Federal Voucher Bill Offers Big Returns For Wealthy
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The Educational Choice for Children Act of 2024 is the federal school
voucher program that Betsy DeVos always dreamed of, combining the
privatization of ed...
Whiplash: Worst Teacher Movie Ever
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If you’ve been paying attention to the DOGE Brothers—Elon-n-Vivek—lately,
as they explain their personal theories around the failures of American
parents t...
Brushing Up on Polio.
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When the New York Times article, “Lawyer, Author and TikTok Star Spent 72
Years in an Iron Lung,” was published in March 2024, it did not hold the
same mea...
Christmas Miracles
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“People don’t want children to know what they need to know. They want their
kids to know what they ought to need to know. If you’re a teacher you’re in
a c...
MEMES THAT MADE ME LAUGH TODAY 12-27
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*MEMES THAT MADE ME LAUGH TODAY 12-27*
Big Education Ape: HAIRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAIRY HANUKKAH TOO!
https://bigeducat...
Perhaps this is a meaningless ramble
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but I am choosing to reflect on a number of disparate topics that are
currently on my mind. Perhaps I should start by explaining that I have been
at leas...
"You Climbed Up There!"
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"Teacher Tom, look at me!"
The boy called out from where he stood, clinging to the trunk of one of our
playground cedars. He was standing on a root that...
80 years old today!!
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It’s true: I’m 80 years old today! When I was 24, I thought making it to 30
would be a miracle–it was and it is. Keep rising, keep fighting for a world
at ...
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, ...
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...
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?
-
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.
-
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
-
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...
Growth/Achievement vs Left/Right – Educate Louisiana : Growth/Achievement vs Left/Right These days, it is hard to tell which political faction is pushing for the different components of education reform, but it is clear that the unified-bipartisan effort has fractured. The parting of ways is mostly due to the nomination, and subsequent confirmation, of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education. It ha
Allowing Guns in Schools is a Bad Idea | gadflyonthewallblog : Allowing Guns in Schools is a Bad Idea Even Water Guns Guns were not allowed at Donald Trump’s inauguration . They were not allowed at his speech to the National Rifle Association (NRA). Nor were they allowed at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) or at most of his hotels, golf courses and other properties . But he wan
Badass Teachers Association : Period 1 By: Marla Kilfoyle, Executive Director, The Badass Teachers Association Marla Kilfoyle, Exec. Dir. The Badass Teachers Association Here is what folks don’t get about teaching - it is not effective or ineffective; you are not a bad teacher or a good teacher. The art of teaching cannot be confined to one definition for every school day. The art of teaching is
Why the Trump/DeVos visit to a Catholic school is so unusual — and what it really means - The Washington Post : Why the Trump/DeVos visit to a Catholic school is so unusual — and what it really means President Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos made their first official joint trip to a school on Friday. It was a highly unusual trip for a president, but one that clearly signals his educatio
CURMUDGUCATION: Finding the Good Teachers : Finding the Good Teachers Modern ed reform has always embraced a binary view of teachers-- there are good ones and bad ones. We should sort them out. Maybe find the good ones so we can give them a nice reward. Find that bad ones so that we can fire them. The problems with this view are (or at least should be) obvious. Teaching is a complex multi-faceted
The Next Step in the Trump-DeVos Plan to Send Taxpayer Money to Religious Schools | Mother Jones : The Next Step in the Trump-DeVos Plan to Send Taxpayer Money to Religious Schools Why Florida is the new darling for school choice boosters. During his address before a joint session of Congress earlier this week, President Donald Trump paused to introduce Denisha Merriweather, a graduate student fr
Only in Betsy DeVos’ Michigan can schools be “reformed” by closing them | Eclectablog : Only in Betsy DeVos’ Michigan can schools be “reformed” by closing them The news broke on January 20, 2017 that as many as 38 schools could be closed in Michigan, 24 of those in Detroit, due to “poor academic performance.” Parents in the city, and throughout the state, were understandably stunned, as this anno
Fighting Back Against Sessions's Trans Attack | Advocate.com : Fighting Back Against Sessions's Trans Attack Trans youth were already under assault before President Trump and Attorney General Sessions made it worse for them. Randi Weingarten of the American Federation of Teachers tells us what she's doing to defend our kids. BY RANDI WEINGARTEN MARCH 03 2017 5:34 AM EST Transgender students — jus
What's the Big Idea? | Schott Foundation for Public Education : What's the Big Idea? John H. Jackson, President & CEO, The Schott Foundation for Public Education Sounding more like a measured politician than ever, President Donald Trump’s first Joint Address to Congress Tuesday night outlined the broad contours of his vision for a “Renewal of the American Spirit” while also challenging the nation
Trump to visit private school to promote school choice - SFGate : Trump to visit private school to promote school choice WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will be visiting a private, religious school in Florida on Friday, signaling that his education agenda will focus on school choice. The president will tour St. Andrew Catholic School in Orlando, where he is expected to drop in on classro
Audio: Fact-checking the most negative LA school board race in years | 89.3 KPCC : Fact-checking the most negative LA school board race in years If you care about the impact of money in local politics in Los Angeles, here’s one candidate to watch closely in next week's primary election: L.A. Unified School Board president Steve Zimmer . Since 2007, when L.A. voters decided to limit direct contrib
To Opt Out, Or Not! – Educate Louisiana : To Opt Out, Or Not! Spring will soon be upon us. I can tell because my inboxes are filling with questions about state assessments and opt-outs. I am happy to answer questions for anyone who takes the time to contact me, but it is easiest for me to just explain it here. I will provide you with the information regarding accountability, and leave it to you t
With A Brooklyn Accent: Where the Music Came From: Mourning the Loss of Great Music Programs in Our Public Schools : Where the Music Came From: Mourning the Loss of Great Music Programs in Our Public Schools Just had a thought. So much of the amazing music we had in the 50's and 60's- whether it was the beautiful harmonies of doo wop singers, the girl groups and the Beach Boys; the incredible hor
Vicki Cobb: I Attended the Great Debate About Charter Schools at Intelligence Squared | Diane Ravitch's blog : Vicki Cobb: I Attended the Great Debate About Charter Schools at Intelligence Squared On March 1, there was a heated debate around the proposition “Charter Schools Are Overrated,” hosted by Intelligence Squared. The room in New York City was packed. Two academics–Gary Miron of Western Mi
Bridgeport Board of Education Member Maria Pereira speaks out against Malloy Education Cuts - Wait What? : Bridgeport Board of Education Member Maria Pereira speaks out against Malloy Education Cuts Maria Pereira is a public education advocate and member of the Bridgeport Board of Education. She recently testified before the General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee on Governor Dannel Malloy’s
DeVos and Tax Credit Vouchers: Arizona Shows What Can Go Wrong - The New York Times : DeVos and Tax Credit Vouchers: Arizona Shows What Can Go Wrong Steve Yarbrough is one of the most powerful men in Arizona. As president of the State Senate, he has promoted a range of conservative policies, including a tuition tax credit system that provides over $100 million per year to finance vouchers for pri
Schools Matter: Dem Epiphany: Public Education Under Siege : Dem Epiphany: Public Education Under Siege In 2001, Democrats joined Republicans to create a massive school privatization corporate welfare plan known as No Child Left Behind. With fanciful performance targets and unbending rules, which every education policy person knew would detonate thousands of the poorest public schools over the co
Proposal would keep California schools from denying lunch over unpaid fees | Firstcoastnews.com : Proposal would keep California schools from denying lunch over unpaid fees A new bill proposal wants to make sure no student goes hungry at school even if their lunch bills are unpaid. Democratic state Sen. Bob Hertzberg introduced the proposal in February in an attempt to end lunch shaming at Califo
Betsy DeVos called it: Bear puts Connecticut schools on lockdown : Betsy DeVos called it: Bear puts Connecticut schools on lockdown DETROIT — For those who ridiculed Education Secretary Betsy DeVos for mentioning "potential grizzlies" as a reason for keeping a gun in schools for safety, it may be time to start lining up to apologize: A bear put a pair of Connecticut schools on lockdown this week.
Caterpiller raided by feds. Tax cheats. | Fred Klonsky : Caterpiller raided by feds. Tax cheats When Caterpiller announced it was joining other big corporations like Boeing and moving its headquarters to downtown Chicago, Crain’s reported that it took some analysts by surprise. Aides to Gov. Bruce Rauner say they heard about the move “this morning” and the administration was “not involved” in the
Stanford Researcher Presents the Evidence Against Trump-DeVos Voucher Plans | janresseger : Stanford Researcher Presents the Evidence Against Trump-DeVos Voucher Plans It seems that President Donald Trump and his education secretary, Betsy DeVos are looking to tuition tax credits, a form of school vouchers, to fulfill Trump’s campaign promise to expand school choice. (This blog has covered Trump
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Karen Lewis is our guest today on Hitting Left. : Karen Lewis is our guest today on Hitting Left. CTU Pres. Karen Lewis will be our in-studio guest this morning on Hitting Left. Be sure and tune-in at 11 a.m. (CST) to Lumpen Radio, WLPN 105.5 FM to listen live. You can download the app here. My brother Fred and I will be talking to Karen about (what else?) teaching
The Heroism of Incremental Change (Part 2) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice : The Heroism of Incremental Change (Part 2) In a recent podcast, economists Ed Glaeser and Stephen Dubner were discussing “big bang” solutions, big leaders who make dramatic changes, and the folly of looking for such “solutions” and leaders. Here is their exchange on civil rights between the 1940s an
Seattle Schools Community Forum: OSPI and Lt Governor's Office Get It Done : OSPI and Lt Governor's Office Get It Done From OSPI (bold mine): The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction announced today that, thanks to a public-private partnership initiated by Lt. Governor Cyrus Habib, low-income students in Washington state will be able to take Advanced Placement (AP) and International Bac
Odd questions on the latest TFA alumni survey | Gary Rubinstein's Blog : Odd questions on the latest TFA alumni survey As a TFA alum, each year I get invited to fill out the annual alumni survey. Sometimes I boycott the survey, knowing that TFA is likely to misrepresent the results of this survey. Whether it is the claim that two-thirds of alumni are still teachers or that 80 percent of alumni ar
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 3/2/17 Featured Post Educators Told to Intern at Local Businesses To Renew Teacher Licenses Sacramento moves to block immigration officials from student data | 89.3 KPCC by mike simpson / 2min Sacramento moves to block immigration officials from student data | 89.