Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank AM Posts

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank AM Posts

OCCUPY WALL ST AND ALLIES RALLY & MARCH UNITED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS | OccupyWallSt.org #ows

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 28 minutes ago

OCCUPY WALL ST AND ALLIES RALLY MARCH UNITED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS | OccupyWallSt.org:OCCUPY WALL ST AND ALLIES RALLY MARCH UNITED FOR CIVIL RIGHTSby OccupyWallStSaturday, October 29thCity Hall Park, New York CityRally: 12:00pm NoonMarch to Liberty Square: 2:00pmSunday, October 30thScreenings of SING YOUR OWN SONG and discussion with Harry BelafonteThree screenings: 3PM - 5:30PM; 6:30PM - 9PM; 10PM - 12AMIn a demonstration of the broadening base of the Occupy Wall Street / 99% movement, a rally will be held this coming ... more »

National focus on DPS race | EdNewsColorado

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 28 minutes ago

National focus on DPS race | EdNewsColorado:National focus on DPS raceby Charlie BrennanA national media blitz by Denver school board candidate Emily Sirota is shaking up the race in southeast Denver but it’s unclear whether it will help her win.Denver school board candidate Emily Sirota on MSNBC on Monday.“While it might have some effect, I don’t know if it’s going to touch enough people in southeast Denver,” said Denver pollster and political analyst Floyd Ciruli. “It lacks a certain kind ... more »

School Vouchers: Funding Private Interests with Public Funds « City School Stories

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 28 minutes ago

School Vouchers: Funding Private Interests with Public Funds « City School Stories:School Vouchers: Funding Private Interests with Public Fundsby fmurphy Notes from the FieldSubmitted by Frank Murphy on October 27, 2011Some time ago I wrote a post for the Notebook titled, “If I Were a Rich Man”. My intention in writing this article was simple. I wanted to point out how a few wealthy individuals were using their personal fortunes in an attempt to influence the future of public education ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: The Ed Reform Gravy Train

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 28 minutes ago

Jersey Jazzman: The Ed Reform Gravy Train:The Ed Reform Gravy Trainby DukeIt's a-puffin' into Newark - all aboard!One of every three dollars of private money spent so far in Newark’s bid to reform its schools has gone to consultants and contractors, many with ties to Mayor Cory Booker and acting state Education Commissioner Chris Cerf, records show.The records, from the state Department of Education, are part of a spate of e-mails obtained by the Newark-based Education Law Center. They detail ... more »

Throwback: John Wooden’s Last Lesson | The Jose Vilson

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 28 minutes ago

Throwback: John Wooden’s Last Lesson | The Jose Vilson:Throwback: John Wooden’s Last Lessonby JoseExcerpt:Then again, I’ve grown up at a time where the longest any coach lasts these days is 3 years, even if they constantly increase their win totals, so a coach that keeps his job for longer than a presidential term is astonishing for me. Development doesn’t matter, and longevity has no place in a multi-million dollar industry concerned with change just for change. People switch coaches at ... more »

The NEA, Your Kids’ School and the Middle Seat - Lily's Blackboard – Lily's Blackboard

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 28 minutes ago

The NEA, Your Kids’ School and the Middle Seat - Lily's Blackboard – Lily's Blackboard:The NEA, Your Kids’ School and the Middle SeatOct 27th, 2011 by Lily.I travel a lot these days meeting with teachers and support staff and principals and parents and the press and anyone anywhere who wants to join hands and make good things happen for kids. I was on my way to Wichita to speak at a conference and the nice man in the middle seat ... more »

Why not The Autumn of the Communes? « occupy california #ows

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 28 minutes ago

Why not The Autumn of the Communes? « occupy california:Why not The Autumn of the Communes?by *from PrimaPorta:This piece responds to a couple Jacobin-related things pretty directly, so let’s put them out there straight away:First, Malcolm Harris’ observation in “Baby, We’re All Anarchists Now” that “the left has finally broken into the national consciousness by adopting the tactics, strategy, and slogans of a group of left-communist insurrectionaries at the Universities of California.”Second, the Jacobin-sponsored debate at Bluestockings—which I’ll let readers ... more »

Spike…Volleyball and the truth about corporate charters. Let the kids tell it like it is … « Continuing Change

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 28 minutes ago

Spike…Volleyball and the truth about corporate charters. Let the kids tell it like it is … « Continuing Change:Spike…Volleyball and the truth about corporate charters. Let the kids tell it like it is …by gatorbonbcJust as I was about to post the new Volleyball team roster today, they brought me a new student. So, I went down to the gym at lunch and gave her a quick tryout..She had a powerful overhand serve, quick accurate returns….I was impressed and asked ... more »

Rheediculous …a village of idiots and the billionaire bubble club. Education « Continuing Change

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 1 day ago

Rheediculous …a village of idiots and the billionaire bubble club. Education « Continuing Change:Rheediculous …a village of idiots and the billionaire bubble club. Educationby gatorbonbcLMAOMichelle Rhee charges a school $35,000 to speak to 600 people about how great bubble tests and billionaires are for our kids…Really?Hey, I’ll be on stage speaking to at least 600 kids next week at our pep rally. Do you think I can’t get that much

Redefining Teachers as True Professionals | Lefty Parent

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 1 day ago

Redefining Teachers as True Professionals | Lefty Parent:Redefining Teachers as True Professionalsby Cooper ZaleSo why is it that doctors play a key role in running the institutions (hospitals) where they practice their profession and defining what constitutes quality practice, but teachers generally don’t? Aren’t these both considered “professions”, and as such should be given comparable stature? No hospital would think of having a governance structure where doctor’s don’t play a key role, particularly in the delivery of medical care. Shouldn’t ... more »

Quan Chased from Occupy Oakland Rally - The Bay Citizen #ows

Quan Chased from Occupy Oakland Rally - The Bay Citizen:

Quan Chased from Occupy Oakland Rally

by Shoshana Walter

Mayor Jean Quan, who approved the removal by force of Occupy Oakland this week, apologized Thursday, even as protesters chased her from a rally and defied her requests not to camp by erecting 30 tents, a childcare center, a library and a small garden.

Quan was greeted with cries of “Go home!” and “Citizen’s Arrest” when she attempted to address hundreds of protesters gathered near City Hall late Thursday evening. The mayor retreated into the building after some demonstrators rushed at her, refusing to let her speak, witnesses said.

An hour earlier, Quan, who has been battered with criticism over Tuesday’s raid and violent aftermath, released a statement in which she directly addressed the protesters.

“I am deeply saddened about the outcome on Tuesday,” Quan said, according to the statement. “It was not what anyone hoped for, ultimately it was my responsibility, and I apologize for what happened.”

Modern School: General Strike Oakland 1946 & 2011?

Modern School: General Strike Oakland 1946 & 2011?:

General Strike Oakland 1946 & 2011?

by Michael Dunn

Street Cars Abandoned by Drivers During Oakland General Strike

The last General Strike in the U.S. occurred in 1946 in Oakland, California. The strike came in response to the anti-labor policies of Hastings and Kahn’s department stores in downtown Oakland. Hundreds of store clerks went on strike in late October. The store enlisted the police to clear away strikers and protect strike-breaking scabs. The AFL voted to walkout in solidarity with the clerks. On December 3, 100,000 workers throughout Oakland joined the strike. The General Strike lasted until December 5.

Last night, Occupy Oakland has called for a General Strike on November 2, to protest the city’s military-style assault on occupation protestors on Tuesday, October 25. Will Oakland become the first U.S. city to have a General Strike in 60 years?

On Tuesday night, police used concussion grenades, helicopters, armored personnel carriers, tear gas and fired

Iraq War Vet Critically Wounded During Police Raid On Occupy Oakland

by Michael Dunn

Police Assault on Occupy Oakland by Swarm Gallery Oakland

Oakland police cleared the Occupy Oakland encampment on Tuesday morning, but in the evening protestors returned to retake Frank Ogawa Plaza, which they renamed Oscar Grant Plaza in homage to the young man assassinated by BART police last year. The protest was

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… - This Week’s “Links I Should Have Posted About, But Didn’t”

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… - This Week’s “Links I Should Have Posted About, But Didn’t”:

This Week’s “Links I Should Have Posted About, But Didn’t”

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 5 hours ago

I have a huge backlog of resources that I’ve been planning to post about in this blog but, just because of time constraints, have not gotten around to doing. Instead of letting that backlog grow bigger, I regularly grab a few and list them here with a minimal description. It forces me to look through [...]

Veterans Day Resources

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 5 hours ago

November 11th is Veterans Day (recognized as Remembrance Day or Armistice Day in Great Britain and in other countries to specifically remember those who fought in World War ). I’ve just updated The Best Websites To Learn About Veterans Day. Additional suggestions are always welcome….

Things Are Not Getting Better For Latino Students & Their Families In Alabama

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 6 hours ago

Here are the newest additions to The Best Resources To Learn About Alabama’s Awful Immigration Law (& Its Impact On Schools): After Alabama law, Hispanic kids being bullied is from CBS News. Critics See ‘Chilling Effect’ in Alabama Immigration Law is from The New York Times.

Major Improvements In Google+ Today

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 6 hours ago

Here are the newest additions to The Best Resources For Learning What Google+ Is All About: Google Apps Users Can Now Hangout (And More) On Google+ is from TechCrunch. Google+ Resurrects Playback Feature From Wave, Renames It “Ripples” is also from TechCrunch. Google Plus Finds Sweet Spot Between Facebook & Twitter is from Read Write [...]

Projeqt Is Now Open To The Public

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 9 hours ago

Projeqt was on The Best Web 2.0 Applications For Education In 2011 — So Far list, where I described it as: a very new application — you still need an invite to use it– that lets you create what you could call interactive slideshows. In some ways, I might describe it as a more sophisticated [...]

“Part Two — Can Teachers Be Friends With Students?”

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 10 hours ago

Part Two — Can Teachers Be Friends With Students? is the title of the second in a three-part series I’m publishing in my column at Education Week Teacher. In addition to several guest responses, including ones from Jose Vilson and Renee Moore, I discuss how community organizers view the difference between public and private relationships [...]

“Stich.it”

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 23 hours ago

Stich.it is a new link-shortening service that lets you combine a number of links into one, and then plays them like a slideshow. It’s similar to a number of other services on The Best Ways To Shorten URL Addresses list. Some of the examples shown on the site have descriptive text written by the user [...]

Pension reform’s impact on teachers | Thoughts on Public Education

Pension reform’s impact on teachers | Thoughts on Public Education:

Pension reform’s impact on teachers

Share

Brown would raise new teachers' retirement age to 67

Posted on 10/28/11 • Categorized as Just the Facts, Pensions

By John Fensterwald - Educated Guess

Under Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to rein in pension costs, future teachers would work years longer before they could retire with smaller pensions. Current teachers and administrators would soon pay about 1 percent more out of their paychecks toward their retirement. And both current and future educators would be unable to retire, then turn around and return to the classroom full time.

Brown’s pension reforms would uniformly apply to all public employees, state and local, municipal and school. They would significantly decrease benefits, especially for new workers, and lower the risk for governments, by raising the retirement age from as early as 55 to 67 for all new non-safety employees, and by replacing a significant portion of a defined

Jersey Jazzman: The Failure of "Reform" - Standardized Tests

Jersey Jazzman: The Failure of "Reform" - Standardized Tests:

The Failure of "Reform" - Standardized Tests

by Duke

Here's my next post at Blue Jersey about the coming education reform battle.

This was brought on by an exchange with the Star-Ledger's Tom Moran, who has yet to respond to me. I am anxiously waiting to hear his take.

The entire corporate "reform" argument hangs on the use of standardized tests. Reformers insist that these tests are absolutely critical in ensuring "accountability" throughout the teaching profession, and that pay, tenure protections, and even job security should be tied to the tests.

Now, I could tell you that researchers have known for years that bubble tests assess only a fraction of a

Digital Kids in Schools: Cartoons | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Digital Kids in Schools: Cartoons | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice:

Digital Kids in Schools: Cartoons

by larrycuban

Children teaching parents and teachers about the latest high-tech device has become a cliche. The truth at the core of the cliche, however, doesn’t disappear with repetition. Occasionally, cartoons refresh that tired cliche by throwing a spotlight on the differences between digital natives–a.k.a. children–and digital immigrants–a.k.a. parents and teachers. Here are a few cartoons that enlivened the cliche for me and illustrate the distance between the gadget knowledge children have and the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that await those children in school.

Jeb Bush and Florida Republicans Deliberate Attempt to Mislead Voters on “Religious Freedom” | Scathing Purple Musings

Jeb Bush and Florida Republicans Deliberate Attempt to Mislead Voters on “Religious Freedom” | Scathing Purple Musings:

Jeb Bush and Florida Republicans Deliberate Attempt to Mislead Voters on “Religious Freedom”

by Bob Sikes

Leon County circuit court judge Terry Lewis began hearing arguments yesterday regarding a ballot initiative (Amendment 7) that would strike down the ”Blaine Amendment”. Blaine bars state funding of religious organizations. The FEA joined other religious groups in opposing the measure. In July, Jeb Bush excoriated Florida’s teachers for their suit:

“Amendment 7 is not about vouchers. It is about providing Floridians high-quality public services (social, healthcare, and education), irrespective of the provider’s religious affiliation. The amendment simply aligns the Florida Constitution with protections that already exist in the U.S. Constitution. Unions are more interested in protecting political monopolies than ensuring every Floridian has access to the high-quality services that best fit their needs. By making this about

OCCUPY WALL ST AND ALLIES RALLY & MARCH UNITED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS | OccupyWallSt.org #ows

OCCUPY WALL ST AND ALLIES RALLY & MARCH UNITED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS | OccupyWallSt.org:

OCCUPY WALL ST AND ALLIES RALLY & MARCH UNITED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

by OccupyWallSt

Saturday, October 29th
City Hall Park, New York City
Rally: 12:00pm Noon
March to Liberty Square: 2:00pm

Sunday, October 30th
Screenings of SING YOUR OWN SONG and discussion with Harry Belafonte
Three screenings: 3PM - 5:30PM; 6:30PM - 9PM; 10PM - 12AM

In a demonstration of the broadening base of the Occupy Wall Street / 99% movement, a rally will be held this coming Saturday, October 29 at City Hall Park in New York City, co-sponsored by the Coalition Black Trade Unionists (CBTU), the A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI), the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), the National Action Network (NAN) and the NY State and NYC City Chapters of the NAACP.

Speakers at the Rally already include Terrence Melvin of CBTU, Sonia Ivany of LCLAA, Pres. Sid Ryan of Ontario Federation of Labor, Anthony Harmon of APRI, Chris Provost - Chair of Univ Student Senate, CUNY, members of Transit Workers Union Local 100 and SEIU Local 1199.

Earlier this week the NAACP put out a statement in support of the Occupy Wall Street / 99% movement:

“For over 102 years the NAACP has supported, and continues to support, policies which create, preserve and expand living wage jobs, increase economic opportunity and protect the desire of every American to build and retain wealth and equity,” said Ben Jealous, NAACP President and CEO. President Jealous went on to say that the largely peaceful protests are true to “the non-violent traditions and philosophies upon which the NAACP is based and has operated under for our entire existence.”

At 2:00pm, the entire rally will march to Liberty Square in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement and the shared ideals of equality for all, individual dignity, economic and social justice, and the right to peacefully demand change of a broken system.

"This will be a significant and inspirational day for Occupy Wall Street and the movement as whole. The 99% is made up of all us. We are united behind the fundamental ideals of equality, and economic and social justice. Our country isn't broke, it is broken. United, we cannot fail to bring the change so urgently needed,” said Kanene Holder, a Harlem-based educator and volunteer with Occupy Wall Street.

The next day (Sunday, Oct. 30), Occupy Wall Street and SEIU Local 1199 will co-host a Civil Rights Event with Harry Belafonte.

Occupy Wall Street and SEIU Local 1199 will co-host the showing of a new documentary SING YOUR OWN SONG, directed by Susanne Rostock for HBO, about Harry Belafonte's civil rights career followed by discussions with Mr. Belafonte. The event will be held at the Borough of Manhattan Community College 950 seat theater on West and Canal.

Most people know the lasting legacy of Harry Belafonte, Jr, the entertainer. This film unearths his significant contribution to and his leadership in the Civil Rights movement in America and to social justice globally. Mr. Belafonte was a confidante of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., bailing King out of the Birmingham City Jail and raising thousands of dollars to release other Civil Rights protesters. He financed the Freedom Rides, and supported and helped to organize the March on Washington, DC in 1963. He also helped organize the "We Are the World" effort, is one of the leading prison reform advocates, as well as a vocal thought leader and advocate in dozens of other civil rights causes.

Belafonte on Occupy Wall Street: Through its choice of non-violence “this movement is instantly struck with a sense of great genius,” Belafonte boldly pronounced, noting core strengths and values, and courage, as attributes of the movement’s identity. “It has attracted the rest of us to become greatly involved in any way that we can serve it.”

National focus on DPS race | EdNewsColorado

National focus on DPS race | EdNewsColorado:

National focus on DPS race

by Charlie Brennan

A national media blitz by Denver school board candidate Emily Sirota is shaking up the race in southeast Denver but it’s unclear whether it will help her win.

Denver school board candidate Emily Sirota on MSNBC on Monday.

“While it might have some effect, I don’t know if it’s going to touch enough people in southeast Denver,” said Denver pollster and political analyst Floyd Ciruli. “It lacks a certain kind of believability.”

Sirota, who has appeared on national television and radio shows in the past week, is running against Anne Rowe for the seat being vacated by Bruce Hoyt, who is term-limited.

Their race had garnered little media attention – locally or nationally – before Sirota’s former boss, Montana Gov.

School Vouchers: Funding Private Interests with Public Funds « City School Stories

School Vouchers: Funding Private Interests with Public Funds « City School Stories:

School Vouchers: Funding Private Interests with Public Funds

by fmurphy

Notes from the Field

Submitted by Frank Murphy on October 27, 2011

Some time ago I wrote a post for the Notebook titled, “If I Were a Rich Man”. My intention in writing this article was simple. I wanted to point out how a few wealthy individuals were using their personal fortunes in an attempt to influence the future of public education in our state.

These Bala Cynwyd businessmen had contributed millions of dollars to the failed gubernatorial campaign of State Senator Anthony Williams. They are ardent advocates for the use of school vouchers.

Anthony Williams is a prominent elected Pennsylvania official who supports using public tax dollars in order to fund a voucher system. This politician and these campaign contributors were and still are a good fit for each other.

Williams lost his bid to become governor… a set back for him no doubt. But his bid to promote the use of

Jersey Jazzman: The Ed Reform Gravy Train

Jersey Jazzman: The Ed Reform Gravy Train:

The Ed Reform Gravy Train

by Duke

It's a-puffin' into Newark - all aboard!

One of every three dollars of private money spent so far in Newark’s bid to reform its schools has gone to consultants and contractors, many with ties to Mayor Cory Booker and acting state Education Commissioner Chris Cerf, records show.

The records, from the state Department of Education, are part of a spate of e-mails obtained by the Newark-based Education Law Center. They detail for the first time how the Foundation for Newark’s Future has spent the first $13 million of the $148 million donated by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and other philanthropists to

Throwback: John Wooden’s Last Lesson | The Jose Vilson

Throwback: John Wooden’s Last Lesson | The Jose Vilson:

Throwback: John Wooden’s Last Lesson

by Jose

Excerpt:

Then again, I’ve grown up at a time where the longest any coach lasts these days is 3 years, even if they constantly increase their win totals, so a coach that keeps his job for longer than a presidential term is astonishing for me. Development doesn’t matter, and longevity has no place in a multi-million dollar industry concerned with change just for change. People switch coaches at the

The NEA, Your Kids’ School and the Middle Seat - Lily's Blackboard – Lily's Blackboard

The NEA, Your Kids’ School and the Middle Seat - Lily's Blackboard – Lily's Blackboard:

The NEA, Your Kids’ School and the Middle Seat

Oct 27th, 2011

by Lily.

I travel a lot these days meeting with teachers and support staff and principals and parents and the press and anyone anywhere who wants to join hands and make good things happen for kids. I was on my way to Wichita to speak at a conference and the nice man in the middle seat started a nice conversation.

It always starts out nice.

“So, is Wichita home?” he nicely asks.

“No, I’m speaking at a teacher’s conference.”

“So, you a teacher?” he nicely asks.

“Yes, I’m a 6th grade teacher from Utah who works with the National Education Association. Kansas-NEA invited me to come talk about what we’re doing for our

Why not The Autumn of the Communes? « occupy california #ows

Why not The Autumn of the Communes? « occupy california:

Why not The Autumn of the Communes?

by *

from PrimaPorta:

This piece responds to a couple Jacobin-related things pretty directly, so let’s put them out there straight away:

First, Malcolm Harris’ observation in “Baby, We’re All Anarchists Now” that “the left has finally broken into the national consciousness by adopting the tactics, strategy, and slogans of a group of left-communist insurrectionaries at the Universities of California.”

Second, the Jacobin-sponsored debate at Bluestockings—which I’ll let readers watch for themselves: http://jacobinmag.com/blog/?p=1937

And then a caveat: I should probably find it shameful to admit that I’m writing this from afar—from France, to be exact, where the wave of global occupations hasn’t yet broken. So granted: these views don’t come from within the Occupy movement, or even from an Occupied city, though I wish they did. But since it’s become so difficult

Spike…Volleyball and the truth about corporate charters. Let the kids tell it like it is … « Continuing Change

Spike…Volleyball and the truth about corporate charters. Let the kids tell it like it is … « Continuing Change:

Spike…Volleyball and the truth about corporate charters. Let the kids tell it like it is …

by gatorbonbc

Just as I was about to post the new Volleyball team roster today, they brought me a new student. So, I went down to the gym at lunch and gave her a quick tryout.
.
She had a powerful overhand serve, quick accurate returns…
.
I was impressed and asked her where she came from. She said