Saturday, October 24, 2020

POSTS THIS WEEK 10/24/20

CHANGE THE SCUSD BOARD 2020 FACEBOOK PAGE

Ohio: The Staggering Cost of Privatization of Public Money | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 16min

Ohio: The Staggering Cost of Privatization of Public Money Bill Phillis, founder of the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Advocacy, is a retired state superintendent in the state. He has focused like a laser on the importance of funding public education equitably and adequately. He writes here about the staggering cost of privatizing public money to pay for charters, virtual charters, and vouchers.

The week in coveducation: Epic discussions, COVID relief funds and 'no confidence'

by Mike Simpson / 16min

The week in coveducation: Epic discussions, COVID relief funds and ‘no confidence’ It was a busy week in the Oklahoma education world with what seemed like endless meetings over the Epic Charter Schools audit, Oklahoma City Public Schools welcoming some students back to in-person learning and the Professional Educators of Norman presenting a vote of no confidence in their district’s superintende

Education Matters: So much for schools not being COVID spreaders (draft)

by Mike Simpson / 16min

So much for schools not being COVID spreaders (draft) I am so disappointed in DCPS, they are knowingly putting people at risk and that's leading to an uptick in the virus. As cases in schools rise dramatically so do cases in the city and nation. The most easily predictable thing ever is coming true more and more people are getting sick. Sadly the super and school board has responded with a shrug

The Future of Public Education is on the Ballot on November 3! Vote! | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 16min

The Future of Public Education is on the Ballot on November 3! Vote ! Derek Black, Jack Schneider, and Jennifer Berkshire wrote in the Philadelphia Inquirer that the future of public education is on the ballot on November 3 (for the record, I got a credit for doing some minor editing). Should Trump be re-elected, you can count on him and Betsy DeVos to continue their brazen assault on public sch

Good News, Teachers: Cloth Masks Do Protect the Wearer | deutsch29: Mercedes Schneider's Blog

by Mike Simpson / 16min

Good News, Teachers: Cloth Masks Do Protect the Wearer COVID-19 has shaken classroom teaching to its core. It’s like carrying a platter of full water glasses while walking down the aisle of a lurching bus, and doing so daily. Expect varying degrees of success, and intentionally celebrate those successes in that day to fortify your mental stability. Believe me when I write that I thank God that h

SBE Agenda for November 2020 - State Board of Education (CA Dept of Education)

by Mike Simpson / 16min

SBE Agenda for November 2020 Agenda for the California State Board of Education (SBE) meeting on November 5-6, 2020 State Board Members Linda Darling-Hammond, President Ilene W. Straus, Vice President Sue Burr Cynthia Glover-Woods Jim McQuillen Matt Navo Kim Pattillo Brownson Haydee Rodriguez Patricia A. Rucker Ting L. Sun Zaid Fattah, Student Member Secretary & Executive Officer Hon. Tony Thurm

glen brown: Teaching During a Pandemic, Week 1 by Vikki Reid

by Mike Simpson / 16min

Teaching During a Pandemic, Week 1 by Vikki Reid 📚 ”WhAt I LeArNeD In ScHoOl ThIs WeEk” 📚 🦠😷 Teaching During A Pandemic-WEEK 1 😷🦠 My classroom ranged from 47-55 degrees because the windows are all open to increase circulation, except for Thursday , when it was 84 in my classroom because the heat was on. My 12 desk stations are spaced 5 feet apart to fit my class sizes, and in one class I h

CURMUDGUCATION: Did Covid-19 Destroy The Case Against School Choice?

by Mike Simpson / 16min

Did Covid-19 Destroy The Case Against School Choice? Betsy DeVos repeatedly insists that the current pandemic A) shouldn't in any way interfere with the normal operation of public schools and B) makes it "more clear than ever" that school choice must be a thing, toot de suite. The two prongs of her argument belong to two entirely different pitchforks, but many folks with more coherent debate too

NYC Public School Parents: Do you know where your child's personal data is? Please fill out our survey on your school's use of digital apps -

by Mike Simpson / 16min

Do you know where your child's personal data is? Please fill out our survey on your school's use of digital apps Class Size Matters, NY Allies for Public Education, and the Parent Coalition for Student Privacy would like to know which online apps or programs are being employed by schools throughout New York state, and whether they are sufficiently protective of children's privacy. We are asking

BASEBALL IS MORE THAN A GAME – Dad Gone Wild

by Mike Simpson / 16min

BASEBALL IS MORE THAN A GAME “When the moon sails out with a hundred faces all the same, the coins made of silver break out in sobs in the pocket.” ― Federico García Lorca As the ball sailed out of the infield, runners began to circle the bases, and thus another baseball season came to an end. My son Peter has been playing ball since he was 4. Last night brought a close to his 8th season and 2nd

Teacher Tom: It Might Not Be a Phase

by Mike Simpson / 16min

It Might Not Be a Phase The girls had never met before the day they met on the swings. They struck up a conversation and within the hour they were hugging one another, giggling, and tossing around the phrase "best friends." One of them called out to me, "Teacher Tom, my name tag says I'm Monica, but my real name is Anna!" Her best friend added, "My name is Anna too!" So, going forward, that's wh

TEACHER TOM THIS WEEK IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

by Mike Simpson / 16min

Teacher Tom It Might Not Be a Phase 400+ 1d OCT 22 "What Makes Their Beauty is Invisible" 100+ 2d OCT 21 "A Theory of Everything" and Why The Cynics Have it Wrong 100+ 3d OCT 20 "The Supposition that Every Child is a Kind of Idiot Who Must be Taught to Think" 1K 4d OCT 19 "Radical Empathy" 200+ 5d OCT 16 "The School of Mankind" 200+ 8d Teacher Tom

THIS WEEK'S WILDNESS Dad Gone Wild Nobody reads it, everybody quotes it.

by Mike Simpson / 16min

Dad Gone Wild – Nobody reads it, everybody quotes it. BASEBALL IS MORE THAN A GAME by TC Weber / 21h “When the moon sails out with a hundred faces all the same, the coins made of silver break out in sobs in the pocket.” ― Federico García Lorca As the ball sailed out of the infield, runners began to circle the bases, and thus another baseball season came to an end. My son Peter has been playing b

SSPI THURMOND STUFF THIS WEEK FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

by Mike Simpson / 16min

California Department of Education SBE Agenda for November 2020 14h Agenda for the California State Board of Education (SBE) meeting on November 5-6, 2020. OCT 22 COVID-19 Guidance in the Child Nutrition Programs 1d Provides background information, policy waivers, guidance, claiming and reimbursements requirements, resources, FAQs, and state agency contacts for program sponsors operating the Chi

Saturday, October 17, 2020 THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE)

by Mike Simpson / 16min

NewBlackMan (in Exile) THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) Alicia Garza on the Origin of Black Lives Matter by Mark Anthony Neal / 16h 'Oakland-based activist Alicia Garza coined the phrase "Black Lives Matter" in 2013, the day George Zimmerman was found not guilty of murdering 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Soon a hashtag was created, and a movement was born. Garza talks with journalist Mark Whit

THIS WEEK Education Research Report

by Mike Simpson / 16min

Education Research Report Report Offers Early Lessons from Schools, Afterschool Programs Implementing Social and Emotional Learning Supports for Students by Jonathan Kantrowitz / 2d xx Developing adult capacity, creating shared vision, clear guidance among keys to success The Wallace Foundation today released a report detailing early lessons from a six-community, 38-site study examining implemen

Saturday, October 17, 2020 THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007

by Mike Simpson / 16min

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 Daylight Savings Ends On Nov. 1st – Here Are Teaching & Learning Resources by Larry Ferlazzo / 57min obpia30 / Pixabay Daylight Savings Time ends on November 1st. You might be interested

KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all #REDFORED #tbats #COVID-19 #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #BidenHarris2020

by Mike Simpson / 16min

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 Ohio: The Staggering Cost of Privatization of Public Money by dianeravitch / 20min Bill Phillis, founder of the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Advocacy, is a retired state superintendent in the state. He has focused like a laser on the importance

YESTERDAY

SACRAMENTO TEACHER LORI JOBLANSKI SAYS: CHANGE THE SCUSD BOARD 2020

by Mike Simpson / 19h

SACRAMENTO TEACHER LORI JOBLANSKI SAYS: CHANGE THE SCUSD BOARD 2020 CHANGE THE SCUSD BOARD 2020 FACEBOOK PAGE Happy Friday. With just over a week until the election, I am asking Sacramento City voters to please use your people power to make fundamental change on the Sacramento City Unified School District Board, which I truly believe is the most dysfunctional and broken governing body in this cit

Instead of Funding Public Education, Oklahoma Bankrolled a For-Profit Virtual Charter School - Progressive.org

by Mike Simpson / 21h

Instead of Funding Public Education, Oklahoma Bankrolled a For-Profit Virtual Charter School Outsourcing online learning to for-profit providers was never a good idea. The pandemic has made it worse. As public schools continue to struggle to reopen during the pandemic, many parents are refusing to send their students into school buildings. And, given the risk of in-person learning, it’s understa

Trump and Biden Finally Talk Schools - The New York Times

by Mike Simpson / 21h

Trump and Biden Finally Talk Schools School reopening hasn’t been an issue in the presidential campaign — until last night. The debate over when and how to reopen schools has been a burning question for parents since the pandemic began. But you wouldn’t know it from the presidential campaign — much to the frustration of families and educators whose daily lives have been disrupted. “Remote school

CURMUDGUCATION: VA: Teacher Ejected From Board Meeting For Live Covid Demo

by Mike Simpson / 21h

VA: Teacher Ejected From Board Meeting For Live Covid Demo Henrico County Public School District is a Virginia school district that sits right beside Richmond. For the first part of the school year, they have been using distance learning, and finding it just as unsatisfactory as pretty much everyone else. So the board has proposed a phased in return to a four-day week (with Wednesday off for cle

A patriotic education should include Black history

by Mike Simpson / 21h

Here is what patriotic education should look like resident Donald Trump recently announced his intention to create a 1776 Commission, charged with restoring patriotic, “pro-America” education to public schools. Trump pointed to The New York Times’ 1619 Project, which explored the legacy of slavery in modern America and has been adopted by many districts across the country, as an example of frami

U.S. Neglects Tomorrow | Live Long and Prosper

by Mike Simpson / 21h

U.S. Neglects Tomorrow In Aesop’s tale of the ant and the grasshopper, the busy ant made preparations for the coming winter, while the flighty grasshopper played away the summer. When winter came, the ant was prepared with substantial food for the winter while the grasshopper was starving. The United States seems determined to play the grasshopper when it comes to our future. We use up our energ

NEWS FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

by Mike Simpson / 21h

California Department of Education COVID-19 Guidance in the Child Nutrition Programs 17h Provides background information, policy waivers, guidance, claiming and reimbursements requirements, resources, FAQs, and state agency contacts for program sponsors operating the Child Nutrition Programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. CNP COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions 17h Provides Frequently Asked Quest

Cartoons on Parenting During the Pandemic | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

by Mike Simpson / 21h

Cartoons on Parenting During the Pandemic If you are like me, you know family members and close friends who have had to school their children (and grandchildren) since March. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 93 percent of people living in households with school-age children reported some form of distance instruction is occurring. The pandemic has tattooed remote instruction onto the bodies o

COVID-19 Guidance in the Child Nutrition Programs - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education)

by Mike Simpson / 1d

COVID-19 Guidance in the Child Nutrition Programs Overview In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued nationwide federal waivers and approved state specific requests intended to provide temporary flexibilities to certain regulatory requirements of the Child Nutrition Programs (CNP). The CNPs referenced are the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Scho

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

by Mike Simpson / 1d

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/2020/10/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos_17.html Students Can Participate In United Nations Project – “What Are Your Hopes

Oakland, California: Elect a Slate of Pro-Public School Candidates! | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Oakland, California: Elect a Slate of Pro-Public School Candidates! Oakland has been a playground for the privatization industry for many years. The state took control of Oakland in 2003 because of a budget deficit and removed its school board. Billionaire Eli Broad selected its new superintendent (and his successors), and reformers took charge, opening charter schools and promising revolutionar

NYC Educator: Why Have a Chancellor When a Rubber Stamp Will Do?

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Why Have a Chancellor When a Rubber Stamp Will Do? Chancellor Richard Carranza presided over keeping schools open way too long, and dozens of UFT members now lie dead as a result. We are doing mostly remote learning now because it's simply not safe to place everyone in schools. Now, in an attempt to appear he actually accomplished something rather than failed miserably and inexcusably, Carranza

Calling Joe Biden: You Promised to Cut Back Federal Testing Mandates, Remember? | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Calling Joe Biden: You Promised to Cut Back Federal Testing Mandates, Remember? Joe Biden needs to have a talk with his policy director Stef Feldman. During the campaign, Biden made specific commitments to reduce the mandates for standardized testing and to reduce the stakes attached to testing. But Stef Feldman met with the Education Writers Association and she didn’t seem to know anything abou

Audio: America's School Funding Crisis: Budget Cuts, Rising Costs And No Help In Sight | 89.3 KPCC

by Mike Simpson / 1d

America's School Funding Crisis: Budget Cuts, Rising Costs And No Help In Sight Back in May, school funding experts predicted a looming financial disaster for the nation's K-12 schools. "I think we're about to see a school funding crisis unlike anything we have ever seen in modern history," warned Rebecca Sibilia, the founder of EdBuild , a school finance advocacy organization. "We are looking a

McKeesport Superintendent: Keeping District Open During COVID Outbreak is Following Recommendation of County Health Department | gadflyonthewallblog

by Mike Simpson / 1d

McKeesport Superintendent: Keeping District Open During COVID Outbreak is Following Recommendation of County Health Department McKeesport Area School District (MASD) has been rocked with nine positive cases of COVID-19 in a little more than a week. According to guidelines from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Education , affected schools should be closed fo

CURMUDGUCATION: Trump’s Patriot History Lessons Or Critical Thinking: You Can’t Have Both

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Trump’s Patriot History Lessons Or Critical Thinking: You Can’t Have Both Donald Trump wants to sweep away the “web of lies in our schools and classrooms” and replace them with the “magnificent truth” about the US, “the most exceptional nation in the history of the world.” This country, he asserts, is the “most fair, equal, and prosperous nation in human history.” To further that goal, he signed

Choosing Democracy: Key Facts About Proposition 15

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Key Facts About Proposition 15 Key Facts About Proposition 15, California’s Commercial Property Taxes, and Revenue for Schools and Local Communities Local tax revenue reflects a community’s shared effort to support vital public services that all Californians need to thrive in our cities and counties. This ranges from education for students in K-12 schools and community colleges to access to hous

OCT 22

The Perfect Trap – radical eyes for equity

by Mike Simpson / 1d

The Perfect Trap Many years ago when I was teaching high school English in rural upstate South Carolina, I taught all three of the district’s superintendent’s children—two daughters and a son. The older daughter in many ways represented both a uniquely smart and hard-working student and the paradox of the perfect student. These were the early days of me learning how to teach writing well; these

Teacher Tom: "What Makes Their Beauty is Invisible"

by Mike Simpson / 1d

"What Makes Their Beauty is Invisible" My wife has always been a big supporter of mine, although she isn't always happy with my middle class bag lady habit of collecting bits and bobs, doodads and doohickies, parts and portions. I ate the same brand of yoghurt for over a decade, not because the product was so special, but because I wanted to keep adding to my collection of matching containers wh

Are Sacramento County public schools ready to reopen?

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Are Sacramento public schools ready to reopen? Some unions say no County approved in-person instruction with modifications SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento County amended its public health guidance Tuesday allowing for in-person instruction at all grade level schools with COVID-19 modifications. Following the state's multi-tier reopening system, the county moved from Purple -- the most restrictiv

Parents Are Worried About Schools. Are the Candidates? - The New York Times

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Parents Are Worried About Schools. Are the Candidates? The pandemic has made education a top issue for many voters. But you wouldn’t know that from the candidates’ stump speeches. Communities large and small are battling over whether and how to reopen schools closed since March. Superintendents are warning of drastic budget cuts on the horizon, teachers’ unions are calling for standardized tests

Betsy DeVos, in anti-government polemic, says America’s public schools are designed to replace home and family - The Washington Post

by Mike Simpson / 2d

In a steely anti-government polemic, Betsy DeVos says America’s public schools are designed to replace home and family In 2015, Michigan billionaire Betsy DeVos declared that “ government really sucks ” — and after serving nearly four years as U.S. education secretary, she has not tempered that view one iota. She gave a speech this week at a Christian college disparaging the U.S. public educatio

CURMUDGUCATION: The Big Engines That Wouldn't

by Mike Simpson / 2d

The Big Engines That Wouldn't The Board of Directors has reacquainted me with a host of kid lit classics, including the 1930 classic, The Little Engine That Could, written by Watty Piper, which was a pseudonym for Arnold Munk, cofounder of the publishing company. There are also some newer abridged versions (Piper can be a little verbose and repetitive--always a problem when you're your own edito

Federal Approval of Major Disaster Declaration - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education)

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Federal Approval of Major Disaster Declaration On October 16, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the President has approved California’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration to bolster the state’s emergency response to wildfires across the state and support impacted residents in Fresno, Los Angeles, Madera, Mendocino, San Bernardino, San Diego and Siskiyou counties. California previo

CURMUDGUCATION: Betsy DeVos Goes Full Trump: Kuyper, Arrows and the Unholy Mob

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Betsy DeVos Goes Full Trump: Kuyper, Arrows and the Unholy Mob Generally, when education secretary Betsy DeVos makes a public appearance, you get a rehash of the same old talking points. But put her in front of a friendly, like-minded audience, and she may just let her hair down and let 'er rip, giving us all a clearer picture of what she's really got going on upstairs. That just happened this w

IT IS NOT THE BUILDING THAT IS IMPORTANT – Dad Gone Wild

by Mike Simpson / 2d

IT IS NOT THE BUILDING THAT IS IMPORTANT “If you cheat on your road work in the dark of the morning, you will be found out in the big fight under the bright lights.” ― Joe Louis After all these years I’m starting to get a bit of an understanding of charter school parents, and some supporters, frustration with public schools. Before you slam the door, hear me out. In the early days of school clos

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/2020/10/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos_17.html “What Is & Isn’t Working for Teachers & Students This Year” by Larry Ferl

OCT 21

Teachers Union Urges Parents To Boycott School Reopening - PopularResistance.Org

by Mike Simpson / 2d

TEACHERS UNION URGES PARENTS TO BOYCOTT SCHOOL REOPENING School Officials And Teachers Have Very Different Views On Whether It’s Safe For Students Hurt By Missing In-Person Classes To Safely Return To The Classroom. When Baltimore City Schools announced last week that 25 schools will reopen next month to increase in-person instruction for high need students, officials promised it could be done s

Judge blasts DeVos’ sweeping denials of student loan relief claims as ‘disturbingly Kafkaesque’ - POLITICO

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Judge blasts DeVos’ sweeping denials of student loan relief claims as ‘disturbingly Kafkaesque’ The judge ruled that DeVos had undermined the deal by denying large swaths of the claims without sufficient explanation. A federal judge scrapped a settlement Tuesday over the Trump administration’s slow processing of loan forgiveness for borrowers who have accused their colleges of fraud, ruling that

Betsy DeVos Says School Choice Is Coming, Like It Or Not | America 2020 | US News

by Mike Simpson / 2d

DeVos Says School Choice Is Coming, Like It Or Not The education secretary echoed President Trump’s campaign speeches in warning against socialism and government involvement in education. WITH PRESIDENT Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence heightening their calls for school choice on the campaign trail, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos delivered the fullest picture of what that might entail

New teachers union boss fighting Trump, school reopening battles - POLITICO

by Mike Simpson / 2d

New teachers union boss fighting Trump, school reopening battles Becky Pringle steps into the role amid deep divisions nationwide about race and reopening schools. Becky Pringle was among the many Black mothers in the mid-1990s having “that conversation” with her teenage son about getting stopped by police: what to say, where to keep his hands, how to stand up for his rights. Pringle had seen ho

What is Cleveland school levy Issue 68? | wkyc.com

by Mike Simpson / 3d

National Teachers Union President joins push for Cleveland school levy support CLEVELAND — National Teachers Union President Randi Weingarten has joined the movement to gain support for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s levy , which is known as Issue 68 on the upcoming November ballot . The American Federation of Teachers and the Cleveland Teachers Union also joined CMSD CEO Eric Gord

Teacher Tom: "A Theory of Everything" and Why The Cynics Have it Wrong

by Mike Simpson / 3d

"A Theory of Everything" and Why The Cynics Have it Wrong Even a casual survey of human history gives us an understanding why there are always those eager to predict that these are the end times. Savagery and stupidity appear to be hallmarks of every epoch. Our fondest memories can always be ruined by taking a step back and realizing that we might have been having a good day or year or life, but

The Reading Wars Are Over! Lucy Calkins Endorses Phonics | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 3d

The Reading Wars Are Over! Lucy Calkins Endorses Phonics Lucy Calkins is one of the most influential reading researchers In the nation. She created the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project, whose teaching materials have been widely adopted and is a proponent of “balanced literacy.” BL prominently opposed the “phonics first” approach. In my book Left Back: A Century of Battles Over School

An Annotated Field Guide to 2020 Presidential Voters | Eclectablog

by Mike Simpson / 3d

An Annotated Field Guide to 2020 Presidential Voters Democrats… You supported Amy Klobuchar, or Pete Buttigieg, or another “more centrist” candidate in the primaries; now voting for Biden… You consider yourself a moderate; thoughtful, empathetic, perhaps fiscally conservative yet socially liberal; you were attracted to the intelligence of Pete, or Amy’s “seriousness”, but believe that at this po

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/2020/10/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos_17.html “Making Hybrid Teaching Work for Educators & Students” by Larry Ferlazzo

Are The Risks Of Reopening Schools Exaggerated? | 89.3 KPCC

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Are The Risks Of Reopening Schools Exaggerated? Despite widespread concerns, two new international studies show no consistent relationship between in-person K-12 schooling and the spread of coronavirus. And a third study from the United States shows no elevated risk to childcare workers who stayed on the job. Combined with anecdotal reports from a number of U.S. states where schools are open, as

NYC Educator: The Lingering Stench of Mike Bloomberg

by Mike Simpson / 3d

The Lingering Stench of Mike Bloomberg The other day I asked a question at UFT Executive Board : The DOE is full of Bloomberg leftovers hired from TFA refugees, cocktail parties, hopeless relatives and who knows where else. What are we going to do to get the next mayor to sweep clean, get rid of the incompetence and indifference, and sweep the stench of Bloomberg from Tweed forever? Why, exactly

“We Can Only Hope” (Terence Freeman) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

by Mike Simpson / 3d

“We Can Only Hope” (Terence Freeman) Freeman is an English teacher at Lawton High School in Lawton, Oklahoma. He has taught 14 years at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and 26 years at Lawton High School. This story appeared in the Washington Post’ s online article , October 6, 2020. Freeman is one of nine teachers the newspaper asked to report on their experiences in returning to remote

Who’s “Hiding in the Weeds?” Biden or Trump Voters? [A Civics Lesson] | Ed In The Apple

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Who’s “Hiding in the Weeds?” Biden or Trump Voters? [A Civics Lesson] A wisp of sunlight on the horizon, standing on a long line waiting for my polling place to open chatting with two young women, first time voters, proud to be electing the first female president. November 8 th , 2016. Nate Silver (fivethirtyeight blog) assuring us for weeks than Hillary was far ahead in the polls. We forgot the

Think your vote doesn’t matter? Uneven early voting across LAUSD Districts means it may count more than ever. – Los Angeles Education Examiner

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Think your vote doesn’t matter? Uneven early voting across LAUSD Districts means it may count more than ever. Are you wondering whether the vote is effectively all over. Whether so many early ballots have been returned there’s, say, little point still in advocating for Schools And Community First ( prop 15 )? For community college board members? For Schools local bond measure RR ? For your LAUSD

2020 Medley #23 | Live Long and Prosper

by Mike Simpson / 3d

2020 Medley #23 TEACHERS, EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED Everything about teaching has changed. We were already in the midst of a teacher shortage before the pandemic began. Now, when things are harder than ever for teachers, we’re going to lose more if we don’t take care of the teachers we have. The current pandemic has an impact on everything we do. It impacts shopping, medical appointments, and schoo

OCT 20

Why education technology can’t save remote learning - Axios

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Why education technology can’t save remote learning The coronavirus-sparked shift to widespread remote work has been generally smooth because most modern offices were already using a raft of communication, collaboration and administrative tools. Remote learning has faced a much rougher transition. Why it matters: Even the best technology can't eliminate the inherent problems of virtual schooling

Commonweal: Stop Using Catholic Schools to Shame Public Schools | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Commonweal: Stop Using Catholic Schools to Shame Public Schools There was a time long ago when public schools were thriving, and Catholic schools were also thriving. They were not in competition for students or money. But as our financial demands began pressing on both sectors, Catholic schools began closing and struggling to survive. Among rightwing ideologues, it became conventional to proclai

Teacher Tom: "The Supposition that Every Child is a Kind of Idiot Who Must be Taught to Think"

by Mike Simpson / 4d

"The Supposition that Every Child is a Kind of Idiot Who Must be Taught to Think" Much of what passes for education, not just in the US, but around the world, starts with the premise that children aren't all that bright, that they are essentially lazy, and that they can't be trusted to know what's best for themselves. Of course, few of us would admit to thinking such thoughts about preschoolers,

Texas schools tell teachers with medical risks to return to classrooms | The Texas Tribune

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Texas schools tell teachers with medical risks they must return to classrooms during the pandemic Several school districts are trying to accommodate teachers with health conditions who want to work from home, but many are being called back in as more students return to classrooms. Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? Our evening roundup will help you stay on top of the day's latest

Why Is McKeesport Area School District Still Open After COVID-19 Outbreak? | gadflyonthewallblog

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Why Is McKeesport Area School District Still Open After COVID-19 Outbreak? At least six staff members and students at McKeesport Area School District (MASD) tested positive for COVID-19 in the last week alone. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Website , two or more cases in a school building within a 14-day period call for some sort of closure to ensure the safety of st

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/2020/10/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos_17.html “The Do’s & Don’ts of Hybrid Teaching” by Larry Ferlazzo / 11h The Do’s &

USDA Q&As Relating to the Nationwide Waiver + 2020–21 Seamless Summer Site Application Updates - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education)

by Mike Simpson / 4d

USDA Q&As Relating to the Nationwide Waiver - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education) USDA Q&As Relating to the Nationwide Waiver Coronavirus (COVID-19) Main Web Page On October 14, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued Policy Memorandum SP 01-2021, CACFP 01-2021, SFSP 01-2021: Questions and Answers (Q&As) Relating to the Nationwide Waiver to Allow Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and

Stephen Dyer Evaluates Flawed Fordham Charter Report | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Stephen Dyer Evaluates Flawed Fordham Charter Report The Thomas B. Fordham Institute released a report on Ohio charters, claiming that they were very successful. (TBF is a rightwing organization that supports charters and vouchers.) The Columbus Dispatch wrote that the report demonstrated that charter schools in Ohio are more successful than the state’s public schools. But Stephen Dyer reviewed

NYC Public School Parents: Today's Contract Committee meeting - disappointing with few questions & confusing answers from DOE

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Today's Contract Committee meeting - disappointing with few questions & confusing answers from DOE Above is the video from today's Contract Committee of the Panel for Educational Policy. It was a short meeting, mostly composed of Charlotte Hamamgian, the DOE Executive Director of Contracts and Purchasing, reading aloud the list of summaries of all the different contracts, which together cost abo

Testimony on Attendance Reporting Bills | Class Size Matters | A clearinghouse for information on class size & the proven benefits of smaller classes

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Testimony on Attendance Reporting Bills The NYC Council Education and Health Committees held oversight hearings on October 16 on the reopening of schools, as well as two proposed bills to require detailed attendance reporting: Int. 2058 and Int. 2104 . Below is my testimony on the issue of class size and how to sharpen these bills to require more precise and disaggregated reporting on the three

THE PRIDE OF OVERTON CLUSTER – Dad Gone Wild

by Mike Simpson / 4d

THE PRIDE OF OVERTON CLUSTER “What we see changes what we know. What we know changes what we see.” ― Jean Piaget It was a deep hit ball to the outfield. As the ball traveled towards the wall, the outfielder moved towards it. Tracking its movements with his own. At the perfect moment, he lept high, glove meeting ball at its apex. Robbed! What was a sure home run, was suddenly just a long out. The

OCT 19

It’s the Right Time to Stop the Overdose of Standardized Testing | Teacher in a strange land

by Mike Simpson / 4d

It’s the Right Time to Stop the Overdose of Standardized Testing A bit of personal history: I live in the first state to launch statewide standardized assessments, back in 1969-70. Every single one of the 32+ years I taught, in every school, at least some of my Michigan students were taking state-sponsored standardized tests. Honestly, I didn’t think about it much. In the 1970s, we had the MEAP

Russ on Reading: 7 Ways to Help Young Writers

by Mike Simpson / 4d

7 Ways to Help Young Writers This week I have been reading a new biography of my literary hero, John Steinbeck, Mad at the World: A Life of John Steinbeck by William Souder. In the book Souder quotes Steinbeck's favorite writing teacher, Edith Mirrielees, an English professor at Stanford University, as saying, "Writing can't be taught, but it can be helped." This put me in mind of the work the p

Data breaches hit thousands of K-12 students, federal watchdog reports - POLITICO

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Data breaches hit thousands of K-12 students, federal watchdog reports Student academic records were most commonly compromised, including assessment scores and special education records. Thousands of K-12 students were affected by 99 reported data breaches in the United States over the last four years, according to a Government Accountability Office analysis published this week. U.S. GAO - Data

School assignment system set for major overhaul – The San Francisco Examiner

by Mike Simpson / 4d

School assignment system set for major overhaul SFUSD board weighing proposal that would limit choices, offer increased predictability School board members on Tuesday will discuss a long-awaited proposal to overhaul the notoriously complicated student assignment system. The San Francisco Unified School District has been working since 2018 to develop an alternative system that increases diversity

Good News! New York City’s Public Schools Are Surprisingly Safe | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Good News! New York City’s Public Schools Are Surprisingly Safe The New York Times reports that the public schools of New York City have been conducting random drug tests, and the results reveal a surprisingly small number of COVID-19 infections. The city might be a “national model.” For months, as New York City struggled to start part-time, in-person classes, fear grew that its 1,800 public sch

Some Schools Have No Teachers Willing to Return for ‘Phase One’ Reopening — Voice of San Diego

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Some Schools Have No Teachers Willing to Return for ‘Phase One’ Reopening The reality on the ground clashes with the narrative pushed by district leaders: that phase one services will be available to as many as 12,000 students as often as they need them. San Diego Unified leaders launched their “phase one” reopening this week to help the district’s most vulnerable students. But the launch appear

What we should be fighting for—Letter from a Lowell (and Mission) High School parent - SF PUBLIC SCHOOL MOM

by Mike Simpson / 4d

What we should be fighting for—Letter from a Lowell (and Mission) High School parent As you may have heard, the SFUSD Board of Education is considering a change to Lowell’s regular enrollment policy due to COVID and a lack of grades and test scores. We are doing this with the understanding that it’s much easier for all concerned to allow students to apply using the regular enrollment process for

Media “Experts” + Parental Zeal + Political Knee-jerk Legislation + Market Forces = Failing Reading, Again – radical eyes for equity

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Media “Experts” + Parental Zeal + Political Knee-jerk Legislation + Market Forces = Failing Reading, Again In the pre-pandemic world that seems much further in the past than it is, I traveled from South Carolina to Milwaukee in February of 2020 to speak at the Wisconsin State Reading Association (WSRA) annual convention. My public work had been dominated by refuting the “science of reading” move

Hybrid school might be worse than remote or all in-person school - Vox

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Hybrid school might be the worst of both worlds Part-time school during the pandemic might create as many problems as it solves. Hybrid learning was supposed to be an improvement. When school buildings closed in the spring due to the pandemic, students, teachers, and families all struggled with remote classes. But come fall, the virus was still raging across much of America. So many districts —

Money and Power in LAUSD Contests - LA Progressive

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Money and Power in LAUSD Contests “When you find hypocrisy in the daylight, look for power in the shadows” -Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, 10/13/20 Senator Whitehouse laid out beautifully on Tuesday the context surrounding Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation hearings in Washington as the pushing and pulling of ‘actors inside the frame of a puppet theater.’ He argues that not only are outside forces contr

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/2020/10/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos_17.html “Readers Respond: Should Politics Be Kept Out of the Classroom?” by Larry

Teacher Tom: "Radical Empathy"

by Mike Simpson / 5d

"Radical Empathy" In Rutger Bregman's book Humankind , he writes about an experiment in which psychologists told volunteers a sad story about a 10-year-old girl who was suffering from a deadly disease. She is, according to the story, on a waiting list for a life-saving treatment, but time is of the essence. The volunteers are told that they can move her up on the list, but they are instructed to

NYC Public School Parents: Questionable DOE contracts to be voted on Oct. 21 by the PEP -lack of compliance with student privacy law & lack of training

by Mike Simpson / 5d

NYC Public School Parents: Questionable DOE contracts to be voted on Oct. 21 by the PEP, concerns about DOE lack of compliance with student privacy law & ongoing issues about PEP process & lack of training Questionable DOE contracts to be voted on Oct. 21 by the PEP, concerns about DOE lack of compliance with student privacy law & ongoing issues about PEP process & lack of training I sent this me

CURMUDGUCATION: Call Made For DeVos To Cut Off Fraudulent College Chain

by Mike Simpson / 5d

Call Made For DeVos To Cut Off Fraudulent College Chain Last week, an assortment of organizations signed off on a letter to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos , from the AFT to the Feminists Majority Foundation to the Education Trust to the Young Invincibles . This crew came together to insist that the time has come for the department to finally cut the Center for Excellence in Higher Education (CE

NYC Educator: Making the Best of the Impossible

by Mike Simpson / 5d

Making the Best of the Impossible There's no magic bullet to ease our anxiety. There's no certain answer to solve our dilemmas. And no matter how bad things get, they can always get worse. We just had a positive case in our building. Of course our building doesn't look the way it usually does. More than half of our students are all remote, and most of those who aren't come in once or twice a wee

OCT 18

CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Leaf Watching Edition (10/18)

by Mike Simpson / 5d

Leaf Watching Edition (10/18) Well, it's really beautiful out in the world right now, so we've got that going for us. In the meanime, here's some reading from the week. There's a Better Way: Trust Based Observation Craig Randall guests at Peter DeWitt's EdWeek blog spot talking about a better way to handle teacher evaluations and, really, school management in general. Separate and Unequal: Schoo

A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door – Have You Heard

by Mike Simpson / 5d

A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door The hosts of your favorite education podcast have written a book! A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door will be out on November 17 and is available for pre-order now. If America’s public schools don’t survive the COVID-19 pandemic, it won’t just be due to the virus. Opponents of public education have long sought to dismantle our system of free, universal, and taxpayer-fun

Laura Chapman: Can Teachers Be Measured by the Same Methods Used for Cows? | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 5d

Laura Chapman: Can Teachers Be Measured by the Same Methods Used for Cows? Our wonderful reader Laura Chapman reports here on the origins of the laws that purport to measure teacher quality by the test scores of their students. The founding father of this methodology was the late William Sanders, an agricultural statistician who believed that the same productivity used to measure cows could be u

‘Out of Control’: When Schools Opened in a Utah Coronavirus Hot Spot - The New York Times

by Mike Simpson / 5d

‘Out of Control’: When Schools Opened in a Virus Hot Spot In a suburban Salt Lake City district, coronavirus cases spiked as students returned to their classrooms. On a Friday in mid-September, Sunny Washington got a text from another mother at her daughter’s high school in an affluent suburb of Salt Lake City. Three weeks into the school year, the number of coronavirus cases at the school was r

Schools and the Pandemic Recession | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

by Mike Simpson / 5d

Schools and the Pandemic Recession As a tempered optimist about the power of schools to shape the lives of both adults and children, this post, I confess, will depress readers. Stop reading if you already feel blue during the pandemic. I have no upbeat news. For schools, as for the rest of the economy, the news is downbeat. Uncertainty continues to surround any prevention and treatment of Covid-

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 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/2020/10/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos_17.html What Is The Most Simple & Best Lesson You Have Done On Information Litera

glen brown: "If you want students back in school buildings, it is time to act like it" - Ben Walker

by Mike Simpson / 6d

"If you want students back in school buildings, it is time to act like it" - Ben Walker Since the scientifically driven announcement in late July that the 2020-2021 school year would start remotely for the Anchorage School District, educators of all experiences and levels have worked tirelessly to provide a positive and successful learning environment for all students and families. Educators, in

VOTE NOW!!! | Bill Ayers (California Democratic Party Endorsements)

by Mike Simpson / 6d

VOTE NOW!!! | Bill Ayers VOTE NOW!!! Voter suppression is as American as cherry pie. The US is founded on war and conquest, land theft and forced removal, ethnic cleansing and genocide, kidnapping and a complex system of generational slavery based on African ancestry. Those are facts. None of the conquerors stopped and thought, Hmmmm…maybe Indigenous folks, or enslaved workers, or women should ha

EdWeek: Teacher Evaluations Resume, Despite Pandemic and Chaotic Conditions | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 6d

EdWeek: Teacher Evaluations Resume, Despite Pandemic and Chaotic Conditions Madeline Will wrote in Education Week that many states plan to resume teacher evaluations, despite the pandemic and the difficulties of teaching remotely and/or in-person. Some will incorporate student test scores, which is absurd. Many teachers believe this is unfair, since teaching conditions are adverse. Unfortunately

“Who’s Watching This Class?”: America’s COVID-Era Substitute Teacher Shortage | deutsch29: Mercedes Schneider's Blog

by Mike Simpson / 6d

“Who’s Watching This Class?”: America’s COVID-Era Substitute Teacher Shortage On November 09, 2020, my southern Louisiana school district will tentatively have all high school students return to the classroom every day. At this time, we are on a hybrid schedule in which approximately half of the students attend on alternating days. More students in attendance means an increased likelihood of COV

CURMUDGUCATION: US Education versus Confucius

by Mike Simpson / 6d

US Education versus Confucius Last Wednesday, the Education and State departments in DC announced that it was time to clamp down on Chinese influence in US classrooms. The letter, which appears over the signatures of Betsy DeVos and Mike Pompeo, addresses the issue of the Confucius Classroom program . The program is a cultural outreach of the Chinese government; it has been around for a while an

glen brown: K-12 re-openings: "there’s a lot we don’t know"/ At colleges and universities: "re-opening appears to be going much worse"

by Mike Simpson / 6d

K-12 re-openings: "there’s a lot we don’t know"/ At colleges and universities: "re-opening appears to be going much worse" “…According to the Covid Monitor , there have been more than 52,000 cases in K-12 schools as of October 15. That’s significant, but a small portion of the 3 million coronavirus cases in the US since August. At the very least, K-12 schools don’t seem to be a primary driver of

OCT 17

TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 10/17/20 #REDFORED #tbats #COVID-19 #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #BidenHarris2020 #YesOn15

by Mike Simpson / 6d

Big Education Ape TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 10/17/20 ‘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 Orleans and its charter schools - The Washington Post MARK WEBER:

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