Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Cook-Wissahickon parents to Corbett: 'We desperately need your help' | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Cook-Wissahickon parents to Corbett: 'We desperately need your help' | Philadelphia Public School Notebook:

Cook-Wissahickon parents to Corbett: 'We desperately need your help'

by Guest blogger on Jan 11 2012 Posted in Community voices

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In this guest blog post we are running a letter that parent Rebecca Poyourow and 230 additional supporters of Cook-Wissahickon Elementary in Roxborough recently sent to Gov. Tom Corbettand other elected officials.

The letter details the harsh impact of the cuts at their neighborhood school, including the loss of a kindergarten teacher, librarian, assistant principal, school police officer, bus monitor, and noontime aides.

December 21, 2011

Governor Tom Corbett
Governor's Office
225 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120

Senator Vincent J. Hughes
Room 545, Capitol Building
Senate Box 203007
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3007

Representative Pamela A. DeLissio
109B East Wing
PO Box 202194
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2194

Re: Harm Done to Cook-Wissahickon Elementary School by PA State Budget Cuts to Public Education

Dear Governor Corbett, Senator Hughes, and Representative DeLissio,

Greetings to each of you during this holiday season. We are parents, teachers, students, and staff of Cook-Wissahickon Elementary School in Roxborough, a neighborhood in northwest Philadelphia, and we are writing

Successful Policies for Low-income Children Yet High Cost and Low Resolve Trump Evidence | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Successful Policies for Low-income Children Yet High Cost and Low Resolve Trump Evidence | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice:

Successful Policies for Low-income Children Yet High Cost and Low Resolve Trump Evidence

by larrycuban

Preschool programs for low-income children help build solid adults, the evidence says. Wraparound programs offering poor children and youth rigorous academic content and social services help build solid adults, theevidence says. Now there is even more evidence. Offering college scholarships to elementary school children who graduate high school works.

In 1981, a businessman offered college tuition to elementary school students in New York City who graduated high school. Called “I Have a Dream,” Eugene Lang’s efforts had prompted two Washington, D.C. businessmen

Kelly Flynn: Teachers hold the key. They always have. - Living in Dialogue

Kelly Flynn: Teachers hold the key. They always have. - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:

Kelly Flynn: Teachers hold the key. They always have.

by Anthony Cody

Guest post by Kelly Flynn.

I'm intrigued by the topic of Anthony Cody's two recent blog entries, "Are Critics of Corporate Education 'Reform' Winning the Online Debate?" and "Lopsided Debate Over Education Reform Reveals a Broken System."

We may be winning the online battle, but so far, we're losing the war.

After teaching high school for almost 20 years I left the classroom to write a weekly newspaper column about education for The Flint Journal in Flint, Michigan. Because the column was published in a mainstream newspaper, I was able to inform and educate the general public about the reality of life in the classroom, and then show them -- using humor and anecdotes -- exactly why a particular piece of legislation would not work.

I began writing about the dangers of NCLB and the dismantling of the public school system in 2002. I wrote

Why the Virgin Mary Left NOLA and Other Lessons from a Turnaround School - Teacher in a Strange Land

Why the Virgin Mary Left NOLA and Other Lessons from a Turnaround School - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher:

Why the Virgin Mary Left NOLA and Other Lessons from a Turnaround School

by Nancy Flanagan

I spent much of the past week in Louisiana, working with the teachers at a turnaround school there. I've written about this school before--their struggle to build genuine trust and teamwork when a brand new staff is constructed of enthusiastic beginners, battle-weary returnees who know the community well and skilled veterans looking for a challenge who volunteered to transfer in. When I was there last summer, the school was uninviting (to say the least) and the staff was sticking a tentative toe into honest collaboration.

What a difference five months makes. The most obvious evidence is shiny floors, new window blinds, student work on the walls, and people who call each other by name. In fact, the teachers use an automatic honorific in addressing each other--Ms. Thompson calls her colleague Ms. Adams, even in a two-day, adults-only

A Culture of Resistance is Born in 2011: the People United in an Independent Movement | OWSnews.org #OWS

A Culture of Resistance is Born in 2011: the People United in an Independent Movement | OWSnews.org:

A Culture of Resistance is Born in 2011: the People United in an Independent Movement

Kevin Zeese at OWSnews.org - 3 minutes ago

In 2012, the Real Conversation will be in the Occupations, while Corporate Candidates have a False Conversation By Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers The Occupy Movement that developed in 2011 profoundly shook the foundation of the 1%. Almost instantly a new form of political power was created, all truly grown from the grass roots, and handed [...]

Dylan Ratigan & David DeGraw on the 99% Movement, OWS & Getting Money Out of Politics

admin at OWSnews.org - 3 minutes ago

“It’s Viral!” The Movement to Overturn Citizens United Swamps the Internet

admin at OWSnews.org - 3 minutes ago

Comedian Lee Camp (“Moment of Clarity”) helps democracy advocates take their message about the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision “viral.”

Saving the Post Office: The Models of Kiwibank and Japan Post

Ellen Brown at OWSnews.org - 14 hours ago

Neither rain nor sleet nor snow may have stopped the Pony Express, but the nation’s oldest and second largest employer is now under attack. Claiming the Postal Service is bankrupt, critics are pushing legislation that would defuse the postal crisis by breaking the backs of the postal workers’ unions and mandating widespread layoffs. But the [...]

Deepak HomeBase Livestream: Dylan Ratigan and Arianna Huffington on Greedy Bastards & Getting Money Out of Politics – Join the Conversation

admin at OWSnews.org - 18 hours ago

Deepak Chopra, Dylan Ratigan and Arianna Huffington discuss Dylan’s new book, Greedy Bastards, and have an open discussion on getting money out of politics. Be an active part of the conversation: upload your videos, ask a question, tell your story and do what it takes to ensure that your voice on the matter is heard! [...]

Chaplain Evicted From Home; Occupiers Come To Her Support

Margot Paez at OWSnews.org - 3 days ago

Jan 2, 2012: Occupy The Rose Parade

R.J. Robinson at OWSnews.org - 4 days ago

More than a thousand members of Occupy L.A. marched at the end of the Rose Parade on January 2nd to bring their populist message to legions of visiting football fans. Although met with a largely negative reaction, the three-mile march through the streets of Pasadena went smoothly and without incident, although it remains to be [...]

Occupy London, What is Next?

admin at OWSnews.org - 5 days ago

Filmmaker Inka Stafrace OCCUPY YOUR CONSCIENCE x Stop watching the telly and whining. Join the spirit of Occupy by writing letters, voting, demonstrating, visit the site, join a working group, whatever you do … do something. OccupyLondon.info is a great start to find out more about the intelligence of the Occupy LSX movement.

Tom Morello: This Land Is Your Land

admin at OWSnews.org - 6 days ago

Tom Morello leads Occupy LA in a rousing rendition of Woody Guthrie’s anthem “This Land Is Your Land.”

Occupy Movie: We Are The 99%

admin at OWSnews.org - 1 week ago

This inspiring documentary highlights the unified voices of Occupy movement participants. This compelling look into the perspectives of citizens rallying for change sits in stark contrast to the out of context portrayal of the Occupy movement falsely created by media corporations. Occupy Movie has been released as a social film experience! You can now INTERACT [...]

Thousands Of Occupiers March During 123rd Rose Parade, Call Themselves The People’s Parade

Margot Paez at OWSnews.org - 1 week ago

Cindy Sheehan speaks after Occupy the Rose Parade

R.J. Robinson at OWSnews.org - 1 week ago

Activist Cindy Sheehan speaks to the crowd that gathered after thousands of Occupiers marched in the Rose Bowl parade. She told the gathering to stop paying their credit cards, stop paying their income tax, and predicts that 2012 is going to be a year of revolution.

Occupiers Prepare To Occupy The Rose Parade

Margot Paez at OWSnews.org - 1 week ago

OWS End Corporate Personhood, Get Money Out Working Group / Campaign

David DeGraw at OWSnews.org - 1 week ago

The following is an email to many OWS organizers: Happy New Year! Whose Year? Our Year! As most of you already know, I’ve been having discussions with OWS organizers around the country about many different projects and what people’s ultimate goals are. It’s been incredibly overwhelming and it’s impossible to keep up with everything anymore. [...]

Hawaii | Bank Fraud RE Tehiva/Phillips Foreclosure Eviction – American Home Mortgage, Sand Canyon, Kathy Smith, Soundview Home Loan Trust, 2007-OPT2, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Michael Redman at OWSnews.org - 1 week ago

Bank Fraud American Home Mortgage Servicing Sand Canyon Corporation Kathy Smith Soundview Home Loan Trust, 2007-OPT2 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Action Date: January 1, 2012 Location: Maui, HI On January 2, 2012, Wells Fargo Bank and American Home Mortgage Servicing, Inc. (“AHMSI”) will attempt to force the Tehiva/Phillips family from their family home on 5305 [...]

Hawaii Action Alert | Stop a Wells Fargo Eviction at the Tehiva/Phillips’ Home 5305 Hana Hwy Monday Jan 2

Michael Redman at OWSnews.org - 1 week ago

Stop the Eviction at the Tehiva/Phillips’ Home 5305 Hana Hwy Monday Jan 2 We are literally crying out to all that can be on our property on Jan. 2nd to make a silent stand for what is right and protest against the fraudulent act of the bank. On Jan. 2, Monday our entire family will [...]

Tis the Season: Police Raid #OccupyBethlehem Encampment

admin at OWSnews.org - 2 weeks ago

In this holiday season, when the masses are protesting social injustice and wealth inequity, a question arises, “What would Jesus do?”

SOPA Falls Short Of Ending Online Piracy Creates Free Speech And Technical Issues

Margot Paez at OWSnews.org - 2 weeks ago

#D17 Spontaneous March on Times Square, Violent Arrests by the NYPD

admin at OWSnews.org - 3 weeks ago

On the three month anniversary of Occupy Wall Street, after the arrest of 49 protesters in Duarte Square, occupiers take their message into the streets. The peaceful march on Times Square is met with cheers from bus passengers, limo drivers and other working new yorkers, and with violent arrests by the NYPD.

One People Flash Mob – Occupy

admin at OWSnews.org - 3 weeks ago

Over 100 dancers converged at Occupy SF & Oakland to dance the world awake. Flashmob Produced & Directed by Magalie Bonneau-Marcil of DancingwithoutBorders.org. Video Directed & Edited by Ben Flanigan (BenFlanigan.com). Thanks to our team of choreographers: Giuliana Blasi, Samantha Sweetwater and Mika Lemoine. Co-sponsors: CODEPINK.org & SFNOW.org. Want to bring the flash mob to [...]

RheeFirst! » Watch Michelle Rhee pull a Romney: loves to fire people

RheeFirst! » Watch Michelle Rhee pull a Romney: loves to fire people:

Watch Michelle Rhee pull a Romney: loves to fire people

by admin

From Michael Winerip’s New York Times article:

“Always, she preens for the cameras. Early in her chancellorship, she was trailed for a story by the education correspondent of “PBS NewsHour,” John Merrow.

At one point, Ms. Rhee asked if his crew wanted to watch her fire a principal. “We were totally stunned,” Mr. Merrow said.

She let them set up the camera behind the principal and videotape the entire firing. “The principal seemed dazed,” said Mr. Merrow. “I’ve been reporting 35 years and never seen anything like it.””

It takes a strong stomach, but you can watch the video below. Out of a sense of compassion and decency, the PBS crew chose not to film the principal’s face.

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Alexander Russo Working Hard for the 1% At Scholastic?

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Diane Ravitch Blocked Me on Twitter

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Wednesday, January 11, 2012