Latest News and Comment from Education

Saturday, July 13, 2013

NYC Public School Parents: Los Angeles: ground zero in the fight over class size and corporate reform

NYC Public School Parents: Los Angeles: ground zero in the fight over class size and corporate reform:

Los Angeles: ground zero in the fight over class size and corporate reform



The Los Angeles school board has a new president, Dr. Richard Vladovic, and a new member, Monica Ratliff, a working fifth grade teacher, who won her seat despite being hugely outspent more than 10-1 by the corporate reform crowd, including $1 million from NYC Mayor Bloomberg.

Vladovic was elected president by 5-2. The two votes against him came from outgoing president Monica Garcia and her ally Tamar Galatzan.
LA Superintendent John Deasy
The Los Angeles school district also has, for the first time in years, an increase in funding from the state, and has decided to spend a large portion to reverse the increase in class sizes that has driven class sizes in many classrooms to 30 to 40 students or more.
Here is a video of the June 18 school board meeting, showing Los Angeles parents, many of them Mexican-American, pleading with the school board to pass the resolution that had been introduced in support of reducing class size.  It is well worth watching in its entirety.   
At the behest of some LA parents and activist Robert Skeels, I wrote a short research brief supporting the resolution that isposted here.
The class size reduction resolution was approved by the board 5-2.  The two votes against it came, again, from Monica Garcia and Tamar Galatzan. The board  postponed a vote on a competing resolution, introduced by Galatzan and 

House Of Cards - Corporate Deform in America - Trailer by BATA
House of Cards is a series of short videos created to bring to the forefront the key players in the corporate reform movement. Each week a new player will be featured along with information concerning their words and actions that have been aimed at the destruction of our public schools. Video created by Terri Michal. No copyright infringement intended. For informational purposes only.Badass Teache

Moral Monday 11: United for Women! naacpnc.org

www.naacpnc.org:


Moral Monday 11: United for Women!

Moral Montage 11 Collage Version 3


Join us for the 11th Wave of the Forward Together Movement's Moral Mondays!

5:00 PM Rally at Halifax Mall behind NC General Assembly

Women's Voices Matter! Stand With Our Sisters!

Women Lead the Fight For:
Voting Rights for All
Economic Justice & Jobs
Healthcare and Women's Health
Public Education
Justice in the Criminal Justice System
All Men Need to be There to Support!!

For those who choose to petition the legislature through nonviolent civil disobedience, based on their own moral conscience, it is CRITICAL that you attend a briefing and information session beforehand at 3:00 pm. Note DIFFERENT LOCATION for the information session:

Pullen Memorial Baptist Church 
1801 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC
Monday, July 15
Everyone else please meet us at Halifax Mall!
###


The Lake Wobegon Academy of Excellence and Innovation | EduShyster

The Lake Wobegon Academy of Excellence and Innovation | EduShyster:

The Lake Wobegon Academy of Excellence and Innovation



 Welcome to Lake Wobegon Academy, where everyone is excellent
Reader: we have a fiercely urgent problem on our hands. An epidemic of non-excellence in our public schools is holding the children of this once exceptional nation back and causing them to fall off of the ladders that lead directly to prosperity. Of course it is well known by now that low-income students are most likely to lose their ladder perches due to this plague of non excellence but now comes new evidence that this scourge is even more widespread than originally believed.
Reader: it was not until I watched the video below that I began to understand the full extent of our excellence malaise. Allow me to summarize this national emergency for you using 

House Of Cards - Corporate Deform in America - Trailer by BATA

House of Cards is a series of short videos created to bring to the forefront the key players in the corporate reform movement. Each week a new player will be featured along with information concerning their words and actions that have been aimed at the destruction of our public schools. Video created by Terri Michal. No copyright infringement intended. For informational purposes only.

Badass Teachers Association

This is for every teacher who refuses to be blamed for the failure of our society to erase poverty and inequality, and refuses to accept assessments, tests and evaluations imposed by those who have contempt for real teaching and learning.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

UPDATE: Perdido Street School: Is NYSED Commissioner John King Setting Up For State Takeover Of Buffalo?

Perdido Street School: Is NYSED Commissioner John King Setting Up For State Takeover Of Buffalo?:



Anti-Common Core Signs Removed
From Times Free Press:A Cleveland, Tenn., businessman says city officials crossed a line when they tore down protest signs he posted outside his business Thursday during a visit by Gov. Bill Haslam. "There needs to be a public apology," said Dan Rawls, owner of Cleveland Performance Center, for what he says is trespass and violation of his right to free speech. "I think they need to take a course

Is NYSED Commissioner John King Setting Up For State Takeover Of Buffalo?



Yesterday we learned that NYSED Commissioner John King is threatening to revoke the registrations of two turnaround schools in Buffalo, Lafayette and East high schools, unless the district accedes to his demands and sends students at those two BPS schools to a BOCES outside of Buffalo for vocational classes on the BPS dime.

Both of those high schools had been partnering with Johns Hopkins University "to prepare the schools for a full implementation of the university’s turnaround model" and Charles Hiteshew, head of Johns Hopkins’ educational “talent development” program for middle and high schools, told the Buffalo News that “Those schools have been tremendous partners to work with."

Hiteshew went on to say that he saw no problems at either the school or district levels that "would  suggest that the university 

MENSAJE SEMANAL: Fortalecimiento de nuestra economía con la aprobación de la reforma migratoria bipartidista | The White House

MENSAJE SEMANAL: Fortalecimiento de nuestra economía con la aprobación de la reforma migratoria bipartidista | The White House:



LA CASA BLANCA
Oficina del Secretario de Prensa
______________________________________________________________________________
EMBARGADO HASTA LAS 6:00 AM ET, del SÁBADO, 13 de julio, 2013
MENSAJE SEMANAL: Fortalecimiento de nuestra economía con la aprobación de la reforma migratoria bipartidista
WASHINGTON, DC— En el mensaje de esta semana, el Presidente Obama dijo que, hace dos semanas, una gran mayoría bipartidista en el Senado votó a favor de aprobar la reforma migratoria de sentido común, que le aportará un gran impulso a nuestra economía, fortalecerá el Seguro Social, y modernizará nuestro sistema de inmigración legal para que sea más consistente con nuestros valores. El Presidente exhorta al Congreso a que tome acción rápidamente para arreglar nuestro sistema de inmigración que no funciona y mantener a los Estados Unidos fuerte durante muchos años más.
El audio y el vídeo de este mensaje estarán disponibles en línea en www.whitehouse.gov a las 6:00 a.m. ET, del sábado, 13 de julio, 2013.
Comentarios del Presidente Barack Obama
Mensaje semanal
La Casa Blanca
13 de julio, 2013
Hola a todos. Hace dos semanas, una gran mayoría de los senadores de ambos partidos votó a favor de aprobar una reforma migratoria integral y de sentido común, tomando un paso importante para arreglar de una vez y para siempre nuestro sistema de inmigración que no funciona.
Ese proyecto de ley fue un acuerdo de concesión, y ninguna de las partes consiguió todo lo que quería. Sin embargo, era mayormente consistente con los principios clave de una reforma de sentido común que la mayoría de nosotros en ambos partidos hemos presentado repetidas veces. Si se aprobara, el plan del Senado aprovecharía los logros históricos que hemos tenido en la seguridad de la frontera durante los últimos cuatro años con el plan de seguridad de la frontera más agresivo en nuestra historia. Este ofrecería un camino a ganarse la ciudadanía a los 11 millones de personas que están ilegalmente en este país; un camino que incluye pagar multas, aprender inglés, y colocarse al final de la fila detrás de todo el que esté intentando venir aquí legalmente. Y también modernizaría nuestro sistema de inmigración legal para que guarde más consistencia con nuestros valores.
El plan del Senado también proveería un gran impulso a nuestra recuperación. Y, el miércoles, emitimos un informe que detalla exactamente cuán grande sería ese impulso. 
El informe se basa en los hallazgos de economistas y expertos independientes y no partidistas que llegaron a la conclusión de que, si el plan del Senado se convierte en ley, nuestra economía será un 5% mayor en dos décadas en comparación con el statu quo. Eso significa la adición de $1.4 billones a nuestra economía solo con arreglar nuestro sistema de inmigración.
Aquí en los Estados Unidos, siempre hemos sido una nación de inmigrantes. Eso es lo que ha mantenido dinámica a nuestra fuerza laboral, a nuestros negocios a la vanguardia, y a nuestra economía la más sólida del mundo. Sin embargo, bajo el sistema actual, a demasiados inmigrantes inteligentes y trabajadores se les impide contribuir a ese éxito.
La reforma migratoria les facilitaría a los inmigrantes con habilidades muy especializadas y a los que estudian en nuestras escuelas superiores y universidades abrir negocios y crear empleos aquí en los Estados Unidos. Las compañías extranjeras estarían más dispuestas a invertir aquí. La demanda de bienes y servicios se incrementaría, lo que crearía más empleos para los trabajadores estadounidenses. Todo trabajador y negocio tendría que pagar lo que le corresponda justamente por concepto de impuestos, lo que reduciría nuestro déficit en cerca de $850 mil millones durante las próximas dos décadas. Y, debido a que una gran parte de esos impuestos se aplica a los programas de jubilación de que dependen millones de estadounidenses, el Seguro Social realmente se fortalecería a largo plazo, agregándole dos años de vida al fondo de fideicomiso del programa.
Eso es lo que le significaría la reforma migratoria para nuestra economía, pero solo si tomamos acción. Si no hacemos nada para arreglar nuestro sistema que no funciona, nuestra fuerza laboral continuará reduciéndose a medida que se jubile la generación de la posguerra. No nos beneficiaremos de los inmigrantes con habilidades muy especializadas que abran negocios y creen empleos aquí. Los trabajadores estadounidenses tendrán que conformarse con salarios más bajos y menos protecciones. Y, sin más inmigrantes y negocios que paguen su parte correspondiente de impuestos, nuestro déficit será mayor y los programas como el Seguro Social estarán sujetos a más dificultades.
Hemos estado debatiendo este asunto durante más de una década, desde que el Presidente Bush propusiera inicialmente los términos generales de la reforma migratoria; y creo que este pronunció un magnífico discurso la semana pasada en el que expuso su esperanza de que un proyecto de ley bipartidista e integral pueda convertirse en la ley. 
Si los Demócratas y los Republicanos, incluyéndonos al Presidente Bush y a mí, pueden llegar a un acuerdo sobre algo, he ahí un buen comienzo. Ahora la Cámara tiene que tomar acción para que yo pueda promulgar la reforma migratoria de sentido común. Y, si ustedes están de acuerdo, díganles a sus Representantes que ahora es el momento. Llámenlos o envíenles un correo electrónico o publiquen un mensaje en el muro de sus páginas de Facebook y pídanles que lo hagan. Puesto que juntos podemos fomentar nuestra economía y mantener a los Estados Unidos fuerte durante muchos años más.
Gracias, y que tengan un buen fin de semana.
###
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
______________________________________________________________________________
EMBARGOED UNTIL 6:00 AM ET, SATURDAY, July 13, 2013
WEEKLY ADDRESS: Strengthening our Economy by Passing Bipartisan Immigration Reform
WASHINGTON, DC— In this week’s address, President Obama said that two weeks ago, a large bipartisan majority in the Senate voted to pass commonsense immigration reform, which would add a big boost to our economy, strengthen Social Security, and modernize our legal immigration system to make it more consistent with our values.  The President urges Congress to quickly take action to fix our broken immigration system and keep America strong for years to come.
The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, July 13, 2013.
Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
July 13, 2013
Hi, everybody.  Two weeks ago, a large bipartisan majority of Senators voted to pass commonsense, comprehensive immigration reform – taking an important step towards fixing our broken immigration system once and for all.
This bill was a compromise, and neither side got everything they wanted.  But it was largely consistent with the key principles of commonsense reform that most of us in both parties have repeatedly laid out.  If passed, the Senate’s plan would build on the historic gains we’ve made in border security over the past four years with the most aggressive border security plan in our history.  It would offer a pathway to earned citizenship for the 11 million people who are in this country illegally – a pathway that includes paying penalties, learning English, and going to the end of the line behind everyone trying to come here legally.  And it would modernize our legal immigration system to make it more consistent with our values.
The Senate’s plan would also provide a big boost to our recovery.  And on Wednesday, we released a report detailing exactly how big a boost that would be. 
The report is based on the findings of independent, nonpartisan economists and experts who concluded that, if the Senate’s plan becomes law, our economy will be 5% larger in two decades compared to the status quo.  That’s $1.4 trillion added to our economy just by fixing our immigration system.
Here in America, we’ve always been a nation of immigrants.  That’s what’s kept our workforce dynamic, our businesses on the cutting edge, and our economy the strongest in the world.   But under the current system, too many smart, hardworking immigrants are prevented from contributing to that success.
Immigration reform would make it easier for highly-skilled immigrants and those who study at our colleges and universities to start businesses and create jobs right here in America.   Foreign companies would be more likely to invest here.  The demand for goods and services would go up – creating more jobs for American workers.  Every worker and business would be required to pay their fair share in taxes, reducing our deficit by nearly $850 billion over the next two decades.  And since a large portion of those taxes go towards retirement programs that millions of Americans depend on, Social Security would actually get stronger over the long-term – adding two years to the life of the program’s trust fund.
That’s what immigration reform would mean for our economy – but only if we act.  If we don’t do anything to fix our broken system, our workforce will continue to shrink as baby boomers retire.  We won’t benefit from highly-skilled immigrants starting businesses and creating jobs here.  American workers will have to make due with lower wages and fewer protections.  And without more immigrants and businesses paying their fair share in taxes, our deficit will be higher and programs like Social Security will be under more strain.
We’ve been debating this issue for more than a decade – ever since President Bush first proposed the broad outlines of immigration reform – and I think he gave a very good speech this past week expressing his hope that a bipartisan, comprehensive bill can become law. 
If Democrats and Republicans – including President Bush and I – can agree on something, that’s a pretty good place to start.  Now the House needs to act so I can sign commonsense immigration reform into law.  And if you agree, tell your Representatives that now is the time.  Call or email or post on their Facebook walls and ask them to get this done.  Because together, we can grow our economy and keep America strong for years to come.
Thanks, and have a great weekend.
###

Ohio tea party member flies Confederate flag during racist rant at school board meeting | The Raw Story

Ohio tea party member flies Confederate flag during racist rant at school board meeting | The Raw Story:

Ohio tea party member flies Confederate flag during racist rant at school board meeting

Sonny Thomas via Springboro Tea Party


 Springboro, Ohio residents are up in arms after a member of the local tea party unfurled a Confederate flag at a meeting of the town’s school board Thursday. According to Huffington Post, Sonny Thomas, who bills himself as the president and founder of theSpringboro Tea Party was protesting the removal of a set of religiously-themed and ideologically slanted classes from the district’s summer curriculum.
Thomas, who has a history of racist and inflammatory statements, reportedly gave an impassioned defense of the classes, which were intended for parents and children. The summer courses were sponsored by the Institute of the Constitution, an offshoot group from right-

How many ‘nightmare’ teachers are really out there?

How many ‘nightmare’ teachers are really out there?:

How many ‘nightmare’ teachers are really out there?

screamA music educator in New Jersey who blogs under the name ofJersey Jazzman took up an interesting issue: How many nightmare teachers are really out there?
He starts out his post, which you can find here, by referring to a piece in Time by Dana Goldstein about our nation’s obsession with “bad” teachers. She writes:
… Nutting’s narrative is an extreme example of another genre, as well: the story of the despicable, or at least morally compromised, teacher. Claire Messud’s divisive novel, The Woman Upstairs, features a single, childless woman who obsessively attempts to appropriate the happy family life of one of her students. Bad Teacher, a low-IQ Hollywood comedy starring Cameron Diaz, has now been turned into a CBS television series. In the high-minded indie film Half Nelson, Ryan Gosling played a schoolteacher who is a secret drug addict. The contradiction inherent in a 


Those who can….

A comment from a post on the Web site Teachers’ Letters to Bill Gates, a place where teachers write letters to the billionaire about the effects that his massive financial support for corporate-influenced school reform is having on their classroom practice:

LEE SCHILLINGER says:
Those that can Teach…..those that can’t try to pass laws to tell the teachers how to do their job.

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: It's Not a Competition:Teachers and Sharing!

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: It's Not a Competition:Teachers and Sharing!:

It's Not a Competition:Teachers and Sharing!

I think we all know them.  You see they have done a wonderful lesson or project with their students, and you excitedly ask for the details? Alas, the details are never forthcoming.

 I know that I have been guilty of being that teacher. The one who doesn't share.

Why the competition? Why do we feel we aren't allowed to use someone else's idea in our classrooms? Why are we afraid to let someone else use our ideas?

Since joining Twitter, I have become better at sharing ideas, probably because my PLN shares selflessly with me. When I laughingly say I am "stealing" ideas, I am scolded, (playfully), because we are not "stealing". Stealing implies taking something that does not belong to you, whereas, these ideas belong to all of us.

There was a time, long ago, when I did not share. During the "isolated teacher" period in education, we entered our classrooms, closed the door, and did our thing. We never, ever, told  the other teachers what we were doing. I believe there was a  fear that our "idea" might be improved on, or worse yet, someone else would get the credit. (Although I do believe you should give credit where credit is due). I am sure this mentality still exists somewhere, and that's sad.

Times have changed and now I am passionate about sharing. Recently, a colleague asked me about Mystery Skype. I gladly gave her all the information I could, and she took off! She shared it with her colleague, who also began to Mystery Skype. The beneficiary? All of our 

7-13-13 SCHOOLS MATTER @ THE CHALK FACE

SCHOOLS MATTER @ THE CHALK FACE:

gears








Diane Ravitch’s Defense of Randi Weingarten is Irrelevant
More than 253 comments on  Diane Ravitch’s blog post on Randi Weingarten. I am glad they are good friends, but Randi Weingarten has not been EFFECTIVE in stopping the assault on teachers through canned, bubble in test based curriculum with high stakes attached. High stakes testing is wrong and needs to go, period. Just like Hillary […]



Educators in OK developing their own #commoncore assessments
This, from State Impact Indiana: …Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi estimated the state can save at least $2 million a year if it develops its own test rather than go with the PARCC exam. This is how it all works. States, as mandated by the USDE, with influence from the private sector, require […]
Kids Count on Public Education, Not Grit or “No Excuses” | the becoming radical
Kids Count on Public Education, Not Grit or “No Excuses” | the becoming radical.
7-12-13 Schools Matter @ The Chalk Face
SCHOOLS MATTER @ THE CHALK FACE: Microsoft Gives Spy Agencies Encryption Codes for Email, Chat, Skype, and Cloud StorageThese are the people who are at the forefront of developing data surveillance systems for every aspect of your child’s education. James Risen has the story for the NYTimes, which appeared first in The Guardian.  A clip: WASHINGTON — Microsoft has collaborated with the National Se

All Week 7-13-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER
@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: TODAYKids Count on Public Education, Not Grit or “No Excuses” | the becoming radicalKids Count on Public Education, Not Grit or “No Excuses” | the becoming radical.by plthomasedd / 1h YESTERDAYCorporate Education’s Friend, Randi WeingartenDiane Ravitch has at her blog an unmoving tribute to her friendship with Randi Weingarten, and AFT is soaking it for all i