Latest News and Comment from Education

Friday, November 22, 2013

Open Letters To ‘B-List’ Reformers I Know. Part 1: Joel Rose | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

Open Letters To ‘B-List’ Reformers I Know. Part 1: Joel Rose | Gary Rubinstein's Blog:

Open Letters To ‘B-List’ Reformers I Know. Part 1: Joel Rose

After two days of pursuit, I finally found him.  I had never visited anyone in jail before – had never known anyone in jail before.  Most of the people that waited on the visitor’s line with me appeared to be family.  Many were children.  The children didn’t seem to grasp where they were.  Maybe they were just used to it.  They played with each other so enthusiastically that their mothers demanded that they settle down.  This was a happy place, this prison.
On line with the families, I seemed out of place.  As a young Jewish man in khakis and a button-down shirt, I looked like I must be a lawyer, which I was, though not the lawyer of the person I was visiting.  An obvious rookie at this, I hadn’t even filled out the visit request slip properly.  I then nearly found myself in the holding room when I set off the metal detector, accidentally attempting to smuggle in my cell phone.
Finally permitted onto the elevator, I ascended to the fourth floor.  The glass holding cage in the center of the visiting room was similar to ones I had seen in the movies except that instead of using telephones, prisoners and visitors communicated through a small tin grating that they both talked and listened through, making for awkward conversation as each person had to constantly alternate between having his ear or mouth pressed against the opening.
An attractive woman in pink exchanged sweet nothings with her boyfriend.  Another woman visited her man in the neighboring position.  “Have you seen your other girlfriend?” she asked, as he clenched his lips and shook his head.  Some visits were more fun than others.
As I waited for him to enter the glass-enclosed room, I braced myself for the shock of seeing him, so different, after seven years.  The last time I saw Victor Medez was at his fifth grade graduation.  He was my student – one of seventy-five students I taught in my three years as a public school teacher in Houston.  Part of the reason I was at the jail that day was to fulfill a promise.
My first year as a teacher, I made a lot of promises to my fifth grade class.  I promised to teach them fractions.  I promised to take them on a field trip to the IMAX.  I promised to keep the class under control.  After hundreds of broken promises like these, I could understand why the kids would be skeptical when, at the end of the year, I promised to see each of them again in seven years at, I presumed, their high school graduation.
During my tenure in Houston from 1992 to 1995, The Houston Chronicle continually reminded me that the students I taught, inner city students, were, statistically speaking, not expected to succeed.  When I taught my class elementary statistics and probability, I included a lesson on how numbers can be manipulated to misrepresent data.  The numbers that condemned my class, I assumed, was a stirring example of this distortion through a statistical, and political lens.  The newspapers predicted that my kids would not graduate.  I predicted that they would.  By keeping the promise I had made seven years earlier, I would find out, first-hand, who was right.
–Opening to “Going Back” (unpublished) by Gary Rubinstein and Joel Rose (2000)
A year ago I wrote a series of eight letters I called ‘Open Letters To Reformers I know’ which got a lot of attention, though just two responses.  Nowadays I’m hearing a lot about how the disagreeing ‘sides’ in the ed reform debate need to be communicate more.  Maybe I will get more responses from some of those big names in education reform who I’ve known, some of them well, some of them just a little.  There is a second ‘tier’ of reformers however and though they will probably see the ‘B-List’ as some kind of insult, I think it’s way better to be an ‘B-List’ reformer than an ‘A-List’ one.
Joel Rose is the co-CEO of New Classrooms, and education ‘non-profit’ that designs and consults on how to use technology to personalize math learning.  Formerly called ‘School of One’ when Rose created it as an employee of the NYC DOE, the new program is called ‘Teach to 

11-22-13 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University)

the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University):







A Moment In Ncte History – Ncte Annual Convention Boston, 2013
A MOMENT IN NCTE HISTORY – NCTE ANNUAL CONVENTION BOSTON, 2013 Paul Thomas, Council Historian Delivered at the Board of Directors Meeting, 2013 National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention “Not the Time . . . to Follow the Line of Least Resistance” Honoring our history allows us to acknowledge that we all stand on the shoulders of giants. For those of us teaching English, we recall no






11-20-13 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): RECOMMENDED: English Journal, Vol. 103, No. 2, November 2013English Journal, a flagship publication from NCTE, is currently under the outstanding editorship of Julie and David Gorlewski—who have followed the stellar work of the previous editor, Ken Lindblom. I want to ur

Harvey Weinstein Lobbies Students to see 'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom' - Speakeasy - WSJ

Harvey Weinstein Lobbies Students to see 'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom' - Speakeasy - WSJ:

Harvey Weinstein Lobbies Students to see ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’


Harvey Weinstein, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, and Los Angeles students at a screening of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
 
Erich Schwartzel
Harvey Weinstein, the Hollywood producer famous for wooing Oscar voters, on Thursday faced a more discerning crowd: high school students.
There were more than 300 of them from across Los Angeles, and they’d just watched his new movie, “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” starring Idris Elba as the former South African president and anti-apartheid leader.
Turns out Harvey Weinstein the teacher is a bit like Harvey Weinstein the Hollywood kingpin: blunt, sensitive and a relentless campaigner.
“Did you like the movie?” he said, and the crowd cheered.
“Is Idris Elba the sexiest man of the year next year?” he said to more scattered applause.
The school day screening was the latest stop in Mr. Weinstein’s “Mandela” road show. The movie was shown at the White House earlier this month, and hosted on Wednesday at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. by Hillary ClintonColin Powell and Sen. John McCain. Two Republicans and a Democrat on stage together – clearly the movie is bringing people together, Mr. Weinstein joked later at his company’s holiday party.
But on Thursday afternoon, the focus was on Mr. Weinstein’s push for “Mandela” in schools. In partnership with the American Federation of Teachers, Weinstein Co. is 

California switches testing plans, but may still risk losing $3.5 billion in federal funds - San Jose Mercury News

California switches testing plans, but may still risk losing $3.5 billion in federal funds - San Jose Mercury News:

California switches testing plans, but may still risk losing $3.5 billion in federal funds

Not Just White Women, NOW,
He is Dissin' the entire STATE Of
CALIFORNIA
Dude, STOP, Please 
POSTED:   11/22/2013 11:29:29 AM PST | UPDATED:   ABOUT 3 HOURS AGO


California, threatened with the loss of $3.5 billion in federal funds for suspending high-stakes testing next spring, has tweaked its exam plan.
But it's not certain that the change, which was not cleared first with U.S. officials, will ease the threat to take away funds.
Under the switch, next spring most public school students will test-drive a new generation of standardized tests in both English and math. Initially, the state planned to test students in one subject or the other.
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, center, answers students' questions during a tour of Emerson Elementary in Albuquerque, N.M., on Sept. 9, 2013. Duncan's back-to-school bus tour also includes stops in Texas, Arizona and California. (Susan Montoya Bryan / AP)
Federal law requires states to annually test students in English and math and publish results. The state still doesn't plan to release results, and it doesn't plan to give any student a comprehensive sample test. 

JFK is dead. Illinois Democrats are killing public education, active and retired teacher pensions, and more. | Reclaim Reform

JFK is dead. Illinois Democrats are killing public education, active and retired teacher pensions, and more. | Reclaim Reform:

JFK is dead. Illinois Democrats are killing public education, active and retired teacher pensions, and more.

JFK is dead. Illinois Democrats are killing public education, active and retired teacher pensions, and more.
I wept when John F. Kennedy was killed.
This is NOT an homage to a sainted icon. It is a comparison of what the general public and the Democratic Party supported as education then versus what the party actually does today.
President Kennedy devoted much of his public life to the service of public education – respect for children, parents, teachers and public schools. Political opposition to his efforts and even his own all too human flaws did not stop him in his pursuit of true public education. He did the right things to support quality education for all. You could probably make a list of your own supporting this with what you experienced, witnessed or studied about during his time as President.
JFK and his childrenJohn F. Kennedy said:
*A child miseducated is a child lost.
*Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation.
*For in the final analysis, our most basic common link, is that we all inhabit this small planet, we all breathe the same air, we all cherish our children’s futures, and we are all mortal.
Today, I weep for children, parents and the active & retired teachers who are being neglected and abused by Democrats and Republicans at a state and national level.
644217_469586819776408_1231327938_n2013 – The bluest of blue states with a super-majority of Democrats is killing public education by closing public schools while funding for-profit charters with tax money, hurting active and retired teachers by robbing them of their pensions, inflicting state mandated high stakes testing that abuses children with its uselessness and daily pressures, and cuts education fund

You NEED

Join me and Roxanna Elden on Tuesday for a live Spreecast! | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

Join me and Roxanna Elden on Tuesday for a live Spreecast! | Gary Rubinstein's Blog:

Join me and Roxanna Elden on Tuesday for a live Spreecast!

A few times a year I host a live internet ‘talk show’ which is a lot of fun.  Most of the old shows were erased by a server crash, but the two I did over the summer episode 5 and episode 6are still archived if you want to get a sense of what the show is like.
Coming up this Tuesday, I’m thrilled to have as my guest Roxanna Elden who is a superstar teacher, keynote speaker, and author of one of the best books about teaching ever written, “See Me After Class”
At 9:30 PM EST on Tuesday November 26th at http://sprc.st/s10ZG.  You can watch, type questions, chat, and even, if you want, come on camera yourself.  All are welcome, even ‘reformers.’
Also, if you want to RSVP or leave any comments or questions, feel free to Join me and Roxanna Elden on Tuesday for a live Spreecast! | Gary Rubinstein's Blog:

Nominee to lead D.C. education agency gets mixed reviews - The Washington Post

Nominee to lead D.C. education agency gets mixed reviews - The Washington Post:

Nominee to lead D.C. education agency gets mixed reviews



Mayor Vincent C. Gray’s nominee for state superintendent of education received both praise and pointed criticism at a confirmation hearing Friday before a D.C. Council committee.
Jesus Aguirre has served since October as the District’s acting state superintendent of education, overseeing an agency that funnels millions of federal dollars to schools, runs buses for students with disabilities and crafts policies that affect both traditional public schools and public charter schools.
More news about education

Nominee to lead D.C. education agency gets mixed reviews

Jesus Aguirre drew praise and pointed criticism at a D.C. Council confirmation hearing Friday.

J.C. Hayward supporters call for her return to WUSA

J.C. Hayward supporters call for her return to WUSA
The TV news anchor has been on leave since being named in a lawsuit involving Options charter school.

New push to limit out-of-state students in Virginia colleges

New push to limit out-of-state students in Virginia colleges
Steep competition for spots at Virginia’s top colleges prompts local call for a cap on nonresidents.
Now he is seeking to make the role permanent.
Several members of the public testified in support of Aguirre’s confirmation, arguing that he showed himself to be an able administrator as director of the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation since 2009.
Aguirre managed — against all odds — to open pools and recreation centers on time, said Mary Terrell, a retired D.C. Superior Court judge.
“Every summer this becomes the battle of the ages, and there were many who said it could not be done,” Terrell said. “But he got it done … and I think he would bring that same can-do attitude to his work at OSSE.”
But Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), who oversaw the parks department during Aguirre’s tenure, 

Dumbing Down America: The Decline of Education in the US as Seen From Down Under

Dumbing Down America: The Decline of Education in the US as Seen From Down Under:

Dumbing Down America: The Decline of Education in the US as Seen From Down Under

Friday, 22 November 2013 09:25By Niall McLarenTruthout | Op-Ed
    "[The aim of public education is not] to fill the young of the species with knowledge and awaken their intelligence. . . . Nothing could be further from the truth. The aim . . . is simply to reduce as many individuals as possible to the same safe level, to breed and train a standardized citizenry, to put down dissent and originality. That is its aim in the United States. . . . " - Henry Mencken, The American Mercury, April 1924.
"If the right-wing billionaires and apostles of corporate power have their way, public schools will become 'dead zones of the imagination,' reduced to anti-public spaces that wage an assault on critical thinking, civic literacy and historical memory." - Henry Giroux, 2013.
"Plus ça change, plus c'est la mĂŞme chose," you may say, except it wouldn't do you much good, as very few Americans would understand you.
The United States consistently spends far more money per school age student than any other country in the world, something like $11,800 per child compared with $4,000-$5,000 in comparable countries. Excluding the huge sums spent on the 10 percent of children who go to private schools, the United States spends something like $8,000 of public money per child per year. Yet, in 2012, the United States was 27th on the list of world rankings for school educational achievement, well below Cuba, below even Mexico and Brazil. Social critics regularly blast American public 

Nite Cap 11-22-13 #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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Louisiana Educator: White Proposes Major Changes to CCSS Phase in, Teacher Evaluations, and School Grading
Louisiana Educator: White Proposes Major Changes to CCSS Phase in, Teacher Evaluations, and School Grading: White Proposes Major Changes to CCSS Phase in, Teacher Evaluations, and School GradingResponding to a rising Tsunami of parent and teacher protest of the radical changes imposed on Louisiana education by Jindal and White, the Superintendent is now proposing a major slowdown of the Common Core roll-out and teacher VAM evaluations connected to the new standards. Superintendent White released a list of proposed changes to be presented to BESE at their December meetingSuperintendent White an
solidaridad: Re-elect Tom Torlakson: a teacher working for schools and kids
solidaridad: Re-elect Tom Torlakson: a teacher working for schools and kids: Re-elect Tom Torlakson: a teacher working for schools and kidsA friendly note on organizing and UTLAI keep hearing a lot of UTLA people complaining that they can't organize because of leadership. I sure want to know how those people explain how amazing UTLA activists like Anne Zerrien-Lee, Ingrid Villeda, Cheryl Ortega, Kelly Flores, Sean Abajian, José Lara, Mike Gonzales, Matthew Kogan, and others who organize successful actions and campaigns on a constant basis.Maybe because instead of saying that they "can't o
11-22-13 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: The Disconnect Between the “College Push” and Projected Louisiana Career RealityJohn White insists that Louisiana needs “the higher academic expectations” that supposedly come with the untested Common Core State Standards (CCSS). He insists that CCSS will “prepare students for the rigor of education after high school” and cites the lametable statistic that “fewer that 30 percent of Louisianans have a two- or four-year degree.” There […]by deutsch29 / 2h @thechalkface and @slekar talking turkey: Studio VersionsShaun and I have been doing the Sunday night radio show on Blog Tal

TODAY

Fattah: Use corporate fines to improve mentoring and STEM programs | Philadelphia Public School Notebook
Fattah: Use corporate fines to improve mentoring and STEM programs | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Fattah: Use corporate fines to improve mentoring and STEM programsby thenotebook on Nov 22 2013 Posted in Latest news="" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; padding: 0px 2px;">Share on emailMore Sharing ServicesCOMMENTS (0)PRINTPhoto: Isaac RiddleRep. Chaka Fattah announci
NYC Educator: High School Students Expose Tweed Incompetence
NYC Educator: High School Students Expose Tweed Incompetence: High School Students Expose Tweed IncompetenceYou read this, but you just can't believe it. The geniuses at Tweed thought it was a good idea to give those tests to find out how badly city teachers suck, and decided to post the answers online. Curious high school students, who got to think about the test answers overnight, looked it up o
The Disconnect Between the “College Push” and Projected Louisiana Career Reality | deutsch29
The Disconnect Between the “College Push” and Projected Louisiana Career Reality | deutsch29: The Disconnect Between the “College Push” and Projected Louisiana Career RealityNovember 22, 2013John White insists that Louisiana needs “the higher academic expectations” that supposedly come with the untested Common Core State Standards (CCSS). He insists that CCSS will “prepare students for the rigor o
Blue Jersey:: Fight Back Against the Assault on Public Education: Dec. 9 Day of Action
Blue Jersey:: Fight Back Against the Assault on Public Education: Dec. 9 Day of Action: Fight Back Against the Assault on Public Education: Dec. 9 Day of Actionby: Bob BraunFri Nov 22, 2013 at 02:59:53 PM ESTpromoted by RosiThe assault on public education isn't confined to Newark or Montclair or Highland Park or Camden. Not confined to Chris Christie's New Jersey. It's a national phenomenon and co
Michelle Obama Has Always Leaned In - Dana Goldstein
Michelle Obama Has Always Leaned In - Dana Goldstein: Michelle Obama Has Always Leaned InMichelle Cottle has written a Politico Magazine piece about Michelle Obama, called "Leaning Out: How Michelle Obama became a feminist nightmare." Cottle writes that Michelle has "always" prioritized the domestic sphere over the public, political one, thus enraging feminists. But that's not
Evaluate This! | EduShyster
Evaluate This! | EduShyster: Evaluate This!Happy Accountability Day, reader! But how best to celebrate when nearly every day seems to be Accountability Day these days? In Massachusetts we like to mark the passage of a consequential day with consequences by scouring newly released teacher ratings in order to finally, FINALLY, smoke out those bad teachers. So pull up a chair and uncork the wine box—
‘True Grit’ in LA: Five ways teachers, parents, schools come together | Hechinger Report
‘True Grit’ in LA: Five ways teachers, parents, schools come together | Hechinger Report: ‘True Grit’ in LA: Five ways teachers, parents, schools come togetherBy Angie Trae-GreenbargWhen it comes to meeting our students’ needs, it’s no secret among teachers that partnerships with parents are crucial. We may get to know students well during a seven-hour school day, but as teachers, we can never hop
11-22-13 Schools Matter
Schools Matter: Memphis Sales Tax Increase to Fund Corporate Pre-K DefeatedDespite the fact that the Hyde Family (Autozone) spent hundreds of thousands on a media campaign, and despite the fact that the Memphis Corporate Appeal gave unlimited free space to push this plan, the voters of Memphis voted 60-40 against. The Memphis sales-tax referendum failed Thursday by an overwhelming margin of 60 per
John Thompson: Game-Changers Go for the Grit - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher
John Thompson: Game-Changers Go for the Grit - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: John Thompson: Game-Changers Go for the GritBy Anthony Cody on November 21, 2013 8:45 PMGuest post by John Thompson.The Hechinger Report's Sarah Butrymowicz, in "Teachers Weigh In on How to Identify Grit,"  explains that the word "Grit" has become an education buzzword. It is a term for
Cali Education Headlines Friday, November 22, 2013
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: California requests federal school testing waiverEducation HeadlinesFriday, November 22, 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.Oxnard Union school board not ready to vote on controversial union agreementDeb
Expanding Accountability through Rating and Ranking of Colleges: A Bad Idea | janresseger
Expanding Accountability through Rating and Ranking of Colleges: A Bad Idea | janresseger: Expanding Accountability through Rating and Ranking of Colleges: A Bad IdeaPosted on November 22, 2013 by janressegerIn Silly Season at the U.S. Department of Education, Dr. Patricia McGuire, president of Trinity Washington University, explores serious concerns about President Obama’s recent proposal that th
Morning Wink 11-22-13 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS mark as read11-22-13 Seattle Schools Community ForumSeattle Schools Community Forum: Friday Open ThreadToday will see the long-awaited hearing on the Washington State charter school law.  Charlie or I hope to make the hearing and will let you know what is said/outcomes.What a long week it has been.  President Smith-Blum told the audience last night that s
11-22-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Friday Open ThreadToday will see the long-awaited hearing on the Washington State charter school law.  Charlie or I hope to make the hearing and will let you know what is said/outcomes.What a long week it has been.  President Smith-Blum told the audience last night that she planned to sleep in today (and that was at the beginning of the meeting). I plan to take som
Corbett’s PA: Finding more ways to punish kids | Parents United for Public Education
Corbett’s PA: Finding more ways to punish kids | Parents United for Public Education: Corbett’s PA: Finding more ways to punish kidsPosted on November 22, 2013 by HELENGYMLeave a comment(Signe Wilkinson for the Philadelphia Daily News, 3/14/2012)On Wednesday, the State Board of Education voted 3-2 to implement mandatory Keystone graduation exams beginning with this year’s ninth grade class. The e
How the Kennedy Tragedy Made Me a Better Teacher
How the Kennedy Tragedy Made Me a Better Teacher: How the Kennedy Tragedy Made Me a Better Teacherby ERNIE MCCRAY on NOVEMBER 22, 2013 · 0 COMMENTSin CIVIL RIGHTS, EDUCATION, FROM THE SOUL, HISTORY, SAN DIEGOBy Ernie McCrayOn November 22, 1963, I was a twenty-five year old sixth grade teacher enjoying my second year serving students at Perry Elementary. Before recess that day we had gotten the new
Food For Change The Story of Cooperation in America
Trailer – Food For Change: Food for Change Trailer from Home Planet Pictures on Vimeo.Food For Change is a feature-length documentary about the history of the co-op movement and food co-ops today. The goal of the film is to raise awareness nationally about the cooperative economic model, promote cross-sector cooperative collaboration, and provide cooperative education to co-op members, college stu
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: 4 STORIES + A PRESS RELEASE ON “TESTING THE TEST”: The headline says students will be tested …that isn’t quite true
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: 4 STORIES + A PRESS RELEASE ON “TESTING THE TEST”: The headline says students will be tested …that isn’t quite true: 4 STORIES + A PRESS RELEASE ON “TESTING THE TEST”: The headline says students will be tested …that isn’t quite trueAltered state plan will test students in English and mathBY HOWARD BLUME - LATIMES.COM HTTP://LAT.MS/1FQVVYLStudents concen
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 11-22-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: How Do You Spell Disaster? A Round-Up of Bloggers on Duncan’s Gaffe About the MomsJonathan Pelto has collected a long list of posts by bloggers around the nation, reacting to Duncan’s amazing statement that “white suburban moms” are opposed to Common Core because they were disappointed to discover that their child is not so brillia
11-22-13 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.: Lunch bets and phone calls on the pension bill.The IEA and their partners in the We Are One coalition of state public employee unions are finally mobilizing for what may be a special session of the Illinois General Assembly. The GA leaders in Springfield have notified the representatives that they may
11-22-13 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: You Can Now Add Maps To PinterestPinterest has just added the ability to add maps to your Pinterest boards. You can read moare about it at TechCrunch and Mashable. You can see an example below. It could be a helpful feature for students. However, since Pinterest is presently blocked in most Districts, I doubt it will used m
11-22-13 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Jim Vail: Should Karen Lewis Run for Mayor?Jim Vail poses an interesting question at Second City Teacher along with an interesting analysis. I missed Karen at Brooklyn College the other day. Might have been a fun question to ask.Chicago Mayor Karen Lewis? Should Karen Lewis Run for Mayor?By Jim VailWhen it comes to politics, it's pretty dismal.The reason we the workers are losing,
11-22-13 Wait What?
Wait What?: Capital Prep Steve Perry’s shocking record of failure on student bullyingMore than 18 months after a serious bullying incident occurred at Capital Preparatory Magnet School, Steve Perry has yet to properly implement the corrective action plan that was developed in response to the event. According to former parents and teachers at Capital Prep, as well as documents related to the state’
11-22-13 The Answer Sheet
The Answer Sheet: JFK quiz: How much do you know?Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you know that Friday, Nov. 22, is the 50th anniversary of the assassination of president John F. Kennedy. How much do you know about his life and times? Test yourself:   1) Which is not true about John F. Kennedy’s father, Joseph Patrick Kennedy? a) He made a […]    by Valerie Strauss / 4h 11-21-13 The Answer
11-22-13 teacherken at Daily Kos
teacherken at Daily Kos: NY TIMES: Democracy Returns to the SenateFor five years, Senate Republicans have refused to allow confirmation votes on dozens of perfectly qualified candidates nominated by President Obama for government positions. They tried to nullify entire federal agencies by denying them leaders. They abused Senate rules past the point of tolerance or responsibility. And so they were
11-22-13 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School: Failed Movie Director Lectures About Education ReformFrom the NY Post:M. Night Shyamalan, who directed “The Sixth Sense,” focused on education for his recently published book, “I Got Schooled.”At the apartment of former CNN anchor Campbell Brown, who founded the Parents’ Transparency Project, Shyamalan spoke to a group that included Grace Hightower, Katie Couric, Alexandra P
Fake and Real Student Voice | Ideas and Thoughts
Fake and Real Student Voice | Ideas and Thoughts: Fake and Real Student Voice Here’s the lastest video educator’s are jacked about:I like much about this video. I like the message. I like the way it’s shot. I like the girls. What I don’t like is the perception that this is the girl’s invention. It’s not. These girls are likely no more into inventing and making than most girls their age. While I mi
State board approves biology books; orders factual checks on two | Dallas Morning News
State board approves biology books; orders factual checks on two | Dallas Morning News: State board approves biology books; orders factual checks on twoBy Terrence Stutztstutz@dallasnews.com1:56 am on November 22, 2013 | Permalink110AUSTIN – State Board of Education members late Thursday tentatively approved new high school science books that include full coverage of evolution without the disclaim
Judge Smails Tells Danny Noonan He Is Not College Ready southbronxschool.com
http://www.southbronxschool.com: Judge Smails Tells Danny Noonan He Is Not College ReadyIn the 1980 hit comedy,"Caddyshack" (Which I have watch hundreds of times), caddy extraordinaire Danny Noonan attempts to curry favor with Judge Smails to win Bushwood's caddy scholarship. This coming on the heels of the untimely death of Carl Lipbaum, the original winner who suddenly died of a severe
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Chicago Tonight's panel of "experts". No teachers allowed.
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Chicago Tonight's panel of "experts". No teachers allowed.: Chicago Tonight's panel of "experts". No teachers allowed.Just watched Chicago Tonight show on dropout prevention. Shouldn't have eaten first.The panel, which included CPS' new accountability chief John Barker, must have set the world record for empty, meaningless cliches abut Common Core
Japan's Cutthroat School System: A Cautionary Tale for the U.S. - Noah Berlatsky - The Atlantic
Japan's Cutthroat School System: A Cautionary Tale for the U.S. - Noah Berlatsky - The Atlantic: Japan's Cutthroat School System: A Cautionary Tale for the U.S.A new book shows how fixating on testing and achievement can backfire. "No Child Left Behind." "Race to the Top." The names suggest mobility, progress, moving on up and not falling back. The goal of education, according

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Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 11-21-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
Nite Cap UPDATEUPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATECORPORATE ED REFORMAfter federal threat, California agrees to administer both math and English tests this springStudents taking a test. ; Credit: knittymarie/Flickr (cc by-nc-nd) California’s Department of Education announced Thursday that it’s backing down from a plan to give students just one of the new math and English standardized tests this spring. “T
Top Sacramento City schools administrator tapped as interim superintendent - Our Region - The Sacramento Bee
Top Sacramento City schools administrator tapped as interim superintendent - Our Region - The Sacramento Bee: Top Sacramento City schools administrator tapped as interim superintendentBy Loretta Kalblkalb@sacbee.comPublished: Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013 - 8:32 pmSara NoguchiBoard members for Sacramento city schools tapped a top district administrator Thursday night to serve as interim superintendent a
CMD Exposes America’s “Highest Paid Government Workers” | PR Watch
CMD Exposes America’s “Highest Paid Government Workers” | PR Watch: CMD Exposes America’s “Highest Paid Government Workers”    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECONTACT: Friday Thorn, friday_thorn@prwatch.org- Hint: They aren’t your local teachers, nurses and social workers - New initiative will expose the CEOs who take over public services and divert millions of tax dollars out of communities and into their p
Pearson's Big Ed Biz Is Under Fire - Mon., Nov. 18, 2013
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Choosing Democracy: How Charter Schools Are Undermining Public Education
Choosing Democracy: How Charter Schools Are Undermining Public Education: How Charter Schools Are Undermining Public EducationStan KarpNovember 14, 2013  |  Somewhere along the way, nearly every teacher dreams of starting a school. I know I did.More than once during the 30 years I taught English and journalism to high school students in Paterson, New Jersey, I imagined that creating my own school
Nite Cap 11-21-13 #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 readIn face of big fines, Torlakson retreats from conflict with feds over testing | EdSource TodayIn face of big fines, Torlakson retreats from conflict with feds over testing | EdSource Today: In face of big fines, Torlakson retreats fr