Latest News and Comment from Education

Saturday, September 27, 2014

9-27-14 Perdido Street School Week

Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School Week







Cuomo Goes To Afghanistan
I know, I know, you think I'm pulling your leg - but I'm not:According to public schedule just released @NYGovCuomo is in Afghanistan. No advance notice given.— Capital Tonight (@CapitalTonight) September 27, 2014After barely leaving New York State in his first term, he's now made two oversea trips in the past month or so - one to Israel, one to Afghanistan, if Capital Tonight has his scheduling r

Cuomo: No Shift In Treatment Of Teachers In Second Term
From State of Politics:Asked about whether he’s shifting his tactics post-primary, Cuomo said he wouldn’t change his approach to public workers and teachers labor organizations. “I knew what I was doing when I did not cater to the teachers union. I didn’t have to take the endorsement of the teachers union the first time, by the way.”This is the man that Randi Weingarten engineered a putsch for at
Cuomo: Not Every Teacher Can Get An A Rating - But Every Student Had Better Get One
A commenter points out a core contradiction in Governor Cuomo's assertion that his APPR teacher evaluation system needs to be redone to rate more teachers "ineffective":Cuomo's OWN WORDS:"...not everybody can get an ‘A,’ it can’t be – I think it’s going to be a very valuable tool..."Now, of course, he is speaking about teachers--but can't this argument be used to undermine the
Cuomo Will Start A Witch Hunt Of "Failing" Teachers In His Second Term
Here's a preview of the second term shenanigans we can expect from Governor Andrew Cuomo on his vaunted APPR teacher evaluation system:Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Tuesday the state’s new teacher evaluation system will need to be refined, but he said he would like to see more data before pushing for any changes to the state law.Cuomo said he sees value in the teacher rankings, but said critics who qu

SEP 25

Cuomo Rides E Train To Catch Terrorists
Go get 'em, Sheriff Andy:New Yorkers had just better hope that the terrorists looking to blow up the E train that Cuomo rode today are not running against him in a Democratic Primary.Because if they are, they could be right in front of his face and he wouldn't notice them:
Anybody Buying This Threat?
The Neo-Con News: The Iraqi prime minister sent a scare through New York City by declaring Thursday that the Islamic State was plotting to launch attacks on subways in the U.S. and in Paris. Haider al-Abadi dropped the bombshell during a brief meeting with reporters at the United Nations. “Today, while I’m here, I’m receiving accurate reports from Baghdad, where there was an arrest of a few eleme
Jeb Bush Gets Preview Of What Run For President In 2016 Will Be Like
Yesterday I posted that I was hoping that Jeb Bush would run for president in 2016 because I thought he would get hammered over Common Core and be put on the defensive over his education reform record in Florida and his business interests related to education reform.Today the NY Times reports Bush got a preview of the opposition he's going to get in the GOP presidential primaries over Common Core:
Center For Unions Facts Is Right - Randi Weingarten Is Ruining Public Education
Lyndsey Layton reports the Center for Union Facts is attacking AFT President Randi Weingarten again:The 11-page mailing, on expensive paper stock, was sent first class to 125,000 households across the country this week. “I’m writing to you about Randi,” the letter began. “You probably don’t know who Randi is. Most people don’t. The terrible impact Randi has on America’s educational system is somet
Astorino: Cuomo At Center Of Albany Corruption
If you're a regular reader of this blog, you know I've covered this story many times - Sheriff Andy Cuomo claims he rode into Albany to clean up the corruption but nobody - nobody - is dirtier than Cuomo in Albany.The Astorino campaign hammered that point home yesterday: ALBANY — Gov. Cuomo received $2.7 million in donations since 2010 from companies that have received a combined $7.2 billion in s

SEP 24

Astorino: Why Are Cuomo And Christie Best Buddies?
GOP gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino makes a very good point: Republican candidate for governor Rob Astorino doesn’t approve of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s recent appearances with Gov. Cuomo to discuss security. “I’m not so sure why Gov. Christie would want to be hanging out with Gov. Cuomo,” Astorino told Time Warner Cable News after an appearance in Kingston. “The governor is under inve
Run, Jeb, Run
Jeb Bush is making noises for 2016:A dozen years after he ran his last political campaign, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is gearing up for a 2016 presidential bid – a campaign that would open up a new front in the Republican Party’s ongoing civil war.Mike Allen reports in today’s Politico Playbook that according to Bush’s friends, he’s “leaning more yes than no” on launching a run. He’s campaigning
Cuomo, Christie Hold Joint Campaign Appearance
The two governors who can't get the PATH running are going to keep you safe from terrorism - oh, and burnish their "national security" credentials at the same time:New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will appear alongside New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday for the second time this month.The governors will make the joint appearance in New York 10 days after coming together to announce a r
Cuomo Has Big Lead Over Astorino But His Job Approval Matches All-Time Low
If the election were held today, a weakened Andrew Cuomo would win re-election pretty handily - but that doesn't mean he hasn't been damaged by months of scandal and controversy:New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo holds a wide lead over his Republican gubernatorial challenger even as the governor's job-performance rating has fallen back to its lowest point since taking office, according to a Wall Street Jo

SEP 23

Cuomo/Hochul Spent $5.9 Million On Primary
This says everything you need to know about the corrupt nature of our politics:ALBANY – They were never worried about their Democratic Party primary challengers earlier this month, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and his running mate, Erie County’s Kathy Hochul, insisted over and over again. Worries aside, Cuomo and Hochul spent about $5.9 million in the final couple of weeks and days immediately following t
What Common Core Proponents Like David Coleman Have Wrought In Kindergarten
Remember when ELA Common Core architect David Coleman famously told parents at a NY State Board of Regents meeting that no one gives a shit what their kids think or feel about things?Here's how some of that Coleman wisdom is playing out in kindergarten these days:Writing lessons also have changed."In kindergarten we always taught them writing," she said. "But 15 years ago it was mor

SEP 22

Bloomberg Is Still An Arrogant Ass
Bloomberg sure does think well of himself:Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg just wrapped up a panel discussion with macro legend Ray Dalio. ...His fellow panelist Dalio added that culture is an important factor to consider when picking a place to work. He went on to say something about how there’s no correlation between money and happiness. Bloomberg swooped in: “Just remember: Happines
Cuomo Reneges On Deal To Working Families Party
Gee, here's a surprise:ALBANY—Late last week, Governor Andrew Cuomo sat next to Senate co-leaders Jeff Klein and Dean Skelos at a press conference and announced they had reached a "handshake agreement" on an multi-million dollar item in next year's budget to fund anti-terror efforts. Left unsaid was the fact that such an agreement would become void if the Senate comes under new Democrati

SEP 21

Common Core Headlines Spell Trouble For Common Core
Common Core advocates are trying to save Common Core from an untimely death but recent news headlines suggest they continue to lose that battle:Panel starts reviewing Common Core standards in NCMissouri leaders named in Common Core lawsuit: Foes seek to stop payments to test-making consortiumGreen Bay Catholic Diocese Backs Away from Common CoreQuarrel over Common Core: A Pennsylvania Primer Commo

SEP 20

Andrew Cuomo Looks To Be The New George Bush
Ever since that trip to Israel over the summer, Cuomo's been burnishing his "national security" credentials.Here's another example: Although saying there is "no specific threat" of a terror attack, Gov. Cuomo announced on Friday that he is calling up hundreds of National Guard troops and other personnel to beef up security in New York. Summoning reporters and legislative leader