Latest News and Comment from Education

Saturday, July 26, 2014

7-26-14 Saturday Matinée Special "Corporate ED Reform: Pimping 4 Privatization L.A. Style" News Breakout

Saturday Matinée Special 
"Corporate ED Reform: Pimping 4 Privatization L.A. Style" 
News Breakout



It’s a book. Read it. | JD2718
It’s a book. Read it. | JD2718: It’s a book. Read it.JULY 26, 2014 PM31 2:02 PMtags: Jose Vilson, This is Not a TestJosé Vilson wrote a book. That you should read. And, maybe get others to read. He called it “This is Not a Test“I don’t do book reviews. But this is different. It’s José.Vilson is a blogger, and a poet, and a teacher. The author part wouldn’t matter if he wasn’t a teacher. He wrote a
Star-Ledger: Discrimination in Newark is “bogus.” | Bob Braun's Ledger
Star-Ledger: Discrimination in Newark is “bogus.” | Bob Braun's Ledger: Star-Ledger: Discrimination in Newark is “bogus.” The Newark public schools have been stripped of their assets by the state.  The city’s children have been resegregated through a process of selection that leaves the neediest behind in the schools with the least assets while skimming the less needy students for charters. The pe
7-26-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida
Charter Schools USA Nets $2.9 Million Haul For Two Louisiana Schools | Scathing Purple Musings: Charter Schools USA $2.9 Haul For Two Louisiana SchoolsSmall wonder the wife of Charter Schools USA CEO Jonathan Hage was touting their test scores in an Orlando Sentinel opinion piece last month. Sherry Hage and her husband take in a lot of taxpayer money to run schools. Consider this story from Marsha
Nashville Public Radio | Kevin Huffman Was Wrong; Test Results Didn't Get People Off His Back - Nashville Public Radio
Nashville Public Radio | Kevin Huffman Was Wrong; Test Results Didn't Get People Off His Back - Nashville Public Radio: Kevin Huffman Was Wrong(Again); Test Results Didn’t Get People Off His BackEducation Commissioner Kevin Huffman says he was hired to be a “change agent.” On Thursday, he said “any reasonable observer” would say the state has made “remarkable progress” since 2010. Credit: TN Photo
2nd Banana 7-26-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post #EDchat #EDreform #NN14
BIG EDUCATION APE 2ND BANANARECAP OF LAST WEEK'S BEST POSTWhy were thousands of books purged from Racine, Wisconsin school libraries? : blue cheddarWhy were thousands of books purged from Racine, Wisconsin school libraries? : blue cheddar: Why were thousands of books purged from Racine, Wisconsin school libraries?by blue cheddar • July 23, 2014Backup direct link to embedded video of speech at Raci
Morning Wink 7-26-14 AM Posts #edchat #edreform
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSStudent Mock Election - Elections & Voter Information - California Secretary of StateStudent Mock Election - Elections & Voter Information - California Secretary of State: Inspiring a New Generation of VotersRegister Your Schoolfor the Mock Election Here!Young people have the potential to be a powerful force in elections, but only if they get invol
Student Mock Election - Elections & Voter Information - California Secretary of State
Student Mock Election - Elections & Voter Information - California Secretary of State: Inspiring a New Generation of VotersRegister Your Schoolfor the Mock Election Here!Young people have the potential to be a powerful force in elections, but only if they get involved and make voting a habit.To encourage students to become active voters once they are old enough to cast a ballot, Secretary of S
Ben Boychuk: Democrats stay silent on tenure ruling opposed by teachers’ union. - Viewpoints - The Sacramento Bee
Ben Boychuk: Democrats stay silent on tenure ruling opposed by teachers’ union. - Viewpoints - The Sacramento Bee: Ben Boychuk: Democrats stay silent on tenure ruling opposed by teachers’ union.By Ben BoychukSpecial to The BeePublished: Saturday, Jul. 26, 2014 - 12:00 amWhen recently has there been a more radioactive lawsuit than Vergara v. California? Think about it. Every elected fool and knave
A brief update on my wife by teacherken
A brief update on my wife: A brief update on my wifebyteacherkenFollow    5 Comments / 5 NewRecently I have received a number of direct communications inquiring about my wife Leaves on the Current and how she is doing in living with her cancer.  Several suggested I might want to let others know as well as responding to them directly.  Hence this message.Her cancer remains in remission. She remains
Geaux Teacher!: Asking For Clarity on Ethics of John White
Geaux Teacher!: Asking For Clarity on Ethics of John White: Asking For Clarity on Ethics of John WhiteTo be clear, if you see this reported in the media......FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Re:  John White and BESE Members Will Be Targets of New Ethics ComplaintFor more information contact:  Lee P. Barrios: Parents, educators and other public education activists find it necessary now to disclose their inten
7-26-14 WagTheDog | Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart. ~ Rumi
WagTheDog | Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart. ~ Rumi: PISA EnvyTests confirm…ed reformers are suffering from impaired judgement and diminished critical thinking skills due to acute case of PISA envy. Ed reformers should reconsider their admiration for education systems that prepare young people to live and work in closed soci
Stephen Krashen Blog 7-26-14
SKrashen:Companies do less training, but complain about schoolsWe often hear that public schools are failing because they do not prepare students for jobs.  Employers complain, we are told, that recent graduates are unprepared for the real world of work. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal explains what is really going on: "Companies complain that they can't find skilled hires, but th
7-26-14 With A Brooklyn Accent: Love Letters to the BATS
With A Brooklyn Accent:BATS- Finding a Teacher VoiceIf there is a single contribution that BATS has made in the one year of its existence, it is to show the powers that be that public school teachers- in all their diversity and variety-- are not a silent, compliant group who can be demonized, standardized, scripted, deprived of due process, and forced to commit professional malpractice at the expe
7-26-14 Jersey Jazzman NJ Ed News Round-up Jammin' All Week
Jersey Jazzman:Jersey Jazzman Jammin' All Week@GovChristie: Education Politics, Not Education PolicyRemember Chris Christie's big idea from this past winter? He was going to lengthen the school day and the school year. It was urgent that we do this immediately: "This is a key step to improve student outcomes and boost our competitiveness. We should do it now."So, how's that going, Govern
7-26-14 Curmudgucation Week
CURMUDGUCATION:Curmudgucation WeekCollege Students vs. Faux JournalismHuffPo recently ran what could be called a graphics-rich story (basically two big graphics plus captioning) that is sure to have some folks sounding the alarm bell, and there's no question that the data are striking.The basic takeaway is this-- in no states in the US do the majority of students finish college in four years. Virg
7-26-14 NPE News Briefs ← from The Network for Public Education
NPE News Briefs ← from The Network for Public Education:NPE News Briefsfrom The Network for Public EducationThe Charter Sham Formula: Billionaires + Flawed “Reports” + Press Release Media = Misled Public | the becoming radicalLate in 2013, I shared my own experience with the disaster capitalism tactics employed by the Walton-funded Department of Education Reform (University of Arkansas), asking: F
7-26-14 THE WHOLE WEEK @ The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education
The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education:THE WHOLE WEEK @ The Whole Child Blog What Happens When You BelieveI was recently asked if I remember teachers or educators that made a difference in my life and learning and how they inspired me. Yes, for a while I was that "middle" kid. I was your student who came diligently every day to class, completes their work, and if given the choice,
7-26-14 This Week in LA - School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD
LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District):Breaking News: Judge allows Magnolia charters to remain openBreaking News: Judge allows Magnolia charters to remain open A California Superior Court judge today ruled that two Magnolia Public Schools (MPS) charters can remain open, blocking LA Unified’s effort to have them shut down over financial concerns
All Week @ The Answer Sheet 7-26-14
The Answer Sheet:All Week @ The Answer SheetChris Christie to mayor: ‘I’m the decider and you have nothing to do with it’New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) is consistent — at least when it comes to espousing total  indifference to what Newark residents want for their state-operated public school system. Christie just bragged (see video below) that he told new Newark Mayor Ras Baraka that Baraka’s
7-26-14 Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Schooling in the Ownership Society All Week
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog:Schooling in the Ownership SocietyMike Klonsky's SmallTalk Schooling in the Ownership SocietyGriffin's divorce. Think of it as a stock split.The GriffinsSORRY TO HEAR THE NEWS (No really) that right-wing billionaire power couple, Ken and Ann Griffin are splitting up. Whatever happened to "'til death do us part"?The Griffins have been the money bags behind bo
7-26-14 Wait What? - Jonathan Pelto: Gubernatorial Candidate and A Really Nice Guy
Wait What?:  Wait What? All WeekIf you want change – now is the time to step up and make it happen!Apologies to those that have already received this call to action – but the historic effort to get on the November ballot and ensure that the people of Connecticut have a real choice in this year’s election for governor hangs in the balance… The August 6th 2014 deadline to submit 7,500 signatures to
7-26-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week
Seattle Schools Community Forum:Seattle Schools Community ForumThe Volume is Going up on the Garfield Rape CaseThe Stranger has a very pointed article - with questions posed just as Charlie has - on the topic of the Garfield field trip rape incident.There is also this from Monisha Harrell:I’m an Alum of Garfield High School, and until yesterday I sang “I’m So Glad I go to Garfield High” with pride
7-26-14 Ed Notes Online Week
Ed Notes Online: Ed Notes OnlineRockaway Theatre Company "Gypsy" HighlightsCatch some of the magic in 2 minutes. Only 7 shows left - including tonight (tickets still available), sold out tomorrow (Friday). Call 718 374 6400.by ed notes online / 1d JUL 2314 More Schools for Avaricious Eva - Coming to a School Near You - Or in Your Own School....with so many schools how can Eva assure a co
7-26-14 Fred All Week 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.: Fred All Week Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacherRahm Emanuel and the fugitive in Pakistan.The line in the Sun-Times story was very carefully constructed. He is not accused of any wrongdoing involving his City Hall job. He is Amer Ahmad, the fugitive money launderer and racketee
7-26-14 Perdido Street School Week
Perdido Street School: Perdido Street School WeekCuomo Meddled With His Other Commissions And Panels TooMichael Grunwald reports in TIME Magazine that the Moreland Commission tackling public corruption is not the first time Andrew Cuomo has meddled in one of his panels:Before New York Governor Andrew Cuomo set up a supposedly independent commission to investigate political corruption in Albany—a c
7-26-14 the becoming radical EMPATHYEDUCATES! | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD
THE BECOMING RADICALEMPATHYEDUCATES!the becoming radical  A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by Kristof, How Much Inequity Is the Right Balance?I started simply to ignore Nicholas Kristof’s An Idiot’s Guide to Inequality, but I was pulled back into it by Russ Walsh’s Hope, Poverty, and Grit. First, the rush to celebrate Kristof’s acknowledgement of Thomas Picketty, inequality, and (gasp) the impli
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 7-26-14
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:4LAKIDS - SOME OF THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT  An appeal for support from Dr. McKennasmf writes: 4LAKids is not political organization. While I plead guilty to the practice of politics, no one could ever allege organization! Even when I have been a candidate myself I have not appealed for funds on these pages.  But the political fundraising and spending be
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Week… 7-26-14 …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EF
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFLLARRY FERLAZZO’S WEBSITES OF THE DAYJuly’s Best Tweets — Part FourEvery month I make a few short lists highlighting my choices of the best resources I through (and learned from) Twitter, but didn’t necessarily include them in posts here on my blog. I’ve already shared in earlier posts several new resources I found on Twitter
This Week's Education Research Report 7-26-14 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Education Research ReportTHIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORTLow Teacher Pay Keeps Experienced Educators Out of the Middle ClassA new report,  Mid- and Late-Career Teachers Struggle With Paltry Incomes, released  by the Center for American Progress reveals that low teacher pay is keeping experienced educators out of the middle class. The report highlights the growing problem of paltry mid- and la
7-26-14 Schools Matter All Week
Schools Matter:  Schools Matter All WeekValue-Added Modeling (VAM) is pseudoscience, but profitable pseudosciences persist"While value-added models are intended estimate teacher effects on student achievement growth, they fail to do so in any accurate or precise way. — Professor Bruce Baker" Back in early April I penned a piece for K12NN on The American Statistical Association's (ASA) pa
All Week 7-26-14 @ THE CHALK FACE
@ THE CHALK FACE : All Week @ THE CHALK FACE Drawing Upon Paul Tough to Nurture Soft Skills Not “Grit”It is always reassuring to read about pedagogies developed in the classroom being later determined to be based on scientific principles documented by academic researchers. That is one reason why I was so impressed with Paul Tough’s New York Times Magazine article, “Who Gets to Graduate?” Tough’s a
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 7-26-14 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2
Diane Ravitch's blogLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONGDIANE RAVITCH'S BLOGEduShyster: If You Could Ask Arne Duncan Just One Question……EduShyster’s guest blogger Patrick Hayes, a fifth-grade teacher from Charleston, South Carolina, asks a simple question: “If you could ask Arne Duncan just one question what would it be?” Try this one: “what would you get Bill gates for Boss’s Day? The man has ev

YESTERDAY

5 Essential Ingredients For Learning (SPLAT) | Connected Principals
5 Essential Ingredients For Learning (SPLAT) | Connected Principals: 5 Essential Ingredients For Learning (SPLAT)by William Parker • July 26, 2014 • 0 CommentsI was listening to a fascinating show by Pat Flynn, blogger and podcaster who was interviewing Bryan Kelly from What The Speak on the neuroscience behind great presentations.As I thought about the research Kelly had done on what makes great
LAUSD BOARD ELECTION BETWEEN MCKENNA AND JOHNSON- IS THE BEST VOTE NO VOTE? - Perdaily.com
LAUSD BOARD ELECTION BETWEEN MCKENNA AND JOHNSON- IS THE BEST VOTE NO VOTE? - Perdaily.com: LAUSD BOARD ELECTION BETWEEN MCKENNA AND JOHNSON- IS THE BEST VOTE NO VOTE?(Mensaje se repite en Español)In the 1998 Warren Beatty film Bulworth, the scene in the Black church on Vermont, when he tells the folks present that the only time they will see politicians is when they want their vote, is reminiscen
America’s Most Financially Disadvantaged School Districts and How They Got that Way | Center for American Progress
America’s Most Financially Disadvantaged School Districts and How They Got that Way | Center for American Progress: America’s Most Financially Disadvantaged School Districts and How They Got that WayHow State and Local Governance Causes School Funding DisparitiesSOURCE: AP/Patrick SemanskyA student walks past vacant row houses to a waiting school bus as school gets out for the day in Baltimore.By
The case against Alex Johnson
The case against Alex Johnson: The case against Alex JohnsonJULY 25, 2014 BY ROBERT D. SKEELS * RDSATHENE LEAVE A COMMENTWhen it comes to corporate sponsors poverty pimp Alex Johnson puts top auto racing teams to shame.The original draft of this essay was written in mid-June, 2014. The figures cited in the piece are indicative of the Form-460 information available at that time. I will be writing a
Randi Weingarten on Testing and Common Core - Education Writers Association
Randi Weingarten on Testing and Common Core - Education Writers Association: Randi Weingarten on Testing and Common CoreMAY 19, 2014Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, talks about teacher frustrations with Common Core implementation.Recorded May 19, 2014 at EWA’s 67th National Seminar.
David Sirota, you and me… | Reclaim Reform
David Sirota, you and me… | Reclaim Reform: David Sirota, you and me…Posted on July 25, 2014by Ken PrevitiDavid Sirota exposes yet another major rip-off of teachers – active and retired. The political leadership of both major political parties, the elected officials, and the corporate thieves who control major media outlets lie and propagandize about these rip-offs.“As states and cities grapple wi
Nite Cap 7-25-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT
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“I’m Mad as Hell, and I’m Not Going to Take This Anymore!” The Real Reasons Why Teachers Stay or Quit the Profession“I’m Mad as Hell, and I’m Not Going to Take This Anymore!” The Real Reasons Why Teachers Stay or Quit the Profession: “I’m Mad as