Friday, November 11, 2011

OccupyWallSt at OccupyWallSt News - 22 hours ago

"Honor the Dead, Fight Like Hell For the Living" *When:* Friday, 11/11/11, 1 PM *Where:* Foley Square, New York City *Who:* Sergent Shamar Thomas, Joan Baez, Ryan Harvey, Joseph Arthur, Max Rameau from Take Back the Land, a speaker from OWS, and a speaker from the Iraq Veterans Against The War. Other amazing artists and speakers to be announced soon. Stay Tuned.

A victory for the 99% in Ohio

OccupyWallSt at OccupyWallSt News - 1 day ago

[image: Stop the War on Workers] It is a better day for the 99% in Ohio. Yesterday on Tuesday, November 8, Ohio voters overwhelmingly Repealed Senate Bill 5. The bill, just passed by the Ohio legislature in March, removed the ability of public employees to engage in one of the most fundamental rights known to working people — collective bargaining. *Occupy Cincinnati* was active in this struggle. From Occupy Cincinnati: "Ohio voters sent Governor John Kasich a clear message about restricting public union rights and denying their right to strike. SB5, the bill he initiated last ... more »

Occupy Wall Street and Teamsters to Occupy Sotheby’s Tonight

OccupyWallSt at OccupyWallSt News - 1 day ago

*Biggest Art Auction of the Year Draws Protest in Support of the 99%* *Union Art Auction Handlers Have Been Locked in a 3-Month Battle Against Wage Cuts while Sotheby’s CEO Takes Home $60K a day* About 100 protesters from Occupy Wall Street will join a Teamsters picket line at the Sotheby’s auction house in Manhattan tonight (Wed,, Nov. 9) to back the union in an important battle to fight wage cuts. The action, called OCCUPY SOTHEBY'S, will picket the 1% in support of locked-out Teamsters art handlers at one of the biggest art auctions of the year. *WHEN:* TODAY, Wednesday, Novem...more »

Federal Reserve Global Phonecast

OccupyWallSt at OccupyWallSt News - 1 day ago

[image: Imgur] At 7PM EST this evening, November 9th, occupiers around the globe are invited to call +1 (712) 432-9945 and listen to a moderated discussion with Dr. David Korten and #ows occupier, Harrison Schultz. Dr. Korten will speak to the Federal Reserve's role in the corrupt and dysfunctional systems of financial malfeasance that caused the global depression and discuss alternative systems to serve the American people. Throughout the discussion listeners will be invited to ask Dr. Korten questions via the hashtag #askFed on Twitter "Anti-Fed" sentiment runs deep in the Oc... more »

OccupyWallSt.org User Survey

OccupyWallSt at OccupyWallSt News - 1 day ago

If you are over 18 years old, please take the time to tell us a little more about yourself and your opinions by completing this voluntary anonymous survey being administered by a researcher at the City University of New York. The purpose of the survey is to better understand the characteristics and opinions of users of the website. The survey will take approximately twenty minutes to complete. *Click here to begin*.

Join the "Occupy Your Block" Sidewalk Chalk Campaign

OccupyWallSt at OccupyWallSt News - 2 days ago

The Outreach Group of the NYC General Assembly has an idea inspired by this story of unity between strangers using the original social media: *chalk*. It's a creative, anonymous and exciting way for supporters of all ages to show support everywhere. to join in: 1. Draw on your sidewalk a cool message about support for Occupy Wall Street, strength in the 99%, etc. 2. Leave chalk (maybe in a box) and write a note asking people to write on other parts of the sidewalk. 3. Take before and after pics, and send them to OccupyYourBlock@gmail.com ... more »

Urgent Help: Occupy Edmonton In Need Of Winter Equipment

OccupyWallSt at OccupyWallSt News - 2 days ago

Occupy Edmonton has a strong and growing community of supporters. Over the past 21 days we have been able to set-up and serve the needs, not only of our community, but many others as well. We have been giving clothing donations to many members disenfranchised by our society and have provided an active food service. We also provide a base of resistance in Alberta, generally referred to as the “Texas of the north” and less than 200 km from the tar sands the largest and one of the most destructive energy developments on the planet. Donation Link Over the winter we are hoping to con... more »

Everyone has the Right to Occupy Space, Safely

OccupyWallSt at OccupyWallSt News - 2 days ago

[image: safer space] For as long as public space has existed, women and LGBTQ people have been trying to “occupy” it safely -- with distressingly little success. Harassing comments, groping, flashing and assault are a daily, global reality for women and LGBTQ individuals. Too often, these injustices are met with little or no response, regarded simply as “the price you pay” for being female, trans, or gay in public. As supporters of the Occupy movement, we believe that a world where everyone has the right to occupy public space safely is not only possible - it is essential to buil... more »

Planting Change: Guerrilla Gardening and the Occupy Movement

OccupyWallSt at OccupyWallSt News - 2 days ago

[image: guerrilla gardening] Guerrilla gardening is the occupation of ill-used land to support the communities and ecosystems to which that land rightfully belongs. As the Occupy movement "puts down roots" in public and private spaces across the world, guerilla gardening is essential to growing a sustainable movement free from dependance on corporate systems. Students from Sterling College in Vermont came down to Occupy Wall Street and showed people how to plant and sow seeds anywhere where there is soil. In this short film, they demonstrate how easy it is to grow winter greens ...more »

Looking for Mr. Velderman. FOIA requests go both ways. « Fred Klonsky

Looking for Mr. Velderman. FOIA requests go both ways. « Fred Klonsky:

Looking for Mr. Velderman. FOIA requests go both ways.

by Fred Klonsky

Ben Velderman of the Education Action Group.

This information was sent to me by a reader. It is not intended as legal advice.

Ben Velderman, who filed the original FOIA request for my emails and works or worked for the anti-union Education Action Group, taught for a short time for the Michigan Zeeland public schools

Michigan statute and the attorney general’s website seems to indicate that you can request the ‘personnel

NYC Public School Parents: Dennis Walcott infuriates parents once again, this time in District 6 #EDreform

NYC Public School Parents: Dennis Walcott infuriates parents once again, this time in District 6:

Dennis Walcott infuriates parents once again, this time in District 6

by Leonie Haimson

On Thursday November 10, the Community Education Council in Northern Manhattan hosted a Town Hall meeting with Chancellor Dennis Walcott. The CEC prepared an excellent power point containing key data about the district, along with specific questions for the Chancellor. It was a contentious meeting, according to all reports; see the Gotham Schools story. Unfortunately, despite lots of PR spin about "partnering with parents," there is no

Kimble's Corner: Jack Kimble's Veteran's Day Message

Kimble's Corner: Jack Kimble's Veteran's Day Message:

Jack Kimble's Veteran's Day Message

by Representative Kimble

Today, millions of Americans were off from work because of Veterans Day, but I wonder how many really thought about why they were off. Veterans Day is a day to think about those brave few who gave so much for this country. I do this in the way I have since I was a small child, by watching war movies. Nothing says “thank you” to our country’s veterans like watching their exploits dramatized on ...cable television. One of my regrets in life is that I was unable to serve in the military. Unfortunately for me, my family was well off and I really had no option

Transitional Kindergarten: Preparing California’s Children to Succeed | California Progress Report #ows

Transitional Kindergarten: Preparing California’s Children to Succeed | California Progress Report:

Transitional Kindergarten: Preparing California’s Children to Succeed

by megan

By Deborah Kong
Preschool California

As schools across California gear up to offer transitional kindergarten – the first new grade introduced in state schools since 1891, when kindergarten began in the Golden State – educators and policymakers from across the state gathered at a statewide summit recently to talk about getting transitional kindergarten classrooms up and running next fall.

Transitional kindergarten, the first year of a two-year kindergarten experience for children born between September and December, is an exciting new opportunity to help better prepare our children for kindergarten and beyond. Transitional kindergarten was created by the Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2010, which also changed the kindergarten entry date from Dec. 2 to Sept. 1, so children enter kindergarten at age 5.

Why Is the Oakland Police Department Hiding the Truth About Its Violent Crackdown on the Occupy Protests?

by megan

By Joshua Holland
AlterNet

After three notably violent crackdowns on protesters in as many weeks, Oakland Police Department officials have refused a request by the ACLU of Northern California to release police reports documenting their use of force as required by law.

“We saw events that we found extremely troubling, and which violated provisions of Oakland's own crowd control policy,” Linda Lye, a staff attorney with ACLU of Northern California told AlterNet.

After recent police actions in Oakland gained national attention, “there was a lot of lip service paid to transparency and accountability and the public's interest in monitoring the situation,” she said. “But then OPD proceeded to say that it was invoking one of the statutory exceptions to the Public Records Act for the vast majority of our requests.”

Don’t Buy Into Generational Warfare: Keep the Super Committee Accountable to the 99%

by megan

By Scott Hochberg
Strengthen Social Security Campaign

The 12-member Super Committee is down to its final two weeks to produce a plan to cut at least $1.2 trillion from the federal budget. According to recent reports, both Democratic and Republicanproposals have contained sizable cuts from Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid – all programs that benefit the large majority of Americans in the 99% – while offering little in the way of new revenues.

New St. Louis Imagine Schools Chief Makes Excuses for Poor Test Scores | Scathing Purple Musings

New St. Louis Imagine Schools Chief Makes Excuses for Poor Test Scores | Scathing Purple Musings:

New St. Louis Imagine Schools Chief Makes Excuses for Poor Test Scores

by Bob Sikes

Its that they’re scores were poor to begin with, you see:

(Alan) Olkes acknowledged that achievement has been less than stellar if it is judged by state tests that compare Imagine students to everyone else in Missouri in the same grade. But he said that because students at the charters typically come in below grade level for their age, a more valid comparison would be not to other students their age but the students’ own performance at the end of a school year compared to where they started.
Even if students progress one year for every year they are in an Imagine school, Olkes said, they

Education Research Report: PARCC Releases Model Content Frameworks

Education Research Report: PARCC Releases Model Content Frameworks:

PARCC Releases Model Content Frameworks

from Education Research Report by Jonathan Kantrowitz

The state-led Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) today released Model Content Frameworks that will be used to inform the development of item specifications and blueprints for K-12 assessments in English and math. The frameworks also provide support and guidance for implementation of the Common Core State Standards.

The frameworks were created through a collaborative process that included state experts and writers of the Common Core State Standards. Nearly 1,000 individual comments were submitted from K-12 educators, principals, superintendents, higher education faculty, school board members, parents and students. The writing teams took that feedback into account when revising the model content frameworks.

Tamara Reavis, chair of the 14-state PARCC working group on implementation of the Common Core State Standards and the Director of Assessment and Accountability for the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of

Inclusion: The Right Thing for All Students – SchoolBook

Inclusion: The Right Thing for All Students – SchoolBook:

Inclusion: The Right Thing for All Students

by Cheryl M. Jorgensen

Cheryl M. Jorgensen, Ph.D., is a member of the affiliate faculty with the National Center on Inclusive Education at the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire. In 2008 she received the National Down Syndrome Congress Education Award for her leadership and pioneering research supporting the inclusion of students with Down syndrome. She has written this open letter to Shael Polakow-Suransky, the chief academic officer for New York City schools.

It’s time to restructure all of our schools to become inclusive of all of our children.

We have reached the tipping point where it is no longer educationally or morally defensible to continue to segregate students with disabilities. We shouldn’t be striving to educate children in the least restrictive environment but rather in the most inclusive one.

Inclusion is founded on social justice principles in which all students are presumed competent and welcomed as valued members of all general education classes and extra-curricular activities in their local schools —

Eleanor Roosevelt Has an Ivy League Visitor

by SchoolBook

“Are you anxious about getting into college?” Amy Gutmann, president of the University of Pennsylvania, asked 200 high school juniors and seniors on Thursday.

With attitude, the students returned a chorus of yeses, their jangly nerves almost palpable.

Dr. Gutmann was visiting Eleanor Roosevelt High School on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Forty percent of the school’s students are first-generation Americans, and 40 percent will be the first in their families to attend college.

“You’re not human if you’re not anxious,” Dr. Gutmann responded.

One of four female presidents in the Ivy League, she began by describing her own high school experience. She

PWCS Passing Fewer Students on VA Math SOL « PWC Education Reform Blog

PWCS Passing Fewer Students on VA Math SOL « PWC Education Reform Blog:

PWCS Passing Fewer Students on VA Math SOL

November 11, 2011 — pwceducationreform

PWCS has been passing fewer students on the VA Math SOL exams than other districts is the state since Math Investigations was mandated county-wide.

We recently received a copy of a presentation provided by the PWC Math department to elementary teachers as part of an in-service. That presentation claimed that grade 3, 4, & 5 pass rates have increased since 2007 and indicated that Math Investigations, and the inquiry-based approach to instruction PWCS has adopted, was the cause of those increases. This implication is not entirely accurate. It could even be considered misleading, if we assume district employees are in the business of reporting the truth rather than affirming that the programs they support are peachy-keen.

First, Math Investigations wasn’t mandated county-wide in Grades 3 , 4, & 5 in 2007. In fact the first full MI year for Grade 3 was the Spring of 2008, for Grade 4 it was 2009, and for Grade 5 it was 2010. So claiming that increases from 2007 to 2011 are due to Math Investigations isn’t correct as MI wasn’t used in PWC classrooms until 2008, 2009, or

Modern School: Advanced Union Busting In Los Angeles

Modern School: Advanced Union Busting In Los Angeles:

Advanced Union Busting In Los Angeles

by Michael Dunn

A new coalition called Don't Hold Us Back is ganging up on the United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) in hopes of forcing them into accepting a host of ill-conceived and unproven “reform” measures that will weaken members’ job protections and possibly jeopardize student wellbeing.

Don’t Hold Us Back includes the usual wealthy Ed Deformers—bankers, lawyers and big business—along with community based organizations and liberal groups like the Urban League, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Community Coalition, according to the Los Angeles Times. They have asked Sup. John Deasy, UTLA leader Warren Fletcher, and L.A. Unified board members, to put aside their differences and work together to implement large scale reforms “for the sake of the children.”

Some of their reforms include ending seniority, turning failing schools over to charter

Professionals 2: Pundits 0! (The shifting roles of practitioners and state education agencies) « School Finance 101

Professionals 2: Pundits 0! (The shifting roles of practitioners and state education agencies) « School Finance 101:

Professionals 2: Pundits 0! (The shifting roles of practitioners and state education agencies)

by schoolfinance101

Professionals, Pundits and Evidence Based Decision Making

In Ed Schools housed within research universities, and in programs in educational leadership which are primarily charged with the training of school and district level leaders, we are constantly confronted with deliberations over how to balance teaching the “practical stuff” and “how to” information on running a school or school district, managing personnel, managing budgets, etc. etc. etc., and the “research stuff” like understanding how to interpret rigorous research in education and related social sciences (increasingly economic research). Finding the right balance between theory, research and practice is an ongoing struggle and often the subject of bitter debate in professional programs housed in research universities.

Over the past year, I’ve actually become more supportive of the notion that our future school and district leaders

Schools Matter: Former KIPP Teachers: Share Your Story

Schools Matter: Former KIPP Teachers: Share Your Story:

Former KIPP Teachers: Share Your Story

by Jim Horn

First posted in May, 2011:

I am very much interested in talking with former KIPP teachers who may want to take part in an interview research study on the KIPP teaching experience. All participants are guaranteed complete anonymity, and no names, locations, or other information will be used that may intrude upon your privacy. I have completed ten interviews so far, and I am interested in talking with another six or so former KIPP teachers. Email me if interested at james.horn@cambridgecollege.edu.

Please help me out by linking this to your Twitter or Facebook page. Thanks much.

Veterans Day Op-ed by Vice President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden | The White House

Veterans Day Op-ed by Vice President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden | The White House:

Veterans Day Op-ed by Vice President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden

The full text of the op-ed by Vice President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden is printed below. The piece, published in various outlets across the country today, can be read online HERE.

The Battle Veterans Face After War
By Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden
November 11, 2011

Today is Veterans Day, the day we honor the military service and sacrifice of all the veterans who have served this nation. Because of the incredible courage of the 9/11 generation, the tide of war is receding and America is more secure than a decade ago.

Next month, we will end the war in Iraq, bringing all of our troops home by the end of this calendar year. In Afghanistan, our brave forces are transferring responsibility to the Afghans. They too will be home within two years.

But as our service members return to their families, many are discovering a new battlefield as they leave the military and search for civilian employment opportunities.

After serving two, three, four, and even five tours of duty for their country, these young men and women are forced to fight for jobs when they return. That's not only morally wrong, it’s a terrible waste for our country. We’ve seen the 9/11 generation of American service members in Iraq and Afghanistan. They have skills across the spectrum.

We have 25 year-old Sergeants leading soldiers into the chaos of battle, responsible for bringing them home alive; we have 24 year-old Lieutenants flying multi-million dollar jets; we have 21 year-old sailors who are entrusted with helping to maneuver nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers. There is literally no challenge too great. Nothing they cannot do. Employers everywhere should be competing to hire them.

As a military family, we have come to know many of the families of those who served alongside our son Beau in Iraq. We understand the problems they face.

War is challenging under any circumstances. But at a time of 12.1% unemployment for 9/11 generation veterans, the added stress of earning a decent living makes the transition even harder.

That’s why our Administration has made it a priority to create financial incentives for private-sector companies to hire veterans while at the same time ensuring that every member of the service receives the education, training, and credentials they need to be career-ready.

That’s why we joined President Obama in asking Congress to act now and pass the key provisions in the American Jobs Act that would benefit veterans and their families. Yesterday, the Senate answered the call, voting in favor of these measures, including incentives like the $5,600 Returning Heroes Tax Credit and the $9,600 Wounded Warriors Tax Credit, which will reward private firms for each veteran they hire.

In addition to the American Jobs Act, the President has challenged the private sector to commit to train or hire 100,000 post-9/11 veterans by the end of 2013. And we are well on our way to reaching that goal. The Joining Forces initiative is working to encourage companies and organizations to hire veterans and military spouses. Last month, our Administration announced that 270 companies have committed to hiring 25,000 veterans and their spouses by the end of 2013. And just yesterday, the First Lady announced that the International Franchising Association and 1,200 affiliate companies are aiming to hire 80,000 veterans by 2013, including 5,000 wounded warriors.

We’re taking steps to make the job search easier for veterans. This week, the Department of Labor introduced the Veterans Gold Card, a certificate that will provide every post-9/11 veteran with individualized guidance, including a six-month plan of action, career coaching, a skills assessment, and one-on-one case management. Another tool, My Next Move for Veterans, will allow veterans to search for jobs using key words, industry type, or military experience. These new resources are up and running and you can find them at whitehouse.gov/vets.

In response to the President’s call for a career-ready military, the Department of Defense-Veterans Affairs Task Force is sharpening its focus on how to ease the transition from active duty to civilian life. It has broadened the existing Transition Assistance Program (TAP) that provides career readiness counseling, and will oversee the creation of an entirely new program to provide more comprehensive services to every transitioning member of our military.

We’re breaking down walls that prevent veterans from using the skills and training they acquired in their military service as civilians. For example, we’re helping veterans with medical training who are seeking health care jobs to cut though barriers to accreditation. To literally ease the journey to civilian life, the Department of Transportation announced this week over $30 million in grants to assist veterans in need of transportation to education and training centers, work, and medical appointments.

Holly Petraeus is leading an effort at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to help prevent abusive practices by financial institutions that target military families. And we’re instituting new protections for veterans who are preyed upon by for-profit education institutions that promise more than they deliver.

We cannot make the point often enough: The government has many obligations, but only one sacred obligation. If we put troops in harm’s way, we have to take care of them when they come home. We are in awe of our 9/11 generation of veterans. Not only because they are the finest military force in the world but because they are extraordinary people and as a nation we owe them something better than 12.1% unemployment. The leadership, talent, and courage these men and women demonstrated on distant battlefields can become a powerful force in restoring our economy here at home. So hire a vet. They’ll get the job done.

Joe Biden is Vice President of the United States. Dr. Jill Biden is the Second Lady of the United States and leads the Joining Forces initiative with First Lady Michelle Obama.

All Things Education: Education Films Series V: American Teacher

All Things Education: Education Films Series V: American Teacher:

Education Films Series V: American Teacher

by Rachel Levy

There are two ways to look at American Teacher, the recently released documentary by Dave Eggers and Ninive Clements Calegari:

1) If you don't know much about public education and school reform, then American Teacher is a well-made film which very poignantly and realistically portrays what it is to live the life of a teacher. Everyone agrees that teachers are under-paid and undervalued (well, almost everyone). After seeing this film, the public will be more aware of this.

2) If you are steeped in public education and school reform, then American Teacher is a well-made film which very poignantly and realistically portrays what it is to live the life of a teacher. Everyone agrees that teachers are

No Dough For "Lousy" Principals | District 299: The Inside Scoop on CPS

No Dough For "Lousy" Principals | District 299: The Inside Scoop on CPS:

No Dough For "Lousy" Principals

by Alexander Russo

Meeks is out, "lousy" principals must be replaced (good ones get extra money), and it's cold out. That's the education news of the day. I still want to hear how PD went yesterday, and whether you've seen Brizard out and about apparently he's doing meetings with all sorts of groups and schools. The Rev. James Meeks won't run for re-election to state Senate Sun-Times: In 2008, Meeks led a highly publicized boycott of Chicago's public schools that included protests at New Trier High School, which ended with another promise from Blagojevich to talk about the state of education funding in Illinois. As Chicago launches bonus pay for principals, studies show no impact on student achievement WBEZ: Merit pay is a hot topic in education right now. WBEZ checked in with one of the country’s foremost researchers on the issue to put Chicago’s new principal bonus program into context. $20,000 bonuses possible for Chicago principals CBS2: Principals will be able to earn $5,000, $10,000,

Will NCLB’s Clear “Dramatic Failure by its Own Chosen Indicators” Prompt Florida’s Own Pushback Against Ed Reform? | Scathing Purple Musings

Will NCLB’s Clear “Dramatic Failure by its Own Chosen Indicators” Prompt Florida’s Own Pushback Against Ed Reform? | Scathing Purple Musings:

Will NCLB’s Clear “Dramatic Failure by its Own Chosen Indicators” Prompt Florida’s Own Pushback Against Ed Reform?

by Bob Sikes

Teacher, writer and education activist Anthony Cody offers this critique of NCLB:

Remember that this law set itself the goal of making every child in the nation proficient by 2014, and eliminating the achievement gap between ethnic groups. So NCLB, perhaps the least popular law ever to blight our schools, has been a dramatic failure by its own chosen indicators.
Secretary Duncan has been using the very disaster this law has become to coerce states into applying for waivers. Since Congress has not changed the law, it continues its cruel machinations on autopilot, and soon will label more than three fourths of the schools in the nation

Latest News and Comment from Education

Friday, November 11, 2011

PWCS Passing Fewer Students on VA Math SOL

Veterans Day Op-ed by Vice President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden