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Saturday, August 15, 2020

TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 8/15/20 #REDFORED #tbats #COVID-19 #REOPENSCHOOLS #BIDEN2020 #BidenHarris2020

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TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 8/15/20







TOP POSTS THIS MONTH 8/15/20






TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 8/15/20



Rating the August 13 UFT Town Hall | JD2718
by Mike Simpson / 38min
Rating the August 13 UFT Town Hall Technical – calls seemed to have gone out on time. Some people needed to dial in. The audio quality was fine on my end, though several callers complained about theirs. They had trouble connecting some questioners, and lost at least one partway through the question. I did try pushing the question button, and got silence, not even a “the queue is full” message. O
Mr. G for District 3: Chris Guerrieri's Education Matters: Empowering the voters with knowledge
by Mike Simpson / 38min
Empowering the voters with knowledge Empower Jax is an organization known for wanting to strip protections away from LGBTQ people. They fought against the HRO and push an agenda that wants to see gay people shoved back in the closet, and don't take my word for it, take the Times Unions. Oh, and why does this matter? It's because they found their candidate in district 3. From the Florida Times-Un
Live Conversation: Do America's Cities Love Black people? | Schott Foundation for Public Education
by Mike Simpson / 38min
Live Conversation: Do America's Cities Love Black people? Schott Foundation President & CEO Dr. John H. Jackson and Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools Executive Director Keron Blair talk about racial injustice, inequities in public education, and how COVID-19 has revealed the lovelessness of institutions toward Black children and their families. Live Conversation: Do America's Cities Love Black peo
California: The Year of Teaching Dangerously, Part 1 | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 38min
California: The Year of Teaching Dangerously, Part 1 Capital & Main published a five-part series on teaching during the pandemic. The series is called “The Year of Teaching Dangerously.” Sasha Abramsky launched the series with an article about how schools in California were adapting to the pandemic . Abramsky writes about the uncertainty, confusion, and conflict that accompanied the shutdown, as
Florida Gov. DeSantis pressured schools to open with threat of withholding state aid - The Washington Post
by Mike Simpson / 38min
A Florida school district wanted to wait to reopen school buildings. Gov. Ron DeSantis threatened to cut its funding WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Florida is making a high-stakes gamble on school openings, with superintendents pressured into decisions that some fear will result in outbreaks of covid-19. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis this week forced one of the country's largest school districts to reopen
Mr. G for District 3: Chris Guerrieri's Education Matters: The ZOOM Lawsuit to decide the fate of teachers and students
by Mike Simpson / 38min
The ZOOM Lawsuit to decide the fate of teachers and students I am confused why the judge didn't just say, well as long as we have to have court through zoom, we should have school through zoom too. Corcoran and DeSantis are attempting to usurp the authority of districts and force them to do what they want them to do, not what the local supers and boards think is best, and nowhere is this more ev
“Confessions of a School Reformer”(Part 1) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
by Mike Simpson / 38min
“Confessions of a School Reformer”(Part 1) I am drafting chapters for my next book with the above title. I described the idea of the book and my experiences in the Pittsburgh schools during the Progressive reform era (see the five-part series “We Are All Reformers” on this blog ). In alternating chapters, the book will describe and analyze each of three reform movements during my lifetime and th
NYC Educator: De Blasio's Three Prongs of Wrongs
by Mike Simpson / 38min
De Blasio's Three Prongs of Wrongs It'ts not easy getting something so wrong that there's no way out. But Mayor Bill de Blasio is special. He's managed to do three things in such an utterly inept fashion that there's evidently no coming back. Error number one was the most egregious, because that's the one that enabled errors two and three. The first thing de Blasio did was, rather than decide wh
WHEN LIFE EMULATES AN ICEBREAKER – Dad Gone Wild
by Mike Simpson / 38min
WHEN LIFE EMULATES AN ICEBREAKER “We should be rigorous in judging ourselves and gracious in judging others.” ― John Wesley “Authority is supposedly grounded in wisdom, but I could see from a very early age that authority was only a system of control and it didn’t have any inherent wisdom. I quickly realised that you either became a power or you were crushed.” ― Joe Strummer Several years ago I
SSPI THURMOND STUFF THIS WEEK FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
by Mike Simpson / 38min
California Department of Education 2020-21 Middle School Foundation Academies 20h This is an RFA for Middle School Foundation Academies Planning Grant. New Special Education Director Named 33 21h State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Appoints Former Illinois Special Education Leader Heather Calomese as New Director of Special Education Division AUG 13 Recommendations Proposed for Ethnic Studies 1d
A MAN WITH A PLAN Mr. G for District 3: Chris Guerrieri's Education Matters
by Mike Simpson / 38min
Mr. G for District 3: Chris Guerrieri's Education Matters A MAN WITH A PLAN Mr. G for District 3: Chris Guerrieri's Education Matters The ZOOM Lawsuit to decide the fate of teachers and students 200+ by Unknown / 1h This is surreal. The state is holding the lawsuit to see if Local districts have control over education or the state does is being held over ZOOM. I am confused why the judge didn't j
THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE)
by Mike Simpson / 38min
NewBlackMan (in Exile) New Generation of Writers of Color Reckon with H.P. Lovecraft's Racism by Mark Anthony Neal / 12h 'Based on a book by Matt Ruff , the Lovecraft Country is set during the Jim Crow South, and combines the actual terrors of racism with the fantastical horror of author H.P. Lovecraft , who wrote most of his work in the early 20th century. In real life, Lovecraft was extremely
THIS WEEK Education Research Report
by Mike Simpson / 38min
Education Research Report THIS WEEK Education Research Report Students’ retention, persistence, attainment, withdrawal, stopout, and transfer rates by Jonathan Kantrowitz / 19h New Web Tables from the National Center for Education Statistics provide the most recent national statistics on students’ who first began postsecondary education in the 2011–12 year. These tables provide information about
THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007
by Mike Simpson / 38min
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 The Kindle Edition Of “The ELL Teacher’s Toolbox” Is On Sale Today For $4.99 by Larry Ferlazzo / 10min Our publisher just told us that Amazon, for some reason that is strange and mysteri
KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all
by Mike Simpson / 38min
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all Fred Klonsky: Retired Teachers in Illinois Don’t Collect Social Security, Does It Matter if the GOP Kills It? by dianeravitch / 7min Fred Klonsky is a retired teacher in Illinois. Retired teachers in that state, like many others, don’t collect Social Security. Politicians of both parties have tried to cut teachers’ retirement bene

YESTERDAY

The Fight For Police-Free Schools: Lessons from the Past, New Directions for the Future | Schott Foundation for Public Education
by Mike Simpson / 22h
The Fight For Police-Free Schools: Lessons from the Past, New Directions for the Future Leading organizers in the educational justice movement discuss how the last ten years of parent and youth organizing helped lay the foundation for the emergence of mass protests and the campaign for police free schools and where the movement is going. Panelists: Jonathan Stith , Alliance for Educational Justi
With A Brooklyn Accent: Teaching in an Age of Corona
by Mike Simpson / 22h
Teaching in an Age of Corona During the Spring Semester of 2020, I was teaching two of my favorite classes- From Rock and Roll to Hip Hop, which had nearly 40 students, and my research seminar in African American and Urban Studies, where I was supervising 10 students writing their Senior theses. When the Pandemic hit, classes moved online, and everyone had to leave campus, my students and I were
How schools reopening use AI and other tech for surveillance - Vox
by Mike Simpson / 1d
The dystopian tech that companies are selling to help schools reopen sooner This fall, AI could be watching students social distance and checking their masks Thousands of schools nationwide will not be reopening this fall. But in Las Vegas, the private K-12 Meadows School plans to use an artificial intelligence-powered thermal screening system to keep students safe as they return to classes. The
NYC Educator: DOE Death Panels
by Mike Simpson / 1d
DOE Death Panels I'm getting a lot of email about reasonable accommodations this week. The DOE is finally responding to requests they got a month ago, and what people are really surprised about is that they're getting answers out before school starts. There's so little reason in the world to begin with. Just for starters, I see young women everywhere wearing thinks that say PINK in big letters.
NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY
by Mike Simpson / 1d
NewBlackMan (in Exile) On Evictions, Police Brutality and the Violence of Class War in South Africa. by Mark Anthony Neal / 15h 'Writer William Shoki examines the cyclical, class nature of evictions and police brutality against poor and working class South Africans - as the nation's political economy operates for domestic and global capital, the social relations of apartheid and colonialism pers
Fact Checking the “Science of Reading”: A Quick Guide for Teachers – radical eyes for equity
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Fact Checking the “Science of Reading”: A Quick Guide for Teachers Fact Checking the “Science of Reading”: A Quick Guide for Teachers – radical eyes for equity
David Berliner and Gene Glass: Why Bother Testing in 2021? | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 1d
David Berliner and Gene Glass: Why Bother Testing in 2021? David Berliner and Gene Glass are leaders of the American education research community. Their books are required reading in the field. They shared with me their thoughts about the value of annual testing in 2021. I would add only one point: if Trump is voted out in November, Jim Blew and Betsy DeVos will have no role in deciding whether
Safety Concerns Driving Some Educators Out the Profession - NEA Today
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Safety Concerns Over COVID-19 Driving Some Educators Out the Profession When school starts in Rutherford County, Tennessee, this month, and hundreds of teachers return to their physical classrooms, armed with surgical face coverings, Plexiglas shields, and stores of sanitizing supplies, AP English teacher Cassie Piggott will not be among them. Forced to choose between the career she loves and th
Congress Neglects Children: No Relief for Public Schools or State Budgets | janresseger
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Congress Neglects Children: No Relief for Public Schools or State Budgets Public schools are the linchpin holding together our society’s supports for 50 million children. Public schools are where our children practice learning, computing, critical thinking, imagining; where they develop skills in writing, reading, musicianship, art, and all kinds of sports; and where they learn to respect one an
Mr. G for District 3: Chris Guerrieri's Education Matters: Why is it so hard for DCPS just to do the right thing. (draft)
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Why is it so hard for DCPS just to do the right thing. (draft) I tried to come up with something where I talked about the Premack principle and how if you are in a hole stop digging, but I couldn't because the bottom line is DCPS is making a conscious choice to treat it's employees poorly. Every time they are given an opportunity to do something right, they choose wrong. First, the district has
SSPI Thurmond ANNOUNCE: Recommendations Proposed for Ethnic Studies - Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Recommendations Proposed for Ethnic Studies - Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education) State Superintendent Tony Thurmond and Civil Rights Leaders Propose Recommendations to Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum Student, lawmakers, and ethnic studies leader call for model that promotes racial justice SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond presented Thursday—alongside a coalition of
At War with Myself – radical eyes for equity
by Mike Simpson / 1d
At War with Myself There is a refrain I say to myself, something I likely have never admitted to anyone: “I hate my body.” I say this to myself quite often and without the gravity the word “hate” should imply because this simply is a fact of my existence. A good friend texted recently, sharing very dark morning thoughts and ending with #upliftingthoughts. I wasn’t being flippant but empathetic w
Principals and Teachers Demand a Delayed Reopening, a Phasing in of the Hybrid Model: Are We Heading Towards a Confrontation? Principals/Teachers versus the Mayor/Chancellor? | Ed In The Apple
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Principals and Teachers Demand a Delayed Reopening, a Phasing in of the Hybrid Model: Are We Heading Towards a Confrontation? Principals/Teachers versus the Mayor/Chancellor? “In order for schools to reopen and stay open, the percentage of positive tests in New York City must be less than 3% using a 7-day rolling average. Schools will need to close if the percentage of positive tests in New York
Shanker Blog: State Budget Cuts and School Districts with Pre-Existing Conditions | National Education Policy Center
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Shanker Blog: State Budget Cuts and School Districts with Pre-Existing Conditions The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has published projections of state budget shortfalls due to the pandemic. The total estimated shortfall for fiscal years 2020-2022 is $555 billion. This includes $290 billion in FY2021 alone, a deficit over 25 percent larger than that in the worst year of the Great Recessi

AUG 13

The Breakdown of New NAACP Education Initiative with Dean Julian Vasquez Heilig | Cloaking Inequity
by Mike Simpson / 1d
THE BREAKDOWN OF NEW NAACP EDUCATION INITIATIVE WITH DEAN JULIAN VASQUEZ HEILIG The University of Kentucky College of Education is teaming up with the NAACP to launch a groundbreaking collaboration. Together, the two are developing an education and research initiative focused on educational equity, civil rights and social justice. Tonight on The Breakdown-UK College of Education Dean, Julian Vas
Betsy DeVos’ Deadly Plan to Reopen Schools - LA Progressive
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Betsy DeVos’ Deadly Plan to Reopen Schools Trump education secretary Betsy DeVos is heading the administration’s effort to force schools to reopen in the fall for in-person instruction. What’s her plan to reopen safely? She doesn’t have one. Rather than seeking additional federal funds, she’s using this pandemic to further her ploy to privatize education — threatening to withhold federal funds f
Ed Department Accused Of Diverting Funds From Students With Disabilities - Disability Scoop
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Ed Department Accused Of Diverting Funds From Students With Disabilities A lawsuit filed this week accuses the U.S. Department of Education of jeopardizing students with disabilities by misdirecting funds meant to help schools deal with fallout from the pandemic. Earlier this year, Congress included billions of dollars in funding for schools in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security,
Teachers Unions Look Like the Last Line of Defense… - In These Times
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Teachers Unions Look Like the Last Line of Defense in Trump’s “Reckless” School Reopening Crusade As Amer­i­can fam­i­lies fret over a patch­work set of stan­dards for reopen­ing schools that vary wide­ly by city and state, teach­ers unions across the coun­try are denounc­ing the Trump administration’s approach to the issue as ill-advised, life-threat­en­ing and unjust. And they’re vow­ing to do
NYC: Principals, Teachers, Nurses Seek Delay in Opening | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 1d
NYC: Principals, Teachers, Nurses Seek Delay in Opening Spokespersons for principals, teachers, and nurses have called on Mayor De Blasio to delay reopening and provide more time to prepare schools, reports Gotham Gazette, a publication of the Citizens Union Foundation. ​ The principals union, the teachers union, and the nurses union have come out against the ​city’s plan to reopen classrooms on
How online learning fails low-income students amid COVID-19 - Los Angeles Times
by Mike Simpson / 2d
A generation left behind? Online learning cheats poor students, Times survey finds Maria Viego and Cooper Glynn were thriving at their elementary schools. Maria, 10, adored the special certificates she earned volunteering to read to second-graders. Cooper, 9, loved being with his friends and how his teacher incorporated the video game Minecraft into lessons. But when their campuses shut down ami
Teacher Tom: A "Boy Team" and a "Girl Team"
by Mike Simpson / 2d
A "Boy Team" and a "Girl Team" Charlotte was one of those kids who had been coming to Woodland Park since before she was born, arriving first in our classroom in utero to drop off and pick up her older brother, then continuing on her own behalf until she was five. If I've ever known a student, it would be Charlotte, and among the many things I know is that she is not conflict averse: she will st
McKeesport School Board Recklessly Votes to Reopen to Half Day In-Person Classes During a Global Pandemic | gadflyonthewallblog
by Mike Simpson / 2d
McKeesport School Board Recklessly Votes to Reopen to Half Day In-Person Classes During a Global Pandemic For a moment there, I thought things might go differently. With Covid-19 cases exponentially more numerous today than they were when schools closed in March, last night McKeesport Area School Directors voted whether to reopen buildings to half day in-person classes. And it really looked like
SSPI Outlines Priorities for a Return to Learning - Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)
by Mike Simpson / 2d
State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Commends Students, Families, and Educators on Return to Learning and Outlines Ongoing Priorities SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond on Wednesday commended the around-the-clock dedication of educators, families, and students as most schools across California begin a new school year under distance learning. In a virtual news media
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 Classroom Instruction Resources Of The Week by Larry Ferlazzo / 10h Each week, I publish a post or two containing three or four particularly useful resources on classroom instruction, and you can see them all here. Of course, this is a crazy time for “classroom” instruction…. You might also be interes
CURMUDGUCATION: MI: Mobile Billboard Stalks DeVos
by Mike Simpson / 2d
MI: Mobile Billboard Stalks DeVos Protect Our Public Schools is a group of retired teachers and other stakeholders working out of Livonia, Michigan. While their reach may not be large nor their pockets deep, they have come up with a fun way to demand Betsy DeVos's attention. While demanding that public schools be open and full this fall, DeVos herself has been working remotely from one of the fa
NYC Public School Parents: Getting it Right: Reopening our Nation's Schools. A National Town hall on Sat. Aug. 15 from 12-4 pm.
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Getting it Right: Reopening our Nation's Schools. A National Town hall on Sat. Aug. 15 from 12-4 pm. This Saturday August 15, I will be co-hosting the second half of a four-hour program called "Getting it Right" from 12 -4 PM EST on school reopening and how best to educate students during the pandemic. My panels will focus on issues with remote learning and health and safety. There is an amazing
MAGA: “My Awesome Gettysburg Address” | The Merrow Report
by Mike Simpson / 2d
MAGA: “My Awesome Gettysburg Address” My fellow American patriots, Welcome to this historical monument and this even more historical occasion, because today your favorite President is accepting his party’s unanimous nomination to continue to lead our beloved country to even greater heights, now that we have the China virus under control. You know, many people said that I should come to Gettysbur

AUG 12

Online Instruction for All | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Online Instruction for All Even the most fervent advocate for online instruction would be surprised. For those who predicted 20 years ago that remote instruction will take over public schooling, the future has arrived. And for the true believers in online instruction as the best, efficient (read: less expensive) way of teaching and learning, Nirvana has arrived. Covid-19 has upended naysayers wh
NANCY BAILEY: Stop Covid-19 Career Comparison Guilting! Teachers Aren’t Flight Attendants Or . . .
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Stop Covid-19 Career Comparison Guilting! Teachers Aren’t Flight Attendants Or . . . Stop Covid-19 Career Comparison Guilting! Teachers Aren’t Flight Attendants Or . . . Every job faces its own Covid-19 difficulties, but there should be no comparison guilting. Every job is different. Teachers face comparison attacks, with no consideration of the uniqueness found in the school environment. Teacher
6 Reasons Why Educators Are Excited About Kamala Harris - NEA Today
by Mike Simpson / 2d
6 Reasons Why Educators Are Excited About Kamala Harris On August 11, Joe Biden announced Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) to be his Vice Presidential running mate. Biden promised to nominate a woman vice president during the final Democratic presidential debate in March 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic came into full view across the country. Biden’s historic selection of Harris reinforces the forw
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 Online Or In The Classroom, It’s Important To Pronounce Student Names Correctly! by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h Clker-Free-Vector-Images / Pixabay As we enter a new school year, just a reminder: We teachers have to correctly pronounce our students’ names! If you don’t think it’s important, or you need help wi
Congressional Negotiations for Second COVID-19 Relief Bill Collapse. Nothing Is Forthcoming to Repair State Budgets or Help Local School Districts | janresseger
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Congressional Negotiations for Second COVID-19 Relief Bill Collapse. Nothing Is Forthcoming to Repair State Budgets or Help Local School Districts The prospect of a second coronavirus relief bill devolved into chaos over the weekend as the White House/Congressional negotiations disintegrated, and President Donald Trump offered to replace Congressional action with executive orders and executive m
OPC vs jd – who would you choose? | JD2718
by Mike Simpson / 3d
OPC vs jd – who would you choose? So pretend for a moment that you are an NYCDoE principal and that you need to get September ready and you can have an outside helper, and you have it narrowed down to the Overpaid Private Consultant (OPC) that the DoE uses, or me (JD)… and all you have to go on are these little bits that each of us wrote about entry into buildings. Read on, and prepare to make y
NYC Educator: Class with Instructional Lunch
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Class with Instructional Lunch The chancellor had a flash of inspiration one day, and decided that he needed to maximize learning in schools. Now I'm just a lowly teacher, so I have no idea exactly what inspiration looks like on that lofty plain, that hallowed ground of the old Tweed building, named for the crookedest politician of all time (pre-Trump, of course). That's why it's hard for me to
Pandemic Ed: What If the Wireless Is Out? | deutsch29
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Pandemic Ed: What If the Wireless Is Out? Interesting situation today. I have been creating assignments suited to online learning, which basically means that I have to rethink my teaching and create an entirely new, pandemic-adjusted, English IV course. I am trying to get a number of such assignments ready to go prior to my return to school on August 20, 2020. Since students are not slated to re
CURMUDGUCATION: AEI: Previewing New Reformy Rhetoric
by Mike Simpson / 3d
AEI: Previewing New Reformy Rhetoric Over at AEI, Robert C. Enlow and Jason Bedrick have some thoughts for new, improved rhetoric for pushing school choice. It's worth a look to see where the argument is headed in the year ahead. Enlow is the president/CEO of EdChoice (formerly the Milton Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice). Bedrow is the director of policy at EdChoice , as well as a sch
Mr. G for District 3: Chris Guerrieri's Education Matters: DCPS proves once again tells teachers they are not important
by Mike Simpson / 3d
DCPS proves once again tells teachers they are not important This is going to be a little inside baseball. DCPS decided to scrap it's ESE curriculum based on 24 responses to a survey given during a pandemic. That's a problem; the bigger one though, is the district continues to treat its teachers like afterthoughts. So last spring, they introduced a program called Teach Town to supplement our mai
What you need to know about Zoom for Education | Parent Coalition for Student Privacy
by Mike Simpson / 3d
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ZOOM FOR EDUCATION Zoom for Education has been adopted by thousands of schools nationwide. Zoom began marketing to K-12 schools in November 2019 , prior to the Covid pandemic. Zoom also created a website specific for education: https://zoom.us/education . Zoom has referred to its education platform as a Zoom for K-12 service but apparently rather than face data privac
Scores of Education Experts Call on Schools to Reject Screen-Saturated Return to Learning | Common Dreams News
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Scores of Education Experts Call on Schools to Reject Screen-Saturated Return to Learning "Now is the time for parents and teachers to come together and demand what children really need." As school districts across nation make plans for the fall semester—with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic forcing varying degrees of reliance on remote learning—scores of education experts on Tuesday sounded the
Latest update on NYC school reopening plans; and why many parents still appear undecided | Class Size Matters
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Latest update on NYC school reopening plans; and why many parents still appear undecided | Class Size Latest update on NYC school reopening plans; and why many parents still appear undecided Dear friends– On Friday, the NYC Department of Education posted the latest version of their reopening plan s. It contained two big revisions from the one previously released: Now schools will be able apply fo

AUG 11

We Got Racism. Right Here in River City. | Teacher in a strange land
by Mike Simpson / 3d
We Got Racism. Right Here in River City. If you live in Michigan, you’ve probably read this story, which passed quickly from the local weekly to the nearest daily and public radio station , downstate to the Detroit News and Dateline Detroit —then off to the Washington Post and NBC. Short synopsis: Old white Road Commission member in Leelanau County (Tom Eckerle, 75) makes egregiously racist rema
How many NYC parents chose “blended learning”? | JD2718
by Mike Simpson / 3d
How many NYC parents chose “blended learning”? This is easy. There are 1.1 million students in New York City. The mayor and Chancellor want blended learning (hybrid) to take place in September. The Mayor has been boasting about it. The Chancellor has been boasting about. The Mayor and Chancellor have been pushing hard. There is not a strong, centrally organized resistance * . .Which means the Ma
Betsy DeVos publicly absent as critical decisions are made on public school reopenings
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Betsy DeVos publicly absent as critical decisions are made on public school reopenings DETROIT — As public schools grapple with the challenge of reopening during a pandemic , public education advocates are criticizing Education Secretary Betsy DeVos for working remotely from Michigan, where she owns a sprawling waterfront estate with a round-the-clock security detail paid for by taxpayers. And w
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all DID YOU MISS DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG TODAY? A site to di...
by Mike Simpson / 3d
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 What Trump’s Executive Orders Really Do by dianeravitch / 1h David Dayen writes the blog “Unsanitized” for the American Prospect. In this post, he explains what Trump’s executive orders really do. Please open the links to see the many embedded links
Listen to this – 2020 #3 | Live Long and Prosper
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Listen to this – 2020 #3 COVID-19, PUBLIC HEALTH, STARTING SCHOOL The Covid-19 Experiment: Facing the Sins of a Nation that Quit Caring About Public Education Long Ago Education is the largest portion of the budget in Indiana, yet it’s underfunded. People want services — like good public schools — but aren’t willing to pay for them. Hoosiers, like many Americans, are shortsighted and selfish. We
Teacher Tom: No One Knows How to Do this Better than You: A Short List of Things to Think About
by Mike Simpson / 4d
No One Knows How to Do this Better than You: A Short List of Things to Think About A recent national survey found that over 70 percent of American families will be engaged in some form of homeschooling this fall. I don't know what the number is for families of preschool aged children, but I'm assuming it's similar. Most schools are going to be relying on some version of online instruction, which
Why Dorothy Counts? – radical eyes for equity
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Why Dorothy Counts? “I must admit this is a strange book,” Eddie S. Glaude Jr. explains in the “Introduction” to Begin Again , explaining: It isn’t biography, although there are moments when it feels biographical; it is not literary criticism, although I read Baldwin’s nonfiction writings closely; and it is not straightforward history, even though the book, like Baldwin, is obsessed with history
Mr. G for District 3: Chris Guerrieri's Education Matters: Some of the problems with Duval Homeroom. SOME!!!!!!
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Some of the problems with Duval Homeroom. SOME!!!!!! Duval Homeroom initially sounded great. The thought of high-risk teachers being able to teach from home was comforting to many, though unfortunately, it didn't work like that, and you had to apply and hope you get it. Then we learned that Duval Home from teachers would have to teach from the schools, and we all let out a collective what the %$
Jack Hassard: Georgia Is Not Ready to Open Schools | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Jack Hassard: Georgia Is Not Ready to Open Schools Jack Hassard has spent his career teaching science and training science teachers. He lives in Georgia, where Governor Brian Kemp is determined to open schools without regard to the state of the virus. Hassard says, based on the science, that Georgia is not ready to open its schools . The infection rate in Georgia is unacceptably high at 13-16%.
Indiana Education Head On Reopening Schools: Contact Tracing Is A 'Beast'
by Mike Simpson / 4d
| 89.3 KPCC Indiana Education Head On Reopening Schools: Contact Tracing Is A 'Beast' In Indiana, school has started up for many students — or will in the next week. It's one of a majority of states where local districts will make most of the decisions about what school will look like this year. Many districts across the state are bringing students back in person but are also offering online lea
Learning Relationships In The New Normal | The Jose Vilson
by Mike Simpson / 4d
LEARNING RELATIONSHIPS IN THE NEW NORMAL This post is sponsored by WE Teachers , made possible by Walgreens. All opinions are my own. The last conversation I had with students before the official end of the school year was between me and a few of my seventh graders. We talked about summer plans over Cardi B and Juice Wrld. We shared a snack together. The boys jockeyed for position as “best” virt
NYC Public School Parents: Risks and benefits in reopening NYC schools & how fewer than half of parents appear to have decided
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Risks and benefits in reopening NYC schools & how fewer than half of parents appear to have decided On Friday, the NYC Department of Education posted the latest update to their reopening plan . It contained two big revisions from the one previously released: Now schools will be able apply to exempt themselves from providing in-person or blended learning to all the students whose parents opt into
NYC Educator: UFT Executive Board August 10, 2020--What the Hell Is Going On Here?
by Mike Simpson / 4d
UFT Executive Board August 10, 2020--What the Hell Is Going On Here? Roll call--5:50 UFT Secretary LeRoy Barr- -welcomes us 6:01 PM. Minutes --approved via email UFT President Michael Mulgrew --6:04--We need to look at numbers within last two weeks. Appears that there's no neighborhood at 3% or over at this moment. We will continue to check. We are considering legal actions, and we need to say t
TIME WAITS FOR NO ONE – Dad Gone Wild
by Mike Simpson / 4d
TIME WAITS FOR NO ONE “What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence. The question is what can you make people believe you have done.” ― Arthur Conan Doyle, A Study in Scarlet “Where’s jazz going? I don’t know. Maybe it’s going to hell. You can’t make anything go anywhere. It just happens.” ― Thelonious Monk The day begins as most do around the Weber household. My nine-year-old son Pet
CURMUDGUCATION: James Blew: Pushing More Headscratching Arguments for USED
by Mike Simpson / 4d
James Blew: Pushing More Headscratching Arguments for USED These days, James Blew's official title is Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development at the US Department of Education. He's held that job since the Senate confirmed him in July of 2018. This guy. That confirmation was a narrow 50-49 party line vote, perhaps because Blew's previous history is focused on dismantl
NANCY BAILEY: The Covid-19 Experiment: Facing the Sins of a Nation that Quit Caring About Public Education Long Ago
by Mike Simpson / 4d
The Covid-19 Experiment: Facing the Sins of a Nation that Quit Caring About Public Education Long Ago The Covid-19 Experiment: Facing the Sins of a Nation that Quit Caring About Public Education Long Ago Using the word “experimenting” when it comes to opening schools is not comforting to parents and teachers. For teachers, it’s like rubbing salt in a wound. What this pandemic has brought to light

AUG 10

Parental Choice Won’t Save Us From Unsafe School Reopening Plans | gadflyonthewallblog
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Parental Choice Won’t Save Us From Unsafe School Reopening Plans I am the parent of a public school student. And I have a choice. I get to decide whether my daughter will go back to school in-person or online. That’s the only thing that should matter to me. At least, that’s what the superintendent of my home district told me when I went before school directors last week asking them to reconsider
Incoming NEA head Becky Pringle says it’s time ‘to turn up that heat’ - Chalkbeat
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Incoming head of nation’s largest teachers union says it’s time ‘to turn up that heat’ Shortly after it became official that Becky Pringle would be the next head of the nation’s largest teachers union, she set the tone for her presidency with a tweet that ended like this: “We are ready to turn up that heat.” In an interview Friday, the National Education Association’s incoming president said tha
CURMUDGUCATION: To Teachers Contemplating Retirement
by Mike Simpson / 4d
CURMUDGUCATION: To Teachers Contemplating Retirement This fall marks the beginning of my third go round of starting the school year as a retiree. Thanks to the pandemic, it's in some ways the hardest year so far. I get that the pandemic is also giving many teachers pause to consider whether or not to go back. Here (expanded from a twitter thread) are my thoughts. One of the hard parts of retirem
UTLA's Arlene Inouye Fights On - LA Progressive
by Mike Simpson / 4d
UTLA’s Arlene Inouye Fights On I wrote the message below to family and friends on Facebook after my 70 th birthday. I added some additional context to the basic message for the LA Progressive. I want to thank family and friends for the birthday wishes and support as I enter the next decade. I am thankful that through zoom I could be surrounded by close family- with song, pictures and expressions
Emerging consensus about kids and school transmission of covid
by Mike Simpson / 4d
PROOF POINTS: The evolving science of how kids contract and spread coronavirus Emerging consensus that kids are getting and spreading it has implications for schools In March 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic erupted in the United States, epidemiological reports circulated that children weren’t getting the virus very often and, when they did, their cases were mild. Four months later, in late Jul
How to Show Kids the Joy of Reading - The Atlantic
by Mike Simpson / 4d
How to Show Kids the Joy of Reading Deloris Fowler had seen educational reforms come and go. Then one of them surprised her. Editor’s Note: In the next five years, most of America’s most experienced teachers will retire. The Baby Boomers are leaving behind a nation of more novice educators. In 1988, a teacher most commonly had 15 years of experience. Less than three decades later, that number ha
The Blue Cereal Podcast For New (Or Reviving) Teachers | Blue Cereal Education
by Mike Simpson / 4d
The Blue Cereal Podcast For New (Or Reviving) Teachers Well, my #11FF, I decided to record a few podcasts for new (or reviving) educators. This seems like a wonderful idea because I lack the proper equipment, there are dozens of excellent education podcasts out there already, I have nothing to sell, and this year is so weird it's hard to know how to prepare for it anyway. In other words, why not
Big Time Football: “angry white man society” – radical eyes for equity
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Big Time Football: “angry white man society” While Trevor Lawrence —probably the highest profile white Division I college football player in 2020—has become the face for the #WeWantToPlay campaign calling for a start to college football amidst a pandemic, the Colorado State University football program has been forced to reckon with a racially toxic culture, implicating their former coach and cur
Russ on Reading: Reading Instruction at a Distance: Read Aloud, Read Along, Read Alone, Read Again
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Reading Instruction at a Distance: Read Aloud, Read Along, Read Alone, Read Again Whether teaching at a safe distance in school, or online, or some combination of the two, teachers and students face a unique challenge this year. While reading instruction for our most vulnerable readers will necessarily look much different from normal practice, many best practices can still be used effectively. A
Teacher: The Hidden Scandal in U.S. Education | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Teacher: The Hidden Scandal in U.S. Education A teacher in the District of Columbia wrote about the hidden scandal in public education: crumbling buildings. She writes: For all the debate about why schools should not open … the most obvious elephant in the room is invisible or just a footnote in most discussions. Yes… schools are crowded, yes… the government is not giving timely funding for the
Network for Public Education Releases New Report on Charter School Closure, Churn, and Instability | janresseger
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Network for Public Education Releases New Report on Charter School Closure, Churn, and Instability Last week the Network for Public Education (NPE) released a fine new report tracking school closures over time in the charter school sector. The comprehensive new study, Broken Promises: An Analysis of Charter School Closures from 1999-2017 , tracks built-in instability in this education sector whi
CURMUDGUCATION: Why Isn't AI More Widely Used?
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Why Isn't AI More Widely Used? That's the question that Wired asked last month , and it's important to consider because even as a truckload of ed tech folks are "predicting" (aka "marketing") a future in which ed tech is awash in shiny Artificial Intelligence features that read students minds and develop instantaneous perfectly personalized instructional materials. Why is it, do you supposed, th
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 August 23rd Is “International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition” – Here Are Teaching & Learning Resources by Larry Ferlazzo / 11h The United Nations has declared August 23rd to be International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition. You can find many r
Charter Schools And Their Enemies — My Review | Gary Rubinstein's Blog
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Charter Schools And Their Enemies — My Review Thomas Sowell is an economist and senior fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. His lengthy career has spanned six decades and he is a well respected conservative scholar. He has recently published a thin volume called ‘Charter Schools And Their Enemies’ (Basic Books 2020) Though charter schools have been around for about 30 years, they
It Depends On Who You Listen To (Yes, About School Reopening) | The Jose Vilson
by Mike Simpson / 5d
It Depends On Who You Listen To (Yes, About School Reopening) It was my first time in months riding the bus with my son since school shut down. Normally, when I’ve run an errand during the pandemic, I’ll do it on my own, mask on, huffing and puffing to make it back inside. On this errand, my son and I saw a crosstown bus sitting there, so we hopped in the back. Pre-COVID, we rode the bus home fr
Mr. G for District 3: Chris Guerrieri's Education Matters: Teachers from heroes to zeroes, by design (draft)
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Teachers from heroes to zeroes, by design Never waste a crisis. Last spring, after a solid year and a half of teacher action, when they pushed back against the conditions that were strangling the profession, teachers were lauded as heroes as they switched to distance learning in a couple of days. The memes and accolades were everywhere. Fast forward to today when many teachers are protesting goi
Six thousand school doors | JD2718
by Mike Simpson / 5d
- Six thousand school doors That might be the number of public school doors in New York City. There are over 1800 schools, but some are in leased buildings, and some are “campuses” which in New York means one building shared by several schools. In the rest of the country a campus is one school spread into several buildings. The New York City Department of Education claims 1557 buildings . That’s

AUG 09

CATCH UP WITH CURMUDGUCATION + ICYMI: Rising Anxiety Edition (8/9)
by Mike Simpson / 5d
CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Rising Anxiety Edition (8/9) Rising Anxiety Edition (8/9) Just trying to hold it together? Join the very large and ever-growing club. Here's some reading to pass the time. Kindergarten Reading Push: Still Problematic During the Pandemic Nancy Bailey with a reminder that the attempts to force littles to read before they're ready is still a bad idea. Re: My Nomination for US
Jack Schneider: Is Homeschooling The Next Big Thing? | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Jack Schneider: Is Homeschooling The Next Big Thing? Jack Schneider is a historian of education. In this post, which he wrote at my request, he analyzes the new push for homeschooling. In the midst of the global pandemic, with millions of children quarantined at home, its not surprising that parents are compelled to be teachers. But how many parents will want to homeschool when real schools are
Andy Hargreaves: The Education Technology We Will and Won’t Need After the Pandemic | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Andy Hargreaves: The Education Technology We Will and Won’t Need After the Pandemic Andy Hargreaves is an internationally renowned scholar and author who taught for many years at Boston College. He wrote this article about education technology for Valerie Strauss’s blog “The Answer Sheet.” I previously posted a presentation that Andy delivered at an international conference in South Korea, where
Why I'm OK with my kids "falling behind" in school during the pandemic | Salon.com
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Why I'm OK with my kids "falling behind" in school during the pandemic Even with our many privileges, the meritocracy is still a sham. Basic needs are taking priority over acing the SATs If being born into Generation X ever gave me anything, it has been a lifetime of training in lowered expectations. And as we chaotically hurtle toward the start of a new school year in the midst of a still explo
Virtual Learning Means Unequal Learning | The Pew Charitable Trusts
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Virtual Learning Means Unequal Learning Read Stateline coverage of the latest state action on coronavirus . Karen Reyes, who teaches deaf and hard-of-hearing children in Austin, Texas, worries about her first-grade pupils who will be learning online this fall. She’s concerned that virtual learning is harder for younger, special needs children, especially those who may not have as much support at
EdAction in Congress August 9, 2020 - Education Votes
by Mike Simpson / 6d
EdAction in Congress August 9, 2020 More talk, no action on next COVID package On Friday, talks between congressional and administration leaders ended with no resolution. It is unclear if or when talks will resume. As they struggled to agree on a response to the mounting damage from COVID-19, enhanced unemployment benefits for 30 million Americans expired and a moratorium that puts 12 million re
Arizona Superintendent: Reopening School Now is a “Fantasy” | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Arizona Superintendent: Reopening School Now is a “Fantasy” Eli Saslow of the Washington Post interviewed Arizona Superintendent Jeff Gregorich about the prospect of opening schools in his district with the coronavirus still active in the region. The article causes me to wonder why decisions about when to open schools are made by politicians, not scientists, medical experts, and educators. Grego
Mr. G for District 3: Chris Guerrieri's Education Matters: District staff concerned about their jobs and their lives
by Mike Simpson / 6d
District staff concerned about their jobs and their lives It's not just school staff and students; we should be worried about but district staff as well. Many district staff don't have the protection of the union and are afraid to speak up about their safety, and that is just not how it should be. In July, the board passed a work from home resolution. Sounds great right, let's keep as many peopl
School Choice and White Supremacy like Two Peas in a Pod | tultican
by Mike Simpson / 6d
School Choice and White Supremacy like Two Peas in a Pod By Thomas Ultican 8/9/2020 In Overturning Brown , Steve Suitts provides overwhelming evidence for the segregationist legacy of “school choice.” He shows that “Brown v Board” has been effectively gutted and “choice ” proved to be the white supremacists’ most potent strategy to defeat it. In the 21 st century, that same strategy is being wie
CURMUDGUCATION: Penn State Clamps Down On Covid
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Penn State Clamps Down On Covid Pity the poor colleges and universities. If they can't entice students to return to campus in the next few weeks, they may face a financial armageddon. For many students, a gap year is looking pretty good right now. But colleges and universities have to somehow navigate the gap between "I'm not writing huge checks and taking out tons of loans just to cyber school"

AUG 08

TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 8/8/20 #REDFORED #tbats #COVID-19 #REOPENSCHOOLS #BIDEN2020
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Big Education Ape TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 8/8/20 ‘Slaying Goliath’: Diane Ravitch argues in new book that public education advocates have beat back efforts to privatize schools - The Washington Post The real story of New 
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