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Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Statement by the President on the Occasion of Ramadan | The White House

Statement by the President on the Occasion of Ramadan | The White House

Statement by the President on the Occasion of Ramadan

On behalf of the American people, Michelle and I want to extend our best wishes to Muslims in America and around the world. Ramadan Kareem.
Ramadan is a time when Muslims around the world reflect upon the wisdom and guidance that comes with faith, and the responsibility that human beings have to one another, and to God. This is a time when families gather, friends host iftars, and meals are shared. But Ramadan is also a time of intense devotion and reflection – a time when Muslims fast during the day and pray during the night; when Muslims provide support to others to advance opportunity and prosperity for people everywhere. For all of us must remember that the world we want to build – and the changes that we want to make – must begin in our own hearts, and our own communities.
These rituals remind us of the principles that we hold in common, and Islam’s role in advancing justice, progress, tolerance, and the dignity of all human beings. Ramadan is a celebration of a faith known for great diversity and racial equality. And here in the United States, Ramadan is a reminder that Islam has always been part of America and that American Muslims have made extraordinary contributions to our country. And today, I want to extend my best wishes to the 1.5 billion Muslims around the world – and your families and friends – as you welcome the beginning of Ramadan.
I look forward to hosting an Iftar dinner celebrating Ramadan here at the White House later this week, and wish you a blessed month.
May God’s peace be upon you.

Catalyst Notebook :: In the News: Federal aid for CPS; textbook fees rise statewide

Catalyst Notebook :: In the News: Federal aid for CPS; textbook fees rise statewide
Catalyst Notebook Blog
Catalyst writers and editors share their perspectives, analyses and the news behind the news on improving Chicago area public schools. Our on-the-ground reports will tell you what’s happening in schools and education circles here and elsewhere. Our views will tell you what to make of it.

In the News: Federal aid for CPS; textbook fees rise statewide

Chicago Public Schools could get more than $80 million from a federal bill aimed to prevent teacher layoffs.


Continue Reading In the News: Federal aid for CPS; textbook fees rise statewide »
College-going on the upswing for Chicago Public Schools graduates

College-going rates for CPS graduates continued on an upward trend, district officials reported Tuesday, although the rate remains far below national averages.


Continue Reading College-going on the upswing for Chicago Public Schools graduates »
In the News: Law creates CPS violence hot line; pushing turnaround expertise

Gov. Pat Quinn signed a law Monday requiring the Chicago Board of Education to work with city police to create a hot line that will allow students to report information about the possible outbreak of violence.


Continue Reading In the News: Law creates CPS violence hot line; pushing turnaround expertise »
CPS balances budget by draining savings

To finally balance its budget, Chicago Public School officials will lay off more than 2000 teachers and support staff, zero out the district's reserves, at least temporarily, and reduce the amount provided for charter school students by 6 percent.


Continue Reading CPS balances budget by draining savings »

Diane Ravitch Website

Diane Ravitch

Diane Ravitch, The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education (New York: Basic Books, 2010).
Buy/read more about this book:







Cartoons Inspired by Diane's New Book

Dan Wasserman







The Washington Teacher: What Will Become Of DC's Excessed Teachers?

The Washington Teacher: What Will Become Of DC's Excessed Teachers?


What Will Become Of DC's Excessed Teachers?


Inquiring minds want to know WTU's official position ?

I have received a number of emails of concern this summer from excessed teachers who have not yet been hired by the Rhee administration. Recently, a colleague copied me in on an email asking Washington Teachers' Union President George Parker (whose term ended June 30) what is the official status of excessed teachers as well as DCPS hiring practice on this matter (email featured below).

In an August 5 Wash. Post article written by Bill Turque, Rhee stated that "although "two

NYC Public School Parents: Please sign our letter to Klein and Liu re federal jobs funds


Independent voices of New York City public school parents
NYC Public School Parents: Please sign our letter to Klein and Liu re federal jobs funds

Please sign our letter to Klein and Liu re federal jobs funds

Yesterday the President signed an education jobs bill that will provide $10 billion to save an estimated 160,000 teaching jobs nationwide

According to news reports, it will send about $608 million to NY State; and an estimated $200 million to NYC. Thanks to those of you that called or emailed the Congress about this critical bill. (You can see how your House member voted here.)

These funds are desperately needed to prevent the projected loss of 2,000 teaching positions in NYC schools this fall, which, along with a continued growth in enrollment, would otherwise lead to drastically increased class sizes.

As you know, class sizes have already risen on average for the last two years; and last year, more than half of Kindergarten students were in classes of 25 or more in many schools. This is simply unacceptable, especially as the city promised to reduce class sizes in all grades in return for receiving nearly a billion dollars in extra state funds.

Please sign onto our letter to Chancellor Klein below, urging him to use these new federal funds to avert the loss of any


Net Gain for Queens Students *August 11, 2010 (GBN News):* In an abrupt change of plans, a former tennis stadium, reportedly in line to be turned into condos, will instead be bought by the NY City Department of Education and used as a giant high school classroom. The historic ...

CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS: Hope Academy Charter School

CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS: Hope Academy Charter School

Call It "Reform" & You Can Double Your Price - District 299: Chicago Public Schools Blog

Call It "Reform" & You Can Double Your Price - District 299: Chicago Public Schools Blog

Call It "Reform" & You Can Double Your Price

Mayor Cermak: "You know I was elected as a reform candidate."
Frank Nitti: "What the hell does that mean, Tony?"
Mayor Cermak: "It means that the price is double."

This is apparently a favorite Saul Alinsky story about Anton Cermak and Capone lieutenant Frank Nitti discussing the cost of keeping prohibited liquor flowing in Chicago, as told in a new biography, according to



Gunmen kill 8-year-old Chicago girl as she plays

Gunmen kill 8-year-old Chicago girl as she plays

Gunmen kill 8-year-old Chicago girl as she plays

Wednesday, August 11, 2010
(08-11) 05:58 PDT Chicago (AP) --
Police say two gunmen on bicycles killed an 8-year-old girl and wounded her younger cousin as the children were skipping rope in a Chicago neighborhood.
Deputy Police Superintendent Ernest Brown says the shooting happened Tuesday evening in Roseland onChicago's South Side.
Brown says the two men rolled up on bicycles, fired, then fled.
There is no word Wednesday on charges in the shooting.
Relatives say the girl killed was 8-year-old Tanaja Stokes. The Cook County medical


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/08/11/national/a055808D73.DTL&type=education#ixzz0wJf7ghno

Dear Robert. � Fred Klonsky's blog

Dear Robert. � Fred Klonsky's blog

Dear Robert.


Dear Robert,
I remember the first time I took notice of you. It must have been back in 2008. You were on Fox doing battle with Sean Hannity. Hannity had just handed over his TV show to some wing-nut, who it turned out was a notorious anti-Semite. You just nailed that son-of-a-bitch Hannity. I remember turning to Anne and saying,

The Educated Reporter: Thinking private.

The Educated Reporter: Thinking private.

Thinking private.

According to a new NCES survey, private school teachers with one to three years’ experience have an attrition rate more than double their public school peers. Who knew? And why?

Gets me thinking that in all this discussion about teaching quality, nobody ever addresses private schools. How

NH city schools to remind teachers about Facebook - Boston.com

NH city schools to remind teachers about Facebook - Boston.com

NH city schools to remind teachers about Facebook


August 11, 2010
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MANCHESER, N.H.—Teachers and administrators in New Hampshire's largest city are going to be warned about what they post to social networking sites such as Facebook and to avoid online contact with students.
The policy being proposed by Manchester Superintendent Thomas Brennan would prohibit teachers from inviting students to be "friends" on social networking sites or agreeing to student friend requests.

Notes from the news, Aug. 11 | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Notes from the news, Aug. 11 | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Notes from the news, Aug. 11

Golden resigns as Philadelphia schools' safety chief The Inquirer
Golden abruptly left for another opportunity amid speculation that he was not consulted enough about safety issues, including the safety response at South Philly High.
See also: District's school-security chief quits Daily News
In wake of DN column, Ackerman locks down school salary data Daily News
Even though the salaries should be a matter of public record, Ackerman severely restricted staff access to the school salary data due to a "security breach."
US Department of Education Visits PSU Wednesday PSU blog
This afternoon PSU members will meet with Alberto Retana from the Dept. of Ed. as part of a National Youth Listening Tour to get students' perspectives on school turnaround.
A school choice governor? PA2010.com (opinion)
Corbett has made his feelings on vouchers known, but Onorato supports school choice via the EITC, which helps fund private and parochial schools.
House passes bill that saves thousands of teachers' jobs The Notebook blog
All it needs now is Obama's signature to send out $10 billion for teachers' jobs.
Philadelphia School District terminates longtime contract with CEP WHYY
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“10 Websites For Virtual Sightseeing With Travel Videos” | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

“10 Websites For Virtual Sightseeing With Travel Videos” | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...