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Not More of this Value Added Assessment ****!!!

by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher)

Sad news today. In an unanimous edict, the state appeals court ruled that the city can turn over Teacher Data Reports of teachers in grades 4-8 to the media. Rupert Murdoch and the New York Post are said to be quite overwhelmed with joy right now.

So it is not enough that teachers as a whole, as a group are being disparaged continuously by the press further sinking the degree in which this once proud profession was held, not they must go after individual teachers. Worse, teachers will be targeted, outed, and shamed using an unreliable method of assessment.

If and when Uncle Mike runs for a 4th term or decides to throw his hat in the ring for God, just what would he say when polls show him trailing and the margin of

NJ Spotlight | Essay: Public Education's Dangerous Silence

NJ Spotlight | Essay: Public Education's Dangerous Silence:

Essay: Public Education's Dangerous Silence

When educators are silent, the governor's barbs and soundbites are all the more convincing

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By Gordon MacInnes, August 26 in Opinion |5 Comments

Welcome to New Jersey and to the 18-month street fight waged by Gov. Chris Christie against public education. By this time, the governor's attacks against teachers and their unions, superintendents' associations and local school board are almost pro forma. (Christie seems to actively dislike everything and anything to do with public education -- except charter schools.)

If Christie's comments have lost much of their ability to surprise (though not to sting), what is truly shocking is the weak defense against these attacks offered by the very people who've committed their lives to public education. True, the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) denounces Christie's attack, but it is dismissed as a predictable opponent by the press and most legislators.

Suffering in silence, especially in this case, is very dangerous. Christie is the master of the soundbite. He is passionate, if almost inevitably

Missouri Education Watchdog: A Conservative Teacher's Experience with the NEA

Missouri Education Watchdog: A Conservative Teacher's Experience with the NEA:

A Conservative Teacher's Experience with the NEA

by stlgretchen

Not every teacher is a member or fan of the NEA.

Read how a conservative teacher handled the NEA membership drive at school (from the website conservativeteachersofamerica.com) and an immigrant teacher's response to the NEA's tactics:

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Close Encounters of the Union Kind

We received this from one of our members, he would prefer to keep his identity and school district confidential, so we are going to post it for him.

Excitement always surrounds new beginnings. For the NEA, new teachers and the beginning of the school year

NYC Educator: Mayor Bloomberg Wants My Help

NYC Educator: Mayor Bloomberg Wants My Help:

Mayor Bloomberg Wants My Help

by NYC Educator

Over the last two days I've been besieged with calls to go in and assist NYC shelters. It's certainly a worthy cause. Still, it's hard to forget that the mayor unilaterally decided not to give teachers the raise all other city employees got. It's hard to forget the constant vilification and insults we've gotten from Tweed over the last few years.

Despite this, a lot of teachers will volunteer. Will Bloomberg acknowledge us? Will he thank us? Will he credit us for being role models? I doubt it. All he cares about is test scores, and in his view, only teachers are responsible for test scores. He can't wait to fire

Save Seattle Schools Community Blog: Scott Oki's Solution Looking for a Problem

Save Seattle Schools Community Blog: Scott Oki's Solution Looking for a Problem:

Scott Oki's Solution Looking for a Problem

by Charlie Mas

A story in Crosscut ("The Parents Union: A new force for education reform?") describes an effort by Scott Oki ("self-described 'serial entrepreneur' and community activist") to form a "parent's union" to counter the strength of the teachers' union and promote public school reform in Washington State.

What an idiot.

Mr. Oki has no idea what he's doing or what he's talking about. The article makes that pretty clear.

* He says that the teachers' union blocks reform, but all of the other folks in the article acknowledge that the WEA is supportive of reform.

* He says that the problem is bloated central bureaucracies, but the teachers' union didn't create and doesn't

Big Education Ape - PostRank Today's 10

Big Education Ape - PostRank Today's 10

Appellate Court Gets It Wrong on NYC Teacher Data :: Frederick M. Hess Appellate Court Gets It Wrong on NYC Teacher Data :: Frederick M. Hess: Appellate Court Gets It Wrong on NYC Teacher Data *by Frederick M. Hess • Aug 25, 2011 at 3:44 pm Cross-posted from Education Week* Print Send RSS [image: Share] Share Here's ...

When Reform Touches Teachers - August 23, 2011 There has been much heated debate this year over bold changes that affect teachers, including dialing back pensions and union rights. These matters were candidly discussed by two high-visibility national education leaders who don't always agree: ...

Duncan Greets Students on First Day of School | ED.gov Blog Duncan Greets Students on First Day of School | ED.gov Blog: Duncan Greets Students on First Day of School Posted on August 25, 2011 by Ben Firke (Official Department of Education Photo by Joshua Hoover) For many high school students, the first day of ...

Join Parents Across America-NOLA Aug. 29 to save our public schools « Parents Across America Join Parents Across America-NOLA Aug. 29 to save our public schools « Parents Across America: Join Parents Across America-NOLA Aug. 29 to save our public schools by leoniehaimson Start:August 29, 2011Venue:John McDonogh High SchoolAddress: Google ...

International Rankings That Reformers Ignore: The Children Left Behind | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice International Rankings That Reformers Ignore: The Children Left Behind | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: International Rankings That Reformers Ignore: The Children Left Behind by larrycuban If there is one drumroll that most ...

Robert Reich (This Labor Day We Need Protest Marches Rather than Parades) Robert Reich (This Labor Day We Need Protest Marches Rather than Parades): This Labor Day We Need Protest Marches Rather than Parades THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011 Labor Day is traditionally a time for picnics and parades. But this year is no picnic for ...

PTA Action Alert: URGE CONGRESS NOT TO STAND IN THE WAY OF HEALTHIER SCHOOL LUNCHES 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: PTA Action Alert: URGE CONGRESS NOT TO STAND IN THE WAY OF HEALTHIER SCHOOL LUNCHES: PTA Action Alert: URGE CONGRESS NOT TO STAND IN THE WAY OF HEALTHIER SCHOOL LUNCHES FROM NATIONAL PTA *Wednesday, August ...

Schools Chief Torlakson Seeks Relief from NCLB Sanctions: Letter Seeks Support for State-Determined Accountability Systems (41) Schools Chief Torlakson Seeks Relief from NCLB Sanctions: Letter Seeks Support for State-Determined Accountability Systems (41): [image: California Department of Education] Schools Chief Torlakson Seeks Relief from NCLB Sanctions: Letter Seeks Support ...

The Educated Reporter: In Philadelphia, a Big Ticket Bon Voyage The Educated Reporter: In Philadelphia, a Big Ticket Bon Voyage: In Philadelphia, a Big Ticket Bon Voyage by Emily Richmond On Twitter, I’ve been joking a bit with Kristen Graham, the Philadelphia Inquirer/Philly.com education reporter, about the ...

Modern School: Starving in the Land of Plenty Modern School: Starving in the Land of Plenty: Starving in the Land of Plenty by Michael Dunn Recent data from the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) shows that 25% of California households with children are experiencing food hardship (from New ...

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… - The Best Tools For Analyzing Census Data

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… - The Best Tools For Analyzing Census Data:

The Best Tools For Analyzing Census Data More and more accessible tools are being created to research and analyze Census data from the recently completed U.S. Census. I thought I’d bring a few of them together in a “The Best…” list. You might also be interested in The Best Resources To ...

“How Can We Help Students Develop Better Listening Skills?” This week’s “question of the week” at my Education Week Teacher blog is: *“How do you teach people to LISTEN better? Everyone seems to want very individualized instructions. They don’t listen to any of the instructions and then the minute they have ...

Another Special Edition Of “Links I Should Have Posted About, But Didn’t” (NOTE: I usually publish this kind of post once-a-week. However, even more links than usual accumulated during this last week of school”) I have a huge backlog of resources that I’ve been planning to post about in this blog but, just because of ...

The Best Websites For English Language Learner Students In 2011 — So Far I usually just do a year-end list on this topic and many others, but it gets a little crazy having to review all of my zillion posts at once. So, to make it easier for me — and perhaps, to make it a little more useful to readers — I’m going to ...

Just Revised & Updated Hurricane Resources I’ve just revised and updated The Best Sites For Learning About Hurricanes, and added Irene-related resources. Suggestions, as always, are welcome.

Oops! I Forgot To Include Link To My Ed Week Teacher Blog A little while ago I published a post inviting readers to contribute an answer to my Ed Week Teacher blog’s question of the week. However, I forgot to include a link to that blog — that’s where I’d like people to leave their responses! Sorry… ...

Lobato 8/25: Money and scores | EdNewsColorado

Lobato 8/25: Money and scores | EdNewsColorado:

Lobato 8/25: Money and scores

by Todd Engdahl

“There’s no consistent relationship between school resources and school achievement,” Hoover Institution scholar Eric Hanushek testified Thursday in the Lobato v. State school funding case.

Hanushek, a nationally known researcher on the economics of education, is the key expert witness for the state as it seeks to counter the plaintiffs’ claim that Colorado’s school funding system doesn’t adequately meet the education requirements of the state constitution.

Questioned by Senior Assistant Attorney General Carey Markel, Hanushek added, “Money certainly matters; you can’t run a school without money.” But, he added, “How you spend money is more important than how much … In general, you can’t expect any large achievement gains without changing the way you spend.”

Hanushek said that per-pupil U.S. education spending has increased four-fold since 1960 but that student achievement is at about the same level as in 1970.

Friday Churn: Deadline for candidates

by EdNews staff

What’s churning:

Today is the statewide deadline for those interested in running for their local school board this fall. They must submit 50 signatures of registered voters by the end of the day.

Next Friday, Sept. 2, is the deadline for school districts to certify any ballot content, such as operating increases or bond issues, to their county clerks. And then it all happens pretty quickly – mail ballots can go out Oct. 11 and early voting begins Oct. 17. Election Day is Nov. 1.

Putting Tests First in Florida | Scathing Purple Musings

Putting Tests First in Florida | Scathing Purple Musings:

Putting Tests First in Florida

by Bob Sikes

Jada Bryant-Roland – the Fort Meyers teenager whose FCAT score was invalidated because it couldn’t be proved she didn’t cheat - gained an ally in her home town paper. The Fort Meyers News-Press editors write:

Bryant-Roland, a 17-year-old honor student at South Fort Myers High School, learned last week that the state is upholding its invalidation of her FCAT because of possible cheating.

Possible? What kind of standard of proof and fairness is that to stand for, and to hold up as an example to young people working hard to succeed? A lousy one.

The stakes for her and for the 50 other accused students in Lee County, 7,500 statewide, are enormous. Bryant-Roland cannot graduate and her educational future is in jeopardy; she hopes to become a pediatrician. Her reputation has also been smeared.

The state is using a forensic testing company for the first time this spring to check the 4 million

Teacher turnover in charter, traditional public schools - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Teacher turnover in charter, traditional public schools - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:

Teacher turnover in charter, traditional public schools

by Valerie Strauss

This was written by Matthew Di Carlo, senior fellow at the non-profit Albert Shanker Institute, located in Washington, D.C. This post originally appeared on the institute’s blog.

By Matthew Di Carlo

Read full article >>

Using hurricanes and techie tools to engage students

by Valerie Strauss

This was written by Marsha Ratzel, A National Board-certified teacher in the Blue Valley School District in Kansas, where she teaches middle school math, science, and sometimes social studies. To read more of her writing about her teaching practice, visit her blog Reflections of a Techie. A version of this was published on the blog Voices From the Learning Revolution, where teachers, librarians, IT specialists, principals, district leaders and consultants contribute ideas about connected, digitally infused teaching.

Read full article >>

Teacher: How to address bullying school — and how not to

by Valerie Strauss

This was written by Daniel Witz, a classroom teacher and educational consultant in the North Shore suburbs of Chicago. He has been working with middle school students for 25 years and views the school reform movement as highly focused on urban and impoverished schools while failing to spotlight shortcomings in more affluent suburban districts. He can be contacted through his website at danielwitz.com.

By Daniel Witz

Read full article >>

No Child Left Behind on steroids

by Valerie Strauss

This was written by William J. Mathis is the managing director of the National Education Policy Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He is a former Vermont school superintendent.

This post is about a plan advanced by the Council of Chief State School Officers in June as a replacement for the school accountability system in No Child Left Behind.

A few weeks ago Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced that he would grant states waivers from key provisions of NCLB as long as they embrace education reform that he favors.

Read full article >>

No anti-spiking reform this year | Thoughts on Public Education

No anti-spiking reform this year | Thoughts on Public Education:

[Part III] The Author's Hour: Mike D. Hais and Morley Winograd Address the Public Perception of Millennials

by C. Cryn Johannsen

If you are an author and interested in being featured in AEM's new series called, "The Author's Hour," please send me an email (ccrynjohannsen@gmail.com).

Mike D. Hais and Morley Winograd recently spoke to me about their forthcoming book, Millennial Momentum: How a New Generation is Remaking America (September 2011). This is the final part of our talk, and it is my last question. They are traveling across the country to share, so I encourage you to check out the dates and locations for their book tour (I'll be meeting Mike and Morley in Galveston, and am really looking forward to that).

I think this final question about public perception of Millennials is really critical, and Mike's and Morley's answer -

Torlakson calls for NCLB state waiver - by John Fensterwald - Educated Guess

by John Fensterwald - Educated Guess

Entering the Beltway’s latest fray, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson has joined leaders in other states in calling for a reprieve from the No Child Left Behind law – but without the strings that U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is considering attaching. The most contentious would be a waiver to states contingent on [...]

Author's Hour: Mike D. Hais and Morley Winograd Address the Public Perception of Millennials

All Education Matters: [Part III] The Author's Hour: Mike D. Hais and Morley Winograd Address the Public Perception of Millennials:

[Part III] The Author's Hour: Mike D. Hais and Morley Winograd Address the Public Perception of Millennials

by C. Cryn Johannsen

If you are an author and interested in being featured in AEM's new series called, "The Author's Hour," please send me an email (ccrynjohannsen@gmail.com).

Mike D. Hais and Morley Winograd recently spoke to me about their forthcoming book, Millennial Momentum: How a New Generation is Remaking America (September 2011). This is the final part of our talk, and it is my last question. They are traveling across the country to share, so I encourage you to check out the dates and locations for their book tour (I'll be meeting Mike and Morley in Galveston, and am really looking forward to that).

I think this final question about public perception of Millennials is really critical, and Mike's and Morley's answer -

School Tech Connect: Poverty, Access To Books, and Success In Life--- Stephen Krashen with TFT

School Tech Connect: Poverty, Access To Books, and Success In Life--- Stephen Krashen with TFT:

Poverty, Access To Books, and Success In Life--- Stephen Krashen with TFT

by noreply@blogger.com (Tim)

Krashen, excellent as always. In this particular interview he goes in-depth into the relationship between access to books and academic success. I always like listening to this guy because he's got so much of the basic research on the factors that affect learning. When I'm talking about these issues, a lot of my material comes from Krashen.

Listen for the interesting reference to Geoffrey Canada. There are a few seconds of audio difficulty at the

Daily Kos: Eugene Robinson: A dream still out of reach

Daily Kos: Eugene Robinson: A dream still out of reach:

Eugene Robinson: A dream still out of reach

by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken)

Sunday was supposed to be the dedication of the new memorial on the National Mall to Martin Luther Kinge, Jr. Late yesterday evening the foundation responsible for it postponed the dedication because the changed path of Hurricane Irene means the seat is likely to be subjected to heavy rains overnight Saturday Night and possibly into midday Sunday. Eugene Robinson had already written this column in which he notes that as we honor King we should

not obscure one of his most important messages in a fog of sentiment. Justice, he told us, is not just a legal or moral question but a matter of economics as well.>

This is an important column which reminds us that King did not see racial justice in isolation rom the other issues that trouble this nation. The famous speech, gi en 48 years ago this Monday, was given at an event that

was officially called the “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.” Meaningful employment was a front-and-center demand.

Come on, come on, Emanuel - Arne answers @pureparents – gets an incomplete

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Come on, come on, Emanuel:

Come on, come on, Emanuel

by admin

WWRD? Now Mayor Rahm is giving local ministers the text for their sermons this week. This morning at a clergy event organized by CPS, Father Rahm urged pastors to call for a longer school day from their pulpits on Sunday.

“I ask each of you … to speak in your sermon this Sunday about education,” the mayor said at the event at U.S. Cellular Field. “I want you to specifically speak about the need for a longer school day and school year.”

Of course, it’s nothing new for City Hall to have a bunch of ministers in its hip pocket,

Arne answers @pureparents – gets an incomplete

by admin

Just noticed that one of my questions is the first mentioned in today’s ed.gov report on yesterday’s #Ask Arne Twitter Town Hall:

Many Twitter users asked Arne about testing, and whether students are taking too many tests at school.
@pureparents: #AskArne: What specifically will you do to decrease the amount of and emphasis on standardized testing in the US?
Secretary Duncan answered:
@usedgov: Where you have too many tests, or are spending too much time on test prep, that doesn’t lead to good results. #AskArne
@usedgov: Fill-in-the-bubble tests should be a tiny % of what we’re doing. I’m a big fan of formative

Side Note: An Inspiring Commencement Address From Steve Jobs

Side Note: An Inspiring Commencement Address From Steve Jobs:

Side Note: An Inspiring Commencement Address From Steve Jobs

by admin

I love commencement addresses. They close out the end of one part of life — a brief, intense period of learning as you turn the corner from young adulthood to discovering who you are in your own skin. They launch new beginnings full of hope.

You might wonder why an education news site would feature the commencement address of Steve Jobs, head of Apple and college dropout. Just think about that: Jobs is a college dropout and yet head of one of the most paradigm-changing companies in the world, with internationally-known products that touch every part of your life.

Right now we’re in a moment of economic flux. The response from many in the education field is to clamp down on learning and “accountability” out of fear. Fear that kids won’t learn, or be able to get a job, or have no skills. Numbers, data, test benchmarks are all held up as exalted signs of success or failure for both teachers and their

Last Stand for Children First: New York Judge's Ruling Throws Fantasy Season Into Disarray

Last Stand for Children First: New York Judge's Ruling Throws Fantasy Season Into Disarray:

New York Judge's Ruling Throws Fantasy Season Into Disarray

by Last Stand for Children

At the Last Stand for Children First offices this afternoon, things were going crazy. Staffers were on their computers and phones trying to get the latest on a state court ruling in New York that ordered the New York city school draft to release the test data on all it's public school teachers.

This announcement immediately threw our Fantasy School Draft into disarray. For the last few months we've all been scouting the Los Angeles school district statistics trying to put together our dream faculties for this

What I Learned At The City Hall / Gotham Schools Panel on Education | The Jose Vilson

What I Learned At The City Hall / Gotham Schools Panel on Education | The Jose Vilson:

What I Learned At The City Hall / Gotham Schools Panel on Education

by JOSE on AUGUST 25, 2011

New York's City Hall

Amazing that, in the midst of getting ready for school, I had enough time to get in an important policy panel today. Before it started, there was already lots of controversy, primarily with the preliminary list lacking teachers of any variety. Eventually, rumor had it that education professor Diane Ravitch declined her invitation to the panel because of the lack of teacher voice. After including Leo Casey and Stephen Lazar, there was further discussion about Educators for Excellence’s Sydney Morris’ presence, drawing attention to what many of us feel is a right-of-center lean for