Latest News and Comment from Education

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 9/16/15 #FightForDyett


SPECIAL NITE CAP 

CORPORATE ED REFORM




Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: After all the wasted test-prep hours and Common Core testing madness...
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: After all the wasted test-prep hours and Common Core testing madness...: After all the wasted test-prep hours and Common Core testing madness..."We've been writing and meeting with ISBE officials for over two years to stop this madness. We've told them that our technology isn't ready, our Common Core curriculum isn't ready and the test will be hurting kids,"
Parents, students join teachers on Kelso picket lines
Parents, students join teachers on Kelso picket lines: Parents, students join teachers on Kelso picket linesKELSO, Wash. -- The Kelso Education Association and the Kelso School District could not come to an agreement during negotiations Tuesday night, continuing the teachers' strike.Parents and students joined teachers on the picket lines Wednesday morning.Members of the Kelso Education Associatio
Schools Raise Little Money for Selling Out Students to Marketers | MomsRising's Blog
Schools Raise Little Money for Selling Out Students to Marketers | MomsRising's Blog: Schools Raise Little Money for Selling Out Students to MarketersAs school starts, so will the barrage of marketing and advertising targeting students.  Brand logos, spokes-characters and product names are all over schools.  The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found them on signs, posters, and scoreboa
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Hubris | EduShyster
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Hubris | EduShyster: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering HubrisI talk to Dale Russakoff, author of The Prize, about how Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s $100 million *gift* to the Newark Public Schools, turned into, well, just read it…EduShyster: As someone who spends a fair amount of time poking around in the smoldering wreckage of urban public education, I often g
Twitter Chats for Learning, Easy vs. Hard | My Island View
Twitter Chats for Learning, Easy vs. Hard | My Island View: Twitter Chats for Learning, Easy vs. HardOne Education Twitter chat that precedes all others is #Edchat. It was founded July 30, 2009 and has run continuously ever since. For those who are not Twitter chat savvy, a Twitter chat originally was a discussion that uses a specific hashtag to conduct a real-time chat on a specific subject. Of c
In School + On Track 2015: One Million Truant Students, Billions in Economic Harm | The California Endowment Newsroom
Report on California Elementary School Truancy Crisis: One Million Truant Students, Billions in Economic Harm | The California Endowment Newsroom: Report on California Elementary School Truancy Crisis: One Million Truant Students, Billions in Economic HarmLOS ANGELES – California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today unveiled the first state-wide statistics on California’s truancy crisis which r
New Book Demonstrates the Superiority of Public Schools - Living in Dialogue
New Book Demonstrates the Superiority of Public Schools - Living in Dialogue: New Book Demonstrates the Superiority of Public SchoolsBy Bill Cole.As another school year has started, one thing is certain, a vocal coalition of education reformers, market-based advocates and policymakers will continue extolling the virtues of school choice initiatives, such as private school vouchers and charter scho
Luke & Sara Bronin and the “Laws are only for the Little People” Crowd - Wait What?
Luke & Sara Bronin and the “Laws are only for the Little People” Crowd - Wait What?: Luke & Sara Bronin and the “Laws are only for the Little People” CrowdFor weeks, Hartford mayoral candidate Luke Bronin was breaking Connecticut law by accepting a significant in-kind corporate contribution from the New York public relations firm that had hired Governor Dannel Malloy’s former spokesperson.
An open letter to Alderman Will Burns from Julie Woestehoff Parents United for Responsible Education
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » An open letter to Alderman Will Burns from Julie Woestehoff: An open letter to Alderman Will Burns from Julie Woestehoff Open Letter to Alderman Will Burns on the Dyett Hunger Strikefrom Julie Woestehoff, former Executive Director of Parents United for Responsible Education (PURE)Dear Will,We first met many years ago when you were State Sen
An Admission of Federal Manipulation Through Race to the Top | Truth in American Education
An Admission of Federal Manipulation Through Race to the Top | Truth in American Education: An Admission of Federal Manipulation Through Race to the TopJoanne Weiss was the director of the Race to the Top program at the U.S. Department of Education and Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s chief of staff. She wrote an essay atStanford Social Innovation Reviewthat is enlightening in that we finally hav
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Wizzards owner Leonsis underwrites D.C. charters. Then gets a new practice arena from taxpayers.
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Wizzards owner Leonsis underwrites D.C. charters. Then gets a new practice arena from taxpayers.: Wizzards owner Leonsis underwrites D.C. charters. Then gets a new practice arena from taxpayers."...we in here talking about practice. I mean, listen, we're talking about practice, not a game, not a game, not a game, we talking about practice." -- Alan Ive
Seattle Schools Community Forum: What Next?
Seattle Schools Community Forum: What Next?: What Next?I have not heard back from the Soup for Teachers group about what they will do next with their incredibly effective group.  I would love to see a more pro-active parent group that advocates for specifics in Seattle Schools.However, for funding, there is a great new group called Washington's Paramount Duty (based on our state constitution that
Taxpayers paid for charter school property, but they don’t own it - The Washington Post
Taxpayers paid for charter school property, but they don’t own it - The Washington Post: Taxpayers paid for charter school property, but they don’t own itTaxpayers paid for the furniture, computers and other equipment that students used at 10 Ohio charter schools. But the public doesn’t own the things it paid for, according to the state supreme court.The high court ruled in a split decision Tuesda
The New American Privateers
The New American PrivateersDuring the early days of the United States, our government commissioned Privateers to attack and rob enemy vessels. Privateers were part of naval warfare of some nations from the 16th to the 19th century. The cost of commissioning privateers was borne bycorporate investors hoping to gain a significant profit from prize money earned. Privateering was a way of mobilizing a
Review of “A Teacher’s Tale” - Education Post - Linkis.com
Review of “A Teacher’s Tale” - Education Post - Linkis.com: Tireless and Tiring: Teacher John Thompson Has a New BookJohn Thompson is an Oklahoma City educator who hates education reform, loves children, isn’t afraid to acknowledge his own shortcomings, and is more than willing to point out yours. All of which makes his new book, “A Teacher’s Tale,” both inspiring and, if you happen to support ref
How #EducationReform is Done. Circumvent the Legislature & Use a ‘Coalition of the Willing’ » Missouri Education Watchdog
How #EducationReform is Done. Circumvent the Legislature & Use a ‘Coalition of the Willing’ » Missouri Education Watchdog: How #EducationReform is Done. Circumvent the Legislature & Use a ‘Coalition of the Willing’The Missouri State Board Meeting was held yesterday and one of the items for discussion (VIII, D) was Use of Student Growth Measures in the Evaluation Process.DESE’s Paul Katnik
Seattle Schools Community Forum: First Day Of School
Seattle Schools Community Forum: First Day Of School: First Day Of SchoolNearly, finally here.From the NY Times, a cool look at first day of school throughout the decades.A great article from Longreads about writing from Mary Karr who has put forth two memoirs.  Ms. Karr teaches her grad students using a technique that I tried years ago at Whittier Elementary with a class of 5th graders.  You pret
CURMUDGUCATION: A Clock?! Seriously-- a Clock!!??
CURMUDGUCATION: A Clock?! Seriously-- a Clock!!??: A Clock?! Seriously-- a Clock!!??This is how a public school loses the support of rational humans with brains.On the heels of a Slate piece last week reminding us about how the juvenile justice system "eats kids for breakfast," today we get the story to go with this photo that's rocketing around the interwebs.Because I'm only a fake jour
From Freddie Gray to closing schools, structural racism is revealed in city policies | Cloaking Inequity
From Freddie Gray to closing schools, structural racism is revealed in city policies | Cloaking Inequity: From Freddie Gray to closing schools, structural racism is revealed in city policiesDr. Julian Vasquez Heilig:The neoliberal playbook is not only the game plan in Chicago and New Orleans… Baltimore and many other communities are facing the same private-control ideology swathed in a false cloak
Ohio Supreme Court Rules Private Charter School Management Firm Owns Public Assets | janresseger
Ohio Supreme Court Rules Private Charter School Management Firm Owns Public Assets | janresseger: Ohio Supreme Court Rules Private Charter School Management Firm Owns Public AssetsYesterday Ohio’s elected, Republican-dominated supreme court ruled that a privately held, for-profit charter management company, White Hat Management, owns the equipment and assets of several White Hat Hope Academies and
The number of black teachers has dropped in nine U.S. cities - The Washington Post
The number of black teachers has dropped in nine U.S. cities - The Washington Post: The number of black teachers has dropped in nine U.S. citiesThe number of black public school teachers in nine cities — including the country’s three largest school districts — dropped between 2002 and 2012, raising questions about whether those school systems are doing enough to maintain a diverse teaching corps,
empathyeducates - Dyett Hunger Strikers Are Fed By an Educational Vision
empathyeducates - Dyett Hunger Strikers Are Fed By an Educational Vision: Dyett Hunger Strikers Are Fed By an Educational VisionIt is September 13, 2015, Day 28 of the Dyett Hunger Strike. Parents are physically starving and the children are hungry for a quality education. The Hunger Strike Continues!By Bob Simpson | Originally Published at Daily Kos. September 13, 2015 12:12 PM EDT | Photographic
Was the Seattle Times trying to control the narrative or are they that bad at reporting? | Seattle Education
Was the Seattle Times trying to control the narrative or are they that bad at reporting? | Seattle Education: Was the Seattle Times trying to control the narrative or are they that bad at reporting?At 7:45 AM this morning, the Seattle Times reported the following:Teachers still reported to picketing locations Tuesday morning, while about 500 union members, parents and students marched from Pioneer
47th annual PDK/Gallup Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools.
Home - PDK InternationalPDK International | Growing and connecting leaders in education.: 123KAPPAN COMMON CORE WRITING PROJECTA forum for ideas about implementing the Common Core.2015 PDK/GALLUP POLL FINDINGSLearn what Americans said about testing and more.WHAT’S NEW FROM KAPPANMAGAZINE.ORGThe 2015 PDK/Gallup poll resultsTesting doesn’t measure up for Americans. Read complete results from the 47t
Ohio Supreme Court sides with for-profit company over charter schools - The Washington Post
Ohio Supreme Court sides with for-profit company over charter schools - The Washington Post: Ohio Supreme Court sides with for-profit company over charter schoolsConsider this scenario: A for-profit company operating a charter school uses public funds — that means American taxpayer dollars — to buy computers, copiers, desks and other things for students and staff. The charter school decides to get
Seattle teachers union panel votes to end strike; kids back to school Thursday | Q13 FOX News
Seattle teachers union panel votes to end strike; kids back to school Thursday | Q13 FOX News: Seattle teachers union panel votes to end strike; kids back to school ThursdaySEATTLE -- Seattle teachers will be back to work Wednesday, and students will be back in class on Thursday after teachers voted to suspend their strike Tuesday after reaching a tentative agreement earlier in the day.According t
Sacramento City Council approves ethics package | The Sacramento Bee
Sacramento City Council approves ethics package | The Sacramento Bee: Sacramento City Council approves ethics packageA package of “good governance” measures, including creation of an ethics commission and an independent redistricting commission, was approved by the Sacramento City Council on Tuesday.The council also accepted the city auditor’s finding that the city’s sexual harassment policy needs
Diane Ravitch to Lecture at Baylor Sept. 24
Baylor University || Media Communications || News: Diane Ravitch to Lecture at Baylor Sept. 24Diane Ravitch will speak at Baylor's Waco Hall on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m.WACO, Texas (Sept. 15, 2015) – Dr. Diane Ravitch, controversial former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education, will speak at Baylor University on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 6 p.m. in Waco Hall. Her appearance is part of the Academy f

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Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 9/15/15 #FightForDyett
SPECIAL NITE CAP CORPORATE ED REFORMKristina Rizga's Mission High and the Twentieth-First Century Schools We Need | John Thompson - Linkis.comKristina Rizga's Mission High and the Twentieth-First Century Schools We Need | John Thompson - Linkis.com: Kristina Rizga's Mission High and the Twentieth-First Century Schools We NeedWant to feel 40 to 50 years younger? Then, read Mission High by Kristina