Saturday, January 25, 2014

1-25-14 Wait What? All Week


Wait What?:

  Wait What? All Week





Don’t let them fool you: You can and should consider opting your child out of standardized testing frenzy
This week’s commentary piece from fellow education advocate and commentator Wendy Lecker is a message that should be distributed to every parent in Connecticut. As Wendy Lecker explains in her column entitled, “Opting out, parents answer to a higher authority,” the Governor Malloy’s Commissioner of Education, Stefan Pryor and the Malloy administration are telling local […]The post Don’t let them f
Sarah Darer Littman: Back with more news about the Malloy’s administration’s Common Core Spending
Sarah Darer Littman, the award winning columnist, has returned to CT Newsjunkie after taking a six month hiatus to work on her novels for teens. In her latest, “must read,” commentary piece she picks up where we left off with the Wait, What? post earlier this month entitled, “Malloy/Pryor Common Core Strategy – Hey, but […]The post Sarah Darer Littman: Back with more news about the Malloy’s admini

YESTERDAY

Corporate funded education reform group speaks out for Steve Perry
After reading the latest from Achieve Hartford Inc., it is hard to know quite what to say. In a not so veiled attack on Wait, What? and those who have been demanding that Perry be held accountable to the same standards that apply to everyone else, Achieve Hartford, Inc. asks “Our hope is that Board […]The post Corporate funded education reform group speaks out for Steve Perry appeared first on Wai
Workplace Bullying: Capital Prep isn’t the only abuser
One of the most disturbing things about Steve Perry and the way he runs Capital Prep. Magnet School is the reports of the extensive workplace bullying.  At last count, Capital Prep had lost at least seven teachers this year. Capital Prep’s abusive working conditions have left teachers stunned and hurt.  The school’s actions have even […]The post Workplace Bullying: Capital Prep isn’t the only abus
Hartford Board of Education’s “Perry Problem” must still to be addressed
Before this week’s snow storm hit, the Hartford Board of Education was scheduled to use their regular meeting to go into “executive session” to discuss Capital Preparatory Magnet School Principal Steve Perry.  The storm forced a postponement of the meeting until Monday, January 27th.   The initial agenda for Monday’s meeting fails to state whether there […]The post Hartford Board of Education’s “P

JAN 23

Paul Vallas played pivotal role in case that could cost New Orleans and Louisiana $1.5 billion
Last week, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal, which is located in Louisiana, ruled in favor of a class action lawsuit brought on behalf of about 7000 New Orleans public school employees who were wrongfully terminated when the State of Louisiana took control of 107 New Orleans public schools following Hurricane Katrina. The case will […]The post Paul Vallas played pivotal role in case that could c
And speaking of Common Core and “Ed Reform”… CT teacher’s editorial goes viral
Go into any teacher’s lounge in Connecticut… Heck, go into any teacher’s lounge in the United States… And you are likely to find a copy of Elizabeth Natale’s commentary piece entitled, “Why I Want To Give Up Teaching” that was recently published in the Hartford Courant Elizabeth Natale is an English and language arts teacher […]The post And speaking of Common Core and “Ed Reform”… CT teacher’s edi
Jonathan Kantrowitz: A FACT based assessment of the Common Core
Jonathan Kantrowitz writes a great blog that can be found on the Connecticut Post and Hearst Connecticut Media Group websites.  Kantrowitz is a self-described “Political activist and health nut.” You should read the blog for both the political content and his health news. Kantrowitz is also an expert on school curriculum and curriculum development. When […]The post Jonathan Kantrowitz: A FACT base

JAN 22

“Yale College seeks smart students from poor families. They’re out there—but hard to find.”
According to the cover of the most recent issue of Yale Alumni Magazine: “Yale College seeks smart students from poor families. They’re out there—but hard to find.” The cover of the January/February issue of Yale Alumni Magazine is a drawing of what appears to be a man in a suite precariously standing on the top […]The post “Yale College seeks smart students from poor families. They’re out there—b
School Bus Seat Belt Fund: A prime example of Connecticut’s budget gimmickry
According to Governor Malloy and his administration, the State of Connecticut is on target to end this Fiscal Year (FY14) with a $506.1 million surplus. Malloy administration officials are so excited about the notion of a budget surplus that they are talking about proposing a targeted election year tax cut to win over middle-class voters […]The post School Bus Seat Belt Fund: A prime example of Co

JAN 21

Principal Steve Perry, you just don’t get it – it’s the double standard that is so offensive!
The celebration of Martin Luther King’s Birthday was an opportunity to celebrate Dr. King’s life, recognize his incredible contributions to our world and come to grips with the reality that our nation is failing to make much, if any, progress when it comes to the Dream that Dr. King laid out for our society. A […]The post Principal Steve Perry, you just don’t get it – it’s the double standard that
Connecticut Fiscal Policy: Surplus First, Deficit Later
According to Governor Malloy, Connecticut’s fiscal house is in order and thanks to “surging” revenue the state of Connecticut will have a significant budget surplus this year and a balanced state budget going into the 2014 gubernatorial campaign.  The Malloy administration is so excited about the news that it rumored to be contemplating an election […]The post Connecticut Fiscal Policy: Surplus Fi

JAN 20

For Martin Luther King, it wasn’t “bad” segregation vs. “okay” segregation.
It was June 23, 1963 and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was leading the Great March on Detroit, which has also been called “The Walk to Freedom.” Speaking to a crowd of more than 25,000 people at Cobo Hall in Detroit King said: “For we have come to see that segregation is not only sociologically […]The post For Martin Luther King, it wasn’t “bad” segregation vs. “okay” segregation. appeared first on W

JAN 19

The unfinished task and using Martin Luther King Day to better understand our responsibilities…
We Americans have a very strange way of doing things when it comes to celebrating important historical events that appear on our calendars.  On days like Martin Luther King Day we “take the day off” rather than focus our energy on appreciating and rededicating ourselves to his clarion call for action. Meanwhile, on days when […]The post The unfinished task and using Martin Luther King Day to bette
A look at Steve Perry’s record of absenteeism and use of social media to bully others
On Tuesday January 21, 2014 the Hartford Board of Education will hold a special executive session to discuss Capital Prep Principal Steve Perry.  The public has the opportunity to address the Hartford Board of Education starting at 5:30 pm.  The meeting is taking place that the Journalism and Media Magnet Academy located at 150 Tower […]The post A look at Steve Perry’s record of absenteeism and us

JAN 18

Connecticut Democratic Party Leaders: It is okay to lie, as long as it’s to raise money…
The question bothering a number of Democrats these days is what happened to our political party?  We all know it takes money to run effective campaigns, but Connecticut’s Democratic State Central Committee is reaching new lows when it comes to misleading potential donors in their effort to raise funds. Last week, Democratic State Central Committee […]The post Connecticut Democratic Party Leaders:
Hide your children – Arne Duncan is coming to Connecticut Tuesday
According to the Hartford Courant, “The governor’s office confirms that Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education, will visit Hartford’s University High School on Tuesday afternoon at 1:30. Duncan will speak on college accessibility and affordability. According to Duncan’s office the event will include U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, Gov. Dannel P. […]The post Hide your ch

1-25-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week

Seattle Schools Community Forum:


Seattle Schools Community Forum






Highly Capable Services Delivery Model Task Force Nominations Open
The District is forming a task force to make recommendations to the superintendent on delivery model(s) for Highly Capable Services. This group will meet, investigate, discuss, and recommend the structure for the services that the District currently provides as APP.Here is a link to the form for nominations for the Highly Capable Services Delivery Model Task Force.Here is a link to the charge for
The Latest Re-Definition of "Curriculum"
Seattle Public Schools has re-defined the word "curriculum" no fewer than six times in the past four years. It seems to change with each new Chief Academic Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, or Executive Director of Curriculum. It also changes anytime the District needs to weasel or make other people (the Board or members of the public) appear ignorant.Here is th
Odds and Ends
Several items I thought might interest you.Frida Kahlo, a favorite of mineOne is a new video from Dove soap, straight from the Sundance Film Festival where it "premiered."  It's an 8-minute video about an experiment with teen girls, their mothers and cell phone photos called "Selfie."  Worthy viewing, I think. My favorite line, from a girl, "Social media is widening the de

About Race
There's an article by Joel Connelly in the PI that there was some irony that one of the first acts of our new mayor, Ed Murray, was to go to see the Race exhibit at the Seattle Science Center.  (It has now ended.)   (Thanks to Johnny Calcagno for the heads up.)The irony is that just across the way at Seattle Center is Center School where Seattle Public Schools allowed one family to upend a vital c

Please Take this PTA Survey
From the Seattle Council PTSA:Dear Seattle Council PTSA Members, As you probably know, our state constitution requires ample funding for education.  The Washington Supreme court has directed the legislature to show real and measurable progress by 2018--the McCleary Decision--, and yet, our schools are still underfunded. Please take a few minutes for kids and complete this quick survey . Your surv
Friday Open Thread
A class size bill, HB 2589 is making its way thru the Washington State Legislature.  Interestingly there is a column at The Olympian by Dick Cvitanich, the Superintendent for Olympia Public Schools,  who advocates for spending McCleary money on smaller class sizes.  A story of contrasts between that bill and Bill 5246 for teacher evaluations which would no longer allow districts to use years of te
Keeping this Blog Alive
Among the many unusual things I've done in my life (not many but some), one was working as a volunteer investigator for one the Seattle public defender offices.  It was fascinating work and I got many insights to both sides of the law.One thing that troubled me, though, was that we were told not to bother to look up any record of our clients.  We could look up the victims or the witnesses but we w

JAN 20

Want to Keep Those After-School Activities?
I wanted to pull this issue out from the Seattle Schools This Week thread because I believe this could affect many, many schools and their after-school programs.Amending School Board Policy #4260, Use of School Facilities. It has come to my attention that the district wants to create a change in usage of facilities.  The district says it is "working with SCPTSA" over using facilities and
Thank You, Reverend King

JAN 19

Note to B. Gates - Education is NOT a Business
In a classic "aw shucks, we tried and keep in mind, education, if run like a business would do a lot better" interview, Bill Gates spoke with the Wall Street Journal.  He somewhat humbly says, "It's been about a decade of learning."  Kind of true but it's also been a decade of experimenting with other people's children.  (But I think Bill, like a writer at Forbes who had writte
Seattle Schools This Week
Monday, January 20thNo School in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. DayWednesday, January 22ndSchool Board Meeting, starting at 4:15 pm.  Agenda.  Note: there is to be an Executive Session after the Board meeting for 30 minutes.  Action Items- removal (basically) of open choice seats in high school from the New Student Assignment Plan Transition Plan for 2013-2014.  I think this would be the beginni

JAN 18

The Internet and Free Speech
Gentle readers, The last couple of months have been something of a strain for me. I was busy fighting a petition in court for an order of protection against me, claiming I had harassed someone via this blog and this person feared loss of their job because of the alleged harassment. I will go into some detail about this case in another thread but suffice to say that, of course, it was without meri
Saturday Food for Thought
 From The New Yorker, a thoughtful article by Mark O'Connell, "First Thought, Worst Thought," about thinking before you hit send.  I would think that includes Facebook, e-mail, texts or Twitter.  Something to talk to the kids about, perhaps.On the one hand:As Roxane Gay put it in an essay on her ambivalence about the public shaming of Sacco: “The world is full of unanswered injustice and