Latest News and Comment from Education

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 12-8-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2




James Baldwin said it best: 

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."

A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP




15+ family members and employees of a New York tug boat towing and ferry boat company give to Malloy PAC - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 minutes ago
15+ family members and employees of a New York tug boat towing and ferry boat company give to Malloy PAC - Wait, What?: 15+ family members and employees of a New York tug boat towing and ferry boat company give to Malloy PAC by jonpelto At least 15 family members and employees of a company that financially benefits from Connecticut public policy is one of the biggest donors to Malloy’s Political Action Committee, according to an article written by investigative reporter Jon Lender, and that will run in tomorrow (Sunday’s) Hartford Courant. Wait, What? readers are already familiar... more »

Boys and Girls HS vs DOE - Report from Public Meeting 12/4/12 6 Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 minutes ago
Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública: *Boys and Girls HS vs DOE - * *Report from Public Meeting 12/4/12 6* * Principal Gassaway with Boys & Girls Students* Approximately 450 parents, students, educators and community leaders attended the December 4 meeting at Boys and Girls High School in Bedford Stuyvesant to respond to the DOE’s “Report to the Community on the Performance of Boys and Girls High School” and its proposal concerning the future of the school. Brooklyn HS Superintendent Karen Watt...more »

The in box. Getting the word out about Springfield rally. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 minutes ago
The in box. Getting the word out about Springfield rally. « Fred Klonsky: The in box. Getting the word out about Springfield rally. by Fred Klonsky All IEA Retired Members served by the IEA Skokie Office will be receiving postcards early next week – please see attached. Please call the Skokie Office (847-329-7756) to reserve a spot on the bus, and invite family, friends, former colleagues, etc. IEA membership is not required – the bus, donuts/coffee, and lunch are donated by the IEA for all attendees. Also attached is information from Fred Klonsky’s Blog < http://preaprez.wordpre... more »

The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School Part V: The Playroom Edition.southbronxschool.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 minutes ago
http://www.southbronxschool.com: The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School Part V: The Playroom Edition by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) Oh, there is fun to be had every day at The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School, but only if you seek it. The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School has turned into nothing more than a playroom. A place where students, those students that disrupt their classes, throw chairs, run through the halls, punch and kick teachers are punished by being able to finger paint play with dolls, and have ice cream parti... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Grover Whitehurst's big pay day, testifying class size doesn't matter

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
NYC Public School Parents: Grover Whitehurst's big pay day, testifying class size doesn't matter: Grover Whitehurst's big pay day, testifying class size doesn't matter by Leonie Haimson The State of Texas is being sued for inadequate school funding; with over $5 billion cut from school budgets last year alone, leading to unprecedented increases in class sizes. About two-thirds of the school districts in Texas— serving three-quarters of the state’s public school students — are plaintiffs. What’s particularly tragic is that Texas was the first state in the country to systematical... more »

Do Schools Kill Creativity? | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Do Schools Kill Creativity? | toteachornototeach: Do Schools Kill Creativity? by aristotlethewise *Do Schools Kill Creativity? * [image: schools-kill-creativity] by Ken Robinson I’ve spoken twice at TED. The first time was in 2006. TED was a very different event then. It was a private conference for about 1,200 people. After the event, the talks were packaged in a box set of DVDs and sent just to the attendees. I gave a talk called “Do Schools Kill Creativity?” A few months later, Chris Anderson, the curator of TED, called to say they were planning to put a few talks on their websit... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Great Moments in Reformy Tantrum Throwing

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Jersey Jazzman: Great Moments in Reformy Tantrum Throwing: Great Moments in Reformy Tantrum Throwing by Duke Diane Ravitch points us to a story about yet another reformy "school leader" who can't get the job done; consequently, throws a tantrum: A Franklin County school superintendent vented publicly this week about the slow pace of reforms he wants to see at one of the largest public high schools in the area, Bellows Free Academy-St. Albans. Robert Rosane, superintendent of the Franklin Central Supervisory Union, blasted faculty and administration for blocking innovationin an ema... more »

Top Content this Week - 12-8-12 The Educator's PLN

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Top Content this Week - The Educator's PLN: 1[image: How to Ignite Passion in Your Students: 8 Ways Educators Can Foster Passion-Based Learning]How to Ignite Passion in Your Students: 8 Ways Educators Can Foster Passion-Based Learning Added by Tess Pajaron on October 12, 2012 2[image: World Languages activities]World Languages activities Posted by Gérard Gatoux on November 29, 2012 3[image: Language Learners]Language Learners Added by Jessica Owens on October 19, 2009 4[image: Our Changing Schools]Our Changing Schools Added by Alyson Thorp on September 7, 2012 5[image: Again; Relevanc...more »

Cannibalizing the system Parents United for Responsible Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Cannibalizing the system: Cannibalizing the system by admin From today’s Tribune: Chicago Public Schools said Friday it plans to add four more charter schools to the nine charters previously approved for the coming year, which quickly became fuel for critics of the district’s plans to close many neighborhood schools. “It simply makes their argument, ‘We have to close schools,’ sound ridiculous,” said Julie Woestehoff, executive director of Parents United for Responsible Education. “It would be one thing

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee wins over a critic

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee wins over a critic: Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee wins over a critic Posted by Valerie Strauss on December 8, 2012 at 1:12 pm - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » In October, a former teacher and education activist named Greg Harris was tapped as director of StudentsFirst Ohio, part of former D.C. public schools chancellor Michelle Rhee’s national anti-union education advocacy organization. But not long before that, he had been decidedly anti-Rhee, publicly at... more »

Ed Notes Online: The cycle of profiteering and privatizing

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Ed Notes Online: The cycle of profiteering and privatizing: The cycle of profiteering and privatizing by ed notes online *We know everything about your child* From Robert Rendo*:* First the deformers, Pearson et al for example, push for self interested legislation, they help write the wording of the law even though they themselves are not educators, then they over test the kids, then the tax system prevents any of their profits from trickling down to schools and teachers for better resources, then they push for starving the schools of funding from government, then when the school ... more »

Saturday coffee and the Pension Reform Revolt « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Saturday coffee. « Fred Klonsky: Saturday coffee. by Fred Klonsky [image: img_2807] *Chicago teachers marched past Marshall High School during the strike.* Anne and I took two cars to Peets this morning. After my latte and bagel I headed off to Marshall High School on Chicago’s west side. The CTU and other community and parent groups are meeting all day today to talk about the next steps. They are calling it an education summit. There are issues of funding, curriculum, school closings and charters. And, of course, an elected school board. The summit began in the beautiful auditoriu... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: District Announces New Appointments

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: District Announces New Appointments: District Announces New Appointments by Melissa Westbrook From SPS Communications (bold mine): After six months as your Superintendent, it has been a pleasure to get to know our schools, staff, students and families. I know this has been a time of change, and I am looking forward to solidifying our team to ensure we are all working together in the best interest of our students. Today I am pleased to announce several appointments in our District. I will also be providing you with some additional information regard... more »

In Albuquerque, A Charter School that Recruits Drop-Outs? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
In Albuquerque, A Charter School that Recruits Drop-Outs? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: In Albuquerque, A Charter School that Recruits Drop-Outs? by Anthony Cody Last month I visited ACE Leadership High School, a charter school in Albuquerque, New Mexico. What I saw there challenged some of my thinking about this sector. [image: ACE1.jpg] As regular readers know, I have been critical of efforts to expand charter schools, which are often in competition with regular public schools for students and funding. I have cited reasons of fairness, because some charter school... more »

10 truisms of capitalism from the mouths of robber barons » peoplesworld

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
10 truisms of capitalism from the mouths of robber barons » peoplesworld: 10 truisms of capitalism from the mouths of robber barons - Print - Email to a Friend [image: assets/Uploads/_resampled/CroppedImage6060-NormanMarkowitz.jpg] by: NORMAN MARKOWITZ november 13 2008 tags: capitalism, economy, labor, worker rights, history The callousness and greed of today’s bankers, financiers and corporate CEOs calls to mind the 19th century robber barons. Here’s a relevant sample of classic statements made by some of the worst U.S. capitalists in history. 1. “We are not in business f... more »

10 Things to Know About What Happened in Michigan On Thursday « Main Street

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
10 Things to Know About What Happened in Michigan On Thursday « Main Street: 10 Things to Know About What Happened in Michigan On Thursday *Photo by @PeterKlein77 on Twitter* *1.) The Michigan House and Senate yesterday passed so-called “right to work” bills.*“Right to work” laws effectively defund the ability of workers to have a voice at their workplace. In 23 other states, these laws have lowered wages, weakened benefits, raised the poverty rate, and led to increased workplace injuries and deaths. The House passed one such bill and the Senate passed two. *2.) Republican le... more »

Joel Klein’s Edu-Cojones | EduShyster

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Joel Klein’s Edu-Cojones | EduShyster: Joel Klein’s Edu-Cojones by edushyster2012 Today we raise our collective wine boxes to a man who has the biggest, boldest *edu-cojones* in the business. Reader: meet Joel Klein, former NYC schools Chancellor turned edu-preneur—and most definitely turning a profit. When last we encountered Mr. Klein he’d just finished sounding the alarm bell about the greatest national security threat our country faces: our union-stifled public schools. But there is good news, reader. Joel Klein has now figured out the solution to the national security threat o... more »

Pass / Fail : California sees fewer teachers as enrollment trends up | 89.3 KPCC

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Pass / Fail : California sees fewer teachers as enrollment trends up | 89.3 KPCC: California sees fewer teachers as enrollment trends up by Christina Hoag / AP [image: Challenger School]*A student at Christa McAuliffe High School in Challenger probation camp listens to a teacher lecture about math. “The kids are beginning to see that somebody really cares about their environment, and they’re taking better care of it themselves,” said L.A. County Office of Education Superintendent Arturo Delgado. Credit: Tami Abdollah/KPCC* Years of pink slips have taken a toll on California's teach... more »

Tampa Bay Times: SB 736 Teacher “Evaluations Earn Failing Grade” | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Tampa Bay Times: SB 736 Teacher “Evaluations Earn Failing Grade” | Scathing Purple Musings: Tampa Bay Times: SB 736 Teacher “Evaluations Earn Failing Grade” by Bob Sikes From the editors of the *Tampa Bay Times*: It was obvious to Florida public school teachers six weeks ago that the state’s new system for evaluating them uses imperfect data that makes the evaluations of dubious value. Now a statewide snapshot of results should make that clear to everyone else. The state Board of Education and legislative leaders need to fix the evaluation system that is the foundation for movin... more »

Jersey Jazzman: What You Need To Know About the NJ Charter School Study

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: What You Need To Know About the NJ Charter School Study: What You Need To Know About the NJ Charter School Study by Duke *Cross-Posted from Blue Jersey* Much ink has been spilled in the last two weeks over the release of the NJ charter schools report, published by Stanford University's Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO). Below is an index of commentary on the report. I encourage you to read as much as you can, but let me summarize it here: - The report shows that the "benefits" of charters are almost all concentrated in Newark. *Charters in the oth... more »

Jersey Jazzman: KIPP: The New "Old Boys Network"

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: KIPP: The New "Old Boys Network": KIPP: The New "Old Boys Network" by Duke If America is really going to be a meritocracy, admissions into elite colleges has to be blind to socio-economic status. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, gifted students from poor families often don't attend the most selective universities. Part of this seems to that the high achievers who don't have money engage in different patterns of behavior when applying to colleges than the high achievers who do. But there's also the "old boys network." While we regularly hear stories about th... more »

Chip Mosher: Teachers’ bleak landscape | Las Vegas CityLife

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Chip Mosher: Teachers’ bleak landscape | Las Vegas CityLife: Chip Mosher: Teachers’ bleak landscape [image: (no description)
] (no description) 1 When I was 16, in October 1963, a week after my best friend in high school murdered his abusive father and then put the shotgun into his own mouth and pulled the trigger, I had a dream. I dreamt President Kennedy had been shot by a rifle, and wounded, in the backyard of the White House. A month later, Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, by a rifle. As they did to the cursed Cassandra in Greek mythology, snakes seemingly have licked m...
 more »

NAACP Unveils Plan to Fix the Education Achievement Gap

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
NAACP Unveils Plan to Fix the Education Achievement Gap: Yet Another Plan to Fix the Education Gap?The NAACP unveils one, and here's what sets it apart. Plus, we spoke with the U.S. education chief. - By: Sheryl Huggins Salomon | Posted: December 8, 2012 at 12:36 AM From left: Alma Powell, Arne Duncan, Benjamin Jealous (Sheryl Huggins Salomon) (*The Root*) -- On Wednesday the NAACP released a plan for ensuring that all children, including those who are black, brown or poor, can achieve their full potential in education. *Oh, no, not another report about inequity by a civil ... more »

Quote of the Day « Student Activism

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Quote of the Day « Student Activism: Quote of the Day by Angus Johnston “When people talk about “the sixties,” what they are thinking of is about two years. You know, 1968, 1969, roughly. A little bit before, a little bit later. And it’s true that student activism today is not like those two years. But, on the whole, I think it’s grown since the 1960s. So, take the feminist and the environmental movements. I mean, they’re from the seventies. Take the International Solidarity Movement — that’s from the eighties. Take the Global Justice Movement, which just had another huge meetin... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-8-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Vermont Superintendent Orders Staff to Innovate by dianerav The superintendent of schools in Franklin County, Vermont, “blasted” the faculty and administration of the high school for resisting innovation. He demanded a faster pace of change because the school is not making progress towards the NCLB goal of 100% proficiency, The school’s proficiency rates are about the same as the state average. EduShyster: The Solution to Our National Security Crisis by dianerav Here it is, folks. When your nation is in th... more »

University of California introduces a modern logo - ContraCostaTimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
University of California introduces a modern logo - ContraCostaTimes.com: University of California introduces a modern logo By Katy Murphy Oakland Tribune Posted: 12/07/2012 12:06:33 PM PST Updated: 12/07/2012 05:11:02 PM PST The old logo, left, and the new After 144 years with the same old Victorian seal, the University of California has decided to go mod. The university's original logo -- with its open book, 1868 date stamp and "Let there be light" script -- will still be in circulation, appearing on president's letters and official university documents. But marketing material... more »

Daily Kos: Another Saturday morning - I am still learning about myself

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Daily Kos: Another Saturday morning - I am still learning about myself: Another Saturday morning - I am still learning about myself by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) It is Saturday morning. I am back in a classroom. It is my normal practice to offer a reflection. It will as usual be a combination of personal reflection and observation on a larger scale. I invite you to continue reading. This was my 2nd complete week, my 3rd overall, in my new school/classroom. By now I know all of my students by name even when they are not in the classroom. I am starting to get a very good sense of... more »

Ed Notes Online: Eva Steals DOE Lights Charges Co-Loco Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Ed Notes Online: Eva Steals DOE Lights Charges Co-Loco Blog: Eva Steals DOE Lights Too Charges Co-Loco Blog by ed notes online *The weekend before school opened this September, the charter school laid out $400,000 for a haz-mat team to install all new lights in their classrooms. The lights installed in Success were all taken from storage where they were stored, scheduled to be installed in other schools over the coming months.* The 400G number seems high, even for Eva. But since tax money is paying part of the freight, why not? Eva will soon be bigger than the defense budget. I... more »

Marco Rubio’s Flip-Flop on Education | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Marco Rubio’s Flip-Flop on Education | Scathing Purple Musings: Marco Rubio’s Flip-Flop on Education by Bob Sikes The republican establishment in Washington and every state capital talks education policy in an echo chamber. Bobby Jindal’s now struck down state-wide voucher bill was seen as a righteous holy crusade. Mitt Romney ran on vouchers. Jeb Bush made a gushing case for them in Tampa at the convention. Now, GOP standard-bearer Marco Rubio is talking the talk. In a recent speech to the Jack Kemp Foundation, Rubio pitched federal tax credit scholarships. From Jeff Solochek ... more »

Lessons Learned from a Career as Practitioner and Scholar | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Lessons Learned from a Career as Practitioner and Scholar | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Lessons Learned from a Career as Practitioner and Scholar by larrycuban [image: images-5] As a high school history teacher for 14 years, as an administrator for five years, a district superintendent for seven years, and, finally a university professor for a quarter-century, I have worked in organizations my entire professional life. Here are some lessons I have learned about working in schools, districts, and higher education. I learned (and, yes, re-learned again and ... more »

“We see what we are looking for” « InterACT

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
“We see what we are looking for” « InterACT: “We see what we are looking for” by David B. Cohen In yesterday’s L.A. Times, Sandy Banks has a column detailing a visit to Jordan High School. [On] Wednesday, state schools Supt. Tom Torlakson visited the school with certificates announcing its improvement. Jordan’s 93-point jump on the state’s academic performance index was the biggest of any urban high school in California this year. That’s why Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa showed up after working “56 hours straight” on trade missions and labor deals. “No way I’d miss this,” he said. H... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Why The Left Doesn't Want Common Core Rescinded

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: Why The Left Doesn't Want Common Core Rescinded: Why The Left Doesn't Want Common Core Rescinded by stlgretchen Agenda driven curriculum courtesy of Common Core? A previous post explained why Republicans don't want Common Core standards rescinded: Common Core standards (written by private companies) have mandated this enormous data retrieval. *The mandates have created a niche for private companies to compel states to spend money on these systems. The states have to provide the data; the private companies are delighted to supply this need. * THIS ... more »

Schools Matter: No Other Uncommon Truths

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Schools Matter: No Other Uncommon Truths: No Other Uncommon Truths by Storm I have been thinking about a recent NYT Magazine piece on the "immortal" jellyfish and the science of researching the mechanisms by which this organism "reverses" the inevitable. I've posted a couple of things elsewhere (here and here and here) but what struck me as useful and interesting for this blog was that the piece opened with *The Epic of Gilgamesh*. Gilgamesh: What exists materially of the two-thirds-divine Gilgamesh? Nothing. A name (sometimes spelled with a "B") and a story...words. Sure ... more »

"Common" vs. "Choice" - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
"Common" vs. "Choice" - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: "Common" vs. "Choice" by Nancy Flanagan It's been an interesting couple of days. Yesterday, the Michigan legislature, House and Senate both, passed bills imposing Right to Work on one of labor's flagship states. And this morning, I was guest commentator on a radio broadcast on my local NPR station, Interlochen Public Radio, discussing another trick Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has up his sleeve: making Michigan (already a educational choice-friendly state) a "super-choice" state. You can access the re-br... more »

Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center: Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center: Best of the Ed Blogs Best of the Ed Blogs *Best of the Ed Blogs* features a frequently updated selection of interesting and insightful blog posts on education policy. The views expressed by the bloggers on our blog roll are thoughtful, original, and entirely their own. We hope you make *Best of the Ed Blogs* your first stop for concise takes on today's most important education topics. Joel Klein: Shameless Best of the Ed Blogs Jersey Jazzman December 7, 2012 un·der·uti... more »

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 12-8-12

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
*4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:* *4LAKIDS - SOME OF THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT* CALIFORNIA EIGHTH-GRADE STUDENTS SCORE FIFTH FROM BOTTOM IN NATIONAL VOCABULARY TESTS smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 7 hours ago By Sharon Noguchi, San Jose Mercury News | http://bit.ly/VSd0nU 12/06/2012 :: California ranks fifth-lowest in the nation in students' vocabulary -- a critical part of reading, according to results of national standardized tests released Thursday. smf: In the chart at the right the blue at the top/red at the bottom trending is interesting –... more »

This Week's Education Research Report 12-8-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Education Research Report: *THIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORT* * * FIT KIDS FINISH FIRST IN THE CLASSROOM Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 1 day ago Fit kids aren’t only first picked for kickball. New research from Michigan State University shows middle school students in the best physical shape outscore their classmates on standardized tests and take home better report cards. Published in the *Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness*, it’s the first study linking children’s fitness to both improved scores on objective tests and better grades, which rel... more »

State appointed administrator of Inglewood school district steps down - latimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
State appointed administrator of Inglewood school district steps down - latimes.com: State appointed administrator of Inglewood school district steps down December 7, 2012 | 5:20 pm [image: increase text size][image: decrease text size] 3 0 [image: 1102914_me_1015_inglewood_3] Kent Taylor, the state administrator in charge of the financially troubled Inglewood School District, resigned from the position Friday after the Department of Education learned of a tentative agreement he made with the local teachers union without approval from the state. Taylor’s resignation comes months a... more »

DeWitt Clinton – early engagement « JD2718

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
DeWitt Clinton – early engagement « JD2718: DeWitt Clinton – early engagement by jd2718 [image: DeWitt Clinton High School] Thursday the Department of Education dragged itself (two representatives) to Mosholu Parkway in the Bronx – to plan the closure of DeWitt Clinton HS. Of course, this is early engagement – they did not announce their intent. But we knew. We all knew. Early in the week I thought – and most of Clinton thought – that this would be the joint hearing, the spectacle at which a Deputy Superintendent would listen – or pretend to listen – and then announce the closure.... more »

Schools Matter: Robert D. Skeels' Talk at Association of Raza Educators on December 6, 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Schools Matter: Robert D. Skeels' Talk at Association of Raza Educators on December 6, 2012: Robert D. Skeels' Talk at Association of Raza Educators on December 6, 2012 by Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene LAUSD District 2 candidate Robert D. Skeels speaking, and the following roundtable discussion at the December 6, 2012 meeting of the Association of Raza Educators Los Angeles. The topic was 'Reclaiming Education is a Human Right during this era of Neoliberalism.' The talk was in preparation for the anniversary of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, celebrated on the December 10... more »

NYC Public School Parents: With hubbub over teacher evaluation deadline, city escapes scrutiny for missing C4E deadline by months

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
NYC Public School Parents: With hubbub over teacher evaluation deadline, city escapes scrutiny for missing C4E deadline by months: With hubbub over teacher evaluation deadline, city escapes scrutiny for missing C4E deadline by months *January 17, 2013* by Leonie Haimson There has been much public furor over the coming deadline for a new teacher evaluation system in NYC that will be based at least in part on student test scores. Though supporters like Commissioner King and Merryl Tischsay a new system is necessary to have a more objective basis for teacher evaluation, experts like... more »

Board Members Aim to ‘Cuff Supt? - LA School Report

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Board Members Aim to ‘Cuff Supt? - LA School Report: Board Members Aim to ‘Cuff Supt? by Samantha Oltman Board Member Richard Vladovic A controversial item on the LAUSD School Board agenda this week proposes drastically limiting LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy’s ability to seek funding for the district by applying for public or private grants. The resolution, initiated by School Board Members Richard Vladovic, Bennett Kayser, and Marguerite LaMotte, aims to give the school board veto power over grant applications made by the school superintendent in amounts over $750,000. According ... more »

Key state arguments in school finance case undermined by state witness | Education Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Key state arguments in school finance case undermined by state witness | Education Blog: Key state arguments in school finance case undermined by state witness 0 0 comments (0) By Terrence Stutz/Reporter tstutz@dallasnews.com 3:52 pm on December 7, 2012 | Permalink The first expert witness called by the state in the school finance trial in Austin – paid more than $75,000 for his testimony – praised the performance of public schools at current funding levels this week, but also called into question two of the major talking points raised by state attorneys in defending the funding ... more »

Mother Crusader: Is CREDO "Part Of The Bandwagon?"

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Mother Crusader: Is CREDO "Part Of The Bandwagon?": Is CREDO "Part Of The Bandwagon?" by darciecima At Wednesday's State Board of Education meeting CREDO researchers presented the findings of their study, Charter School Performance in New Jersey. Commissioner Cerf introduced them by saying he was "nervous" to have CREDO perform the analysis of New Jersey's charter schools. He claimed CREDO was "not part of the bandwagon" and made a point to say that the national CREDO study is often cited by charter opponents. In an opinion piece today in NJ Spotlight Julia Sass Rubin asks fo... more »








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15+ family members and employees of a New York tug boat towing and ferry boat company give to Malloy PAC - Wait, What?

15+ family members and employees of a New York tug boat towing and ferry boat company give to Malloy PAC - Wait, What?:


15+ family members and employees of a New York tug boat towing and ferry boat company give to Malloy PAC

Boys and Girls HS vs DOE - Report from Public Meeting 12/4/12 6 Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública

Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública:

Boys and Girls HS vs DOE -  
Report from Public Meeting 12/4/12 6

                                                          Principal Gassaway with Boys & Girls Students

Approximately 450 parents, students, educators and community leaders attended the December 4 meeting at Boys and Girls High School in Bedford Stuyvesant to respond to the DOE’s “Report to the Community on the Performance of Boys and Girls High School” and its  proposal concerning the future of the school.

Brooklyn HS Superintendent Karen Watts (formerly Principal of Wadleigh HS in Harlem) presented the DOE’s proposal for Boys and Girls HS which resembles the “good” cop, “bad” cop interrogation scenario.  The DOE is considering two “Action Plans” for Boys and Girls. “Action Plan” # 1 involves increased professional development (whoopee!) and removal of Principal Gassaway who enjoys widespread support in the community. “Action Plan 

The in box. Getting the word out about Springfield rally. « Fred Klonsky

The in box. Getting the word out about Springfield rally. « Fred Klonsky:


The in box. Getting the word out about Springfield rally.

All IEA Retired Members served by the IEA Skokie Office will be receiving postcards early next week – please see attached.  Please call the Skokie Office (847-329-7756) to reserve a spot on the bus, and invite family, friends, former colleagues, etc.  IEA membership is not required – the bus, donuts/coffee, and lunch are donated by the IEA for all attendees.
 Also attached is information from Fred Klonsky’s Blog <http://preaprez.wordpress.com> that supplies more details about the bus.  It should be a great day with lots of camaraderie.  Please join us!!!
 
Skokie IEA-Retired Member:  The first rallies in support of pension preservation for 2013 will take place on Thursday, Jan. 3 at the Statehouse in Springfield. 
Demonstrate to the legislators that the voters back home care enough about this issue to come to Springfield and let their voices be heard!We need you to express your interest in preserving your pension!  Reserve a seat on the bus. Contact Pat or Linda at the Skokie Office:
pat.church@ieanea.org                or linda.payne@ieanea.org or call
:
(847-329-7756). Call or e-mail before Dec. 18th to reserve your seat.
· IEA members are encouraged to wear blue. We are looking into providing IEA T-shirts to attendees.  
Save the date, Jan. 3,  and check the IEA website regularly for updates. A bus will be leaving the Golf Mill Shopping Center for Springfield on Jan. 3rd.
 
Make sure that IEA-Retired has your home email address so we can quickly alert you to new developments. E-mail:kim.riley@ieanea.org
More information will follow in January regarding a meeting for IEA-Retired members in the Skokie area!       
 
I hope this information is helpful, and I thank you again for helping us spread the word in your area!
 
Kim
 
Kim Riley
IEA-Retired Program Paraprofessional
Bloomington IEA Office

The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School Part V: The Playroom Edition.southbronxschool.com

http://www.southbronxschool.com:


The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School Part V: The Playroom Edition

Oh, there is fun to be had every day at The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School, but only if you seek it.

The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School has turned into nothing more than a playroom. A place where students, those students that disrupt their classes, throw chairs, run through the halls, punch and kick teachers are punished by being able to finger paint play with dolls, and have ice cream parties.

Nothing is taken seriously. It is all about making the students feel good. So what if Ezra in 5th grade tells a female teacher to "suck his dick," so what if Schlomo in 5th grade tells a teacher he will "put a cap in you after school," who cares if Menachem never shows up to class. These students know that in The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School there will be zero consequences, for the good time that is awaiting 

NYC Public School Parents: Grover Whitehurst's big pay day, testifying class size doesn't matter

NYC Public School Parents: Grover Whitehurst's big pay day, testifying class size doesn't matter:


Grover Whitehurst's big pay day, testifying class size doesn't matter




The State of Texas is being sued for inadequate school funding; with over $5 billion cut from school budgets last year alone, leading to unprecedented increases in class sizes. About two-thirds of the school districts in Texas— serving three-quarters of the state’s public school students — are plaintiffs.  What’s particularly tragic is that Texas was the first state in the country to systematically reduce in class size: in 1984,

Do Schools Kill Creativity? | toteachornototeach

Do Schools Kill Creativity? | toteachornototeach:


Do Schools Kill Creativity?

Do Schools Kill Creativity? 
schools-kill-creativity
by Ken Robinson
I’ve spoken twice at TED. The first time was in 2006. TED was a very different event then. It was a private conference for about 1,200 people. After the event, the talks were packaged in a box set of DVDs and sent just to the attendees. I gave a talk called “Do Schools Kill Creativity?” A few months later, Chris Anderson, the curator of TED, called to say they were planning to put a few talks on their website as an experiment and asked if they could include mine. The timing was perfect. Social media was beginning to take shape and the insatiable appetite for YouTube and short videos was about to emerge. The experiment was an instant success and has turned TED into a global cultural phenomenon. There are now several hundred talks on the website and the number of downloads has passed one billion.
I’m surprised and delighted to say that my first talk remains the most viewed of all TEDTalks so far. It’s been 

Jersey Jazzman: Great Moments in Reformy Tantrum Throwing

Jersey Jazzman: Great Moments in Reformy Tantrum Throwing:


Great Moments in Reformy Tantrum Throwing

Diane Ravitch points us to a story about yet another reformy "school leader" who can't get the job done; consequently, throws a tantrum:
A Franklin County school superintendent vented publicly this week about the slow pace of reforms he wants to see at one of the largest public high schools in the area, Bellows Free Academy-St. Albans.
Robert Rosane, superintendent of the Franklin Central Supervisory Union, blasted faculty and administration for blocking innovationin an email he sent Monday to BFA social studies teacher and union leader Justin Bedell.

Top Content this Week - 12-8-12 The Educator's PLN

Top Content this Week - The Educator's PLN:



1How to Ignite Passion in Your Students: 8 Ways Educators Can Foster Passion-Based Learning

How to Ignite Passion in Your Students: 8 Ways Educators Can Foster Passion-Based Learning

Added by Tess Pajaron on October 12, 2012
2World Languages activities

World Languages activities

Posted by Gérard Gatoux on November 29, 2012
3Language Learners

Language Learners

Added by Jessica Owens on October 19, 2009
4Our Changing Schools

Our Changing Schools

Added by Alyson Thorp on September 7, 2012
5Again; Relevance, Why Twitter?

Again; Relevance, Why Twitter?

Added by Thomas Whitby on November 29, 2012
6RSA Animate - Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us

RSA Animate - Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us

Added by Thomas Whitby on October 30, 2012
7Why Education in Finland Works

Why Education in Finland Works

Added by Thomas Whitby on September 25, 2012
8STOP STEALING DREAMS: Seth Godin at TEDxYouth@BFS

STOP STEALING DREAMS: Seth Godin at TEDxYouth@BFS

Added by Thomas Whitby on October 25, 2012
9Three-Minute Video Explaining the Common Core State Standards

Three-Minute Video Explaining the Common Core State Standards

Added by Thomas Whitby on December 5, 2012
10Born to Learn

Born to Learn

Added by Thomas Whitby on October 29, 2012
11PLAY MUSIC LIVE WITH YOUR FRIENDS ONLINE

PLAY MUSIC LIVE WITH YOUR FRIENDS ONLINE

Added by Gianfranco D'Aversa on December 2, 2012
12JUMPROPE: TO IMPLEMENT STANDARDS-BASED GRADING IN EVERY CLASSROOM

JUMPROPE: TO IMPLEMENT STANDARDS-BASED GRADING IN EVERY CLASSROOM

Added by Gianfranco D'Aversa on December 2, 2012
13MEETINGL: INSTANT ONLINE MEETINGS

MEETINGL: INSTANT ONLINE MEETINGS

Added by Gianfranco D'Aversa on December 2, 2012
14Fair Use for Media Literacy Education

Fair Use for Media Literacy Education

Added by Thomas Whitby on December 5, 2012
15CONVERT PUBLISHER TO PDF FREE INSTANTLY

CONVERT PUBLISHER TO PDF FREE INSTANTLY

Added by Gianfranco D'Aversa on December 4, 2012
16PRESENTE3D: AN INTUITIVE AND SIMPLE INTERFACE FOR STEREOSCOPIC PRESENTATIONS

PRESENTE3D: AN INTUITIVE AND SIMPLE INTERFACE FOR STEREOSCOPIC PRESENTATIONS

Added by Gianfranco D'Aversa on December 2, 2012
17A Chemistry Lab on iPAD

A Chemistry Lab on iPAD

Added by iGameMom on December 5, 2012
18Engineering at MAE, Pune

Engineering at MAE, Pune

Posted by Ajinkyajit Jadhav on December 3, 2012
19Can We Teach Compassion? [Infographic]

Can We Teach Compassion? [Infographic]

Added by Tess Pajaron on December 7, 2012
20How to find best child care program that you can trust?

How to find best child care program that you can trust?

Posted by Dorothy Hastings on December 6, 2012

Cannibalizing the system Parents United for Responsible Education

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Cannibalizing the system:


Cannibalizing the system

From today’s Tribune:
Chicago Public Schools said Friday it plans to add four more charter schools to the nine charters previously approved for the coming year, which quickly became fuel for critics of the district’s plans to close many neighborhood schools.
“It simply makes their argument, ‘We have to close schools,’ sound ridiculous,” said Julie Woestehoff, executive director of Parents United for Responsible Education. “It would be one thing 

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee wins over a critic

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee wins over a critic:


Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee wins over a critic

In October, a former teacher and education activist named Greg Harris was tapped as director of StudentsFirst Ohio, part of former D.C. public schools chancellor Michelle Rhee’s national anti-union education advocacy organization. But not long before that, he had been decidedly anti-Rhee, publicly attacking her involvement in Ohio school reform. “If students truly did come first, then why is Rhee using her celebrity to coddle the very governors who are ransacking education funding?,”  he asked in the following scathing blogpost that he wrote in 2011. It was called “Smoking Rhee-fer” but has been since been removed from his blog — though it still lives elsewhere online. Following the post is a statement from Harris, sent  in response to a question I asked about the reasons for his conversion to Rhee-style reform. I find that the statement raises more questions than it answers, but see what you think. Harris, a Democrat, has a history of activism; among other 

Ed Notes Online: The cycle of profiteering and privatizing

Ed Notes Online: The cycle of profiteering and privatizing:


The cycle of profiteering and privatizing

We know everything about your child

From Robert Rendo:
First the deformers, Pearson et al for example,  push for self interested legislation, they help write the wording of the law even though they themselves are not educators, then they over test the kids, then the tax system prevents any of their profits from trickling down to schools and teachers for better resources, then they push for starving the schools of funding from government, then when the school "fails", they have it closed with their local crony governments and reopen it under private management, destabilizing neighborhoods, children, families, teachers, society, like never before.

This is little more than one big fat cycle of profiteering and privatizing. .