Saturday, February 6, 2021

POSTS THIS WEEK 2/6/21

by Mike Simpson / 3min

Sports In the 15 years that I have been blogging and creating content for education publications, there are two subjects that always draw angry (and often nasty and insulting) comments: Women in leadership. And sports. There’s something about school sports that gets people a little overexcited. There’s a kind of passionate, Friday-Night-Lights loyalty toward school-based athletics that you don’t

John Thompson Reviews Derek Black’s “Schoolhouse Burning” | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 3min

John Thompson Reviews Derek Black’s “Schoolhouse Burning” John Thompson, retired teacher and historian in Oklahoma, reviews law professor Derek Black’s recent book, Schoolhouse Burning. Derek Black’s new book, Schoolhouse Burning: Public Education and the Assault on American Democracy, combines the best principles of the historical research that I was taught in the 1970s with the best of recent

Teachers Union President Weingarten: Vaccinations Aren't 'Precondition' For School Reopening, But Need To Be Priority

by Mike Simpson / 3min

Teachers Union President Weingarten: Vaccinations Aren't 'Precondition' For School Reopening, But Need To Be Priority Tweet LISTEN 23:20 Randi Weingarten on BPR | Feb. 5, 2021 Teachers Union President Weingarten: Vaccinations Aren't 'Precondition' For School Reopening, But Need To Be Priority Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said Friday on Boston Public Radio t

CDC Director Employing Magical Thinking About School Reopenings | gadflyonthewallblog

by Mike Simpson / 3min

CDC Director Employing Magical Thinking About School Reopenings Dr. Rochelle Walensky wants you to know it is not safe to go to any Super Bowl parties this weekend. “We must take prevention and intervention seriously,” the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Director said at a White House briefing on the Covid-19 pandemic Wednesday. “Whichever team you’re rooting for and whichever commercial is you

Lucy Craft Laney, Black Educator Hall of Fame Member - Philly's 7th Ward

by Mike Simpson / 3min

LUCY CRAFT LANEY, BLACK EDUCATOR HALL OF FAME MEMBER E’ry day this month, the Center for Black Educator Development , in partnership with Phillys7thWard.org , will highlight a Black Educator Hall of Famer. But, don’t forget, e’ry month is Black History Month . February is just the Blackest. Today, our featured Black Educator is Lucy Craft Laney . I want to wear out, not rust out. Lucy Craft Lane

CURMUDGUCATION: PA: Budget Kicks Off Another Round Of Charter Battles

by Mike Simpson / 3min

PA: Budget Kicks Off Another Round Of Charter Battles Governor Tom Wolf has released his budget proposal, and charter supporters are not happy. This is not the first time Wolf has made the charter school industry sad. Back in the summer of 2019 he fired some shots across their bows with an aggressive agenda for fixing Pennsylvania's messed up charter funding system. In return, they've launched a

Education Dept. Launches First Federal Effort To Track School Reopening | 89.3 KPCC

by Mike Simpson / 3min

Education Dept. Launches First Federal Effort To Track School Reopening Ever since the pandemic closed the nation's schools in March 2020, there has been no official national source for understanding where schools have reopened, how many hours of live instruction students are getting online and just how unequal the access to learning has been over the past 11 months. On Friday, the National Cent

NYC Public School Parents: Mitt Romney, time to educate yourself on class size!

by Mike Simpson / 3min

Mitt Romney, time to educate yourself on class size! President Biden’s Covid relief program includes $60 billion to prevent teacher layoffs and close budget gaps, and $50 billion to implement smaller classes, exactly what kids will need after the various losses and deprivations they’ve suffered over the last year. Yet during the Senate hearings for Education Secretary designee Miguel Cardona, Mi

A BUCKET OF NUGGETS – Dad Gone Wild

by Mike Simpson / 3min

A BUCKET OF NUGGETS “Politics will eventually be replaced by imagery. The politician will be only too happy to abdicate in favor of his image, because the image will be much more powerful than he could ever be.” ― Marshall McLuhan Sometimes these posts fly from my fingers like bolts of lightning, but the majority of the time the process is closer to extracting a splinter – lots of poking, proddi

Education Matters: CATCH UP WITH MR. G - THIS WEEK IN DCPS

by Mike Simpson / 3min

Education Matters CATCH UP WITH MR. G THIS WEEK IN DCPS The District can pretend they care with a video, but their actions speak a lot louder than their words. by Unknown / 4h Ask, and ye shall receive. Here is a DCPS PSA for staff; please watch it and try not to cry, spit out your mile or smash your computer. Warning that will be a challenge. Once again, no mention of the pandemic; you know it's

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

by Mike Simpson / 3h

TENNESSEE EDUCATION REPORT TENNESSEE EDUCATION REPORT EDUCATION POLITICS AND POLICY IN THE VOLUNTEER STATE TENNESSEE EDUCATION REPORT Do We Really Have to Do This? 200+ by Andy Spears / 1d I mean, really? The Tennessee House Republican Caucus sent out a tweet today bragging about the amount of money the state has invested in teacher pay over the past decade. Here it is: Republicans have passed $6

Saturday, January 30, 2021 TEACHER TOM THIS WEEK IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

by Mike Simpson / 3h

Teacher Tom TEACHER TOM THIS WEEK IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION Even If We've Forgotten 100+ 23h Their Play is Not Evidence That They are Fine 1K 2d It Feels Good to Do Good 300+ 2d "For Your Own Good" 200+ 4d Bird Brains 200+ 4d Disarming 200+ 8d Teacher Tom

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

by Mike Simpson / 3h

California Department of Education SSPI TONY THURMOND STUFF THIS WEEK FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Advisory Commission for Special Education (ACSE) Meeting Agenda for February 17, 2021 17h Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE) meeting agenda. Emergency Operating Cost Reimbursement Programs 1d The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service released po

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

by Mike Simpson / 3h

NewBlackMan (in Exile) THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) Jenn Nkiru’s Panafrican Imagination: Black Studies as Aesthetic Practice by Mark Anthony Neal / 12h 'liquid blackness, a research project on blackness and aesthetics at Georgia State University, in collaboration with the Film and Media Studies Department, Emory University, presented a public screening and artist talk dedicated to the aw

THIS WEEK Education Research Report

by Mike Simpson / 3h

Education Research Report Promoting School Choice with Questionable Evidence by Jonathan Kantrowitz / 2d A new report from the Hoover Institution’s Education Success Initiative purports to offer evidence-based guidance for policymakers in shaping more equitable outcomes from school choice programs. However, Christopher Lubienski of Indiana University reviewed Toward Equitable School Choice and f

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

by Mike Simpson / 3h

Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 I Tried A Number Of New Things In Classes This Week – And Most Of Them Failed by Larry Ferlazzo / 9h OpenClipart-Vectors / Pixabay I batted a thousand today: I introduced a separate new activity in each of my virtual classes today by saying I didn’t know if it was going to work or not, and, sure enoug

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

by Mike Simpson / 3h

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 Dana Milbank: The GOP Has an Anti-Semitism Problem by dianeravitch / 25min Dana Milbank is a regular opinion writer for the Washington Post. He wrote about the Republicans’ anti-Semitism problem. They refuse to denounce anti-Semitism. Bigotry mul

YESTERDAY

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Friday, February 5, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER #BLACKHISTORYMONTH

by Mike Simpson / 21h

Big Education Ape THE TOP BANANA TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Broward schools asked to investigate lawyer in 'spying' flap - South Florida Sun-Sentinel - https://www.sun-sentinel.com/coronavirus/fl-ne-broward-schools-union-investigation-request-20210205-qzzidoe5rbhtbiynzmhqyjm56y-story.html#new_tab via @SunSentinel Betsy DeVos Is Out — But Her Right-Wing Agenda Lives On | Ed Politics - https://edp

“Young, Gifted, & Black”: #BlackLivesMatterAtSchool Virtual Talent Showcase, Friday, 2/5, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM PST. – I AM AN EDUCATOR #tbats #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER #BLACKHISTORYMONTH

by Mike Simpson / 21h

“Young, Gifted, & Black”: #BlackLivesMatterAtSchool Virtual Talent Showcase, Friday, 2/5, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM PST. Don’t miss this culminating event of the week of action to support our Black youth! – I AM AN EDUCATOR “Young, Gifted, & Black”: #BlackLivesMatterAtSchool Virtual Talent Showcase, Friday, 2/5, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM PST. Don’t miss this culminating event of the week of action to support our

It’s not enough! | Live Long and Prosper

by Mike Simpson / 21h

It’s not enough! MASKS WORK… I feel like we’re living in an Idiocracy . Wisconsin’s Republican legislature is fighting the mask mandate ordered by the Democratic governor…because, of course they are. Wisconsin’s Legislature repealed Gov. Tony Evers’ mask mandate. He issued a new one. Fearing more deaths statewide, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers reissued a mask mandate Thursday, standing up to a Repub

Jo Ann Robinson, Black Educator Hall of Fame - Philly's 7th Ward

by Mike Simpson / 21h

JO ANN ROBINSON, BLACK EDUCATOR HALL OF FAME E’ry day this month, the Center for Black Educator Development, in partnership with Phillys7thWard.org, will highlight a Black Educator Hall of Famer. But, don’t forget, e’ry month is Black History Month. February is just the Blackest. Today, our featured Black Educator is Jo Ann Robinson Jo Ann Robinson was an eduactivist who wasn’t afraid to engage

CURMUDGUCATION: NH: Full Neo Voucher Assault On Public Ed

by Mike Simpson / 21h

NH: Full Neo Voucher Assault On Public Ed You may have heard that there is a bad voucher proposal up in New Hampshire. How bad is it? Pretty bad. I'll give you the history, the long detailed read, and the short story here. Attempts to gut public education in the granite state are not new. Back in 2017, the GOP made an attempt to push Education Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) through to, as always, d

Betsy DeVos is gone — but ‘DeVosism’ sure isn’t. Look at what Florida, New Hampshire and other states are doing. - The Washington Post

by Mike Simpson / 21h

Betsy DeVos is gone — but ‘DeVosism’ sure isn’t. Look at what Florida, New Hampshire and other states are doing Betsy DeVos is gone as education secretary — but what we’ll call “DeVosism” certainly isn’t. You only have to look at what Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, New Hampshire, Kansas and some other states are now doing to see that her agenda to privatize public education is alive and thrivi

Carol Burris: Cardona Is a Public School Guy | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 21h

Carol Burris: Cardona Is a Public School Guy Carol Burris, executive director of the Network for Public Education, watched the Senate confirmation hearings of Miguel Cardona for Secretary of Education. She was delighted to hear his responses on issues that matter to friends of the public schools. She wrote for this blog: On February 3, I tuned in and listened to Dr. Miguel Cardona’s confirmation

New Hampshire: “Historic” Turnout Against Proposed Universal Voucher Plan | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 21h

New Hampshire: “Historic” Turnout Against Proposed Universal Voucher Plan New Hampshire has a Republican Governor, Chris Sununu, who appointed the state Commissioner of Education, Frank Edelblut. The commissioner home-schooled his children. He hates public schools and would like to defund them. If you thought Betsy DeVos was bad because of her zeal for privatization, Edelblut is far worse. At th

Teacher Tom: Even If We've Forgotten

by Mike Simpson / 21h

Even If We've Forgotten I'm guessing, but we probably planted the tree around 1965 or 1966, but it could have been earlier. What I do know is that the tree wasn't always there. This would have made me around three or four when Dad, with my help, dug the hole in our front yard, right through the lawn we kids weren't supposed to dig up. We kept putting the sapling's rootball into the hole to measu

How Are the Children? U.S. Senate Republicans Don’t Worry About That. | janresseger

by Mike Simpson / 21h

How Are the Children? U.S. Senate Republicans Don’t Worry About That. This week a group of so-called moderate U.S. Senate Republicans proposed to negotiate with President Joe Biden about his proposed $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan stimulus bill. But even the ten senators, who profess themselves to be moderates and who came forward with a $618 billion alternative proposal, proved themselves w

Hybrid Teaching: Classroom Dilemmas | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

by Mike Simpson / 21h

Hybrid Teaching: Classroom Dilemmas With the pandemic, dilemmas have become legion. Is health and safety more or less important than the economy? Is wearing masks more or less important than personal liberty? When highly prized values conflict and the parent or teacher has to figure out compromises to manage the internal conflict, dilemmas pinch. Individual rights, family pressures, and communit

CURMUDGUCATION: Pandemic Lesson #1: Trust Matters

by Mike Simpson / 21h

Pandemic Lesson #1: Trust Matters There are many lessons to be learned from this mess, including lessons about the usefulness of government. Also, I'm sure, plenty of scientific disease stuff. But I notice that, particularly in the education arena, we keep coming back to trust. Black and brown families are hesitant to return to school buildings because they aren't sure they can trust the institu

NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER #BLACKHISTORYMONTH

by Mike Simpson / 21h

NewBlackMan (in Exile) NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/01/this-week-with-newblackman-in-exile-blm_30.html “Whitey on the Moon” or Summer Of Soul and the Legacy of the Harlem Cultural Festival by Mark Anthony Neal 38 by Mark Anthony Neal / 15h | @NewBlackMan | NewBlackMan (n Exile) Summer Of Soul (...O

Thursday, February 4, 2021 A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER #BLACKHISTORYMONTH

by Mike Simpson / 21h

Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/01/this-week-i

Marjorie Taylor Greene Removed from House Ed Committee | deutsch29: Mercedes Schneider's Blog

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Marjorie Taylor Greene Removed from House Ed Committee On February 04, 2021, the House of Representatives voted 230-199 to remove Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from her committee assignments (Education and Labor, and Budget). Eleven Republicans joined 219 Democrats in supporting Greene’s committee removal: Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) John Katko (R-NY) Fred Upton (R-MI)

The False Narrative of “Needy Kids vs Selfish Teacher Unions” | The Merrow Report

by Mike Simpson / 1d

The False Narrative of “Needy Kids vs Selfish Teacher Unions” The giant lumbering beast known as the US Economy–akin to a conveyor belt with countless moving parts–wants public schools to reopen. The beast needs workers, but right now too many adults are at home, supervising their children’s ‘remote learning.’ Open the schools, and the adults can go to work: it’s that simple…. But of course it i

NYC Educator: Nobody Wants to Talk to the Principal

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Nobody Wants to Talk to the Principal You know, any job you take in which you're a nominal leader of anything will be inconvenient. People don't always agree, and where there's disagreement, there's often blame as well. Someone is always mad at you for something or other. It's part and parcel of the job, no matter how much (or little) power you actually have. But usually, someone will stand up f

NANCY BAILEY: The 12 Point Covid-19 DISCONNECT Between Teachers and Those Who Want Schools Open Now!

by Mike Simpson / 1d

The 12 Point Covid-19 DISCONNECT Between Teachers and Those Who Want Schools Open Now! The 12 Point Covid-19 DISCONNECT Between Teachers and Those Who Want Schools Open Now! Pressure is being placed on teachers to return to in-person classes. Here’s why that’s a problem. 1. Precautions The CDC and Dr. Fauci and President Biden want all schools to return to in-person learning with precautions in p

NYC Public School Parents: NeQuan McLean on how DOE's "gifted" program is the fruit of a poisonous tree

by Mike Simpson / 1d

NeQuan McLean on how DOE's "gifted" program is the fruit of a poisonous tree See the eloquent letter below by NeQuan McLean, President of CEC 16 to Hazel Dukes, President of the NAACP NYS Conference and Christine L. Waters, Education Chair about the DOE "gifted" program. [One correction to this excellent letter: NYC DOE is not "the most well-funded public school system in the country." There are

FEB 04

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Wednesday, February 3, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER #BLACKHISTORYMONTH

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Big Education Ape THE TOP BANANA TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES NYC Educator: Nobody Wants to Talk to the Principal - http://nyceducator.com/2021/02/nobody-wants-to-talk-to-principal.html Don’t Listen to David Brooks - Progressive.org - https://progressive.org/public-school-shakedown/dont-listen-to-david-brooks-greene-210203/ Free Webinar Dealing With Learning Disabilities In Delaware On February 10

Rachel Levy Is Running for the Virginia House of Delegates. She Deserves Our Support! | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Rachel Levy Is Running for the Virginia House of Delegates. She Deserves Our Support! I have known Rachel Levy for about a decade as a strong and fearless supporter of public schools. She just announced her candidacy for the Virginia House of Delegates. I will help her in every way possible, including a donation to her campaign. I hope you will help her too. Dear Friends, It’s time. I’m ready. I

Shawgi Tell: Charter Schools Distort the Modern Socialized Economy | Dissident Voice

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Charter Schools Distort the Modern Socialized Economy | Dissident Voice Charter Schools Distort the Modern Socialized Economy Every year billions of public dollars and assets flow into the hands of private businesses like charter schools, leaving public schools, the economy, the public interest, and the nation worse off. This is due to the fact that competing owners of capital are using deregulat

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

by Mike Simpson / 1d

On Trans* Students and Level Playing Fields | Eclectablog

by Mike Simpson / 1d

On Trans* Students and Level Playing Fields Republican Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas spent some time today questioning President Biden’s nominee for Secretary of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardonas, and decided to focus on the issue of transgender students playing sports in school. Here’s what Sen. Marshall had to say… I’m going to take Mr. Marshall at his word, and instead of suggesting that he u

CURMUDGUCATION: More Absurd Learning Loss Data + Update: How Pandemic School Is Going In One Rural Area

by Mike Simpson / 1d

CURMUDGUCATION: More Absurd Learning Loss Data More Absurd Learning Loss Data Pandemic education has featured a great deal of chicken littling about "learning loss " that is largely ridiculous . Test manufacturers and folks in test-adjacent edu-biz endeavors are selling the picture of students as buckets and education as water, and now the education is just leaking out at a rate so alarming that

Caroline LeCount, Black Educator Hall of Fame - Philly's 7th Ward

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Caroline LeCount, Black Educator Hall of Fame E’ry day this month, the Center for Black Educator Development , in partnership with Phillys7thWard.org , will highlight a Black Educator Hall of Famer. But, don’t forget, e’ry month is Black History Month. February is just the Blackest. Today, our featured Black Educator is Caroline LeCount . Eduactivist Caroline LeCount, born in Philadelphia in 184

5 things we learned from Miguel Cardona’s confirmation hearing - Education Votes

by Mike Simpson / 1d

5 things we learned from Miguel Cardona’s confirmation hearing By Amanda Menas Dr. Miguel Cardona, President Biden’s nominee for Education Secretary and the first Latino to hold the position, spoke with the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions during a hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 2. Educators across the country were excited to hear from the former educator and union memb

The “Science of Reading”: A Movement Anchored in the Past – radical eyes for equity

by Mike Simpson / 1d

The “Science of Reading”: A Movement Anchored in the Past One of the defining moments of my first-year writing seminar is my reading aloud the first few paragraphs from A Report from Occupied Territory by James Baldwin. This essay in The Nation from July 11, 1966, offers students dozens of powerful examples of compelling and purposeful writing, Baldwin at his best. But the circumstances of the e

EdTrust and Other Groups Ask Cardona NOT to Allow Testing Waivers | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 1d

EdTrust and Other Groups Ask Cardona NOT to Allow Testing Waivers One of the first and most important decisions that Secretary-designate Miguel Cardona will make is whether to grant waivers to the states that want to suspend the annual federal testing mandated by the Every Student Succeeds Act. Some states–like New York–intend to request waivers, in light of the turmoil and unequal access to edu

Teacher Tom: Their Play is Not Evidence That They are Fine

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Their Play is Not Evidence That They are Fine We've all seen recordings of children playing in refugee camps and in war zones. In Peter Gray's book Free to Learn , he tells about the games Jewish children played even in concentration camps. They were games of survival, for the most part, like challenging one another to touch an electrified fence, but they were games and it was play. Children pla

Black & Smart: Stop Using Black Children as an Excuse to Open Your Schools | National Education Policy Center

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Black & Smart: Stop Using Black Children as an Excuse to Open Your Schools It’s been a while since I’ve written a blog. The Corona Virus has forced me to address so many things virtually, that the last thing I’ve had the energy for was sitting down in front of the computer for yet another thing. I didn’t even want to think about an Op-Ed. However, the current chatter about returning to schools h

What You Need to Know About Standardized Testing | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 1d

What You Need to Know About Standardized Testing Valerie Strauss posted this article that I wrote on her Washington Post site “The Answer Sheet.” The tests now required by federal law are worthless. The results are reported too late to matter. The reports to teachers do not tell them what students do or do not know. The tests tell students whether they did well or poorly on a test they took six

Kentucky back at cutting teacher pensions. – Fred Klonsky

by Mike Simpson / 1d

KENTUCKY BACK AT CUTTING TEACHER PENSIONS In 2018 the Republican Kentucky legislature and their Republican governor went after teacher pensions which resulted in a massive spontaneous revolt among their already low-paid teachers. The pension cutting bill passed but the court tossed it out. And the Republican governor, Matt Bevins was also tossed out in the next election, replaced by the state’s

WHAT’S THE PROBABILITY? – Dad Gone Wild

by Mike Simpson / 1d

WHAT’S THE PROBABILITY? “Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman.” ― Louis D. Brandeis, Other People’s Money And How the Bankers Use It I grew up a military brat and therefore spent my formative years on or nearby military bases. My father proudly served for 24 year

CURMUDGUCATION: Third Grade Reading Retention: Still A Bad Idea

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Third Grade Reading Retention: Still A Bad Idea A former colleague of mine, a math teacher, used to say, "Don't even teach primary students math. Just teach them to read. By the time they get to me, if they can read well, I can teach them all the math you want." That was many years ago, long before the rise of third grade reading retention laws . But those laws, while (usually) well-intentioned,

NYC Educator: Today in NY Post--Dog Bites Man

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Today in NY Post--Dog Bites Man Whenever I read headlines, I think about what they mean. In the Post is a story suggesting 60% of DOE employees would leave if they could . That's pretty shocking. There must be almost no morale whatsoever among us, you'd think. But what does it mean when they say, "if they could?" I mean, anyone could. I could send a nasty email and never go to work again. But he

Does New Generation of Teachers Also Care about Pay, Benefits, Retirement and Tenure? | Cloaking Inequity

by Mike Simpson / 1d

DOES NEW GENERATION OF TEACHERS ALSO CARE ABOUT PAY, BENEFITS, RETIREMENT AND TENURE? Teaching is one of the most altruistic professions. Despite constant attacks on their profession and ongoing public criticism from some quarters in the modern era— teachers are the willing and expert caretakers of our nation. Education is the compass of our democracy. As teacher shortages and high attrition con

New CA Digital Divide Innovation Challenge - Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

by Mike Simpson / 1d

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces $1 Million Competition to Spur Innovation that Closes the Digital Divide for California Students, Educators and Families State lawmakers also provide overview of latest proposals to expand connectivity SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today announced the new “California Digital Divide Innovation Challenge,” a global

FEB 03

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Wednesday, February 3, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER #BLACKHISTORYMONTH

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Big Education Ape THE TOP BANANA TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES The High Stakes of Miguel Cardona’s Senate Confirmation Hearing | Education News | US News - https://www.usnews.com/news/education-news/articles/2021-02-02/the-high-stakes-of-miguel-cardonas-senate-confirmation-hearing#new_tab on @USNews STATE’S REFUSAL TO FUND SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION FORCES STUDENTS BACK TO COURT | Education Law Center - h

by Mike Simpson / 2d

#BlackLivesMatterAtSchool Online Book Forum: BLM co-founder Opal Tometi will join Brian Jones, Denisha Jones, Jesse Hagopian and Marshé Doss in conversation about making Black Lives Matter– from the streets to the classroom. – I AM AN EDUCATOR Online Book Forum: BLM co-founder Opal Tometi will join Brian Jones, Denisha Jones, Jesse Hagopian and Marshé Doss in conversation about making Black Lives

Open Letter: Cancel the Standardized Testing Mandate for Spring 2021 | Schott Foundation for Public Education

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Open Letter: Cancel the Standardized Testing Mandate for Spring 2021 The Schott Foundation is proud to add our name, alongside our longtime partners and allies, to this open letter to Dr. Miguel Cardona, President Biden's pick for Secretary of Education. It's time to follow up on candidate Biden's promise on standardized tests: cancel the spring 2021 testing mandate. To: Secretary of Education N

Teacher Tom: To Do Good Feels Good

by Mike Simpson / 2d

To Do Good Feels Good One of the single most depressing days of my life was when the professor in a university course I was taking called The Art of Rhetoric argued the case against altruism. He made his claim, then invited a classroom full of idealistic youths to try to prove him wrong. "What about the hero who runs into a burning building?" we asked. "He knew he wouldn't be able to live with h

Teachers to Biden: What we want from your administration + Jamaal Bowman: ending the school-to-prison pipeline + Americans keep getting wrong about our unions - The Washington Post

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Teachers to Biden: What we want from your administration - The Washington Post Teachers to Biden: What we want from your administration Teachers around the country are eager to see where President Biden and his Education Department take federal policy to improve public schools — especially after four years of the Trump administration, which did not try to hide its contempt for public education. I

Mike Klonsky's Blog: Parkland

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Parkland I was in Parkland two days after the massacre in 2018. I did some interviews with parents, educators, and students at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School, all shaken with anger and despair, feelings that in the following months would inspire the energy behind a movement for gun control. It was a movement led by the students themselves, that would sweep the nation and play a critical r

Septima Clark, Black Educator Hall of Fame - Philly's 7th Ward

by Mike Simpson / 2d

SEPTIMA CLARK, BLACK EDUCATOR HALL OF FAME E’ry day this month, the Center for Black Educator Development , in partnership with Phillys7thWard.org , will highlight a Black Educator Hall of Famer. But, don’t forget, e’ry month is Black History Month . .. February is just the Blackest. Today, our featured Black Educator is Septima P. Clark. Septima Clark was an eduactivist, born in South Carolina

NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER #BLACKHISTORYMONTH

by Mike Simpson / 2d

NewBlackMan (in Exile) NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/01/this-week-with-newblackman-in-exile-blm_30.html Def Jam Presents: Through The Lens – Janette Beckman (Episode 1) by Mark Anthony Neal / 13h 'Episode One of Through The Lens , focusing on British-born photographer Janette Beckman , who lives and

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

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Diane Ravitch in Conversation with Raynard Sanders - Network For Public Education

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Diane Ravitch in Conversation with Raynard Sanders Start: Wednesday, February 10, 2021 • 7:00 PM • Eastern Daylight Time (US & Canada) (GMT-04:00) End: Wednesday, February 10, 2021 • 8:30 PM • Eastern Daylight Time (US & Canada) (GMT-04:00) The Network for Public Education invites you to join us for a video conference with NPE President Diane Ravitch. Diane's guest will be author and educator, R

A New Anthem for #BlackLivesMatterAtSchool: “False Knowledge,” by the middle school duo Triple S! – I AM AN EDUCATOR

by Mike Simpson / 3d

A New Anthem for #BlackLivesMatterAtSchool: “False Knowledge,” by the middle school duo Triple S! To support the artists, Triple S, please buy the track on Bandcamp at: https://southseattleswagger.bandcamp.com/track/false-knowledge Black Lives Matter at School has a new anthem for the movement! The middle school duo from Seattle, Triple S (South Seattle Swagger)–Mc’s Freeze 32 and Gucci Grape–is

Florida: Stop the Mega-Voucher Bill! | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Florida: Stop the Mega-Voucher Bill! The Constitution of the state of Florida bans the transfer of public funds to religious schools or any religious institution. The ban is unequivocal. It says: “No revenue of the state or any political subdivision or agency thereof shall ever be taken from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in ai

Alfie Kohn: The Tests Are Lousy, So How Could the Scores Be Meaningful? | National Education Policy Center

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Alfie Kohn: The Tests Are Lousy, So How Could the Scores Be Meaningful? Way before Waze, I listened to traffic reports on my car radio whenever I had to drive to the airport. Over time I came to realize that the information they broadcast was frequently wrong: I’d be caught in a jam on a highway that the radio had just told me was in good shape or, conversely, I’d be speeding along on a road I’d

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona’s First Big Test | janresseger

by Mike Simpson / 3d

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona’s First Big Test Miguel Cardona’s confirmation hearing as President Biden’s nominee for U.S. Secretary of Education is scheduled for this morning at 10 AM in the U.S. Senate Education Committee. Assuming Cardona is confirmed by the committee and subsequently on the floor of the U.S. Senate, his first big test as Education Secretary will be his decision

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THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Tuesday, February 2, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER #BLACKHISTORYMONTH

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Big Education Ape THE TOP BANANA TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES It’s Groundhog Day & Here Are Teaching & Learning Resources | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/?p=115304 on @Larryferlazzo Around The Web In ESL/EFL/ELL | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/?p=115299 on @Larryferlazzo The Five-Second Cancellation of Ab

Report: California ‘wasting’ millions of dollars funding online charter schools - The Washington Post

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Report: California ‘wasting’ millions of dollars funding online charter schools A new report on California’s online charter schools says that the state is “wasting hundreds of millions of dollars a year by funding these schools at a level far above their costs.” The report, published Tuesday by a California-based nonprofit research and policy organization called In the Public Interest, also says

As Trump Era Ends, “School Choice Movement” Must Confront Its Conservative Roots | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 3d

As Trump Era Ends, “School Choice Movement” Must Confront Its Conservative Roots Avi Wolfman-Arent writes at the Philadelphia PBS website WHYY about the uncomfortable dilemma of the “school choice movement.” At least some of the choice champions had not come to grips with the fact that their movement was funded by Trump supporters. Perhaps the reckoning might have caused them to wonder if they w

Black History Month 2021: “There’s a Lot Left to Be Done” by Ben Jealous | NewBlackMan (in Exile)

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Black History Month 2021: “There’s a Lot Left to Be Done” by Ben Jealous Black History Month 2021: “There’s a Lot Left to Be Done” by Ben Jealous | @BenJealous | special to NewBlackMan (in Exile) February is Black History Month – and Black people just made a whole lot of history. Joe Biden is our president and Donald Trump is not because Black organizers and voters decided that they would not be

Teacher Tom: "For Your Own Good"

by Mike Simpson / 3d

"For Your Own Good" When someone says, "I'm doing this for your own good," rest assured it is likely not for your own good. Or at least it's not in your best interest, according to your own judgement, in this particular moment, and usually it is decidedly against your best interest by any measure. It's the end argument for those who would compel, deceive, or censor, not always perhaps, but often

The State (SC): Read to Succeed bill would fail reading again in South Carolina – radical eyes for equity

by Mike Simpson / 3d

The State (SC): Read to Succeed bill would fail reading again in South Carolina Read to Succeed bill would fail reading again in South Carolina (hyperlink version below and link to The State in title) Currently, I am in year 37 of teaching in SC, serving as a high school English teacher at Woodruff High for 18 years before moving to teacher education at Furman University for the past 19 years. I

The Whole Truth about Kids, Schools, and Covid-19 (Derek Thompson) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

by Mike Simpson / 3d

The Whole Truth about Kids, Schools, and Covid-19 (Derek Thompson) The following article comes from The Atlantic , January 2021. “ Derek Thompson is a staff writer at The Atlantic, where he writes about economics, technology, and the media. He is the author of Hit Makers and the host of the podcast Crazy/Genius .” Those school boards and superintendents who continue to keep schools closed in lig

CURMUDGUCATION: Donors Choose Monday: Give This Book

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Donors Choose Monday: Give This Book Ms. Evans-Klopp is at Andrew T. Morrow in Central Islip, NY in a high-poverty neighborhood and trying to work through open-yet-restricted building work, and she'd like a class set of Give This Book a Title by Jarrett Lerner to give her third graders some excitement and a little creative break. You can help with even a small donation. And as always, I encourag

NYC Educator: UFT Executive Board February 1, 2021--Slogging Through the Pandemic Snowstorm

by Mike Simpson / 3d

UFT Executive Board February 1, 2021--Slogging Through the Pandemic Snowstorm UFT Secretary LeRoy Barr-- Welcomes us, says minutes passed. UFT Town Hall this Thursday. Carrie Prugh-- Tomorrow is mayoral town hall 5 PM UFT President Michael Mulgrew --Evaluation--Some superintendents and schools have been using attendance and time on Zoom as evaluation. That's not acceptable. There is a state law

Republicans Want to Slash Funding for Schools in COVID Relief Bill | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Republicans Want to Slash Funding for Schools in COVID Relief Bill Politico reports that Republicans have come up with a “compromise” COVID relief bill that slashes funding for schools. President Biden has proposed a $1.9 trillion relief bill, that includes $170 billion for schools. Republicans have offered a COVID relief bill of $600 billion with a dramatic cut for schools, reducing the school

Schools Matter: Part 2: Red State Governors Pick Up Where DeVos Left Off

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Part 2: Red State Governors Pick Up Where DeVos Left Off More than 15 years before the Trumpers arrived in DC to initiate the latest "back to basic stupidity" era in all things social, cultural, economic, and intellectual, there was another Republican, George W. Bush, who had his own particular backwards fixation, which found its way into education policy in general and K-3 reading instruction i

TOO MANY THREADS – Dad Gone Wild

by Mike Simpson / 3d

TOO MANY THREADS “What we learn from history is that no one learns from history” ― Otto von Bismarck Keeping up with everything that is going on in the education world is getting a little difficult. As the moves keep escalating and demands grow exponentially. In regard to MNPS, the COVID-19 tracker has remained under 7 all weekend and currently sits at 6.9. Today at 3:30 Dr. Battle will hold a p

LEO’S TV – radical eyes for equity

by Mike Simpson / 3d

LEO’S TV In the opening weeks of my first-year writing seminar, I introduce students to reading like writers ( here and here ), emphasizing that we are not reading to write literary analysis (as many of them have done for Advanced Placement Literature) but reading to explore and acquire moves and approaches for effective writing. Since the first essay assignment is a personal narrative, I provid

How a fight for an elementary school became a catalyst for positive change - Alternet.org

by Mike Simpson / 3d

How a fight for an elementary school became a catalyst for positive change As soon as Anna Grant's busy workday at Forest View Elementary School in Durham, North Carolina, ended, she would head toward the next school where she was needed. "I would get off work and immediately drive to meetings, press events, whatever we had organized [for the school]," she recalls. Her second school of concern w

MPS celebrates National Black Lives Matter Week of Action 2021 | Educate All Students, Support Public Education

by Mike Simpson / 3d

MPS celebrates National Black Lives Matter Week of Action 2021 The Milwaukee community will have opportunities to listen, learn, and add their voices to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) narrative in order to bring about positive change. Leading off Black History Month in February, the National Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action, February 1–5, 2021, is designed to engage the community in top

NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER #BLACKHISTORYMONTH

by Mike Simpson / 3d

NewBlackMan (in Exile) NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/01/this-week-with-newblackman-in-exile-blm_30.html Black History Month 2021: “There’s a Lot Left to Be Done” by Ben Jealous by Mark Anthony Neal / 18h | @BenJealous | special to NewBlackMan (in Exile) February is Black History Month – and Black pe

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

by Mike Simpson / 3d

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THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Monday, February 1, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER #BLACKHISTORYMONTH

by Mike Simpson / 5d

Big Education Ape THE TOP BANANA TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Academy Of Dover’s Very Awesome Snow Day Message | Exceptional Delaware - https://wp.me/p4JboV-5N5 via @ExcptlDelaware Parkland mom busts Marjorie Taylor Greene for backtracking on false flag shooting claims in private call http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRawStory/~3/fDuU8rA7kTk/ School Districts, Teachers Are At Odds Over Resuming In

Put Your Community on the #BlackLivesMatterAtSchool Week of Action Movement Map! – I AM AN EDUCATOR

by Mike Simpson / 5d

Put Your Community on the #BlackLivesMatterAtSchool Week of Action Movement Map! Click on this link to register your community as participating in the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action. Happy Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action! Seattle, Philadelphia, New York City, New Jersey, Portland, Los Angeles, Chicago, Milwaukee, Boston, Iowa, Baltimore, Washington, D.C.… These are just

Octavius V. Catto, Black Educator Hall of Fame - Philly's 7th Ward

by Mike Simpson / 5d

OCTAVIUS V. CATTO, BLACK EDUCATOR HALL OF FAME This Black History Month, we’ll highlight 28 Black Educators in our Hall of Fame . Octavius V. Catto was an educator and an activist; an eduactivist , born on February 22, 1839 in South Carolina. He was born in South Carolina, but he made his mark in Philadelphia. He attended the Institute for Colored Youth; an institution, founded as the African In

What you need to know about standardized testing - The Washington Post

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