Saturday, December 19, 2020

POSTS THIS WEEK 12/19/20

Politico: Will Biden Bring Teachers’ Unions in from the Cold? | Diane Ravitch's blog

Politico: Will Biden Bring Teachers’ Unions in from the Cold? The past two decades have been rough times for the two big teachers’ unions. Republicans have demonized them. The Obama administration courted their support but did little to help them as they were attacked by the right in Republican state houses and the Courts. Duncan gleefully promoted the misguided use of test scores to evaluate te

Coveducation recap: OKCPS plan, attendance questions & snow days

Big Education Ape / now

Coveducation recap: OKCPS plan, attendance questions & snow days There’s a lot of Oklahoma education news to catch up on this week, from Gov. Kevin Stitt moving teachers to phase two of Oklahoma’s vaccine distribution plan to an updated audit of Epic Charter Schools showing the school could have shortchanged taxpayers an additional $823,000. Don’t fret. We’ve made it easy to stay up-to-date with

2020 Medley #26 — Articles you shouldn’t miss | Live Long and Prosper

Big Education Ape / now

Bye-bye! SPOILER ALERT: DEVOS IS IGNORANT Betsy DeVos Warns That Biden Will Pick Education Secretary with Background in Education Andy Borowitz reminds us, in his own entertaining way, that Betsy DeVos hates public schools and knows nothing about education. While Borowitz’s article is satire, it sadly describes more than one of the nation’s Secretaries of Education (and Bill Bennett probably hat

EXTRA! Diane Ravitch Analyzes What Biden’s Choice of Education Secretary Will Mean | janresseger

Big Education Ape / now

EXTRA! Diane Ravitch Analyzes What Biden’s Choice of Education Secretary Will Mean What follows is a reblog of Diane Ravitch’s analysis—based on a recent report from POLITICO—of what President-elect Joseph Biden’s

“Dr.” Jill Biden Is Fine with Me. | deutsch29: Mercedes Schneider's Blog

by Mike Simpson / 1h

“Dr.” Jill Biden Is Fine with Me. On January 20, 2021, Jill Biden will become the first First Lady to also hold a doctoral degree in education. In Jill Biden’s case, hers is a Doctor of Education in Education Leadership from the University of Delaware. Biden is headed for the White House, and given her newly-heightened profile, I am not surprised that someone rose to the ugly occasion of trying

NYC Educator: More Brilliance from the Chancellor

by Mike Simpson / 1h

More Brilliance from the Chancellor Dear Colleagues, This has been a year of new challenges and difficult choices, for you at least. I myself have to choose every day whether to sit at the desk in my home office or stay in bed and watch videos. With no guidance whatsoever from me or any of my six-figure flunkies, you’ve had to reinvent the wheel, or more likely, drive a car on which we failed to

Kids Are NOT Falling Behind. They Are Surviving a Pandemic | gadflyonthewallblog

by Mike Simpson / 1h

Kids Are NOT Falling Behind. They Are Surviving a Pandemic Everyone is worried about how the Coronavirus pandemic is affecting children. And it IS affecting them. But so much worry is being wasted on the wrong things. Instead of agonizing about kids being put in danger of infection at in-person schools where the virus is out of control, we’re told to worry about academic regression. Instead of f

CURMUDGUCATION: 1776 Commission Members Appointed (And It's About What You'd Expect)

by Mike Simpson / 1h

1776 Commission Members Appointed (And It's About What You'd Expect) You remember just six 2020 weeks ago (that's roughly a year and a half in regular time), Dear Leader proclaimed that the 1776 Commission would be formed in order to create a more perfect set of teaching stuff that would teach our young people to think about our country in the Correct Way. The proclamation announcing this was a

A FEAR OF LOOKING FORWARD – Dad Gone Wild

by Mike Simpson / 1h

A FEAR OF LOOKING FORWARD Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK'S WILDNESS Dad Gone Wild Nobody reads it, everybody quotes it. + TENNESSEE EDUCATION REPORT - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/12/this-weeks-wildness-dad-gone-wild.html “don’t write out of what I know; I write out of what I wonder. I think most artists create art in order to explore, not to give the answers. Poetry and art are not ab

2017–19 Biennial CA Healthy Kids Survey Results - Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)

by Mike Simpson / 1h

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces Results of 2017–19 Biennial Statewide California Healthy Kids Survey Big Education Ape: SSPI TONY THURMOND: STUFF THIS WEEK FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/12/sspi-tony-thurmond-stuff-this-week-from.html SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced results today fr

A Toxic Mess in Cudahy. – Los Angeles Education Examiner

by Mike Simpson / 1h

A Toxic Mess in Cudahy In November, I drove to South East LA to visit the site where a charter school purchased polluted land to build a new campus. I made this trip after I had a conversation with Susie de Santiago, an activist protecting her neighborhood in Cudahy. I wanted to see with my own eyes twenty thousand square feet of heavy metal and arsenic laced dirt. After I drove around the sweet

THIS WEEK'S WILDNESS Dad Gone Wild Nobody reads it, everybody quotes it. + TENNESSEE EDUCATION REPORT

by Mike Simpson / 1h

Dad Gone Wild – Nobody reads it, everybody quotes it. THIS WEEK'S WILDNESS Dad Gone Wild Nobody reads it, everybody quotes it. A FEAR OF LOOKING FORWARD by TC Weber / 18h “don’t write out of what I know; I write out of what I wonder. I think most artists create art in order to explore, not to give the answers. Poetry and art are not about answers to me; they are about questions.” ― Lucille Clifto

TEACHER TOM THIS WEEK IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

by Mike Simpson / 1h

Teacher Tom A Profession in Crisis 500+ 1d Projection, Empathy, Compassion 300+ 2d How We Become Wiser, Gentler People 500+ 3d What if Being Good at Things Wasn't the Point of Doing Them? 3K 3d I See It Every Day in Preschool 400+ 4d Worrying About Using the Words of Diagnosis 1K 7d Sucking the Joy From Their Lives 2K 9d Teacher Tom

SSPI TONY THURMOND: STUFF THIS WEEK FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

by Mike Simpson / 1h

California Department of Education SSPI TONY THURMOND STUFF THIS WEEK FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 2017–19 Biennial CA Healthy Kids Survey Results 19h State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announces results of 2017–19 biennial statewide California Healthy Kids Survey. English Language Development Video Series Released 1d State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announces release of English

THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER

by Mike Simpson / 1h

NewBlackMan (in Exile) THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) Black And Up In Arms by Mark Anthony Neal / 8h 'Guns. They're as American as apple pie. They represent independence and self-reliance. But ... not so much if you're Black. On this episode of The Code Switch Podcast , we're getting into the complicated history of Black gun ownership and what it has to tell us about our present moment.' M

THIS WEEK Education Research Report

by Mike Simpson / 1h

Education Research Report African American youth who receive positive messages about their racial group may perform better in school by Jonathan Kantrowitz / 2d SHARE PRINT E-MAIL Youth of color represent over half of the school-aged population (kindergarten through twelfth grade) in public schools in the United States. This creates a need for evidence-driven approaches that address the pervasiv

THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007

by Mike Simpson / 1h

Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 “Teach Math in Ways That Are ‘Proactive’ & Not ‘Reactive’” by Larry Ferlazzo / 8h Teach Math in Ways That Are ‘Proactive’ & Not ‘Reactive’ is the headline of my latest Education Week Teacher column. Eleven educators share their ideas on how to promote culturally responsive teaching in mathematics. Her

KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all #REDFORED #tbats #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #COVIDVACCINE #CHANGEGONNACOME #BIDEN #edsec

by Mike Simpson / 1h

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 New York City: Pandemic Leads de Blasio to Drop Screens for Middle School Admissions by dianeravitch / 39min Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that middle schools will drop their screens –e.g., test scores, grades, etc.–for admissions and will choos

YESTERDAY

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES #REDFORED #tbats #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #COVIDVACCINE #CHANGEGONNACOME #BIDEN #edsec

by Mike Simpson / 23h

Big Education Ape THE TOP BANANA TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Reopening a New York City School: ‘It’s Been a Tough Start’ - The New York Times - https://www.nytimes.com/video/nyregion/100000007469742/nyc-bronx-school-reopening.html A Simple Fix: Kindergarten at Night - The New York Times - https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/18/us/kindergarten-at-night.html NYC middle schools, high schools to change a

CURMUDGUCATION: Children are not our future

by Mike Simpson / 23h

Children are not our future There are plenty of warm fuzzy teacher sayings that I could well do without, emphasizing as they do that teachers are too noble to ever want to do things like, say, insist on being paid a decent wage or have control over their working conditions. But there's a child-focused saying that I would like to banish to the Island of Misfit Cliches-- Children are our future. O

The Time for a Federal Racial Equity Stimulus Package is Now | Schott Foundation for Public Education

by Mike Simpson / 23h

The Time for a Federal Racial Equity Stimulus Package is Now This abridged op-ed was originally published in The Grio . Click here to read the full essay. The story of America is the power of common people coming together around a vision of opportunity, democracy, and a better way of life for generations to come. However, from our earliest beginnings, that vision was executed with instruments of

The Crime of Branding Students As Criminals - Philly's 7th Ward

by Mike Simpson / 23h

THE CRIME OF BRANDING STUDENTS AS CRIMINALS Throughout my time as an educator, I’ve been pulled into my share of “special taskforces” meant to address “at-risk” students – namely Black students. I have no doubt that such groups can be found in schools across America; primarily (I believe) because districts accept “helping” Black children on the backend with interventions that feign problem solvi

Biden breaks the Obama mold on teachers union strife - POLITICO

by Mike Simpson / 23h

Biden breaks the Obama mold on teachers union strife Biden’s rhetoric and policies suggest the president-elect is still listening closely to teachers unions in a way Obama often did not. When teachers were upset about the stringent accountability measures Barack Obama imposed on them as president, their union boss turned to Joe Biden for some empathy. “He listened,” recalls Randi Weingarten, who

SSPI Outlines Actions to Address Pandemic's Impact - Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)

by Mike Simpson / 23h

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Outlines Actions, Priorities, and Investments Needed to Address Pandemic’s Impact on Students SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today outlined priorities and investments needed to address the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on students, laying out critical next steps for ways the California Department of Education (CDE

Another “School” of the Future | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

by Mike Simpson / 23h

Another “School” of the Future Steve Davis, a reader of the blog, told me of this Isaac Asimov story published in 1951 about teaching and learning in 2155. I thought readers who saw the previous post on “Schools of the Future” would enjoy this as much as I did . Margie even wrote about it that night in her diary. On the page headed May 17, 2155, she wrote, Today Tommy found a real book! It was a

Thursday, December 17, 2020 NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER

by Mike Simpson / 23h

NewBlackMan (in Exile) NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/12/this-week-with-newblackman-in-exile_12.html DREAMWEAVERS: In / Conversation - Ming Smith and Arthur Jafa by Mark Anthony Neal / 13h 'Check out episode 2 of UTA Artist Space's Dreamweavers series featuring artists Ming Smith and Arthur Jafa – i

A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007

by Mike Simpson / 23h

Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/12/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos_12.html “Twelve Ways to Make Math More Culturally Responsive” by Larry Ferlazzo /

DID YOU MISS DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG TODAY? A site to discuss better education for all #REDFORED #tbats #COVID-19 #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #edsec

by Mike Simpson / 23h

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all DID YOU MISS DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG TODAY? A site to discuss better education for all Big Education Ape: KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/12/keep-up-catch-up-with-diane-ravitchs.html Jeff Bezos: A Not-So-Good Billionaire? by dianeravitch

Teacher Tom: A Profession in Crisis

by Mike Simpson / 1d

A Profession in Crisis The pandemic notwithstanding, if 25 percent of our nation's doctors were planning to quit the profession, it would constitute a national crisis. If my neighbor Amazon got word that one in four of their professional employees were going to walk away, it would be a disaster. Indeed, if any profession or employer had that much of their workforce ready to walk away, not for "b

Writing as an Academic and Scholar – radical eyes for equity

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Writing as an Academic and Scholar My transition to being an academic and scholar occurred in the mid-1990s after I had been a public school English teacher for more than a decade and a writer for almost two decades. Looking back, one of the most pivotal moments of that transition was when Craig Kridel, a leading scholar of educational biography who would become the anchor on my doctoral committ

Lorrie A. Shepard: Testing Students This Spring Would Be a Mistake | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Lorrie A. Shepard: Testing Students This Spring Would Be a Mistake Lorrie A. Shepard is one of the nation’s most eminent assessment experts. In this article in Education Week, she explains that it would be a mistake to resume testing this spring. She is University Distinguished Professor in the research and evaluation methodology program of the school of education at the University of Colorado B

Edutopia: The Ten Most Significant Education Studies of 2020 | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Edutopia: The Ten Most Significant Education Studies of 2020 This is an enjoyable read. Edutopia identified what it calls the ten most significant education studies of 2020 . Probably none of these studies made it into the U.S. Department of Education’s What Works Clearinghouse. Here are the first three: 1. TO TEACH VOCABULARY, LET KIDS BE THESPIANS When students are learning a new language, ask

NYC Educator: Bad Admin and Crickets

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Bad Admin and Crickets Do you feel like the kid in the picture sometimes? An awful lot of teachers do. It seems, particularly with an evaluation system that bares its teeth at us, that a lot of supervisors speak to us like that. I began as an English teacher. I ended up as an ESL teacher by happy accident. For one thing, I could never find a permanent job as an English teacher. By the time I did

How students should be protected from surveillance during remote learning | Parent Coalition for Student Privacy

by Mike Simpson / 1d

HOW STUDENTS SHOULD BE PROTECTED FROM SURVEILLANCE DURING REMOTE LEARNING December 2020 Endorsed by Access Living, ACLU of Illinois, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, Children’s Screen Time Action Network, Civitas ChildLaw Center, Hartlieb & Horste, LLC, Illinois Families for Public Schools, Parent Coalition for Student Privacy, Raise Your Hand for

English Language Development Video Series Released - Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)

by Mike Simpson / 1d

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces Release of English Language Development Video Series SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced today the release of a new tool designed to aid educators who support students learning English: an Integrated and Designated English Language Development (ELD) Video Series. The series is intended to support educators who

Mike Klonsky's Blog: The path towards safe school reopenings

by Mike Simpson / 1d

The path towards safe school reopenings I don't see any pathway to safe urban school reopenings without first classifying teachers and school staff as essential, frontline workers, and putting them near the top of the vaccine priority list. This should be part of a national campaign championed by the incoming Sec. of Education. Schools should also become centers for mass community inoculation. C

CURMUDGUCATION: More Teacher Effectiveness Mirages

by Mike Simpson / 1d

More Teacher Effectiveness Mirages The Fordham Institution has a new report entitled " Teacher Effectiveness and Improvement in Charter and Traditional Public Schools. " Despite what it claims to study, the report is a neear-perfect demonstration of Campbell's Law in action. The study starts with a question that, as used car salesmen put it, assumes the sale: Study after study has found that urb

DEC 17

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES #REDFORED #tbats #COVID-19 #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #COVIDVACCINE #CHANGEGONNACOME #BIDEN

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Big Education Ape THE TOP BANANA TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES 'Snow days as we know them may be gone': How distance learning might cancel 'magical' ritual https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/snow-days-may-be-gone-distance-learning-143529179.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw&tsrc=twtr via @Yahoo Betsy DeVos pleads with Education Department employees to ‘resist’ the Biden administration - MarketWatch -

NANCY BAILEY: Researching DeVos’s $185 Million School Funding Plan During a Pandemic

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Researching DeVos’s $185 Million School Funding Plan During a Pandemic Researching DeVos’s $185 Million School Funding Plan During a Pandemic During this pandemic, public school funding is critical. The American public deserves to know as best as possible how their tax dollars are being spent on education and every area for that matter. That’s why it’s disappointing to review Education Secretary

California teachers unions mobilize against Democratic school reopening bill

by Mike Simpson / 1d

California teachers unions mobilize against Democratic school reopening bill SACRAMENTO — California teachers unions are demanding that the Legislature maintain pandemic restrictions on school reopenings and have begun mobilizing against a Democratic bill introduced last week that could force schools to reopen in March. In separate letters to legislative leaders, the California Teachers Associat

Reaganland: Public Education and America’s Right Turn – Have You Heard

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Reaganland: Public Education and America’s Right Turn In the latest episode of Have You Heard, we talk to Rick Perlstein, author of the monumental new history Reaganland, about America’s ‘right turn’ against public education. As Perlstein recounts, public schools were at the very center of the culture wars of the 1970’s. From parents in the northeast revolting against court-ordered busing to the

Leslie Fenwick, Miguel Cardona seen as contenders for education secretary - The Washington Post

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Two outsiders emerge as top contenders for Biden’s education secretary Two lesser-known educators have emerged as top candidates for education secretary — a former dean at Howard University and the commissioner of schools in Connecticut, people familiar with the process said. The first is Leslie T. Fenwick, dean emeritus of the Howard University School of Education and a professor of educational

Teacher Tom: Projection, Empathy, Compassion

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Projection, Empathy, Compassion During my first year as a teacher, I had a student, a two-year-old, who loved her hugs. She would hug me hello in the morning. She would hug her mother and father goodbye. She would hug total strangers if given the chance. It was a charming instinct, one for which she had grown accustomed to receiving praise. "She is such a loving girl!" "Oh, how sweet!" However,

Report: Two New Top Contenders for Secretary of Education | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Report: Two New Top Contenders for Secretary of Education The Washington Post reported that two new names have emerged as top contenders for Secretary of Education in the Biden Administration. https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/biden-education-secretary-fenwick-cardona/2020/12/16/5811142e-3fb4-11eb-8bc0-ae155bee4aff_story.html Laura Meckler and Valerie Strauss wrote: Two lesser-known educa

NYC Educator: UFT Delegate Assembly December 16, 2020--With Vaccine Coming, What's in the Future?

by Mike Simpson / 2d

UFT Delegate Assembly December 16, 2020--With Vaccine Coming, What's in the Future? UFT President Michael Mulgrew --Welcome to last DA of 2020. People on this call are the leadership of the union. We understand how much people lean on leaders during normal times. During these times, dealing with shutdown, fear and anxiety, people look to you. What you have done in terms of moving schools to remo

Outsmarted by Michael Mulgrew | JD2718

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Outsmarted by Michael Mulgrew I submitted a resolution to move away from blended learning last month. It was next on the agenda, 3 minutes left in the motions period, and they didn’t even tell me to get ready to speak. Mulgrew filibustered away the full 3 minutes. So I was going to reintroduce the resolution this month. Background – The UFT/DoE blended learning plan never made much sense pedagog

Mini Grants to Address Equity Now Available - Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)

by Mike Simpson / 2d

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces Mini Grants Now Available to Educators to Address Equity and Opportunity Gaps SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today announced that California school districts and charter schools can now begin applying for mini grants to address equity and opportunity gaps in student learning. Announced earlier this month as part of

ITS ALL IN THE PERSPECTIVE – Dad Gone Wild

by Mike Simpson / 2d

ITS ALL IN THE PERSPECTIVE “Memory,’ wrote the Lebanese novelist Elias Khoury, is a process of organizing what to forget.” ― Ben Ehrenreich, The Way to the Spring: Life and Death in Palestine Today is the last day of classes for Metro Nashville Public Schools. As I sit here and craft my latest missive, I am uplifted by the sounds of my youngest’s chortles wafting through his bedroom door. His te

Normality in Sayaka Murata – radical eyes for equity

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Normality in Sayaka Murata What is normal? Are you normal? Am I normal? “Normality was contagious, and exposure to the infection was necessary to keep up with it,” explains Natsuki in Sayaka Murata’s Earthlings . If we accept that “normal” describes what is typical, and thus, what we may expect in any circumstance, then the novels of Murata are themselves not normal. And the central characters i

NYC Public School Parents: Josh Karan on Mayoral control

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Josh Karan on Mayoral control Tomorrow on Dec. 17, the NY State Assembly Standing Committee on Education will hold hearings on Mayoral control tomorrow, starting at 10 AM. You can view the hearings live streamed here . Testimony is by invitation only. Josh Karan was a member of the Parent Commission on School Governance, whose 2009 report is posted here . Other documents created by the Commissio

NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER

by Mike Simpson / 2d

NewBlackMan (in Exile) NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/12/this-week-with-newblackman-in-exile_12.html Stakes Been High: Mychal Denzel Smith on Life After the American Dream | Review by Mark Anthony Neal by Mark Anthony Neal / 40min Stakes Been High: Mychal Denzel Smith on Life After the American Drea

A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/12/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos_12.html The Wright Brothers Made Their First Flight On This Day 117 Years Ago – H

DEC 16

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES #REDFORED #tbats #COVID-19 #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #COVIDVACCINE #CHANGEGONNACOME #BIDEN

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Big Education Ape THE TOP BANANA TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Texas schools struggling with enrollment urge state not to cut funds | The Texas Tribune - https://www.texastribune.org/2020/12/15/texas-school-funding-enrollment/ by @AliyyaSwaby on @TexasTribune Supreme Court will hear NCAA case on college athlete pay - POLITICO - https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/16/supreme-court-will-hear-ncaa-c

Going Back to School? Now What? | The Merrow Report

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Going Back to School? Now What? Because I’ve reached the age and stage where memories blend, fade away, or are exaggerated beyond recognition, I cannot recall whether the insight, “ If my students aren’t learning, then I am not teaching ,” was uttered by a veteran colleague from my 4-year teaching stint, whether it came from one of the thousands of teachers I interviewed over 41 years of reporti

Republicans | Teacher in a strange land

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Republicans I was tempted to begin this reflection by saying ‘some of my best friends are Republicans’—but that’s not true, these days. I myself voted for years in the Republican primary, because it was the only way to have some say in who would be representing me, in my ruby-red district. My friends and family run the gamut from fire-breathing leftists to what we in Michigan call Milliken Repub

Are Charter Schools Making Their Move on the Suburbs? - LA Progressive

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Are Charter Schools Making Their Move on the Suburbs? A s the COVID-19 pandemic began closing school buildings and forcing schools to quickly ramp up online learning programs in April, an op-ed by Alex Medler, the executive director of the Colorado Association of Charter School Authorizers, made an appeal to Betsy DeVos’s Department of Education to change the guidelines of her department’s grant

I'm Not Sure I Want My Students To Succeed | Blue Cereal Education

by Mike Simpson / 2d

I'm Not Sure I Want My Students To Succeed I’m not sure I want my students to succeed. How’s that for an attention-grabber? Now I'll skillfully jump back and lay the foundation for such an outrageous claim and hope it’s enough to keep you reading until we reach it again further on. Four-Point Scale or Back Hoe? The question of how to grade, what to grade, or even IF to grade isn’t exactly new in

27% of teachers are considering quitting because of Covid: survey - CNBC

by Mike Simpson / 2d

27% of teachers are considering quitting because of Covid: survey 27% of teachers are considering quitting because of Covid, survey finds The coronavirus pandemic has put significant pressure on America’s teachers. Some have been asked to weigh risks to their personal health and teach in person . Some have been asked to teach from behind computer screens and perfect distance learning . Many have

What It's Like Teaching On Zoom To Students I've Never Met, And Often Not Seen Or Heard | HuffPost

by Mike Simpson / 3d

What It’s Like Teaching On Zoom To Students I’ve Never Met, And Often Not Seen Or Heard “I do not know what my students sound or look like, as they rarely come off mute or turn their cameras on.” I looked on the chat board and saw that one of my 7th-grade students had, once again, posted a picture of a McDonald’s meal. This meant that they needed a break and wanted to tell me about the Travis Sc

Russ on Reading: A Holiday Gift of Poetry 2020

by Mike Simpson / 3d

A Holiday Gift of Poetry 2020 The holidays will be a bit different for all of this year, but one constant source of joy and solace for me is poetry. Here are a few that I have resonant in this somewhat scary, socially distanced time. Happy Holidays. When Giving is All We Have Alberto Rios One river gives Its journey to the next. We give because someone gave to us. We give because nobody gave to

DeVos urges career staff to ‘be the resistance’ as Biden takes over - POLITICO

by Mike Simpson / 3d

DeVos urges career staff to ‘be the resistance’ as Biden takes over The secretary's remarks come after nearly four years of frequently sparring with the career employees of her department. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos urged career employees at the Education Department on Tuesday to “be the resistance” when the Biden administration comes into power next month, according to a recording of her r

Carol Burris: How Charter Schools Cashed in on the Paycheck Protection Program | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Carol Burris: How Charter Schools Cashed in on the Paycheck Protection Program Dr. Carol Burris is the executive director of the Network for Public Education, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that works to strengthen and improve public schools. Nearly 400,000 people in every state support its activities. Burris was a teacher and an award-winning principal in New York State. This summer, the

Teacher Tom: How We Become Wiser, Gentler People

by Mike Simpson / 3d

How We Become Wiser, Gentler People It happened in a flash. He wanted to dump the bowl of "jewels" (florist marbles) that he had collected into the mud. She wanted them to remain clean. He dump the jewels. There were loud voices and when I looked from across the sand pit I saw her push his face, then storm off. Both children were upset. The boy's mother was nearby and after checking to make sure

Public Schools Need the Modest Dollars in Current Fiscal Relief Package, But Addressing Educational Injustice Will Take Much More | janresseger

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Public Schools Need the Modest Dollars in Current Fiscal Relief Package, But Addressing Educational Injustice Will Take Much More On Sunday, the leaders of the nation’s three largest school districts— Richard Carranza in New York, Austin Beutner in Los Angeles, and Janice Jackson in Chicago—published a column in the Washington Post demanding financial help to enable their school districts to fun

CURMUDGUCATION: How Does Education Fix Poverty? Spoiler alert...

by Mike Simpson / 3d

How Does Education Fix Poverty? Spoiler alert... The idea that we can educate poverty away has been a popular one with policymakers and politicians for years now. Here's just one example , from Janet Yellen, former Fed Chair and, possibly, future Treasury Secretary , back in 2017: Yellen spoke to a conference on community development today, where she says that providing children with the opportu

NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY

by Mike Simpson / 3d

NewBlackMan (in Exile) Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/12/this-week-with-newblackman-in-exile_12.html Ijeoma Oluo on 'Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America' by Mark Anthony Neal / 12h 'In her new book, Mediocre : The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America , Ijeoma Oluo , author of the best seller So You Want to T

A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/12/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos_12.html “Eight Strategies for Engaging in Culturally Relevant Teaching” by Larry

DID YOU MISS DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG TODAY? A site to discuss better education for all

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all Big Education Ape: KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/12/keep-up-catch-up-with-diane-ravitchs.html Nancy Flanagan: Norms, Ethics, and Civility by dianeravitch / 44min During the past four years, we have witnessed a dramatic erosion of n

DEC 15

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES #REDFORED #tbats #COVID-19 #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #COVIDVACCINE #CHANGEGONNACOME #BIDEN

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Big Education Ape THE TOP BANANA TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES If Teachers Get the Vaccine Quickly, Can Students Get Back to School? - The New York Times - https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/15/us/teachers-vaccine-school.html Black Student Expelled After Mother Complains About 'Fences' - The New York Times - https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/15/us/providence-day-school-fences-.html Schools Will Close in

Paul Peterson: “No, Al Shanker Did Not Invent the Charter School” | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Paul Peterson: “No, Al Shanker Did Not Invent the Charter School” This is a fascinating article written by Paul Peterson of Harvard University about the origin of the charter school idea. Many people credit the idea to Al Shanker and Ray Budde of the University of Massachusetts, but Peterson sets them straight. Peterson is the foremost proponent of school choice, charters and vouchers, in the ac

Richard Carranza, Austin Beutner and Janice Jackson | We need a Marshall Plan for our schools. And we need it now. - The Washington Post

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Opinion | We need a Marshall Plan for our schools. And we need it now. - The Washington Post We need a Marshall Plan for our schools. And we need it now Richard Carranza, Austin Beutner and Janice Jackson are superintendents of the nation’s three largest school districts, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, respectively. President-elect Joe Biden has described the crisis in public schools caused b

MEGAN PRATHER: Grandparents raising students face extra challenges during COVID-19 - NONDOC

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Grandparents raising students face extra challenges during COVID-19 Grandparents raising students face extra challenges during COVID-19 Linda Chambers has had guardianship over her two grandchildren for the past four years. There were new things to learn, like getting the hang of school schedules and navigating programs through the Department of Human Services. But the biggest adjustment came thi

The Lower Realities of Higher Education – radical eyes for equity

by Mike Simpson / 3d

The Lower Realities of Higher Education I posted a fairly tame Tweet about the Wall Street Journal ‘s recent Op-Ed attacking Jill Biden using “Dr.” and editorial doubling-down on negative responses to the Op-Ed (none of which I will link here): The Tweet attracted conservatives with ten’s of followers, most of them misreading the Tweet and many of them attacking me for being an academic/professo

NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER

by Mike Simpson / 3d

NewBlackMan (in Exile) NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/12/this-week-with-newblackman-in-exile_12.html “You’re Minor, We’re Major”: Halfway Books Reimagines Hip-Hop Journalism by Tyler Bunzey by Mark Anthony Neal / 12h | @t_bunzey | NewBlackMan (in Exile) From ’71 ‘til, hip-hop has tried to ignore con

DID YOU MISS DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG TODAY? A site to discuss better education for all

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all Big Education Ape: KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/12/keep-up-catch-up-with-diane-ravitchs.html Three Big-City Superintendents: We Need a Marshall Plan for Our Schools: Now! 32 by dianeravitch / 3h This article by the superintendents

Dr. Evil versus Lily and the teacher unions. – Fred Klonsky

by Mike Simpson / 4d

DR. EVIL VERSUS LILY AND THE TEACHER UNIONS We’re still waiting to hear from the Biden administration as to their pick for Education Secretary. The delay could reflect the debate within the Democratic Party between the corporate education reformers like Democrats for Education Reform and the large teacher unions like the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association. For

Students accused of truancy when they didn’t turn in their work

by Mike Simpson / 4d

They didn’t turn in their work for remote school. Their parents were threatened with courts and fines After their kids experienced tech glitches or turned off cameras during online learning, these families were accused of truancy and received legal threats Hayden, 12, had been having panic attacks about school even before a letter arrived at his home last month, threatening legal action for his

Classrooms of the Future? | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Classrooms of the Future? Technological fantasies of the future school have been around for decades. Here’s one from 1910. Note all of the information going into students’ heads comes from textbooks fed into a wood chipper. Or another from 1963 cartoon called “The Jetsons.” Or this one in 1982 predicting that the future school will be monopolized by the then dominant company Atari. And then “Mee

Teacher Tom: What if Being Good at Things Wasn't the Point of Doing Them?

by Mike Simpson / 4d

What if Being Good at Things Wasn't the Point of Doing Them? Our daughter played on a middle school soccer team in a league that didn't believe in keeping score. The kids, of course, simply kept score themselves, always knowing in the end who had won and who had lost. They knew that not keeping score wasn't part of the real world and they mocked the charade. That said, her team was not very good

NYC Educator: Another Letter from the Chancellor

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Another Letter from the Chancellor Dear Colleagues, As we approach the end of the calendar year, I am reflecting back on some of the events of 2020. We have confronted uncertainty and pain together, working as a community dedicated in service to our city’s children. Because their safety is paramount, we took a principled stand and vowed to close schools as soon as the positivity rate reached 3%.

NYC Public School Parents: Patrick Sullivan on the DOE's acquisition of Reliant bus company: Why the PEP should vote no.

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Patrick Sullivan on the DOE's acquisition of Reliant bus company: Why the PEP should vote no. Patrick Sullivan, a former member of the Panel for Educational Policy, sent this to current members in opposition to the DOE acquisition of Reliant bus company. For more on this issue, see Sue Edelman's article yesterday in the New York Post and the editorial today. The PEP is voting on this contract to

Mike Klonsky's Blog: Epstein's poke at Dr. Jill Biden backfires.

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Epstein's poke at Dr. Jill Biden backfires. Whatever the purpose of Joseph Epstein's WSJ screed ... it surely failed. I think his poke at Dr. Jill Biden for professionally using 'DR.' in front of her name had less to do with educational leadership titles and Dr. Biden's personal achievements (which are notable) and more with discrediting the Biden/Harris election victory. The best honorific for

THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT – Dad Gone Wild

by Mike Simpson / 4d

THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT “As far as Kiva could tell, whenever selfish humans encountered a wrenching, life-altering crisis, they embarked on a journey of five distinct stages: Denial. Denial. Denial. Fucking Denial. Oh, shit everything is terrible grab what you can and run.” ― John Scalzi, The Last Emperox This past weekend, riding in the car with my 10-year old son, I was regaling him with

A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/12/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos_12.html A Beginning List Of Resources For Teaching About Racist Mascots by Larry

DEC 14

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES #REDFORED #tbats #COVID-19 #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #COVIDOUTBREAK #CHANGEGONNACOME #BIDEN

by Mike Simpson / 5d

Big Education Ape THE TOP BANANA TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES They Didn't Turn In Their Work For Remote School. Their Parents Were Threatened With Court And Fines. | HuffPost - https://www.huffpost.com/entry/truancy-remote-learning_n_5fd3aa5fc5b66a758414b732 on @HuffPostPol Wave of federal charter school funding on its way to N.H. - https://www.concordmonitor.com/Fiscal-Committee-approves-doubling

CDC: Schools Need Additional $442 Per Student to Reopen Safely | Education News | US News

by Mike Simpson / 5d

CDC: Schools Need Additional $442 Per Student to Reopen Safely The figure represents the total cost for schools implementing all safety measures for the approximately 51 million students enrolled in public schools in the U.S. PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE U.S. need as much as $22 billion to reopen for in-person learning during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new estimate from the Centers for Di

NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER

by Mike Simpson / 5d

NewBlackMan (in Exile) NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/12/this-week-with-newblackman-in-exile_12.html Diary of a Song: How Prince Wrote a Political Anthem That’s Still Relevant Today by Mark Anthony Neal / 12h 'Breaking down the 1987 track, “Sign o’ the Times,” that’s still powerfully resonant today,

Teacher Tom: I See It Every Day in Preschool

by Mike Simpson / 5d

I See It Every Day in Preschool Former Federal Reserve Chair and Joe Biden's nominee for Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has expressed the opinion that it's okay for the US to add trillions to our nation debt in order to improve education. Yellen is an impressive person. She is respected on both sides of the political aisle, having served at high levels under both Democrats and Republicans and s

TODAY'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORT

by Mike Simpson / 5d

Education Research Report Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK Education Research Report - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/12/this-week-education-research-report_12.html Least Advantaged Benefit Most From Attending Effective Schools by Jonathan Kantrowitz / 47min This study estimates the longer-run effects of attending an effective high school (one that improves a combination of test scores, su

PROOF POINTS: 114 studies on flipped classrooms show small payoff for big effort - The Hechinger Report

by Mike Simpson / 5d

114 studies on flipped classrooms show small payoff for big effort Research also hints at the importance of live video instruction during remote learning In a flipped classroom, students watch video lectures before class and use class time to work on assignments and group projects. It’s “flipped” because it’s the opposite of the traditional structure in which students first learn from a teacher’

Sunday, December 13, 2020 A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007

by Mike Simpson / 5d

Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/12/this-week-i

About that PhD. – Fred Klonsky

by Mike Simpson / 5d

ABOUT THAT PHD. With all the crises facing folks these days, some may wonder about why the hell are we talking about Jill Biden and her title as a doctor? The Wall Street Journal, which published the original op-ed piece by Joseph Epstein, doubled down. Top WSJ editor Paul Gigot complained about critics of the column playing the gender card. Whatever that is. Dr. Biden has earned her title. She

Ugly Attacks on Teachers and Teachers Unions | janresseger

by Mike Simpson / 5d

Ugly Attacks on Teachers and Teachers Unions As a candidate for President, Joseph Biden promised to appoint a teacher or someone experienced in public school education as U.S. Secretary of Education. Now as Biden is appointing the members of his Cabinet, we are reading opinion pieces filled with all the old conventional biases against schoolteachers in general and against the National Education

Will Civics Education Help Students Make Better Decisions? [It’s complicated] | Ed In The Apple

by Mike Simpson / 5d

Will Civics Education Help Students Make Better Decisions? [It’s complicated] In my role as President of the Education Alumni Association at a local college I host a “Principal and Community Breakfast” every February. We invite a policy maker, a researcher, or a scholar to make a presentation to local principals and activists. This year we invited a speaker from the US Census; she made an excell

Education Matters: Why isn't planning fair across grade levels

by Mike Simpson / 5d

Why isn't planning fair across grade levels If you follow my blog, you know I am not happy with the new contract offer; however, the district's disrespect and playing a shell game with money, moving it around to keep it out of the hands of teachers who should be getting it, aren't my only concerns; another is why isn't planning equitable across grade levels? Why in some schools do teachers get 9

CURMUDGUCATION: Schools, Supposedly, Have Caused the Fall of US Religion

by Mike Simpson / 5d

Schools, Supposedly, Have Caused the Fall of US Religion The Christian Church has been suffering a steady and rapid decline for a few decades now, a trend noted by many social scientists, and a source of struggle within many churches that are looking for ways to fill newly-emptied pews. You can look at many data sets on the subject. The folks at Pew Research find that there's a stark generationa

City Council candidate education briefing | Class Size Matters | A clearinghouse for information on class size & the proven benefits of smaller classes

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