Thursday, July 10, 2014

Morning Wink 7-10-14 AM Posts #edchat #edreform


BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS




LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-10-14 Diane Ravitch's blog #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Reader: That Nonsensical Moratorium on High-StakesThe Gates Foundation called for a two-year suspension of the high stakes evaluation of teachers–ratings and rankings tied to student scores—but not a moratorium on the testing. A reader writes: “If there is a moratorium on the evaluations connected to the tests, then there is no poi
by mike simpson / 0min 
7-10-14 Wait What? - Jonathan Pelto: Gubernatorial Candidate and A Really Nice Guy
Wait What?: Wait What? All WeekStep #1 – Dump the Common Core and its testing maniaStep #2 – Focus on properly funding our schools and helping children overcome the educational challenges associated with poverty, language barriers and unmet special education needs. “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense [or wasteful education reform industry junk] than on
by mike simpson / 3min 
7-10-14 Schools Matter All Week
Schools Matter: Weingarten Riding High on Teacher Union DuesMercedes Schneider has another solid piece on the secret society memberships and sordid political machinations of Rhonda (aka Randi) Weingarten, the corporate manufactured president of the AFT.  Seems that Randi recently plunked down 30K to join and another 100K promised every year to wine and dine with ostensibly liberal billionaires.  Y
by mike simpson / 5min 
7-10-14 Jersey Jazzman Jammin' All Week
Jersey Jazzman: Teacher Evaluation and the Illusion of PrecisionI testified before the NJ State Board of Education today about our year-old teacher evaluation system, AchieveNJ -- aka Operation Hindenburg. Time was limited to five minutes, so I focused on something I hope to be exploring more fully this month: the illusion of precision found in teacher evaluations.For now, here's today's testimony
by mike simpson / 7min 
7-10-14 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School: Texas In The Vanguard Of The Anti-Common Core MovementTexas never jumped on the CCSS bandwagon, but the vehemence of this opposition is interesting:AUSTIN — Attorney General Greg Abbott’s gubernatorial campaign turned up the rhetoric against federal education standards Monday, soliciting donations with a fiery call to arms that “We must crush Common Core.”“Help Greg Abbott e
by mike simpson / 10min 
empathyeducates – The Dirty, Little Secret in America’s Education Wars? Money Matters
empathyeducates – The Dirty, Little Secret in America’s Education Wars? Money Matters: The Dirty, Little Secret in America’s Education Wars? Money MattersPhotograph; From left to right: Five year old Taylor Weber, in pink in middle, helps her older brother Andrew Weber, 8, right in green, hold up a protest sign they made by hand. The two go to Hutchinson Elementary School in Lakewood and are on a
by mike simpson / 13min 
Marie Corfield: Educators stand up, speak out, fight back: NJBOE Testimony Part l
Marie Corfield: Educators stand up, speak out, fight back: NJBOE Testimony Part l: Educators stand up, speak out, fight back: NJBOE Testimony Part lYesterday was an NJEA Lobby Day at the NJ State Board of Education, and as usual, our members didn't disappoint. There was a good crowd, among which were many first-time speakers. I'm proud to be part of an association that includes so many articulate
by mike simpson / 17min 
NEA Repudiates Arne Duncan, Demands America Pay Closer Attention | janresseger
NEA Repudiates Arne Duncan, Demands America Pay Closer Attention | janresseger: NEA Repudiates Arne Duncan, Demands America Pay Closer AttentionPosted on July 10, 2014 by janressegerIt shouldn’t really be surprising that the delegates at the National Education Association’s recent convention passed a resolution calling on U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to resign.Arne Duncan, through regul
by mike simpson / 19min 
An Urban Teacher's Education: On Shutting Teachers Up
An Urban Teacher's Education: On Shutting Teachers Up: On Shutting Teachers UpNothing but net for Nancy Flanagan the other day in her post over at Teacher in a Strange Landentitled, "Shutting Teachers Up."She writes, "When practitioners aren't allowed to openly share their critical perspectives, they lose the ability to speak their own truths and use first-hand experience as a lever
by mike simpson / 27min 
Study: Teacher associations in Georgia among nation's weakest | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com
Study: Teacher associations in Georgia among nation's weakest | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: Study: Teacher associations in Georgia among nation's weakest Previous PostsGet ready: Goodbye CRCT and EOCT. Hello Georgia Milestones. July 9, 2014Which districts get best return on education spending? Gwinnett at top. Atlanta near bottom.July 9, 2014Money matters: More than one in six US teens confused ab
by mike simpson / 29min 
Data is Fool’s Gold of the Common Core | WagTheDog
Data is Fool’s Gold of the Common Core | WagTheDog: Data is Fool’s Gold of the Common CoreTeachers should strive to meet the individual needs of their students, not the “needs” of standards or tests. There should be high academic expectations for all students, but to expect everyone, regardless of ability/disability, to meet those standards simultaneously and in the same way is foolish and inheren
by mike simpson / 31min 
SKrashen: Literacy Education: Need We Start Early?
SKrashen: Literacy Education: Need We Start Early?: Literacy Education: Need We Start Early?Stephen KrashenLanguage and Language Teaching, Vol 3, number 2, issue 6: pp 1-7. 2014Most people are convinced that children will have a powerful head start in reading if they are introduced to sounds and letters well before they start school. The conclusions of this paper are these: For the development of
by mike simpson / 33min 
By getting it half right feds get it all wrong :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet
By getting it half right feds get it all wrong :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: JULY 10, 2014By getting it half right feds get it all wrongby Lee FunkAfter taking a step forward by incorporating student outcomes into the accountability index for students with disabilities, the Office of Special Education Programs promptly took a gigantic lea
by mike simpson / 35min 
Report urges more active state role in Common Core | EdSource
Report urges more active state role in Common Core | EdSource: CREDIT: ALISON YIN FOR EDSOURCEThe Common Core State Standards require non-fiction books in subjects such as history and science, as seen in this Oakland, Calif., classroom.Report urges more active state role in Common CoreJuly 9, 2014 | By John Fensterwald | 1 Comment SHARE THIS ARTICLEThe move to local control under the state’s new
by mike simpson / 43min 
Still Waiting in Lines, Nine Years Later | Crazy Crawfish's Blog
Still Waiting in Lines, Nine Years Later | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: Crazy Crawfish's BlogZesty Louisiana Education PoliticsStill Waiting in Lines, Nine Years LaterPosted on July 10, 20140crazycrawfish:One of the tragic truths behind all the hype about choice. Congrats to all tbe Reformers for extending the tragedy of Katrina out 9 years later and still going. I can’t wait till i can queue in lines a
by mike simpson / 48min 
http://www.southbronxschool.com
http://www.southbronxschool.com: Sam Pirozzolo Loves Money From UnionsMona Davids has been in the news lately due to her publicity seeking, attention seeking lawsuit to have a judge declare tenure and seniority unconstitutional.She has been dissected, but not vilified, hereand here. But she is not alone in this.Where every Kirk has his Spock, every Laurel his Hardy, ever Frick his Frack, every Lav
by mike simpson / 51min 
NYC Educator: Battle of the Titans
NYC Educator: Battle of the Titans: Battle of the TitansIn California, a bunch of rich guys got together and pushed a lawsuit designed to shoot teacher tenure right smack between the eyes. After all, if you can't get the law changed, you go wherever your wallet takes you. So in the case of Vergara they've won for the moment, and those awful teachers will have fewer job protections if appeals aren'
by mike simpson / 55min 
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: More fudging the numbers on Chicago's horrific gun violence
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: More fudging the numbers on Chicago's horrific gun violence: More fudging the numbers on Chicago's horrific gun violenceGwen Ifill interviews Chicago Tonight's Paris Shutz on the PBS News Hourabout the city's killing fields, after the horrible July 4th weekend when 82 people were shot, 14 fatally. Nobody seems to have a handle on the actual numbers from that weekend
by mike simpson / 58min 

YESTERDAY

Geaux Teacher!: THIS is CHOICE in the New Orleans RSD Charter Takeover
Geaux Teacher!: THIS is CHOICE in the New Orleans RSD Charter Takeover: THIS is CHOICE in the New Orleans RSD Charter TakeoverToday, New Orleans parent Fiyah Like Ayanna posted the following plea for attention on Facebook. Fiyah showed up to place her child on the Recovery School District Lottery list hoping, she says, for a "B or C school."  (Why not an "A" school?)  This was
by mike simpson / 12h 
Join National Campaign to Put Focus of Public Education on Student Learning | Dennis Van Roekel
Join National Campaign to Put Focus of Public Education on Student Learning | Dennis Van Roekel: Join National Campaign to Put Focus of Public Education on Student LearningThe average American student and teacher now spend about 30 percent of the school year preparing for and taking standardized tests. This is time that schools could use to achieve their primary purpose of educating students. Inst
by mike simpson / 13h 
First English Framework Based On Common Core - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)
First English Framework Based On Common Core - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces State Adoption of First English Framework Based on Common CoreSACRAMENTO—California teachers have new guidance in teaching English language arts under the Common Core State Standards with additional support for English learners, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom
by mike simpson / 13h 
The Big Brain of the Right on American Exceptionalism | Bill Ayers
The Big Brain of the Right on American Exceptionalism | Bill Ayers: The Big Brain of the Right on American ExceptionalismDavid Brooks, the moderate “human face” of the plutocrats and its dangerous fang faction within the Repulsican Party, trumpeted the need for “a national greatness agenda” in his New York Times column and managed to evoke a grotesquely mangled and romanticized image of the Black
by mike simpson / 14h 
NYC Public School Parents: Audit on school overcrowding released today confirms our findings that the crisis is getting worse
NYC Public School Parents: Audit on school overcrowding released today confirms our findings that the crisis is getting worse: Audit on school overcrowding released today confirms our findings that the crisis is getting worseToday's Daily News, and no that it not me screaming in facepaint.Today's audit from the City Comptroller reinforces the findings in our recent report,Space Crunch, showing tha
by mike simpson / 14h 
Nite Cap 7-9-14 #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 CAP7-9-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacherFred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Greg Hinz. Rauner and Quinn and Stroger and Madigan.- Greg Hinz If you put tog
by mike simpson / 16h 
7-9-14 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.: Greg Hinz. Rauner and Quinn and Stroger and Madigan.- Greg Hinz If you put together a list of Illinois politicians whom Bruce Rauner would be least likely to funnel campaign cash to, Chicago’s Stroger clan and Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan would be right at the top. The late John Stroger and
by mike simpson / 16h 
solidaridad: 'Crenshaw' documents what education reform monsters like Deasy do to schools with black students
solidaridad: 'Crenshaw' documents what education reform monsters like Deasy do to schools with black students: 'Crenshaw' documents what education reform monsters like Deasy do to schools with black studentsFrom Filmmaker Lena Jackson. Please forward widely:Please join us for the first Los Angeles screening of Crenshaw at the Southern California Library this Thursday, July 10th at 6:30pm. The even
by mike simpson / 16h 
1,000 LCAPs later, let’s hope we learn something | EdSource
1,000 LCAPs later, let’s hope we learn something | EdSource: 1,000 LCAPs later, let’s hope we learn somethingJuly 9, 2014 | By Carrie Hahnel / commentary | No Comments SHARE THIS ARTICLESOURCE: EDUCATION TRUST-WESTCarrie HahnelAs districts completed their first-ever Local Control and Accountability Plans this spring, the caveat “this is a learning year” became their oft-shared refrain. Now that m
by mike simpson / 16h 
Teacher Tenure | Deborah Meier on Education
Teacher Tenure | Deborah Meier on Education: Teacher TenurePosted on July 9, 2014 by debmeierdebmeier:My son’s latest blog on the teacher tenure issueOriginally posted on Nicholas Meier:There was a recent lower court ruling against so-called “Teacher Tenure” here in California. I am really not sure about the extent of the ruling, but the general verdict was that “tenure” was unfair to providing an
by mike simpson / 17h 
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Banda asks Duncan to allow SPS Waiver
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Banda asks Duncan to allow SPS Waiver: Banda asks Duncan to allow SPS WaiverFrom Superintendent Banda:Dear Seattle Public Schools community,Over the last several years we have made great strides in ensuring our students graduate ready for success in college, career and life. However, much work remains to ensure that each and every student has the academic and commu
by mike simpson / 17h 
At AFT Convention teachers union expected to fire up the base
At AFT Convention teachers union expected to fire up the base: At AFT convention, teachers union expected to fire up the basePosted on July 9, 2014 1:36 pm by Vanessa RomoRandi Weingarten, AFT PresidentThe American Federation of Teachers (AFT) kicks off itsannual convention in downtown Los Angeles tomorrow bringing more 3,500 national union delegates to the home ofLA Unified, the second largest sc
by mike simpson / 17h 
All Things Education: Not your mother's PE class
All Things Education: Not your mother's PE class: Not your mother's PE classMy sons are headed to middle school next year. They are disappointed (as am I) that there won't be recess, however, they are excited that they will have PE for a 90-minute block every other day. A few days prior to the end of their fifth grade year, I had been discussing this with a few other parents and some of their olde
by mike simpson / 19h 
Russ on Reading: Thinking about Critical Thinking, Common Core and Vergara
Russ on Reading: Thinking about Critical Thinking, Common Core and Vergara: Thinking about Critical Thinking, Common Core and VergaraRecent headlines have me thinking about critical thinking.House Speaker John Boehner Wants to Sue the PresidentSarah Palin Says, “Impeach the President.”Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Praises the Vergara DecisionReading some of these pronouncements makes me think
by mike simpson / 19h 
TO FINALLY FIX PUBLIC EDUCATION- IS TIMELY REGRESSION A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO EQUALLY FAILED CONCEPTS OF SOCIAL PROMOTION OR RETENTION? - Perdaily.com
TO FINALLY FIX PUBLIC EDUCATION- IS TIMELY REGRESSION A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO EQUALLY FAILED CONCEPTS OF SOCIAL PROMOTION OR RETENTION? - Perdaily.com: TO FINALLY FIX PUBLIC EDUCATION- IS TIMELY REGRESSION A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO EQUALLY FAILED CONCEPTS OF SOCIAL PROMOTION OR RETENTION?(Mensaje se repite en Espaรฑol)Between dishonest social promotion of students without prior and current grade-leve
by mike simpson / 19h 
One Compliant County in Florida and its New 724 Tests |
One Compliant County in Florida and its New 724 Tests |: One Compliant County in Florida and its New 724 Tests Beginning this fall, in Collier County Florida as per the state of Florida’s new teacher accountability policy, district teachers/administrators are to create new tests for each and every class it offers (including all electives) to hold all teachers accountable for the value they purport
by mike simpson / 20h 
How Much Do Reformers Think Job Security Is Worth To Teachers? | Paul Bruno
How Much Do Reformers Think Job Security Is Worth To Teachers? | Paul Bruno: How Much Do Reformers Think Job Security Is Worth To Teachers?By PAUL BRUNO | Published: JULY 9, 2014A couple of weeks back at This Week in Education I tried to explain why the Vergara decision in California doesn’t have easily-predictable major consequences, even if you hand-wave away all of the inevitable legal wranglin
by mike simpson / 20h 
What a “free press”–pause here for laughter–means to Newark: Cowardice | Bob Braun's Ledger
What a “free press”–pause here for laughter–means to Newark: Cowardice | Bob Braun's Ledger: What a “free press”–pause here for laughter–means to Newark: CowardiceNJTV–wimping outFor the first time in nearly two centuries, Newark–the largest city in the eighth largest state in America–will not be home to a daily newspaper. After Sept. 8, The Star-Ledger will move its operations to Woodbridge and E
by mike simpson / 20h 
The Answer Sheet 7-9-14
Answer Sheet: Will the FCC ignore educators in modernizing key U.S. technology program?This post is a rebuttal to one that I published a few days ago about the federal “E-Rate” program — which offers discounts for schools and libraries to get Internet access and telecommunications — under the headline “A watershed moment for technology in education.” The earlier piece was co-written by Julius Gena
by mike simpson / 21h 
7-9-14 The Whole Child Blog — Keeping a Hidden Population Safe at School
The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education: Keeping a Hidden Population Safe at SchoolWhat percent of students is it okay to let feel unsafe at school? 0 percent 1 percent 5 percent 10 percent You, like me, probably answered zero percent. As an educator dedicated to a whole child approach to education, you recognize the value of each and every learner. What if I told you we have allowed (albeit
by mike simpson / 21h 
Kristal Clear on Common Core: And This Fat Lady Sings
Kristal Clear on Common Core: And This Fat Lady Sings: And This Fat Lady SingsThis is customer service nowadays and it is also what it feels like when you call the Capitol and attempt to voice constituent concerns with legislators, Governors and policy directors -- DEAF EARS!!  Even those "good" politicians (which there are not very many) compromise when push comes to shove and or get ov
by mike simpson / 21h 
HOW TO ENTICE THE BEST TEACHERS TO WORK IN HIGH-POVERTY CLASSROOMS | Teachers Fight Back
HOW TO ENTICE THE BEST TEACHERS TO WORK IN HIGH-POVERTY CLASSROOMS | Teachers Fight Back: HOW TO ENTICE THE BEST TEACHERS TO WORK IN HIGH-POVERTY CLASSROOMSleave a comment »The Obama administration is ordering states to devise strategies to get better teachers into high-poverty classrooms.  The Education Department is directing every state to devise a plan by April 2015 to get more good teachers i
by mike simpson / 21h 
7-9-14 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): Morning Read: Overpaid Centinela Valley superintendent firedCentinela Valley school board fires embattled Superintendent Jose Fernandez The Centinela Valley school board Tuesday night voted to fire Superintendent Jose Fernandez, ending a five-month chapter that began with revelations that the leader of th
by mike simpson / 21h 
Evangelical Christian clubs coming to Portland-area public schools, opposition says curriculum is 'hardcore fundamentalist indoctrination' | OregonLive.com
Evangelical Christian clubs coming to Portland-area public schools, opposition says curriculum is 'hardcore fundamentalist indoctrination' | OregonLive.com: Evangelical Christian clubs coming to Portland-area public schools, opposition says curriculum is 'hardcore fundamentalist indoctrination' Hundreds of Portland-area residents are organizing to stop a network of Christian clubs from proselytizi
by mike simpson / 22h 
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 7-9-14
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: California Court: CORRUPTION IS NOT SUFFICIENT REASON TO CLOSE A HIGH-SCORING CHARTER SCHOOLBy Diane Ravitch, from her blog | http://is.gd/Ar1v9e July 6, 2014  ::  For a few years, the American Indian Model Charter Schools in Oakland, California, were the most celebrated charter schools in the nation, beloved especially by the conservative and rightwing
by mike simpson / 22h 
What Would Mark Twain Have Thought of Common Core Testing? - David Perrin - The Atlantic
What Would Mark Twain Have Thought of Common Core Testing? - David Perrin - The Atlantic: What Would Mark Twain Have Thought of Common Core Testing?In his autobiography and in Tom Sawyer, the author skewered the test-centered teaching of his day. It's not hard to imagine what he would have thought about an exam that grades student essays via computer.I've been teaching high school English in Illin
by mike simpson / 22h 
What’s Obama’s Problem With School Choice? - Gov. Bobby Jindal and Gov. Scott Walker - POLITICO Magazine
What’s Obama’s Problem With School Choice? - Gov. Bobby Jindal and Gov. Scott Walker - POLITICO Magazine: What’s Obama’s Problem With School Choice?By GOV. BOBBY JINDAL and GOV. SCOTT WALKER July 08, 2014Koch BrothersWhy would the federal Department of Justice cite the Civil Rights Act and the specter of segregation to try and block a school choice program where more than nine in 10 participants c
by mike simpson / 22h 
A view of the future through kindergarten demographics | Pew Research Center
A view of the future through kindergarten demographics | Pew Research Center: A view of the future through kindergarten demographicsBY JENS MANUEL KROGSTADLEAVE A COMMENTToday’s kindergartners offer a glimpse of tomorrow’s demographics. A new data analysis by Pew Research Center finds a big increase over the past decade in the number of states where at least one-in-five public school kindergartner
by mike simpson / 22h 
Teacher Quality And The Decline In Teachers of Color - The Jose Vilson
Teacher Quality And The Decline In Teachers of Color - The Jose Vilson: Teacher Quality And The Decline In Teachers of Color This morning, I came across this article on Huffington Post (I know, I know, hear me out, though) and thought I should ask questions about President Obama’s initiative to enforce former President George W. Bush’s mandates for “excellent teachers” to stay in the highest-need
by mike simpson / 23h 
Clowns In The Tent, Oh My!
The Camel's Nose In The Tent.The Camel's Nose In The Tent.One cold night, as an Arab sat in his tent, a camel gently thrust his nose under the flap and looked in. "Master," he said, "let me put my nose in your tent. It's cold and stormy out here." "By all means," said the Arab, "and welcome" as he turned over and went to sleep.A little later the Arab awoke t
by mike simpson / 23h 
Organizing and Action | educationalchemy
Organizing and Action | educationalchemy: Organizing and ActionI have created (see link at here chart3 and at end of blog) a chart that may help folks in thinking through how to organize effective resistance to ed reform and crafting meaningful and effective alternatives to current education policies. My motivation to create this came from my own frustrations with a few things:1) Where to begin? S
by mike simpson / 23h 
Morning Wink 7-9-14 AM Posts #edchat #edreform
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-9-14 Diane Ravitch's blog #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: “Data Is Fool’s Gold of the Common Core”Common Core standards are usually described in the mainstream media in idealistic terms, using the positive and affirmative messages to sell the idea to the public. Doesn’t
by mike simpson / 1d 




Posted by at

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-10-14 Diane Ravitch's blog #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2

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





An Update on My Knee Injury
Thanks to all those who have inquired about my health. I was on Long Island in a remote location, no one nearby, when I tripped and landed on my left knee on April 5. I was alone, had no cell phone, and had to drag myself inch by inch into the house to reach a phone. Within minutes, the town’s fire department and police officers arrived to put me in a stretcher and take me to the localhospital. On
1 by dianeravitch / 43min 

The Facts About Corporate Education Reform in Denver
Jeanne Kaplan recently retired as an elected member of the Denver school board. She has started her own blog where she will keep track of education in Denver. Here is her inaugural post, where she lays out the facts about “reform” in Denver. The biggest “success” has been the steady increase in privately managed charter schools, most of which get free public space. The educational gains are harde
by dianeravitch / 4min


Laura Chapman: Trouble Ahead for Higher Education from ALEC, Gates, Duncan
Laura Chapman writes in response to a post about OECD ratings for higher education in different nations based on ability of adults to answer standardized test questions. This comes as the U.S. Department of Education has declared its intention to rate, rank, and evaluate colleges and universities by a variety of criteria, then to tie funding to ratings. That is, to bring the data-based decision ma
10 by dianeravitch / 44min 

Reader: That Nonsensical Moratorium on High-Stakes
The Gates Foundation called for a two-year suspension of the high stakes evaluation of teachers–ratings and rankings tied to student scores—but not a moratorium on the testing. A reader writes: “If there is a moratorium on the evaluations connected to the tests, then there is no point in continuing the tests either since the sole purpose of the tests was to attempt to measure growth for the purpo
8 by dianeravitch / 39min hide  //  save
Akron Beacon-Journal: Why So Many Turkish Gulen Charter Schools in Ohio?
Could it be those free trips to Turkey for key legislators? One of the curious aspects of the charter movement, beloved by both Republicans and the Obama administration, is the growth of Gulen charter schools. These are schools associated with a reclusive Turkish imam named Fetullah Gulen who lives in the Poconos but leads a vigorous political movement in Turkey. The Gulen schools have a board of
11 by dianeravitch / 1h 
NPE Endorses Valerie Wilson for State Superintendent in Georgia
This comes from the website of the Network for Public Education: Fight for public ed. in GA to be decided in July 22 run-off. Support Valarie Wilson for GA State Superintendent. On July 22, the run-off for Georgia State School Superintendent will be decided. Valarie Wilson, NPE’s endorsed candidate and the past-president of the Georgia School Boards Association, was the top vote-getter in the May
1 by dianeravitch / 2h 
The Excellent But False Messaging of the Common Core Standards
Have you ever wondered about the amazingly effective campaign to sell the Common Core standards to the media, the business community, and the public? How did it happen that advocates for the standards used the same language, the same talking points, the same claims, no matter where they were located? The talking points sounded poll-tested because they were. The language was the same because it cam
100+ by dianeravitch / 3h 


LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-9-14 Diane Ravitch's blog #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: “Data Is Fool’s Gold of the Common Core”Common Core standards are usually described in the mainstream media in idealistic terms, using the positive and affirmative messages to sell the idea to the public. Doesn’t everyone want “high standards?” Doesn’t everyone want every single student to be “college and career ready?” Doesn’t eve
by mike simpson / 7h 




Posted by at

7-10-14 Wait What? - Jonathan Pelto: Gubernatorial Candidate and A Really Nice Guy

Wait What?:



Wait What? All Week





Step #1 – Dump the Common Core and its testing mania

Step #2 – Focus on properly funding our schools and helping children overcome the educational challenges associated with poverty, language barriers and unmet special education needs. “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense [or wasteful education reform industry junk] than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual […] The post Step #1 – Dump the
14 by jonpelto / 2h 


7-9-14 Wait What? - Jonathan Pelto: Gubernatorial Candidate and A Really Nice Guy
Wait What?: Wait What? All WeekWhy won’t UConn simply tell the truth?According to today’s Hartford Courant, the University of Connecticut has returned the public stage, again, to claim that no taxpayer or student funds were used to pay for Hillary Clinton’s $251,000 speaking fee, for Governor Dannel “Dan” Malloy’s trip to Switzerland and China or for the 7,000 square foot house that the UConn Foun
by mike simpson / 7h 


Posted by at

7-10-14 Schools Matter All Week

Schools Matter:









Weingarten Riding High on Teacher Union Dues
Mercedes Schneider has another solid piece on the secret society memberships and sordid political machinations of Rhonda (aka Randi) Weingarten, the corporate manufactured president of the AFT.  Seems that Randi recently plunked down 30K to join and another 100K promised every year to wine and dine with ostensibly liberal billionaires.  Your union dues at work!Not that Rhonda couldn't afford to pa
2 by Jim Horn / 1h 






7-9-14 Schools Matter All Week
Schools Matter: A Teacher's Take on Common CoreFrom Labor Notes:. . . .There’s debate among teachers about the idea of replacing the status quo, state standards, with national ones. But the implementation has been roundly unpopular.Forty-five states and the District of Columbia have adopted the national standards, which cover English and math. Students will be tested on them every year, kindergart
by mike simpson / 8h 
Posted by at

7-10-14 Jersey Jazzman Jammin' All Week

Jersey Jazzman:







New Report on the Consequences of Inadequately Funded Schools
Yesterday, the Education Law Center released a report they commissioned from yours truly about the consequences of inadequately funding school districts."Shortchanging New Jersey Students: How Inadequate Funding Has Led to Reduced Staff and Growing Disparities in the State’s Public Schools" is a look at how students are affected when the state refuses to meet its obligations and give sch
by Duke / 1min 


Teacher Evaluation and the Illusion of Precision
I testified before the NJ State Board of Education today about our year-old teacher evaluation system, AchieveNJ -- aka Operation Hindenburg. Time was limited to five minutes, so I focused on something I hope to be exploring more fully this month: the illusion of precision found in teacher evaluations.For now, here's today's testimony.* * *AchieveNJ, as currently constituted, is fundamentally flaw
100+ by Duke / 10h 






7-8-14 Jersey Jazzman Jammin' All Week
Jersey Jazzman: Thomas Piketty Has Eric Hanushek's NumberI'm just starting Thomas Piketty's Capital in the 21st Century, which puts me months behind the mass of American public intellectuals who were obsessing about the tome this spring, but will give me the advantage of being able to say I actually read the thing.Last night, I came across a quote that was so perfectly relevant to the current stat
by mike simpson / 6h 
Posted by at
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)