Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 8-28-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2

Nite Cap UPDATE

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE

CORPORATE ED REFORM

Keeping The Heart Of An Educator

I remember a story a good friend told me about her first year as an assistant principal. She worked with a teacher who frequently referred the same boy to the office for misbehavior. Although the boy (I’ll call him Billy) deserved the consequences he received, the teacher was convinced he was impossible to help and really wanted him out of her class. One day when the teacher had endured an especi

by William Parker / 9min 

MORE Moves Towards the Center

"MORE is a communist organization," someone said to me yesterday. And this not a from red-baiting Unity slug, but from someone who has run on the ICE and the MORE slates. I was even shocked to see a reader of this blog tweet the same thoughts. Shame on her.Would I and James Eterno and Mike Schirtzer and Julie Cavanagh, independent thinkers, be in a group think organization?I have fought

by ed notes online / 17min 

Jeffco board rejects fact finder recommendations, chair makes new compensation proposal

GOLDEN — Jeffco Public Schools teachers will continue to work under their 2013 compensation plan after the board of education here rejected the recommendations of a third party to provide salary bumps for teachers rated “partly effective.” Instead, teachers will receive retroactive pay increases later this fall after the Jeffco Board of Education settles the compensation matter at a later date. Th

by Nicholas Garcia / 58min 

Rethinking Schools- Teaching Ferguson

Teaching FergusonCompilation of blog posts and resources from Rethinking Schools,Teaching for Change, and Zinn Education Project From Teaching For Change:Teaching About Fergusonby Julian Hipkins IIICredit: ReutersAs the new school year begins, first and foremost on our minds and in our hearts will be the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Teachers may be faced with students' anger, fr

by Duane Campbell / 2min 

SIGN THIS Petition | Fire Superintendent John Deasy | Change.org

The students of the LAUSD have started this new school year amid chaos. First, the district ignored warning signs that it was not ready and pushed through the implementation of the MiSiS student management system. This resulted in the disruption of education for thousands of students. The district then showed an ignorance of the seriousness of the situation by

by Rene Diedrich / 50min 

The Murder of EZELL FORD Announces the Fear and Loathing of a Police State & Plutocracy by R. Diedrich

The story below is a tame account of what happened to a young black man with learning disabilities when he crossed paths with some of L.A's finest. In light of escalating concerns about the fate of students with IEPs at L.A. Schools, the issue is not just about race. Being black in this nation is no picnic but what is it like to be black, poor and disabled ?What this situation says about our

by Rene Diedrich / 1h

A School Isn't About Teaching Subjects, It's About Teaching Children | Frank Breslin

A School Isn't About Teaching Subjects, It's About Teaching Children | Frank Breslin: A School Isn't About Teaching Subjects, It's About Teaching Children A school is a sacred place. It reveres every child as a being of infinite worth and dignity, whatever his or her ability.A school is about teaching children the skills they need to prevail in a world that makes it difficult to keep one's bearing

by mike simpson / 25min 

The Last Internationale—Brilliant Young Rebel Rockers! | Bill Ayers

The Last Internationale—Brilliant Young Rebel Rockers! | Bill Ayers: The Last Internationale—Brilliant Young Rebel Rockers!Shortly after the legendary rebel singer Pete Seeger passed from this world, a friend passed on to me We Will Reign from The Last Internationale—and life came back into balance. Sad to say so long to Pete who’d provided so many sweet harmonies for many, many righteous campaign

by mike simpson / 1h 

Former L.A. schools official Aquino defends conduct over iPads contract - LA Times

Former L.A. schools official Aquino defends conduct over iPads contract - LA Times: Former L.A. schools official Aquino defends conduct over iPads contractJaime Aquino, left, then-deputy superintendent of L.A. Unified School District, with a teacher at an iPad training session in 2013. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)By HOWARD BLUMEcontact the reporter The former Los Angeles schools official at the c

by mike simpson / 1h 

JUST IN: Vergara ruling stands, judge rules in final review

JUST IN: Vergara ruling stands, judge rules in final review: JUST IN: Vergara ruling stands, judge rules in final reviewPosted on August 28, 2014 6:41 pm by Michael JanofskyThe judge in Vergara vs. California today released his final review of the case, affirming his preliminary decision in June, that five state statures governing teacher employment rules violate the California constitution by den

by mike simpson / 1h 

Join the the Pre-Hoosier Kids #DeserveBetter Twitter Rally Conference Call | Truth in American Education

Join the the Pre-Hoosier Kids #DeserveBetter Twitter Rally Conference Call | Truth in American Education: Join the the Pre-Hoosier Kids #DeserveBetter Twitter Rally Conference CallFiled in Uncategorized by Shane Vander Hart on August 28, 2014 • 0 Comments377Women on the Wall will be live in Texas tomorrow morning before and during Governor Mike Pence’s workshop at the Defending the American Dream

by mike simpson / 2h 

8-28-14 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE: About the radio showJoin Drs. Shaun Johnson and Tim Slekar LIVE Sundays at 6PM EST and Wednesdays at 7PM EST on Blog Talk Radio for progressive, pro-public education talk radio. Call in to speak live with Tim and Shaun during the show, (805) 727-7111. You can also listen to our Monday "Sunday-Replay" at 7PM EST, and re-broadcasts of the archives every Tuesday and Thursd

by mike simpson / 3h 

Video: My Six-minute WWL-TV Appearance Against Common Core | deutsch29

Video: My Six-minute WWL-TV Appearance Against Common Core | deutsch29: Video: My Six-minute WWL-TV Appearance Against Common CoreAugust 28, 2014On Saturday, August 23, 2014, I participated in a six-minute WWL-TV Eyewitness Morning News segment on the controversy surrounding the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in Louisiana. The link to the segment can be found at the end of this post.The segmen

by mike simpson / 3h 

LAO: State should revise mission of CDE :: SI&A Cabinet Report

LAO: State should revise mission of CDE :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: AUGUST 28, 2014LAO: State should revise mission of CDEby Tom Chorneau(Calif.) Lawmakers should consider revising the mission of the California Department of Education from one of school district regulator to more of a collaborative, service-based organization, the non-p

by mike simpson / 3h 

The same poo-poo in new bags. | Reclaim Reform

The same poo-poo in new bags. | Reclaim Reform: The same poo-poo in new bags.Posted on August 28, 2014by Ken PrevitiWhen Common Core State Standards (tests, texts and all) are given new CCSS “aligned” coverings by the state, does it matter?Florida Gov. Rick Scott played the “save us from big government control” game even as the newly branded state education standards, texts, programs, tests, gradi

by mike simpson / 3h 

Nite Cap 8-28-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT

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 CAPWhy Are You Silenced When You Oppose Common Core? | Missouri Education WatchdogWhy Are You Silenced When You Oppose Common Core? | Missouri Education Watchdog: Why Are You Silenced When You Oppose Common Core?(click on graphic to enlarge)The abov

by mike simpson / 4h 

Why Are You Silenced When You Oppose Common Core? | Missouri Education Watchdog

Why Are You Silenced When You Oppose Common Core? | Missouri Education Watchdog: Why Are You Silenced When You Oppose Common Core?(click on graphic to enlarge)The above was tweeted on August 27, 2014 and references Orwell’s writings on the threats to freedom.  Do you find it astounding that Common Core proponents are extremely vitriolic in their marginalization of parents who speak out (or even as

by mike simpson / 4h 

NYC Public School Parents: An open letter about class sizes of 35-36 in 2nd grade at PS 85 in Queens

NYC Public School Parents: An open letter about class sizes of 35-36 in 2nd grade at PS 85 in Queens: An open letter about class sizes of 35-36 in 2nd grade at PS 85 in QueensClass sizes last year in the early grades have steadily grown and last year were the largest in 15 years.  Unfortunately, the de Blasio administration has done nothing to reverse this damaging trend  -- despite specific promi

by mike simpson / 5h 

Welcome to Lily's (new and improved) Blackboard - Lily's Blackboard

Welcome to Lily's (new and improved) Blackboard - Lily's Blackboard: Welcome to Lily’s (new and improved) BlackboardAugust 27, 2014 by LilyCategories: GeneralIf you have been following Lily’s Blackboard for the past few years, you will be happy to see all the new features. If this is your first time here, Welcome!!!Here are some of the exciting new features you will find on the new site:First and

by mike simpson / 6h 

Let’s Get Gov. Mike Pence’s Attention Tomorrow via Twitter | Truth in American Education

Let’s Get Gov. Mike Pence’s Attention Tomorrow via Twitter | Truth in American Education: Let’s Get Gov. Mike Pence’s Attention Tomorrow via TwitterFiled in Common Core State Standards by Shane Vander Hart on August 28, 2014 • 0 CommentsForecast: Twitter Storm Brewin'  @GovPenceINTime for another Twitter rally.  Governor Mike Pence (R-IN) will be in Dallas, TX tomorrow(8/29/14) at the Defending th

by mike simpson / 7h 

A School Isn't About Teaching Subjects, It's About Teaching Children | Frank Breslin

A School Isn't About Teaching Subjects, It's About Teaching Children | Frank Breslin:

A School Isn't About Teaching Subjects, It's About Teaching Children

 A school is a sacred place. It reveres every child as a being of infinite worth and dignity, whatever his or her ability.

A school is about teaching children the skills they need to prevail in a world that makes it difficult to keep one's bearings.

It is about helping them develop belief in themselves and instilling trust in their own judgment to think for themselves.

It is about having them discover and appreciate the different cultures of the past and present, with their different ways of viewing the world, their different beliefs and values, their different ways of being human; and that these cultures may be able to teach us important things about ourselves that we, in our blindness, might never discern.

It is about suggesting that these beliefs and values are different, not better or worse, but different from those of their own; and that they can only be understood within their own time and place, as later generations will hopefully judge us as we were given the light to live our lives according to the truth as we saw it.

A school is a sanctuary where children can be put in touch with their inner selves to lay the foundations for a richer, deeper, and more meaningful existence.

It is a place where they are encouraged to question their assumptions and discover that their truths may or may not be shared by others.

It is where they can discover that the world is a much bigger place than their little corner of it; realize that what is, need not necessarily be; and that things can be changed if they have the courage to do so.

A school is not about teaching subjects, but about teaching children subjects.

Therein lies the whole art of teaching, and everything else is dust and ashes.

A school takes students from wherever it finds them and moves them forward as far as it can.

It provides an education that is not about possessing the "answers," but understanding the magnitude of the questions.

It creates an environment in which education is not learning more and more arguments about why one is right, but rather attaining more detachment from oneself to see the world in a broader perspective.

It endeavors to train each student to think, read, and write critically in order to think A School Isn't About Teaching Subjects, It's About Teaching Children | Frank Breslin:

The Last Internationale—Brilliant Young Rebel Rockers! | Bill Ayers

The Last Internationale—Brilliant Young Rebel Rockers! | Bill Ayers:

The Last Internationale—Brilliant Young Rebel Rockers!

Shortly after the legendary rebel singer Pete Seeger passed from this world, a friend passed on to me We Will Reign from The Last Internationale—and life came back into balance. Sad to say so long to Pete who’d provided so many sweet harmonies for many, many righteous campaigns gone by, but ecstatic to meet the newest phoenix rising from the old and laying down a powerful soundtrack for what lies ahead. Delila’s strikingly lucid voice, Edgey’s driving chords, Brad’s perfect beats mixed with a vision that synchronizes: it’s all such a stunning symmetry.

The Last Internationale picks up the torch carried in various places and at different times by Bob Marley and the Wailers, Nina Simone, Public Enemy, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Rage Against the Machine, and hundreds more. That torch is deployed here to illuminate the dark spaces of injustice as well as to light up a path toward freedom. The Last Internationale speaks with passion and intimacy to anarchists and guerrillas, to comrades-in-arms, to friends and strangers alike, tripping and running, busting out of jail—breaking all the entanglements that ensnare us, all the cotton wool that smothers us—searching out the rhythms of resistance, and deploying every one of the weapons within reach: truth-telling and courage, beauty and form, abiding patience and infinite perseverance, indignation, urgency, incitement, and mostly love. These power-house rebel-rockers hold the torch with renewed confidence and a sparkling fresh spirit.

We Will Reign overflows with emotional richness and humanity, challenges us to throw off the lifeless, unpleasant, and The Last Internationale—Brilliant Young Rebel Rockers! | Bill Ayers:

Former L.A. schools official Aquino defends conduct over iPads contract - LA Times

Former L.A. schools official Aquino defends conduct over iPads contract - LA Times:



Former L.A. schools official Aquino defends conduct over iPads contract

Jaime Aquino, left, then-deputy superintendent of L.A. Unified School District, with a teacher at an iPad training session in 2013. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

By HOWARD BLUMEcontact the reporter





 The former Los Angeles schools official at the center of scrutiny over the district's $1.3-billion iPad program said Thursday that he acted properly in his dealings with Pearson, the company that provided the curriculum on the devices.



Former Deputy Supt. Jaime Aquino worked for a Pearson subsidiary before joining the L.A. Unified School District. Critics have said that emails he exchanged with Pearson suggest that he was trying to steer the contract toward the multibillion-dollar, international firm. Aquino responded that his comments are being taken out of context.



Separately, the school district said it is looking into whether Aquino volated ethics rules in dealing at all with Pearson less than a year after he joined L.A. Unified.



Aquino, who left L.A. Unified at the end of last year, said that allegation is groundless as well. Aquino's comments to The Times were his first public attempt to address concerns that he may have acted inappropriately.



“I don't have anything to hide,” Aquino said. “I did everything by the book and always sought legal counsel.”



L.A. schools Supt. John Deasy suspended new purchases of iPads on Monday in response to concerns about the earlier bidding process and other issues. The $30-million iPad contract, approved by the board in June 2013, initially was expected to expand to about $500 million, with another $500 million spent on upgrading wireless access at campuses. So far, the district has spent about $61 million to purchase about 62,000 iPads.



Last week that effort suffered two blows. First came the draft of a critical report, obtained by The Times, from board member Monica Ratliff, who chaired a committee overseeing technology issues. Then came the release of emails, through the California Public Records Act requests, showing that, before the bidding process began, Deasy and Aquino had developed a close relationship with Apple and Pearson, the winning team.



In one email, Aquino wrote to Pearson representatives:



“I believe we would have to make sure that your bid is Former L.A. schools official Aquino defends conduct over iPads contract - LA Times:

THE WILD WEST IS BACK!

JUST IN: Vergara ruling stands, judge rules in final review

JUST IN: Vergara ruling stands, judge rules in final review:





JUST IN: Vergara ruling stands, judge rules in final review

Posted on August 28, 2014 6:41 pm by Michael Janofsky

The judge in Vergara vs. California today released his final review of the case, affirming his preliminary decision in June, that five state statures governing teacher employment rules violate the California constitution by denying students access to a quality public education.

In his final ruling, filed yesterday, Judge Rolf Treu, said, “plaintiffs have met their burden of proof on all issues presented.”

The decision effectively starts the clock for the defendants — the state and its two largest teachers unions, which joined the case — on whether to appeal. They have 60 days to decide.

Jim Finberg, a San Francisco-based lawyer who represented the unions — the California Federation of Teachers (CFT) and the California Teachers Association (CTA) — told LA School Report that the unions fully intend to appeal “and I fully anticipate that the state will appeal also.”

Treu’s ruling stops with his interpretation of the laws that involve tenure, dismissal and layoffs, leaving the ultimate remedy to the California legislature.

As he said in his decision, “All the court may do is apply constitutional principles of the law to the Challenged Statutes as it has done here, and trust the legislature to fulfill its mandated duty to enact legislation on the issues herein discussed, that passes constitutional muster, thus providing each child in this state with a basically equal opportunity to achieve a quality education.”

His preliminary ruling was hailed by that part of the education community, in California and beyond, that believes teachers should be held more accountable for the academic achievement of their students. The nine California students serving as JUST IN: Vergara ruling stands, judge rules in final review:

Join the the Pre-Hoosier Kids #DeserveBetter Twitter Rally Conference Call | Truth in American Education

Join the the Pre-Hoosier Kids #DeserveBetter Twitter Rally Conference Call | Truth in American Education:

Join the the Pre-Hoosier Kids #DeserveBetter Twitter Rally Conference Call

Filed in Uncategorized by Shane Vander Hart on August 28, 2014 • 0 Comments

• 37
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Women on the Wall will be live in Texas tomorrow morning before and during Governor Mike Pence’s workshop at the Defending the American Dream Summit.  They are going to host a conference call to benefit those us who are not able to be there.  They are going from 9:00a-12:00p (CST).  I’m focusing on 9:45a – 11:15a on the Twitter rally, but people can start earlier and go later if they like.

All of the information is in the graphic below.  Check here for sample tweets and suggestions.

 Join the the Pre-Hoosier Kids #DeserveBetter Twitter Rally Conference Call | Truth in American Education:

8-28-14 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE:

About the radio show

Join Drs. Shaun Johnson and Tim Slekar 

LIVE Sundays at 6PM EST and Wednesdays at 7PM EST 

on Blog Talk Radio for progressive, pro-public education talk radio. 

Call in to speak live with Tim and Shaun during the show, (805) 727-7111. 

You can also listen to our Monday "Sunday-Replay" at 7PM EST, and re-broadcasts of the archives every Tuesday and Thursday at 7PM EST.

Visit the @ the Chalk Face radio main page for more information on the show and syndication.

Video: My Six-minute WWL-TV Appearance Against Common Core

On Saturday, August 23, 2014, I participated in a six-minute WWL-TV Eyewitness Morning News segment on the controversy surrounding the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in Louisiana. The link to the segment can be found at the end of this post. The segment was scheduled to precede the Tuesday’s pro-CCSS “forum.” I was the only individual […]

by deutsch29 / 5min 

8-27-14 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE: About the radio showJoin Drs. Shaun Johnson and Tim Slekar LIVE Sundays at 6PM EST and Wednesdays at 7PM EST on Blog Talk Radio for progressive, pro-public education talk radio. Call in to speak live with Tim and Shaun during the show, (805) 727-7111. You can also listen to our Monday "Sunday-Replay" at 7PM EST, and re-broadcasts of the archives every Tuesday and Thursd

by mike simpson / 5h 

Video: My Six-minute WWL-TV Appearance Against Common Core | deutsch29

Video: My Six-minute WWL-TV Appearance Against Common Core | deutsch29:

Video: My Six-minute WWL-TV Appearance Against Common Core

August 28, 2014

On Saturday, August 23, 2014, I participated in a six-minute WWL-TV Eyewitness Morning News segment on the controversy surrounding the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in Louisiana. The link to the segment can be found at the end of this post.

The segment was scheduled to precede the Tuesday’s pro-CCSS “forum.”

I was the only individual against CCSS out of three.

The other two participants want to keep CCSS in Louisiana. One is State Representative Walt Leger.

The other, Kenneth Campbell, is president of the national group financing the pro-CCSS lawsuit: the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO).

I wrote about BAEO in my book detailing individuals and organizations exploiting public education, A Chronicle of Echoes. You will want to read about this supposed “choice” group bankrolling Louisiana’s pro-CCSS lawsuit. In this July 2014 post, I offer readers the opportunity to read my chapter on BAEO for free.

As an enticement, let me offer a brief word on BAEO here:

BAEO was started via millions from white conservatives, including one foundation that years before paid to have a book written declaring blacks as genetically inferior.

National Alliance of Black School Educators President Andre Hornsby once described BAEO as “being used by conservatives to put a black face on a white movement.”

BAEO pushes “school choice”– charters, vouchers– and now, the “choice” to lock states into CCSS– in the name of “moving forward.”

Ironic, isn’t it– a purported “choice” organization for people of color spending millions derived from white conservatives to promote the single “choice” of CCSS?

But CCSS is not the first *deficient education solution* peddled by BAEO.

It was once wholly behind test-driven, punitive No Child Left Behind (NCLB) as The Solution.

Like CCSS, NCLB was also going to be the gap-closing wonder.

Between 2002 and 2004, BAEO accepted over one million dollars from the US Department of Education to sell NCLB to people of color as an educational solution via a multi-level media campaign (direct contact, radio, newspaper, internet).

By 2007, NCLB, with its “100 percent proficiency in English and math by 2014,” was already declared a failure.

So much for NCLB.

But BAEO has fresh millions and a new, gap-closing mission.

It’s 2014, and CCSS is going to do what is statistically impossible: make all states high ranking.

Thats right. Louisiana needs more rigor. Mortis.

Nevertheless…

…I have my fact-based doubts, which I expressed in short order on Saturday morning, August 23rd.

Click here to watch that six-minute WWL-TV CCSS segment.

Like my writing? Read my newly-released ed “reform” whistle blower, A Chronicle of Echoes: Who’s Who in the Implosion of American Public Education

NOW AVAILABLE ON KINDLE.

LAO: State should revise mission of CDE :: SI&A Cabinet Report

LAO: State should revise mission of CDE :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet:

AUGUST 28, 2014

LAO: State should revise mission of CDE

by Tom Chorneau

(Calif.) Lawmakers should consider revising the mission of the California Department of Education from one of school district regulator to more of a collaborative, service-based organization, the non-partisan Legislative Analyst suggested Thursday.

In a detailed report on the status of CDE’s operations, staffing and finances, the LAO found that the department is increasingly viewed from the field as being both reactive and punitive. Some states have shifted the emphasis of their education departments to support LEAs.

“Such an approach would represent a paradigm shift for CDE and would require more coordination across — and potentially a reorganization of staff within — the department,” the LAO explained. “Yet while we think CDE should explore ways to add value to its federally required compliance activities, we believe COEs and other local entities continue to be better sources for providing most professional development, technical assistance, and other forms of “ground level” support to LEAs.”

With an annual budget of close to $250 million and a staff of about 1,500 workers, the CDE is midsized compared to the rest of the state bureaucracy. Most of its funding comes from federal sources, which provided about 68 percent in 2013-14 with another 19 percent coming from the state general fund and 13 percent that is self-generated from specialized activities.

Although the CDE has seen its work force fall dramatically during the past decade, the LAO observed that its staff is reasonably well-aligned with its responsibilities. The analysts warned the Legislature, however, that any new assignments need to be accompanied by new money to hire staff.

The LAO noted that over the years, the Legislature has required the CDE to prepare formal, public reports on numerous topics. After closely reviewing that workload, the LAO suggests that lawmakers eliminate 54 reporting requirements and maintain 23 of them.

Overall, the LAO said that the CDE should explore ways to “add value to its federally-required compliance activities,” although it also said that the department “should not be the primary entity charged with assisting LEAs in improving student outcomes” – a job the LAO believes should be retained at the county level.

The LAO said that as the state’s public school system transitions into the new Local Control Funding Formula, “opportunity exists to streamline federal and state activities to avoid LAO: State should revise mission of CDE :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet:

The same poo-poo in new bags. | Reclaim Reform

The same poo-poo in new bags. | Reclaim Reform:

The same poo-poo in new bags.

Posted on August 28, 2014by Ken Previti

When Common Core State Standards (tests, texts and all) are given new CCSS “aligned” coverings by the state, does it matter?

Florida Gov. Rick Scott played the “save us from big government control” game even as the newly branded state education standards, texts, programs, tests, grading, etc, remain Common Core “aligned.” The name was changed from FCAT to FSA. Same profiteers, same tax theft from public schools to profit international corporate education reform investors, same insane pressure on students, same failing schools scams – NEW Name. Same poo-poo in new bags.

Scott posed as the statesman rescuer of school children from nasty old Obamaeducation as he continues CCSS. He is similar to a person calling himself a savior on the Titanic as he tosses one deck chair overboard prior to sinking.

“We believe schools that have English language learners should not be penalized (for two years). Unfortunately federal officials disagree,” Scott said.- from Local10.com news

Huh? That’s all Scott is going to do to make a difference?

“Like the standards, the Florida Standards Assessment — which replaces last year’s FCAT The same poo-poo in new bags. | Reclaim Reform: