NJ Spotlight | Cerf to Lose Two Top Aides -- Deputy Commissioner and Chief of Staff

NJ Spotlight | Cerf to Lose Two Top Aides -- Deputy Commissioner and Chief of Staff:

Cerf to Lose Two Top Aides -- Deputy Commissioner and Chief of Staff

Departure comes when education department is starting to enjoy some stability

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By John Mooney, August 9, 2012 in Education |1 Comment

Education Commissioner Chris Cerf

Credit: Amanda Brown

Just as education commissioner Chris Cerf is settling into his title, if not the job itself, two of his top lieutenants are leaving his side at the department.

Last week, Andrew Smarick announced he would be leaving the post of deputy commissioner to return to Washington, D.C., and the world of advocacy and think tanks that he left to come to New Jersey two years ago.

Yesterday, David Hespe said he will be depart as Cerf’s chief of staff to become president of Burlington County 

NYC Educator: Students First NY Campaigns for Justice

NYC Educator: Students First NY Campaigns for Justice:

Students First NY Campaigns for Justice

by NYC Educator

We met with Micah Lasher, the voice of Students First NY on Twitter. Lasher angrily denied the UFT charge that Campbell Brown issued a "blood libel" by saying UFT wanted sexual offenders in the classroom.

"This is clearly a garden-variety libel," said an angry Lasher. "It's our policy to mischaracterize union positions, but to do so in a straightforward fashion. We strongly object to the hyperbolic statements issued by the union, and demand an immediate retraction."

"Furthermore," Lasher continued, "the attack on Campbell Brown is overtly sexist. Brown is a woman, and it's clear to me that anyone who hates her must hate women. Furthermore, Brown is a parent, so 

A dozen-plus bills would reduce barriers to success for boys of color | EdSource Today

A dozen-plus bills would reduce barriers to success for boys of color | EdSource Today:

A dozen-plus bills would reduce barriers to success for boys of color

August 9th, 2012 | Add a Comment |
By Kathryn Baron

The chairman of the Assembly Select Committee on Boys and Men of Color is confident that the bulk of legislation supported by the panel this session will become law.  Oakland Democrat Sandré Swanson wrapped up the committee’s first two years yesterday, presiding over a hearing in the Capitol that laid out current and future proposals for creating a path to success for African American, Latino and Native American boys.

Of about 19 bills supported by or introduced by members of the Select Committee, Swanson toldEdSource Today he expects as many as 14 will make it to Gov. Brown’s desk.  More than half of those address the disproportionately harsh discipline meted out to Black and Latino boys.  Recent studies found that although African American boys make up just 8 percent of the state’s public school students, they account for 19 percent of all suspensions.  Most of the offenses have nothing to do with violence 

A delicate dance: When parents ask for specific teachers | Get Schooled

A delicate dance: When parents ask for specific teachers | Get Schooled:

A delicate dance: When parents ask for specific teachers

by Maureen Downey

Should you be able to request a specific teacher for your child? (AJC file photo)

One of the most controversial elements of teacher assignments is whether schools will consider parent requests for specific teachers.
While most systems say they don’t honor parent requests, many principals over the years have told me that they will do so when they can.
Savvy parents get around “no request”policies by asking not for a specific teacher, but for specific characteristics 

New school year: doubling down on failed ed policy - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

New school year: doubling down on failed ed policy - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:

New school year: doubling down on failed ed policy

By Valerie Strauss

This was written by Lisa Guisbond, a policy analyst for the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, known as FairTest, a Boston-based organization that aims to improve standardized testing practices and evaluations of students, teachers and schools.

By Lisa Guisbond

Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt credited his teammate, Jamaican runner Yohan “The Beast,” Blake, with helping him improve by beating him in earlier races. The defeats forced Bolt to reflect on what he needed to do differently to improve. Bolt’s victory modeled a powerful lesson: Always try to learn from your mistakes, rather than repeat them.

President Obama and Arne Duncan (AP)As children head back to school after a decade of No Child Left Behind, will they benefit from lessons learned from this 

Indiana Charter Schools USA Asks Students to Spell Out Curse Words in Lesson | Scathing Purple Musings

Indiana Charter Schools USA Asks Students to Spell Out Curse Words in Lesson | Scathing Purple Musings:

Indiana Charter Schools USA Asks Students to Spell Out Curse Words in Lesson

by Bob Sikes

Perhaps this is what they mean by innovation. From CTVNews:

In a case of the devil you know, an Indiana high school is trying to teach students what not to say by having them write it down.
In a lesson on cursing, students at the Thomas Carr Howe High School in Indianapolis were asked to spell out the curse words they know.
“And everyone was nervous about it and uncomfortable about it, to write it in front of an adult, 

Young Philadelphia family's choice reflects faith in its public school - Philly.com

Young Philadelphia family's choice reflects faith in its public school - Philly.com:

Young Philadelphia family's choice reflects faith in its public school

August 08, 2012|By Kristen A. Graham, Inquirer Staff Writer

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Mark Scott and son Henry at E.M. Stanton Elementary, where Henry will start this year. (ELISE WRABETZ / Staff Photographer )

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Henry Scott's first day of school will be a big deal.

And not just because the 6-year-old is planning on "learning new things, like math and how to read," in first grade.

Henry's first day matters because his parents could have sent him to private school. They could have moved to the suburbs. They could even have sent him to the highly regarded Independence Charter School in Center City, where he had a spot waiting.

But Jill and Mark Scott chose E.M. Stanton at 17th and Christian Streets, their neighborhood public school, for Henry.

"Everyone kind of assumes they can't send their kid to the neighborhood school, but they've never stepped inside," said Jill Anastasi Scott, a clinical therapist and social worker. "We are really gung-ho on Stanton."

Story continues below.

The Southwest Center City school has a lot going for it: robust community partnerships, strong test 

Won’t Back Down | ruralteacher

Won’t Back Down | ruralteacher:

Won’t Back Down

Posted on August 8, 2012 

WARNING: This is NOT an endorsement for the movie of the same name that will be in theaters in September and that Wal-Mart  is celebrating with a deceitful “Teachers Rock” Concert. So, if you landed here looking for a teacher to wholeheartedly support parent triggers, you can stop reading now.

It’s not that I don’t welcome and encourage parent involvement, I do wholeheartedly! I send a weekly newsletter home and encourage questions and comments. Parents are free to visit my classroom to help or observe or join in our activities just about any time they request.

If you are a public school teacher, I’m sure you can relate to ‘standing at the gates of Hell” in the current environment. But, we don’t have to back down. We don’t have to be silently 

Pass / Fail : State auditor to look at how schools use anti-bullying laws to protect gay students | 89.3 KPCC

Pass / Fail : State auditor to look at how schools use anti-bullying laws to protect gay students | 89.3 KPCC:

State auditor to look at how schools use anti-bullying laws to protect gay students

by By Tami Abdollah

Students from middle and high schools across LAUSD line up at the Nokia Theatre to watch the documentary "Bully." California lawmakers have requested the state auditor examine how schools implement anti-bullying and harassment laws to protect students targeted for their sexual orientation. Credit: Mae Ryan/KPCC

California lawmakers today approved a request for a state audit on how schools implement anti-bullying and harassment laws after recent incidents in which students were targeted for their sexual orientation.

Democratic state Assembly members Ricardo Lara of Bell Gardens and Betsy Butler of Los Angeles jointly 

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: Happy New (School) Year! I Resolve...

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: Happy New (School) Year! I Resolve...:

Happy New (School) Year! I Resolve...

by Lisa M

Have a wonderful 2012-2013!

 I resolve to:

1. treat all students fairly, regardless of race, gender, age, behavior, a parent's nasty attitude, the comments from last year's teachers, or seemingly lack of interest in learning 
2. to realize that all children can learn, but not always at the same pace
3. stop using sarcasm as a disciplinary tool, no matter how effective it may seem. 
4. speak in a quiet, even,tone, even when

David Gelernter: The Friendly, Neighborhood Internet School - WSJ.com

David Gelernter: The Friendly, Neighborhood Internet School - WSJ.com:

The Friendly, Neighborhood Internet School

We have the technology, the people and the institutions we need to usher an online-education revolution.

BY DAVID GELERNTER

We have big problems with our schools—and need new ideas about how to fix them. Deep changes are needed in our attitude toward teaching, leading education scholar Diane Ravitch wrote recently in the New York Review of Books. We need smarter, better-educated recruits to the profession. We need to value a teacher's experience properly and discard the thought that idealistic college graduates with no experience make brilliant teachers automatically.

Fair enough. But we need other solutions too. We need plans that make direct use of our biggest assets: parental anger, and people's selfish but reasonable willingness to give some time ...

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Con Academy 

Browse Con Academy  library of over 3,100 educational videos...

Helping Students Motivate Themselves: Practical Answers To Classroom Challenges | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…

Helping Students Motivate Themselves: Practical Answers To Classroom Challenges | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…:

'

Helping Students Motivate Themselves: Practical Answers To Classroom Challenges

February 19, 2011 by Larry Ferlazzo | 11 Comments

26

You can now order the book. Just go to the book’s page on their website. The cost is $29.95.

You can also order it on Amazon.

(You can read the book’s introduction here)

You can read an excerpt from the first chapter here

Transcript Of My Ed Week Chat On Motivation Online

First Chapter of My Book, Hand-Outs & Links Are Now Online For Free

“Finishing the School Year Strong” is the title of another excerpt in Education Week/Teacher.

Recording Now Available Of “Helping Students Motivate Themselves” Interview

I thought readers might be interested in seeing the cover, reading a description, and reviewing the Table of Contents (still in the process of being slightly revised) of my upcoming book, Helping Students Motivate Themselves: Practical Answers To Classroom Challenges.

The book will be officially published by Eye On Education on April 30th (though it might actually be in-stock prior to that date), and I will be sharing links to how to order the book and to excerpts that will be published in various publications prior to that date.

Here’s a short description from the publisher:

17-year-old boy crowned America’s fastest texter | The Raw Story

17-year-old boy crowned America’s fastest texter | The Raw Story:

17-year-old boy crowned America’s fastest texter

Topics: America ♦ Austin Weirschke ♦ texting shorthand

 

NEW YORK — A 17-year-old boy retained his title as America’s fastest texter Wednesday in a duel of the thumbs staged before yelling fans in New York’s Times Square.

Austin Weirschke took home $50,000 in prize money for the second time in two years when he bested 10 other texting demons in feats of thumb speed, memory and fluency in texting shorthand.

One round was performed with contestants blindfolded and having 45 seconds to type the verse: “Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are, up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky.”

The event, sponsored by LG Electronics and 

Parent and Student Activists – Get Ready. | United Opt Out National

Parent and Student Activists – Get Ready. | United Opt Out National:

Parent and Student Activists – Get Ready.

by admin

The public school year has either begun or will begin shortly for families everywhere. We have an assessment calendar which includes high stakes testing information for each state, allowing students and parents to make informed decisions as they begin to prepare for a year of opting out of corporate education reform by opting out of the state tests, as well as any other tests which do not improve student achievement and take away from authentic learning and teaching.

Questions to ask when looking at the calendar:

When are tests given in your state?

What test prep activities are required?

When will the test prep activities occur and how much time each day is used for test prep?

How is the test data being used and with whom is it being shared?

What content areas will be

U.S. student wrongly denied N.J. tuition grant because of mom's immigration status, court says | NJ.com

U.S. student wrongly denied N.J. tuition grant because of mom's immigration status, court says | NJ.com:

U.S. student wrongly denied N.J. tuition grant because of mom's immigration status, court says

Published: Wednesday, August 08, 2012, 8:06 PM     Updated: Wednesday, August 08, 2012, 8:08 PM

Tim Farrell/The Star-LedgerTwo Democratic state senators, Teresa Ruiz, right, of Essex County, who is chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee, and Sandra Cunningham of Hudson County, chairwoman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, said the ruling reflected the Legislature’s intent to provide equal access to education.

An American-born student waswrongly denied financial assistance for tuition at a state college because her parents are not United States citizens, an appellate court panel ruled today.

The decision clarifies the regulations regarding tuition that the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey said the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, a state agency, had intentionally misinterpreted for years, depriving thousands of students of much-needed aid.

The three appellate judges found that after years of adhering to laws governing tuition aid grants, the state authority in 2005 inappropriately began linking students’ residency to their parents’ immigration status.

"In 2005, the agency reversed course without any substantive explanation — instead, inaccurately 

Jersey Jazzman: Someone Tell Rhee America Doesn't Suck!

Jersey Jazzman: Someone Tell Rhee America Doesn't Suck!:

Someone Tell Rhee America Doesn't Suck!

by Duke

Jon Stewart points out that Americans are kicking ass in both the Olympics and in space exploration.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
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Gosh, this doesn't sound right. I mean, Michelle Rhee told us in her obnoxious, denigrating, and borderline homophobic ad that America sucks so badly at math and science. Yet here we are, landing rovers on Mars before any other country.

Maybe she's wrong. Maybe America is a science and technology powerhouse. Maybe those stupid international