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Saturday, January 15, 2011

NYC Teachers, UFT Frustrated With Ruling, DOE Orders CBS New York – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY

NYC Teachers, UFT Frustrated With Ruling, DOE Orders CBS New York – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY

NYC Teachers, UFT Frustrated With Ruling, DOE Orders

January 14, 2011 9:20 PM

(Clipart Photo)

(Clipart Photo)

NEW YORK (CBS New York.com) — Following a controversial ruling Monday which allowed performance ratings for 12,000 New York City school teachers to be released, the United Federation of Teachers sent a memo to members Thursday expressing disagreement and frustration with the decision.

The memo states that the performance ratings, which are based on statistical

The Associated Press: Trouble lurking ahead for Obama's education focus

The Associated Press: Trouble lurking ahead for Obama's education focus
Trouble lurking ahead for Obama's education focus

WASHINGTON (AP) — Signs of trouble are arising for President Barack Obama's plan to put education overhaul at the forefront of his agenda as he adjusts to the new reality of a divided government.

Giving students and teachers more flexibility is an idea with bipartisan support. Yet the debate about the overdue renewal of the nation's chief education law, known as No Child Left Behind, is complicated by political pressures from the coming 2012 presidential campaign and disputes over timing, money and scope of the update.

While education might offer the best chance for the White House to work with newly empowered Republicans, any consensus could fade in the pitiless political crosscurrents, leaving the debate for another day, perhaps even another presidency.

If so, parents, teachers and students would labor under a burdensome set of testing guidelines

Leadership means you’re supposed to lead | Dangerously Irrelevant

Leadership means you’re supposed to lead | Dangerously Irrelevant

Leadership means you’re supposed to lead

Vicki Davis just blogged that an innovative teacher friend of hers has been shut down by her school district'sleadership because:

No one else is doing this in our state, so why should we?

BeafollowerPathetic. Appalling. And sad.

Talented personnel drive innovation. Any school organization that hopes to successfully navigate these complex times needs every talented educator it can get. I hope that Vicki’s friend leaves that school system as soon as she can; the managers there (note I did not use the term ‘leaders’) deserve what

Report says zero-tolerance discipline makes Philly schools less safe - Philly.com

Report says zero-tolerance discipline makes Philly schools less safe - Philly.com

Report says zero-tolerance discipline makes Philly schools less safe

Though city public schools are often dangerous places, the Philadelphia School District's zero-tolerance approach to discipline makes schools less safe and less effective at educating students, according to a report released Thursday.

Corbett nominates Tomalis to lead Education Department

Gov.-elect Tom Corbett reached back into the Ridge administration Thursday to select his nominee to lead the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

The Best Resources For Learning Why Teacher Merit Pay Is A Bad Idea | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

The Best Resources For Learning Why Teacher Merit Pay Is A Bad Idea | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

Does Reforming U.S. Schools Soften or Harden Inequalities in Wealth and Health? | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Does Reforming U.S. Schools Soften or Harden Inequalities in Wealth and Health? | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Does Reforming U.S. Schools Soften or Harden Inequalities in Wealth and Health?

Income inequality and mortality in 282 metropo...

Image via Wikipedia

No secret now that U.S. inequalities in the distribution of wealth has reached the highest levels since the 1920s

NYC Educator: Dear Cathie Black,

NYC Educator: Dear Cathie Black,

Dear Cathie Black,

After only several days on the job, I've gotten to see the real you--a person with a quick and ready sense of humor. I mean, who else would've thought to solve the overcrowding problem via birth control? There's some out-of-the-box thinking! And then there's that crack about many "Sophie's choices." How many people would consider likening public school options to those of a mom who had to sacrifice one of her children to the Nazis?

And then, you sent 1.1 million kids to school on a day when every other area school and private school closed. Your boss told everyone to stay off the roads, but you had no problem making 80,000 teachers come in. Boy, what irony. Finally, after everyone figured you

Daily Kos: Today he would have been 82

Daily Kos: Today he would have been 82

Today he would have been 82

We tend to forget how young he was. He was 26 when we noticed him at the Montgomery Bus boycott in 1955.

He was only 35 in 1964 when he won the world's greatest acknowledgment and became a Nobel Peace Laureate.

When he was assassinated on April 4, 1968, he was still in his 30s.

His was a voice of conscience. His was a voice of prophecy, in the original sense of the Hebrew prophets. He used his powerful voice to give voice to the concerns of those whose voices were not being heard.

We may commemorate his birth Monday, with ceremonies, time off from work to school.

We should celebrate his birth today.

We should honor him and his memory by

Queens Teacher: Clueless Cathie Strikes Again

Queens Teacher: Clueless Cathie Strikes Again

Friday, January 14, 2011

The No Confidence Vote « Failing Schools

The No Confidence Vote « Failing Schools

The No Confidence Vote

JANUARY 14, 2011
by markfriedman1

In the last month, the teacher’s union in Rochester, New York, the Rochester Teacher’s Association (RTA) has built up to and started the process for a vote of no confidence in the Rochester City School District Superintendent, Jean-Claude Brizard.

Superintendent Jean-Claude Brizard

The build up to this has been a long time coming, as rank-and-file teachers within schools have long expressed frustration with the none too subtle hostility and disregard received from Brizard’s administration, policies, andoverall agenda. As a Broad Superintendent’s Academy alumniBrizard has brought the Broad-agenda into Rochester wholesale.

Having been within schools and reached out to the community locally I have communicated extensively with teachers, parents, and

School Tech Connect: Miguel del Valle: The Real Deal in Chicago

School Tech Connect: Miguel del Valle: The Real Deal in Chicago

Miguel del Valle: The Real Deal in Chicago

Miguel del Valle
Miguel del Valle dropped by Cafe Ballou in Ukrainian Village last night for a short talk with some of Chicago's bloggers, and I have to tell you, this guy is the real deal. America's war on teachers and unions is playing out right here in Chicago, and there's only one guy in the race who's talking about democratic education, and that guy is Miguel del Valle. The differences between the candidates are actually quite stark--- and it couldn't be any clearer than it is in the way they talk about schools, race, and neighborhoods.



Here's a guy that's doing this thing by the grass roots. From what I can tell, he doesn't owe anybody anything, and he's not even trying to raise the kind of money required to win an election through advertising. He's going to social media andgoing to neighborhood events, which to someone like Rahm must seem like just so many poor people in one room. Anybody who won't participate in a vigorous public

Modern School: California Plans to Gut Higher Education

Modern School: California Plans to Gut Higher Education

California Plans to Gut Higher Education


March 4, 2010 Higher Ed Demonstration by SpotReporting
Jerry Brown’s plan to slash $1.4 billion from higher education in California will have dire consequences for students, teachers and staff at the UC, CSU and community college systems. The three systems will have to lay off thousands of employees, cut classes, and gut services. And this is assuming voters approve a tax increase for themselves in June. Otherwise, the cuts could far surpass the initial estimate of $1.4 billion.

Social Promotion vs. Retention: What do you think? « Failing Schools

Social Promotion vs. Retention: What do you think? « Failing Schools

Social Promotion vs. Retention: What do you think?

JANUARY 14, 2011
by Sabrina

This question came up in the comments on our last post, on Twitter, and elsewhere. It’s a tough one, and the research appears mixed (though I’m not as well-versed on this as I’d like to be– if you have a better handle on it, please weigh in!).

On the one hand, there is a strong relationship between retention and poor student outcomes (persistent low performance, dropping out, etc.). On the other hand, the idea of moving students forward when they haven’t mastered the skills we’ve decided they need in the next grade seems counterintuitive. Aren’t we just setting them up for failure?

On some other crazy third hand (or foot? Can we use our feet

Afternoon Update: New Posts on Parents 4 democratic Schools 1-14-11

New Posts on Parents 4 democratic Schools 1-14-11 Get Involved- Read Education News

New Posts on Parents 4 democratic Schools
Get Involved- Read Education News



Pawlenty on tour, touting Rhee - Ben Smith - POLITICO.com

Pawlenty on tour, touting Rhee - Ben Smith - POLITICO.com

Pawlenty on tour, touting Rhee

Yesterday, at the National Press Club, Tim Pawlenty delivered a stirring tribute to ex-DC schools chancellor Michelle Rhee.

"As we were Waiting for Superman, as the movie unfolded in front of the nation, we had superwoman. She was in this district," said Pawlenty "In the most troubled, high spending district in the nation, she was essentially dismissed because of her views. While we were waiting for superman, superwoman was pushed aside. Her name was Michelle Rhee. She was a Democrat and told the truth. She was bold. She was courageous. She spoke truth to power. And they kicked her out."

Today, on the stump, Pawlenty repeated his praise for Rhee in Florida, where Rhee is serving as an educational advisor to Gov. Rick Scott. All this follows

Mike DeBonis on Local Politics - Is Michelle Rhee becoming a Republican darling?

Mike DeBonis on Local Politics - Is Michelle Rhee becoming a Republican darling?

Is Michelle Rhee becoming a Republican darling?

By Mike DeBonis

rhee_scott.JPG

In her post-D.C. Public Schools career, former Chancellor Michelle Rhee has had no trouble whatsoever attracting attention to her new education reform ventures. And she's been getting the most attention from prominent elected Republicans.

Since leaving DCPS, Rhee has joined the transition team of new Florida Gov. Rick Scott (pictured) and has since agreed to continue on as an "informal adviser" to his administration. On Tuesday, she appeared at

This Week in Education Books: The Liquor in Me | theteachingwhore

This Week in Education Books: The Liquor in Me | theteachingwhore

This Week in Education Books: The Liquor in Me

(TWP) Retired high school psychology teacher Bourbon Lovesme is following up the success of his blockbusterThe 7 Cocktails of Lightly-Soused Teachers with The Liquor in Me, an inebriating blueprint for “spirit”ual success in schools for teachers everywhere.

Lovesme’s 413-page tome details how the 7 cocktails mentioned in his earlier New York Times bestselling self-help book can bring courage and fortitude to the faculty lounge, every teacher’s launching pad into the world of student life.

Cocktail 1: Proactipodium is a gentle blend of mild sherry and muscle relaxants that unclench the fingers from the curled up edge of the podium of any teacher slowly becoming hunchbacked in the presence of a room full of unmedicated children who did not have breakfast and stayed up til 2 a.m. playing Call of Duty Black Ops.

Cocktail 2: Absinthe Unexcused combines the popular powerful spirit diluted with tap water from the faculty