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Thursday, April 5, 2012

Big Education Ape: 4-5-12 PM Alledged Life in Rahm’s Chicago Edition #SOSCHAT #SAVEOURSCHOOLS

Big Education Ape: PARENTS CAN!:
Big Education Ape: PARENTS CAN!

Published by Coopmike48 – 6 news spotters today

StudentsFirstNY Announces Itself – SchoolBook

nytimes.com - April 4, 2012, 7:31 p.m. StudentsFirstNY, the new political group formed by leaders of the education reform movement like Joel I. Klein and Michelle Rhee, officially announced its arrival on Wednes...
leoniehaimson

Education "Reform" Passes Louisiana State Senate

fredbauerblog.blogspot.com - A bill empowering vouchers has passed the Louisiana State Senate, as has HB974, which would weaken local control of schools and teacher tenure.  HB974 passed 23-16 with an amendment, so the Louisia...
DianeRavitch

Teachers support possible strike, union says | catalyst

catalyst-chicago.org - The Chicago Teachers Union claimed Thursday that more than 75 percent of teachers at each of 150 schools showed support for a strike in informal polling. But the union would not give details on whi...
mikeklonsky

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coopmike48 profile
coopmike48 Higher Education Loan Authority of the State of Missouri Announces Extension of... -- ST. LOUIS, April 5, 2012 /PRN... prn.to/Hlij8t2 minutes ago · reply · retweet · favorite
coopmike48 profile
coopmike48 U.S. News - Activists cry foul as Tenn. science education bill hits governor's desk on.msnbc.com/HliAZd59 seconds ago · reply · retweet · favorite
leoniehaimson profile
leoniehaimson Hiring costs at turnaround schools may exceed $60 million & will be difficult to hire enuf teachers in shortage areas| goo.gl/9LBZM23 minutes ago · reply · retweet · favorite

EducationSee all

Questions about bills remain | DailyComet.com

dailycomet.com - Published: Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at 7:53 a.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at 7:53 a.m. As soon as today, the state Senate could approve Gov. Bobby Jindal’s legislative plan to reform...
DianeRavitch

SocietySee all

StoriesSee all

There Is A Better Way...

sahilachangebringer.blogspot.com - I am a 21 year-old student from Finland. It makes me sad to hear how Americans are suffering. Here, our taxes are high but we all benefit from them. I grew up in the countryside and always had acce...
coopmike48

organic, hydroponic and energy efficient

dailykos.com - This brief (<12 minutes) video will introduce you to Robert Tornello and his 3 Boys Farms.  I am electronic friends with his wife, and she recently shared this video with me.  I thought it deserved...
coopmike48

Navel gazing. Compliments of Google

edupln.ning.com - Gulliver's Travels was one of the finest pieces of literary work. Not only was it  fantastically creative, it told us profound things about the world. Many parts of that book still apply to situati...
coopmike48

PoliticsSee all

For Education, Election Results Mean More of the Same

allthingsedu.blogspot.com - Yesterday, the Democrats lost the House and hung on to the Senate, barely. In the meantime, we still have Obama in the White House. So, what do the election results mean for education policy?Valeri...
mikeklonsky

For Education, Election Results Mean More of the Same

allthingsedu.blogspot.com - Yesterday, the Democrats lost the House and hung on to the Senate, barely. In the meantime, we still have Obama in the White House. So, what do the election results mean for education policy?Valeri...
mikeklonsky

Ed Rosenthal for IEA Retired Chair. « Fred Klonsky

preaprez.wordpress.com - My membership in IEA Retired is in the mail. I’m not retired until June. I can’t vote for Chair of IEA Retired this time. But if you are a member of IEA Retired, you can vote. And I’m encouraging a...
coopmike48

HealthSee all

Sex education stagnating in U.S. schools, CDC says

reuters.com - By David Beasley ATLANTA | Thu Apr 5, 2012 2:53pm EDT ATLANTA (Reuters) - Public schools in the United States are making "little progress" in expanding instruction in how to prevent pregnancy and s...
coopmike48

Managing Asthma in Student Athletes

educationresearchreport.blogspot.com - Ω For the student athlete with asthma, spring and summer pose particular dangers. The most significant danger is the all-too-frequent lack of access to a life-saving asthma inhaler, explains Maure...
coopmike48

Overweight Boys and Girls Benefit from Being Fit

educationresearchreport.blogspot.com - Ω Improving or maintaining physical fitness appears to help obese and overweight children reach a healthy weight, reports a new study from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tuf...
coopmike48

CrimeSee all

State sues Orange County over school money

latimesblogs.latimes.com - April 5, 2012 |  1:52 pm A lawsuit filed by the state Thursday against Orange County says a diversion of money from education to balance the budget is unconstitutional. The lawsuit filed in Orange ...
coopmike48

Charles Manson, now 77, gets new chance at parole

latimesblogs.latimes.com - After 11 failed bids for freedom, notorious serial killer Charles Manson, now 77, is up for parole later this month. The parole board rejected his bid in 2007, saying Mason "continues to pose an un...
coopmike48

#soschatSee all

MoveOn.org Civic Action

civic.moveon.org - We're at a crossroads as a country. In recent years, millions have lost their jobs, homes have been foreclosed, and an unconscionable number of children live in poverty. We have to stand up to the ...
mikeklonsky

#saveourschoolsSee all

MoveOn.org Civic Action

civic.moveon.org - We're at a crossroads as a country. In recent years, millions have lost their jobs, homes have been foreclosed, and an unconscionable number of children live in poverty. We have to stand up to the ...
mikeklonsky

 VideosSee all


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Mulgrew challenges DOE to increase school budgets New York Teacher | Edwize

New York Teacher | Edwize:


New York Teacher

by W.J. Levay
New York Teacher, April 5, 2012Mulgrew challenges DOE to increase school budgets
With new money coming from the state and an improving city revenue picture, the Department of Education must finally start rebuilding ravaged school budgets, UFT President Michael Mulgrew told the City Council on March 27. Class sizes should go down and after-school and enrichment programs must be restored, he said.
Here’s the pitch
City schools finish in the money at annual Virtual Enterprise competition
Would-be entrepreneurs need to pitch detailed business plans to funders and investors. Learning to do that is part of schooling, too, as the annual Virtual Enterprise International’s Youth Business Summit competition attested. In round one, held at union headquarters on March 27, 19 student teams from high schools nationwide competed.
‘We can’t do it alone’
450 educators get message that collaboration is key to success in education
The theme of the day was “Collaboration: Changing Lives Together,” and it brought 450 early childhood educators 
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Engaging Parents In School… - What An Awful & Misleading Video About Our Schools

Engaging Parents In School… - What An Awful & Misleading Video About Our Schools:


What An Awful & Misleading Video About Our Schools

by Larry Ferlazzo
Michele Molnar over at Education Week has just posted about a new campaign for school choice begun by the ultra-conservative American Federation For Children. The campaign is called Parents Know Best, and is immediately joining The Worst Parent Engagement Ideas list.
They’re kicking-off their campaign with an incredibly misleading video, with statements taken completely out of context, that I have embedded below:
Popout
The quote from Bob Chanin, formerly of the NEA, was made in the context of what made NEA an effective advocate — its power. Here is his full statement, and you can read more about it at the NEA site.
“So the bad news, or depending on your point of view, the good news, is that NEA and its affiliates will continue 
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Life in Rahm’s Chicago. Strike support spreads to 150 schools. « Fred Klonsky

Life in Rahm’s Chicago. Strike support spreads to 150 schools. « Fred Klonsky:


Life in Rahm’s Chicago. Strike support spreads to 150 schools.

by Fred Klonsky

Negotiating a teacher union contract in this town ain’t mumbly peg, to paraphrase the late Harold Washington.
If Rahm thought he was going to roll over Chicago teachers, he must have the City confused with his more effete hometown of Wilmette.
Votes of strike support have spread from two high schools at the beginning of the week to 150 schools today.
Karen Lewis, CTU President:

Lewis said teachers are madder than she has seen them in 25 years — including in 1987, when then-firebrand CTU President Jackie Vaughn led the union in a 19-day walkout.

“Chicago teachers and paraprofessionals are fed up,” Lewis said. “They are tired of being blamed, bullied and belittled by the very district that should be supporting them. …

“They live in a city that has done everything it can to take the joy out of teaching 

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Modern School: Gay Student Punished For Supporting Gay Marriage

Modern School: Gay Student Punished For Supporting Gay Marriage:


Gay Student Punished For Supporting Gay Marriage

by Michael Dunn

Gay Marriage Legalized in DC; Oral Roberts Drops Dead (Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com)

A student at Fullerton Union High School, near Los Angeles, who was taking part in their “Mr. Fullerton” competition, was asked by the judges what he hoped for in the future. When he replied that he hoped to find a partner and get married if gay marriage were legal, his assistant principal pulled him off the stage.

Back in the Closet, Faggot
District officials criticized the assistant principal this week because the "matter was not handled appropriately." According to the Los Angeles Times, Superintendent George J. 
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NBC’s Education Nation dog and pony show hits the road next week – why not join them? « Parents Across America

NBC’s Education Nation dog and pony show hits the road next week – why not join them? « Parents Across America:


NBC’s Education Nation dog and pony show hits the road next week – why not join them?

by pureparents

From NBC’s publicist:
EDUCATION NATION ON-THE-ROAD COMES TO DENVER
NBC News brings an education “power week” to Denver starting April 12th with a series of education-focused events and programming
NEW YORK, NY— April 5, 2012— In an effort to continue the national conversation sparked with its “Education Nation” initiative, NBC News is continuing “Education Nation On-The-Road” for the spring of 2012. Making its first stop in Denver beginning April 12th, the NBC News team will spend a week in the city, partnering with its affiliate station, 9NEWS, and its sister networks, MSNBC and Telemundo affiliate KDEN, to create a public dialogue around education issues faced by the region. During the week, NBC News and its partner stations will air education-focused programming and host a series of special events that bring Denver-area educators, elected officials, business leaders, parents and students together to share information, exchange ideas and inspire change. All events will 
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Vets group suspends campus chapters at for-profits - Boston.com

Vets group suspends campus chapters at for-profits - Boston.com:


Vets group suspends campus chapters at for-profits

By Justin Pope
AP Education Writer / April 5, 2012
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A leading student veterans group is suspending chapters at 40 for-profit colleges, saying it's concerned they've been set up by the colleges as shell organizations to help them appeal to veteran students who carry lucrative government tuition benefits.
The schools may be creating what are essentially fake SVA chapters to help them qualify for lists of "military friendly" or "veterans friendly" colleges that are proliferating in guidebooks and online, Student Veterans of America executive director Michael Dakduk said Thursday. On some lists, the existence of an SVA chapter at a school figures into the formula.
The organization, which has 417 campus chapters, said it would not name the for-profit schools while it investigated further. But Dakduk said that during recent membership renewals, SVA discovered numerous chapters listing as contacts people SVA later identified as school employees, not student veterans, and that chapter websites simply redirected anyone interested to the colleges' 
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Why Michelle Rhee's Education 'Brand' Failed in D.C. - Natalie Hopkinson - Politics - The Atlantic

Why Michelle Rhee's Education 'Brand' Failed in D.C. - Natalie Hopkinson - Politics - The Atlantic:


Why Michelle Rhee's Education 'Brand' Failed in D.C.

SEP 15 2010, 12:16 PM ET 113
The urban education reform movement just got a much-needed reality check as D.C. Democratic primary voters fired Mayor Adrian Fenty, and effectively along with him one of the movement's biggest superstars, District schools chief Michelle Rhee. Chancellor Rhee was as a key, polarizing figure in Fenty's reelection campaign, which ended when he was defeated in the Tuesday primary by his challenger, D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray.

Rhee brazenly politicized her job as Schools Chancellor in a way that may be unprecedented for education bureaucrats. Back in the spring, the charitable arm of Wal-Mart and other corporate foundations threatened to yank millions they had donated to break the teacher's union if Rhee was not retained. Then Rhee not so subtly hinted to a reporter that she would not work for Gray. Finally, the weekend before the election, Rhee hit the campaign trail along with Fenty to round up votes in 
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RheeFirst! » Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s DC record: highest per pupil spending ever but poorest student achievement gains among all cities tested

RheeFirst! » Rhee’s DC record: highest per pupil spending ever but poorest student achievement gains among all cities tested:


Rhee’s DC record: highest per pupil spending ever but poorest student achievement gains among all cities tested

by admin
Under her watch, Rhee resorted to smoke and mirrors to claim budgetary constraints.  Attorney Mary Levy, fiscal analyst of education budgets and frequent expert witness in DC Council hearings, sent the following fiscal table showing DCPS 07-11 funding and spending.
Levy writes:   “Per student spending from all funding sources rose by $3,744 in the four years from 2007 to 2011, a total of 27%, compared to local inflation of 10%.  A cause for concern is that much of the $80 million increase was funded by  increases in special Congressional  earmarks ($27 million) big foundation grants ($20 million) and federal entitlement grants ($6 million).  Federal stimulus funding  increased by $22 million.  Cutbacks in any of these sources  could create a big impact on DCPS.”
In other words, Rhee ran DCPS with more money than previous superintendents.  This massive funding was 
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House Budget Committee Proposal Jeopardizes Billions in Children's Funding | First Focus

House Budget Committee Proposal Jeopardizes Billions in Children's Funding | First Focus:
First Focus - Making Childen and Families the Priority

House Budget Committee Proposal Jeopardizes Billions in Children's Funding
FACT SHEETS

March 26, 2012
By Jared Solomon
Related press release:House Budget Would Cost Children Billions, New Analysis Shows
On March 29, 2012, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a FY 2013 House Budget Resolution authored by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI). This fact sheet looks at how this budget resolution affects America's Children. While the House Budget Committee has released only summary data, a review of available information shows that children's priorities face deep and devastating cuts.
Detailed Analyses
These fact sheets provide more detailed analyses of the House budget proposal for key children's issues.
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Major Bills That Stand to Dismantle Louisiana’s Public School System Head to Governor’s Desk

LAE - Louisiana Association of Educators:


Major Bills That Stand to Dismantle Louisiana’s Public School System Head to Governor’s Desk
Louisiana Lawmakers Ignore Educators’ Pleas to Slow Down Passage of Legislation That Calls for Radical Education Overhaul
BATON ROUGE, LA – In the early weeks of the 2012 Legislative Session, Louisiana lawmakers voted to send radical education overhaul legislation, HB 974 and HB 976, to the Governor’s desk.

“We already knew what the vote would be, but we stayed committed to having our voices heard,” said LAE President Joyce Haynes.

Despite hours of protest and thousands of emails, phone calls and legislative chamber notes, the pleas made by educators and parents to slow down the passage of the bills went ignored. Haynes says she feels as though the Governor’s flawed plan only stands to hurt public schools, and will force the state to have to start reform efforts over again in just a few years.

“His voucher plan (HB 976) will rob local funds from our neighborhood schools,” she said.  
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Chancellor questions fairness of SMC plan to provide higher-cost classes | 89.3 KPCC

Chancellor questions fairness of SMC plan to provide higher-cost classes | 89.3 KPCC:


Chancellor questions fairness of SMC plan to provide higher-cost classes

Jack Scott, California Community Colleges


Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott said today that a Santa Monica College plan to offer a two-tier pricing plan for classes raises questions of fairness for the open enrollment system.

"The biggest issue right here is whether or not we are favoring those who have greater income over those who don’t," Scott said. "That's I think where it's problematic."

Scott has asked the state's Attorney general for an opinion on the legality of the program, which would provide additional self-funded courses to students. On Wednesday, Scott advised Santa Monica College President Chui


Santa Monica College will continue with two-tier plan


Santa Monica College will continue with plans to implement a new tier of higher cost classes this summer despite a request from the California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott to put the program on hold after protesting students were pepper sprayed Tuesday night by campus police, said college spokesman Bruce Smith today.

Santa Monica College President Chui L. Tsang spoke with Scott on the phone Wednesday, the morning after students were pepper sprayed while interrupting a Board of Trustees meeting.

"Dr. Tsang was very appreciative of the call," Smith said. "They had a great conversation and the college is going


Community Colleges Chancellor asks SMC president to put two-tier plan on hold


In a phone call the morning after Santa Monica College students were pepper sprayed by campus police, California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott advised college President Chui L. Tsang to put on hold a plan to offer a tier of higher-cost classes this summer.

"[Tsang's] a good friend of mine and I have a lot of respect for him," Scott said in an interview today. "He is obviously trying to determine what the incident was. I did say that given the circumstances that perhaps it would be wise to put this program on hold until we would get a ruling on the legality of it. That’s only my advice. Chui Tsang answers directly to the Santa Monica elected Board of Trustees. He made it clear, and I understand."

Campus police used pepper spray on about 30 students Tuesday night as they interrupted a Board of Trustees 
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Schools Matter: No Unnecessary Testing in Medicine and in Education

Schools Matter: No Unnecessary Testing in Medicine and in Education:


No Unnecessary Testing in Medicine and in Education

by skrashen
Sent to the Seattle Times, April 5, 2012

Nine medical societies have identified a list of tests and procedures that are unnecessary, that cause needless anxiety, and that cost billions that could be spent on helpful medical care (“Common medical procedures you may not need,” April 4),

A similar action needs to be taken in education: The US Department of Education is promoting the most extensive testing plan ever seen on this planet, far more than what is now required under No Child Left Behind: More subjects will be tested, more grade levels will be tested, “interim” tests will be given during the year, and we might also have “pretests” in the fall. There is no evidence that this increase in testing will increase learning, and good reason to suspect that it will result in needless anxiety. It will also waste billions that could be spent in 
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