Book illuminates UFT's role in struggles over teacher selection, diversity in NY | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Book illuminates UFT's role in struggles over teacher selection, diversity in NY | Philadelphia Public School Notebook:

Book illuminates UFT's role in struggles over teacher selection, diversity in NY

by Ron Whitehorne on Sep 13 2011

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In 1968, the United Federation of Teachers(UFT) went on strike over the involuntary transfer of 19 teachers by a newly empowered community-controlled school board in the city’s Ocean Hill-Brownsville neighborhood. The controversies at the heart of that bitter strugglelive on in current debates over the methods of teacher selection, the role of seniority and due process in teacher assignment, and the appropriateness of affirmative action in the composition of urban teaching corps.

Then, as now, the role of educators of color in urban school districts was an issue that sparked controversy. In recounting how rules for teacher selection evolved in New York, Christina Collins' book, “Ethnically Qualified”, Race, Merit and the Selection of Urban Teachers, 1920-1980, illuminates the failure of the city's teachers' unions to effectively challenge the exclusion and marginalization of

Liberal think tank’s support for charter schools ignores the facts. « Fred Klonsky's blog

Liberal think tank’s support for charter schools ignores the facts. « Fred Klonsky's blog:

Liberal think tank’s support for charter schools ignores the facts.

by Fred Klonsky

The Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank, has issued a report calling for more charter schools as a key solution to what they think ails US schools.

But a review of the report by the National Education Policy Center (NEPC), housed at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education, with funding from the Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice, calls the report “a dangerous guide for those policymakers looking to turn around struggling schools.”

Charting New Territoryargues that charter school operators should have a more prominent role in “fixing” America’s consistently low-performing high schools. The report based this recommendation on the experiences of the Los Angeles and Philadelphia school districts. However, Lazarín overlooks preliminary research on Philadelphia’s charter “turnarounds,” which showed an increase in the number of uncertified, inexperienced teachers.

Lazarín’s report calls for expanding Charter Management Organization autonomy over all aspects

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » PSAT for 9-13-11: Help save Troy Davis’s life

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » PSAT for 9-13-11: Help save Troy Davis’s life:

PSAT for 9-13-11: Help save Troy Davis’s life

This is not my usual Public Schools Action Tuesday suggestion, but justice for one person is critical to creating justice for our children and for all people. When justice has clearly been denied, all of us have to speak out. The case of Troy Davis, who is scheduled to be executed in Georgia next Wednesday, cries out for public outrage.

Here’s what you can do.

1) Sign the petition set up by Troy Davis’s sister here.

2) If you are a teacher, join the “Teach Troy” campaign which was initiated by Chicago educators, activists and artists. They are calling on all educators to interrupt their regular teaching schedules this week to dedicate a class period to “TEACH TROY.” Educators for Troy have created an emergency “Teach Troy” curriculum on their newly launched blog. The website provides links to readings and videos about the case of Troy Davis and suggestions for student projects and assignments. The site also includes links to simple, independent actions that students can take to help save Troy’s life.

3) Write to the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Many people have been writing, Tweeting, and Facebooking about Troy Davis over the past few days. Here’s an example from NAACP CEO and President Ben Jealous:

Guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

It’s the foundation of our justice system, built to serve and protect the wrongly

Serving Latino Students From One Hundred Different Angles – Lily's Blackboard

Serving Latino Students From One Hundred Different Angles – Lily's Blackboard:

Serving Latino Students From One Hundred Different Angles

Sep 13th, 2011

by LilysBlackboard.

Lily was invited to share her vision at the Hispanic Congressional Caucus Institute’s panel entitled “Creating a Diverse and High Quality Teaching Workforce for the 21st Century” . She spoke about the importance of serving a diverse student population and about the role of NEA in making sure all children receive a quality public education.

Check out the video:

More on the SGP debate: A reply « School Finance 101

More on the SGP debate: A reply « School Finance 101:

More on the SGP debate: A reply

by schoolfinance101

This new post from Ed News Colorado is in response to my critique of Student Growth Percentiles here:http://schoolfinance101.wordpress.com/2011/09/02/take-your-sgp-and-vamit-damn-it/

I must say that I agree with almost everything in this response to my post, except for a few points. First, they argue:

Unfortunately Professor Baker conflates the data (i.e. the measure) with the use. A primary purpose in the development of the Colorado Growth Model (Student Growth Percentiles/SGPs) was to distinguish the measure from the use: To separate the description of student progress (the SGP) from the attribution of responsibility for that progress.

No, I do not conflate the data and measures with their proposed use. Policy makers are doing that and doing

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » It’s about the profit, stupid

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » It’s about the profit, stupid:

It’s about the profit, stupid

by admin

Please take a few minutes to read this sharp analysis of why the Penny Pritzkers of America suddenly seem to care about our children’s education, by David Sirota in Salon.

Here’s a taste:

On one side are self-interested teachers unions who supposedly oppose fundamental changes to schools, not because they care about students, but because they fear for their own job security and wages, irrespective of kids. In this mythology, they are pitted against an alliance of extraordinarily wealthy corporate elites who, unlike the allegedly greedy unions, are said to act solely out of the goodness of their hearts. We are told that this “reform” alliance of everyone fromRupert Murdoch to the Walton family to leading hedge fundersspends huge amounts of money

90 school day minutes wasted on testing – I rest my case

by admin

Take a look at this photo, from the Tribune’s story this morning about school days in state school districts being nearly as short as Chicago’s.

The time distribution for this school day in Rondout School in suburban Lake Forest provides 90 minutes — the longest period of any during the day — for “ITBS testing,” 10:15 to 11:45 am.

You can’t tell from the schedule if this is actual testing (perhaps pre-testing for the year, since this is a

In Video Message, Vice President Biden Calls on New Generation to Take Action in Preventing Dating Violence and Sexual Assault at School and On Campus | The White House

In Video Message, Vice President Biden Calls on New Generation to Take Action in Preventing Dating Violence and Sexual Assault at School and On Campus | The White House:

In Video Message, Vice President Biden Calls on New Generation to Take Action in Preventing Dating Violence and Sexual Assault at School and On Campus

On 17th Anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, Vice President Biden Says “1 is too Many” Youth Victims of Dating Violence and Sexual Assault

Washington, D.C. – Earlier today, in a video message tweeted by @VP, Vice President Biden called on high school and college students to share their ideas for how to prevent dating violence and sexual assault at their schools and on their college campuses. Over the next two weeks, young men and women are invited to join this important conversation by submitting their ideas via the new whitehouse.gov/1is2many page or by using the hashtag #1is2many on Twitter.

Despite the significant progress made to reduce violence against women since the landmark Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) – authored by then-Senator Biden – was signed into law on September 13, 1994, young women aged 16-24 continue to experience the highest rates of rape and sexual assault. One in five young women will be a victim of sexual assault during college, while one in ten teens have been physically hurt on purpose by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the last year.

“The only way we’re going to stop it is for all of us to speak up and act and make it clear that violence against women will not be tolerated at your school, on your campus, at any time, for any reason period,” Vice President Biden says in the video message. “No means no. No means no if she’s drunk or you’re sober. No mean no if you’re in a dorm room or on the street. No means no even if she said yes first and changed her mind. No means no, no matter what.”

“I am asking all of you to help get this message out, all across the country, on every single campus in the country,” the Vice President continues. “I want to know from you…what has your school done to make you feel safer? What could they do that they’re not doing, to make you feel safer? What ideas do you have to help prevent dating violence and sexual assault and make campuses safer for everyone?”

For over 20 years, Vice President Biden has led the fight to combat violence against women. With the introduction of VAWA, then-Senator Biden exposed high rates of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking experienced by women every day in this country. Over the past year, in response to the high rates of violence and abuse young women are still experiencing, the Vice President has refocused his longstanding commitment to reducing violence against women specifically on teens and young women aged 16-24.

In April, the Vice President announced comprehensive guidance with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to help schools, colleges and universities better understand their obligations under federal civil rights laws to prevent and respond to the problem of campus sexual assault.

In July, the Vice President, with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, launched the “Apps Against Abuse” challenge – a national competition to develop an innovative software application, or “app,” that provides young adults with tools to help prevent sexual assault and dating violence in real time. The winner of the challenge will be announced next month.

Privatizing Teaching - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher

Privatizing Teaching - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher:

Privatizing Teaching

by Nancy Flanagan

Latest news from the Mitten State: Legislators propose privatizing teaching. Lots of ways to accomplish this, including designating Michigan a "right-to-teach" state, preserving the right to collectively bargain for police, firefighters and private-industry unions, but making teacher unionizing illegal.

The idea of hiring free-lance "teacherpreneurs" is thrilling to management types-- they picture savvy school principals and superintendents sorting through crates of top-notch applications, a la Zeke Vanderhoek. What an exciting decision: whether to go with the gung-ho Harvard grad who's willing to teach 200 kids now that the contractually mandated cap of 150 is gone--or should they take the newly trained, in-state teacher so desperate for a job she'll agree to reduced starting salary and advising the junior class?

Starting an on-line "credit recovery" program for kids who've dropped out might be another way to turn an ordinary public school district into a lucrative business venture. In fact, once we've dropped the facade of being a publicly

Can you name successful parent coup? - Class Struggle - The Washington Post

Can you name successful parent coup? - Class Struggle - The Washington Post:

Can you name successful parent coup?

By Jay Mathews

Joseph Hawkins, senior study director at the Rockville.-based research group Westat, read my recent attack on the Parent Trigger Law in California and issued a challenge:

“If we put 10 hot-shot education reporters together in a room and asked this question I think the answer would be zero: ‘In the past 10 years of school reform, can you list any schools where a parent revolution took place?’”

Hawkins said he is talking about a successful parent rebellion--

Stand up to Cyberbullying | Common Sense Media

Stand up to Cyberbullying | Common Sense Media:

Stand up to Cyberbulling

When you hear the word "cyberbullying," the victim and bully come to mind. What about the bystanders? These silent witnesses play a big part in the vicious circle of bullying. That's why speaking up has never been more important.

Make the promise to start the conversation with your kids

	To teach my kids to stand up -- and not stand by -- when they witness bullying
	To be aware of what my kids are doing online
	To educate myself about cyberbullying as it relates to my kids' ages

Are Michigan Lawmakers Taking their Cue from Ann Coulter: Teachers Useless? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

Are Michigan Lawmakers Taking their Cue from Ann Coulter: Teachers Useless? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:

Are Michigan Lawmakers Taking their Cue from Ann Coulter: Teachers Useless?

By Anthony Cody on September 13, 2011 10:29 AM | No Comments | No Recommendations

A few days ago, Fox News personality Ann Coulter sparked outrage when she asserted that kindergarten teachers "have useless jobs," and suggested their work be turned over "to vouchers, to charter schools. They fight for every last dime, they get summers off, they're off at two, and they make more money than most of those pipefitters who no longer have jobs."

Coulter is known for saying outrageous and provocative things, but she has a

Bring Feministing to your school!:

Bring Feministing to your school!

By JOS | Published: SEPTEMBER 6, 2011

Since the Fall of 2009, Feministing has been traveling to college campuses, women’s organizations, and BBQ joints across the country and internationally, provoking a dialogue on the state of the feminist movement(s) today. We discuss a range of topics as diverse as we are, from Michele Bachmann to genderqueer experience, from fishnet stockings to environmental justice, from online activism to hip-hop. And we’re hitting the road again for the third year of our special brand of speaking event:Feministing: Offline and Unfiltered!

Between the DSK rape case, Slutwalks, and a rapidly shifting movement, there’s much to discuss about the state of feminism today (and where we’re heading). It’s never boring at our blog, and neither are our panels, at which we’re honored to each speak to our

Youth Win, Immigration Opponents Lose in First Post-Utoya Norway Elections « Student Activism

Youth Win, Immigration Opponents Lose in First Post-Utoya Norway Elections « Student Activism:

Youth Win, Immigration Opponents Lose in First Post-Utoya Norway Elections

by Angus Johnston

Norway held its first elections since the Utoya massacre Monday, and the results show a repudiation of the views — and the party — of the man responsible for the carnage.

It’s been seven weeks since anti-immigration zealot Anders Breivik murdered sixty-nine people at a Labor Party youth retreat on the island of Utoya. Yesterday’s results showed 33.2% of voters supporting Labor candidates, giving that party its best result in a municipal election in two decades. The big swing came on the right, however, as the anti-immigrant Progress Party, of which Breivik was a member until 2006, lost more than a third of its

Michele Bachmann Gets Weird After Tea Party Debate

by Angus Johnston

At last night’s CNN/Tea Party Republican presidential debate, Texas governor Rick Perry was slammed for his 2007 support of a state program vaccinating girls against Human Papilloma Virus — a sexually-transmitted virus that can lead to cervical cancer.

In the debate itself Michele Bachman described the vaccine as a “government injection,” and Perry’s decision as “a violation of a liberty interest.” She also accused Perry, whose chief of staff was a former lobbyist for vaccine manufacturer Merck Pharmaceutical, of pushing the program as payback for campaign donations from Merck.

But after the debate, in a CNN interview, she took it to a really weird place.

One objection to the HPV vaccine is the idea that it might encourage promiscuity by reducing the risks of sexual

Schools Matter: Christie and Cerf's Transparent and Ridiculous Plan

Schools Matter: Christie and Cerf's Transparent and Ridiculous Plan:

Christie and Cerf's Transparent and Ridiculous Plan

by Jim Horn

photo by Bobby Bank/Getty

Before New Jersey’s hog-headed governor, Chris Christie, fired his first inept Education Comissioner, Mr. Schundler, that rascal claimed in public that New Jersey's No. 1-2 ranking on NAEP was irrelevant when it comes to judging what kind of job the schools are doing.

Having now moved on to hire a more polished corporate leech to attempt to dismantle New Jersey's public schools, the current Commissioner Cerf and his Wall Street team are attempting to create their own crisis to justify a complete charterization of public schools in New Jersey, while removing all regulations on charters and protections for teachers (such as tenure rights for charter school teachers) that might hinder the benefits to the hedge

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Two good letters to Sun-Times

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Two good letters to Sun-Times:

Two good letters to Sun-Times

by Mike Klonsky

Two good letters appeared in today's Sun-Times in response to the mayor's longer-school-day scam. Here they are in full:
Embarrassment all aroundShame on the mayor and the “lackey” aldermen who voted to back the mayor’s plan for a longer school day and for not standing up for the Chicago Teachers Union and the students. Ald. Ed Burke (14th) expressed his embarrassment by the CTU’s action — is

QUOTABLE

by Mike Klonsky

Wealthy suburbs have same or less seat time.
From today's Chicago Tribune:Ultimately, it's not about how long the day is but how the time is used. There is mounting evidence about the impact when the time is used well; that is the key, of course.If you look across the country at schools and districts that have experimented with more time, there have been some mixed results. That's why it has