December Parent Engagement Resources
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Parent involvement in schools ⬆️. 87% of K–12 students from
English-speaking families had parents who reported attending a general
school meeting in 2019, ...
Some Christmas Tunery
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Here at the Institute (where the Board of Directors still firmly believe in
Santa Claus), we like our seasonal music, both as consumers and as
producers,...
Finding Light in Winter by Mary Pipher
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The mornings are dark, the late afternoons are dusky, and before we finish
making dinner, the daylight is gone. As we approach the darkest days of the
ye...
Last Minute Gift Ideas!
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We've been bombarded with "last minute" gift idea promotions since at least
mid-November, but now, finally, the last minute is truly upon us. As a
publi...
Cartoons about the Holiday Season
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Here are some cartoons that got me to smile about this time of year. I hope
they will do the same for you. Happy holidays to all of my readers. Enjoy!
HAIRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAIRY HANUKKAH TOO!
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*HAIRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAIRY HANUKKAH TOO!*
* The Big Hairy Education Ape Spreads Holiday Cheer! Ah, December! The time
of year when the air tur...
About the Social Security Fairness Act
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On December 21, 2024, the US Senate passed the Social Security Fairness
Act, otherwise known as HR 82, a bill that restores full Social Security
benefits t...
Apologies to Dan Alicea
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I want to truly apologize to Daniel Alicea. On November 30, Dan wrote a
blog post about how, despite millions of dollars being available, Mulgrew
refused...
The 2024 NPE “Coal in the Stocking” Awards
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At NPE, we know who is naughty and nice when it comes to supporting our
public schools and their students.
The post The 2024 NPE “Coal in the Stocking” A...
Big Lies of Education: Grade Retention
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The Big Lie of grade retention in the US is that it is often hidden within
larger reading legislation and policy, notably since the 2010s: Westall and
Cumm...
Juntos lo haremos
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En el año que viene, tendremos que tomar decisiones difíciles sobre quienes
queremos ser en cada comunidad y como nación. Ha sido un año muy intenso.
Desde...
WTF, Democratic Caucus?
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Why is the failure of this current budget bill being blamed on Republicans
when almost every single Democrat voted against it? If only half of the
Dems had...
Peace through Beauty
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I am and always have been more musical than I have been verbal. I have
always found beauty in sound. Often it can be purely instrumental, such as
playing...
San Diego School Board Election Outcomes
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By Thomas Ultican 12/17/2024 Before the recent election, I wrote
recommendations for several school board seats in San Diego County. The San
Diego County R...
SPI Supports SB 48 to Keep ICE Off School Campuses
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State Superintendent Tony Thurmond sponsors Senate Bill 48 to keep
Immigration and Customs Enforcement off of school campuses, protecting
school attendance...
Schrödinger’s Cat
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Schrödinger’s cat is a famous thought experiment in which the renowned
scientist pondered how a cat in a closed box could be thought of as
simultaneously a...
In Memoriam: Nikki Giovanni
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The literary and cultural world has lost an irreplaceable voice with the
passing of Nikki Giovanni. As one of the most celebrated poets and
activists of ou...
Education Has Failed and What Can We Do Next?
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Education has failed to prepare children for the world today. Despite the
increased investment, impactful reforms, hardworking teachers and school
leaders,...
Defining Productivity, Cost, and Efficiency
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Recycled material here… The central problem with US public schools is often
characterized as an efficiency problem. We spend a lot and don’t get much
for i...
Try Substack?
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Seems like the popular new thing. Here’s my first try – it’s about
yesterday’s UFT Retired Teachers Chapter meeting – first ever not run by
Unity. (Spoiler...
Number 18 — A barely-hanging-on Blogoversary
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Blogoversary #18 SEPTEMBER 14, 2006 I started this blog while I was still
teaching, in 2006. I had just begun my 31st year as an educator. Just like
in pre...
Student "Growth" Measures Are STILL Biased
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This caught my attention:
New Jersey school districts may soon be evaluated differently, *with a
greater emphasis on student growth* as compared to stud...
AIN’T IT AWFUL
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As the terrible feelings of dread and angst spread across the world the
great majority of the American people feel powerless before the onslaught
of those ...
The Sky is Falling, or is it?
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Well, this is the first anniversary of the introduction of Generative AI in
the form of ChatGPT to the world of education. Before it was a week old,
over o...
Vote NO on the UFT Contract. Here is Why:
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The best reason to vote no on this contract is this: UFT Unity* lied* to us
in 2018. They misrepresented that contract. It was predicated on deals we
wer...
Metaphors in ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech
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In this article, we will explore the powerful use of metaphors in Martin
Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” ...
Read more
Testimony to the CPS Truancy Task Force
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I prepared testimony for one of two public hearings held by the Chicago
Public Schools Truancy Task Force, a body mandated by state legislation.
The meetin...
There Is A Teacher Shortage.Not.
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THERE IS A TEACHER SHORTAGE. And just to be sure you understand, it’s not
that teachers don’t want to teach. It’s not that there aren’t enough
teachers cer...
Book Banning Turns to Dick and Jane
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Breaking News: Dateline February 4, 2022 - Parents in Dimwitty, Alabama
have asked the Dimwitty Board of Education to ban the children's primer *Fun
with...
Have You Heard Has a New Website
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TweetHave You Heard has a new website. Visit us at
www.haveyouheardpodcast.com to find our latest episodes and our entire
archive. And be sure to check out...
Follow me at Substack
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I've moved. Follow me at Substack
I'm now posting regularly at Substack. You can subscribe for free to my new
Edu/Pol blog at michaelklonsky.substack.com
...
Aspiring Teachers Get New Help Paying For College
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[image: colorful classroom pattern]
*; Credit: shuoshu/Getty Images*
Cory Turner | NPR
New rules kick in today that will help aspiring teachers pay for c...
Tips Akses Situs Judi Qq Tanpa Perlu Takut Nawala
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Kegiatan berjudi slot melalui situs judi qq online, sekarang sudah
dilakukan oleh banyak penjudi Indonesia. Tentu, Kamu yang sedang membaca
artikel ini a...
The Threat of Integration
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I have lived in the same house in the Miracle Mile section of Los Angeles
for over 30 years, where up until now I have had little or no interaction
with th...
We fight for a democracy worthy of us all!
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The nation stands at a crossroads, said NEA President Lily Eskelsen García
in her final keynote address to the 2020 NEA Representative Assembly and
it’s up...
The Passing Of Chaz 1951-2020 Age 69
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I am the son of Chaz and like to inform you that he passed away this
afternoon from the COVID virus. My father passed in peace beside his loved
ones. We ar...
The Fight For Our Children
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*The number of suicides among people ages 10 to 24 nationally increased by
56 percent between 2007 and 2017, according to a new federal report showing
the ...
Read to Self: Just a Kid and a Book.
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Date: Monday, January 5, 2020 Place: My classroom Student: Mrs.Mims, could
we start doing Read to Self again because I got this great book for
Christmas an...
Keeping Progressive Schools Alive
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Dear Friends and Colleagues, Happy New Year and a special thanks to those
who respond to past blogs about choice, et al. I always mean to respond to
each c...
Reminiscences
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I just finished dumping the rest of my lesson plans. I guess I held on to
the calculus ones for so long because I spent so much time working on them
an...
Just Asking for some Teachers I know.
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Recently Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers stated, We must … recognize that
part of supporting our kids in the classroom means supporting the educators
who t...
Cara Menang Bermain Judi Bola Online
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Bermain judi bola online tentu saja memiliki kesenangannya tersendiri baik
itu mendapatkan keuntungan maupun ketika menantikan hasil skor pada sebuah
perta...
A Critique of Standards-Based Grading
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It first happened to me about ten years ago. I was beginning my third year
of teaching in a new school in Washington, DC. Social studies teachers were
si...
My First and Last Visit to Hudson Yards
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Figuring I did not need to invite any more darkness and vulgarity into my
head than that provided on a daily basis from Trump’s White House, and
after read...
The World According to Michelle Rhee
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The men behind the curtain fashioning the brave new world of corporate run
education in America! Michelle Rhee is the founder of StudentsFirst, The
New T...
Whose Opinions Matter in Education World?
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It's hard to identify education heroes and sheroes. And perhaps even harder
to pinpoint just whose work is slanted, paid-for and dishonest.
Blockchain: Life on the Ledger
-
Originally posted on Wrench in the Gears:
I created this video as a follow up to the one I prepared last year on
Social Impact Bonds. It is time to examine...
New Local Businesses in Sacramento
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Starting a new local business in Sacramento is a monumental task, but can
be accomplished with footwork, perseverance and knowledge. One must learn
the loc...
Lesson Plan: Rhyme and Rhythm in Poetry
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I’ve started a recent unit on poetry with my class. I’m not a poet, and I’m
not a poetry fan (I don’t hate it, but I’m a prose gal), so this makes it
harde...
The Apotheosis of Betsy DeVos
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Betsy Devos has drawn few headlines in recent months, and that is a good
thing for the Secretary of Education. Her tenure began with Vice President
Mike P...
Education Is a Civic Question
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In their final post to end Bridging Differences' decade-long run, Deborah
Meier and Harry Boyte urge readers to put the energy, talents, wisdom, and
hard w...
Site News: New Home for Education News & Commentary
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Quick! Get over there! The daily education news roundup and education
commentaries that you're probably looking for are now being published over
at The Gra...
Should We Be Grateful?
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In an odd turn of events, and with little explanation, Michigan Governor
Rick Snyder has decided to return the state’s School Reform Office back to
the Dep...
An Open Letter to NC Lawmakers
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An Open Letter to NC State Lawmakers and NC State Superintendent Mark
Johnson: I am a NC native, voter, and public school teacher. I am
addressing you all ...
The Secret to Fixing Schools (My Next Bestseller)
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The Secret to Fixing Schools (My next bestseller) Prologue I just finished
watching a fascinating documentary on Netflix entitled, “The Secret”. The
film p...
Farewell, Sleep
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Today is the official last day of my spring break. I've done a scientific
survey: My natural bedtime is 2 AM, and my natural wake up time is 9:41
AM. Tom...
REPORT: States With the Best and Worst Schools
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States With the Best (and Worst)Schools
By *Evan Comen, Michael B. Sauter, Samuel Stebbins and Thomas C. Frohlich*
January 20, 2017- http://247wallst.com
...
Test Refusal = People Power
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In recent months, social media has been ablaze with talk of regular folk
taking action to resist the Trump agenda. Protests are a daily occurrence,
and ev...
Random Musings and Observations. . . .
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I’ve been gone a while from the blogging scene. Some of my more regular
readers no doubt noticed but did not hassle me about it. Thank you for
that. Sinc...
AB 934: A LEGISLATIVE FIX FOR VERGARA?
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By Michael Stratford | in the Politco Morning Education Report | via email
05/24/2016 10:00 AM EDT :: Two national education groups are backing a
Califor...
MY NEW BLOG
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My new blog will consist of fictitious headlines, meant to be a blend of
humor and satire. I apologize ahead of time if any other satirical site has
simila...
Thank you
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Dear Readers,
Thank you for visiting *The Perimeter Primate*. This blog is being retired
for the time being. Although I no longer post here, I do still s...
I am Retiring
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I have some news: I am retiring from the PBS NewsHour and Learning Matters.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other
conte...
New Beginnings: Kickstarter and EdWeek Teacher
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Greetings to InterACT readers one and all! If you’ve been following posts
here recently you might recall that I’m moving my blogging activity to
other loca...
Adelaide L. Sanford Charter School
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*“With Adelaide L. Sanford Charter School closing, Newark families must
move on.”* The Star-Ledger (NJ), 6/25/2013
NEWARK — Bobby and Troy Shanks saw the...
In a democratic union you can’t short circuit democracy. Even in Chicago. | Fred Klonsky : In a democratic union you can’t short circuit democracy. Even in Chicago. Over these next few days members of the Chicago Teachers Union will be voting once again on whether to authorize their leadership to call a strike against the those unelected managers of our city’s school system. Strikes and strike au
Transforming schools into "territories of peace" - Lily's Blackboard : Transforming schools into “territories of peace” The world’s longest continuous armed conflict could soon come to an end, and educators are leading the way to transform a public school system ravaged by war into a “territory of peace.” Where is all this happening? The answer: Colombia. After six decades at war, and a
Solutions To The Emerging Teacher Shortage Crisis Even Republicans Will Like : Solutions To The Emerging Teacher Shortage Crisis Even Republicans Will Like A new report is making big headlines for showing that public schools across the nation are experiencing severe problems with teacher shortages that are apt to develop into a “crisis” if left unaddressed. The report from an education think tank
As an Education Prez, Trump Would Be Obama's Spiritual Heir :: Frederick M. Hess : As an Education Prez, Trump Would Be Obama's Spiritual Heir On the Ed Week homepage, Max Eden and I lament the lack of a conservative in the presidential contest. We argue that a conservative candidate is sorely needed after 16 years of Bush-Obama tutelage in the perils of federal education expansionism. What's tha
Education Reformers Running Rampant in Oakland (Vote for Sean) – Cloaking Inequity : Education Reformers Running Rampant in Oakland (Vote for Sean) The top-down, private control education reform supporters are currently running rampant in Oakland. The district is even led by a Broad trained superintendent . I have made several trips to Oakland at the request of community members to discuss what i
Education’s Diversity Dilemma: What Can Be Done | the becoming radical : Education’s Diversity Dilemma: What Can Be Done My 18 years as a public high school teacher and current 15 years as a university professor have one dilemma in common: diversity. At the K-12 level, many schools struggle to recruit and maintain a diverse faculty; while universities often face a lack of diversity in both facult
Advocacy Research: So-Called Research Must Not Be Misused to Defend Politically Popular Educational Policies | Ed In The Apple : Advocacy Research: So-Called Research Must Not Be Misused to Defend Politically Popular Educational Policies It has become commonplace for electeds, journalists and advocates to begin a speech or article with “Research says ….” The use of the word “research” adds credib
U.S. Lags Far Behind Other Countries in Access to Early Childhood Ed : U.S. Lags Far Behind Other Countries in Access to Early Childhood Education Strong bipartisan support tends to allude more education issues, but expanding access to early childhood education is one of the few. Study after study has outlined the cogitive and social benefits of these programs and a 2016 survey by the First Five
Schools Matter: The Unbearable Costs of "Unity" : The Unbearable Costs of "Unity" The other day after I posted my communique to the Ravitch forces that reiterated my conclusion that we are NOT allied but, rather, that her actions have made me the enemy, Norm Scott spent some of his valuable time to send me a comment to say that too much time had been devoted to the debate abou
New school improvement agency plans first public events | EdSource : New school improvement agency plans first public events The new state agency charged with overseeing school improvement in the era of local control will hold its first public events — all-day workshops in eight across the state — in early November. The California Collaborative for Educational Excellence will focus on how school
Opinion: If You Can’t Stand the Heat, Stay Out of the Classroom - NJ Spotlight : OPINION: IF YOU CAN’T STAND THE HEAT, STAY OUT OF THE CLASSROOM The sweltering weather has made it all too clear that New Jersey’s politicians have no real interest in giving teachers safe, comfortable working conditions Mark Weber When New Jersey’s teachers returned to their classrooms earlier this month, they found
Rubber Meets the Road and AFT Civil Rights Summit on Education Town Hall BUS – Education Town Hall Forum : Rubber Meets the Road and AFT Civil Rights Summit on Education Town Hall BUS The September 22 Education Town Hall BUS program focuses on “Rubber Meets the Road,” a Journey for Justice election-focused event, scheduled for Sept. 26, and the AFT Civil Rights summit Oct. 14-15. Listen Live on W
Hooray - CT Taxpayers to cough up $220 million for Lockheed Martin Corporation - Wait What? : Hooray – CT Taxpayers to cough up $220 million for Lockheed Martin Corporation With annual sales in excess of $50 billion a year, the gigantic Lockheed Martin Corporation purchased Sikorsky Aircraft from United Technologies Corporation last year. Then, just last month, the mega-defense contractor announc
Compromise reached on 3rd grade reading bill that could hold back struggling students | MLive.com : Compromise reached on 3rd grade reading bill that could hold back struggling students A bill aimed at improving childhood literacy is moving forward in the Michigan Legislature after a committee reached a compromise Tuesday on controversial provisions that would hold back students who fail to read
CURMUDGUCATION: Grade Inflation? : Grade Inflation? Mike Petrilli (Fordham) is concerned about grade inflation. His concern, as expressed in a recent piece at Education Next, is hung on the hook of a recent-ish survey by Learning Heroes , a new group sponsored by the same old folks (Gates Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Helmsley) that has partnered with some other outfits funded by the same
Please Read this Penetrating Indictment of the Every Student Succeeds Act | janresseger : Please Read this Penetrating Indictment of the Every Student Succeeds Act Participating earlier this week in one of the Ohio Department of Education’s stakeholder meetings about the plan Ohio will be developing to submit to the U.S. Department of Education to comply with the new Every Student Succeeds Act (E
Controlling schools through federal housing grants – Missouri Education Watchdog : Controlling schools through federal housing grants Here in Missouri the original and continued push against Common Core was based on the governance structure being put into place to enforce compliance with the standards. NGO’s owned the copyright for which they could demand licensing fees at any time. They disallow
Parent Coalition for Student Privacy relieved Daines/Blumenthal SAFE KIDS Act pulled | Parent Coalition for Student Privacy : PARENT COALITION FOR STUDENT PRIVACY RELIEVED DAINES/BLUMENTHAL SAFE KIDS ACT PULLED Parent Coalition for Student Privacy relieved Daines/Blumenthal SAFE KIDS Act pulled Coalition members fear ed the bill would open up the floodgates of commercialism The Parent Coalition f
Where Hillary Clinton stands on education - CBS News : Where Hillary Clinton stands on education By the end of 2016, student loan debt will have skyrocketed to unprecedented levels. In fact, estimates report that approximately 43 million students in the United States will owe nearly $1.3 trillion . That means the average class of 2016 graduate has nearly $38,000 in debt--a six percent increase fr
School suspends N.C. teacher for stomping on American flag - CBS News : School suspends N.C. teacher for stomping on American flag FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- A North Carolina high school teacher says he has been placed on leave after students say he stepped on an American flag as part of a history lesson. The Fayetteville Observer reported Massey Hill Classical High School teacher Lee Francis said he
Schools of choice creating white flight in metro Detroit : Schools of choice creating white flight in metro Detroit When the high school in Eastpointe recently welcomed the football team from Lakeview High, it was a homecoming of sorts. That’s because nearly 700 students from Eastpointe actually attend school in Lakeview, a public school district five miles away in St. Clair Shores. As it happens
Booed in Brockton -- state education head hammered on charter schools : Booed in Brockton -- state education head hammered on charter schools Loud hissing and then booing broke out in a Brockton school cafeteria during a town hall-style forum on Tuesday when the state's public education commissioner mentioned the charter school he recommended for approval in the city this year. "You can deci
Trump's New Education Transition Team Has Corporate Dark-Money Ties : Trump's New Education Transition Team Has Corporate Dark-Money Ties Major education news outlet Education Week reported that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s campaign has appointed two new staffers to his “presidential transition team for education”: the Hoover Institution’s Williamson Evers and the American Enter
Content Changes Key for Teacher Success - The Atlantic : Don't Blame the Teachers Blame the curriculum. Why has the topic of teacher quality suddenly reached such a crescendo? Education reform has been on the national agenda since 1983, the year of A Nation at Risk , but only in the last few years has the teacher-quality issue risen to the top. I think it may be reform fatigue, possibly desperati
Fear Of A Black Educator, Part 1 | The Jose Vilson : Fear Of A Black Educator, Part 1 It’s hard telling kids to pledge allegiance to a flag when its representatives barely represent us. #TerenceCrutcher — Jose Vilson (@TheJLV) September 20, 2016 Last night, in a fit of angst, I sent off a series of tweets: Without hesitation, someone decided to reply with “ Why not move to a country where there i
Michigan Leads Nation … In Denying Child Care To Low-Income Families : Michigan Leads Nation … In Denying Child Care To Low-Income Families The cost of child care is one of the biggest expenses facing many families in the United States. For some, the cost is more than their rent or mortgage payment. Low income families especially struggle to find affordable child care. Child care providers are am
The Child Predator We Invite into Our Schools | gadflyonthewallblog : The Child Predator We Invite into Our Schools There is a good chance a predator is in the classroom with your child right now. He is reading her homework assignments, quizzes and emails. He is timing how long it takes her to answer questions, noting her right and wrong answers. He’s even watching her body language to determine
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 9/20/16 Featured Post Charter school bill calls for accountability - The San Diego Union-Tribune Civic Learning Award For CA Public Schools - Initiatives & Programs (CA Dept of Education) by mike