Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.:

“It was a very pleasant meeting,” said Governor Quinn.

  Cullerton and The Madman. As predicted, today’s meeting of the Gang of Ten came and went. Results? Bukis. Greg Hinz in today’s Crains Springfield’s top Democrats met face to face in Gov. Pat Quinn’s Chicago office for nearly two hours today to talk about pension reform, and it appears they left the meeting exactly as they went in: stalemated.  Despite two credit downgrades of Illinois’ debt in

by Fred Klonsky / 1h 

The in box. The Jazzman: “We need to have this conversation.”

Hi Fred, I was unclear about something in my post, and I hope you’ll let me clarify it here: I think you were more than fair in all of your posts about DVR and the NEA RA. And I’ve never thought you attacked the leadership personally. You did us all a service by giving us your candid views about what happened in Atlanta. It’s clear I’ve struck a nerve, but that’s fine. We need to have this convers

by Fred Klonsky / 5min 

Thinking about the Jazzman’s concerns about our attitude towards union leadership.

Yesterday I reposted the Jersey Jazzman. He expressed concerns about questioning the motivation of our teacher union leadership, even as we disagree with their actions. I hear this a lot from my union colleagues. Of course, I have never suggested that state leaders of the IEA or national leaders of the NEA were personally corrupt. I have always tried to frame my disagreements as disagreements in p

by Fred Klonsky / 15min mark as read  //  save

Hi back at ya.

  A standing vote at the NEA RA. After a few years of doing this blog and now getting 3 to 4 thousand site visits a day, I feel a connection to readers. A core of you write comments regularly. Which I enjoy. A few haters show up now and then. As long they are not terribly offensive, or piss me off, I’ll post their comments too. Once in a while I’ll get a comment from someone we haven’t heard from

by Fred Klonsky / 52min 

The return of the Gang of Ten.

The third meeting of the Gang of Ten, the Illinois legislative committee that was formed after the failure of the General Assembly to agree on the best way to cut public employee pensions, will take place today in Springfield. Nothing will come of it. If you are truly desperate for something to do, you can watch. What will not come out of the committee is a plan to address raising revenue. Maybe

by Fred Klonsky / 1h 

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee in Tennessee: StudentsFirst Floods School Races | New Republic

Michelle Rhee in Tennessee: StudentsFirst Floods School Races | New Republic:

Reforming Michelle RheeRunning the show in D.C. didn't work out. Now in Tennessee, she's hoping cash is king.

BY JEFF GUO

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John DeBerry Jr., a veteran House member in Tennessee, has never been fond of fundraisers. Handshakes, not dollars, make the difference in his stretch of Memphis, where he has been campaigning the old-fashioned way for nearly 20 years. DeBerry’s low-budget operation collects about $20,000 each election and centers on door-to-door visits. The past year's redistricting, which forced him into a tough primary with a colleague, didn't change any of that, he says.

"I'm 62 years old," DeBerry says. "I walked, in one-hundred-degree heat, from nine to five with a crew of five people. We rolled around with my Suburban with the car filled with water and juice. And we knocked on every door in every district."

But he also had backup. Michelle Rhee’s education lobbying group StudentsFirstdropped $110,000 on canvassing and phone banking to ensure that DeBerry, a rare Tennessee Democrat who supports vouchers and charter schools, would prevail. It was a record-setting sum, locals said, and even DeBerry called it “flabbergasting.” He defeated his rival 4,084 to 2,125—that is, Rhee spent $27 per vote—and went on to win

Tony Bennett Received $65,452 From Michelle Rhee In Failed 2012 Indiana Reelection Bid | Scathing Purple Musings

Tony Bennett Received $65,452 From Michelle Rhee In Failed 2012 Indiana Reelection Bid | Scathing Purple Musings:

Tony Bennett Received $65,452 From Michelle Rhee In Failed 2012 Indiana Reelection Bid

Posted on July 8, 2013by Bob Sikes

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Add Michelle Rhee to the list of top players in Florida’s education hierarchy who gave money to Tony Bennett in his Indiana reelection campaign. One of the nation’s top education reporters, Alexander Russo was able to get a copy of the tax returns of Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst from a source inside Rhee’s organization. Writes Russo:

A few months ago it was being noted that StudentsFirst’s candidate endorsements skewed overwhelmingly Republican, which was surprising to some and disqualifying to others.

But no one seemed to know about its candidate contributions, which are an even more powerful indication of the organization’s focus (and the state of education reform).

Now, thanks to a source inside StudentsFirst, I can share some interesting (if self-reported) information about the organization’s 2012 election cycle 

Louisiana Educator: More College Prep for All

Louisiana Educator: More College Prep for All:

More College Prep for All

The title of this Advocate story is misleading. I don't think Louisiana's 4 year college graduation rate mitigates anything. Another story in the Advocate last week pointed out that most high paying job openings in Louisiana in the next few years will be in the construction and technical fields. These jobs will require mostly 2 year Associate degrees rather than 4 year Bachelors degrees. Unfortunately our state directed and ideologically driven K-12 education system is not going to prepare many students for those jobs.

The following is my comment to the more recent Advocate story claiming that Louisiana students will be OK with their 4 year degrees.

This story misses another important fact. At least 2 out of 3 Louisiana students who enroll in our 4 year colleges never 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-8-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

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

How Many Voucher Frauds in Louisiana? No One Knows

The voucher program in Louisiana continues to amaze. It is a living demonstration of what happens when public officials abandon responsibility for the children and institutions in their care. Watch what happens when the state gives children a voucher for public funds and then says that whatever choice they make is okay. John White memorably said last year: “To me, it’s a moral outrage that the gov

by dianerav / 25min 

“Declaration of Independence” by United Opt Out

United Opt Out has consistently spoken against the abuses of testing and high stakes for students and teachers. Here is a link to their Declaration of Independence and to other important information about them. And here is their Declaration of Independence from corporate education reform.   United Opt Out National http://unitedoptout.com IN OPPOSITION, July 4, 2013 The unanimous Declarati

by dianerav / 35min 

Peter DeWitt: Is Arne’s Defense of Common Core Falling Apart?

Peter DeWitt, in his outstanding blog at Education Week, pulls apart Secretary Arne Duncan’s aggressive defense of the Common Core. In his speech to the nation’s new editors, Duncan ridiculed the critics as though they were almost all paranoid nuts. That is unfortunate. Reasonable people have legitimate concerns about how the Common Core will work, and Duncan would do well to address them. Some ar

by dianerav / 10min

Farewell to Mayor Villaraigosa: Pragmatist or Lacky of the Rich?

As Antonio Villaraigosa exits the mayoralty of Los Angeles, there will be both tributes and brickbats. Among other things, he will be remembered for his failed attempt to take control of the public schools and for his hostility to teachers, to their union, and to public education. On his watch, there was “an explosion” in the number of privately managed charter schools, a high priority for the bil

by dianerav / 3min mark as read  //  save

How Teachers Crashed the Economy

We have heard in state after state that teachers’ pensions and wages must be curtailed because they–and other public workers–are destroying the economy. Those greedy, selfish teachers and principals! However. The Economic Policy Institute in DC reports that in 2012 the average CEO made 273 times the wages of the average worker. Now it is very important to understand the concept of shared sacrifi

by dianerav / 58min  

Diane in the Evening 7-7-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Scenes I’d Like to See: Pundits TeachingA reader, Karl Gabbey, has a proposal: “MAD Magazine once had a page in each edition entitled, “Scenes We’d Like To See,” that depicted a bit of “Schadenfreude” about people who deserved it. It might be fun to see loudmouthed politicians and assorted corporate types who consider themselves “e

by mike simpson / 3h 

7-8-13 SCHOOLS MATTER @ THE CHALK FACE

SCHOOLS MATTER @ THE CHALK FACE:

Guest entry from @tedcohen1 on turnaround schools in NJ. FYI

Turnaround Children Inc.’s transparency claim transparentThe top school official in a major American city as part of an education-reform initiative is bringing in yet another private foundation, yet as little is known about Turnaround for Children Inc. as is known about how it fits into Supt. Cami Anderson’s plan to modernize Newark, New Jersey’s schools. […]

by Chalk Face, PhD / 2min mark as read  //  save

This is what we’ve been talking about re: the @aftunion “survey” on #commoncore @rweingarten

We covered this. Diane Ravitch covered this. Mercedes Schneider dealt with this. We had Mercedes on our show to talk about the dubious AFT common core survey. But this, this is what we’ve all been talking about, and knew this would happen. From a teacher’s Facebook posting: In case you still can’t read it: Teachers, […]

by Chalk Face, PhD / 14min

With or without #edtech, same goals are possible

Fantastic image. Great point. Seems like #edtech is being sold as the end and not a means to an end, with or without technology. The problem with the push for edtech in some regard is the gobs of money to be made of selling these tools, which is exclusive from their pedagogical value.

by Chalk Face, PhD / 3h 

To Close the “Opportunity Gap,” We Must Return to Roads Once Attempted

America has always had a love-hate relationship with community values.  We have always exhibited a tension between American individualism and the more cooperative side of our culture.  At the same time, our pragmatism has often trumped both.  When faced with a problem, such as improving our schools, Americans frequently find a way to readjust our […]

by John Thompson / 28min 

Listen to our most recent episode with Katie Osgood on #TFA

Here’s the link. What improved the discussion was an opposing view from a caller named Josh, an admitted TFA alum. He should be applauded for participating in debate, and for sticking it out in the profession for six years, perhaps twice the normal lifespan of his peers. I will say, however, that I have come […]

by Chalk Face, PhD / 1min 

@dianeravitch posts the Declaration by @unitedoptout

A brief share here. Read, share, and read aloud for your friends.

by Chalk Face, PhD / 2min 

Bill Moyers: Journalist as Teacher

It’s a good thing Bill Moyers decided to come out of retirement. Anyone interested in understanding who, what, when, where and why public education and the 99% are intricately connected, should take the time to watch this episode Surviving the New American Economy.  http://billmoyers.com/episode/full-show-surviving-the-new-american-economy/

by freetoteach / 12min 

Arne Duncan in Philadelphia “Fascinated” about His Mentor Vallas in CT

Arne Duncan had a great chance to do something for Philadelphia in 2010 when their application for $100 million in RTTT money was turned down.  Instead, Philly got $6 million over four years, which was designated by Arne to develop a teacher eval scheme based on VAM test scores. Meanwhile, Duncan was shoveling tax money […]

by Jim Horn / 17min mark a

7-7-13 Schools Matter @ The Chalk Face

SCHOOLS MATTER @ THE CHALK FACE: Clarifying Common Core Compromise (part 2) | the becoming radicalClarifying Common Core Compromise (part 2) | the becoming radical.by plthomasedd / 1hAll Week 7-6-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: TODAYNC Tea Party Taliban Requires Health Teachers to Lie to 7th Graders on Later Effects of AbortionThat’s right.  The bill

by mike simpson / 9h 

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: HOLIDAY WEEKEND QUOTABLES

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: HOLIDAY WEEKEND QUOTABLES:

HOLIDAY WEEKEND QUOTABLES

A teenage boy grieves next to a makeshift memorial on July 6, at the site where Ashley Hardmon was shot and killed on July 2nd, in Chicago. The mayor’s office did not respond to requests for comment Sunday.

Chicago's Killing Field

This year’s Independence Day celebration, for many Chicagoans a four-day respite in the land of the free, was for others an ordeal in a killing field. -- Sun-Times

Arne Duncan 

Honestly, I am getting tired of good news-bad news stories in education. And I am getting impatient with talking about “islands of educational excellence...” 

solidaridad: Darn it! #LAUSD Superintendent @DrDeasyLAUSD threatens to resign if Vladovic becomes Board Prez, then welches

solidaridad: Darn it! #LAUSD Superintendent @DrDeasyLAUSD threatens to resign if Vladovic becomes Board Prez, then welches:

Darn it! #LAUSD Superintendent @DrDeasyLAUSD threatens to resign if Vladovic becomes Board Prez, then welches

The above tweet is from a good friend who is an author, educator, and dedicated activist.
It would be best for everyone if Deasy, Aquino, Hill, and all the other graduates of Eli Broad's various "academies" resigned and left the district to those that would put pupils before profits.
From Supt. John Deasy faces rocky relationship with new LAUSD president

"A coalition of civic leaders and philanthropists consider Deasy, a national figure, crucial to rapid, continued progress in L.A. Unified."

What this really means is that NPIC millionaires like United Way Greater Los Angeles' Elise Buik's gravy train depends highly on Eli Broad and and his fellow plutocrats's money to support their organizations, so they 

Common Core State Standards: A lesson in shrewd marketing | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com

Common Core State Standards: A lesson in shrewd marketing | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com:

Common Core State Standards: A lesson in shrewd marketing 

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University of Georgia professor Peter Smagorinsky

Previous Posts

• As the world turns: Drama on Cherokee school board turns to tragicomedy
  July 7, 2013
• DeKalb Schools: Still on probation but showing progress
  July 5, 2013
• Designing students: Cherokee teens could win top prize for duct tape prom
  July 5, 2013

By Maureen Downey

University of Georgia professor Peter Smagorinsky is a frequent contributor to the Get Schooled blog. This is a long and provocative piece on Common Core State Standards, which Smagorinsky argues is a manufactured solution to a manufactured crisis.

 By Peter Smagorinsky

In “The Languages of Edison’s Light,” rhetorician Charles Bazerman studies how iconic American inventor Thomas Edison represented himself to the public as a uniquely talented technician in the post-Civil War world. He did so in spite of skepticism from the scientific community and a lengthy and problematic process in developing a viable prototype for his major achievement, the electric light bulb. To understand Edison’s place in the late 19th century world, think of Steve Jobs and the ways in which he rode the currents of technology, commerce, self-promotion, and rhetoric to project himself into the pantheon of America’s historical entrepreneurial