A quiet New Year’s eve at home. Then get ready to fight, tell hard truths and bring backup. « Fred Klonsky's blog

A quiet New Year’s eve at home. Then get ready to fight, tell hard truths and bring backup. « Fred Klonsky's blog

A quiet New Year’s eve at home. Then get ready to fight, tell hard truths and bring backup.

by Fred Klonsky

It will be a quiet evening at home for Anne, me and Ulysses.

We just got home from a two day drive from New York to see family and friends. Despite the blizzard and the cold, there wasn’t a bad moment.

Of course, we didn’t need to get to work, get a car out of a parking space or need an ambulance.

Naturally there are rumors going around NY that the disaster of a clean-up was somehow caused by the union workers in the Sanitation Department who were out to punish the Mayor for cutting the budget and laying off workers.

It wouldn’t surprise me if the source of this rumor was the Mayor’s office. Isn’t it just like an uber manager to cover his ass when things go bad. This mayor-manager loves blaming unions any chance he gets. Witness his

Federal job money funds bonuses in Wyoming schools

Federal job money funds bonuses in Wyoming schools

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BEN NEARY Associated Press | Posted: Friday, December 31, 2010 1:23 pm | No Comments Posted

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CHEYENNE — The U.S. Department of Education persisted in giving Wyoming more than $17 million this fall for a program intended to avert teacher layoffs even after Gov. Dave Freudenthal told the federal agency the energy-rich state didn't need the money.

Although rebuffed by Freudenthal, the U.S. Department of Education then pledged the money straight to the Wyoming Department of Education. The state agency in the past several weeks has approved applications from school districts around the state to use the federal windfall to pay for bonuses and other benefits for teachers and school employees.

While some Wyoming school districts intend to pay bonuses, most will use the money to cover rising health insurance and pension costs that otherwise would come out of employees' pockets. A few district

Democurmudgeon: Profit Seeking Philanthropists, education Deformers, pushing Charter and Voucher Schools.

Democurmudgeon: Profit Seeking Philanthropists, education Deformers, pushing Charter and Voucher Schools.

Profit Seeking Philanthropists, education Deformers, pushing Charter and Voucher Schools.

by Democurmudgeon

Next time you hear someone talking about charter and voucher schools, keep in mind the discussions talking points had to come from somewhere, and the below abbreviated article lays it out clearly:

The Cuckingstool: Just below the surface of every aspect of education discourse lies the education deform movement. It’s not like the creation of the school choice movement by conservative philanthropies in the 1980s is any secret. People For The American Way (Norman Lear's outfit) had reported extensively on the movement in its 1995 report Buying A Movement (full pdf):

The Bradley Foundation’s involvement in the issue of school vouchers is a useful illustration of a single foundation’s comprehensive funding strategy around the development of a single political

Subject Matter Expertise and Successful Teaching

Subject Matter Expertise and Successful Teaching

This topic is dear to me. I have had this conversation with a colleague several times over the last couple of years. He contends there is no correlation between advanced degrees and successful teaching. I contend that may be true to an extent, but more knowledge, whether it is subject matter or pedagogical knowledge, can never be a bad thing. What I do know

School Tech Connect: The Great Mystery of American Education

School Tech Connect: The Great Mystery of American Education

The Great Mystery of American Education

by effacethefacade@yahoo.com (Tim)

Mike Klonsky puts it in so many words.

I think the point of departure is here:

Mayor Bloomberg bids farewell to outgoing Schools Chancellor Joel Klein with pat on the back

Fact Check: Break out the hot cocoa. City says tomorrow is a snow day | GothamSchools

Mayor Bloomberg bids farewell to outgoing Schools Chancellor Joel Klein with pat on the back

BY KATHLEEN LUCADAMO
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Friday, December 31st 2010, 2:29 PM

Wenig/AP

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, center, speaks while outgoing Chancellor of New York City Public Schools Joel Klein, left, and the new Chancellor Cathie Black look on during a news conference at City Hall Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010.

Mayor Bloomberg had kind words for Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, who stepped down Friday after an eight-year stint, and predicted his successor will have a tough job because of budget cuts.

"The city owes Joel Klein a great debt of gratitude," Bloomberg gushed during his weekly radio show on WOR.

Klein, the first New York schools boss to serve under mayoral control and the city's longest-serving chancellor, laid a solid foundation for future education leaders, said Bloomberg.

"Joel is a change agent. He is dedicated. He

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/education/2010/12/31/2010-12-31_mayor_bloomberg_bids_farewell_to_outgoing_schools_chancellor_joel_klein_with_pat.html#ixzz19iogrAPL

Year In Review 2010: This Is It — The Jose Vilson

Year In Review 2010: This Is It — The Jose Vilson

Year In Review 2010: This Is It

by Jose

Michael Jackson, This Is It, Rehearsal

In the last couple of years, these blogs have been exercises in thorough research and reflectiveness. Isn’t that what the end of the year should mark, anyways? A sense that we’re going to take a few hours and commemorate the last 365 days by remembering what the hell just happened and wash it away with a little alcohol and the energy of any group willing to share in this purging activity. Unfortunately, we never get the opportunity to carry that ebullience into the new year. Like our new year’s resolutions, we get on the treadmill for the first couple of weeks only to realize that running in place doesn’t help us with actually running away from the lessons we should have learned the previous years.

For instance, when 2009 ended, we entered 2010 hoping we’d be able to convert our bad fortunes into good stock the very next week. It started working until the tragedy in Haiti erupted. My ancestors yelled out to the world and the average person responded through donations to non-governmental organizations and pleas to our

This Week In Education: Congress: "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" About Highly Qualified Teachers

This Week In Education: Congress: "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" About Highly Qualified Teachers

Congress: "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" About Highly Qualified Teachers

by Alexander Russo

One thing Congress didn't get done during its lame duck session was to end the long-running practice of not telling low-income parents that their children aren't getting highly qualified teachers -- this despite an October court decision denouncing the practice. To be fair, Congress has been ducking this issue since 2004, ostensibly at the behest of TFA and other alt cert providers who don't want their members unfairly stigmatized by being, well, unqualified. Changing that practice now would "cause

Seattle Public Schools community blog: Open Thread Friday

Seattle Public Schools community blog: Open Thread Friday

Open Thread Friday

by Melissa Westbrook

Open Thread Friday - last one of the year on the last day of the year.

We could do a recap of this year - how did the first year of the NSAP work out? how long will the district pay attention to the audit response? how is curriculum alignment going? three levies down and now one more this year to go?

We could prognosticate on what's coming up this year: another audit report at the end of January, the NSAP transition plan for 2011, more alignment (this time for science and social studies), School Board elections.

My prediction is that the Superintendent will be gone by this time next year. Probably right after the school year ends. I think the Board has already started to see her as a liability and are getting very frustrated with her responses to their questions and her inability to make this district better (at least with the day-to-day

The Ave: This model of paying K-12 teachers is a game of chicken | PubliCola - Seattle's News Elixir

The Ave: This model of paying K-12 teachers is a game of chicken | PubliCola - Seattle's News Elixir

The Ave: This model of paying K-12 teachers is a game of chicken

By Josh Feit, Friday, December 31, 2010 at 9:44 AM
0 Comments and 1 Reaction

More on last night’s Cola meet-and-greet and Q&A with Seattle’s delegation in Olympia.

As Erica reported in her liveblog from the event, a public school teacher in the back row got off a good question about ed reformers like Rep. Reuven Carlyle adding responsibilities to teachers’ workloads, but not increasing pay.

The Ave., a blog about U.W. politics and policy, picked up on the question with the higher-ed perspective.

This model of paying K-12 teachers is a game of chicken. The American public, through its politicians, has come to treat the public schools as a grim necessity .. like the need for a police force to deal with other people’s problems or sewer workers to keep the drains flowing. They, the public, want services for the lowest possible price. They do not want to see the jails or the sewers or the schools.

The unions’ classical answer has been to address pay on a per hour basis and negotiate work rules . Opposition to charter schools and merit pay reflects a

Quote of the Day: Diane Ravitch (@DianeRavitch) on Twitter

Diane Ravitch (@DianeRavitch) on Twitter

‎@DianeRavitch

Happy New Year. Keep thinking, writing, speaking out. 
Do not be afraid. May 2011 bring better times for us all. Diane Ravitch


Go to Diane Ravitch Web Site

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: FORGET THE IDEAL, LAUSD, AND GIVE THE KIDS A BREAK

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: FORGET THE IDEAL, LAUSD, AND GIVE THE KIDS A BREAK

FORGET THE IDEAL, LAUSD, AND GIVE THE KIDS A BREAK

by smf

Daily Breeze Editorial 12.29.2010 - In an ideal world, the Los Angeles Unified School District wouldn't need to tap corporate sponsors to pay for sports programs, Academic Decathlon or field trips. There would be enough money to cover these important enrichment and extracurricular activities that help round out an education. But, there is nothing ideal about the LAUSD these days. The district

More On The PISA Tests - The Truth Is Coming Out

More On The PISA Tests - The Truth Is Coming Out

Well, more on those pesky PISA tests which have given the education pundits fodder for bashing teachers and public education. It seems now that the truth is beginning to emerge, a truth any educator could have told the pundits right from the start. Take a look at the NY Times article. It just

Darell Hammond: Saving Outdoor Play: 10 New Year's Resolutions for Parents

Darell Hammond: Saving Outdoor Play: 10 New Year's Resolutions for Parents

Saving Outdoor Play: 10 New Year's Resolutions for Parents

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Read More: Childhood Obesity , Creativity , Imagination , New Year's Resolutions , Parks , Play , Playground ,Living News

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In many ways, it's been a good year for those of us who are passionate about outdoor play. As my organization KaBOOM! continues to fight against our country's play deficit, our first challenge is convincing people that such a deficit exists. This past year just may have marked a turning point. Here are some highlights:

• Childhood obesity has become part of our national conversation--thanks in large part to the First Lady's Let's Move initiative and the recent passing of the child nutrition bill.


• A study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which found that only one in five homes has a park within a half-mile, suggested that "access to parks, playgrounds, and recreation centers may lead to other healthy lifestyle choices, such as using modes of active transportation--like biking or walking to a park location."


• The Kaiser Family Foundation found that the daily screen time for children ages 8-18 hovers around 7.5 hours per day. A documentary released this year, Play Again, investigated the consequences of increased screen time and the parallel nature deficit by unplugging six teenagers and bringing them on a wilderness adventure.