8-13-13 SCHOOLS MATTER @ THE CHALK FACE

SCHOOLS MATTER @ THE CHALK FACE:

@DianeRavitch speaks the language of #optout

In case you missed @the chalkface radio (special Monday episode with Dr. Diane Ravitch) here’s your chance to listen to radio brilliance. We spent the entire day getting ready for our interview with Dr. Ravitch.  However, five minutes before the show started Shaun and I realized we had no ability to contact our guest.  Guess […]

18 by Timothy D. Slekar / 9min 

Missionary Zeal and the Paradox of Paternalism | the becoming radical

Missionary Zeal and the Paradox of Paternalism | the becoming radical.

by plthomasedd / 25min 

Paul Toner, MA TURNcoat, Leads Charge for Common Core and PARCC

Lawyer, corporate stooge, and MTA President, Paul Toner has sold teachers down the river in Massachusetts with support for test score based teacher evaluations, more segregated corporate reform schools, and now the Common Core testing delivery system. Toner has a propaganda piece at the MTA site that once again applies lipstick to the pig that he […]

by Jim Horn / 16min 

8-12-13 Schools Matter @ The Chalk Face

SCHOOLS MATTER @ THE CHALK FACE: Massive Document dump from @unitedoptout. How about it? #optout  The good folks at UOO are working very, very hard to give you all the information you need to take a stand. You won’t be going into this blindly. So, check out their Truth and Justice campaign, which for this phase includes a slew of new documents, toolkits, brochures, and flyers for you to […]2 by Ch

by mike simpson / 32min

Stephen Colbert adds new subject to science education:

Stephen Colbert adds new subject to science education

By Valerie Strauss, Published: August 13 at 11:48 amE-mail the writer

Stephen Colbert (By Mark Wilson / The Washington Post)

Stephen Colbert had some fun Monday night talking about science education with guest Rep. Rush Holt. The New Jersey  congressman and Jeopardy winner is one of four candidates running for the Democratic nomination to fill the vacancy left by the death of Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

Here’s part of the conversation; the video is below.

COLBERT: Education, big issue for you.

HOLT: That is probably as much as anything, maybe more than anything,  what has made this country great. It has been our public education system.

COLBERT: Isn’t there a lot of waste in education? We have biology and psychology. Do we need every ‘ology’?

HOLT: You know we should teach every science to every student every year, all the way through school.

COLBERT: Astrology?

HOLT: … So I said science, that’s astronomy.

COLBERT: I think astrology is more of a science because it has that ‘ology’ in there.

HOLT: We should teach every student every science every year. It’s not just just 10th grade for biology and 11th grade for chemistry.

COLBERT: Twelfth grade for astrology… Physics is better for Aries, a Taurus does better with astrology….

The education discussion starts at the 2:20 mark.

The Colbert Report
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8-13-13 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online:

Rubinstein: Success Academy Scores Based on High Attrition Plus Other Factors

I wonder if this could start some kind of charter civil war. What ‘excuse’ is there for these other [charter] schools?  Surely behind closed doors they are accusing Success of some kind of manipulation, either by extensive test prep or by booting even more kids than they do. ... Gary RubinsteinGary Rubinstein follows up on his analysis of charter school chains like KIPP and Democracy Prep catastro

2 by ed notes online / 19min 

"Waiting for Superman Makes List of Famous Documentaries That Were Shockingly Full of Crap

Waiting for "Superman" -- Charter Schools Kind of Suck, TooRead more: http://www.cracked.com/article_20585_6-famous-documentaries-that-were-shockingly-full-crap.html#ixzz2btdYTlURJupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images The Film: Waiting for "Superman" is one of those documentaries that made everyone who watched it instantly call their friends and tell them they had to drop everything they're doing a

2 by ed notes online / 30min 

A Weekend (not with Bernie) in Chicago

Moi, Yelena, AJ, James, Camille, Megan, Julie, Gloria, Jia (Sean caught a flight)I have so much to say about the trip to Chicago I made with a big crew from MORE this past weekend but so much of it would be boring -- like you don't really want to know just how much beer I drank. And how much fun it was to hang out with year old Jack who can now make animal sounds upon prompting -- my fave was the

4 by ed notes online / 3min 

8-12-13 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online: Rob Rendo on Common CoreCommon Core or no Common Core, standards for what children should know by a certain age (skills or content) have always been in flux and controverted.The CCSS is, I think, on an extreme part of that spectrum of flux.The consensus reality and research that more or less corroborates what, for example, a fifth grader should be able to do in math or ELA, has be

by mike simpson / 2h 

Empathy? An Ethos Born in the Staffroom — Whole Child Education

Empathy? An Ethos Born in the Staffroom — Whole Child Education:

THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG

Empathy? An Ethos Born in the Staffroom

August 13, 2013 by Start Empathy

Post written by Vinciane Rycroft for Ashoka's Start Empathy Initiative, a whole child partner organization. Originally published in The Times Educational Supplement Pro.

Ian, aged 8, throws his younger brother Robin on the ground. Tears and screaming. It's the fifth or sixth time already today. (I'm strong, I'm superman!) Both of them have just lost their mother after two years of a very painful illness. As educators, we witness this very human story again and again, every day. It shows clearly the process of bullying. How do we respond?

Daniel Favre is a teacher, teacher trainer and professor in both neuroscience and education. His work studies the process of youth violence. It also shows how supporting teachers in cultivating empathy can break the cycle of youth violence and improve maths results. His 50-hour programme trains educators to minimise students' fear of learning and dogmatic perceptions. Regardless of their subject, teachers learn six different skills: to clearly distinguish error and fault when giving feedback to students, encourage emotional literacy, facilitate team work, emphasize our common humanity, establish a non-violent mode of authority, and strong personal listening skills and empathy.

"Empathy," says Favre, "is central to the whole programme, and our research shows that through training, most teachers' behaviour changes, and young people copy this change. Over a period of two years their empathy increases and their results in maths too."

It is tempting to design anti-bullying programmes for young people, and to forget to train teachers to develop 

8-13-13 Jersey Jazzman

Jersey Jazzman:

"No Excuses" Is Destroying Lives in the UK

Leonie Haimson twitter-points to an incredibly disturbing report from The Prince's Trust, a British charity set up by Prince Charles* to help disadvantaged young people in the UK. By their account, giving out lots of bad grades - just like New York State recently did, with SecEd Arne Duncan's hearty approval - is destroying many young British lives: Key findings > One in six young people (18 pe

by Duke / 20min

NY State Tests: Misguided Mixing of Norms and Criteria

Before I go any further, I think I need to regroup. Most of you probably have a good familiarity with what I'm going to discuss; however, I think it may be helpful to step back for a moment and think about some of the basics before we proceed. I know it will be helpful to me. When we last left our discussion of the crashing of New York State's test scores, I was explaining how NYSED and its commi

2 by Duke / 13min 

AUG 10

Scoring NY Tests With the Triple Lindy!

One of my guilty pleasures is screwball comedies, and one of my favorites stars the great Rodney Dangerfield: Back To School. In the climatic scene of the movie, Rodney wins the big diving meet ("Hey gang, forget about the football game; let's get pumped for the big diving meet!") by flawlessly executing a dive that defies all known laws of physics: the Triple Lindy! What makes the Triple Lindy

100+ by Duke / 2d 

AUG 09

@NJEA Tenure Proposal Is Working!

Let me be the very first to congratulate the NJEA, New Jersey's largest teachers union, on their policy triumph!    Jersey City public-school teachers have not fared well under the state’s tenure overhaul, which Gov. Chris Christie signed into law one year ago this week. Under the new rules, which allow an arbitrator instead of a judge to make an essentially final decision on whether a tenured t

23 by Duke / 4d 

"College AND Career Ready": A Useless, Phony Phrase

According to the 2011 American Community Survey from the Census Bureau, 32.9 percent of New Yorkers (state, not city) 25 or older had at least a bachelor's degree. On the new,"more realistic" test scores released for New York State this week, 31 percent of students demonstrated "proficiency." Coincidence? Perhaps, but it's got me thinking about something that's bothered me for a while... It's i

54 by Duke / 4d 

Parent trigger laws divide communities: Opposing view

Parent trigger laws divide communities: Opposing view: "Parent trigger laws divide communities"

Parent trigger laws divide communities

Toxic tactic allows parent petition drives to close schools, fire staff members or allow takeover by private charter operators.

Parental involvement plays a critical role in student success. Teachers know that students whose parents take an active part in their education are far more likely to succeed.

However, "parent trigger" laws — which allow parent petition drives to close schools, fire staff members or allow takeover by private charter operators — don't really involve parents in their children's education. Instead, they encourage parents to organize against schools, teachers and, often, against each other.

OUR VIEW: Extraordinary step worth trying

While characterized by proponents as grass roots efforts, parent trigger campaigns are largely "AstroTurf" projects organized by Parent Revolution, a well-funded outside group with ties to big money interests. These outsiders have poured thousands of dollars into signature gathering efforts, sending in paid staff, even renting houses in school neighborhoods to serve as campaign headquarters.

Parent trigger efforts don't get to the root causes of a school's performance struggles or take into account reform efforts already under way. At Weigand School in Los Angeles, the trigger fired a principal who was well regarded and respected by the teaching staff without any evidence that student performance was being hindered by her efforts. At Desert Trails Elementary School in Adelanto, the parent trigger replaced the staff with new teachers operating under a private charter operator. Yet trigger proponents offered no answers for how to address student transiency and other factors that were impacting student learning. At McKinley Elementary School in Compton, paid organizers targeted a school that had a brand new principal and was 

Education Grants - Fall 2013 | The Pollination ProjectThe Pollination Project

Education Grants - Fall 2013 | The Pollination ProjectThe Pollination Project:

Education Grants – Fall 2013

The Pollination Project, in partnership with the Institute for Humane Education, is offering up to 20 grant awards in Fall, 2013, for educators to create projects that support their students in making a positive difference in the world.

We are seeking educators who are committed to bringing forward a just, peaceful, and healthy world through projects that directly promote environmental stewardship, social justice, human rights or animal protection.  Before applying, please click here to learn more about humane education and make sure the program is a fit for you.

Applications will be accepted from any educator, at any level (preschool through post-graduate), anywhere in the world, with priority given to educators working in traditionally underserved communities.

THE GRANT AWARD INCLUDES:

• A $1,000 grant from the Pollination Project to launch or expand a social change project in your school.
• Paid tuition in the Institute for Humane Education 6-week online course, Teaching for a Positive Future.  (CEUs are available in most states.)
• Peer support from like-minded educators.
• If applicable, additional p/r and media support and visibility for your project.

DEADLINES:  Applications are accepted on a rolling basis from June 1, 2013-September 22, 2013.  Final announcements will be made on October 1, 2013.

HOW IT WORKS:  If you are selected as one of the grantees, you will receive paid tuition in Teaching for a Positive Future, which begins on 10/7/13 and ends 11/15/13.  This required course will support you in developing or strengthening an impactful social change project in your school. The course is a rich peer-driven experience where you will receive support and motivation to teach valuable critical and creative thinking skills to address our global challenges.

You will then submit a project outline to the Pollination Project and receive a grant of $1,000 (payable in two $500 installments) to launch it.  If there are timely or media worthy milestones in your project, the Pollination Project will provide an additional media support grant to work with Evolotus PR and gain additional visibility for your work.  (For an example, see the media generated for Ed Hashey, a Pollination Project grantee who received an additional media support grant from the Pollination Project).  Two short reports will be required during the grant period.

For more details about requirements and timelines, click here.

We look forward to receiving special initiative application and learning more about you!

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FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Tuesday, August 13, 2013

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team:

Schools don't need licensed nurses to give medications, court rules

Education Headlines

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Parents, advocacy groups push back against independent study at home

Following inquiries that led to the Center for Public Integrity's July publication of "Throwaway kids" -- documenting how disciplined California children are forced to study alone at home -- education officials inquired how a Lost Hills teen was doing, but provided him no assistance other than a few books.

Transit buses ready as schools open doors

Despite concerns last week that a labor dispute could affect bus service in Stockton, officials said service Monday came off without a hitch and that everything should be running as scheduled today as hundreds of students take a San Joaquin Regional Transit District bus to the first day of school.

S.J. schools chief won't seek re-election after all

Less than two months after announcing his re-election bid, San Joaquin County Superintendent of Schools Mick Founts made an about-face and said he would be retiring from the San Joaquin County Office of Education at the end of his term.

Law firm threatens to sue Lodi Unified School District over social media policy

Attorney Thomas R. Burke, from the law firm of Davis Wright Tremaine, sent a letter to Lodi Unified Superintendent Dr. Cathy Nichols-Washer and the seven school board members on Monday, claiming that the social media policy violates the First Amendment.

Back to school means big changes, challenges at LAUSD

The start of classes Tuesday will launch a watershed year for Los Angeles Unified as it rolls out a new curriculum, toughens its graduation requirements and launches an innovative system for dealing with disruptive students.

Rialto board VP calls for special meeting after accountant's arrest

The Rialto Unified School Board won't be holding a special meeting to discuss the issues surrounding the arrest of accountant Judy Oakes on suspicion of embezzlement - but it won't be due to a lack of trying by one board member.

Deadline looming in Madera Unified's contract talks with teachers

Madera Unified officials have 10 days to negotiate with the local teachers union over a contract agreement that's held both sides at an impasse for months.

Fensterwald: State Board must find balance between rules and flexibility

There was an abundance of thoughtful advice Monday at a public hearing in Sacramento on the state’s new school funding and accountability system. But that good advice also was rife with conflicting views, underscoring the challenge the State Board of Education will face in writing rules for the Local Control Funding Formula that took effect  in June.

Schools don't need licensed nurses to give medications, court rules

Schools may provide trained employees instead of licensed nurses to administer insulin injections and other medications to students, the California Supreme Court decided unanimously Monday.

California transgender students given access to opposite-sex programs

Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday signed legislation allowing students in California schools to compete on sports teams and use facilities, including restrooms, based on their gender identity, regardless of whether they are listed as male or female in official campus records.

Beverly Hills principal's on-campus camp is for-profit business

Many parents say they were encouraged to enroll their children to get a leg up in making sports teams during the school year. Now they question where their money went and contend it is a conflict of interest for public school officials to profit off the athletic aspirations of students.

Monday, August 12, 2013

S.J. school warned over cellphone pic of STAR test

An East Union High student in Manteca put the school on a short list of 16 statewide threatened with sanctions for snapping a cellphone picture of a standardized test question and then posting it on social media.

California Supreme Court to rule on insulin shots to diabetic students

The case pits parents who want voluntarily trained, non-nursing staff and faculty to give the shots to their children against a nurses' union claiming inappropriately administered shots could lead to harm and even tragedy.

After Sandy Hook, schools start the year with heightened security

As schools across Southern California prepare to open, teachers, parents and students will find increased security on their campuses, including surveillance cameras, more safety patrols, revised lockdown measures and fewer open gates.

Fewer local high-schoolers prepped for university

Mother Lode high schoolers are still taking fewer college preparatory classes than their peers in other regions, but many forge their own path to four-year universities.

A question about (the change in) testing | JD2718

A question about (the change in) testing | JD2718:

A question about (the change in) testing

AUGUST 13, 2013 AM31 11:19 AM

tags: education reform, hypocrisy

The frequency of tests in schools probably hasn’t changed much in the last few generations… but the type of tests, their nature, duration, consequences… those have changed.

“Was your education harmed by the lack of today’s testing program?”

When I was a kid a few decades ago, we took classroom tests at about the same rate (I think) as kids take them today. We also took bubble-in standardized tests after year or two during elementary school. Iowa. Lorge-Thorndike. There was no preparation. We generally did not see the results. In my state, at that time, there were no standardized high school exams. New York had regents, which some, but not all, kids took.

Today there are annual tests in English and math, grades 3 – 8, and a pile of Regents exams, minimum of five required. Students see the results of their exams, and in some cases important decisions are based on those results. (middle schools look at them, high schools look at them, 

Selective Schools Select Experience | InterACT

Selective Schools Select Experience | InterACT:

Selective Schools Select Experience

AUGUST 13, 2013

by David B. Cohen

Experienced teachers in a stable school, working as a team to promote student learning in a positive environment (photo by the author).

One of my favorite parts of a new school year is meeting new colleagues. I’m always impressed at the variety of experience and talent added to the room when we have our first staff meeting of the year. I happen to work in a high-performing school, in a high-performing district, in a community largely made up of wealthy and well-educated adults. Our district spends much more per pupil than most districts in California, and our teachers are better paid than most in California.

As a result of the quality of the schools and the community, we generally have the opportunity to be selective in hiring. I’d think I was a well-qualified candidate when I first applied, but I interviewed in my district three times in a four-year period before landing my current job.

In a typical year I find out information like a new science teacher has been teaching for several years and has work experience at NASA or Genentech, or a new art teacher has years of experience as both an educator and a studio artist. We’re proud that we’re picking off talent from neighboring districts, and this year, we snagged experienced teachers from Florida and Hawaii. We also typically hire a few alumni from our district, and a few parents from our district – and some of those people fit under both categories. I don’t know if there are studies to prove the