Saturday, October 16, 2010

School Tech Connect: No Books For You!

No Books For You!

by effacethefacade@yahoo.com (Tim)

What was not clear to me until a moment ago is that the Chicago parents engaging in civil disobedience over in Pilsen--- so that their kids can get a community library--- send their kids to a school without an actual library.

Up until now, I thought that perhaps their school library was merely inadequate or cramped or outdated or its hours were trimmed or they laid off their media specialist and replaced that individual with a paraprofessional (this happened once to me, by the way.)

But no, this school doesn't even have a library, and apparently there are 160 other CPS schools without libraries.Once again, I have been living in a crazy dreamland.

Classroom libraries, huh.. Check out the online catalog in just one of the elementary schools at the suburban

NYC Public School Parents: Another Unintended Consequence of "School Accountability"

Another Unintended Consequence of "School Accountability"

by Steve Koss

The negative effects of standardized-exam-based school accountability, what might be gently termed unintended consequences if they weren't both so nefarious and so plainly evident as to think they might indeed not be unintended, are almost too numerous to count:

-- Narrowing of the classroom curriculum to the "accountable" (i.e., tested) subject areas;
-- Reduction in time spent on art, music, gym, and even the sciences;
-- Teaching to the test;
-- Reduced time spent on teaching approaches that foster depth of exploration, creativity, passion, inquisitiveness, etc., and that deaden education or the notion of knowledge for knowledge's sake;
-- Repetitive practice testing that further reduce children's interest in school and education;

Friday, October 15, 2010

Ex-education official releases results of state investigation into consulting | StarTribune.com

Ex-education official releases results of state investigation into consulting

But the report raises some concerns about Chas Anderson's conduct. It will be formally released next week.

Last update: October 15, 2010 - 7:25 PM

By MIKE KASZUBA

mkaszuba@startribune.com

Chas Anderson, a former top spokeswoman on education issues for Gov. Tim Pawlenty, released the results Friday of a state investigation into a consulting contract she received and said the probe "yielded no

N.J. Department of Education receives record number of charter school applications | NJ.com

N.J. Department of Education receives record number of charter school applications

Published: Friday, October 15, 2010, 7:11 PM Updated: Friday, October 15, 2010, 7:11 PM

Star-Ledger Staff
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Record number of N.J. charter school applications

Amanda Brown/The Star-LedgerStudents raise their hand in math class at Visions Academy High School in Newark. AMANDA BROWN/THE STAR-LEDGERRecord number of N.J. charter school applicationsgallery (14 photos)

TRENTON — Charter schools are set to aggressively expand in New Jersey after the state Department of Education received a record number of charter school applications today.

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The department received 51 applications, more than it has received in at least the last 10 years, from schools hoping to open in the next academic year, said Alan Guenther, the department’s chief spokesman.

"When the review process is

Union takes progressive stand on class size, testing, and education in general � JD2718

Union takes progressive stand on class size, testing, and education in general

by jd2718

Strong resolution. By? UFT? No. AFT? No. NEA? No. The United Electrical Workers. Go figure. But it’s worth the read. Hat tip to Monty Neil of Fair Test, via Leonie Heimson of NYC Public School Parents.

http://www.ueunion.org/policy_se.html

UE Convention Resolutions Public Education: Stop the Attacks and Fund Quality Education for All

One of the first demands of early labor organizations was universal quality
education. At a time when only the rich could attend decent schools, labor
leaders saw that access to publicly-funded schools was the only way that the

Patrick Kennedy for City Council: An Evening with Doris Matsui

Patrick Kennedy, Sacramento City Council 2010

As we approach the final weeks of the campaign, I am happy to report that things are going great! I am out knocking on doors every day and enjoying the chance to connect with voters.

We have also seen a great outpouring of support from volunteers. It did my heart good to walk into the campaign headquarters the other day and see young volunteers calling voters speaking Hmong, Russian, Spanish and English – truly showing the diversity of the District and this campaign.

However, we still need your help. We call and walk every day and on Saturdays, we host a community bbq after the walk for neighbors and volunteers. Please join neighbors and supporters at our campaign headquarters tomorrow and help me knock on doors to get out the vote!

5385 Franklin Blvd, Suite #P (Near Franklin and Fruitridge between Jimboy’s Tacos and The Rooney Police Substation)
9 AM to 12 Noon (Followed by a Neighborhood bbq in Colonial Park)

If you can walk or phone during the week, or you need a lawn sign, please call Kenny Alvarado at 509-0986 or email him atKenny@patrick-kennedy.com.

An Evening with Doris Matsui

Last night we held a special event with Congresswoman Doris Matsui. It was a great opportunity to see our home grown hero in Congress. It was also humbling to have the Congresswoman talk about her support of my campaign.

“Patrick has a history of bringing people together and solving problems. We need him on the City Council,” Said Congresswoman Matsui.

It was also nice to reminisce about my days serving as an intern in the office of the late Congressman Robert Matsui when I was in college. The Matsuis have long been an important part in the lives of all Sacramentans, and I am honored to have their continued friendship.

On The Porch with Patrick

Last night was also a good opportunity to meet with Curtis Park neighbors on the porch of Genevieve Shiroma and Michael Abbott. It was a great way to enjoy a perfect Fall evening and listen and talk about the issues facing our City and our neighborhoods.

If you are interested in hosting a neighborhood coffee, please call Judy at 743-0877 or email her atJudy@judykennedyart.com.

Lawrence Park BBQ

Last Saturday our neighborhood bbq was held in Lawrence Park. It was great to share stories about this great, hidden gem of a neighborhood with so many long time residents. On the Council, I look forward to hosting a lot more events at parks throughout the District to introduce neighbors to neighbors and neighborhoods to neighborhoods. Working together we can be a powerful force for the 5th District.

Public Safety for Patrick

We recently had a neighborhood walk hosted at the old fire station on Stockton and Broadway. I was honored to have 25 firefighters and 15 community members and volunteers from Laborers Local 185 come out to walk the surrounding neighborhoods with me. After, we shared hot dogs and hamburgers (including the now famous Sacramento Area Firefighters Suicide Burger – a hot dog and a burger together on one bun). It was great to spend time with so many men and women who put their lives on the line for us every day and have the opportunity to say “Thank You”.

As always, if you have any questions or suggestions for me, please do not hesitate to call me at 446-4436 or email me atPatrick@patrick-kennedy.com. Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,

Patrick Kennedy

Skool House Rock - Pull My Lever. Vote!

School House Rock - No More Kings (America Rock)

Education Reform Idea: Move Poor Kids to Better Neighborhoods Youth Today

Youth Today

Education Reform Idea: Move Poor Kids to Better Neighborhoods

October 15, 2010 by Patrick Boyle

With the federal and state governments spending billions of dollars to improve schools and teachers, a group of thinkers from the education field gathered in Washington, D.C., Friday to say they have a better way to boost the academic achievement of kids in poor neighborhoods: Move them to middle class neighborhoods.

That was the conclusion of a panel discussion about a new report, Housing Policy Is School Policy, by The Century Foundation. The study concludes that an effort by Montgomery County, Md., to diversify its neighborhoods by moving some poor families into public housing scattered in middle class communities has had an enormous educational impact: It significantly raised the academic performance of low-income kids.

The study’s supporters say it provides the strongest evidence yet that where a child lives has the

John King USA: Blog Archive - Michelle Rhee talks education issues � - CNN.com Blogs

Michelle Rhee talks education issues

Despite Image, Union Leader Backs School Reform - NYTimes.com

Despite Image, Union Leader Backs Change for Schools

Richard Perry/The New York Times

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, speaking with Bryan Reyes, left, and Joshua Dickey at the Green Dot New York Charter School in the Bronx.

By TRIP GABRIEL

Published: October 15, 2010

REPRINTS

In “Waiting for Superman,” the new education documentary, the union leader Randi Weingarten is portrayed, in the words of Variety, as “a foaming satanic beast.”

Times Topic: Randi Weingarten
Movie Review | 'Waiting for ‘Superman': Students Caught in the School Squeeze (September 24, 2010)
Washington Chancellor’s Departure Isn’t Expected to Slow Public School Change (October 14, 2010)

At a two-day education summit hosted by NBC News recently, the lopsided panels often featured Ms. Weingarten on one side, facing a murderer’s row ofcharter school founders and urban superintendents. Even Tom Brokawpiled on.

It’s nothing personal, really. Ms. Weingarten happens to be the most visible, powerful leader of unionized teachers, and in that role she personifies what many reformers see as the chief obstacle to lifting dismal schools: unions that protect incompetent teachers.

A combative labor leader who does not shrink from the spotlight, Ms. Weingarten has been fighting back. She issued a written rebuttal to “Waiting for Superman,” and she has publicly debated the film’s director, Davis Guggenheim, arguing that teachers have been made scapegoats. More to the point, the portrait of Ms. Weingarten as a demonic

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