1-13-14 The Answer Sheet

The Answer Sheet:

Is teacher education a disaster?

One of the biggest debates in public education today is over how to best educate student teacher for the rigors of the classroom. This is the third and final part of a series on the subject by scholar Mike Rose, who is on the faculty of the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies […]    

by Valerie Strauss / 30min 

Weingarten slams teacher evaluation by student test scores

Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, the country’s second largest teachers union, has been a supporter of the Common Core State Standards for a long time but she has expressed concern in the last year over the way the standards are being implemented, saying that the rollout  was “far worse” than the […]    

4 by Valerie Strauss / 2h hide  //  save

U-Va. medical student saves man’s life during training exam

A University of Virginia medical school student performing a training examination on a “practice patient” assigned to complain about a specific condition discovered that the man actually had the disease — and he saved his life in the process. According to the University of Virginia Health System, student Ryan Jones of Danville, Va., was checking pretend […]    

17 by Valerie Strauss / 5h 

1-12-14 The Answer Sheet

The Answer Sheet: ‘The Procedure’ and how it is harming educationDo you know what “The Procedure” is and why it is a problem for education? Here to explain is Marion Brady, a veteran classroom teacher, who has written history and world culture textbooks (Prentice-Hall),  professional books, numerous  nationally distributed columns (many are available here), and courses of study. His 2011 book, “Wh

by mike simpson / 7h 

1-13-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum:

Charter Applicant Forums

Updates from the Charter Commission:1.      Each applicant will be given 10 minutes of presentation time, followed by 30 minutes of public comment. Individuals will be provided up to 2 minutes for comments. We are hopeful that 15 people will be able to provide comment.2.      Individuals who wish to provide public comment are asked to sign up at the meeting. If there are more than 15 people that s

by Melissa Westbrook / 29min 

C & I Meeting this afternoon

Oh Boy! The Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee meeting this afternoon is going to be good! I'm going to be there for sure. Just check out this list of discussion items from the agenda:Committee Discussion Itemsa. BAR for Yearbook Contract (Shauna/Kathleen/Misa)b. Policy 3130, Student Assignment (Shauna/Ronald/Janet B.)c. Policy 2415, High School Graduation Requirement (Michael/Janet B.)d.

by Charlie Mas / 17min 

Seattle Schools This Week

Monday, Jan. 13thCurriculum and Instruction Policy Committee meeting from 4:30-6:30 pm. AgendaDiscussion of Policy 3130, student assignment, Policy 2415, high school graduation requirement, CTE review, Equitable Access Annual report, math adoption progress reportI will be unable to attend this meeting but it does look interesting.Charter Commission Charter Applicant ForumStarting at 5 pm for Washi

by Melissa Westbrook / 8h 

1-11-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week

Seattle Schools Community Forum:Seattle Schools Community ForumGood Thing on a FridayArbor Heights Elementary School's photo.A VERY big thank you to Softchoice for their very generous donation. Today at our monthly assembly Harry Turpin, from Softchoice's Seattle office, presented a check for $3,829.49 to purchase replacement computers (stolen Fall 2012). Softchoice employees held a variety of fun

by mike simpson / 10h 

1-13-14 Schools Matter

Schools Matter:

Common Core Without Testing Is Like Vampires Without Blood

Not many people remember that Diane Ravitch was for Common Core before she was against it, and what turned her against it was the certainty that any benefit of second graders all learning to write memos rather than reading Mrs. Frisby . . . would be negated by an increase in testing--which she had come to understand to be the tool for destroying public schools.Now Ravitch's friend, Randi Weingarte

by Jim Horn / 11min 

California Readers--Read This and Act

K-12 News Network has obtained an email that the United Way sent to its partner groups advertising an informational session held by Superintendent John Deasy that will provide details on the rollout of Local Control Funding Formula councils. These councils, part of Local Control Accountability Plans, must by law include community members, parents, teachers, and others who will participate in deter

by Jim Horn / 9min  

1-12-14 Schools Matter

Schools Matter: Ravitch Announces Randi's "Decoupling" of Common Core from VAMWith light diminishing between Diane Ravitch and Randi Weingarten's positions, Dr. Ravitch posted this this morning.  My comment at her blog follows.A reader who calls himself or herself “Democracy” left comments criticizing me for defending Randi Weingarten–or perhaps for not attacking her.Here is my response

by mike simpson / 6h 

1-13-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida

Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education:

Stew’s Standards Have Arrived

From Kathleen McGrory in the Tampa Bay Times: TALLAHASSEE — Hoping to incorporate public input and assuage criticism, state education officials on Monday released 98 proposed changes to the controversial Common Core State Standards. The suggestions represent additions and minor tweaks to the national benchmarks, which have been adopted in more than 45 states and outline what students should know a

by Bob Sikes / 16min 

Skepticism in the Florida Senate on Common Core Roll-Out

Pam Stewart will be back at the legislature to deliver Florida’s own set of Common Core Standards, but it’s quite clear that senators on both sides of the aisle are skeptical of her being able to deliver on the entire package. Writes Kathleen McGrory: TALLAHASSEE — When Pam Stewart became state education commissioner in September, lawmakers said they would give her time to untangle the complicated

by Bob Sikes / 2h  

1-12-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florid

Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education: Rick Scott’s Common Core Political ProblemsEducation commissioner Pam Stewart has provided much-needed calm in Florida’s education universe. Rick Scott probably wishes he had her in place all along instead of ideologues Gerard Robinson and Tony Bennett. But Scott would p

by mike simpson / 10h 

teacherken at Daily Kos 1-13-14: Republicans are "Enemies of the Poor"

Daily Kos: Krugman: Republicans are "Enemies of the Poor":

Krugman: Republicans are "Enemies of the Poor"

In his Monday column, Krugman tells us it is difficult for Republican with national ambitions are having a difficult time talking about the poor because of their well-earned reputation for reverse Robin-Hoodism, for being the party that takes from the poor and gives to the rich. And the reason that reputation is so hard to shake is that it’s justified. It’s not much of an exaggeration to say that

by rss@dailykos.com ... / 4h 

teacherken at Daily Kos This Week 1-11-14

teacherken at Daily Kos:teacherken at Daily Kos This WeekNick Kristof offers Progress in the War on Povertyin this NY Times column in which he lays out the successes of the effort over the past 50 years, with links galore to support his argument that it has been a success. As he notes: The most accurate measures, using Census Bureau figures that take account of benefits, suggest that poverty rates

by mike simpson / 10h 

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 1-13-14

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

L.A. UNIFIED SURVEYS PRICES OTHERS PAY FOR iPADS, SIMILAR DEVICES

By Howard Blume. Los Angeles Times | http://lat.ms/1awjkeF In Perris, Pinacate Middle School students Raul Curil, 13 and Marco Fuentes, 12, in Mark Synnott's journalism class, work on Chromebook devices producing their electronic newspaper, the Puma Press. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times / December 6, 2013) January 12, 2014, 4:51 p.m.  ::  The Los Angeles Unified School District is

by smf / 7h 

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 1-12-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: L.A.’s DOWNTOWN LIBRARY, 8 REGIONAL BRANCHES TO REOPEN ON SUNDAYSBy Rick Orlov, Los Angeles Daily News  | http://bit.ly/1acVHHD Fredi Macias puts books away at the the Mid-Valley Library January 10, 2014 in North Hills, CA. Starting January 12, 2014 the Los Angeles Public LibraryþÄôs Central Library and eight regional branch libraries will be open on Su

by mike simpson / 10h 

1-13-14 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School:

Cuomo Education Reform Panel Still Not Done With Their Report

Jessica Bakeman at Capital NY:ALBANY—A panel of education experts tasked with making recommendations to Governor Andrew Cuomo for how to improve student performance is months late releasing its final report. The commission even missed last week's State of the State address, during which the governor laid out an ambitious schools agenda for the year. Cuomo empaneled his Education Reform Commission

by reality-based edu... / 4h 

Corproate Education Reform Proponent George Miller To Retire From Congress

The corporate education reform movement and for-profit post secondary school industry lost a reliable shill:California Rep. George Miller, Nancy Pelosi’s strong right arm and one of the top Democratic legislators of his generation, is stepping down at the end of this year after four decades in Congress. Miller informed Pelosi, the Democratic leader, of his decision last Wednesday and began telling

by reality-based edu... / 1min 

Common Core And Testing Go Hand-In-Hand

There has been a lot of debate over Randi Weingarten's publicly announcing that she wants to "de-couple" the Common Core State (sic) Standards from high stakes testing.Alas, the CCSS were meant to go with high stakes testing, teacher evaluations based in part upon student test scores and data collection projects like inBloom that will track all the statistics and scores.All three go toge

by reality-based edu... / 35min 

Troubles Mount For Chris Christie

I've written more than once that Chris Christie is a dirty guy, a crooked guy, and once he starts to get scrutiny at a national level as a presidential contender, stuff is just going to come out that will, in the end, destroy his presidential ambitions.BridgeGate has become a major problem for him, with new subpoenas being issued today:The chairman of the Assembly committee investigating the Georg

by reality-based edu... / 10min hide  //  save

NY Post: De Blasio Picking Up Where Bloomberg Left Off On Court Cases

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss:Mayor de Blasio is tossing his “tale of two cities’’ mantra out the window this week, as his Law Department begins defending two hallmarks of the Bloomberg legacy in court.One case involves park activists who first sued the city in 2008, alleging that an upscale restaurant concession serving $18 omelets in Union Square would violate rules about profit-making

by reality-based edu... / 10min 

Again I Ask, Why No Blame For Bloomberg And Walcott?

The Post does another story on horror school PS 106 this morning:Kids at Queens’ notorious “School of No” have been forced to pay for a bizarre fifth-grade party at which their principal makes them dress up as little brides and grooms, The Post has learned — as the DOE announce that it would probe conditions at the school. PS 106’s fur-clad principal, Marcella Sills — who is known for frequently b

by reality-based edu... / 2h 

1-12-14 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School: Why Aren't Bloomberg And Walcott Blamed For This?We always hear how great Mayor Bloomberg was for the school system, how much better things were after his 12 years of reign than before he took over.Then you get this kind of story from the Post that sounds very much like a school from the "bad-old days":Students at PS 106 in Far Rockaway, Queens, have gotten no math

by mike simpson / 10h 

An Urban Teacher's Education: What's Best for Kids

An Urban Teacher's Education: What's Best for Kids:

What's Best for Kids

If you've spent any time in schools or in school district offices, there's a good chance you've heard someone implore others to remember that it's important to keep students in mind when making decisions.

Although not always, this is sometimes a underhanded insult. It suggests that others may have ulterior motives (presumably self-interest) when making decisions about how schools work.

At my school, we've recently been thinking about how to change our structures, schedule, class offerings, and other important operational components in an attempt to provide better educational experiences for students. The process has led to a few reminders that we should keep students at the heart of our thinking, which led me to really think about how my school might change if we really thought about said change through the lens of "what's best for kids."

Here are a few things I think would put students first (certainly not an exhaustive list):

1) We would allocate far fewer days to testing and test preparation

Many of my students experience severe anxiety about tests, and some even skip school when they know a test is coming. There is much to be said for learning to take tests and their role in society, but we've overdone it by a long shot. The emphasis we place on tests encourage deficit thinking and 

4 Questions Parents Should Ask About Student Data Security - High School Notes (usnews.com)

4 Questions Parents Should Ask About Student Data Security - High School Notes (usnews.com):

4 Questions Parents Should Ask About Student Data Security

By KELSEY SHEEHY

January 13, 2014 RSS Feed Print

Lax protocols for student data could put teens’ privacy at risk, experts say.

Student data has the ability to transform education, experts say.

Teachers can tailor instruction using student grades, and counselors can use attendance and behavior records to identify at-riskhigh school students before they become dropout statistics.

"We can't afford not to use data," says Aimee Guidera, founder and executive director of the Data Quality Campaign. Districts also cannot afford to let their students' data fall into the wrong hands, she says.

[Learn about tech requirements for the Common Core State Standards.]

Safeguarding student privacy and ensuring data security should be a top priority for school officials, experts say, especially when districts contract 

Departments of Education and Justice Endorse Restorative, not Punitive, School Discipline | janresseger

Departments of Education and Justice Endorse Restorative, not Punitive, School Discipline | janresseger:

Departments of Education and Justice Endorse Restorative, not Punitive, School Discipline

Posted on January 13, 2014 by janresseger

On Wednesday, January 8, Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan issued new guidance to reduce zero tolerance discipline policies in the nation’s public schools and to encourage schools to handle routine, non-criminal infractions inside schools instead of turning students over to police.  The goal is to make the climate at school safer and more welcoming and significantly to reduce what is known as the school to prison pipeline, as young people find themselves in the criminal justice system for what are often minor infractions.

Special thanks for years of advocacy leading to this change in policy must go to an active coalition of national education and civil rights organizations who have worked doggedly for changes in particular school districts and in federal policy.  They include Advancement Project, the American Civil Liberties Union, the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, the NAACP, the National Opportunity to Learn Campaign, the Justice Policy Institute, and the Civil Rights Project at UCLA.  The American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association have endorsed these changes.

This effort was made especially urgent when, after the December 2012 school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, more schools began  hiring police guards, called “school resource 

Tennessee Student Ethan Young: "We Need Change, But Not Common Core" - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

Tennessee Student Ethan Young: "We Need Change, But Not Common Core" - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:

Tennessee Student Ethan Young: "We Need Change, But Not Common Core"

By Anthony Cody on January 13, 2014 6:49 AM

Videos of teenagers occasionally "go viral," racking up thousands of views on YouTube. But rarely do they feature discussions of education policy. This video of Ethan Young, a senior at Farragut High School, in Knox County, Tennessee, is an exception. More than two million people have watched this over the past two months, and still counting. I wrote to Ethan Young, and asked if he would share his words with us here, and answer some questions as well. Here is the video of his talk, followed by a transcript of his remarks, and then his responses to my questions.

Ethan Young's Remarks:

 

In a mere five minutes, I hope to provide insightful comments about a variety of educational topics. I sincerely hope you disprove the research I've compiled.

Here's the history of Common Core. In 2009, the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers partnered with Achieve, Inc., a non-profit that received millions in 

UCLA POLICE HARASS JUDGE DAVID CUNNINGHAM - Perdaily.com

UCLA POLICE HARASS JUDGE DAVID CUNNINGHAM - Perdaily.com:

UCLA POLICE HARASS JUDGE DAVID CUNNINGHAM

 

(Mensaje se repite en Español

I am a twice graduate of UCLA. You may have recently read or heard the news about  African-American Superior Court Judge David Cunningham III, who was pulled over just steps away from UCLA by campus police. He was verbally berated, then physically assaulted and detained -- all because he wasn't wearing a seat belt. Judge Cunningham is a 60 year-old African-American with an outstanding record of public service, and yet he was still subject to the notorious harassment of UCPD. 

I'd like your help in circulating a petition to the UCLA Chancellor informing him that this type of misconduct is not acceptable and will not be tolerated on or off campus. We are also working with student groups at UCLA. 

The online petition is available here: 

http://goo.gl/P4vfMt

Feel free to forward this link to everyone in your network.

We also have a physical petition, and I'd be more than happy to have my friend and 

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES:

WEEKEND QUOTABLES

Roger Ailes (NYT)

Fox News Chief Exec. Roger Ailes 

“I’m walking around, and I feel just all this anger. I can’t figure out where it’s coming from.” -- NYT Sunday Book Review 

Eric Holder 

“A routine school disciplinary infraction should land a student in the principal’s office, not in a police precinct.” -- New York Times

Mark Anderson 

 Remind me again: Isn't Pat Quinn supposed to be a man of the people who chose Vallas because he had a “servant’s heart”? -- Ward Room

Historian Eric Foner 

 I'm certainly against this testing mania that's going on now where you can judge 

Wendy Katten, director of Raise Your Hand