought against apartheid, escaped persecution, and, in 1986, came to the United States as a political refugee. More importantly, his grandfather actual
12-10-13 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Filling Lamotte Seat By Election Or Appointment? Board Is Deciderby Jamie Alter Lynton, Publisher, LA SCHOOL REPORT | http://bit.ly/1aRHhZj December 9, 2013   ::  If history is any guide, a school board election is in the offing. As officials at the LA Unified school board scramble to work out options with the city and county on how best to fill the sch
12-10-13 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: VAM Fails Test, Again: The Bizarro World of Education ReformVAM Fails Test, Again: The Bizarro World of Education Reform. via VAM Fails Test, Again: The Bizarro World of Education Reform.by plthomasedd / 1h   12-8-13 @ The Chalk Face@ THE CHALK FACE: Mandela: Dishonored by Passive Radical MythMandela: Dishonored by Passive Radical Myth. via Mandela: Dishonored by Passive Radical
12-10-13 With A Brooklyn Accent: Summary of My Remarks to Regents Chair Tisch at Common Core Forum in the Bronx
With A Brooklyn Accent: Summary of My Remarks to Regents Chair Tisch at Common Core Forum in the Bronx: Summary of My Remarks to Regents Chair Tisch at Common Core Forum in the BronxWhat I will say to Regents Chair Tisch after describing the fear and humiliation and demoralization among students and teachers in Bronx schools that have been inspired by testing, test based evaluation of schools and
12-10-13 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness
the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): VAM Fails Test, Again: The Bizarro World of Education ReformThe great state of South Carolina (and for full effect, you should hear that with “great” and “state” rhyming, sort of, with “pet” because that is how the good ol’ boy patriarchy says it around here) continues d
12-10-13 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School: Is Carmen Farina Now The Frontrunner To Be Chancellor?From Capital NY:Carmen Farina, a leading chancellor contender, not only shares an educational philosophy nearly identical to Bill de Blasio’s, but helped to construct the mayor-elect’s beliefs during the decade she has advised him on school issues.“They are of one mind,” said Dorothy Siegel, an education advocate, former
Report: In Silicon Valley, 'successful' schools fail poor and English-learning students - ContraCostaTimes.com
Report: In Silicon Valley, 'successful' schools fail poor and English-learning students - ContraCostaTimes.com: Report: In Silicon Valley, 'successful' schools fail poor and English-learning studentsBy Sharon Noguchi snoguchi@mercurynews.comPOSTED:   12/09/2013 12:18:29 PM PST | UPDATED:   ABOUT 12 HOURS AGO MOUNTAIN VIEW -- Silicon Valley public schools are largely failing poor students and Engl
The Progressive Case for a Common Curriculum - Bridging Differences - Education Week
The Progressive Case for a Common Curriculum - Bridging Differences - Education Week: The Progressive Case for a Common CurriculumBy educationweekly on December 10, 2013 9:19 AMToday, Robert Pondiscio once again writes to Deborah Meier.Dear Deborah,This may be a first for Bridging Differences.  I make a progressive argument and you push back with a conservative response.  I want schools to give th
Duncan Offers No Way to Regulate Bad Charters Like Ohio’s ECOT | janresseger
Duncan Offers No Way to Regulate Bad Charters Like Ohio’s ECOT | janresseger: Duncan Offers No Way to Regulate Bad Charters Like Ohio’s ECOTPosted on December 10, 2013 by janressegerIn June of 2010, I was part of a group that met with Education Secretary Arne Duncan. Some of us challenged Secretary Duncan about the fact that to apply for grant funding from his Race to the Top competition, states h
Gary teachers union forum part of AFT Day of Action : Gary News
Gary teachers union forum part of AFT Day of Action : Gary News: Gary teachers union forum part of AFT Day of ActionPrint Email11 hours ago  •  Carmen McCollum carmen.mccollum@nwi.com, (219) 662-5337GARY | The Gary Teachers Union joined a nationwide effort to support and promote public education, and the effort kicked off Monday with a panel of educators, politicians and local leaders focusing on
Follow the Leader – A New Series | Taking Note
Follow the Leader – A New Series | Taking Note: Follow the Leader – A New Seriesby JOHN MERROW on 10. DEC, 2013 in 2013 BLOGS We are excited to announce the premiere of a new Learning Matters production, “Follow the Leader,” a web-only series that will, we hope, reveal a great deal about the men and women who lead American education. Your guide in this new series is Sam Chaltain, an educator and w
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Mother Jones: Less crime, immigration reform and legalization of drugs could hurt Gates' bottom line
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Mother Jones: Less crime, immigration reform and legalization of drugs could hurt Gates' bottom line: Mother Jones: Less crime, immigration reform and legalization of drugs could hurt Gates' bottom lineWith an endowment larger than all but four of the world's largest hedge funds, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is easily one of the most powerful charitie

YESTERDAY

CPS needs a sustainable budget - chicagotribune.com
CPS needs a sustainable budget - chicagotribune.com: Broken bonds: The school editionAs enrollment plunged, spending soared December 10, 2013You couldn't ask for a better — or more infuriating — explanation for the financial implosion of Chicago Public Schools than Sunday's installment of the Tribune's "Broken Bonds" series.To sum up: Chicago Public Schools officials were warned more tha
At Corbett's Philly office, 100 press for 'fair' funding formula for schools | Philadelphia Public School Notebook
At Corbett's Philly office, 100 press for 'fair' funding formula for schools | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: At Corbett's Philly office, 100 press for 'fair' funding formula for schoolsby thenotebook on Dec 09 2013 Posted in Latest news="" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; padding: 0px 2px;">Share on emailMore Sharing ServicesCOMMENTS (0)PRINTby Kevin McCorry for News
Thomas Friedman in a Flat Out State of Confusion southbronxschool.com
http://www.southbronxschool.com: Thomas Friedman in a Flat Out State of ConfusionAll those who think that Tom Friedman of the New York Times should stop sharing his ignorance about education signal by giving me a "harumph!" Hey, one of you didn't "harumph!"It's time for Tom Friedman to flatten his flat views of education and go back to what he does best; find a cab driver in so
12-9-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: If You Can't Say Anything NiceI saw that phrase in needlepoint on a pillow once.  I laughed because well, I did find it apt and funny.Now along comes Gawker with a great (and very long article) by Tom Scocca called "On Smarm."  Boy, does it hit a lot of high points with me."Haters", snark, and smarm - he covers them all.  (And he uses Thumper -
The Arrogance of Sen. Biss: Cuts teacher pensions and offers workshop for finding retirement security | Reclaim Reform
The Arrogance of Sen. Biss: Cuts teacher pensions and offers workshop for finding retirement security | Reclaim Reform: The Arrogance of Sen. Biss: Cuts teacher pensions and offers workshop for finding retirement securityPosted on December 9, 2013by Ken PrevitiThe sheer arrogance of Illinois Sen.Biss (D) glares from his latest emailed newsletter. After he cut teacher pensions, he offers a workshop
LA Schools want 100k more iPads | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC
LA Schools want 100k more iPads | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC: LA Schools want 100k more iPadsAnnie Gilbertson | December 9th, 2013, 5:43pmMaya Sugarman/KPCCThe Los Angeles Unified School District wants to triple its supply of iPads, even while a citizen’s oversight committee wants to hit the brakes.Superintendent John Deasy's administration released a request this week, asking for about 100,00 more i
Please Support Spencer Smith’s Recovery | Gary Rubinstein's Blog
Please Support Spencer Smith’s Recovery | Gary Rubinstein's Blog: Please Support Spencer Smith’s RecoveryThis past summer I befriended a new TFA corps member named Spencer Smith.  For five months I followed his journey from his teacher training to his experiences in his Detroit classroom.  Sometimes I’d needle him about being in TFA, but he always took it in stride.  The other day I noticed that S
The Myth of Neutrality and the Common Core | educarenow
The Myth of Neutrality and the Common Core | educarenow: The Myth of Neutrality and the Common CorePosted on December 8, 2013 | Leave a commentThe other day I got myself involved in a little Twitter dust-up over the Common Core.  The gist of it was that the other twitteree was arguing for the standards, while I was arguing that, even if you believe the standards are fine, to ignore the political i
12-9-13 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Diane Ravitch in Red Hook Wednesday Hosted by Julie Cavanagh and PS 15 Red Hook CommunityYou all know how I feel about both these ladies. Put them together and there's magic. So sorry I can't make this but Darren will be there to film.Reminder: I Will Be at P.S. 15 in Brooklyn on December 11by dianeravitch I will join with teachers, parents, and anyone else who wants to attend on
One Key to Finland’s Successful Schools: Teacher Unions. — One Union Gal Speaks Up. | Continuing Change
One Key to Finland’s Successful Schools: Teacher Unions. — One Union Gal Speaks Up. | Continuing Change: One Key to Finland’s Successful Schools: Teacher Unions. — One Union Gal Speaks Up.December 9, 2013Educationaft, children, education, schools, teachers, tweets,unions      Rate ThisAs I was surfing Twitter today, I saw this tweet to our AFT President, Randi Weingarten.The tweet was sent by Matt
Counselors as Leaders – Being “Called to the Table” | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights
Counselors as Leaders – Being “Called to the Table” | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights: Counselors as Leaders – Being “Called to the Table”By American School Counselor Association on December 9, 2013By Shelley Klaas, American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Elementary PIN Facilitator*As the PIN (Professional Interest Network) Facilitator for Elementary Counselors for the ASC
Nite Cap 12-9-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #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 mark as readWhy Education in Finland Works | Continuing ChangeWhy Education in Finland Works | Continuing Change: Why Education in Finland Works      Rate ThisReal relationships – real trust.AFT President Randi Weingarten visits schools in Finla