Oakland's painful school closure era might be over sooner than expected - ContraCostaTimes.com

Oakland's painful school closure era might be over sooner than expected - ContraCostaTimes.com:

Oakland's painful school closure era might be over sooner than expected

By Katy Murphy
Oakland Tribune

Posted:   03/11/2012 12:00:00 AM PST

Updated:   03/11/2012 05:06:35 AM PDT

Click photo to enlarge

Oakland School District Superintendent Tony Smith speaks during an Oakland Unified School...

OAKLAND -- Residents bracing for a second wave of school closures, wondering if their neighborhood school will still exist in 2013, should heed this news: Round 2 has been canceled.

The downsizing plan announced in 2011 -- expected to last for two to three years -- has ended after just one.

In October, the Oakland school board voted to close five elementary schools and merge a number of others, reducing the number by about a dozen. Originally, Superintendent Tony Smith had said the district, which operated nearly 100 schools for 38,000 students, needed to close 20 to 30 to get its finances in order. That target has since changed.

"Currently, I have no intention, and I don't think it's going to be necessary next year, for more closures," Smith told a group of teachers gathered at Youth 

Despite Scott’s $1 Billion Increase, Local School Boards Still Facing Cuts | Scathing Purple Musings

Despite Scott’s $1 Billion Increase, Local School Boards Still Facing Cuts | Scathing Purple Musings:

Despite Scott’s $1 Billion Increase, Local School Boards Still Facing Cuts

by Bob Sikes

From Leslie Postal in the Orlando Sentinel:

Scott demanded more money for public schools this year, and the Legislature agreed. But the increase lawmakers approved won’t lead to bigger budgets for local districts this year.
Per-student funding will go up an average of $150. But last year, lawmakers slashed an average of $585 for each student. Making matters worse, thousands of new students are expected to enroll during the next school year, adding to districts’ costs. And the federal stimulus money that helped shore up school districts this school year will run out, leaving a budget gap.
Bottom line: Local school boards likely will need to make cuts for the coming school year.
The Seminole County school district, for example, estimates that about $16 million must be sliced 

Jersey Jazzman: Tom Moran, I'm Begging: Answer These Questions About Tenure

Jersey Jazzman: Tom Moran, I'm Begging: Answer These Questions About Tenure:

Tom Moran, I'm Begging: Answer These Questions About Tenure

by Duke

First of all, I don't ever want to hear the Star-Ledger Editorial Board complain about money the NJEA spends on advertising; not after today's anti-tenure editorial. Granting a very occasional space to the union to run an op-ed in rebuttal is hardly equivalent to many, many pieces the Ledger has written in support of policies to abolish tenure as we know it. The NJEA has every right - in fact, they have a duty - to their members to present the other side of this debate.

(And thanks to Matt Katz of the Philadelphia Inquirer for demonstrating that there is wide-spread support among teachers for the NJEA to continue this information campaign.)

I'll assume this piece was written by Tom Moran, who has made his feelings about tenure quite clear. I won't 

Union. « Fred Klonsky

Union. « Fred Klonsky:

Union.

MARCH 11, 2012

Hechinger Report | Indiana overhauls how it evaluates teachers

Hechinger Report | Indiana overhauls how it evaluates teachers:

Indiana overhauls how it evaluates teachers

by Scott Elliott

INDIANAPOLIS — Reform: There is perhaps no idea more embraced in education circles nationally—and especially here.
Indiana is in the midst of a massive education reform effort that includes the creation of vouchers, increasing the number of charter schools and adopting a new system to hold schools accountable. For the first time, that includes taking control of failing schools away from districts.
It could be argued, however, that no reform measure will have more impact in the classroom than a new state program that is being piloted in six Indiana school districts and is about to be unleashed in every school across the state.
Beginning next school year, the way teachers are evaluated—in essence, graded—will change dramatically. The 

Guest blog: Jerry Mulvihill on educational reformers. « Fred Klonsky

Guest blog: Jerry Mulvihill on educational reformers. « Fred Klonsky:

Guest blog: Jerry Mulvihill on educational reformers.

by Fred Klonsky

Jerry Mulvihill, a colleague of mine in Park Ridge, wrote the following op-ed piece for the Southtown Star.
“(Mr. Mulvihill), when you come up with a plan to decrease salaries and spending in wasteful and ineffective (school) districts and shift resources to the efficient and effective districts, you may gain some credibility. Until then, you’re acting like no more than a union shill.” — Illinois Policy Institute Liberty Leader Bob Shelstrom

It would appear in today’s economic and political environment that almost everyone can declare themselves a qualified school reformer. Bob Shelstrom certainly fits, as exemplified by his above quote. But while I believe we would all agree with Mr. Shelstrom’s sentiment that the fight for quality education for our children is too important to abandon, I would argue that his solutions to improve Southland schools and the data he uses to support his ideas are fundamentally flawed.
As a 20-year public schoolteacher, former school board member and father of two students in Southland public schools, I feel a professional obligation to offer an additional perspective to Mr. Shelstrom’s Dec. 11 Insight column. What did I do to draw his ire? I submitted an opinion to the SouthtownStar’s Forum, expressing my 

Defeats of Prison Privatization and Parent Trigger Prompts FL Chamber of Commerce to Target Rebel GOP Senators | Scathing Purple Musings

Defeats of Prison Privatization and Parent Trigger Prompts FL Chamber of Commerce to Target Rebel GOP Senators | Scathing Purple Musings:

Defeats of Prison Privatization and Parent Trigger Prompts FL Chamber of Commerce to Target Rebel GOP Senators

by Bob Sikes

Yesterday’s Orlando Sentinel piece by Tallahassee bureau chief Aaron Deslatte delved into the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s influence  and it’s displeasure with the republican rebels in the senate who didn’t go along with them on prison privatization and parent trigger.

It was a rare defeat for the Florida Chamber of Commerce in an election-year session that saw the Republican-dominated Legislature provide almost everything the business lobby sought
The chamber bragged about 25 different bills: among them a compromise reform of Personal Injury Protection insurance; further limits on the state’s growth-management laws; and tax breaks for video-game and website developers, oil-drillers, phosphate miners, airplane owners and engine-makers and other manufacturers.
Still, chamber President Mark Wilson said Saturday that his powerful business lobbying 

The Republicans plus Rodney Tom wreak havoc on the Washington State budget and hurt children the most | Seattle Education

The Republicans plus Rodney Tom wreak havoc on the Washington State budget and hurt children the most | Seattle Education:

The Republicans plus Rodney Tom wreak havoc on the Washington State budget and hurt children the most

by seattleducation2011

Senator Rodney Tom is pushing  for charter school franchises  to be established  in the Central District and yet he wants to cut the budget that would assist the children who he purports to want to “help” in this same community as well as make major cuts to education funding. Kelly Munn with the League of Education Voters seems to be a major cheerleader for his cause.
To follow is a newsletter from Senator Allen Kline who represents the 37th District, where the Central District is located. This newsletter describes in detail what Democratic Senator Rodney Tom of Bellevue and his Republican friends want to do with our state budget and how it would affect those in need, particularly residents 

Why the Ed Department should be reconceived — or abolished - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Why the Ed Department should be reconceived — or abolished - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:

Why the Ed Department should be reconceived — or abolished

by Valerie Strauss

This was written by Peter Smagorinsky, Distinguished Research Professor of English Education at The University of Georgia.

By Peter Smagorinsky
The Department of Education has, since its inception in 1979, served as the source of national education policies governing our nation’s schools. Although I agree with very little else of Rick Perry’s vision for America, I think that either abolishing or thoroughly reconceiving this office would make for a better nation, given that for the most part it has done teachers and students far more harm than good.
Read full article >>

Holding on to the Joy in Teaching | Dissident Voice

Holding on to the Joy in Teaching | Dissident Voice:

Holding on to the Joy in Teaching

by Robert Jensen

I am a tenured professor in a relatively stable university, which is quite possibly the best job in the world. I get paid well to read, think, talk, and write, and I have more job security than almost anyone I know.
Like many professors, I am critical of the increasingly corporate nature of universities. The conservative/neoliberal project of turning public schools into educational factories is also gathering steam in higher education, and there is much organizing work necessary just to protect what little space for critical thinking still exists.
But the longer I teach, the more I appreciate the privileges that come with the job, and the more fun I have. So, when I recently had to write a “statement of teaching philosophy,” I tried to reflect that gratitude and pleasure.
Statement of Teaching Philosophy: Pay attention, be astonished, tell about it
After years of research, I have developed a three-stage teaching method that breaks new ground in pedagogical 

Did Alan Hays Attempt to Trade His NO Vote on Parent Trigger? | Scathing Purple Musings

Did Alan Hays Attempt to Trade His NO Vote on Parent Trigger? | Scathing Purple Musings:

Did Alan Hays Attempt to Trade His NO Vote on Parent Trigger?

by Bob Sikes

From Aaron Dislatte in the Orlando Sentinel:

TALLAHASSEE — As the clock ticked toward the end of the 2012 lawmaking session, Florida’s most influential business lobby was desperate for a win.
Its lobbyists thought they had a package deal. If the Senate could pass a bill cutting worker’s compensation payments to doctors who dispense medication, a controversial education-reform measure known as “parent trigger” would pass with it.
The linchpin: Sen. Alan Hays, a Umatilla Republican sponsoring the worker’s comp bill, which would have banned doctors who dispense repackaged medication to worker’s comp patients from 

The Privatizers want mayoral control. Better to resist than accommodate. « JD2718

The Privatizers want mayoral control. Better to resist than accommodate. « JD2718:

The Privatizers want mayoral control. Better to resist than accommodate.

by jd2718

Parents across america: Attempted coup by ConnCan and TFA in Bridgeport – a cautionary tale

Connecticut Governor and privatizers work to install mayoral control in Bridgeport… I’ve long thought elected school boards are useless window dressing… but if that’s the case, why do opponents of public education work so hard to get rid of them?

In New York City our union has put forward the concept, backed by a first plan, that checks an balances are needed on mayoral control. I’ll support any limitation on mayoral control – but checks and balances are not 

Sunday links. « Fred Klonsky

Sunday links. « Fred Klonsky:

Sunday links.

by Fred Klonsky

The Chicago Vic Theater was packed last night for the decade-old Louder Than a Bomb poetry slam. It was the final competition in a festival that has been going on for weeks. No poetry tests. Just poetry from these powerful high school poets. Even the Mayor was there. I hope he was really listening.
Have you put your name on the Dump Duncan petition yet? Pour yourself another cup of joe and then gohere.
Chicago parents say, “Why not ask us if we want a longer school day?” Brizard and Rahm asking parents 

OccupyAustin Mic Checks Arne Duncan | MyFDL

OccupyAustin Mic Checks Arne Duncan | MyFDL:

Occupy Austin Mic Checks Arne Duncan

by Kit OConnell

US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan at ACC, moments before being mic checked.

Thursday, I participated in a ‘MIC CHECK’ confrontation with Arne Duncan, the US Secretary of Education, at a town hall meeting at Austin Community College. Duncan is criticized for many reasons, but he came under fire from Occupy Austin for his support of charter schools and privatization which puts teachers out of work, puts taxpayer money and our students in the hands of 1% corporations with little accountability.
Occupy AISD (a.k.a. Occupy Education) is one of our most effective working groups. They’ve engaged in amazing outreach to schools, teachers, parents, and activists. They led a successful rally earlier this month bringing many non-occupiers on the march. They’ve also had a real effect on our schools, supporting the efforts 

The in box: Printing comments from baggers. « Fred Klonsky

The in box: Printing comments from baggers. « Fred Klonsky:

The in box: Printing comments from baggers.

by Fred Klonsky

Fred,
I respect & admire you, both as a professional & as an excellent writer.(I eagerly await your post-retirement book!) That having been said, please post NO more of Paper Cut’s rantings. What I truly admire about your blog–at least as long as I have been reading it–is that there have not been any back-&-forths–just the kind of focused, straight-talk “from a public school teacher who is just looking at the data.” And that’s what I rely upon from your post–news (even if it’s bad)–& GOOD opinion(s) (from both you & your readers) as to what we CAN do to help solve problems (along w/some wit & sarcasm).
I just HATE reading the back-&-forth idiocy that is carried on EVERY time there’s a new post on 

PAUL KRUGMAN: Republicans turn against education | PressDemocrat.com

PAUL KRUGMAN: Republicans turn against education | PressDemocrat.com:

KRUGMAN: Republicans turn against education

By PAUL KRUGMAN

Published: Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 3:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 9, 2012 at 2:45 p.m.

One way in which Americans have always been exceptional has been in our support for education. First we took the lead in universal primary education; then the “high school movement” made us the first nation to embrace widespread secondary education. And after World War II, public support, including the GI Bill and a huge expansion of public universities, helped large numbers of Americans to get college degrees.

But now one of our two major political parties has taken a hard 

NYC Public School Parents: DOE's High Priest of Standardized Testing To Debate Educators

NYC Public School Parents: DOE's High Priest of Standardized Testing To Debate Educators:

DOE's High Priest of Standardized Testing To Debate Educators

by Patrick J. Sullivan

In an important face off, Shael Polakow-Suransky, DOE's Chief Academic Officer and driving force behind the Bloomberg administration's ramp up of standardized testing will debate with Sean Feeney, a Long Island principal and leader of the statewide revolt against NY State's test-based evaluation program. They'll be joined by Elijah Hawkes, former principal of The James Baldwin Expeditionary Learning School in Manhattan. Meredith Kolodner of The Daily News and Inside Schools will moderate.

Under Polakaw-Suranksy's direction, standardized testing has been forced on NYC public schools for rating students, rating 

Schools Matter: Krash Course 2

Schools Matter: Krash Course 2:

Krash Course 2

by P. L. Thomas

(a) I have written four books on writers: Barbara Kingsolver, Kurt Vonnegut, Margaret Atwood, and Ralph Ellison. Much of my time as a teacher of writing has also been spent searching for and listening to writers write (and talk) about how they came to be writers.

A recurring theme is that formal schooling wasn't helpful; in fact, formal schooling is often identified as a hurdle to their lives as writers...

See this excellent article from The Guardian (U.K.) that brings this issue to light:

Roddy Doyle: the joy of teaching children to write

An excerpt from the article:

The centre, which takes its name from a common Dublin expression meaning words used to 

School reform free-for-all has the cash flying | StarTribune.com

School reform free-for-all has the cash flying | StarTribune.com:

School reform free-for-all has the cash flying

• Article by: ERIC WIEFFERING , Star Tribune 
• Updated: March 10, 2012 - 2:51 PM

 Education reform has all the hallmarks of a parent-led, grass-roots movement to fix failing public schools.

But it's become a big business, too. Nonprofits and interests from both ends of the political spectrum are pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into reform initiatives, and hundreds of companies -- for profit and nonprofit alike -- are scrambling for a share of the hundreds of billions spent annually educating students in kindergarten through grade 12.

The Walton Family Foundation, named after Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, gave more than $159 million to education reform initiatives in 2011. The New York Times reported that Microsoft founder Bill Gates' foundation spent more than $370 million on education reform efforts in 2009, and expects to spend an additional $3 billion over the coming five or six years.

In Minnesota, money from those foundations and others helped win passage of alternative teacher certification measures and statewide 

Disability advocates want federal action to curtail seclusion, restraint of kids in schools - chicagotribune.com

Disability advocates want federal action to curtail seclusion, restraint of kids in schools - chicagotribune.com:

Disability advocates want federal action to curtail seclusion, restraint of kids in schools

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KIMBERLY HEFLINGAP Education Writer

9:27 a.m. CST, March 10, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) — Tens of thousands of students, most of them disabled, are strapped down or physically restrained in school, and disability advocates hope that a new Education Department report detailing the practice of "seclusion and restraint" will spur federal action to end it.

The report, compiled and made public for the first time by the department's civil rights arm, shows that 70 percent of students subjected to the techniques have disabilities. There are no