Thursday, April 3, 2014

Morning Wink 4-3-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2


BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS




LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-3-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: UCLA Report: New York Has the Nation’s Most Segregated SchoolsAccording to the UCLA Civil Rights Project, New York State has the most segregated public schools in the nation. Nearly three-quarters of the charter schools in New York City are considered “apartheid schools” because less than 1% of their enrollment is white. Charters a
4-3-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Free Resources From All My BooksI have many free resources, including excerpts and student hand-outs, available from all my books. Clicking on the covers will lead you to them (and look for two new books being published over the next eighteen months — one will be the third volume in my student motivation “trilogy” , and the
4-3-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher
Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: The value of the Jay Travis run and who gets to sit next to Christine Boardman at the next WAO lunch meeting.Jay Travis. We wil see today if Michael Madigan twisted enough arms, as a Springfield observer said to me yesterday, to give Rahm his pension theft. If it did we will see another court battle.
4-3-14 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Video: Change the Stakes Rocks Opt-Out Movement“I had people come up to me on the street and explain that their kids were sick this morning going into school, because they knew they have to take the test,” Dromm said.There is so much opt-out news I can manage to share much of it - stuff is just flying around.Former teacher and current City Councilman Danny Dromm held a press confe
4-3-14 Wait What?
Wait What?: A very bad day for public education in ConnecticutYesterday was a dark day for public education in Connecticut. Before voting to give away $80 to $100 million in taxpayer funds over the next five years to private companies that want to open four new charter schools in Connecticut, Governor Malloy’s State Board of Education voted unanimously to re-commit our state, our public schools […
The Answer Sheet 4-3-14
The Answer Sheet: Web site of anti-testing group is hackedWhy would anyone do this? The web site of United Opt  Out National, a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to eliminating the use of high-stakes standardized tests, has been hacked. The site posted this message:   United Opt Out The Movement to end Corporate Education Reform Our site has been maliciously hacked and destroyed in […]    2
4-3-14 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: Gainesville Sun: Lawmakers Need to Be Honest About Voucher ProgramFrom the editors of the Gainesville Sun: Lawmakers still haven’t addressed the fact that voucher recipients aren’t required to take the same standardized tests as public-school students. Private schools th
We’re Not No. 1! We’re Not No. 1!
We’re Not No. 1! We’re Not No. 1!: We’re Not No. 1! We’re Not No. 1!byteacherkenFollow    Email  26 Comments / 26 NewThat is the title of this this Nicholas Kristof op ed in today's New York TimesIt examines the result of the Social Progress Index, which isa brainchild of Michael E. Porter, the eminent Harvard business professor who earlier helped develop the Global Competitiveness Report. Porter
Louisiana Educator: A Disappointing Vote
Louisiana Educator: A Disappointing Vote: A Disappointing VoteThe House Education Committee, after debate that went into late evening hours yesterday, voted to kill HB381 by Gueyman, Pope and Kostelka that would have provided a process to create Louisiana based school standards in the place of the Common Core State Standards. Big business in Louisiana represented by LABI and CABL once again wielde
Are Charter Schools Really ‘Helping Poor Children?’ | PopularResistance.Org
Are Charter Schools Really ‘Helping Poor Children?’ | PopularResistance.Org: Are Charter Schools Really ‘Helping Poor Children?’EDUCATE! EDUCATION By Jim Naureckas, www.fair.orgApril 3rd, 2014 Richard Cohen doesn’t understand why people are so down on the rich.  The Washington Post columnist (3/18/14) writes:The rich are incessantly accused of being slyly manipulative and self-serving. For instanc
Common Core debate leads to mom's suspension from son's school
Common Core debate leads to mom's suspension from son's school: Common Core debate leads to mom's suspension from son's schoolSACRAMENTO - As California prepares to adopt the new state educational standards known as Common Core this fall, more parents are speaking out against them. Now one local mom says she was suspended from her son's school for doing so."I was outraged," 12-year-old C
We Need Changes Beyond School, Too - Bridging Differences - Education Week
We Need Changes Beyond School, Too - Bridging Differences - Education Week: We Need Changes Beyond School, TooBy Deborah Meier on April 3, 2014 8:53 AMDeborah Meier continues her conversation with Robert Pondiscio. The two will finish co-blogging next week.Dear Robert,Let's use these last letters—our blog partnership ends next week!—to pursue your question: Do We Need Changes In Our Schools? Yes.
4-3-14 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: National Poetry Month: “What is the message when some children are not represented in those books?”National Poetry Month: “What is the message when some children are not represented in those books?”. via National Poetry Month: “What is the message when some children are not represented in those books?”.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical1 by plthomasedd / 18min 4-2-14 @ Th
4-3-14 the becoming radical A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD
the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): National Poetry Month: “What is the message when some children are not represented in those books?”National Poetry Month 2014 comes not on “little cat feet,” like Carl Sandberg’s “Fog,” but in the wake of Walter Dean Myers and his son, Christopher, responding to reports
4-3-14 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School: Cuomo Was Behind The Organization Of The Eva Moskowitz/Success Charter School RallyThere have been some stories out that it was Governor Cuomo who pushed for the charter school giveaway rally in Albany - those stories are now confirmed in the NY Times:It was a frigid February day in Albany, and leaders of New York City’s charter school movement were anxious. They had gone to
Public housing authorities pilot education programs | EdSource Today
Public housing authorities pilot education programs | EdSource Today: Public housing authorities pilot education programsApril 2nd, 2014 | Add a Comment | By Lillian Mongeau8Americorps member Chia Vang helps Imani Conley, 2, with a finger-painting of a coconut tree during a class at the little girl’s public housing complex in Fresno. Credit: Lillian Mongeau, EdSourceIn an effort to improve literac
Report: Foundation funding widens the gap between California's 'rich' and 'poor' schools | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC
Report: Foundation funding widens the gap between California's 'rich' and 'poor' schools | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC: Report: Foundation funding widens the gap between California's 'rich' and 'poor' schoolsAdolfo Guzman-Lopez | April 3rd, 2014, 5:30amAdolfo Guzman-Lopez/KPCCThe Irvine Public Schools Foundation raises money to pay for all K-3 music classes, and covers some of the costs of music class

YESTERDAY

Charles Koch responds to Harry Reid - sort of -
Charles Koch responds to Harry Reid - sort of -: Charles Koch responds to Harry Reid - sort of -byteacherkenFollow    Email  8 Comments / 8 Newin a very self-serving way, in this Wall Street Journal op ed.I said it was self-serving.  It is also self-justifying.It begins like thisI have devoted most of my life to understanding the principles that enable people to improve their lives. It is those pr
Jersey Jazzman: Dear Bill Maher: Here's Why You're Wrong About Tenure
Jersey Jazzman: Dear Bill Maher: Here's Why You're Wrong About Tenure: Dear Bill Maher: Here's Why You're Wrong About TenureJersey Jazzman Jammin' All WeekDear Bill Maher,Let's dispense with the fanboy stuff first: I think you're great, I really liked Religulous, I think ABC screwed you over, and you come closer than anyone around today to keeping the spirit of America's greatest political philoso
The Common Core License: Open for NGA and CCSSO Alteration | deutsch29
The Common Core License: Open for NGA and CCSSO Alteration | deutsch29: The Common Core License: Open for NGA and CCSSO AlterationApril 2, 2014The so-called Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are being billed as “Preparing America’s Students for Success“; as “important for your child”; indeed, as The American Education Solution:The Common Core is a set of high-quality academic standards in mathema
All Things Education: In truth, there is hope
All Things Education: In truth, there is hope: In truth, there is hopeMy last two posts have been attempts to address matters of race in (largely progressive) public education advocacy circles. Michael Lopez had a very thoughtful response to my post and Sabrina Joy Stevens wrote a powerful post related to the topic.In the meantime, I have been following the recent conversation between Jonathan Cha
My Review of The First Review of My Book This Is Not A Test - The Jose Vilson
My Review of The First Review of My Book This Is Not A Test - The Jose Vilson: My Review of The First Review of My Book This Is Not A Testby JOSE VILSON on APRIL 2, 2014in JOSELet me say, for the record, that I haven’t been excited yet. Not with the endorsements, the hundreds of folk who’ve pre-ordered it, the publisher’s ridiculously good execution with the basics (and then some), meeting Arundha
Sacramento News & Review - A strong move - Bites - Opinions - April 3, 2014
Sacramento News & Review - A strong move - Bites - Opinions - April 3, 2014: A strong moveBites was the only reporter inside last week's strong-mayor debateBy Cosmo Garvin cosmog@newsreview.comWhen the AstroTurf group Sacramento Tomorrow rebooted the strong-mayor effort last year, it said it had nothing to do with Kevin Johnson.And yet there was Boss Johnson on Wednesday night, March 26, at a
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Door cracks open to stripping Rahm of mayoral control of the schools. Travis' near win reverberates.
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Door cracks open to stripping Rahm of mayoral control of the schools. Travis' near win reverberates.: Door cracks open to stripping Rahm of mayoral control of the schools. Travis' near win reverberates.DID YOU HEAR THAT... The House opened the door ever so slightly Tuesday to strippingMayor Rahm Emanuel and any of his successors of the sole authority to appoint the C
empathyeducates – On Children and Childhood
empathyeducates – On Children and Childhood: On Children and ChildhoodBy Paul L. Thonas, Ed.D. | Originally Published at The Becoming Radical. April 2, 2014children guessed (but only a few)
and down they forgot as up they grew“[anyone lived in a pretty how town],” e.e. cummingsIn one of those early years of becoming and being a teacher, when I was still teaching in the exact room where I had been
Nite Cap 4-2-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
James Baldwin said it best: "For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP#IsraelMunoz,19 yr old founder of Chicago Student's Union, on saving public schools on VimeoIsrael Munoz on Vimeo: #IsraelMunoz,19 yr old founder of Chicago Student's Union, on saving public schools Israel Munoz from Schoolhouse Live on Vimeo.by
#IsraelMunoz,19 yr old founder of Chicago Student's Union, on saving public schools on Vimeo
Israel Munoz on Vimeo: #IsraelMunoz,19 yr old founder of Chicago Student's Union, on saving public schools Israel Munoz from Schoolhouse Live on Vimeo.
Education Reform Should Be Geared Towards Parents, Not Business | Truth in American Education
Education Reform Should Be Geared Towards Parents, Not Business | Truth in American Education: Education Reform Should Be Geared Towards Parents, Not BusinessFiled in Common Core State Standards by truthed on April 2, 2014 • 0 Comments675Rex TillersonCEO of Exxon MobilUses bully tactics to advance Common Core.By Emmett McGroarty & Jane RobbinsSometimes a combatant in an ideological struggle sa
PSAT for 4-2-14: Speak out, sign up, pencil in Parents United for Responsible Education
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » PSAT for 4-2-14: Speak out, sign up, pencil in: PSAT for 4-2-14: Speak out, sign up, pencil inI know it’s Wednesday – springing ahead can do crazy things to the schedule, especially when it’s barely spring, right?1) Speak out about the AUSL turnaround proposals at three schools. Please share this quick fact sheet about AUSL’s lackluster con
Top 5 Myths and Lies About Teachers and Their Profession | NEA Today
Top 5 Myths and Lies About Teachers and Their Profession | NEA Today: Top 5 Myths and Lies About Teachers and Their ProfessionApril 2, 2014 by twalker  Filed under Featured News, Top StoriesLeave a CommentBy Tim WalkerWell-funded misinformation campaigns succeed in part by leaving no rock unturned in the quest to discredit whatever person or institution they are targeting. In these cases, is there
Officials’ private e-communiquรฉ not subject to open records act :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet
Officials’ private e-communiquรฉ not subject to open records act :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: Officials’ private e-communiquรฉ not subject to open records actby Tom Chorneau(Calif.) Reversing a prior decision, an appeals court ruled this week that private communications sent on personal electronic devices and saved on private data systems
LCFF and LCAP / California State PTA
LCFF and LCAP / California State PTA: IT'S AN EXCITING TIME FOR OUR KIDS AND OUR SCHOOLS!Have you heard? There's a new school funding law called the LCFF (Local Control Funding Formula). It's a new way for schools to focus on student success.LCFF requires school districts to involve parents in planning and decision making.It also:Shifts spending decisions from the state to your local school distri
4/2/2014 – A ‘Fair Shot’ Agenda For Education
4/2/2014 – A ‘Fair Shot’ Agenda For Education: 4/2/2014 – A ‘Fair Shot’ Agenda For EducationApril 2, 2014 SubscribeTHIS WEEK: The Public School Brand … Common Core Lost Opportunity … Charter Schools And Inequity … Obama’s Boldest Civil Rights Reform … Who Is ‘College Material’?TOP STORYTime For A ‘Fair Shot’ Agenda For EducationBy Jeff Bryant“There’s an issue rife with populist discontent that Dem
4-2-14 LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD
LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District): Rachel Johnson has experience, if not cash, for school board raceRachel Johnson In keeping with the start of the baseball season this week, let’s use a baseball analogy: Rachel Johnson has a Hall of Fame batting average in running for office. Since 2001 when she was first elected as the City Clerk of Gard
4-2-14 The Whole Child Blog — High-Morale Schools: Readying Students to Take on the World — Whole Child Education
High-Morale Schools: Readying Students to Take on the World — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGHigh-Morale Schools: Readying Students to Take on the WorldApril 2, 2014 by Lora M. HodgesPost written by Lora M. Hodges for Northeast Foundation for Children/Responsive Classroom, a whole child partner organization.Morale can be hard to define, but you know it when you see it. When you walk in
For-profit charter school bill clears House committee
For-profit charter school bill clears House committee: For-profit charter school bill clears House committeeFor-profit companies moved closer to being able to operate charter schools in Tennessee after a much-debated bill eked out a key legislative victory Tuesday.The House Education Committee voted 8-7 to advance to the House floor House Bill 1693, which would let nonprofit charter schools hire c
Charter-mania, high-stakes testing and teacher-bashing: Can Rhee’s approach be stopped? - Salon.com
Charter-mania, high-stakes testing and teacher-bashing: Can Rhee’s approach be stopped? - Salon.com: Charter-mania, high-stakes testing and teacher-bashing: Can Rhee’s approach be stopped?As a new lawsuit seeks to radically transform teaching conditions, an expert warns of our nation's education shiftFinal briefs are due next week in Vergara v. California, an under-the-radar billionaire-backed law
Arne Duncan—This is What’s “Pretty Scary” to Parents, Teachers and Students | Nancy Bailey's Education Website
Arne Duncan—This is What’s “Pretty Scary” to Parents, Teachers and Students | Nancy Bailey's Education Website: Posted on April 2, 2014 by Nancy BaileyPosted on November 18, 2013 and updated for April 2, 2014 by Nancy BaileyLast November I wrote about why parents worried about Arne Duncan, who stands in support of Common Core State Standards. It was after he said, in reference to the standards,  “
FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Wednesday, April 2, 2014
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: EdSource: How budget cuts and PTA fundraising undermined equity in San Francisco public schoolsEducation HeadlinesWednesday, April 2, 2014FCMAT provides links to California K-12 news stories as a service to the industry. However, some stories may not be accessible because of newspapers' subscription policies.EdSource: How budget cuts and PTA
Zombie Ideas and Conventional Wisdom: Why NYC’s School “Reform” Matters to the Rest of Us | janresseger
Zombie Ideas and Conventional Wisdom: Why NYC’s School “Reform” Matters to the Rest of Us | janresseger: Zombie Ideas and Conventional Wisdom: Why NYC’s School “Reform” Matters to the Rest of UsPosted on April 2, 2014 by janressegerPaul Krugman, the Princeton University economist and NY Times columnist, wrote a columnearlier this week about myths in economics.  He calls them “zombie ideas.”  Here
Morning Wink 4-2-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-2-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: How to Locate United Opt OutAs you may know, the website for United Opt Out was hacked yesterday, and many of its internal files were destroyed. What you will find if you go there is a “ghost sit




LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-3-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

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





What Educators Say About the Common Core Tests
On the new website testingtalk.org, educators are venting their rage at tests that are developmentally inappropriate and overly technical in their approach to reading. Go to the website to read more comments. Here is one principal: http://testingtalk.org/response/day-3-grades-3-5 Day 3 of the Common Core NYS ELA is absurd. The third grade test includes an excerpt from a book that, according to Sch

Arne’s PR Guy Wants to Go on Tour with Me But I Want to Debate Arne or Bill
Valerie Strauss received an odd April Fool’s column, allegedly written by her, announcing that Peter Cunningham, known as Arne Duncan’s mouthpiece or his brain, had had a conversion experience, has turned against the Race to the Top policies, and plans to go on tour with me to explain why we now are on the same page. Valerie checked with him, and he is game. Now, I admit I like Peter even though

“A Tale of Two States”: Funding Inequity in New York and New Jersey
A new report by the Education Law Center, the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, the Alliance for Quality Education, and the Public Policy and Education Fund of New York contrasts the funding of public education in New York and New Jersey and finds two different worlds in two neighboring states: On opposite sides of the Hudson River, New York and New Jersey stand only a mile apart. But when it comes to
Pelto: A Very Bad Day in Connecticut
Jonathan Pelto writes here that yesterday was a very bad day for public education in Connecticut. The State Board of Education voted to hand out $80-100 million over five years to privately managed charters, most known for excluding the neediest kids. And they voted full steam ahead on Common Core, pet project of the corporate elite, guaranteed to increase testing and costs of hardware, software

Greg Taranto: Be a Hero, Slay the Testing Beast
Greg Taranto, principal of Canonsburg Middle School, was named was named 2012 Middle Level Principal of the Year by the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals. He now joins our Honor Roll for his courage in speaking up for students and good education.   Taranto says that testing is out of control, it is absurdly expensive, draining resources from schools, and of cou


UCLA Report: New York Has the Nation’s Most Segregated Schools
According to the UCLA Civil Rights Project, New York State has the most segregated public schools in the nation. Nearly three-quarters of the charter schools in New York City are considered “apartheid schools” because less than 1% of their enrollment is white. Charters are often more racially segregated than the district in which they are located.   2014 marks the sixtieth anniversary of the landm
Julian Vasquez Heilig: Why Not Tell the Truth about Charters?
San Antonio is set for a major expansion of privately managed charter schools. Several national chains will open there, welcomed by the mayor and the business community. The San Antonio Express News published an opinion column by an advocate for the corporate charter chains, but refused to print Professor Julian Vasquez Heilig’s succinct rebuttal. Despite the blue-sky promises of the charter indu
Who Supports Common Core?
We have heard constant patter about who opposes Common Core. According to Arne Duncan, only the Tea Party and a few disgruntled cranks oppose it. But more interesting is who supports Common Core. Aside from Arne Duncan and the organizations that created it, Common Core has the fervent support of Jeb Bush, Michelle Rhee, a dozen hard-right Republican governors, and corporate America. Erin Osborne
How Texas Moms Beat Back the Standardized Testing Machine
Jeffrey Weiss has a terrific story in the Dallas Morning News about the Texas moms who beat the powerful testing lobby. Whenever anyone says that democracy can’t defeat the plutocrats, think of Texans Advocating for Meaningful,State Assessment. they said, “Enough is enough.” And they got busy. The moms not only organized an effective opposition to Pearson’s lobbyists, they changed the minds of l


LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-2-14 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 to Locate United Opt OutAs you may know, the website for United Opt Out was hacked yesterday, and many of its internal files were destroyed. What you will find if you go there is a “ghost site,” not the real thing. In the meanwhile, here is an alternative site to visit as efforts to reatore the original continue: “Diane – do yo




4-3-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL:








April’s Best Tweets — Part One
Every month I make a few short lists highlighting my choices of the best resources I through (and learned from) Twitter, but didn’t necessarily include them in posts here on my blog. I’ve already shared in earlier posts several new resources I found on Twitter — and where I gave credit to those from whom I learned about them. Those are not included again in post. If you don’t use Twitter, you can


Wow! The NY Times’ “Time Machine” Is One Wild “This Day In History” Site
The New York Times has unveiled a “Time Machine” feature that lets you read online what appears to be most (or, at least, many) pages of every edition they’ve published. Plus, you can print out PDF’s of the articles — at least, for the ones on the front page. Unfortunately, it says you have to be a home or digital subscriber to The Times in order to access the feature. I wonder if they might ever

One Of The Worst Tweets I Read This Week Came From The Gates Foundation
It’s been a rather long week — I always know I teach at a 100% free breakfast and lunch comprehensive high schools, but there are some weeks I really know it. This was one of those latter weeks, with many challenges facing our students coming to the forefront. One pleasant thought I had though, after our staff meeting was this one: At least this year, most of our students here in California don’t
Here Is The Simple Outline I’m Having My TOK Students Use For Their Oral Presentation
I’ve previously posted about my questions and ideas related to the new changes in the required International Baccalaureate Theory of Knowledge Presentation (see “The Times They Are a-Changin’”…For IB Theory Of Knowledge Oral Presentations), and invited other teachers to weigh-in, too. In that post, I shared a downloadable version of the new TOK Presentation Planning Document, as well as links to


The Vergara Lawsuit Fixes Nothing & Can Make Things Worse
A decision on the Vergara v. California should be announced in the next few months (see The Best Resources On California Court Case Attacking Teacher’s Rights). Josh Eidelson interviews Linda Darling-Hammond about the case in Salon. Here’s an excerpt:


Free Resources From All My Books
I have many free resources, including excerpts and student hand-outs, available from all my books. Clicking on the covers will lead you to them (and look for two new books being published over the next eighteen months — one will be the third volume in my student motivation “trilogy” , and the other will a new book on teaching English Language Learners):    
Video: “English Is Crazy”
Resources On The Genocide In Rwanda
This weekend is the twentieth anniversary of the beginning of the genocide that took place in Rwanda. You might be interested in the following “Best” lists: The Best Sites To Learn About Genocide In Rwanda The Best Web Resources On Darfur The Best Sites For Learning About The Holocaust The Best Resources For Learning About Genocide
4-2-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Bus Boycott “Choose Your Own Adventure” GameThe National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis is reopening this weekend after a $28 million renovation (see the NY Times article, From Slave Ship Shackles to the Mountaintop). That’s great news for people who live nearby or who can travel there for a visit. Unfortunately, it doesn’t




4-3-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher

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







Not capitol facts. Mid Day report.
Who knows what will happen by the end of today. Early reports yesterday were that Rahm’s pension theft, which made its appearance late in the morning, would be on Squeezy’s desk by sun down. I was told that by veteran Springfield observers. But a few hours later it became clear that was not going to happen. Madigan didn’t have the votes. Not enough Republicans would agree to the property tax comp


Ten minute drawing. Sometimes the union label is not enough.



The value of the Jay Travis run and who gets to sit next to Christine Boardman at the next WAO lunch meeting.
Jay Travis. We wil see today if Michael Madigan twisted enough arms, as a Springfield observer said to me yesterday, to give Rahm his pension theft. If it did we will see another court battle. Wasn’t it fascinating to hear the Sun-Times Springfield reporter Dave McKinney on Chicago Tonight last evening? … Some legislators are nervous about voting for Rahm’s pension-busting bill because of Jay Tra




4-2-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher
Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: What the hell is wrong with SEIU’s Christine Boardman?Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Jesse Sharkey. The union response to Rahm Emanuel’s attack on public employee pensions was swift and tough. At least from most of the union leadership representing affected pension members. Bill Dougherty of th