I Don’t Know What to Do with My Parents
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I don’t know what to do with my parents. My father and mother both died in
2017. My father in late June. And then my mother in early December, just
several...
Jennifer Rubin: The Lies of Donald Trump
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Jennifer Rubin of the Washington Post wrote a summary of Trump’s lies. No
one can detail all of them, there were so many. During Trump’s term in
office, th...
Musk's Robot Co-Teacher
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The amount of sheer crap being cranked out to promote "AI" in education is
staggering, a veritable Mauna Loa of marketing puffery masquerading as
serious a...
In Praise of Social Studies
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In my long and checkered career as a classroom teacher, I taught
instrumental and vocal music, mathematics, ESL and the occasional oddball
middle school cl...
A Poem about Teaching (Ann Staley)
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I knew Ann Staley as a student in one of my classes soon after I came to
Stanford to teach over four decades ago. Over the time she was in graduate
school,...
Seattle School Board Meeting 10/9/2024
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It appears to have been a very disjointed meeting.
We open to President Liza Rankin with a mask on. She sounds like she has a
bad cold. Good of her to t...
Education Support, More Harm than Help
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By Thomas Ultican 10/10/2024 In California, we have the Fiscal Crisis and
Management Assist Team (FCMAT – pronounced fick-mat) which is more often
the bane...
OK Supt. Solicits for… Trump Bibles (??)
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Oklahoma superintendent Ryan Walters supports putting a Trump bible in
every Oklahoma classroom and then some. The October 04, 2024, Advocate
reports that ...
BEWARE ‘THE SCIENCE OF READING’
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“The Science of Reading” is a real thing, so real that it’s required by law
in schools in 40 states and the District of Columbia. They have been
ordered b...
Only 1% of math teachers say they use AI “a lot”
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In the Spring of 2024, RAND found that 82% of surveyed math teachers
have never used AI tools for their mathematics teaching. 1% said they use
it “Often.” ...
Prime Palindromes
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I haven’t done a math puzzle in a while. Maybe a year? But I play with
math. A lot. If I see puzzles, why not share them? What is the largest
4-digit prime...
¿Cuál es el poder de su voto?
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En People's Action, creemos que la gente como tu y yo podemos tomar las
decisiones correctas para nuestras vidas y la de nuestro país. Por eso
estamos pasa...
September’s Parent Engagement Resources
-
A Back-to-School Guide for Connecting with Families is from ASCD. What all
parents can learn from the troubled AI in Los Angeles schools
https://t.co/4I5Q7...
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...
Could there be a "Silver Wave" for Harris/Walz?
-
Bill McKibben raises this question, and goes beyond the obvious concern
that those of us who are seniors (I am 78) have for Social Security and
Medicare....
Dear AD55 Voters: She Se Puede!
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Click here for image I am so grateful for your support in the March primary
LACDP race …I do not…
The post Dear AD55 Voters: She Se Puede! first appeared...
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...
Time to Rein in Vouchers
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Universal voucher programs have, in many states led to substantial budget
stress (Baker, 2024;[1] Hager, 2024). Initial cost estimates in Florida
were that...
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 ...
15 Questions for the Candidates
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Those citizens who fantasize about defying tyranny from within fortified
compounds have never understood how liberty is actually threatened in a
modern bur...
Bibliography for History Posts on This Blog
-
I remember when school reformers insisted the biggest problem
in education was that teachers didn't come from the best colleges.
Bibliography
VER...
We are making a CPESS documentary!
-
In 2020, I was approached by Deborah Meier and Jane Andrais and I decided
we should document the story of Central Park East Secondary School (CPESS).
This ...
Volunteer in 2024
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Be the change, volunteer and make the difference! Let’s face it, the world
is in turmoil, and divisive politics in our country is threatening our
democracy...
The Sky is Falling, or is it?
-
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:
-
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
-
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...
Skin Deep
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She spends so much time on her outward appearance. There is never a hair
out of place. Her makeup is perfect and her clothes are stylish and match
to ...
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...
-
*Defeating the Purpose of Education*
*Updated: May 2024*
*Most people would agree that the primary purpose of education is to
prepare children for a good a...
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 certi...
Abortion: Only For Those Who Need It!
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NOTE: This post contains my opinions on Catholicism based on my experiences
as a child in the 1960's and 70's. Take what you like and leave the rest. I
m...
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...
On the Edge of Silence
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“There is but one truly serious philosophical problem and that is suicide.
Judging whether life is or is not worth living amounts to answering the
fundamen...
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
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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...
GA run-offs need your help!
-
Extremely important. Volunteer if you can. Thank you if you are already
doing so. Out of state opportunities here: Ralph …
Continue reading →
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!
-
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...
A Fundamental Redesign of Our Schools
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I climbed the hill leading up to one of my favorite coffee shops in Seattle
this morning to enjoy a coffee while taking in a phenomenal view of the
city o...
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...
Thoughts on schooling in the era of COVID-19
-
Well, a whole lot has changed since I returned to blogging a month and half
ago. In case you didn't notice, and I'm sure everyone reading this did,
there's...
NAEP scores and "the science of reading"
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*Sent to US News. They just informed me that they no longer publish
letters to the editor. *
*Re: “National reading emergency” November 12*
*[https://www...
2019 NAEP Scores: Achievement Gap or …?
-
Here you go: A ‘Disturbing’ Assessment: Sagging Reading Scores,
Particularly for Eighth-Graders, Headline 2019’s Disappointing NAEP Results
NAEP 2019: Re...
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 Storm is Coming! (…again)
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A new Commissioner will have as much impact on our state ed system as a new
meteorologist will have on …
Continue reading →
Déjà vu: 2019 ELA Assessment: Dear Board of Regents
-
Dear Board of Regents,
I have copied below an email I sent to you almost a year ago, after the
2018 ELA assessment's computer-based testing failures and mo...
The World According to Michelle Rhee
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The men behind the curtain fashioning the brave new world of corporate run
education in America! Michelle Rhee is the founder of StudentsFirst, The
New T...
Blockchain: Life on the Ledger
-
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...
3rd Grade Reading: Who is Failing?
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Education Trust Midwest has just released its study on third grade reading
and, predictably, the results aren’t great. This study uniquely compares
Michiga...
Opting out of the Dinosaur (end of year test)
-
Today I sent in a second letter to refuse PARCC/CMAS for my son, Luke. The
first email I sent at the beginning of the year was not sufficient as they
requi...
Resurrection
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I realized it's Lent, but this blog, bless Jesus Christ, can't wait.
Ok, so with that said, I plan to discuss Class Action suits in existence,
as well as w...
IDEA Is Still The Law Of The Land
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Unless you've been living under a rock, you know the US Department of
Education (USDOE) rescinded 72 Dear Colleague and other letters of
explanation to ...
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...
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...
Capturing the Spark
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It’s been a long time since InterACT was an active education blog, though I
remain quite proud of what we did here. Those of us who wrote blog posts
here h...
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...
WTU Peterson Slate: Not a 1 Woman Dictatorship
-
Candi Peterson & GeLynn Thompson
Candidates for WTU Prez & GVP 2016By Candi Peterson, WTU Gen. Vice President
*Statements or expressions of opinions herein...
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
-
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...
Flaws at the Heart of Current Education Reforms
-
Originally posted on Creative by Nature:
“Teaching is an art form rooted in the wise and careful use of educational
research and assessment tools. When gove...
The MAP Test
-
Teachers will be voting this afternoon on the contract that has been
tentatively agreed upon. I am asking all teachers to not allow an
evaluation system th...
Jersey Jazzman: How NOT To Evaluate Education Policy: A Newark Example How NOT To Evaluate Education Policy: A Newark Example One thing I've learned from years of writing on education policy: the more convoluted the talking point, the more likely it's twisting the facts. For example [all emphases below are mine]: Today, African-American students in Newark are four times more likely to go to a qua
LAUSD Watchdogs Outrun Misconduct, Live to Offend Again - LA Progressive LAUSD Watchdogs Outrun Misconduct, Live to Offend Again he Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), Office of the Inspector General in 2018 was roiled by controversy. This office was responsible for investigation fraud, waste and abuse as well as the District’s internal workings. Imagine than if you will, on March 9, 201
First on new California state superintendent’s long agenda: getting more men of color in the classroom | EdSource First on new California state superintendent’s long agenda: getting more men of color in the classroom Tony Thurmond reaches out for ideas on 13 education challenges our months into his first term, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond is creating 13 work groups tha
Sacramento City Unified Teachers Gets Win In Salary Dispute; Strike Still An Option – CBS Sacramento Sacramento City Unified Teachers Gets Win In Salary Dispute; Strike Still An Option SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Sacramento City Unified teachers got a win in their salary dispute with the district Thursday, but it may not be enough to avoid a planned strike. An arbitrator ruled in favor of the teacher’s
Teachers Unions Begin Vetting Democratic Presidential Contenders | Education News | US News Teachers Unions Begin Vetting 2020 Dems The unions are planning to play a key role in selecting a Democratic candidate who can defeat President Donald Trump. THE TWO NATIONAL teachers unions are beginning the vetting process for the large field of Democratic president contenders. "Educators plan to be fron
Charter School Fatigue | Dissident Voice Charter School Fatigue Charter schools have always attracted criticism due to the serious problems inherent to them, but it is no secret that in recent months charter schools have been taking it on the chin a little more than usual. This is not unexpected. More detailed reports, articles, and investigations are exposing with greater regularity the multi-fa
Beutner's changes to ballot language spark debate over parcel tax for L.A. schools - Los Angeles Times Beutner's changes to ballot language spark debate over parcel tax for L.A. schools A dispute is roiling over a change to the ballot language of Measure EE, which would raise an estimated $500 million a year for Los Angeles public schools if approved by voters next month. The funding infusion wou
Sketchy Epic Cyber Charter Has Gone National | tultican Sketchy Epic Cyber Charter Has Gone National By T. Ultican 5/4/2019 Epic is the business name for Oklahoma’s indigenous and fastest growing virtual charter school chain. In 2015, they moved beyond Oklahoma opening a business in Orange County, California and are currently in contract talks with Pulaski County, Arkansas to provide online educa
Revealing Podcast About Success Academy — Part VII | Gary Rubinstein's Blog Revealing Podcast About Success Academy — Part VII The seventh, and final, part of Startup’s podcast series about Success Academy (available here ) is titled ‘High School.’ The podcast describes the chaos in their first high school which eventually led to a student revolt. Students were sick of the overly strict rules, th
Audio: Summit Prep charter school closes doors a month early and won't reopen | 89.3 KPCC Summit Prep charter school closes doors a month early and won't reopen Summit Preparatory Charter School in South L.A. has taken the unusual step of closing its doors a month early after the L.A. Unified School Board voted not to renew its charter. Summit Prep leaders could have appealed the April 2 vote, bu
Education Research Report THIS WEEK Education Research Report Science News from research organizations Finnish school students outperform US students on 'fake news' digital literacy tasks by Jonathan Kantrowitz / 23h A recent study revealed students at an international school in Finland significantly outperformed U.S. students on tasks which measure digital literacy in social media and online new
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 This Week With Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 Three Accessible Ways To Search For & Find My “Best” Lists by Larry Ferlazzo / 6h (Note: I am going to publish this same post once each month to remind regular readers and inform newer ones abou
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all Tampa Bay Times: Legislature Imposes Death Sentence on Florida Public Schools 20 by dianeravitch / 49min The Tampa Bay Times published a powerful editorial about the Legislature’s enactment of yet another voucher program for private and religious
Integrity Florida Study Looks At Political Influence, Growth Of Charter Schools | WJCT NEWS Integrity Florida Study Looks At Political Influence, Growth Of Charter Schools The nonpartisan research group Integrity Florida has released a new study about Florida’s charter schools and the industry’s political influence. The study took nearly a year to complete, and takes a deep dive into how the char
35 Ways They Dumb Down America: Still, There’s Hope! 35 Ways They Dumb Down America: Still, There’s Hope! They took all the trees And put them in a tree museum And they charged all the people A dollar and a half to see ’em Don’t it always seem to go That you don’t know what you’ve got ‘Till it’s gone They paved paradise And they put up a parking lot ~Joni Mitchell, Big Yellow Taxi If you’ve ever
NO EXCUSES: Charter Schools Should Never Be Allowed to Discriminate Against Any Group of Students | Cloaking Inequity NO EXCUSES: CHARTER SCHOOLS SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANY GROUP OF STUDENTS I’ve done two tours of duty for children in Texas. The first was in the Houston Independent School District’s Research and Accountability Department from 1999-2001. The second was as
Parent Advocacy and the New (But Still Misguided) Phonics Assault on Reading | radical eyes for equity Parent Advocacy and the New (But Still Misguided) Phonics Assault on Reading “School days were eagerly anticipated by Francie,” a central character in Betty Smith’s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (p. 143). The novel often is a powerful fictional account of poverty among white working class people at t
Teachers Union Chief Opposes Powerful Democratic Committee's Blacklist | HuffPost Teachers Union Chief Opposes Powerful Democratic Committee’s Blacklist But Randi Weingarten of the American Federation of Teachers said she understands the DCCC’s concerns. Randi Weingarten, president of the influential American Federation of Teachers, said Thursday that she disagrees with the Democratic Congression
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all LISTEN TO DIANE TODAY BASIS Private Schools Sold to Chinese Investors, Parents Object by dianeravitch / 7min BASIS is a corporate charter chain with about 20 charters, mostly in Arizona. The chain is known for high test scores, high attrition, and high returns to its owners and operators, Michael and Olga Block. It also owns privat
Jeb Bush Finally Gets His Pet Voucher Program Passed (Again) in Florida | janresseger Jeb Bush Finally Gets His Pet Voucher Program Passed (Again) in Florida Jeb Bush has fallen out of the national headlines, but Florida continues to be dominated by his policies and those of the advocacy organization and so-called think tank he founded, ExcelinEd , formerly known as the Foundation for Excellence
Challenging the “Grammar of Instruction” (Part 1) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice Challenging the “Grammar of Instruction” (Part 1) The old classroom model simply doesn’t fit our changing needs….It’s a fundamentally passive way of learning, while the world requires more and more active processing of information. Salman Khan, The One World Classroom (2012) From Francis Parker
Three Chicago Charter Schools on Strike. Three. | deutsch29 Three Chicago Charter Schools on Strike. Three. Market-based ed reform is likely in shock today. Teachers at three Chicago-based charter schools went on strike. Not one school (which is bad enough for corporate ed reform True Believers). Three. I could have been five charter schools, but teachers at two schools struck deals prior to stri
The Best School Innovation Would Be More People | gadflyonthewallblog The Best School Innovation Would Be More People Public schools thrive on innovation. In nearly every classroom around the country you’ll find teachers discovering new ways to reach students and foster skills, understanding and creativity. But if you pan out to the macro level, the overwhelming majority of innovations aren’t org
Rainier Beach High School’s dramatic gains for students to be featured on HBO’s “Problem Areas”–even as the school is struggling to stop disruptive educator displacements – I AM AN EDUCATOR Rainier Beach High School’s dramatic gains for students to be featured on HBO’s “Problem Areas”–even as the school is struggling to stop disruptive educator displacements If you haven’t heard, there’s a new se
Schools Matter: Thousands of Teachers March on Raleigh, NC Thousands of Teachers March on Raleigh, NC by Tamika Walker Kelly Yesterday was huge. Thousands of public school educators, bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers, social workers, counselors, coaches and other support staff – along with their supporters – flooded the streets of Raleigh. Again. But we didn't just show up today. We orga
CURMUDGUCATION: Is Your School Year Over Already? Is Your School Year Over Already? Depending on which state you live in, your schools are now, or are about to be, entering testing season. It's the magical time of year when your schools must subject students to the annual Big Standardized Test, a narrow slice of testing aimed at reading and math skills. In most states, the stakes are high, includ
Different Strokes for Different Folks? – Have You Heard Different Strokes for Different Folks? No excuses-style charter schools, known for rigid discipline and a college prep focus have seen explosive growth in urban areas over the past decade. And supporters of the model point to parent demand as the fuel. According to Eva Moskowitz, CEO and founder of New York City’s Success Academy, parents—ov
Student Agency, Authority, and Credibility as Writers | radical eyes for equity Student Agency, Authority, and Credibility as Writers Each semester I teach, I become even more convinced that teaching writing is a journey, not a destination . And this semester has once again pushed me in that direction. While it was just the second time I have taught the new upper-level writing/research course now
Still Separate, Still Unequal: Teaching about School Segregation and Educational Inequality - The New York Times Still Separate, Still Unequal: Teaching about School Segregation and Educational Inequality Racial segregation in public education has been illegal for 65 years in the United States. Yet American public schools remain largely separate and unequal — with profound consequences for studen
NEA - State Charter Statutes State Charter Statutes The National Education Association released its State Charter Statutes Report Cards on Thursday, May 9, 2019. The report card provides a specific roadmap for states who want charter schools that work for all students and are accountable and transparent to taxpayers and the communities they serve. NEA believes that public charter schools must mee
The Test of Our Time: Can We Break the Shackles of NCLB? - Living in Dialogue The Test of Our Time: Can We Break the Shackles of NCLB? By Monty Neill. I came to FairTest in October 1987 as a movement activist and an educator. Over the years I’d worked in anti-war and black liberation support campaigns, wrote for underground newspapers, engaged in community organizing, edited the newspaper of the
What’s Next after the Year of the Teachers’ Strike? | Bitch Media NO MORE PENCILS, NO MORE BOOKS WHAT’S NEXT AFTER THE YEAR OF THE TEACHERS’ STRIKE? In the colorful, often bloody annals of labor history, 2018 will surely be known as the Year of the Teachers’ Strike. Hundreds of thousands of teachers organized massive work stoppages across the nation, from the West Virginia state capitol to the st
Education Research Report Education Research Report TODAY TODAY Gallup Poll: 54% Say Teachers Unprepared to Handle Discipline by Jonathan Kantrowitz / 10min Less than half of U.S. adults (43%) believe teachers are "very prepared" or "prepared" to handle discipline issues in the classroom -- while a slight majority, 54%, say they are "unprepared" or "very unprepared." When asked about six possible
National Education Policy Center Best of the Ed Blogs National Education Policy Center Code Acts in Education: Learning from Surveillance Capitalism by elaine / 11h Code Acts in Education: Learning from Surveillance Capitalism ‘Surveillance capitalism’ has become a defining concept for the current era of smart machines and Silicon Valley expansionism. With educational institutions and practices i
'We Teach, We Vote!': 10,000 Teachers Rise Up Against Republican Legislature in Deep Red South Carolina 'We Teach, We Vote!': 10,000 Teachers Rise Up Against Republican Legislature in Deep Red South Carolina "For too long we have allowed our schools to go underfunded while taking the blame for the host of issues that come with that." Demanding an end to austerity measures that have kept classroom
Can We Hold onto Our Values As We Struggle to Survive in the Trump-DeVos Holding Pattern? | janresseger Can We Hold onto Our Values As We Struggle to Survive in the Trump-DeVos Holding Pattern? I was dismayed recently when I sat down to read some excellent proposals for addressing child poverty in the United States. Here are two alternative proposals from the National Academy of Sciences . Both a
Grassroots Education Network- April 2019 Newsletter - Network For Public Education Grassroots Education Network- April 2019 Newsletter The NPE Grassroots Education Network is a network of over 125 grassroots organizations nationwide who have joined together to preserve, promote, improve, and strengthen our public schools. If you know of a group that would like to join this powerful network, pleas
Mishandling Data to Create Failing Schools Mishandling Data to Create Failing Schools LAUSD Career and Transition Center programs provide employment preparation, independent living skills, and social skills instruction to students ages 18-22 years who are on the Alternate Curriculum. ” – LAUSD While the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) likes to pretend that all students will graduate h
Revealing Podcast About Success Academy — Part VI | Gary Rubinstein's Blog Revealing Podcast About Success Academy — Part VI Part 6 of Startup’s seven part podcast about Success Academy (available here ) is titled ‘Fights.’ The first of the fights that it tells about is the fight for space to grow that Eva Moskowitz has had with Mayor de Blasio. Some charter schools have their own buildings or th
Who Is Gifted? Why Does It Matter? | Teacher in a strange land Who Is Gifted? Why Does It Matter? Having authored a dozen or more columns on gifted education, it’s easy to predict reader response. It’s unfailing, in fact. There is a well-organized parent advocacy army associated with educating our brightest kids, always at the ready to respond to published commentary, claiming anything less than
Ben Chavis, Controversial Charter Leader, Beats the Rap | Diane Ravitch's blog Ben Chavis, Controversial Charter Leader, Beats the Rap Ben Chavis was leader of the American Indian Model Schools, a group of three small charter schools in Oakland that captured headlines and the hearts of conservatives. He stepped down after being charged with multiple federal felony charges involving federal money
Progressives Take a Bold Stance at an Epicenter of the Charter School Movement to Score a Major Win for Public Education - LA Progressive Progressives Take a Bold Stance at an Epicenter of the Charter School Movement to Score a Major Win for Public Education hen President Trump appointed Betsy DeVos to be U.S. Secretary of Education and made charter schools, vouchers, and other forms of “school c
Is Teach For America’s training problematic? Even racist? | Cloaking Inequity IS TEACH FOR AMERICA’S TRAINING PROBLEMATIC? EVEN RACIST? 2 Teach For America Alums Say TFA Has Big Problems When It Comes To Race : Code Switch : NPR - https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/10/14/447217749/two-teach-for-america-alums-say-the-program-has-big-problems-when-it-comes-to-ra on @NPR WGBH reports that,
Oklahoma: For-Profit Online Charter Chain Gobbles Up Rural Districts | Diane Ravitch's blog Oklahoma: For-Profit Online Charter Chain Gobbles Up Rural Districts Oklahoma has underfunded its public schools over the past decade. Many districts have switched to a four-day week to save money. Some rural districts, facing insolvency, are turning their schools over to Epic , a for-profit online charter
Education Research Report Education Research Report TODAY Are Public School Teachers Adequately Compensated? xx by Jonathan Kantrowitz / 10min It is difficult to definitively answer the question of whether public school teachers are adequately compensated. To provide context for understanding the research on the adequacy of teacher compensation, this Center on Education Policy brie f describes ho
In U.S., 54% Say Teachers Unprepared to Handle Discipline In U.S., 54% Say Teachers Unprepared to Handle Discipline Less than half of U.S. adults (43%) believe teachers are "very prepared" or "prepared" to handle discipline issues in the classroom -- while a slight majority, 54%, say they are "unprepared" or "very unprepared." When asked about six possible solutions to address discipline issues i
Teachers union announces second strike at Sacramento City Unified | The Sacramento Bee Teachers announce second strike at Sacramento City Unified School District The Sacramento City Teachers Association, embroiled in a labor dispute with the financially troubled Sacramento City Unified School District, announced Tuesday that it will hold its second one-day strike on May 22. The teachers union mad
Embarrassment for Trump as teachers of the year shun White House award ceremony Embarrassment for Trump as teachers of the year shun White House award ceremony Kentucky and Minnesota teachers of year boycott White House ceremony to protest Trump policies - The Washington Post - https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2019/05/01/two-award-winning-teachers-boycott-white-house-ceremony-protest-trum
CURMUDGUCATION: Florida Really Is The Worst Florida Really Is The Worst There are plenty of states in the country that are not very friendly to public education, but Florida under its new governor has established itself as the very worst state for public education. The worst. Its hatred of public school teachers and its absolute determination to dismantle public education so that it can sell off
Jonathan Rodrigues: When Segregation Is the Innovation | Diane Ravitch's blog Jonathan Rodrigues: When Segregation Is the Innovation The privatizers got badly beaten in 2016, when they tried to lift the cap on charter schools in Massachusetts. Funded by the Waltons and the usual coven of billionaires, they asked the public to endorse a proposal to launch 12 charter schools every year, wherever th
Ohio Legislature Must Pass HB 154 to Eliminate State School Takeovers in Youngstown, Lorain and East Cleveland | janresseger Ohio Legislature Must Pass HB 154 to Eliminate State School Takeovers in Youngstown, Lorain and East Cleveland The members of the Ohio Legislature must pass House Bill 154, thereby repealing Ohio House Bill 70, which provides for the state to seize governance from locally e
Louisiana Educator: The Real Reasons for the Louisiana Teacher Shortage The Real Reasons for the Louisiana Teacher Shortage State education officials are now alarmed about the growing teacher shortage in Louisiana. What are the causes of the decline in certified teachers, and how can we fix it? I would hazard a guess that most legislators have no clue that they have been primarily responsible for
Want to ‘Fix’ Public Education? Then Fix the Economy! | The Merrow Report Want to ‘Fix’ Public Education? Then Fix the Economy! I was raised to believe in public schools. My parents taught me that good public schools both improve and unite their communities.** Moreover, they said, great teachers transform children’s lives by unlocking their potential, which allows them to cast off whatever shackl
3rd District Democrats honor public education advocate Bush | Political notebook | The Journal Gazette 3rd District Democrats honor public education advocate Bush Public education advocate and activist Phyllis Bush, who died March 19 at the age of 75, was named this year's recipient of the J. Edward Roush Service Award presented by the 3rd Congressional District Democratic Party. The party honore
Lecker: The disturbing transformation of kindergarten - StamfordAdvocate Lecker: The disturbing transformation of kindergarten One of the most distressing characteristics of education reformers is that they are hyper-focused on how students perform, but they ignore how students learn. Nowhere is this misplaced emphasis more apparent, and more damaging, than in kindergarten. A new University of Vi
American Schools Lack Playtime, According To New Research | WSKG American Schools Lack Playtime, According To New Research American schools have a “sad” lack of play, according to new research published in the American Journal of Play . The work done by Olga Jarrett, a professor emeritus at Georgia State University, stresses that recess should be mandated and is a right of all children. The Ameri
Nearly a decade later, did the Common Core work? Nearly a decade later, did the Common Core work? New research offers clues A 2008 report offered a dire warning: U.S. schools were falling behind their international peers. Its prescription : states should “adopt a common core of internationally benchmarked standards in math and language arts.” The idea of the Common Core would soon gain steam . Th
CURMUDGUCATION: Why It's Important To Say There Is No Teacher Shortage Why It's Important To Say There Is No Teacher Shortage I've been saying it . Tim Slekar has been saying it . Other people who aren't even directly tied to teaching have been saying it . There is no teacher shortage. There's a slow-motion walkout, a one-by-one exodus, a piecemeal rejection of the terms of employment for educato
Teacher Protests Are Student, Worker Advocacy | radical eyes for equity Teacher Protests Are Student, Worker Advocacy Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, I was a public school English teacher, and for part of that time, I was also a coach. I taught more than 100 students each year, meaning I responded to about 4000 essays and 6000 journal entries every academic year along with thousands of other assi
Capping Illinois teacher salaries will continue the shortage of quality teachers. – Fred Klonsky Capping Illinois teacher salaries will continue the shortage of quality teachers Following up on yesterday’s post. On April 11th Illinois State Senator Andy Manar succeeded in pushing a package of bills through the Senate. One raised the minimum teacher salary from $10,000 a year to $40,000 a year. Th
It Looks As Though Proposed Ohio School Funding Overhaul May Have to Wait Two More Years | janresseger It Looks As Though Proposed Ohio School Funding Overhaul May Have to Wait Two More Years There was a sense of hope on March 25th, when Ohio State Representatives Bob Cupp and John Patterson proposed a new, bipartisan school funding plan for Ohio, a plan that was intended to serve as the House’s
An Open and Extended Response (On Testing Season) | The Jose Vilson AN OPEN AND EXTENDED RESPONSE (ON TESTING SEASON) I laid my lesson plans on top of the roller tray. I pulled off my “problem of the moment” off my printer and put scissors on top of them. I turned on my Promethean board and connected the AppleTV to it. I pulled out my iPad mini and turned to the released questions from the New Yo
Making Schools Business-Like: The Case of Summit Charters (Part 3) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice Making Schools Business-Like: The Case of Summit Charters (Part 3) Many educators use business-speak. Students are customers. Principals and Superintendents are CEOs. School board members ask staff what the return on investment is. Another common phrase educators use borrowed f
NYC Public School Parents: inBloom redux? NYSUT, NYSAPE and Parent Coalition for Student Privacy protest inBloom redux? NYSUT, NYSAPE and Parent Coalition for Student Privacy protest I thought this announcement was from 2013 until I saw the date: a new NY state effort to “envision” a new state data system with funding from the Gates Foundation. Apparently the grant was obtained by the Capitol reg
Let Voters Fix Harrisburg School Board – Not State Takeover | gadflyonthewallblog Let Voters Fix Harrisburg School Board – Not State Takeover Pushing the self-destruct button is the ultimate measure of last resort. But that’s how several Pennsylvania lawmakers are suggesting we fix the dysfunctional Harrisburg School Board. An election that could oust most of the very school directors responsible
2019 Medley #9 | Live Long and Prosper 2019 Medley #9 | Live Long and Prosper INVESTING IN THE FUTURE Two reports endorse investment in early childhood education Truthfully, neither of these reports tells us anything new (see also Untangling the Evidence on Preschool Effectiveness: Insights for Policymakers ). What they do tell us, however, is that states aren’t investing in early childhood educa
Classified School Employees of the Year Announced - Year 2019 (CA Dept of Education) State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces 2019 Classified School Employees of the Year SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today honored six outstanding classified school employees for their dedication to California’s public school students. “Meeting students’ basic needs, as we
Education Reform: Warnings Confirmed, But Lessons Learned? | radical eyes for equity Education Reform: Warnings Confirmed, But Lessons Learned? Soon after I began my career as an educator in 1984, I became a serious cyclist. An unexpected hobby sprang from that newfound activity—being my own bicycle mechanic. In fact, over the past three-plus decades, I have built up dozens of road bicycles from
Progressives take a bold stance at an epicenter of the charter school movement for public education | Salon.com Progressives take a bold stance at an epicenter of the charter school movement for public education Unifying this diverse coalition was an uncompromising political argument about what makes public schools public To learn more about school privatization, check out Who Controls Our School
Jersey City school board sues state to restore “horrific” cuts in state aid | Jersey City school board sues state to restore “horrific” cuts in state aid The Jersey City school board has sued the state, demanding the Legislature restore at least $27 million funds cut from New Jersey’s second largest school district. Sudhan Thomas, the board’s president, said state aid cuts–$27 million this year a
CURMUDGUCATION: OH: The Ongoing Fight To End School Takeovers OH: The Ongoing Fight To End School Takeovers I have been watching events unfold in Lorain, Ohio, site of both my first job and an absolute clusterfrick of epic proportions It's time for an update. You can find the complete story so far starting here , but the short form is that Ohio has a bone stupid law known as HB 70, passed using u
California School Boards Association on Needed Reforms of Charter Law | Diane Ravitch's blog California School Boards Association on Needed Reforms of Charter Law Almost everyone in California seems to acknowledge that the state charter law is broken and needs reform. Governor Gavin Newsom created a Task Force, under the leadership of Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, cha
Teacher Appreciation Week is coming, and this educator is starting to cringe: ‘I’ll trade appreciation for respect any day’ - The Washington Post Teacher Appreciation Week is coming, and this educator is starting to cringe: ‘I’ll trade appreciation for respect any day’ Teacher Appreciation Week is fast approaching — the first full week in May — but New York City educator Emily James is already st
Betsy DeVos has become a punchline -- here's why Trump still keeps her around Betsy DeVos has become a punchline — here’s why Trump still keeps her around Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has become a punchline for late-night television hosts and “Saturday Night Live,” but she’s managed to stay alive in President Donald Trump’s political game of “Survivor.” A recent Washington Post report took a d
Charter schools nearly destroyed McDonogh 35. Now it will become one Charter schools nearly destroyed this New Orleans school. Now it will become one. The first black high school in New Orleans, McDonogh 35, was a source of pride, until the chartering of the city’s schools after Hurricane Katrina contributed to its academic collapse. Now, the school board hopes turning it over to a charter organi
“Progressive” 2020 Democratic Presidential Hopefuls Who Support Charter Schools | Dissident Voice “Progressive” 2020 Democratic Presidential Hopefuls Who Support Charter Schools More writers, commentators, and researchers are increasingly reminding the public that a large number of democrats at all levels of government have long supported and promoted privately-operated charter schools that annua
Betsy DeVos Gave This Charter Chain $225 Million. It Doesn’t Pass the Smell Test | Diane Ravitch's blog Betsy DeVos Gave This Charter Chain $225 Million. It Doesn’t Pass the Smell Test Betsy DeVos recently gave $116 million to the IDEA charter chain, mostly to expand in Texas. Previously, she had already given millions to IDEA, altogether this lucky business has received $225 million in federal f
National Average Teacher Salary Down 4.5% - NEA Today National Average Teacher Salary Down 4.5% Amber McCoy, a fourth grade teacher at Kellogg Elementary in Huntington, West Virginia, has 16 years’ experience under her belt, but still makes just $44,000 a year. She also has about $40,000 left in student loans to pay off. McCoy has worked as a tutor, pet sitter, and Amazon customer service rep to
Frank Biden, His For-Profit Charter Chain, Mavericks in Education, and More | deutsch29 Frank Biden, His For-Profit Charter Chain, Mavericks in Education, and More NOTE: This post is not an indictment of Joe Biden. it is an investigation into the charter school association of his brother, Frank Biden. I have seen info on social media regarding Frank Biden’s for-profit charter school involvement,
Revealing Podcast About Success Academy — Part V | Gary Rubinstein's Blog Revealing Podcast About Success Academy — Part V Star Wars fans know that Episode 5 — The Empire Strikes Back, was the best of the Star Wars saga. And of Beethoven’s nine symphonies, the most famous is surely his fifth. Likewise, of the seven episodes of Startup’s podcast about Success Academy, the fifth (found here ) is th
The Writer Who Couldn't Answer Standardized Test Questions About Her Own Work (Again)! The Writer Who Couldn't Answer Standardized Test Questions About Her Own Work (Again)! We are in standardized test season, and all across the country, students are taking the Big Standardized Test by which they, their schools, and their teachers will be judged. How absurd are these tests? Meet Sara Holbrook , t
Florida to become most anti-immigrant state - YouTube FLORIDA TO BECOME MOST ANTI-IMMIGRANT STATE Heading into the final week of this year’s regular legislative session, and Florida lawmakers have pushed through most of the controversial measures we’ve discussed. The senate is scheduled to vote Monday on a House bill that would deny the will of over five million Florida voters in restoring voting
CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Post-Easter Chill Edition (4/28) ICYMI: Post-Easter Chill Edition In my neck of the woods, we figure that spring can't arrive until there has been a post-Easter snow. We appear to be working on tht today. So while we sip our hot chocolate of shivery bitterness, here are some current readings to absorb and-- please-- share! Choice As A Substitute For Adequacy Did states deal
CURMUDGUCATION CATCH UP WITH CURMUDGUCATION Charter Lessons From Democracy Prep 63 by Peter Greene / 1d I was as unimpressed as anyone when education privatization fan Campbell Brown launched the 74 site as a platform for the same old "Charters schools rule, public schools drool" song and dance. But since that launch, and particularly since Brown stepped away from the site, the straight journalis
California’s Public School Chief Says Education No Place for Competition - GV Wire California’s Public School Chief Says Education No Place for Competition Tony Thurmond seems to be exactly the man that his most loyal backers hoped (and his opponents feared) he would be. by Ben Christopher CALmatters “If it were not for the education, my cousin who took me in, countless mentors, that I would easi
Larry Lee Interviews Film-Maker Mark Hall About His Interest in Gulen Charter Schools | Diane Ravitch's blog Larry Lee Interviews Film-Maker Mark Hall About His Interest in Gulen Charter Schools This is a fascinating interview in which Larry Lee, an educator in Alabama, asks film-maker Mark Hall about how he became interested in school reform, charter schools, and the Gulen charter schools. Mark
The California Charter Schools Lobby Masks Influence And Effect Through Myriad “Independent Expenditure Committees”, As Difficult To Follow As A Shell Game – redqueeninla The California Charter Schools Lobby Masks Influence And Effect Through Myriad “Independent Expenditure Committees”, As Difficult To Follow As A Shell Game The Charter industry lobby has expended a total of $91.4 million dollars
Big Education Ape Top Posts This Week 4/27/19 Former teacher's powerful resignation letter goes viral CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Easter Edition (4/21) Capitalism Is in Crisis, and Billionaires Know It | Diane Ravitch's blog