Sunday, February 19, 2012

‘You are so smart…why did you become a teacher?’ - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:‘You are so smart…why did you become a teacher?’by Valerie StraussThis was written by Carol Corbett Burris, principal of South Side High School in New York. She was named the 2010 New York State Outstanding Educator by the School Administrators Association of New York State. She is one of the co-authors of the principals’ letter against evaluating teachers by student test scores, which has ... more »

Schools Matter: Rethinking Teacher Quality and Metrics-mania

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 19 minutes ago

Schools Matter: Rethinking Teacher Quality and Metrics-mania:Rethinking Teacher Quality and Metrics-maniaby P. L. ThomasOnce President Barack Obama referred to the claim that teacher quality translates directly into increasing lifetime earnings of students, that assertion and connected study are destined to remain in the public domain in the same way that claims about three quality teachers in a row has persisted. These claims share something other than being quickly and broadly embraced, however; they are also misleading, incomplete, and harmful to ... more »

Sunday links. « Fred Klonsky

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 19 minutes ago

Sunday links. « Fred Klonsky:Sunday links.by Fred KlonskyThe Piccolo Occupation celebrates a victory last night when the CPS agreed to actually talk to parents and teachers at the school before closing it down. Photo: Katie Osgood.The tactic of occupation chalked up another victory last night as community members triumphantly walked out of Brian Piccolo school in Chicago’s West Humboldt Park neighborhood. The school was occupied Friday night after CPS and Mayor Emanuel refused to meet with parents opposed to handing ...more »

QWERTY - Arlington, VA, United States, ASCD EDge Blog post - A Professional Networking Community for Educators

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 19 minutes ago

QWERTY - Arlington, VA, United States, ASCD EDge Blog post - A Professional Networking Community for Educators:QWERTYIn Jim Collins’ latest work, Great by Choice, he offers the following shift in innovation strategy: fire bullets first…then cannon balls. A warfare metaphor? Yes. But what does it mean? Traditionally, military strategy has been to soften up an opponent’s defenses by lobbing in artillery first, before sending in men armed with weapons. Makes sense. Create a strategic advantage before committing lives. So how ... more »

Civics and Civility : Thoughts on Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee in Oakland (Community Voices) | Oakland Local

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 19 minutes ago

Civics and Civility : Thoughts on Michelle Rhee in Oakland (Community Voices) | Oakland Local:Civics and Civility : Thoughts on Michelle Rhee in Oakland (Community Voices)C.j. Hirschfeld Sat, 18 Feb at 8:38amMichelle Rhee, www.studentsfirst.org/pages/about-michelle-rheeTwo recent incidents have made me worry about the decline of public discourse in Oakland and about how organized labor is contributing to that decline.It troubles me to write this because I respect the important role labor unions have played in American history, and I support the ... more »

Santorum Criticizes Education System and Obama - NYTimes.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 19 minutes ago

Santorum Criticizes Education System and Obama - NYTimes.com:Santorum Questions Education System; Criticizes ObamaMichael McElroy for The New York TimesRick Santorum said the idea of governments operating public schools was “anachronistic.”By RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr.Published: February 18, 2012RECOMMENDTWITTERLINKEDINCOMMENTS(450)E-MAILPRINTREPRINTSSHARECOLUMBUS, Ohio — With his candidacy surging, Rick Santorum on Saturday questioned the legitimacy of state-run public education systems and suggested that President Obama’s agenda sprang from a “phony theology.”MultimediaInteractive Featu... more »

Daily Kos: Dear Mr. President,

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 19 minutes ago

Daily Kos: Dear Mr. President,:Dear Mr. President,by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken)I am a teacher. You know, one of those about whom you and your Secretary of Education say are so important to our young people. If only I - and thousands, perhaps millions of other teachers - could believe those words. There are things your administration has done that we respect, at least most of us. The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act meant large numbers of teachers and other public employees did ... more »

TV and movies give exposure to autism disorders - NorthJersey.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 19 minutes ago

TV and movies give exposure to autism disorders - NorthJersey.com:TV and movies give exposure to autism disordersSATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012 LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2012, 9:43 AMBY VIRGINIA ROHANSTAFF WRITERTHE RECORDPRINT | E-MAILMax Braverman, 10, is obsessed with bugs and cannot handle any change in plans.Linda (Sandra Bullock) comforts her son, Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn), who has Asperger's syndrome, in 'Extremely Loud Incredibly Close.''Parenthood's' Max Braverman (Max Burkholder) also has Asperger's.Jake Bohm, 11, does not speak or make eye ... more »

A Southwest Florida Newspaper Leads in Establishing a Local Education Alliance | Scathing Purple Musings

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 19 minutes ago

A Southwest Florida Newspaper Leads in Establishing a Local Education Alliance | Scathing Purple Musings:A Southwest Florida Newspaper Leads in Establishing a Local Education Allianceby Bob SikesNo Jeb Bush. No Gerard Robinson. Not even Rick Scott, who makes his home in the area. The Fort Meyers News-Press clearly saw the need to separate a local initiative from the current crop of Tallahassee lawmakers in creating The Alliance of Education Leaders. In this morning’s op-ed they subtly explain why:Indeed, there are ... more »

Can’t Wait to Have Students Read This | Outside the Cave

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 hours ago

Can’t Wait to Have Students Read This | Outside the Cave:Can’t Wait to Have Students Read Thisby Stephen LazarThere’s an interesting op-ed in Thursday’s New York Times, “Why China’s Political Model Is Superior.” The author Eric X. Li, makes some claims in it that are beyond radical from an American perspective:In the history of human governance, spanning thousands of years, there have been two major experiments in democracy. The first was Athens, which lasted a century and a half; the ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts 2-18 #soschat #ReclaimingReform

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 hours ago

LAUSD Supt. John Deasy addresses Miramonte sex-abuse allegations - latimes.comBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-52 minutes agoLAUSD Supt. John Deasy addresses Miramonte sex-abuse allegations - latimes.com:LAUSD Supt. John Deasy addresses Miramonte sex-abuse allegationsIn the wake of teachers being charged with lewd acts with students, Los Angeles Unified School District Supt. John Deasy has sought to reassure teachers and staff in a video address.In his four-minute address, which was sent to the employees districtwide, Deasy said the investigation into the ... more »

School Tech Connect: Occupy #twill #soschat #ows

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 hours ago

School Tech Connect: Occupy #twill:Occupy #twillby noreply@blogger.com (Tim)I've been in the suburbs all day, at the fabulously managed Students in Technology Conference at Stephenson High School in Lincolnshire. Let me just say two things: first, I work with some of the brightest, most articulate and involved students that I've known in lo these past 27 years. They blow me away. Second, my feet are on strike. They're apparently not going to let me stand up again until I agree to ... more »

Modern School: The Best Curriculum Money Can Buy—The Real Climategate Coming to a School Near You

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 hours ago

Modern School: The Best Curriculum Money Can Buy—The Real Climategate Coming to a School Near You:The Best Curriculum Money Can Buy—The Real Climategate Coming to a School Near Youby Michael DunnWhen internal documents from British scientists were leaked to the press, inaugurating “Climategate,” the Heartland Institute was one of the myriad right-wing climate-denial conspiracy organizations that cherry-picked quotes from the scientists and demanded punitive action against them. The scientists have since been cleared of any wrongdoing and their research has ... more »

Linda Darling-Hammond critiques Branstad school plan #soschat

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 hours ago

Trapit:Professor, author critiques Branstad school planStoryDiscussionBy ANDREW WIND, andrew.wind@wcfcourier.com | Posted: Saturday, February 18, 2012 11:00 am | (0) CommentsFont Size:Default font sizeLarger font sizeStanford University Professor Linda Darling-Hammond. (courtesy photo)WATERLOO, Iowa --- A Stanford University professor and author of a book on inequities in the U.S. educational system gave mixed reviews Thursday to Gov. Branstad's school reform proposals.Linda Darling-Hammond held a two-hour video conference with more than 45 Cedar Valley residents presented by the Un... more »

NYPD Spied On Muslim Student Groups Outside of New York « Student Activism

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 hours ago

NYPD Spied On Muslim Student Groups Outside of New York « Student Activism:NYPD Spied On Muslim Student Groups Outside of New Yorkby Angus JohnstonIn September of last year the Associated Press revealed that the New York Police Department had, in conjunction with the Central Intelligence Agency, spied on more than half a dozen of the city’s campus Muslim student groups. Today it reported that the NYPD’s surveillance went much further.In a story published this afternoon, the AP described how the ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: It's Only Fair!

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: It's Only Fair!:It's Only Fair!by DukeSo they're going to publish the Value-Added Model (VAM) ratings of New York City teachers in the local papers, just like Los Angeles (yeah, that worked out great). These ratings are based on student test scores, run through a statistical model like this:I think all the editors who make the decision to publish the ratings should have to explain this formula to their readers, don't you?If they can't, I have another suggestion: publish ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: "It takes a process to fail a child" -- Piccolo 7th grader

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: "It takes a process to fail a child" -- Piccolo 7th grader:"It takes a process to fail a child" -- Piccolo 7th graderby Mike KlonskyA. Klonsky photo"We need our school. If they've got the funding, give us the money and we'll do what we've got to do for Brian Piccolo." -- Parent Nedra Martin.Piccolo is just one of ten CPS schools slated for turnaround, six of which would be run by AUSL. Parents question CPS's claims ... more »

LAUSD Supt. John Deasy addresses Miramonte sex-abuse allegations - latimes.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 19 hours ago

LAUSD Supt. John Deasy addresses Miramonte sex-abuse allegations - latimes.com:LAUSD Supt. John Deasy addresses Miramonte sex-abuse allegationsIn the wake of teachers being charged with lewd acts with students, Los Angeles Unified School District Supt. John Deasy has sought to reassure teachers and staff in a video address.In his four-minute address, which was sent to the employees districtwide, Deasy said the investigation into the allegations at Miramonte Elementary School, where two teachers were removed and face criminal charges, has been completed.He ... more »

Arne Duncan on the Jon Stewart Daily Show – Reading through the Rhetoric – Why won’t he hear us? « Continuing Change

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 19 hours ago

Arne Duncan on the Jon Stewart Daily Show – Reading through the Rhetoric – Why won’t he hear us? « Continuing Change:Arne Duncan on the Jon Stewart Daily Show – Reading through the Rhetoric – Why won’t he hear us?by gatorbonbcArne Duncan on the Jon Stewart Daily Show – Reading through the Rhetoric – Why won’t he hear us?thu-february-16-2012-arne-duncanHe says:“I think our biggest challenge, Jon, is that we have become too complacent. We’re 16th in the world today in college ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Evening Posts 2-18 #SOSchat #p2 #edreform

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 19 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Hackuva Job, Cerfie!Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-1 hour agoJersey Jazzman: Hackuva Job, Cerfie!:Hackuva Job, Cerfie!by DukeTom Moran is once again is in a huff; he can't understand why anyone would have a problem with the bestest education commissioner ever!Chris Cerf has been steering education policy in New Jersey for more than a year now, and no one disputes that he has brought talent and devotion to the work.But you can’t call him commissioner because the boys ... more »

Twenty-Three Things You May Not Have Known About the Japanese-American Internment « Student Activism

Twenty-Three Things You May Not Have Known About the Japanese-American Internment « Student Activism:

Twenty-Three Things You May Not Have Known About the Japanese-American Internment

by Angus Johnston

Today is the 70th anniversary of #EO9066, the FDR executive order that authorized Japanese deportation from the West Coast during WWII.
— Angus Johnston (@studentactivism) February 19, 2012

I just posted a string of tweets, including the one above, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Executive Order 9066. EO 9066, signed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt on February 19, 1942, authorized the exclusion of Japanese Americans from large portions of the United States solely on the basis of their ethnicity. It led almost immediately to seizure of property, ethnic curfews, and — on May 3, 1942 — the authorization of the establishment of internment camps to house those who would be relocated from exclusion zones.

70 years ago today FDR #EO9066 created the Japanese-American internment policy. 120,000 people, 2/3 of them citizens, were imprisoned.

Jack Hassard: Test-Based Reform: What Values are we Adding? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

Jack Hassard: Test-Based Reform: What Values are we Adding? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:

Jack Hassard: Test-Based Reform: What Values are we Adding?

by Anthony Cody

Guest post by Jack Hassard. You can read Part One here.

Practicing teachers, clinical professors, and researchers who work in the field know that assessing teachers or students requires much more than simply looking at test scores. And indeed, researchers who have examined the value-added assessment system which purports to measure the "teacher effect" on student achievement test scores, question it's validity and more important reliability.

The Data Used to Make High-Stakes Decisions on Teachers and Students
Value Added Effect
For example, Terry Hibpshman, of the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board, did an in-depth review of value-added models and concludes that even though VAM has been implemented in some locations (Tennessee, and Dallas), the methodologies "should not be considered mature or well-formed at this point in its history." Dr. Hibpshman goes on to explain that VAM models, by their very nature, are extremely complex, and unless one understands the statistical nature of these models, people are quick to make policy decisions

Support PURE! » Climate change deniers want their views in nation’s textbooks

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Climate change deniers want their views in nation’s textbooks:

Climate change deniers want their views in nation’s textbooks

by admin

A plot by Chicago-based Heartland Institute to control the way our children are taught about global warming has been exposed. Science? Heartland’s agin’ it.

By the way, Heartland Institute’s Bruno Behrend, who runs their Center for School Choice, occasionally posts nasty blog comments about Parents Across America (e.g. here).

Here’s what happened, according to Salon.com:

On Tuesday, an individual claiming to be a Heartland donor persuaded the group to email him or her the group’s annual budget, its fundraising plan and a 2012 strategy paper, outlining the organization’s intent to insert contrarian views of climate change into the nation’s elementary

Missouri Education Watchdog: Want to Add Your Anti-Common Core Comment on The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Site?

Missouri Education Watchdog: Want to Add Your Anti-Common Core Comment on The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Site?:

Want to Add Your Anti-Common Core Comment on The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Site?

by stlgretchen

Here's your chance to tell the Gates Foundation what you think about the institution of the common core. The Gates Foundation has spent millions of dollars in various states and organizations to ensure they will be implemented in states....by taxpayer dollars....without taxpayer input.

Impatient Optimists, a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation blog, has an article on why Tom Loveless was wrong on his criticism of common core standards. The citizens commenting on this site seem to be a bit underwhelmed and quite angry about this circumvention of legislative approval and the majority do not

Student Bill of Rights From Youth Empowered in the Struggle « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

Student Bill of Rights From Youth Empowered in the Struggle « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!:

Student Bill of Rights From Youth Empowered in the Struggle

by millerlf

Following is a Student Bill of Rights written by student members of Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES), a youth organization associated with Voces de la Frontera. Over one thousand students, mostly in Milwaukee and Racine, have reviewed the document and given input to its content. YES has also received input from a number of youth organizations and education activists.

I will be introducing the document for discussion to the MPS school board at the March 8th (6:30 PM) Innovative School Reform Committee meeting and public hearing. Please try to attend and support YES.

Student Bill of Rights
Written by the students of Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES)

Student Power and Voice
I. Students have the right to organize and have a voice in their school.
II. Student representatives should be included in any decision-making that significantly affects

Jersey Jazzman: Lifestyles of the Rich and Reformy

Jersey Jazzman: Lifestyles of the Rich and Reformy:

Lifestyles of the Rich and Reformy

by Duke

Watching Brian Jones yesterday, I was struck once again by the massive hypocrisy of so many who claim the mantle of "reformer." They sing the praises of standardized testing regimes and "accountability," all while dismissing concerns about funding, class size, and highly-educated teachers.

And yet, when it comes to their own families, they choose schools that have small classes and big costs per pupil. I think it's very valuable to periodically remind ourselves just how self-serving these hypocrites can be.

For your reading enjoyment, find below some facts about the schools these people have picked for their own kids. Keep in mind that the NJ voucher bill that many of these people support would provide, at most, $12,000

Democurmudgeon: School Vouchers Explained; Would you trust "The Alliance for the Seperation of School and State?"

Democurmudgeon: School Vouchers Explained; Would you trust "The Alliance for the Seperation of School and State?":

School Vouchers Explained; Would you trust "The Alliance for the Seperation of School and State?"

by Democurmudgeon

The following provides the simple reason why school vouchersare being pushed. It’s not for educating kids or giving parents “choice,” it’spurely ideological and monetary. NH version gets around theirconstitution by funding vouchers with business tax credits. What moneyisn’t used by students is taken from education, and who knows, is used by the state for other things. Sneakyhuh?

Here’s one of the best explanations for those still on the fence.

Sentinel Source: Have you ever heard of The Alliance for the Separation ofSchool and State, where you sign a proclamation that says, “I proclaim publiclythat I favor ending government involvement in education?”

The Alliance, along with the Cato Institute and a panopl

Republican Party, Hispanics for School Choice and Scott Jensen « Larry Miller

Republican Party, Hispanics for School Choice and Scott Jensen « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!:

Republican Party, Hispanics for School Choice and Scott Jensen

by millerlf

Scott Jensen and Hispanics for School Choice-Both are part of an interlocking network of pro-voucher organizations aligned with the Republican Party.

By Barbara Miner, Feb. 18, 2012

News reports this week exposed the close working — and legally questionable — relationship between Republican legislators, lobbyist Scott Jensen and the pro-voucher group Hispanics for School Choice.

Those involved in the controversy have a long-standing working relationship that is part of a strategic alliance between right-wing billionaires; school vouchers supporters, and Republican Party operatives.

Consider this announcement on the website of “The Hispanic Conservative” more than a year ago, on Jan. 14,

The Ownership Society | Firedoglake

The Ownership Society | Firedoglake:

The Ownership Society

by masaccio

Thanks to outtacontext

George Bush the Last was a true believer in the ownership society. As the New York Times reported in December 2008:

He pushed hard to expand homeownership, especially among minorities, an initiative that dovetailed with his ambition to expand the Republican tent — and with the business interests of some of his biggest donors. But his housing policies and hands-off approach to regulation encouraged lax lending standards.

The rationale for the ownership society is that owning stuff gives people a stake in the system. Here is a typical statement from David Boaz, writing for the Cato Institute:

People have known for a long time that individuals take better care of things they own. Aristotle wrote, “What belongs in common to the most people is accorded the least care: they take thought

School as Abuse and Education as Art

School as Abuse and Education as Art:

School as Abuse and Education as Art

FEBRUARY 19, 2012

Very Important Article about School as Abuse and Education as Art. It is a must read even though it makes it sound like Ritalin and Adderal are evil.

Let’s not get distracted by disputes about the efficacy of various drugs. In some cases they have proven beneficial, and many of those who prescribe them are competent and responsible and at least doing no harm.

The deeper message is that parents, led by school systems have an abusive propensity to assume that what adults are subjecting children to is good and natural. With this faulty mindset it is a natural to move to act as if

A City Education: Why Adults Must Model Racial Unity for Students - Education - GOOD

A City Education: Why Adults Must Model Racial Unity for Students - Education - GOOD:

A City Education: Why Adults Must Model Racial Unity for Students

by Liz Warden

aaron.ricky
In our A City Education series, two City Year corps members share their experiences working as tutors and mentors in schools in hopes of closing the achievement gap and ending the dropout crisis.

"Mister, why do you hang out with him?" a Latino seventh-grader student asked my teammate Ricky at lunch.

Ricky knew exactly what the student was trying to get at: Why is Ricky, a Latino man, buddies with our teammate Aaron, a black man?

Ricky grew up here in Los Angeles and went to a school similar to Markham Middle School, where we serve.

Will Guzzardi for 39th District Representative in Illinois. « Fred Klonsky

Will Guzzardi for 39th District Representative in Illinois. « Fred Klonsky:

The Philanthrocapitalist Manifesto | Philanthrocapitalism

The Philanthrocapitalist Manifesto | Philanthrocapitalism:

The Philanthrocapitalist Manifesto

Sunday, January 24th, 2010

Some time in the next few months, and by May at the latest, the British public will go to the polls to choose a new government. Whichever of the political leaders gets to see the Queen and take/retake up residence in 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister will have plenty of tough decisions to make. At home, the economy needs reviving and social problems need tackling. Internationally, Britain has an important leadership role to play on security, development and tackling climate change. A new government will have to face these challenges with diminished resources, since drastic public expenditure cuts are inevitable.

The party policy wonks are working on their proposals at the moment, which will be presented to the nation as their parties’ manifestos. Yet none of the parties has really embraced philanthrocapitalism as part of the solution to the nation’s and the world’s problems. That’s why we have produced our own manifesto setting out our blueprint for philanthrocapitalism to change public services and British society for the better. We are not running for elected office. This is not a partisan document. Indeed,

NATIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS: An Exit Strategy for States

NATIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS: An Exit Strategy for States:

NATIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS: An Exit Strategy for States

December 20, 2011

Imposing Centralized Education Authority

Unprecedented Federal Overreach: President Obama’s push for national standards and tests is an unprecedented federal overreach into education. The Common Core State Standards Initiative is entangled with federal incentives and policy and would significantly weaken state control over the content taught in local schools.
More Federal Strings, Less Parental Control: With little public notice, many states have agreed to adopt the Common Core national standards. This movement is a challenge to education freedom in America and costly in terms of liberty—not to mention dollars. State leaders who believe in

Jersey Jazzman: Low-Information Editorials

Jersey Jazzman: Low-Information Editorials:

Low-Information Editorials

by Duke

I do not relish being the guy who has to set Tom Moran straight every week. But he really leaves me no choice when he writes pieces like this. I'll keep it short:

- Here are the things you will learn from reading Tom's piece:

The salary of the Executive Director of the NJEA, Vince Giordano; you will also read that Moran thinks it's "way too high for a union guy."
Giordano apparently has "considerable girth."
Giordano drives a "luxury car."
The Governor has approval ratings with people who don't like the union, probably because he is always bashing the union.

- Here are the things you will not learn from reading Tom's piece:

The comparable salaries of other heads of unions so Moran's readers can make a meaningful comparison.

Seattle Area Teachers' Blog: Harassment of Beloved Senior Teachers

Seattle Area Teachers' Blog: Harassment of Beloved Senior Teachers:

Harassment of Beloved Senior Teachers

Over the last year there have been widespread reports that administration at Seattle School District has used predatory tactics to force out senior teachers.

The Seattle Education Association refuses to acknowledge that there is an issue of discrimination. The SEA response has been to encourage teachers to resign.

Our beloved teachers are disappearing one at a time.

It is time to stand together and push back.

We will not be victims!