HAPPY 4th OF JULY FROM THE BIG EDUCATION APE
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*HAPPY 4th OF JULY FROM*
*THE BIG EDUCATION APE*
4th of July a.k.a. Independence Day—a time of fireworks, barbecues, and the
occasional overzealous uncl...
Two Highly-Recommended Movies!
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When I see something I really enjoy, I like to share with you. Number one
is Mariska Hargitay’s brilliant documentary “My Mom Jayne.” Her mother was
the Ho...
"I Can Pick Up This Whole School!"
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Several of the kids were taking turns boasting about how strong they were.
"I can pick up this whole table!"
"I can pick up this whole school!"
"I can ...
Ted Williams, July 3, 1948
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July 3, 1948. Fenway Park was buzzing like a beehive that night. The kind
of Boston summer evening where the thick, humid air wraps itself around you
...
Hope Out Of Chaos
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Amid chaos and change, an imminent move north brings calm, reflection, and
hope—proof that healing and growth can follow life’s upheavals.
Read the artic...
Principal Apportionment Deadlines, FY 2025–26
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Calendar of Principal Apportionment key deadlines for school district,
county office of education, charter school, and SELPA data for fiscal year
(FY) 2025...
Whatever Happened to Detracking?
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Thirty years ago, about 16 percent took algebra in the 8th grade. By 2013,
almost one-half of 8th graders took algebra in middle school. Why the big
jump i...
Billionaires Support Corrupted Science of Reading
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By Thomas Ultican 7/1/2025 Science of Reading (SoR) was always a fraud; it
is not based on sound science. In 1997, the National Reading Panel was
establish...
What to Make of This Story?
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*Update*: I continue to have concerns. There’s another story in the Times
about SPS and they again quote Mizrahi. I find it odd that it’s always
Presiden...
Eyes Cast Backwards
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“all these are but dreams and shadows; the shadows that hide the real world
from our eyes.” ― Arthur Machen, The Great God Pan Much of this month has
bee...
June’s Parent Engagement Resources
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#DYK summer learning opportunities can be as close as your backyard?
@SmithsonianEdu has tips for parents & educators on nature play, a type of
hands-on le...
Come On People Now, Smile on your Brother
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So—I am a Democrat. Not a surprise to anyone who regularly reads this blog.
I think Democratic thoughts—Health care is a right! Fully support public
educat...
Schools Need to Prepare for Those Masked ICE Agents
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Persons traveling in groups, wearing masks and often vests that say
“Police” or “ICE”– no other identifiers, including refusing to identify
themselves by n...
Analyzing UFT election results – from 2022
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JD2718 blog posts from May and June 2022. Post-UFT election for the last
two decades I have done some analysis of the numbers. I am getting ready to
start ...
Around The Web In ESL/EFL/ELL
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Eight years ago I began this regular feature where I share a few posts and
resources from around the Web related to ESL/EFL or to language in general
that ...
OK WE’RE AGAINST KINGS. WHAT ARE WE FOR??
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More than five million demonstrators in about 2000 communities stepped
forward to declare their opposition to Donald Trump, on June 14th. “No
Kings Day” wa...
What Lessons Are We Learning from Our Students?
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“Mr. Vilson, I’m in a doctoral program, just like you.” One of my former
students posted a picture of a quad at an established university. ...
Read More
...
What Lessons Are We Learning from Our Students?
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“Mr. Vilson, I’m in a doctoral program, just like you.” One of my former
students posted a picture of a quad at an established university. ...
Read More
...
79
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It was May 23, 1946, in a New York City Hospital, that 30 year old Sylvia
Livingston Bernstein gave birth to the 2nd and final child of her marriage
to L...
Il Papa è Morto
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Francis brought a distinct pastoral outlook to his papacy. A simple man, he
lived in a small apartment in the guesthouse. He sought to make the church
acce...
Trump plays Putin’s Playbook
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Recently Aleksander Dugin was interviewed on CNN, last week, and he stated
that he believes Trump is closer ideologically to President Putin than to
Washin...
Mike Shulman the ARISE UFT Judenrat
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I was surprised to learn that Mike Shulman has aligned himself with ARISE.
I previously supported him, advocating that the Castle Doctrine could have
bee...
How Do We Fight Trump?
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Dear Friends, I don’t know when and why it hit me. But I suddenly realized
how serious Trump is about changing the country into something that
horrifies. I...
Are we all on the same team?
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Copied from Quora; I didn’t write any of this… As an American I ask my
fellow Americans, why can’t you realize at the end of the day we are all on
the same...
Site Index - Updated December 31, 2024
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When I was teaching,
I got tired of hearing how bad American educators were.
*My Promise *
WHEN I STARTED BLOGGING IN 2011, I said I planned to speak ...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
Reduced time for testing? Not so fast.
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NYSED and Commish Elia continue to say that the NYS Assessments are of
reasonable length, I completely disagree.
Here is what NYSED states are average expe...
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...
Blockchain: Life on the Ledger
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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 ...
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...
Bill Phillis of the Ohio Coalition for Equity & Adequacy–a retired educator who served as deputy commissioner of education for the state of Ohio- asks the question that is the title of this post. And he answers: What educational opportunities do charters provide that would not exist if there were no charters? Sometimes public school advocates say, “I don’t have a problem with charters, but…” A sh
Two charter schools in Memphis are breaking their ten-year contracts, leaving Memphis because of under enrollment. http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/tn/2017/03/27/heres-why-charter-operators-
I was a founding board member of the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation (now, Institute). It is a pro-choice organization. I opposed the decision to sponsor charter schools in Ohio, because I thought it was outside the work of a think tank. My ideal think tank would exercise independence in reviewing government policy and gain respect for avoiding doctrinaire conclusions. On that issues, I was out vote
“Closed by Choice” is an important report about what politicians have done to the children and communities of Chicago for the past 20 years. They have systematically defunded and closed public schools, offering various lame excuses, while opening well-resourced charter schools. The report can be found here . ” *Of the 108 new charter schools opened between 2000 and 2015, 62% of new charter school
Happily, the New York Times published an article saying that children need to move more . There is actual scientific research proving that immobility is not healthy. It is not healthy for adults but especially not for children, whose bodies are growing. Some nations, like Finland, realized this a long time ago, so students have recess and outdoor play after every class. Recess! Time to go outside
Last night, the blog passed the 30 million mark. That is the number of times that someone has opened a post. I started the blog at the end of April 2012. Five years. I have loved getting to know so many new people, if only virtually. I have spent five years learning about What is happening many districts and states. I have read every one of the nearly 400,000 comments you have left. I draw upon w
EDUCATION LAW CENTER NEW YORK APPEALS COURT ORDERS CUOMO ADMINISTRATION TO RELEASE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT GRANTS In a major victory for parents, a New York appeals court has ordered the State Division of Budget to immediately release over $37 million in improvement grants to 20 needy schools across the state. A year ago, the grants were frozen by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Budget Director, Robert Mujica
Fred Smith is a testing expert who worked for the New York City Board of Education for many years. In retirement, he volunteers for parent groups fighting to stop excessive and pointless standardized testing. The testing starts tomorrow across the state, and the State Education Department is pulling out all the stops to hinder, deter, and block the opt-out movement. The New York State Education D
The Trump administration continues to stack the federal government with radical right wing extremists. ProPublica reports that Roger Severino of the Heritage Foundation will head the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services. In addition to opposing the rights of transgender people, Severino oppose marriage equality and public funding of Planned Parenthood. “The Trump
Superintendent David Gamberg leads the schools of two adjoining school districts on Long Island, Greenport and Southold on Long Island. Gamberg has a holistic view of education. He believes in the full development of young children as happy, healthy, well-rounded people. He thinks that the arts are far more important than test scores. He wants the children to explore their talents. His schools ha
A while back, Ohio Governor John Kasich proposed that teachers should be required for recertification to spend time in a business so they could understand the real world. Sarah Guinn of The Athens “Messenger” reported that: “Some legislators responded by proposing the Get REALS Act (Governor’s Externship for Training of Realistic Expectations of Academic Leadership in Schools) which would require
Laura Chapman discovered the list of staff hired to work at the U.S. Department of Education. All of the appointments to date are political cronies of Trump or DeVos. None of the high-level positions, which require an ethics review, have been filled. No educators have been appointed to any position. Chapman writes: I have been trying to find out who is probably running the show at USDE. Here is a
Trump has put his son-in-law Jared Kushner, a 36-year-old real estate investor, in charge of streamlining the federal bureaucracy, drawing upon business ideas. At the same time, Kushner is Trump’s lead advisor on foreign and domestic policy and oversees relations with Mexico, Canada, China, and the Middle East. “President Trump plans to unveil a new White House office on Monday with sweeping auth
This article reviews the many legal and political challenges that still face the Keystone Pipeline. https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/eco-catholic/legal-challenges-await-keystone-xl-pipeline-after-trump-grants-permit He said it would create thousands of jobs, but they are temporary construction jobs. Once the pipeline is completed, it will be run by 50 people, only 35 with permanent jobs. Environme
Usually a new presidency has a honeymoon period, a time of good feeling and high poll numbers. As they battle for their policies and legislation, their poll numbers change, for better or worse. Newsweek reports that Trump and his cabinet have very low approval ratings. The cabinet member with the lowest approval rating is Betsy DeVos at 34.5%. She is highly divisive because her agenda is unpopula
As the previous post noted, the Trump administration wants to eliminate the after school program, because it doesn’t raise test scores. Budget director Mick Mulvaney said the same thing about feeding children: it doesn’t raise their test scores, so why pay for it? Peter Greene was appalled . Is that the reason we feed children? To raise their test scores? “Well, we’ve all seen it by now: “There i
The Daily Signal is published by the uber-conservative Heritage Foundation. I am on their mailing list. In yesterday’s report, it congratulated Trump for proposing to eliminate federal funding for after-school programs because they harm children. They hailed the defunding of 21st Century Community Learning Centers. Based on a study published 10 years ago that found that participants in the progra
Jeff Bryant spells out the Big Lie embedded in Trump’s budget proposal for education. He plans to cut programs that directly aid poor kids while bolstering charters and vouchers, pretending they are equivalent. They are not. Yet much of the mainstream media has fallen for the Trump-DeVos bait-and-switch. “Public school supporters are angry at President Trump’s budget proposal, which plans to cut
The epicenter of New York’s historic test refusal movement is gearing up for a repeat performance when testing begins on Monday. The state is hoping that the introduction of computer-based testing will mollify parents but it shouldn’t. Numerous studies have shown that students get lower scores on computer-