In election year, how to teach democracy - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

In election year, how to teach democracy - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:

In election year, how to teach democracy

By Valerie Strauss

This was written by Mark Phillips, professor emeritus of secondary education at San Francisco State University. A version of this was published on his Edutopia blog , and he also publishes a monthly column on education for the Marin Independent Journal.

By Mark Phillips

School’s out. Politics is in. Five months of presidential political combat lie ahead. It’s time to consider the challenge of effectively educating kids to be active participants in our democratic process.

Here’s what we know:

(Joshua Roberts/Bloomberg)1) to effectively teach democracyyou have to model it, and

2) to teach students to be actively engaged citizens you have to enable them to practice this.

The Fraud Continues « Diane Ravitch's blog

The Fraud Continues « Diane Ravitch's blog:

The Fraud Continues

by dianerav

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan likes to boast of the success of the turnaround model, in which the principal is fired along with at least half the staff or the school is closed. “We can’t wait,” say the reformers. Here is a report from a turnaround school.
This email came today from a high school math teacher in a “turnaround” school:

       Pushing teachers to pass everyone is a widespread practice now.   Anyone who has more than a 15% failure rate in a class, not hard to do in math, is called downstairs and asked to explain what the problem is.  At this time of decision about who will be back next year, many see fit to pass almost everyone to stay 

How to Explain to Parents that Testing & Privatization are Harmful to Public Education – by Dov Rosenberg (Reblogged) « Continuing Change

WORKING LIST! Why Testing & Privatization are Harmful – Not Helpful – to Public Education – by Dov Rosenberg (Reblogged) « Continuing Change:

WORKING LIST! Why Testing & Privatization are Harmful – Not Helpful – to Public Education – by Dov Rosenberg (Reblogged)

by gatorbonbc

WORKING LIST! Why Testing & Privatization are Harmful – Not Helpful – to Public Education

by Dov Rosenberg on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at 1:12pm · (Reblogged)

High stakes tests & charter schools make public schools less effective:
   A) High stakes tests do not effectively gauge student ability, are harmful to children, and make public schools less effective.
   B) Less than 20% of privately-managed public schools (charter schools) are successful; they also segregate children and minimize the decision-making power of parents & the community, ultimately 

Outgoing Seminole County Superintendent Blasts Legislature, Florida’s Ed Accountability System | Scathing Purple Musings

Outgoing Seminole County Superintendent Blasts Legislature, Florida’s Ed Accountability System | Scathing Purple Musings:

Outgoing Seminole County Superintendent Blasts Legislature, Florida’s Ed Accountability System

by Bob Sikes

Telling the Orlando Sentinel that “we have an accountability system that is going to fall apart like a house of cards,” retiring Seminole superintendent of schools Bill Vogel  criticized state leaders for “making up the rules as they go along” without listening to educators.
Yowza.

Vogel, superintendent of Seminole County schools, has a reputation as a vocal leader in public education — and he has been speaking even more forcefully as he heads toward retirement at the end of the month.
Over-testing; a misguided teacher-evaluation system; inadequate funding; charter schools; and the 

Potter Williams Report: Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Running Interference for Foreign Staffed Charters in TN

Potter Williams Report: StudentsFirst CEO Running Interference for Foreign Staffed Charters in TN:

POTTER WILLIAMS REPORT: STUDENTSFIRST CEO RUNNING INTERFERENCE FOR FOREIGN STAFFED CHARTERS IN TN

STUDENTSFIRST CEO RUNNING INTERFERENCE FOR FOREIGN STAFFED CHARTERS IN TN

                    

So, let’s get this straight. The CEO of a billion dollar education nonprofit lobbying organization tries to influence a governor on an education bill while her ex-husband runs the state public schools system. 

StudentsFirst CEO Michelle Rhee recently penned a letter to Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam requesting he veto a bill intended to restrict the number of foreign staff hired for charter schools in the state.

Rhee, who lives part time in Nashville and part time in Sacramento with her new husband, keeps pushing the possibility of illegality in her dealings. Her ex-husband Kevin Huffman is Education 

Muskegon Heights plan to charter schools, cut $12-million deficit may be a first | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

Muskegon Heights plan to charter schools, cut $12-million deficit may be a first | Detroit Free Press | freep.com:

Muskegon Heights plan to charter schools, cut $12-million deficit may be a first

The emergency manager for Muskegon Heights Public Schools is taking an unprecedented approach to eliminate the district's severe debt -- one of the worst deficits among Michigan's schools -- by chartering the entire west Michigan district.

It's a first-of-its-kind maneuver in Michigan and one that others are watching with curiosity and a fair amount of skepticism.

"It's a novel way to think about it. And it may be the answer for those districts that are so far severely in deficit it may be the light at the end of the tunnel," said David Martell, executive director of the Michigan School Business Officials.

But, he said, "There's a lot of questions here for me, and I don't think (the answers) have seen the light of day yet."

The 1,400-student Muskegon Heights district would cease to educate children and turn that over to a charter management company, which would use per-pupil funding allocated for each child to operate the 

Online Auction to Sell Items from Muskegon Heights Public Schools

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Shanda DeWittFOX 17 Producer

7:31 a.m. EDT, June 19, 2012

MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich.—

The Muskegon Heights School District is selling all items not needed for the next school year at an online auction starting Tuesday, in an effort to try to get out of debt.

You can access the items at www.biddergy.com. So far, trucks, buses, and trailers are available to bid on, starting at $100.00. More items should be coming soon. The auction will run as long as the school system has items available.

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• E-Commerce Industry

The Muskegon Heights School District is transitioning from a public school, to a charter school. That's part of the plan to get the district out of a 12.4 million dollar debt.

Sunday links. « Fred Klonsky

Sunday links. « Fred Klonsky:

Sunday links.

by Fred Klonsky

John Dillon’s vocabulary of the week: Collective bargaining. As the numbers of unionized workers decreases so does the income of working people. People try to tell me we don’t need unions any more. I say, now more than ever.
Apple needs a union.
Here’s a video on Chicago’s campaign for an elected school board. If we can elect the people who filter the lake water for us to drink, why can’t we be trusted to pick the people who run our public schools?
Freya Reese answers the question, “What’s wrong with merit pay?” EVERYTHING!
One dead, 18 wounded in city shootings, including

Awareness Grows that High Stakes Tests Are Failing to Prepare Students for College | Scathing Purple Musings

Awareness Grows that High Stakes Tests Are Failing to Prepare Students for College | Scathing Purple Musings:

Awareness Grows that High Stakes Tests Are Failing to Prepare Students for College

by Bob Sikes

From reporter Chris Umpierre in the Fort Myers News-Press:

For many Southwest Florida students, receiving a high school diploma isn’t the end of their high school education.
About 70 percent of Edison State College’s incoming freshmen have to take at least one remedial course to learn the skills they should have learned in high school. About 50 percent of Hodges University’s incoming freshmen take remedial courses.
“Their writing scores are always an issue,” said Rita Lampus, Hodges’ vice president for student enrollment management. “We have two levels of English remedial courses and one level of math to get them up to speed.”
Nationally, 43 percent of students at two-year public intuitions and 29 percent at four-year public 

Ohio's 2002 Teacher of the Year on Charter schools | OhioDaily

Ohio's 2002 Teacher of the Year on Charter schools | OhioDaily:

Ohio's 2002 Teacher of the Year on Charter schools

Submitted by Derek K on Wed, 06/15/2011 - 10:42am.

So John Kasich likes to go around touting experts. He based his push for increased fees on Ohio's new casinos, because experts told him he should get much more from them.

Ohio's 2002 Teacher of the Year recently weighed in on charter schools. She called them a lousy investment. One would think that a teacher of the year might know a little about education. Think John Kasich will listen?

Here's the letter originally posted on the Columbus Dispatch.

"In the wake of the flurry of amendments being written regarding the proposed state budget, House Bill 153, I offer an idea to the legislators for an amendment on behalf of all the children of the state of Ohio.

"Let it be declared illegal to use Ohio's children for profiteering purposes; all state education dollars should go to educational institutions required to be run as nonprofit schools, whose only bottom line should be the quality of education for its students provided by licensed, certified superintendents, principals and educators in the classrooms."

As a parent, 29-year veteran teacher, tax-paying resident of Ohio and graduate of 

'Education for Sale': Gannett Louisiana series explores public-school reform | The Town Talk | thetowntalk.com

'Education for Sale': Gannett Louisiana series explores public-school reform | The Town Talk | thetowntalk.com:

'Education for Sale': Gannett Louisiana series explores public-school reform

 Education is big business in Louisiana, as it is elsewhere.

A sign outside BeauVer Christian Academy in DeRidder notes that "sholarship" applications are available at the school. BeauVer Christian has received initial approval from the state for 119 vouchers in Louisiana's Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence program. / The Town Talk

That is the focus of a series titled "Education for Sale: How Big Business Shapes Reform," started May 27 and continuing through today. The series is a project of Gannett Louisiana -- The Town Talk in Alexandria; The Daily Advertiser in Lafayette; The News-Star in Monroe; the Daily World in Opelousas; and The Times of Shreveport.

The intent: Follow the money that has come into the state and identify the companies and agencies that are benefiting, or poised to benefit, under the Louisiana Believes, the umbrella name for the state's efforts to reform K-12 public education.

The following summarizes the series:

--May 27, Vouchers: An analysis of the new statewide voucher program, which uses public funds to pay for tuition and some fees at private school for children in low-performing public schools whose meet certain income guidelines. In Central Louisiana, five private schools are participating in the program this year.

--June 3, ALEC model: Gov. Bobby Jindal's education legislation has 

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee: Quality of Public Education ‘Liar’ - CNBC.com - US Business News - CNBC

Michelle Rhee: Quality of Public Education ‘Dire’ - CNBC.com - US Business News - CNBC:

Michelle Rhee: Quality of Public Education ‘Dire’

Published: Friday, 22 Jun 2012 | 10:46 PM ET

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By: Bruno J. Navarro
Producer 

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 The state of public education in the United States is at a critical point, and the nation cannot wait any longer to improve the system, StudentsFirst founder and CEO Michelle Rheesaid Friday.

“Ii don’t think there is any one cause for the problems we face in public education today. There are, quite frankly, a lot of opportunities,” she said on CNBC’s “The Kudlow Report.”

Rhee’s comments came the same month that a Gallup poll found that just 29 percent of respondents had a “great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in 

Obama marks 1972 law lifting education barriers to girls | Reuters

Obama marks 1972 law lifting education barriers to girls | Reuters:

Obama marks 1972 law lifting education barriers to girls

WASHINGTON | Sat Jun 23, 2012 2:46pm EDT

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama, marking the 40th anniversary of landmark legislation that lifted barriers to girls and women in education and school sports, said on Saturday the law had achieved far-reaching gains in improving equality between the sexes.

In an op-ed piece published in Newsweek magazine, Obama said the 

Missouri Education Watchdog: Lean to the Right or Left; Common Core is a Disaster...The Sunday Education Weekly Reader 06.24.12

Missouri Education Watchdog: Lean to the Right or Left; Common Core is a Disaster...The Sunday Education Weekly Reader 06.24.12:

Lean to the Right or Left; Common Core is a Disaster...The Sunday Education Weekly Reader 06.24.12

by stlgretchen

Common Core is a bipartisan disaster. The Left & Right have sold us out.

Welcome to the Sunday Education Weekly Reader for 06.24.12.  

This week will consist of a reposting of Susan Ohanian's excellent blog entitled School-Standards Pushback: Conservative Groups Oppose National 'Common Core' as an Intrusion on States.

Susan has corresponded with me over the last year or so and while we may have differences in thoughts about how education can/should be reformed, we can find common ground in our concern about common core state standards and longitudinal data systems supplying personal data about student/families to various federal agencies.  Politically we may not see eye to eye on all issues, but taking the politics out of common core/LDS and focusing solely on the issues, it is obvious these 

Five Harmful “Reform” Ideas « Diane Ravitch's blog

Five Harmful “Reform” Ideas « Diane Ravitch's blog:

Five Harmful “Reform” Ideas

by dianerav

When you read Bruce Baker’s work, you hear a fresh and thoughtful voice in the education debates.

I wish that President Obama was listening to him instead of the number-crunchers now in control of the U.S. Department of Education.

Bruce Baker is an economist of education at Rutgers University. Unlike many economists, he was a teacher in public and private schools before he became an academic. So he has a depth of knowledge and understanding and empathy that many others in his field lack.

In his latest blog, he reviews some of the truly terrible reform ideas of the day.

The Perils of Privatization

by dianerav

Nobel-Prize winning economist Paul Krugman has an important article in the New York Times. Krugman reflects on a major investigative series in the newspaper about privatized prisons in New Jersey, run by for-profit corporations..

The prisons described in the articles are akin to “hell on earth — an understaffed, poorly run system, with a demoralized work force...”

Krugman says we should read the story in the “broader context of a nationwide drive on the part of America’s right to privatize government functions, very much including the operation of prisons.”

Aside from making money, you might think that the motivation for privatization is the conservatives’ “belief in the magic of the marketplace, in the superiority of free-market competition over government planning. And that’s 

Here Are Some Fun Websites

by dianerav

Readers sent these to me.

I liked them.

I think you will like them too.

Daniel Pink says really useful things about motivation here. I enjoyed his book Drive and recommend it.

This one explains research showing how people can be identified by the way they fill in their Scantron bubbles. Isn’t it good to know that the bubble tests have an auxiliary value?

This one explains how some of our most important problems get solved while we aren’t thinking about them.

The point is that some really creative thinking happens when we are daydreaming or gardening or dozing or 

A Scholar in Michigan Defends the Schools

by dianerav

I have been hoping that professors would step up and join the struggle to save our nation’s public schools from the stealth attacks on them. I don’t know if I can use the word stealth any more. It’s out inrt he open, as the privatizers grow bolder and more confident. What other political movement can claim bipartisan support, even as it seeks to destroy a basic public institution?
Rodney Clarken, a teacher educator in Michigan, stepped up to the plate. He was outraged by the constant attacks on his students, his graduates, and the schools they work in. He wrote the following comment, which includes a link to his book refuting the attacks. I urge you to read it.

I began sharing some reactions to Michigan governor’s special message on education reform with the teacher education faculty at my university. Since then it has morphed into a book that I have published online called Education Under Attack-What Schools Can and Cannot Do and How Popular

Will This North Carolina Judge Protect the State’s Children?

by dianerav

On Monday, a Superior Court judge in Wake County, North Carolina, will decide whether to permit the for-profit corporation K12 to open an online charter school for the state of North Carolina. K12 received preliminary approval from the Cabarrus school district, after K12 promised the district 4 percent of its revenues. That’s a nice commission for this little district but a disservice to the other children of North Carolina.
The majority of school boards in the state oppose the online school, because its revenues will come directly out of their public school budgets. By opening this school, students across the state will have more crowded classrooms and fewer resources.
Numerous studies have shown that online schools get worse results than brick-and-mortar schools. Their 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 6-23-12 #SOSCHAT

Diane Ravitch's blog

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG 

Diane Ravitch's blog