Latest News and Comment from Education

Show All

Saturday, March 25, 2017

Keeping retirement weird. Schadenfreude. | Fred Klonsky

Keeping retirement weird. Schadenfreude. | Fred Klonsky:

Keeping retirement weird. Schadenfreude.





God works in mysterious ways, I hear.
In spite of right-wing evangelist Pat Robertson’s declaring that he thought God was Speaker of the House, it turned out it was Paul Ryan.
I posted the word Schadenfruede on Facebook last week as it became clear the the Trumpists were on the verge of crashing and burning over repeal and replace.
It is a German word meaning deriving pleasure from the misfortune of others.
Reading that, some friends thought I was referring to the way Republicans in Congress and holding office elsewhere seem to get pleasure from the pain and suffering of working class and poor folks.
I was referring to the pleasure I was feeling watching TrumpRyan fumble, flail and fail.
There is another German word I know and like. Gemütlichkeit means having good cheer.
I’m feeling that at the moment too.
Health care in America is another one of those choice things.
The rich and wealthy get to choose. And so do we. They get the right to choose the kind of health care they can afford. So do we.
As a retired public school teacher my health care costs are manageable but in spite of Keeping retirement weird. Schadenfreude. | Fred Klonsky:

Posted by at

Toxic Masculinity, Predatory Men, and Male Paralysis | radical eyes for equity

Toxic Masculinity, Predatory Men, and Male Paralysis | radical eyes for equity:

Toxic Masculinity, Predatory Men, and Male Paralysis

Image result for trump manly


How can anybody know
How they got to be this way?
This is my sixth decade as a human, as a white, straight male.
Here I want to attempt confession, possibly seeking greater understanding, but fully aware of the huge complexities of making these claims, raising these personal struggles in the context of my many privileges.
I am treading lightly but committed to rise above the problematic satire of Ben Folds’ “Rockin’ the Suburbs”—which both speaks to me and makes me cringe:
Let me tell y’all what it’s like
Being male, middle-class, and white
It’s a bitch, if you don’t believe
Listen up to my new CD
My formative years over the 1960s and 1970s were spent in the redneck South. Just as I was reared to be a racist, I was taught very clearly to objectify women, even as that was tempered in my immediate family by direct and indirect messages about respecting and loving females.
Growing up, I was a Mama’s boy, I was very close to my sister (my only sibling), and I had strong and warm relationships with aunts and my maternal grandmother.
As a so-called pre-sexual boy, then, I genuinely learned to feel deep and healthy affection for females—to whom I have always been drawn more strongly than any male bonds.
As a teen, however, I was significantly enculturated into objectifying women, sowing the seeds for potentially behaving in ways that fed into and participated in predatory masculinity and even the various degrees of rape culture.
My classroom was, at first, superhero comic books and then soft-core pornography (such as Playboy and Penthouse)—but the wider popular culture was always reinforcing the worst possible models for how men treat women.
But as all this colored my attempts to be a sexual person, seeking out Toxic Masculinity, Predatory Men, and Male Paralysis | radical eyes for equity:


Posted by at

Life in Schools: Cartoons | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Life in Schools: Cartoons | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice:

Life in Schools: Cartoons

For this month, I have gathered a dozen or so cartoons that shine a light on different facets of life in schools. Enjoy!
CartoonColeenG%20copy[1].jpg
young-people-teen-teenager-embarrassed-show_and_tell-diary-36234941_low.jpg
6a00d8341c5f3053ef01b8d0c1a1e5970c-800wi.gif
53ea3856ce13a1fef7c23675a46db7e7.jpg
final_exams_school_exit_polls_884885.jpg
romeoandjuliet2-0.jpg
http25253a25252f25252f25-media-tumblr-com25252f95902deb707b1c69092a0920d651c4df25252ftumblr_mnh80ffjyw1rrcsnxo1_1280.gif
eff1a0b5284c2839b4a859fff87a6a73.png
Posted by at

Independent Democratic Conference Denies Promised Funding to NY’s Poorest Schools by Jake Jacobs - Badass Teachers Association:

Badass Teachers Association: Independent Democratic Conference Denies Promised Funding to NY’s Poorest Schools by Jake Jacobs:

Independent Democratic Conference Denies Promised Funding to NY’s Poorest Schools 

by Jake Jacobs
IT IS A RULE: YOU CAN'T BE AGAINST PEOPLE AND FOR CORPORATIONS AND CALL YOURSELF A DEMOCRAT...EVER!

A video interview released last month by Nomiki Konst of The Young Turks has raised the profile of the controversial eight member Independent Democratic Conference (IDC), a group of NY legislators who have entered a “strategic” power sharing coalition with Republicans in a closely divided State Senate.
The IDC is actually receiving money from the very wealthy through pro-charter PACs to deny long-owed school funding to the poorest districts in NY. The good news is there is still time to come through for NY schools, but the final budget vote is less than two weeks away.
The IDC has been a sore issue for New York Democrats who outnumber Republicans two to one. In the age of Trump, however, the IDC has seen a sharp rise in the number of grassroots groups coalescing to pressure rogue IDC senators to help mainline Democrats regain the majority as issues like campaign finance, taxation, healthcare and education funding hang in the balance.
Teacher and parent groups were keen to learn from the TYT video that IDC members take funding from the same charter school backers that fund Republicans and were concerned that the IDC is helping Trump and Betsy DeVos increase privatization of NY’s public schools.
In the NYC suburb of Rockland County, founding IDC member David Carlucci learned a local resistance group was forming and attended a meeting to explain his IDC membership. I went to the meeting and asked Senator Carlucci if he supports charter schools and if he takes money from charter school backers:
As the video shows, Senator Carlucci was in no rush to get on the record for or against charter schools. He instead offered “public schools [are] my top priority”, but would not disclose whether or not he opposes charter schools, even as the approaching NY state budget vote will include a measure to increase the number of charter schools in nearby NYC. Other IDC members are on the record in support of charter schools.
Senator Carlucci was also in no rush to talk about charter school funding, but when pressed, explained that pro-charter PACs fund Badass Teachers Association: Independent Democratic Conference Denies Promised Funding to NY’s Poorest Schools by Jake Jacobs:



Posted by at

Meeting Notice/Agenda for April 5, 2017 - Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (CA Dept of Education)

Meeting Notice/Agenda for April 5, 2017 - Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (CA Dept of Education):

Meeting Notice

Advisory Commission on Charter Schools
An advisory body to the State Board of Education

Wednesday, April 5, 2017
9:00 a.m. ± – 7:00 p.m. ±
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Room 1101
Sacramento, CA 95814-5901
916-322-6029
ACCS Live Meeting Webcast
Commission Members
  • Brian Bauer
  • Cindy S. Chan*
  • Ari Engelberg
  • Jon R. Gundry
  • Atyani Howard
  • Caitlin O’Halloran
  • Dr. Mark Ryan
  • Dr. Wesley Sever
  • Curtis L. Washington
* Represents the State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Liaisons from the State Board of Education
  • Bruce Holaday
  • Trish B. Williams

AGENDA

  • Call to Order
  • Salute to the Flag
  • Welcome and Introductions
  • Review and Adoption of Meeting Notes
  • Charter Schools Division Update
  • Review/Reordering of the Meeting Agenda
  • Public Comment1


ITEM 1 (DOC)

Type of Action: Action/Information
Subject: Consideration of Requests for Determination of Funding as Required for Nonclassroom-based Charter Schools Pursuant to California Education Code Sections 47612.5 and 47634.2, and Associated California Code of Regulations, Title 5.
ITEM 2 (DOC)

Type of Action: Action/Information
Subject: Renewal Petition for the Establishment of a Charter School Under the Oversight of the State Board of Education: Consideration of the Celerity Dyad Charter School, which was denied by the Los Angeles Unified School District and not considered by the Los Angeles County Board of Education.
ITEM 3 (DOC)
Type of Action: Action/Information
Subject: Renewal Petition for the Establishment of a Charter School Under the Oversight of the State Board of Education: Consideration of the Celerity Troika Charter School, which was denied by the Los Angeles Unified School District and not considered by the Los Angeles County Board of Education.
ITEM 4 (DOC)
Type of Action: Action/Information
Subject: Renewal Petition for the Establishment of a Charter School Under the Oversight of the State Board of Education: Consideration of Oxford Preparatory Academy Chino Valley, which was denied by the Chino Valley Unified School District and not considered by the San Bernardino County Board of Education.
ITEM 5 (DOC)

Type of Action: Action/Information
Subject: Acacia Elementary Charter, Operated by Tri-Valley Learning Corporation: Take Action to Uphold the New Jerusalem Elementary School District Revocation of Acacia Elementary Charter Pursuant to California Education Code Section 47607(f)(4).
Item 5 Attachment 1 - Administrative Record for the Appeal of Acacia Elementary Charter Revocation Provided by Tri-Valley Learning Corporation (PDF)
Item 5 Attachment 2 - Tri-Valley Learning Corporation Appeal of Acacia Elementary Charter (PDF)
Item 5 Attachment 3 - Tri-Valley Learning Corporation Response to New Jerusalem Elementary School District's Opposition to Revocation of Acacia Elementary Charter (PDF)
Item 5 Attachment 4 - New Jerusalem Elementary School District's Response to the Tri-Valley Appeal of Acacia Elementary Charter (PDF)
Item 5 Attachment 5 - Acacia Elementary Charter Provided by New Jerusalem Elementary School District (PDF)
Item 5 Attachment 6 - Tri Valley Learning Corporation's Response to the New Jerusalem Elementary School District's April 2016 Notice of Violation (PDF)
Item 5 Attachment 7 - New Jerusalem Elementary School District Notice of Intent to Revoke (PDF)
Item 5 Attachment 8 - New Jerusalem Elementary School District Resolution #17-0729B Making Certain Findings and Revoking the Acacia Elementary Charter (PDF)
Item 5 Attachment 9 - Resolution #17-0729B, Exhibit A, Findings of Fact Regarding Revocation of Acacia Elementary Charter (PDF)
Item 5 Attachment 10 - Tri-Valley Learning Corporation Response to Notice of Intent to Revoke (PDF)
Item 5 Attachment 11 - Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin Stockton Division, Order on Motion for Preliminary Junction (PDF)
Item 5 Attachment 12 - Acacia Elementary Charter Provided by New Jerusalem Elementary School District. (PDF)
Item 5 Attachment 13 - New Jerusalem Elementary School District May 11, 2016, Notice of Violation to Tri-Valley Learning Corporation (PDF)
Item 5 Attachment 14 - Tri-Valley Learning Corporation Response to New Jerusalem Elementary School District May 2016 Notice of Violation (PDF)
ITEM 6 (DOC)
Type of Action: Action/Information
Subject: New West Charter: Hold a Public Hearing to Consider a Petition to Renew the Charter Currently Authorized by the State Board of Education.
ITEM 7 (DOC)
Type of Action: Action/Information
Subject: Petition for the Establishment of a Charter School Under the Oversight of the State Board of Education: Consideration of Grossmont Secondary School, which was denied by the Grossmont Union High School District and the San Diego County Board of Education.
ITEM 8 (DOC)
Type of Action: Action/Information
Subject: Paramount Collegiate Academy: Consider a material revision of the Charter to reduce total projected enrollment from the original proposed enrollment plan of 800 pupils to 140 pupils, in grade six through grade twelve by 2019–20.
In addition to the above, the Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (ACCS) hereby provides notice that it reserves the right to consider and make recommendations at this meeting concerning other areas of the State Board of Education’s authority with respect to charter schools, which include but are not limited to:
  • Taking appropriate action, including, but not limited to, revocation with respect to State Board-granted and locally-granted charters under specific circumstances set forth in statute.
  • Jointly with the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, approving district-wide charter petitions when those petitions are determined to be satisfactory.
  • Developing and adopting regulations to implement various provisions of the Charter Schools Act of 1992 (Part 26.8 of the California Education Code, commencing with Section 47600). Approving or denying requests to waive otherwise applicable provisions of law based upon requests submitted by charter schools and other local educational agencies.
  • Assigning numbers to charter school petitions to ensure that the statutory cap on the number of charter schools is not exceeded.
THE ORDER OF BUSINESS MAY BE CHANGED WITHOUT NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that the order of consideration of matters on this agenda may be changed without prior notice.
REASONABLE LIMITATIONS MAY BE PLACED ON PUBLIC TESTIMONY
The presiding officer of the ACCS reserves the right to impose reasonable time limits on public testimony to ensure that the agenda is completed.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS MAY BE MADE
Consistent with the requirements of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, notice is hereby given that special presentations not mentioned in the agenda may be made at this meeting. However, any such presentation will be for information only.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION WILL BE PROVIDED FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY
Pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, any individual with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to attend or participate in this meeting of the ACCS may request assistance by contacting the Charter Schools Division at:
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information concerning this agenda, or to join the ACCS specialized e-mail distribution list [], please contact: Makenna Huey
Makenna Huey
Charter Schools Division
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Suite 5401
Sacramento, CA 95814-5901
Phone: 916-322-6029
Fax: 916-322-1465
Charters@cde.ca.gov
This notice appears on the California Department of Education ACCS Web page [].
1 Time(s) will be set aside for public comment at this meeting. Depending on the situation, and at the direction of the presiding officer, public comment may be entertained as appropriate at the beginning of, during, and/or at the end of the meeting. Reasonable limits will be placed on the amount of time allowed for individual comments.

Meeting Notice/Agenda for April 5, 2017 - Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (CA Dept of Education):



Posted by at
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)