Friday, February 28, 2014

2-28-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.:






More support for ISAT opt out.
February 28, 2014 To the teachers at Saucedo Elementary and Drummond Elementary schools, Teachers for Social Justice fully supports your decision to refuse to administer the 2014 ISAT test to your students. Thank you for taking this important step to protect your students from a week of testing that does not benefit them and does not allow teachers to teach. Your decision is a courageous one in th


Bully Byrd-Bennett’s up-to-the-minute rules on handling “insubordinate” teachers.
February 28, 2014 Dear Principal: We are offering the following guidance to principals on the administration of the Illinois Standard Achievement Test (ISAT) in schools where parents have opted out of the test and/or teachers refuse to administer the test despite our directives.  The overwhelming majority of students have not been opted out of the test and we must be sure that we create a fair te


Bully Byrd-Bennett’s up-to-the-minute rules for opt out.
Dear Principal: We are offering the following guidance to principals on the administration of the Illinois Standard Achievement Test (ISAT) in schools where parents have opted out of the test and/or teachers refuse to administer the test despite our directives.  The overwhelming majority of students have not been opted out of the test and we must be sure that we create a fair testing environment


Let Saucedo teachers teach.
Friday, February 28th at 4PM. Saucedo Academy. Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia.

Ten minute drawing. Focus on what is important.
Testing revolt spreads. Second CPS school faculty votes no to ISAT.
CTUNet: CHICAGO—The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) supports teachers and parents at Thomas Drummond Montessori School who announced today their intent to boycott the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT). Drummond joins Maria Saucedo Scholastic Academy as the second school this week to take action against this “low-stakes” standardized test. Saucedo teachers announced on Tuesday their intent t

The CPS ISAT letter and the parent response.
From:  ”Swartz,  Claudinette”   Date:  February  27,  2014  at  11:46:13  AM  CST Subject:  ISAT  opt  out I  wanted  to  reach  out  on  the  opt  out  issue  because  I’m concerned  that  there  are  repercussions  from  the  State  that teachers  and  parents  may  not  be  aware  of.    We’ve  just  sent something  to  principals  and  I  want  to  make  sure  you  g
Bully Byrd-Bennett is now threatening parents and kids.
.   Things are heating up in Chicago today. Lines are being drawn in the sand. CPS CEO is not just threatening teachers with the loss of their teaching certification. She’s threatening parents. I’ve heard from dozens of parents who are telling me versions of this: Our principal just received word TODAY that students who chose to opt out of the ISAT must SIT QUIETLY at their desk with the unopened

Dillard adds to his ALEC support.
  When I pointed out that Kirk Dillard was state chairman of the anti-union, racist American Legislative Exchange Council, folks like NEA Board of Directors member Tom Tully wrote to say that he was told there was a letter from Dillard resigning from ALEC. “Indeed there is,” responded IEA Director of Government Relations when I asked him about it. But when I finally got to read the letter, it did

Don’t call him “Rahmner.”
The Chicago Sun-Time’s political reporter Natasha Korecki sat down with Mary Ann Ahern of NBC, Art Golub and Kate Grossman, both reporters for the Sun-Times, to discuss the overlap of supporters for Bruce Rauner’s gubernatorial campaign and Rahm Emanuel’s mayoral campaign. Shock! They’re the same guys. Grossman points out that Bruce gets mad when you call him Rahmner. Excuse me for a minute. Rahm
Urgent: In The Face Of Threats, Saucedo Teachers Ask Ctu Members To Rally At 3:30 Pm Friday
IN THE FACE OF THREATS, SAUCEDO TEACHERS ASK CTU MEMBERS TO RALLY AT 3:30 PM FRIDAY Teachers and parents at Saucedo Academy are standing strong against baseless threats from central office. They are asking CTU members to show support tomorrow, Friday, February 28 at 3:30 p.m. Saucedo Elementary is located at 2850 W. 24th Blvd. Wherever you are, please wear red to school and take pictures w
2-27-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher
Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Wounded Knee.  With my green 1968 Volkswagon Beetle attached to the tow bar of a recreational vehicle that we contracted to deliver, my brother, a friend Nancy and I left LA for Chicago. Nancy and Mike would return to LA. I would stay. March 3rd it will be 41 years. I was 24 years old and all that I o