Merry Christmas to All!
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Wherever you are, I wish you a very Merry Christmas. I wish you happiness,
joy, and many reasons to smile in the year ahead. I don’t know about you,
but I ...
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...
November Parent Engagement Resources
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Greeting a family in their preferred language is a small gesture that
demonstrates respect and eagerness to connect with parents. Creating a
Welcoming Envi...
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...
Why teacher strikes are touching every part of America - ABC7 News Why teacher strikes are touching every part of America Analysis by Zachary B. Wolf, CNN Urban, rural, suburban, red, blue and purple, American teachers from across the United States have been on strike. So far this year, teachers have picketed in one of the wealthiest states... Urban, rural, suburban , red, blue and purple, Americ
Jersey Jazzman: Thoughts on the Graduation Exam Mess in New Jersey Thoughts on the Graduation Exam Mess in New Jersey Let me recap where we are first -- skip down if you know the background. Way back in 1979, New Jersey passed a law which required high school students to take an exam before graduating (the Education Law Center has some background on that law here and here ). The law says the exam
CURMUDGUCATION: Charter Schools Are Not Public Schools Charter Schools Are Not Public Schools Modern charter schools prefer to attach the word "public" to their descriptions. Many of the charter advocacy groups include "public charter" in their title. And truthfully, there are no regulations attached to the term--any school can attach the word "public" to its title without having to worry about a
You are Invited!: Should Teach For America (TFA) be banned in California Schools? | Cloaking Inequity YOU ARE INVITED!: SHOULD TEACH FOR AMERICA (TFA) BE BANNED IN CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS? The California State University Sacramento Doctorate in Educational Leadership will be holding a forum entitled “Should Teach For America (TFA) be banned in California Schools?” It will take place in Sacramento, Cal
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all Diane Ravitch's blog A site to discuss better education for all Peter Greene on the Tragedy of Lorain, Ohio, and the War to Stamp Out Local Control and Democracy by dianeravitch / 36min Who knew that Republicans hate local control of public schools? Who knew that the root cause of low test scores was the input of parents and teache
CURMUDGUCATION: TN: Market Forces Are Not Magical TN: Market Forces Are Not Magical Shelby County is running up against two of the fallacies embedded in most charter school policy. One is the modern charter policy lie-- the notion that you can run multiple parallel school systems with the same money that used to run one system. The other is that charter systems don't need a lot of regulation beca
John White Speaks at a San Francisco TFA Board Meeting… for the Benefit of Louisiana | deutsch29 John White Speaks at a San Francisco TFA Board Meeting… for the Benefit of Louisiana According to a Louisiana ethics filing dated January 16, 2019, Louisiana state superintendent John White spoke in San Francisco, California, at a Teach for America (TFA) board meeting on January 09, 2019, and was comp
Tying Kids’ Lunch Money to Test Scores? It’s No Crueler Than High Stakes Testing | gadflyonthewallblog Tying Kids’ Lunch Money to Test Scores? It’s No Crueler Than High Stakes Testing UPDATED Most people agree that the best way to get kids to read isn’t by threatening to take away their lunch. But an Arkansas state Representative is threatening to do just that – sort of. Rep. Alan Clark, a West M
TFA Celebrates New Research That Suggests That Corps Members Are Ineffective Teachers | Gary Rubinstein's Blog TFA Celebrates New Research That Suggests That Corps Members Are Ineffective Teachers Over the years there have been various studies comparing the ‘effectiveness’ of TFA teachers to non-TFA teachers. Though these studies are based on the results from standardized tests that may or may no
Oakland Teachers Strike, And West Virginia Teachers Say Trust Issues Persist | 89.3 KPCC Oakland Teachers Strike, And West Virginia Teachers Say Trust Issues Persist Oakland teachers are the latest to strike Teachers in Oakland, Calif., went on strike Thursday after the Oakland teachers union rejected a last-minute proposal from the district Wednesday. Teachers in the Oakland Unified School Distr
“We’re Fighting a Mean-Spirited and Antidemocratic Attack on Public Education” “We’re Fighting a Mean-Spirited and Antidemocratic Attack on Public Education” O n the first day of the Oakland teachers’ strike, I met up with Oakland teacher and union activist Tim Marshall at the rally downtown. Marshall has been an Oakland public school teacher for twenty-two years. He sits on the organizing commit
Denver Teachers’ Strike Was a Rejection of Education ‘Reform’ Denver Teachers’ Strike Was a Rejection of Education ‘Reform’ A Denver Public Schools teacher pay stub from 2016 shows the complexity of teacher salaries in the district. “I definitely drank the education reform kool-aid,” recalls Alex Nelson, a Denver teacher who, along with over 5,300 fellow teachers and school support staff, walked
Steph Curry, Mahershala Ali and MC Hammer made a video to support striking Oakland teachers. Here it is. - The Washington Post Steph Curry, Mahershala Ali and MC Hammer made a video to support striking Oakland teachers. Here it is. Luminaries from sports, film, radio and the letters star in a video posted on YouTube that supports Oakland, Calif., teachers who went on strike Thursday demanding hig
Sacramento City Unified school board hears budget warnings | The Sacramento Bee Sacramento City schools ‘running out of cash and ... running out of time,’ board is warned Michael Fine from the state's financial crisis team and David Gordon from the county office of education address the Sacramento City Unified School Board on cutting costs in their district on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019 in Sacrament
“Out Here Because I Love Teaching”: The Oakland Teachers Strike, In Photos “Out Here Because I Love Teaching”: The Oakland Teachers Strike, In Photos On day one of the strike, teachers, students and community members speak from the picket line. THOUSANDS OF TEACHERS IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, WENT ON STRIKE THIS MORNING —the latest in a series of increasingly militant work stoppages by educators acr
California charter schools facing new oversight under fast track legislation | EdSource California charter schools facing new oversight under fast track legislation Assembly vote could come as early as next week. If it passes, Newsom expected to sign it. t the urging of Gov. Gavin Newsom, a bill that will require charter schools to be more accountable and transparent is making its way swiftly thr
Class dismissed: How and when New Orleans schools close | The Lens Class dismissed: How and when New Orleans schools close For more than a decade, most public schools in New Orleans were overseen by state bureaucrats, 80 miles away in Baton Rouge. That changed last summer, when a state law passed in 2016 took the majority of the city’s schools back from the state-run Recovery School District to t
We Must Denounce Trump Jr.'s Attack on Teachers | Schott Foundation for Public Education We Must Denounce Trump Jr.'s Attack on Teachers It may be hard to distinguish in the current political climate where the line of decency is—but one thing is clear, Donald Trump, Jr.’s recent attack on teachers crossed it. At the president’s February 11 border wall rally in El Paso, Trump, Jr. stirred up the c
Why Are Teachers Going On Strike In Oakland, Los Angeles And Denver? : NPR Oakland, Los Angeles And More To Come: Why Teachers Keep Going On Strike The current wave of teacher walkouts started a year ago this week, when educators across West Virginia were out of the classroom for nine days. The movement spread to five more states before the school year was over . New data from the Bureau of Labor
West Virginia Teachers Flex Muscle Again | Capital & Main West Virginia Teachers Flex Muscle Again Meanwhile, Oakland teachers break out the picket signs and LAUSD discovers the joys of transparency. “Yes, West Virginia, there is a teachers union, and it’s still fighting mad.” That was the message for Mountain State lawmakers this week when thousands of West Virginia teachers and school workers w
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 The latest news and resources in education since 2007 Video: Watch Oscar Nominated “A Night At The Garden” – About 20,000 Americans Celebrating Nazism by Larry Ferlazzo / 33min You’ll want to watch this short Oscar-nominated film (and you might want to show it to your students) about a pro-Nazi 1939 ra
CURMUDGUCATION: OH: Lorain, HB 70, And A Reformy Attack OH: Lorain, HB 70, And A Reformy Attack I began my career in Lorain, Ohio, so the ever-spinning mess there is of personal interest to me. But it is also a picture of much of the damage being inflicted on public education in the name of reform. This is going to be a really long read, the longest I've ever posted on this blog, but it's a story
Badass Teachers Association Blog: An Open Letter to Teach for America Regarding Teacher Strikes by Seth Khan An Open Letter to Teach for America Regarding Teacher Strikes by Seth Khan Originally posted at : An Open Letter to Teach for America Regarding Teacher Strikes Dear Ms. Villanueva Beard, CEO, Teach for America: The current wave of teacher strikes across the United States leads us to reques
Appreciating Teachers: Responding to Donald Trump Jr. | janresseger Appreciating Teachers: Responding to Donald Trump Jr. Recently at the President’s rally in El Paso for his border wall, his son, Donald Trump, Jr., warmed up the crowd with a speech in which he gratuitously attacked teachers: “Bring it to your schools… You don’t have to be indoctrinated by these loser teachers that are trying to
The Internet Is Sowing Mass Confusion. We Must Rethink How We Teach Kids Every Subject (Sam Wineburg) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice The Internet Is Sowing Mass Confusion. We Must Rethink How We Teach Kids Every Subject (Sam Wineburg) Sam Wineburg, a professor of education at Stanford University, is the author of “ Why Learn History (When It’s Already on Your Phone) .” This
Oakland Teachers Are Striking Against Billionaire Privatizers Oakland Teachers Are Striking Against Billionaire Privatizers Oakland teachers are on strike today to defeat plans by the superrich to take over and dismantle their public schools. The project of free market education reform is so widespread in America that many cities and states insist on claiming the title of “ground zero” of educati
L.A. Schools’ Superintendent Attempts a Coup – Carl J. Petersen – Medium L.A. Schools’ Superintendent Attempts a Coup “ The secrecy has got to stop .” - LAUSD Board Member Scott Schmerelson In a clear case of insubordination, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Superintendent Austin Beutner has ignored a request for copies of contracts that the District had signed for four months. On at l
Boiling Frogs & Building Brands: P&G’s Partnership With Strive – Wrench in the Gears Boiling Frogs & Building Brands: P&G’s Partnership With Strive This is a follow up to my previous post about Strive Together’s plans for “cradle to career” collective impact. Pursuing this work is a curious experience. Most times I can’t tell what, if any, progress I’m making. Yet I continue to forge ahead and re
I’m a Loser, Baby. So Why Don’t You Kill Me? | Teacher in a strange land I’m a Loser, Baby. So Why Don’t You Kill Me? I decided right away , when Donald Trump Jr. made his inane remark about ‘loser teachers’ spreading socialism, that I wasn’t going to respond in any tangible way. A serious eye-roll perhaps, or a brief snort. I knew there would be reactions—memes, blogs and columns and snarky twee
West Virginia Teachers Went on Strike Again to Protest School Privatization. They Stayed on Strike to Send Their Lawmakers a Message - Teen Vogue West Virginia Teachers Went on Strike Again to Protest School Privatization. They Stayed on Strike to Send Their Lawmakers a Message Most of the state’s public schools were shut down for a second day. Teachers in West Virginia stayed on strike Wednesday
The Real Reason Betsy DeVos Tried to Fire Her Own Department’s Inspector General | janresseger The Real Reason Betsy DeVos Tried to Fire Her Own Department’s Inspector General Betsy DeVos is back in the news. She recently tried to fire the U.S. Department of Education’s Acting Inspector General, Sandra Bruce, and replace her with Phil Rosenfelt, who has been serving as the Department of Education
Good News, Arizona Teachers: No DNA Database for You | deutsch29 Good News, Arizona Teachers: No DNA Database for You Betsy DeVos is back in the news. She recently tried to fire the U.S. Department of Education’s Acting Inspector General, Sandra Bruce, and replace her with Phil Rosenfelt, who has been serving as the Department of Education’s General Council. Democrats in Congress criticized the n
Dallas Chamber of Commerce Disrupts Dallas Schools | tultican Dallas Chamber of Commerce Disrupts Dallas Schools By T. Ultican 2/20/2019 Since 2012, the business community in Dallas has aggressively asserted control over Dallas Independent School District (DISD). For the first time, running for one of the nine DISD school board positions is an expensive proposition. Besides wielding a political w
Marie Corfield: The @StarLedger, #FakeNews & the #PARCC Propaganda Machine The @StarLedger, #FakeNews & the #PARCC Propaganda Machine Years before 'fake news' became a household word, New Jersey's largest newspaper, The Star Ledger started its very own propaganda machine to bash teachers and prop up PARCC testing. With the flurry of PARCC testing bills posted in Trenton in the past couple of week
Bernie Sanders is Running for President, and the Establishment Just Sh!t Its Pants! | gadflyonthewallblog Bernie Sanders is Running for President, and the Establishment Just Sh!t Its Pants! You’ve heard of the shot heard round the world? Well yesterday we had its fecal equivalent! When Bernie Sanders said he was running for President for a second time , establishment hacks on the left and right h
Online Therapy in Schools? Privacy and Quality Concerns Online Therapy in Schools? Privacy and Quality Concerns Most of us are concerned when we hear of a credit card data breach in a store or company where we do business. Many parents are also troubled about academic and social-emotional behavioral online assessment data collected about their children in school. But what about your child surrend
Why Oakland teachers are striking: ‘Quite simply, you can’t feed the minds of our students by starving their schools.’ - The Washington Post Why Oakland teachers are striking: ‘Quite simply, you can’t feed the minds of our students by starving their schools.’ It’s only February and we’ve already seen in this new year teachers in Los Angeles, Denver and West Virginia go on strike, extending a wave
Tell the Sac City School Board to Put Students First - Action Network Tell the Sac City School Board to Put Students First Sacramento City schools are in jeopardy. Superintendent Jorge Aguilar and the School Board have failed to put students first. Instead, they have: Increased the number of administrators by 63% since 2014; Demanded top executive compensation that exceeds the governor’s pay by 6
Substitute Teachers Need to be Designated and Given Migrant Worker Status - La Comadre Substitute Teachers Need to be Designated and Given Migrant Worker Status Many substitute teachers working in various school districts have no adequate labor union representation. Some have no labor unions that represent their specific needs, and many are pretty much fending for themselves, earning peanuts, and
THE CHARTER SCHOOL DECEPTION - YouTube The Charter School Deception is a video documentary that exposes the continued expansion of Charter Schools in our public school system in Los Angeles. Share this video documentary with friends. Use social media and make sure that many people watch this video. Thanks!!! follow exposelausd on YouTube
What will it take for Hoosier teachers to stand up? | Live Long and Prosper What will it take for Hoosier teachers to stand up? NO TEACHER PAY INCREASE Yesterday the Indiana State House of Representatives passed a budget…without adding more money specifically for teacher pay. The House included an increase for education funding of 2.1% for the first year and 2.3% the second year. Given the recent
CURMUDGUCATION: What Is Your State's Grade For Data Privacy Protection? CURMUDGUCATION: What Is Your State's Grade For Data Privacy Protection? If data is the new oil, then schools are the new Ghawar field . Nearly every single person in a generation passes through a school, and virtually all of them encounter computer-based technology. And everything that a computer assesses, measures, and facil
Exclusive: The Moral Disengagement of Education Reform | Cloaking Inequity Exclusive: The Moral Disengagement of Education Reform This week I blogged about the 2019 International School Choice and Reform conference in Portugal. What I didn’t mention in the post (See FROM PORTUGAL, WITH NO LOVE FROM THE EDUCATION REFORMERS ) was the Twitter onslaught and venom from the White neoliberals directed t
Report: Oakland Unified should pay teachers more, but can't Report says Oakland Unified can’t afford to pay teachers the 12 percent raise they want to avoid strike A neutral arbitrator says the district’s finances prevent it from offering teachers competitive pay. OAKLAND — Teachers here are poised to go on strike Thursday despite the findings of a state-appointed arbitrator that the financially
School board pressures Supt. Beutner for details of reform plans School board pressures Supt. Beutner for details of reform plans L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner works for the Board of Education, but some board members say they need to know more about where he intends to take the nation’s second-largest school system. Board member Scott Schmerelson put his concerns on the table at Tuesday’s mee
This time, it wasn’t about pay: West Virginia teachers go on strike over the privatization of public education (and they won’t be the last) - The Washington Post This time, it wasn’t about pay: West Virginia teachers go on strike over the privatization of public education (and they won’t be the last) This time, it wasn’t about pay. West Virginia teachers walked off the job across the state Tuesda
Sacramento parents say school trip crosses church-state line | San Luis Obispo Tribune Does this school trip cross line between church and state? Some Sacramento parents say yes Parents at a Sacramento school have complained to their district about a field trip they say crosses the line between church and state. Sixth-graders at Crocker Riverside Elementary are scheduled March 4-7 to visit Allian
International Study Links Higher Teacher Pay and Teacher Quality - NEA Today Higher Teacher Pay and Teacher Quality This week, the New York Times invited a few members of the education policy world to answer the question “Are Teachers Overpaid?” Probably quite a few teachers are incredulous that this question is even being asked. They know that too many educators have been denied competitive, pro
Hill Democrats say Education Dept. tried to interfere in probe, remove investigator Hill Democrats say Education Dept. tried to interfere in probe, remove investigator Democrats say they've seen evidence of "troubling efforts" to influence investigation of Education Secretary DeVos. WASHINGTON — House and Senate Democrats say they have obtained evidence that a senior official at the Department of
West Virginia lawmakers reject charter school bill in victory for striking teachers West Virginia lawmakers reject charter school bill in victory for striking teachers Striking teachers in West Virginia celebrated on Tuesday as lawmakers rejected a bill that would have opened the first charter schools in the state as unions become more vocal about the public schools run by private groups. The 53-
West Virginia House Kills Education Bill After Teachers Strike to Block School Privatization | janresseger West Virginia House Kills Education Bill After Teachers Strike to Block School Privatization Yesterday, Tuesday, West Virginia’s teachers walked out to protest an omnibus education bill moving through the state legislature. The bill, known as Senate Bill 451, included another pay raise for t
California AG Addresses Charter Schools and Public Integrity Laws - Opinion Confirms Applicability of the Brown Act, Public Records Act, and Conflicts of Interest Laws | Best Best & Krieger LLP - JDSupra California AG Addresses Charter Schools and Public Integrity Laws - Opinion Confirms Applicability of the Brown Act, Public Records Act, and Conflicts of Interest Laws As the year came to a close
Charter schools haven’t improved in Ohio, Stanford researchers find | cleveland.com Charter schools haven’t improved in Ohio, Stanford researchers find COLUMBUS, Ohio - Charter schools in Ohio haven’t improved in recent years, Stanford University researchers have found, despite all the recent debate, public scandals and efforts to make this state’s nationally-scorned charter schools teach kids be
Striking West Virginia teachers push lawmakers to drop measures expanding charter schools and private school vouchers - The Washington Post Striking West Virginia teachers push lawmakers to drop measures expanding charter schools and private school vouchers The job action comes a year after teachers walked out to protest low pay. On a makeshift stage in El Paso, Texas, former Texas Teacher of the
Why Teacher Strikes Keep Happening (and Why There’s No End in Sight) - The New York Times Why Teacher Strikes Keep Happening (and Why There’s No End in Sight) American teachers in the past year have mounted the most sustained educator protest movement in decades. Their relentless string of mass walkouts continues this week in West Virginia, where education unions abruptly called a statewide strik
A Clear Plan: The Revolution in School Policy | The Crucial Voice of the PeopleThe Crucial Voice of the People A Clear Plan: The Revolution in School Policy The National Governor’s Association ( NGA ), corporate leaders, foundations and other special interest groups advanced a clear plan to use the rise of the Information Age to float the economy. Their vessel? Our public education system. Necess
Charter schools exploit lucrative loophole that would be easy to close Charter schools exploit lucrative loophole that would be easy to close While critics charge that charter schools are siphoning money away from public schools, a more fundamental issue frequently flies under the radar: the questionable business practices that allow people who own and run charter schools to make large profits. C
Charter Schools: Competition Makes All Schools Losers | Dissident Voice Charter Schools: Competition Makes All Schools Losers For most individuals, life without competition is inconceivable. Competition seems to be part of everything we know and do. It saturates everything. Nothing seems to escape its grip. It directs and conditions people at the conscious and subconscious levels. Competition app
Report offers ways to fix New York City's segregated schools Measuring diversity without holding schools accountable won’t bring about integration New York City takes the first step towards integrating schools There’s an adage many researchers and policy wonks live by: What gets measured, gets done. The saying suggests that measuring something enhances your ability to achieve it — except, of cour
Under pressure, LAUSD releases confidential contracts for reform consultants Under pressure, LAUSD releases confidential contracts for reform consultants Outside consultants working on a plan to restructure the Los Angeles Unified School District were asked to develop a performance-based rating system for schools and to shift hiring and purchasing of services from the central district office to l
W.Va. Teachers Go On Strike Over State Education Bill : NPR W.Va. Teachers Go On Strike Over State Education Bill West Virginia public school teachers are striking over a new bill that paves the way for charter schools and private school vouchers in a state that relies primarily on public education. In anticipation of the strike, almost all of the state's 55 public school systems have canceled cl
The good news: Social-emotional learning is hot. The bad news: Some of it is gives cognition a bad name. - The Washington Post The good news: Social-emotional learning is hot. The bad news: Some of it is gives cognition a bad name. In 2014, I ran a post by veteran educator Larry Ferlazzo about how social and emotional learning (SEL) — and its ancestor, character education — was being manipulated
Oakland’s Teachers Will Strike Thursday to Protest Low Salaries, Fiscal Crisis, and School Closures | janresseger Oakland’s Teachers Will Strike Thursday to Protest Low Salaries, Fiscal Crisis, and School Closures A predictable and tragic perfect storm is brewing in Oakland, California, where teachers will strike Thursday to protest low salaries and untenable conditions for students. The teachers
For New York City To Love Us Back [Teaching and Living Here] | The Jose Vilson FOR NEW YORK CITY TO LOVE US BACK [TEACHING AND LIVING HERE] Question of the century: how do we create a profession that we can love and can love us back? These ideas aren’t diametrically opposed, but they’re worth considering in the largest school district in the nation. The New York City I grew up in has changed in t
How Little We Know about How Teachers Teach Common Core | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice How Little We Know about How Teachers Teach Common Core Peter Greene, a retired teacher in Pennsylvania, had this to say about teaching the Common Core standards: What happens to a teacher who doesn’t teach to the standards? Nothing. Oh, teachers still had (and have) to submit lesson plan
Power and Politics in Education:Who Controls Education Policy? The Left? The Right? or Teachers and Parents? | Ed In The Apple Power and Politics in Education:Who Controls Education Policy? The Left? The Right? or Teachers and Parents? A few months ago I began getting e-messages to join actions sponsored by #BlackLivesMatteratSchools , End Zero Tolerance Mandate Black Studies #ethnicstudies Hire
NYC Public School Parents: Update on class size caps, violations & strikes in NYC, LA, Oakland and Florida NYC Public School Parents: Update on class size caps, violations & strikes in NYC, LA, Oakland and Florida On Wednesday, the UFT announced the beginning of an expedited process to resolve class size violations in five high schools where violations had been chronic: Benjamin N. Cardozo High S
From Portugal, with no Love from the Education Reformers | Cloaking Inequity FROM PORTUGAL, WITH NO LOVE FROM THE EDUCATION REFORMERS View this post on Instagram Blog post going up Wednesday at Cloaking Inequity about the moral disengagement of market-based education reform movement. Will include my reflections from International school reform conference in today’s post. A post shared by Julian V
CURMUDGUCATION: Wasting Time In School Wasting Time In School It's tax season, so it's time for this sort of meme-- These are just another version the compliant that teachers hear all the time-- why are we learning this? When am I ever going to use it? Every discipline has its own version. English-- when will I ever need to know subjects and verbs? Math-- when will I ever need to know the quadrat
Our Public Schools Aren't Failing; We're Failing Our Public Schools | Eclectablog Our Public Schools Aren’t Failing; We’re Failing Our Public Schools I’ve noticed an uptick lately in the number of folks talking about school choice, charter schools, and competition. I’m guessing this is a by-product of the recent swing in public opinion against charter schools, and the attendant backlash against 2
Home Visit Legislation: A Sales Pitch For Family Surveillance? – Wrench in the Gears Home Visit Legislation: A Sales Pitch For Family Surveillance? I’ve heard rumblings from folks in a number of states about pending legislation to establish home visit programs for expectant families or families with newborns or pre-school age children. So many families are struggling. Poverty is at an all time hi
Wave of teachers’ strikes pressure states, school boards to change tune | Beatrice News Channel Wave of teachers’ strikes pressure states, school boards to change tune (OAKLAND, Calif.) — Having seen teachers score victories in Los Angeles, Denver and a string of states in their fights for higher wages and better working conditions, more than 3,000 educators in Oakland, California, have voted to
Chicago charter strike settled. – Fred Klonsky Chicago charter strike settled There is a tentative agreement in the strike by CTU charter teachers against CICS. In a statement from the CTU the agreement protects counselors and social workers, limits class sizes, and raises teacher and paraprofessional pay up to CPS standards. The tentative agreement immediately raises paraprofessional pay to the
How a federal free meal program affected school poverty stats - The Hechinger Report How a federal free meal program affected school poverty stats Student poverty rate increased only 2 percentage points after schools adopted a new lunch program for all, a Missouri study finds In 2014, schools had a new way to give students free breakfast and lunch, paid for by Uncle Sam. Instead of asking low-inc
Nearly 3,000 Oakland Teachers Will Strike Thursday | PopularResistance.Org NEARLY 3,000 OAKLAND TEACHERS WILL STRIKE THURSDAY The union representing teachers in Oakland said Saturday that it will strike on Thursday Feb. 21, a day after a neutral fact-finding report was issued. At a news conference, Oakland Education Association president Keith Brown said “enough is enough.” The teachers union is
Teachers, lawmakers and activists in El Paso call for end to migrant child detention Teachers, lawmakers and activists in El Paso call for end to migrant child detention EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) - Congresswoman Veronica Escobar joined teachers, lawmakers and activist groups on a day-long call for action on the U.S. government to end the criminalization and detention of immigrant children and their f
Hey, Teachers’ Unions, Let’s Get This One Right – No Early Presidential Endorsements & Lots of Membership Engagement | gadflyonthewallblog Hey, Teachers’ Unions, Let’s Get This One Right – No Early Presidential Endorsements & Lots of Membership Engagement Let’s not mince words. The last Presidential election was a cluster. And we were at least partially to blame for it. The Democratic primary pro
Jersey Jazzman: The True History of New Jersey Teachers' (and Other Public Workers') Sacrifices on Pensions And Benefits The True History of New Jersey Teachers' (and Other Public Workers') Sacrifices on Pensions And Benefits I want to talk about a report that emerged a couple of weeks ago about New Jersey public employees' pensions and health care. But let me set the table first... Because every
Teachers with guns: What could possibly go wrong? - YouTube Teachers with guns: What could possibly go wrong? enrique baloyra - YouTube - This week a bill to arm classroom teachers cleared the Florida Senate Education Committee, making it likely to be the first bill to make it to the senate floor when this year’s legislative session begins on March 5th. After 17 students and teachers were murdere
Blackface and Other Ugly Truths. Not Just a Southern Thing. | Teacher in a strange land Blackface and Other Ugly Truths. Not Just a Southern Thing. I have lived in Michigan all my life. I never thought of myself as a Yankee until I started working for an education nonprofit based in the South and quickly picked up that nickname–as well as a reputation for being on the side of teachers’ unions (gu
Cashing in on Kids: The School Security Gold Rush | Diane Ravitch's blog Cashing in on Kids: The School Security Gold Rush In the Public Interest is a nonpartisan organization that tracks the privatization of public services and assets. Its latest report: Is school security the next gold rush? A year after the harrowing school shooting in Parkland, Florida, investor cash is pouring into the schoo
Heartbreak becomes burnout for teachers when work is turbulent | Salon.com Heartbreak becomes burnout for teachers when work is turbulent Teaching is often known as a “trial by fire” profession T eaching is often known as a “trial by fire” profession. In many countries, well-prepared teachers leave the profession at alarming rates, including in Canada, Australia , the United Kingdom and the Unite
In New Book, Former Atlanta Teacher Blames Education Policy For Cheating Scandal : NPR Former Teacher Blames Education Policymakers For Atlanta Cheating Scandal In 2015, a verdict was delivered on the cheating scandal in Atlanta Public Schools. A 2011 Georgia state report found unethical behavior in the school system, including teachers and principals changing wrong answers on standardized tests.
CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Winter Is Forever Edition (2/17) ICYMI: Winter Is Forever Edition (2/17) I do this every Sunday, so you can skip back week by week, or just search "ICYMI" in the search bar in the upper left to read some of the good stuff coming from other writers in the education world. Remember to share-- that's how this stuff gets around and finds the audience it should have. Rahm Emanue
Sowing Bloomfields’ Millions – redqueeninla Sowing Bloomfields’ Millions There are a lot of Big Personalities here in the land of Studio Art and artiface. The parsimonious Eli Broad, with his “ pushy ” impact philanthropy may have captured the most frontispieces , but there are other moguls massaging the political machinery around here. Bill Bloomfield distinguishes himself as the plutocrat who c
OEA Sets Feb. 21 Strike Date – California Educator OEA Sets Feb. 21 Strike Date 3,000 educators ready to fight for quality schools Oakland students deserve Oakland educators will go on strike Thursday, Feb. 21, to stand and fight for the quality public schools that all 36,000 Oakland students deserve. At a news conference today flanked by parents, students and teachers standing in solidarity, Oak
Education Micro-Credentials 101: Why Do We Need Badges? Education Micro-Credentials 101: Why Do We Need Badges? Micro-credentials are one of the hot rising ideas in the education space. To understand the basics, go look at your child's Xbox or PlayStation. For most of the major games, there is an accompanying set of achievements, or badges. Every time a player achieves a particular task (kill fif
Top Posts This Week 2/16/19 2018 Year in Review – The K-12 Cybersecurity Resource Center How NCLB is Still Destroying Reading for Children Chicago Public Schools Monitored Social Media for Signs… — ProPublica Eric Blanc: