'Oh, the Programs You'll Cut': A Dr. Seuss Sequestration Poem | Politics on GOOD

'Oh, the Programs You'll Cut': A Dr. Seuss Sequestration Poem | Politics on GOOD:

'Oh, the Programs You'll Cut': A Dr. Seuss Sequestration Poem

Thanks to Congress' failure to reach a compromise today, the staggering federal spending cuts of the sequestration are upon us. Even if you're one of the 59 percent of people who thinks the sequestration will only have a minor impact on your life, you should expect to see what theWashington Post calls an "era of deeper austerity" and a "phase of uncertainty for Americans who rely on the government for employment or services." And that includes a hit to much-needed education programs, too.

Indeed, American Federation of Teachers head Randi Weingarten says "Tens of thousands of children will be kicked out of Head Start, child care and other high-quality early childhood education programs, losing out on an experience that would put them on a solid path for success both in school and in life, and inflicting additional financial pain on working families."

Ironically, on a day when cuts to education programs and services for kids have become a reality, it's also Read Across America Day, the nation's largest reading celebration honoring that champion of literacy, Theodor Seuss Geisel—Dr. Seuss. Today millions of students and volunteers connected with each in schools and public libraries, enjoying books by Dr. Seuss and a slew of other children's authors. What would Dr. Seuss say about the dysfunctional political bickering that's about to deprive kids of much-needed services?

The savvy folks over at the National Priorities Project, a "non-partisan research group that provides clear, transparent federal budget information and catalyzes movement towards equitable federal spending" have an idea what Dr. Seuss' would say to Congress. They've crafted the clever—yet entirely heartbreaking—poem, "Oh, the Programs You'll Cut!":

I doubt many Americans want to head home tonight and read this poem to the kids in their lives. But maybe we should—after all, this is the future we're handing to them if Congress doesn't get it together soon.

Theodor Seuss Geisel image via Wikimedia Commons

Oh, The Programs You'll Cut Image via National Priorities Project

Mother Crusader: NJ's Latest Accomplishment; We Really Know How To Close Charter Schools!

Mother Crusader: NJ's Latest Accomplishment; We Really Know How To Close Charter Schools!:

NJ's Latest Accomplishment; We Really Know How To Close Charter Schools!

by darciecima

Putting the interests of money above children...

New Jersey's education system has a lot to brag about.  Please check out the link to a New Jersey School Board Association overview of the many reasons we should be proud of our schools and our students.  Here are some highlights:

• Among the nation's best reading scores: New Jersey ranks among the best in the nation—tied for second—in the fourth-grade reading scores of the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the "Nation's report card." In eighth-grade reading, New Jersey tied for fourth best in the nation. (Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress) 

• Leading the nation in writing scores: New Jersey eighth graders topped the nation in writing, according to results from the NAEP writing tests. (Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress) 

• Leading the nation in graduation rates: A national report from 

Actual Broad Foundation Manual: School Closure Guide (Plutocrats wage war against public schools) | Reclaim Reform

Actual Broad Foundation Manual: School Closure Guide (Plutocrats wage war against public schools) | Reclaim Reform:

Actual Broad Foundation Manual: School Closure Guide (Plutocrats wage war against public schools)

by kenpreviti

Yes, there is a War Against Public Education. No, this in not merely another crazy conspiracy theory. Proof?
Here is the “School Closure Guide: closing schools as a means for addressing budgetary challenges.”

Excerpt:This is a guide for school district operators considering school closures to address significant budgetary challenges. Note that this tool was not designed to assist with school closures as part of a periodical closing and opening of schools for academic performance, though a subset of the strategies may still be applicable.

Pass / Fail : Despite sequestration, Obama administration makes case for early childhood spending | 89.3 KPCC

Pass / Fail : Despite sequestration, Obama administration makes case for early childhood spending | 89.3 KPCC:

Despite sequestration, Obama administration makes case for early childhood spending

by Deepa Fernandes

US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is arguing for new spending on early childhood education, despite sequestration cuts going into effect. Credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
As the president addressed the nation this morning outlining the impacts of the sequestration cuts, two of his cabinet members were a few miles away making the case not for cuts -- but for new spending on early childhood programs.
At an elementary school in Takoma Park, Md., Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, extolled the success of Rolling Terrace elementary school. It’s a unique institution that incorporates it's infant and preschool program with it’s K-5 classes, to connect the programming for both age groups.
The appearance suggests that interconnected learning will be one part of the administration's strategy for early childhood education.
The school visit comes on the heels of the State of the Union announcement by President Obama that his 

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Again? Parents STILL Pushing for Interim Plan Re-Vote

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Again? Parents STILL Pushing for Interim Plan Re-Vote:

Again? Parents STILL Pushing for Interim Plan Re-Vote

by Melissa Westbrook

Apparently two NE parents met with Marty McLaren recently to plead with her to consider a revote on the amendment on the interim plan for 2013-2014.

To whit:

In order for a re-vote to happen, a Board member who voted in favor of Amendment 2 (McLaren, Patu, Smith-Blum, or Peaslee) must motion for a re-vote.  That motion can then be seconded by another Board member.  The desired outcome of a re-vote would be for the Board to reconsider their January 31 vote and, hopefully, vote in favor of opening Jane Addams as a comprehensive middle school now rather than waiting a year.   

Yes, I'm sure it is desired but they DID take a vote already. 

To re-vote, based on NO new evidence would be wrong and seriously undermine the Board's credibility.  

The e-mail goes on to encourage other parents to contact any of the four who voted in favor of the amendment to put it forth again at the next Board meeting (next Wednesday the 6th.)

Caring is Essential: School Librarians' Roles in The Whole Child — Whole Child Education

Caring is Essential: School Librarians' Roles in The Whole Child — Whole Child Education:

THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG

Caring is Essential: School Librarians’ Roles in The Whole Child

March 1, 2013 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers

Post submitted on behalf of whole child partner American Association of School Librarians by Jami L. Jones, associate professor, Department of Library Science, East Carolina University, Greenville, N.C.

The quintessential role of educators is to provide safe environments for children to flourish emotionally, academically, and physically. As we discuss safety, it is important to consider care—a magic bullet in this conversation.

In its May/June 2012 issue of Knowledge Quest, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association, weighed in about care, which is so vital to ASCD's Whole Child Initiative. In this issue, aptly titled Caring is Essential, Nel Noddings and Sonia Nieto join school librarians to consider the importance of the school librarian's role in creating safe havens. Noddings is well known for her commitment to keeping alive John Dewey's focus on the centrality of care to learning. Nieto writes about the power of care and respect to transform the lives of students and teachers.

In her article "The Transformative Power of Care," Olga M. Nesi, a library coordinator for the New York City schools, presents nonnegotiable requirements of the school librarian to show care, respect, and genuine concern for the children, school colleagues, and administrators with whom we interact. According to Nesi, school librarians do this by creating warm, welcoming, and safe library environments even when bureaucratic impediments make this difficult. School librarians model the behaviors, demeanor, and attitudes we want children to emulate. School librarians engage children in honest discussions about "how difficult deep and 

NYC Public School Parents: The mayor's ignorant remarks today on class size

NYC Public School Parents: The mayor's ignorant remarks today on class size:

The mayor's ignorant remarks today on class size

by Leonie Haimson

The mayor was at it again today, in his ill-considered and ignorant attack on class size.  On his radio show, he apparently said:

"I got in trouble every time I say this. But I would do anything to have better quality teachers, even if it meant bigger class size, even if it meant them standing rather than teaching. That's what really makes a difference. That human being that looks the student in the eye, adjusts the curriculum based on instinct what's in the child's interest."

“Standing rather than teaching?”  what does that mean?  Did he mean children standing in the classroom rather than sitting? That kids can learn just as well when it’s so overcrowded they don’t have a seat?  What universe does the Mayor live in that he thinks this is acceptable?

Would he send his own children to a school where they had to stand in their classroom because it was too crowded?  No, his daughters went to Spence where the average class size is  16-18 students. 

What the Mayor is ignoring is that when a teacher has 25, 30 or more students he can’t possibly “look” each 

Diane in the Evening 3-1-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all:

Should Teachers Be Armed?

by dianerav

I must begin by saying this is satire.
If I don’t, some readers will take it seriously.
It was written by Paul Karrer, an elementary teacher in California.
He is responding to the demand from some quarters that teachers should be armed.
Read here and see what Paul thinks.

Will You Say This to Your School Board?

by dianerav

John Stoffel went to his school board in Indiana and delivered this message. Would you do the same in your district?

Stoffel said:

A little over two months ago, tragedy unfolded at Sandy Hook Elementary.  By the next school day, my school had safeguarded every reasonable security measure.  Today, our district is still hammering out policy to best 

What Mayor Bloomberg Wants More Than Anything in the Schools

by dianerav

Mayor Bloomberg believes that having a high-quality teacher is crucial, and most people would agree with him.
Mayor Bloomberg also thinks that class size is unimportant, and most parents and teachers would disagree with him.
In the past, he said that he would be happy if he could double the class size and double teachers’ salaries, thus 

Why NYC Closes High Schools But Shouldn’t

by dianerav

The New York Times published a page one story about the closing of the Jonathan M. Levin High School in the Bronx. The school was opened ten years ago to commemorate the life and tragic death of a young teacher who happened to be the son of the CEO of AOL Time Warner. He was murdered by some of his students, who came to his apartment (he let them know that they were always welcome), murdered him, stole his credit cards, and his ATM card.
After a promising start, the school went into decline. As in most other closing schools, most of its students are black, Hispanic, poor, English language learners, and/or in need of special education. Where will these students 

Join NYC Protest Against Closing Schools: March 3

by dianerav

Most of the public schools that are closed enroll disproportionate numbers of students who are black, brown, poor, English-language learners, and in special education.
These kids get pushed from school to school because schools are graded by their test scores and they don’t want to take risky students, if they can avoid it.
This is wrong!
Insist that school officials take responsibility for all children!
Hold school officials accountable!
Accountability begins at the top!
Insist on equality of educational opportunity!
These kids don’t need closed schools. They need small classes, extra resources, a full curriculum, experienced teachers, wraparound services, and a school system that cares about every one of them.
If you are in New York City, join the march and protest on Sunday in Harlem:

Senator Bill Perkins, 30th District
Invites You To a Coalition and Movement
Against Public School Closings and Charter School Co-locations

Senator Bill Perkins’ Coalition and Movement
March 3, 2013 (Sunday), 2:00 p.m.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, WE WILL BE HEARD!

Join us, your fellow supporters, parents, teachers and students
from districts 3, 4, 5 and 6 for this amazing opportunity to be effectively HEARD and to be UNITED

For questions/information please call Cordell Cleare @ 212-222-7315
Date: March 3, 2013
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Where: State Office Building
163 West 125th Street, Suite 912

Great News from San Diego!

by dianerav

The San Diego school board has selected a highly respected, successful elementary school principal as its new superintendent.
Cindy Marten runs a terrific school that is child-centered and community-centered.
It is an exemplar of the San Diego concept of community-based school reform.
When I was in San Diego last year, the superintendent Bill Kowba made sure that I 

Does Effectiveness Matter? Or Profit?

by dianerav

A reader in New Mexico shares this information.
If the state commission does a study of effectiveness, the virtual charter schools will never win approval.
Here is the comment:
I thought this might be of interest to you. I live in New Mexico and recently our Public Education Commission denied the charter application for a new charter that will contract with Connections Academy.
Our Secretary of Education Designate Hanna Skandera (she has held the position for nearly 3 years, but has not gained senate approval because she doesn’t actually meet the criteria set forth by the constitution) overruled 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 3-1-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] PTA Mom Explains Why She Marched to Save Public Schools by dianerav Kim Burkett went to Austin with her children to speak out for public schools and her community. She noticed there were two different rallies. On one side of the building was a school choice rally, advocating for vouchers, attended by 30 people, including lobbyists. On the other side were thousands of parents, students, grandparents, and educators. Read her account. It gives a good portrait of th... more »

Where We Disagree: Let's Discuss - Bridging Differences - Education Week

Where We Disagree: Let's Discuss - Bridging Differences - Education Week:

Where We Disagree: Let's Discuss

by Deborah Meier

Dear Eric,

Even before your letter arrived, I've been puzzling over how to respond. Because I am hoping this will not be just a "your side" followed by "my side" etc. Even at the time (1970s and 1980s) when Diane Ravitch and I had our most bitter disagreements, there were commonalties we both knew about that helped us in our back and forth.

But I'm much more dependent on your own fairly succinctly outlined argument of last Tuesday—for which I apologize. I don't know the rest of your story. A good argument rests on finding common ground or else, too often, it's just "choose your sides."

So my purpose in this letter is to explore—by close examination of your Tuesday letter, where our assumptions, our underlying ways of knowing the world may give us a lead-in to a fruitful discussion.

To start off, I'm going to summarize what I think you're saying. I fully expect you to correct me where I'm wrong. Maybe by getting to the heart of some of my misconceptions about your views, we can make some progress. 

Who Will the Los Angeles School Board Represent? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

Who Will the Los Angeles School Board Represent? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:

Who Will the Los Angeles School Board Represent?

by Anthony Cody

I wrote last week about how what has been termed the "Billionaire Boys Club" are filling Los Angeles airwaves with TV ads supporting their preferred "reform" candidates.
While many groups claim to be putting children first, the donors pitching in to help the corporate reform slate include people with some decidedly adult interests at stake.
Joel Klein, who works for Rupert Murdoch's education division, which includes Wireless Generation (now rebranded as Amplify), contributed $50K. Klein also is on the board of StudentsFirst, which reportedly received funding from Murdoch and contributed another $250K for this school board race.
What hasn't been reported is that Wireless Generation, the creator of DIBELS, a student assessment tool, already has a big contract with LAUSD. Here's what we know:
• LA Unified Used DIBELS for All K-3 Students. According to the Los Angeles Unified School District's website,

The use of DIBELS, the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills, will give all K-3 students in LAUSD three benchmark assessments throughout the school year--beginning-of-the-year, 

 

Study: Research shows everyone does worse with online learning | The Raw Story

Study: Research shows everyone does worse with online learning | The Raw Story:

Study: Research shows everyone does worse with online learning

by Kay Steiger

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY 

Con Academy 

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

Recent research published by the Community College Research Center (CCRC) found that, compared to traditional classes, students tended to perform worse academically in  online classes — suggesting that students had “difficulty adapting” to online learning. Perhaps even more startling, students of color and men fared the worst.

“Specifically, we found that males, Black students, and students with lower levels of academic preparation experienced significantly stronger negative coefficients for online learning compared with their counterparts, in terms of both course persistence and course grade,” authors Di Xu and Shanna Jaggars, who looked at the data from 40,000 community college students in Washington state, wrote in the report. “This is troubling from an equity perspective: If this pattern holds true across other states and educational sectors, it would imply that the continued expansion of online learning could strengthen, rather than ameliorate, educational inequity.”

Online learning has been hailed as the savior, or possibly the demise, of higher education as we know it. The New York Times labeled 2012 the “year of the MOOC” or the massive open online courses. The idea is that high-quality research institutions like Harvard, MIT or Stanford can push out their courses to folks across the Internet, giving them access to learning previously barricaded by university walls and high-priced tuition. But this new research indicates 

Lee Nave Jr. – The Art of Persuasion is Just Student Voice

Student Voice:

Lee Nave Jr. – The Art of Persuasion is Just

by admin

Speech, debate, and forensics (not the crime scene kind) should be implemented in all schools.

Yes. I just said public speaking should be something all schools has. Public speaking, something more Americans fear worst than snakes and actual death. What a scary thought some of you may have just had.

I had this same fear 8 years ago when I first started high school debate. I, a quite introverted boy suffering from low self-esteem was forced to give speeches in front of people I did not know. It did not take long before I got over my fear and now I am older, a professional speech writer/coach, and a graduate student majoring in two fields that revolve around debate and public speaking skills.

Just think of an America where we can thoroughly understand debates from our own homes? Skills acquired from a public speaking education would allow the average Joe to critique politicians in an entirely and more informed fashion.

The concept of being required to take training on how to talk, raise arguments, and perform creative literature may sound mind boggling to some. In reality, when examining what our focus as a movement is, these skills are something that can definitely come in handy. I will explain the relevance of speech, debate, and forensics through three points: Topicality, Solvency, and Advantages.

Topicality

We of the millennial generation are known for both being individualistic as well as being collaborative people. This assumed persona about 

UPDATE: next Gulen-affiliated Charter School? + More public subsidies for Achievement First, Commissioner Pryor’s “former” Charter School Management Company - Wait, What?

More public subsidies for Achievement First, Commissioner Pryor’s “former” Charter School Management Company - Wait, What?:

Will Connecticut become home to the next Gulen-affiliated Charter School?

by jonpelto

(Co-written by Jonathan Pelto and Wendy Lecker)

Note:  Over the next few weeks, Commissioner Stefan Pryor and the Connecticut State Board of Education will be reviewing and approving applications for new charter schools in Connecticut. This is the first in a series of posts about some of the applicants for these publicly funded charter schools.

Fethullah Gülen is a Turkish author, educator, and Muslim scholar. (Wikipedia)

“Fethullah Gulen is a major Islamic political figure in Turkey, but he lives in self-imposed exile in a Poconos enclave and gained his green card by convincing a federal judge in Philadelphia that he was an influential educational figure in the United States.”  (Philadelphia Inquirer, March 2011)

“Controversial Muslim preacher, feared Turkish intriguer—and “inspirer” of the largest charter school network in America.”  (City Journal, fall 2012)

More public subsidies for Achievement First, Commissioner Pryor’s “former” Charter School Management Company

by jonpelto

It might be difficult economic times here in Connecticut.  Taxes going up, vital services being cut, but low and behold, public funds are flowing ever faster into Achievement First, Inc. the charter school management company co-founded by Governor Malloy’s Commissioner of Education, Stefan Pryor.

Not only is Commissioner Pryor overseeing the process that is allowing Achievement First to expand its schools in Bridgeport, New Haven and Hartford, but he is playing the pivotal role in the approval process for new taxpayer-funded charter schools in Connecticut.

The net result is that Achievement First is the fastest growing charter school entity in the state.

Now comes news of even more public funds and support for the company that Pryor 

4LAKids - NO SHAME: Until this moment, Mónica García, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness. You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency?

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: NO SHAME: Until this moment, Mónica García, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness. You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency?:

NO SHAME: Until this moment, Mónica García, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness. You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency?

PARTISAN POLITICAL OUTRAGE FROM SMF

Perspective (from the History of the U.S. Senate/www.senate.gov:

In the spring of 1954, [demagogue/sociopath Senator “Tailgun Joe” Joseph] McCarthy picked a fight with the U.S. Army, charging lax security at a top-secret army facility. The army responded that the senator had sought preferential treatment for a recently drafted subcommittee aide. Amidst this controversy, McCarthy temporarily stepped down as chairman for the duration of the three-month nationally televised spectacle known to history as the Army-McCarthy hearings.

The army hired Boston lawyer Joseph Welch to make its case. At a session on June 9, 1954, McCarthy charged that one of Welch's attorneys had ties to a Communist organization. As an amazed television audience looked on, Welch responded with the immortal lines that ultimately ended McCarthy's career: "Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness."When McCarthy tried to continue his attack, Welch angrily interrupted, "Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency?"

Overnight, McCarthy's immense national popularity evaporated.

Mónica García’s campaign – her campaign, not some PAC or outside funded organization, mailed out this flyer last week:

It alleges that “Her opponents stand up for predators” and that “they’ll say ANYTHING to beat her.”
“The same powerful organization that stands up for predators is attacking Monica Garcia….”
That organization referred must be the California Teacher’s Association and the American Federation of Teachers and UTLA – the teachers' unions in California and LAUSD – they “stood up for predators” because they stood up for teacher’s rights in reasoned opposition to a bill that would allow Monica and her school board majority to fire “bad teachers” without due process. That bill was sponsored by Monica, Deasy + Co. – they wrote it. The bill never even got a vote in the legislature because the votes weren’t there.
Wait! Maybe I’m wrong!! I hate it when that happens.
Maybe the “same powerful organization that stands up for predators” is 

Schools Matter: Mississippi Charter Bill Would Remove Local Decision Making in Approximately 100 School Districts

Schools Matter: Mississippi Charter Bill Would Remove Local Decision Making in Approximately 100 School Districts:

Mississippi Charter Bill Would Remove Local Decision Making in Approximately 100 School Districts

by Jim Horn

The next time you hear a Dixiecrat or any white Southern conservative businessman expound on the necessity for local political control, ask him why he does not believe that this sacred right does not extend to public education decisions.  In Mississippi, white edupreneurs, businessmen, and various other corporate welfare bottom feeders are doing their best to remove local control from two-thirds of Mississippi school districts in order to turn their schools over to corporations to run at public expense.

The most vulnerable, of course, are the poorest districts where test scores mirror the economic disadvantage of children in these districts.  Citizens in these "D" and "F" districts would not have a choice in whether or not to allow the corporate apartheid reform schools from taking over the education of their children.

The sticking point now centers on the 50 or so school districts that are rated "Satisfactory," or "C," based on the 

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Friday Open Thread

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Friday Open Thread:

Friday Open Thread

by Melissa Westbrook

It's Read Across America day - what is your school doing? I fondly remember coordinating Read Across America day at my sons' elementary school. Read to a child (or go dig up a Dr. Seuss book and enjoy).

A sad chapter in Seattle Schools' history surfaced this week via HistoryLink (a free online encyclopedia for Washington State History).

On February 27, 1942, the Seattle School Board accepts the resignation of 27 employees who are Americans of Japanese ancestry. The young women have been pressured to resign by the school district, which in turn has been pressured by a committee led by Esther Sekor, a Gatewood Elementary School mother. The white mothers circulated a petition and received a lot of press. The Japanese American women were further pressured to resign by Japanese American Courier editor James Sakamoto, who insisted that they would be fired if they did not resign.

Forty-two years later, on April 11, 1984, the Seattle School Board began to consider testimony concerning a resolution for redress of this wrong. The resolution for redress passed by a narrow margin. An act of the state legislature was required before the Seattle School Board could recognize a "moral obligation" as a basis for 

Remarks by the First Lady on Walmart and Other American Companies Making Healthy Changes | The White House

Remarks by the First Lady on Walmart and Other American Companies Making Healthy Changes | The White House: