Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Evening Posts #ows #edreform

Schools Matter: Former KIPP Teachers: Share Your Story

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

Schools Matter: Former KIPP Teachers: Share Your Story:Former KIPP Teachers: Share Your Storyby Jim HornFirst 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 ... more »

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

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

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 BidenThe 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 WarBy Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill BidenNovember 11, 2011 Today is Veterans Day, the day we honor ... more »

All Things Education: Education Films Series V: American Teacher

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

All Things Education: Education Films Series V: American Teacher:Education Films Series V: American Teacherby Rachel LevyThere 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). ... more »

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

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

No Dough For "Lousy" Principals | District 299: The Inside Scoop on CPS:No Dough For "Lousy" Principalsby Alexander RussoMeeks 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 ... more »

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

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

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 SikesTeacher, 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 ... more »

NYC Educator: The Dignity Gap

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

NYC Educator: The Dignity Gap:The Dignity Gapby NYC EducatorWho thought it was a good idea to send ATR teachers from school to school from week to week? How does that help anyone? The stories I'm hearing and seeing would be beyond belief it it weren't for the fact that, under such an agreement, they were virtually inevitable.A female ATR was instructed to do secretarial duties. For those unfamiliar with the concept of contract (for example, the administrators who issued this ... more »

My Censorship Problem with NCTE | Dailycensored.com

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

My Censorship Problem with NCTE | Dailycensored.com:My Censorship Problem with NCTEWritten by susanoEducation, PoliticsNov 11, 20110digg23Share1. National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) statement about change of Open ForumImproved site moderation: The Connected Community will remain a welcoming space for NCTE members and visitors. Community moderators will play a more active role in offering helpful resources or channeling discussions that take on a hostile tone.Member DiscussionsThe Members Open Forum has included discussions on a wide variety of topics over the ...more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Chicago principals say no to Rahm's "merit pay" scheme

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

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Chicago principals say no to Rahm's "merit pay" scheme:Chicago principals say no to Rahm's "merit pay" schemeThe mayor and his Broad Academy-trained CEO,J.C. Brizard, are trying to take a page from the Broad play book -- merit pay for principals.But Rahm's divide-and-conquer strategies seem to be backfiring. I give him credit for one thing. He appears to have succeeded in doing what I thought couldn't be done -- uniting the city's teachers and principals against him ... more »

“It’s time to spread the truth about impact of budget on Wisconsin’s public schools” | AMPS

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

“It’s time to spread the truth about impact of budget on Wisconsin’s public schools” | AMPS:“It’s time to spread the truth about impact of budget on Wisconsin’s public schools”by Thomas J. MertzClick the graphic for more information on WAES.The Jam – “Time for Truth” (click to listen or download)I haven’t posted any Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools advocacy material this way lately, so here goes. Short version: The “tools” aren’t working, our students aren’t getting the opportunities to learn they ... more »

AFT says it will kick in up to $15 million in financing for upgrades to Oregon schools | OregonLive.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

AFT says it will kick in up to $15 million in financing for upgrades to Oregon schools | OregonLive.com:AFT says it will kick in up to $15 million in financing for upgrades to Oregon schoolsPublished: Thursday, November 10, 2011, 5:10 PM Updated: Thursday, November 10, 2011, 5:32 PM By Michelle Cole, The Oregonian Oregonian file photoGov. John Kitzhaber's "Cool Schools" initiative won bipartisan support in the 2011 Legislature. So far, several rural school districts have applied for help financing projects.The ... more »

MICHIGAN TEACHERS SHOW HOW IT’S DONE « Teachers Fight Back

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

MICHIGAN TEACHERS SHOW HOW IT’S DONE « Teachers Fight Back:MICHIGAN TEACHERS SHOW HOW IT’S DONEby alkleenIn Michigan, the state teachers union, enraged by Republican moves to cut school spending and weaken tenure for teachers, engineered the ouster of state Rep. Paul Scott, the GOP chairman of the House Education Committee.Way to go Michigan teachers! It’s about time the teachers somewhere are as mad as hell and aren’t going to take it anymore. How about some similar efforts in Illinois?We need ... more »

Celebrating Teachers U.S. Department of Education

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

U.S. Department of Education:Education Secretary to Join National and Local Education Leaders in Celebrating Teachers as Part of American Education WeekMedia Advisories | U.S. Department of Education - 10 minutes agoU.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan will join National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel, Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Morton Sherman and T.C. Williams High School Principal Suzanne Maxey to celebrate teachers and visit with students at 8:20 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 14.Secretary Duncan, Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair ...more »

Schools Matter: Rhee-Action to MichelleFirst in Boston

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

Schools Matter: Rhee-Action to MichelleFirst in Boston:Rhee-Action to MichelleFirst in Bostonby Jim HornMy question for Michelle Rhee last evening that did not get asked:In 2007, the same year you became Chancellor of DC Schools, a 12 year old boy named Deamonte Driver died (Edelman, 2011) from a brain infection that could have been avoided had Deamonte's mom been able to pay $80 weeks earlier for a routine extraction of a bad tooth. Your comments this evening substantially add to the ... more »

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to Hold Second Twitter Town Hall | U.S. Department of Education

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to Hold Second Twitter Town Hall | U.S. Department of Education:U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to Hold Second Twitter Town HallContact: Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov Event Date 1: November 14, 2011 05:00 pm - 07:00 pmU.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will hold his second “Ask Arne” Twitter Town Hall at 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14. Veteran journalist John Merrow will return to moderate the town hall that will be broadcast live ... more »

Danny Glover talks about education in Memphis - Boston.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

Danny Glover talks about education in Memphis - Boston.com:Danny Glover talks about education in MemphisNovember 10, 2011E-mail|Print|Comments (0)Text size – +MEMPHIS, Tenn.—Actor Danny Glover and two other recipients of this year's Freedom Awards spoke Thursday about the importance of education and the role young people played in the civil rights movement.Tweet Be the first to Tweet this!ShareThisGlover, Chicago educator Marva Collins and Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Office of Civil Rights Russlyn H. Ali attended a public forum ahead of ... more »

Ahead of expected Christie proposals, NJEA unveils school reform plan at annual Atlantic City convention | NJ.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

Ahead of expected Christie proposals, NJEA unveils school reform plan at annual Atlantic City convention | NJ.com:Ahead of expected Christie proposals, NJEA unveils school reform plan at annual Atlantic City conventionby Jessica Calefati/The Star-LedgerRobert SciarrinoNJEA president Barbara Keshishian, seen here at a legislative hearing last December, unveiled a union-led school reform plan at the annual teachers convention in Atlantic City.ATLANTIC CITY — The New Jersey Education Association has a new message for Gov. Chris Christie, the man who has hammered ... more »

ACLU says schools have inconsistent cellphone policies - latimes.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

ACLU says schools have inconsistent cellphone policies - latimes.com:ACLU says schools have inconsistent cellphone policiesA report by the American Civil Liberties Union released Thursday found that school districts across California have inconsistent policies regarding a school's ability to search the contents of a student's cellphone, often encroaching on a student's right to privacy.The ACLU of California said searching phones has become a bigger, and more common, issue as cellphones have become pervasive among students. The report's authors -- Brendan Hamme ... more »

“Call Me Hope” | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

“Call Me Hope” | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…:“Call Me Hope”by Larry Ferlazzo“Call Me Hope” is a fun music video of Paul Simon’s “Call Me Al” song. It’s sponsored by a development organization called “Mama Hope.”I plan on using it in my Beginning ELL class, and have them sing along with the chorus (you can get all the lyrics here):If you’ll be my bodyguard,I can be your long lost pal!I can call you Betty,And Betty, when you

Direct Action Training | OccupyWallSt.org #ows

Direct Action Training | OccupyWallSt.org:

Direct Action Training

by OccupyWallSt

Action Preparation & Training for November 17th, November 30th and Beyond. Direct Action Trainings: build affinity team, train to do actions and civil disobediences, meet new allies and friends and have some fun with us.

Monday Nov. 14 and Tuesday Nov. 15 1:30-3:30 and 4:30-6:30. Meet at the Red Cube

Wednesday Nov. 16 5:30-7:30 UFT 52 Broadway 6th Floor

www.occupydaysofaction.com

THE SUCCESS OF FOX NEWS IS A LIVING TESTAMENT TO FAILED LAUSD PUBLIC EDUCATION - Perdaily.com

THE SUCCESS OF FOX NEWS IS A LIVING TESTAMENT TO FAILED LAUSD PUBLIC EDUCATION - Perdaily.com:

THE SUCCESS OF FOX NEWS IS A LIVING TESTAMENT TO FAILED LAUSD PUBLIC EDUCATION

by Leonard Isenberg

(Mensaje se repite en Español)

(For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post)

Teachers Paid to Just Sit in a Room Doing Nothing?: MyFoxLA.com

While it requires only a rudimentary education to spot the daily blatant distortions that Fox News KTTV 11 puts out in lieu of any real, truthful, and unbias reporting, the fact that Fox News successfully continues to get away with this travesty passed off as the "news" is a powerful testament as to just how far the average America has gone down from being educated in a manner that LAUSD students and their parents of the 1950s and 1960s took for granted.

As I described in the prior post about Fox 11 KTTV News concerning morally challenged "Reporter" Daniel Leighton, what Fox does is pander to the deep seeded ignorance and prejudices of its listening audience, while requiring no critical analysis of itself or of its audience that seems incapable, because of its own LAUSD

SAT Wars: EXPOSING NEW EVIDENCE OF FLAWS IN STANDARDIZED TESTS

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: SAT Wars: EXPOSING NEW EVIDENCE OF FLAWS IN STANDARDIZED TESTS:

SAT Wars: EXPOSING NEW EVIDENCE OF FLAWS IN STANDARDIZED TESTS

SAT WARS: EXPOSING NEW EVIDENCE OF FLAWS IN STANDARDIZED TESTS SOURCE:WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY |HTTP://BIT.LY/VFKJ4O

Newswise — (Winston-Salem, N.C. – November 3, 2011) – In a revealing look at high-stakes standardized admissions tests, a new book called SAT Wars: The Case for Test-Optional Admissions, demonstrates the far-reaching and mostly negative impact of the tests on American life and calls for nothing less than a national policy change.

Wake Forest University Professor of Sociology Joseph Soares Wake Forest University photographer, Ken Bennett >>

Edited by Wake Forest University Professor of Sociology Joseph Soares, the book presents:

• New evidence of gender bias against women in the math section and racial biases against minorities built into the verbal section of the SAT;
• The only institutional admissions validity study ever published by a top-tier private research university, Johns Hopkins University;
• The only data ever published showing that test-optional and "don't ask, don't tell" test score practice

Jersey Jazzman: Why Do They Say What They Say?

Jersey Jazzman: Why Do They Say What They Say?:

Why Do They Say What They Say?

by Duke

Matt DiCarlo has another important post up today about Value-Added Modeling (VAM), the error-ridden statistics tool promoted by the corporate reformers as the solution to the "problem" of teacher evaluation (a "problem" I still contend no one has shown to be an actual problem).

Matt does what he does best: debunk think-tanky reforminess with actual research. In this case, he raises some important cautions about VAM's inability to account for student effects outside of a teacher's control (it can't), and about its volatility across years compromising its ability to make high-stakes decisions (it does).

To this, I'd add two things: one Matt will probably agree with, and one I'm sure he won't.

First: VAM is predicated on the idea that the standardized tests administered to students are themselves valid

Parents Across America’s Position on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) | Dailycensored.com

Parents Across America’s Position on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) | Dailycensored.com:

Action v. Inaction: The Scholar-Teacher Imperative

by Paul Thomas

If the disturbing details surrounding Jerry Sandusky and Penn State University’s football program prove to be true, little room will exist for debating the culpability of Sandusky’s role in breaking a sacred trust with the rights and basic human dignity of children. But surrounding this inexcusable act is a swirling debate about the culpability of [...]

Parents Across America’s Position on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)

by Danny Weil

Posted on November 9, 2011 by seattleducation2011 Issued on November 8, 2011 Today, the national group, Parents Across America, sent a letter to the members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee after noting that panelists testifying at a committee hearing today about reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education [...]

Remarks by the President on Veterans Day | The White House

Remarks by the President on Veterans Day | The White House:

Remarks by the President on Veterans Day

by The White House

Release Time:

For Immediate Release

Location:

Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia

11:40 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Ric Shinseki, for your extraordinary service to our country and your tireless commitment to our veterans; to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta; to Chairman Dempsey and Mrs. Dempsey; to our wonderful veterans service organizations for the extraordinary work that you do for our nation’s heroes; to all who tend to and watch over this sacred cemetery; and above all, to every active duty member, Guardsman, Reservist, and veteran of the United States Armed Forces.

There are many honors and responsibilities that come with this job. But none are more humbling than serving as your Commander-in-Chief. And I’m proud to be with so many of you here today.

Here, where our heroes come to rest, we come to show our gratitude. A few moments ago, I laid a wreath to pay tribute to all who have given their lives to our country. For even though this is a day we rightly honor America’s veterans, we gather today in solemn respect -– mindful that we are guests here; mindful that we share this hallowed space with a family’s moment of quiet grief; mindful that many veterans not far from here are tracing their fingers over black granite for friends who never came home –- and expect us to do all we can to bring every missing American service member home to their families.

To all our nation’s veterans: Whether you fought in Salerno or Samarra, Khe Sanh or the Korengal, you are part of an unbroken chain of men and women who have served this country with honor and distinction. On behalf of a proud and grateful nation, we thank you.

When I spoke here on this day two years ago, I said there would be a day before long when this generation of servicemen and women would begin to step out of uniform. And I made them a promise. I said that when your tour ends, when you see our flag, when you touch our soil -– you will be home in an America that is forever here for you, just as you’ve been there for us. (Applause.)

For many, that day has come. Over the past decade, more than 5 million Americans have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces. Of these, 3 million stepped forward after the attacks of September 11th, knowing full well that they could be sent into harm’s way. And in that time, they have served in some of the world’s most dangerous places. Their service has been selfless. Their accomplishments have been extraordinary.

In Iraq, they have battled a brutal insurgency, trained new security forces and given the Iraqi people the opportunity to forge a better future. In Afghanistan, they have pushed back the Taliban, decimated al Qaeda, and delivered the ultimate justice to Osama bin Laden. In concert with our allies, they have helped end Qaddafi’s brutal dictatorship and returned Libya to its people.

Because of their incredible efforts, we can stand here today and say with confidence -– the tide of war is receding. In just a few weeks, the long war in Iraq will finally come to an end. (Applause.) Our transition in Afghanistan is moving forward. My fellow Americans, our troops are coming home. (Applause.)

For many military families, this holiday season will be a season of homecomings. And over the next five years, more than 1 million Americans in uniform will transition back to civilian life, joining the nearly 3 million who have done so over the past decade and embraced a proud new role, the role of veteran.

This generation of service members -– this 9/11 Generation -– has borne the burden of our security during a hard decade of sacrifice. Our servicemen and women make up less than 1 percent of Americans, but also more than 1 million military spouses and 2 million children and millions more parents and relatives -- all of whom have shared the strains of deployment and sacrificed on behalf of the country that we love.

Only 27 years old on average, these young men and women have shattered the false myth of their generation’s apathy, for they came of age in an era when so many institutions failed to live up to their responsibilities. But they chose to serve a cause greater than their selves. They saw their country threatened. But they signed up to confront that threat. They felt some tug, they answered some call, and they said, Let’s go. And they’ve earned their place among the greatest of generations. (Applause.)

That is something for America to be proud of. That is the spirit America needs now -- a stronger, newer spirit of service and of sacrifice. That spirit that says, What can I do to help? What can I do to serve? That spirit that says, When my country is challenged, I will do my part to meet that challenge.

So on this Veterans Day, let us commit ourselves to keep making sure that our veterans receive the care and benefits that they have earned; the opportunity they defend and deserve; and above all, let us welcome them home as what they are -- an integral, essential part of our American family. (Applause.)

See, when our men and women sign up to become a soldier or a sailor, an airman, Marine, or Coast Guardsman, they don’t stop being a citizen. When they take off that uniform, their service to this nation doesn’t stop, either. Like so many of their predecessors, today’s veterans come home looking to continue serving America however they can. At a time when America needs all hands on deck, they have the skills and the strength to help lead the way.

Our government needs their patriotism and sense of duty. And that’s why I’ve ordered the hiring of more veterans by the federal government. (Applause.) Our economy needs their tremendous talents and specialized skills. So I challenged our business leaders to hire 100,000 post-9/11 veterans and their spouses over the next few years and yesterday, many of these leaders joined Michelle to announce that they will meet that challenge. (Applause.)

Our communities have always drawn strength from our veterans’ leadership. Think of all who have come home and settled on in a quiet life of service -- as a doctor or a police officer, an engineer or an entrepreneur, as a mom or a dad -- and in the process, changed countless lives. Other veterans seek new adventures from taking on a new business to building a team of globetrotting veterans who use skills learned in combat to help after a natural disaster.

There are also so many in this young generation who still feel that tug to serve, but just don’t quite know where to turn. So on this Veterans Day, I ask every American, recruit our veterans. If you’re a business owner, hire them. If you’re a community leader -- a mayor, a pastor or a preacher -- call on them to join your efforts. Organize your community to make a sustained difference in the life of a veteran because that veteran can make an incredible difference in the life of your community.

If you’re a veteran looking for new ways to serve, check out Serve.gov. If you’re a civilian looking for new ways to support our veterans and our troops, join Michelle and Jill Biden at JoiningForces.gov. Find out what you can do. There is no such thing as too small a difference. That effort you make may have the biggest impact.

I say this because recently, I received a letter from a Vietnam veteran. She wasn’t writing to tell me about her own experience. She just wanted to tell me about her son, Jeremy. Now, Jeremy isn’t deployed, Jeremy’s not a veteran, or even in the military at all, as badly as he wants to follow in the footsteps of his family and enlist. You see, Jeremy has Down Syndrome.

So Jeremy chooses to serve where he can best -– with his local Vietnam Veterans of America chapter in Beaver, Pennsylvania. He calls them “the soldiers”. And one day last spring, Jeremy spent the day with several of these veterans cleaning up a local highway.

“He worked tirelessly,” wrote his mother. “He never asked to take a break. He didn’t stop to talk about his beloved Steelers. He didn’t even ask for anything to eat or drink. He only asked for one thing, several times –- ‘Mom, will President Obama be proud of me for helping the soldiers?’”

Well, Jeremy, I want you to know, yes, I am proud of you. I could not be prouder of you, and your country is proud of you. Thank you for serving our veterans by helping them to continue their service to America.

And Jeremy’s example -- one young man’s example -- is one that we must all now follow. Because after a decade of war, the nation we now need to build is our own. And just as our Greatest Generation left a country recovering from Depression and returned home to build the largest middle class in history, so now will the 9/11 Generation play a pivotal role in rebuilding America’s opportunity and prosperity in the 21st century.

We know it will be hard. We have to overcome new threats to our security and prosperity, and we’ve got to overcome the cynical voices warning that America’s best days are behind us. But if there is anything our veterans teach us, it’s that there is no threat we cannot meet; there is no challenge we cannot overcome. America’s best days are still ahead. And the reason for that is because we are a people who defy those voices that insist otherwise. We are a country that does what is necessary for future generations to succeed. (Applause.)

You, our veterans, fight so our children won’t have to. We build and we invent and we learn so that we will know greater opportunity. America leads so that the next generation, here and around the world, will know a more hopeful life on this Earth.

So today, I thank you all for making that possible. God bless you. God bless our veterans and our troops, and God bless the United States of America. (Applause.)

END 11:51 A.M. EST

Modern School: Testing Teacher Sycophancy in Chicago

Modern School: Testing Teacher Sycophancy in Chicago:

Testing Teacher Sycophancy in Chicago

by Michael Dunn

CPS Imperial Guard With Teacher Slave (from Flickr ewen and donabel)

The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) is entering negotiations for their new contract. On the table are numerous assaults on their working conditions, including a longer school day. However, they are also locked in a battle with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Board of Education over a standardized test being used to screen out would be teachers who are pro-union, independently minded, or willing to fight the status quo in the interests of their students or their colleagues’ working conditions.

The test is called TeacherFit and it was specially designed for the Chicago Public Schools

New Orleans Liberation Academy: Transformational Change

New Orleans Liberation Academy: Transformational Change:

Transformational Change

by New Orleans Liberation Academy

Our friends at the Q.E.D. Foundation have created a graphic that does a great job describing the type of transformational learning community we are working to develop. We hope it can also serve as a tool for anyone else working to make transformational change in learning and teaching. Q.E.D. Foundation is an organization of adults and youth working together to create and sustain student-centered learning communities. Their work is based on relationships and practices that first and foremost support students’ growth and learning while simultaneously improving the health of our communities and our society.

My Take on the Goals of Human Development | Lefty Parent

My Take on the Goals of Human Development | Lefty Parent:

My Take on the Goals of Human Development

by Cooper Zale

In my previous piece, “My Real Issue is Human Development” (reviewing my own thoughts as expressed in my “Lefty Parent” blog) I called out that human development and the evolution of consciousness towards a “more evolved” state are what I consider of paramount importance and worthy of continuing discussion. One of my fellow blogging comrades on Daily KOS, “Cassiodorus”, challenged me on this with a thoughtful difference of opinion…

I would recognize life as a progression of qualitatively different states, with new realizations and burned energies each step of the way… You have cycles: birth, life, death.

Perhaps a more pragmatic, less metaphysical take on our species and individual existences than my own.

My comrade posed a provocative question on what in fact I meant by “more evolved” and what exactly did I see

Schools Matter: Why This Former TFA Recruiter Will Never Be on Wendy Kopp's "Most Powerful Educator" List

Schools Matter: Why This Former TFA Recruiter Will Never Be on Wendy Kopp's "Most Powerful Educator" List:

Why This Former TFA Recruiter Will Never Be on Wendy Kopp's "Most Powerful Educator" List

by Jim Horn

When Valerie Strauss did her piece the other day on the 8 people that made Wendy Kopp's list of “The World’s 7 Most Powerful Educators,” the only thing that surprised me was that Wendy Kopp, herself, was not at the top of Wendy Kopp's list. Coming as it did on the heels of the the essay by former TFA recruiter, Gary Rubenstein (reprinted below), it's easy to see Wendy's ridiculous and self-serving list as another PR effort in a long, long list of PR efforts by an outfit that spends more on recruiting and advertising than it

Concern Grows for the Number of Florida’s High School Grads Needing Remediation | Scathing Purple Musings

Concern Grows for the Number of Florida’s High School Grads Needing Remediation | Scathing Purple Musings:

Concern Grows for the Number of Florida’s High School Grads Needing Remediation

by Bob Sikes

A proposal to lower FCAT’s cut scores prompted a sharp rebuttal from one prominent member of Florida’s board of education. From GRADEBOOK:

They should expect some resistance from at least one board member. John Padget, a retired superintendent, told the Gradebook via e-mail that he was dissatisfied with some of the proposal.

“Based on the information I’ve seen, the educator panel, the reactor panel, and the draft rule lowers the cut scores for reading in the 8th, 9th, and 10th grade. I can’t support any lowering,” Padget said. “Florida needs more highly-qualified career- and college-ready graduates to power our economy; that need trumps everything else. The simple fact that almost 70% of our high school graduates require remediation in math or reading or both at the college level tells us that our high school students have to do more, not less.”

I haven’t heard it described as being that high before. The DOE has the number at 55 percent. People are