UT: Court Strikes Down Voucher Program
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Utah privateers were pretty excited about getting a taxpayer-funded school
voucher program through the legislature. HB 215 pulled off that trick in
part by...
RIP, Libraries and Museums
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On our way home from the Network for Public Education conference, earlier
this month, we jogged to the right and spent a night in Cleveland, so we
could vi...
Bye Bye, Tennessee Non-Achievement School District
-
If your memory is good, you may recall Arne Duncan’s Race to the Top, which
had $5 billion of unrestricted funds with which to spur education reform.
Dunca...
The Trump Administration’s War on Children
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The clear-cutting across the federal government under President Donald
Trump has been dramatic, with mass terminations, the suspension of
decades-old ...
The Four Angry Ship Builders
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Charlotte said, "I'm going to build a ship," and got to work arranging the
blocks.
Ships have always been a popular way for the kids to use our large wo...
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...
Wherefore Art Thou, Jesus?
-
[Header Photo by Stephanie Klepacki on Unsplash] With Easter just behind
us, mainstream Christians in the US have experienced a high period of
religious ho...
Wherefore Art Thou, Jesus?
-
[Header Photo by Stephanie Klepacki on Unsplash] With Easter just behind
us, mainstream Christians in the US have experienced a high period of
religious ho...
SUBSTACK: The right to think at all
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https://writersforda.substack.com/p/the-right-to-think-at-all?utm_campaign=email-half-post&r=53vax&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Spring
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Did Spring come early this year? Or late? For me, I don’t know. My mom got
sick, diagnosed in January, and that’s been hard. I’ve been up a few times.
We’v...
Student Outcome Focused Governance is Impuissant
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By Thomas Ultican 4/21/2025 The night NPE2025 in Columbus ended; I ate
dinner with two ladies from Pittsburgh. They informed me about Student
Outcome Focus...
What Is Happening is Not Normal.
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*What’s Happening Is Not Normal. America Needs an Uprising That Is Not
Normal.*
*David Brooks. Conservative columnist. NYT. *
https://www.nyti...
“IF YOU’VE EVER WONDERED…….
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“If you’ve wondered what you would have done if you’d lived in Nazi Germany
during Hitler’s rise to power, it’s what you are doing right now.” That’s
not t...
Rubby Peréz and The Ties That Bind Us All
-
Let me take it back to 1994. I was in the seventh grade and, at the time,
my mom took our family to her first ...
Read More
The post Rubby Peréz and The...
The Seamy Side of CTE
-
Vocational education, now called Career Technical Education (CTE),
emphasizing STEM, has always been important for students who are not
college-bound or ...
A Story of Three Graduations
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I am finishing my eighth year teaching high school seniors. My
then-principal (now retired) approached me nine years ago about switching
from sophomore Eng...
Around The Web In ESL/EFL/ELL
-
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 ...
Trump plays Putin’s Playbook
-
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...
Risks of using AI in the classroom
-
April 8, 2025 The annual conference of Network for Public Education, on
whose board I sit, was held last weekend in Columbus, Ohio. It was
terrific as usu...
¿Qué hace falta para que gane la resistencia?
-
Una ola de resistencia se levanta. ¿Qué hará falta para que ganemos?
Dondequiera que miremos, una ola de resistencia se levanta. Mi corazón se
llena de ale...
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...
Trump actually already can serve a third term
-
and even a fourth and a fifth ….
so could Clinton, Bush 43, and Obama.
There are no limits on how many terms a President can serve
Here are the relevan...
How Do We Fight Trump?
-
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...
March’s Parent Engagement Resources
-
What does our research say about grades, attendance, test scores, & “on
track” metrics for @chipubschools.bsky.social students? How can parents use
this in...
Are we all on the same team?
-
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...
Who is the new CEO of Teach For America?
-
From 1990 until 2013, the CEO of TFA was the founder, Wendy Kopp. Under her
leadership the program grew from a small organization that struggled to
make pa...
Site Index - Updated December 31, 2024
-
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 ...
Defining Productivity, Cost, and Efficiency
-
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...
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
-
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
-
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:
-
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
-
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.
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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!
-
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
-
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.
-
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
-
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.
-
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
-
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
-
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.
-
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
-
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?
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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?
-
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
-
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)
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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. . . .
-
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?
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
*“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...
Prominent DeVos critics urge protesters: Don’t block her way into public schools. She needs to see them. - The Washington Post : Prominent DeVos critics urge protesters: Don’t block her way into public schools. She needs to see them With dozens of protesters standing at the front of Jefferson Academy in Washington, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos tried to enter a side door of the school but was b
U.S.Education: Up To Us | Real Learning CT : U.S.Education: Up To Us Betsy DeVos was blocked by protestors from entering a DC public school. That action could be a symbol of saying NO to a Secretary of Education entering a public school for the first time in her life. That action could be a symbol of saying NO to a Secretary of Education who does not understand what it means to learn and what it
Hitting Left. The Klonsky brothers radio. Episode #2. | Fred Klonsky : Hitting Left. The Klonsky brothers radio. Episode #2 I think we are starting to get the hang of this radio thing. But, please continue the feedback on making it better. Episode #2 featured a conversation with the dean of the Hispanic and Progressive Caucuses of the Chicago City Council, Ricardo Muñoz. Our talk with Alderman Mu
First SNL did it. Now Jimmy Fallon pokes fun at Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. - The Washington Post : First SNL did it. Now Jimmy Fallon pokes fun at Education Secretary Betsy DeVos First “Saturday Night Live” did it, and now Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show” did the very same thing — poke fun at new Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. The Senate confirmed DeVos on Feb. 7 after Mike Pence became
DeVos confirmation triggered outpouring of support for public education system | EdSource : DeVos confirmation triggered outpouring of support for public education system In this unusual political season, marked by one unexpected turn after another, the emergence of Betsy DeVos, confirmed this week as President Trump’s secretary of education, as the main target of opposition by Senate Democrats w
Diane Ravitch: Texas Senate Bill Means Less Money for Public Schools | 88.9 KETR : Diane Ravitch: Texas Senate Bill Means Less Money for Public Schools Education historian and former assistant US education secretary Diane Ravitch on Tuesday criticized a State Senate bill filed last week to create Educational Savings Accounts. Listen Listening... 3:37 Education historian Diane Ravitch speaks to KE
CURMUDGUCATION: The Wealth Gap: Worse Than You Think : The Wealth Gap: Worse Than You Think How much is whiteness worth? The answer turns out to be "a whole heck of a lot." A new report with the unsexy title " Asset Value of Whiteness " has been released jointly by Demos and the Institute for Assets and Social Policy (Brandeis University), two left-tilted thinky tanks. The researchers used the Su
Ellison for DNC Chair: It Matters | 34justice : The race for the Democratic National Committee Chairperson is very important . In case you haven’t been following it, there are many candidates running, but only two major contenders: Keith Ellison, Democratic Congressman from Minnesota’s 5 th congressional district for 10 years straight, and Tom Perez, the Secretary of Labor from the Obama Administ
Here’s How Much Teachers Make in Every State | GOBankingRates : Here’s How Much Teachers Make in Every State The average teacher's salary on a national level isn't impressive, but some states offer well-paying opportunities. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 It might seem like a no-brainer t
WATCH: Betsy DeVos quickly gives up and leaves DC school after a couple of protesters block her path : WATCH: Betsy DeVos quickly gives up and leaves DC school after a couple of protesters block her path tsy DeVos quickly gave up and left after she was met by a few protesters outside a Washington, D.C., school. The newly confirmed education secretary, who prompted a wave of phone calls opposing h
RFA: Public Charter Schools Grant Program Planning and Implementation Grant--Round 2 (CA Dept of Education) : Request for Applications Public Charter Schools Grant Program Planning and Implementation Grant--Round 2 Due: Thursday, March 9, 2017 The Federal Public Charter Schools Grant Program (PCSGP) a discretionary grant program administered by the Charter Schools Division. Grant applications are
Dyslexia, The DeVos Vote, and a Senator’s Lost Credibility : Dyslexia, The DeVos Vote, and a Senator’s Lost Credibility There were several senators who I expected would change their vote on Betsy DeVos. In the end none of them did, and I think they need to called-out. Their votes for DeVos were especially unethical due to their past positions, or where they are from. I will write today about one,
Schools In The Nation's Capital Are Embarrassingly Segregated | The Huffington Post : Schools In The Nation’s Capital Are Embarrassingly Segregated Washington, D.C., is still very separate and unequal. Even several decades ago, it wasn’t hard for Gary Orfield to convince white parents in his Washington, D.C., neighborhood to send their kids to a racially segregated black school. At the time, his
Bipartisan Education Politics a Thing of the Past | Education News | US News : Bipartisan Education Politics a Thing of the Past House Republicans voted to block Obama-era education regulations. hen Congress passed a sprawling rewrite of the federal education law at the tail-end of 2015, it was hailed as a "Christmas miracle." Drafted, negotiated and passed by members on both sides of the aisle a
A comprehensive list of what Betsy DeVos can — and can’t — do next - Vox : A comprehensive list of what Betsy DeVos can — and can’t — do next After barely surviving a contentious confirmation process, Betsy DeVos is now in charge at the Education Department. She and her fiercest opponents might be surprised by how little power she actually has in the job. Liberals’ biggest worry about DeVos, aire
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Brother Fred & I will be HITTING LEFT & streaming live this morning. : Brother Fred & I will be HITTING LEFT & streaming live this morning. Tune in this morning at 11 (CST) for week 2 of Klonsky Brothers, HITTING LEFT on Lumpen Radio at 105.5 FM and streaming live here . Fred and I will be joined by Chicago's 22nd Ward Ald. Rick Munoz , who definitely hits lefty. He
What Was Accomplished in the DeVos Confirmation Process? | janresseger : What Was Accomplished in the DeVos Confirmation Process? Public education supporters relentlessly made phone calls and wrote letters to Senators to complain about Betsy DeVos. Despite that the entire Democratic Senate Caucus held an all-night session enumerating problems with the Education Secretary nominee—her ignorance, he
Mother Jones on Betsy DeVos’ Sheltered Background (and More) | deutsch29 : Mother Jones on Betsy DeVos’ Sheltered Background (and More) In January 2017, Mother Jones originally published an article entitled, “Betsy DeVos Wants to Use America’s Schools to ‘Build God’s Kingdom.'” It has since been updated. I did not read the original article; however, I am intrigued by the details I read today on U
CURMUDGUCATION: Impersonal Personalization : Impersonal Personalization Your child sits at a desk, alone in the room. No teacher ever enters the room. An aid comes into the room periodically to give your child a quiz, or a worksheet. Your child fills out the sheet, the aid scores it. Maybe the aid gives it back to your child to do again, but the aid can't explain anything. All the worksheets and
Badass Teachers Association: BAT Educators: Why Did You Go Into This Profession? by Priscilla Sanstead and Dr. Michael Flanagan : BAT Educators: Why Did You Go Into This Profession? by Priscilla Sanstead and Dr. Michael Flanagan We recently posed the question on the Badass Teachers’ Association Facebook group, “Why did you become educators?” The answers were as interesting, as inspiring, and as d
School district chiefs: Proposed Medicaid changes would hurt poor children and students with disabilities - The Washington Post : School district chiefs: Proposed Medicaid changes would hurt poor children and students with disabilities A new survey of school district leaders across the country finds that they are deeply worried that Republican proposals to refinance Medicaid, if they become law,
PA Senate Regulates Union Political Spending But Not Corporate Political Spending | PA Senate Regulates Union Political Spending But Not Corporate Political Spending In a display of blatant hypocrisy, the Pennsylvania state Senate voted yesterday to further regulate labor unions political spending but not that of corporations. By a vote of 28-22 , the Senate passed a bill blocking government agen
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 2/9/17 Featured Post About That Bill Abolishing The Department Of Education : NPR Ed : NPR Betsy DeVos Is Coming For Your Children by mike simpson / 1h Betsy DeVos Is Coming For Your