Latest News and Comment from Education

Thursday, July 22, 2010

School removes fired Lawrence schools chief's name - Boston.com

School removes fired Lawrence schools chief's name - Boston.com

School removes fired Lawrence schools chief's name


July 22, 2010
Text size +
LAWRENCE, Mass.—All traces of a fired superintendent of Lawrence schools, who is facing fraud and embezzlement charges, are being removed from the new high school he helped build.
School officials recently have removed Wilfredo Laboy's name from the $110 million school he and other officials dedicated three years ago. They also have removed his name from School Department headquarters.

A Metallic Vampire Stalking the Earth! | Intercepts

A Metallic Vampire Stalking the Earth! | Intercepts

A Metallic Vampire Stalking the Earth!

School district officials in Columbus, Ohio, were jazzed when they installed the new $1.7 million Kronos computer system to track workers’ attendance. The idea was that all employees, from the superintendent on down, would have to swipe a card through a reader as they entered and exited their workplace. The district computers would record the amount of time each employee spent on the job, much like the old factory punch cards and clock.
There was only one problem. The use of the system is considered to be a change in working conditions

‘We Have No Idea Where You’re Coming From’ voiceofsandiego.org

Education

‘We Have No Idea Where You’re Coming From’
The coalition of businessmen, philanthropists and others calling for changes to San Diego Unified brought their message to a Tierrasanta community meeting last night. The problem was, the Tierrasantans didn't seem to understand just what their message was.
"What is your mission statement? ... We have no idea where you're coming from," said Tracy Conroy, a member of the Tierrasanta Community Council.
Scott Himelstein, the leader of the newly named San Diegans 4 Great Schools, explained that his group was disappointed with test scores in the local schools and believed "governance" -- a buzzword that translates into "how the school board works" -- was a big part of the problem. Dramatic changes in the school board have caused superintendent churn, he said, causing wild swings in direction.
Several at the meeting agreed that the schools needed help. Community Council President

More Details About Ebony / U Chicago Event - District 299: Chicago Public Schools Blog

More Details About Ebony / U Chicago Event - District 299: Chicago Public Schools Blog

More Details About Ebony / U Chicago Event

Here's the official invitation to the Ebony / University of Chicago event next month, about which you have heard much before. Anyone going? Let us know what happens.
UEI/Ebony Education Roundtable
[See below for the agenda, etc.]
The event on Wednesday, August 11, is open to the public and will be broadcast live via webcast. Additionally

AM News: Daley Allies Help Huberman Present A "United" Front

news2.gif
400 CPS teachers to get the ax this week Sun Times: Notices began going out Wednesday to 400 classroom teachers and 200 educational support personnel, a CPS official said. The 600 represent staff at about 200 Track E elementary schools that start their year earlier than most schools, on Aug. 10. (See CTU email about this after the break)... Police should work on days off to combat gangs: Ald. Burke Sun Times: Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th), chairman of the City Council's Finance Committee, said Daley's plan to ease a severe manpower shortage by hiring 100 more officers will take too long and fall far short... A start, but only that, on opennessDaily Herald: Grayslake High School District 127, hired the principal last year and then accepted his resignation in December, owes the people an explanation... The Head Cheerleaders Chicago Reader: Huberman's latest public appearances suggest he was strategizing with Finney and Rangel so they could give the appearance of rock-solid black and Latino support for Daley in his brewing fight with the Chicago Teachers Union. From Karen Lewis:

In Chicago, and across the nation, educators are under attack. In the last few weeks, the Board fired over 200 educators without due process. They have threatened even more cuts that ignore seniority and tenure rights and will harm students by raising class sizes.

The CTU requested full access to all documents pertaining to the 2010-11 CPS budget. Last year, CPS spent $400 million in contracts, but who holds those contracts and for what? On the revenue side, TIFs take $250 million away from our schools each year, $100 million more

The Heartland Institute’s Director of Reform and union hater finds a home at the Chicago Tribune. � Fred Klonsky's blog

The Heartland Institute’s Director of Reform and union hater finds a home at the Chicago Tribune. � Fred Klonsky's blog

The Heartland Institute’s Director of Reform and union hater finds a home at the Chicago Tribune.

My brother Mike asked if he could post my piece on teacher pay and the teacher bashing Chicago Tribune in his spot as delegate at the Catalyst Caucus, an online round table that addresses education issues.
“Sure,” I said.
I didn’t think that it would result in a lengthy response from a loony libertarian.
Plus, in my attempt to get people to drop their subscription to the Chicago Tribune in protest of their ongoing

News: Key Title IX Ruling - Inside Higher Ed

News: Key Title IX Ruling - Inside Higher Ed

Key Title IX Ruling

July 22, 2010
A federal judge determined Wednesday that competitive cheerleading, at least the brand offered at a small Connecticut institution this past season, is not a varsity sport that can be counted for the purposes of meeting gender equity requirements.
Last year, Quinnipiac University announced that, primarily due to budget constraints, it planned to cut its women’s volleyball team and replace it with a competitive cheerleading squad for the 2009-10 season. A competitive cheerleading squad is typically much cheaper to run than a women's volleyball team. Five players from the women’s volleyball team and their coach, however, sued Quinnipiac with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, arguing that its decision to cut their team violated Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

Retooling the GI Bill

July 22, 2010

Senators push for equitable college benefits across states, but the simplified formula could actually lower benefits for some veterans at private colleges.
More

When Faculty Aren't Supposed to Talk

July 22, 2010

Hamilton tells professor he can't participate in searches because of column he wrote on search whose result disappointed him. Is college protecting confidentiality or squelching dissent?
More

Texas A&M Can't Spare a Square

July 22, 2010

University, slashing its budget, plans to get rid of dormitory bathroom toilet paper.
More

This Week In Education: Campaign 2010: Tea Party / RNC Asleep At Wheel On Common Core

This Week In Education: Campaign 2010: Tea Party / RNC Asleep At Wheel On Common Core

Campaign 2010: Tea Party / RNC Asleep At Wheel On Common Core

5216_130077416619_660976619_3653307_8219762_nAmazing how little attention this whole Common Core thing has gotten, what with the Tea Party and the RNC pushing hard against government intrusion. They've been asleep at the wheel on this one, which bodes poorly for their chances to take the House in November. Meantime, here's a sampling of mainstream commentary, courtesy of the Atlantic Wire:

U.S. goes from leading to lagging in young college graduates

U.S. goes from leading to lagging in young college graduates

U.S. goes from leading to lagging in young college graduates



Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 22, 2010; 6:07 AM

The United States has fallen from first to 12th in the share of adults ages 25 to 34 with postsecondary degrees, according to a new report from the College Board.
Canada is now the global leader in higher education among young adults, with 55.8 percent of that population holding an associate degree or better as of 2007, the year of the latest international ranking. The United States sits 11 places back, with 40.4 percent of young adults holding postsecondary credentials.
The report, to be presented Thursday to Capitol Hill


More On The Harlem Children’s Zone | Engaging Parents In School...

More On The Harlem Children’s Zone | Engaging Parents In School...

“High-Tech, Low-Tech, and “No-Tech” Ways to Help ELLs Develop Language and Higher Order Thinking Skills” | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

“High-Tech, Low-Tech, and “No-Tech” Ways to Help ELLs Develop Language and Higher Order Thinking Skills” | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...