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Wednesday, September 5, 2012

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BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS



FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Wednesday, September 5, 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 minutes ago

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee's Husband makes rounds at DNC

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: *Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee's Husband makes rounds at DNC* Education Headlines *Wednesday, September 5, 2012* Twin Rivers selects Foothill High principal as interim superintendentTwin Rivers Unified School District trustees named one of the district's high school principals as interim superintendent for this school year, and indicated they will consider him for the permanent job. Rosenblatt: Survey the hard way to understand hard choicesHow does a school board get constructive input that actually represents the values and ... more »

State Board now can wade back into eighth grade math debate | EdSource Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 minutes ago
State Board now can wade back into eighth grade math debate | EdSource Today: State Board now can wade back into eighth grade math debate - by John Fensterwald by John Fensterwald [image: Photo by 'ajaxofsalamis'] By ‘ajaxofsalamis’ The State Board of Education will be able to disentangle competing math standards that have been creating confusion over what should be taught in eighth grade, under a bill headed to Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk. SB 1200, written by Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson and the Department of Education, will remove one of many hurdles that the s... more »

A f—— conversation between Rahm and Axelrod. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 minutes ago
A f—— conversation between Rahm and Axelrod. « Fred Klonsky: A f—— conversation between Rahm and Axelrod. by Fred Klonsky “Hello, Rahm. This is David.” “Hey, Axe. How the f— are you? Good speech last night, huh?” “Yeh. Michelle was great. A home run.” “I meant f—— me.” “Oh. Right. You were good. A little rough on the teleprompter reading. But good. Yes. good.” The in box. Chris Ludkowski takes on Representative Elaine Nekritz by Fred Klonsky Lill Ludkowski is a teacher in my old district. A union stalwart. Chris Ludkowski is her son. State Representative Elaine Nekritz is a chief sp... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm dumped as Obama campaign chair

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 minutes ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm dumped as Obama campaign chair: Rahm dumped as Obama campaign chair by Mike Klonsky No wait, the headline is wrong. The latest from Charlotte is that Rahm Emanuel hasn't been dumped. He's been promoted. Yes, that's right. He's moving up the party ladder from campaign chair to fundraiser. If you readthe Washington Post (and who doesn't these days?) that's the story line behind Rahm being dropped as honorary chairman of the Obama campaign. You see, he was removed so he could "help raise big-dollar contributions so that Democrats can compete with wh... more »

Remarks by the First Lady at the Democratic National Convention | The White House

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Remarks by the First Lady at the Democratic National Convention | The White House: Remarks by the First Lady at the Democratic National Convention Time Warner Cable Arena Charlotte, North Carolina September 4, 2012 10:38 P.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: Thank you. Thank you so much. (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you so much. AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! MRS. OBAMA: With your help. With your help. (Applause.) Let me start -- I want to start by thanking Elaine. Elaine, thank you so much. We are so grateful for your family’s service and sacrifice, and we will al... more »

Modern School: Chicago Teacher Strike Deadline Set

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Modern School: Chicago Teacher Strike Deadline Set: Chicago Teacher Strike Deadline Set by Michael Dunn Huck/Konopacki Labor Cartoons Last Wednesday, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) House of Delegates gave President Karen Lewis authority to issue a 10-day strike notice. 90% of all CTU teachers (and 98% of those who voted) approved a strike back in June. According to Illinois state law, the union must also give the school board a 10 day notice before walking out. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has been trying to lengthen the school day from 5 hours and 45

Gloria Romero, The Charter Queen: The Trials of a Democratic Reformer - WSJ.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
The Weekend Interview with Gloria Romero: The Trials of a Democratic Reformer - WSJ.com: Gloria Romero: The Trials of a Democratic ReformerIn California's capital, union officials 'walk around like they're God.' This pro-labor former legislator wants to bring them back to earth. By ALLYSIA FINLEY *Los Angeles* Former Los Angeles Lakers Coach Phil Jackson once referred to Sacramento as a "cowtown," but Gloria Romero, a pro-labor Democrat who served as California's Senate majority leader from 2001 to 2008, takes exception to the belittling description. The capitol building in Sac... more »

Support Fades for Healthy Families - Capitol Desk - California Healthline

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Support Fades for Healthy Families - Capitol Desk - California Healthline: Support Fades for Healthy Families by David Gorn The Legislature never had a chance to hear arguments in favor of reinstating the Healthy Families program. The last day of the legislative session came and went on Friday with no movement on the two bills that would have reversed the planned conversion of nearly 880,000 children from Healthy Families to Medi-Cal managed care plans. A statement from the California Children's Health Coverage Coalition -- a collection of six children's advocacy groups in Califor... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 9-5-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Is Chicago a National Model for School Reform? by dianerav Thanks to loyal reader Prof. W. for forwarding this story. Chicago public schools have been under mayoral control since 1995. Mayor Daley hired Paul Vallas to reform the schools. He went on to reform the schools in Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Haiti, and now he is reforming schools in Bridgeport while running a national consulting business on reforming schools. Then Mayor Daley promoted Arne Duncan to reform the schools. Duncan called his reforms ... more »

Bridgeport Elects School Board; World doesn’t end… - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Bridgeport Elects School Board; World doesn’t end… - Wait, What?: Bridgeport Elects School Board; World doesn’t end… by jonpelto Following yesterday’s special election in Bridgeport, the reign of Bridgeport’s illegal Board of Education has come to end. Bridgeport now has a democratically elected board of education. The democratically elected board will be made up of six Democrats and three members of the Working Families Party. As reported in the Connecticut Post, “In all, there were nine candidates vying for four open seats in an election that was not only historic but quite poss... more »

“I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” at the IEA leadership. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
“I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” at the IEA leadership. « Fred Klonsky: “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” at the IEA leadership. by Fred Klonsky “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” emailed a retired colleague. Last night a notice showed up on the IEA website. It was dated September 4th. The day *AFTER* Labor Day and the huge teacher support rally in Chicago. The Chicago Teachers Union is on the verge of a strike that could shut down one of the nation’s largest school systems.IEA leaders have reached out to CTU officials to offer support. CTU has asked For all ... more »

Virtual schools and real profits: Industry shapes state policies | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Virtual schools and real profits: Industry shapes state policies | Get Schooled: Virtual schools and real profits: Industry shapes state policies by Maureen Downey [image: computer (Medium)]*The Portland Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram published an impressive investigation on a trend* that we are seeing in Georgia: For-profit online k-12 schools “aiding” legislators in writing laws that create a demand and favorable climate for their product. One of the changes pushed by the for-profit online sector: Statewide requirements that all students take at least one online course. We... more »

Schools Matter: Stop treating 4 and 5 year olds like children

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Schools Matter: Stop treating 4 and 5 year olds like children: Stop treating 4 and 5 year olds like children by skrashen Sent to the Orlando Sentinel, Sept. 5 Pre-K testing is a step in the right direction (“Time for another test — this one for 180,000 pre-K children,” Sept. 3). Required (not “voluntary”) testing is what we need to toughen up pre-school, and make sure it includes a full dose of pre-phonics (phonemic awareness) and math. We should require all children to know the alphabet and be able to spell their names as a condition for entering kindergarten. And let's insist th... more »

Who We Are, And Who We Aspire to Be

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Who We Are, And Who We Aspire to Be: Who We Are, And Who We Aspire to Be by Sam It has been four years — when the promise of an Obama presidency was still just a promise — since I have felt as inspired as I felt tonight, watching Michelle Obama, as First Lady, remind us of who we are on our best days. Back then I produced a short video that tried to capture the spirit of that moment, and to apply it to the particular challenges we face when it comes to improving American public education. To be sure, the prose of governing will always pale in comparison to the poetry of campaigning.... more »

NYC Educator: E-mail from Sarah

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
NYC Educator: E-mail from Sarah: E-mail from Sarah by Miss Eyre Less than 48 hours before the school year began, I got an e-mail from a student I'll call Sarah. Sarah just moved to the U.S. last year, but she knew enough English to get the ball rolling, and she's a bright and hard-working young lady. She did very well at our school. Sarah's e-mail, however, said that her mother wanted her to transfer schools to be closer to her sisters, who would be attending school in Manhattan. Honestly, it made me so upset that I couldn't respond to her right away. Sarah's had quite a bit of... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Walk away from School Districts Striving to have "Distinguished" Teachers Under Bill Gates' LEAP Program.

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: Walk away from School Districts Striving to have "Distinguished" Teachers Under Bill Gates' LEAP Program.: Walk away from School Districts Striving to have "Distinguished" Teachers Under Bill Gates' LEAP Program. by stlgretchen According to Bill Gates' funded assessments, Denver teachers need to teach social action to become a "distinguished" teacher. Walk away from public education in Denver as fast as possible. Stop the silly talk about how charters, vouchers and education reforms will "save" education. Find other alternatives for your children. ... more »

LAUSD- A COMPLETE AND UTTER LACK OF INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY (VIDEO) - Perdaily.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
LAUSD- A COMPLETE AND UTTER LACK OF INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY (VIDEO) - Perdaily.com: LAUSD- A COMPLETE AND UTTER LACK OF INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY (VIDEO) by Leonard Isenberg [image: Zeno's Paradox.jpg] *(**Mensaje se repite en Español) (For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post)* *It amazes me just how quickly people forget their own history. Back in 1952 when I first went toLaurel Elementary School in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) was a completely different and a measurably better reality than it is... more »

Moms on the Loose: Pam and Carol Meet DFER « Parents Across America

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Moms on the Loose: Pam and Carol Meet DFER « Parents Across America: Moms on the Loose: Pam and Carol Meet DFER by pagrundy [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Diane Ravitch’s headline said it all. *Two Moms Terrify DFER, Students First* If someone had asked you to describe the pair of women standing in bemusement at the corner of First and Tryon on Tuesday afternoon, I doubt that “terrifying” would have come to mind. True, our pencils were quite large, but they were made from pool noodles. We did have signs, but they bore the apple-pie slogans of “Trust Teachers” ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: When Chicago teachers struck in '73

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: When Chicago teachers struck in '73: When Chicago teachers struck in '73 by Mike Klonsky This from a yellowed copy of *The Call *I found*,* from back in March, 1973: CHICAGO *For the third time in four years, Chicago teachers have shut down that city's school system -- the nation's third largest. About...25,000 teachers struck for decent wages and smaller classes as well as a shorter school year with no resulting pay cuts or lay-offs. The striking teachers also asked for more free preparation time for elementary school teachers, so that teachers wou... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Cartoon Of The Year

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: Cartoon Of The Year: Cartoon Of The Year by Duke This pretty much says it all: I got this from Facebook. I'd like to give a link for proper credit; put it in the comments if you know the source. Thanks.

Integrating Film into Classroom Lessons: Three Teachers | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Integrating Film into Classroom Lessons: Three Teachers | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Integrating Film into Classroom Lessons: Three Teachers by larrycuban 8:00 AM in a Northern California charter school. I am observing Mr. Lesser (pseudonym), a U.S. history teacher for the past four years at the school. Students sit in six rows of six movable desks facing the front of the room. Teacher settles the students down and begins a review from the text (Bower and Hart, *History Alive!) *of what happened in U.S. after World War I. In rapid fire fashion, the teach... more »

Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School, Redux.southbronxschool.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
http://www.southbronxschool.com: Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School, Redux by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) *What you are about to read is true. The only thing added is the special kind of snarkiness and sarcasm that is so inherent to this blog. But file this under, "you won't believe the shit that I have seen." How ironic that I recycled the name of a previous blog post, yet added "Redux," Like Apocalypse Now, Redux. How very appropriate. * *A Disclaimer... ** * *Oh, one more thing. At no time, or in no way, is this an indictment against any teacher. Past, pre... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Why Is Bill Gates Allowed To Make Policy?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: Why Is Bill Gates Allowed To Make Policy?: Why Is Bill Gates Allowed To Make Policy? by Duke I just finished reading Anthony Cody's brilliant rejoinder to the Gates Foundation over their support of market-driven education policy. Read the whole thing - it's well worth your time. I'd just add one thought to what Cody says here: The Gates Foundation funds a tremendous amount of activity in the education sector, and I am not suggesting that every project, or every person who takes funding from the Gates Foundation is a partisan in this campaign. The Gates Foundation... more »

What Backers of the "Parent Trigger"/Parent Tricker Law Don't Want You to Know: Real Democratic Involvement in Public Schools Works | K-12 News Network

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
What Backers of the "Parent Trigger"/Parent Tricker Law Don't Want You to Know: Real Democratic Involvement in Public Schools Works | K-12 News Network: What Backers of the “Parent Trigger”/Parent Tricker Law Don’t Want You to Know: Real Democratic Involvement in Public Schools Works by admin Around the country, REAL parent heroes are putting the lie to the version of the story told in the movie *Won’t Back Down*. The “parent trigger”, or “parent tricker” law is in the news again, this time with a glossy film starring popular actors Velma Davis and Maggie Gyllenhaal. The engagin... more »

L.A. Unified administrators confident about new evaluation system - latimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
L.A. Unified administrators confident about new evaluation system - latimes.com: L.A. Unified administrators confident about new evaluation system [image: Firing Squad for Treason]Los Angeles Unified administrators are optimistic they can reach agreement with district officials over a new performance review system in compliance with court-ordered deadlines, according to legal papers filed Wednesday. The progress report was required under a court order by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant, who ruled in June that state law requires evaluations of teachers a... more »

What Democratic platform says on education - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
What Democratic platform says on education - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: [image: Answer Sheet] What Democratic platform says on education By Valerie Strauss Here are portions of the Democratic Party’s 2012 platform that discuss education and school reform. The platform was approved Tuesday by convention delegates meeting in Charlotte, N.C., to formally nominate President Obama to seek re-election. You can read the education portion of the Republican Party’s 2012 platform here. From the Democrat Party’s platform: Delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Char... more »

Commentary: What BCG “Collective Bargaining Reform” would mean for teachers | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
Commentary: What BCG “Collective Bargaining Reform” would mean for teachers | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Commentary: What BCG “Collective Bargaining Reform” would mean for teachers by Ron Whitehorne on Sep 04 2012 Posted in Blogger commentary - COMMENTS (0)PRINT - EMAIL[image: ""] Tags: - ACTIVISM/ORGANIZING - budget cuts - teacher evaluation - teacher quality - teachers - site selection - Philadelphia Federation of Teachers - School Reform Commission - school closing - teachers' contract Among the recommendations in... more »

What are DFER and Students First afraid of? « Parents Across America

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
What are DFER and Students First afraid of? « Parents Across America: What are DFER and Students First afraid of? by pagrundy For the second day in a row, at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., a handful of moms bearing flyers and large yellow pencils made out of pool noodles were denied admission to an event sponsored and/or featuring the corporate-focused education “reform” groups Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) and Students First, headed by Michelle Rhee. On Tuesday, Carol Sawyer and Pam Grundy, co-chairs of the locally based MecklenburgACTS.org, had sig... more »

Two Moms Terrify DFER and StudentsFirst « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Two Moms Terrify DFER and StudentsFirst « Diane Ravitch's blog: Two Moms Terrify DFER and StudentsFirst by dianerav *What are DFER and Students First afraid of?* Activist moms denied admission to events at the Democratic National Convention Contacts: Pam Grundy, 704-806-0410, shamrockparent@earthlink.net Carol Sawyer, 704-641-2009, carolsawyer1@gmail.com For the second day in a row, at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., a handful of moms bearing flyers and large yellow pencils made out of pool noodles were denied admission to an event sponsored and/or featu... more »

PSAT for 9-4-12: Be, see role models Parents United for Responsible Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » PSAT for 9-4-12: Be, see role models: PSAT for 9-4-12: Be, see role models by admin For this “traditional” first day of school, some teachable moments courtesy of excellent role models: Back in 1989, Chicago became a national model for school reform, thanks in part to the late Don Moore, PURE and many others who helped craft the Chicago School Reform law creating local school councils. Then we became a model for what NOT to do in school reform when the mayor took control of the schools in 1995, hiring a non-educator as CEO of... more »

Absenteeism Affects Student Success — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Absenteeism Affects Student Success — Whole Child Education: [image: Kristen Pekarek]Absenteeism Affects Student Success September 4, 2012 by Kristen Pekarek According to the Get Schooled Foundation, between 5 million and 7 million students are chronically absent, which is the best predictor of whether a student will drop out of school. The foundation's most recently released report, *Skipping to Nowhere: Students Share Their Views About Missing School*, digs deeper into the issue, revealing that most kids skipped school because they were bored. In New York City, where 200,000 of it... more »

School Board Elections: Cornerstone of Democracy | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
School Board Elections: Cornerstone of Democracy | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights: School Board Elections: Cornerstone of Democracy by Tarsi Dunlop The Democratic National Convention is currently taking place in Charlotte, North Carolina and the Republican National Convention just wrapped in Tampa last week. It’s a presidential election year and the majority of dialogue, consequently, revolves around the national political scene – from the implications of veep picks and endorsements to super PAC contributions and the influence of political ads. Certainly, insi... more »

How President Obama Could Win the Election « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
How President Obama Could Win the Election « Diane Ravitch's blog: How President Obama Could Win the Election by dianerav By all accounts, the election of 2012 will be close. For educators, the stakes are high. Mitt Romney supports every kind of privatization, from charters to vouchers to full-time online schools, and he has no problem with for-profit schooling. His agenda threatens the survival of that most basic of democratic institutions, the public school. Educators supported President Obama when he ran in 2008. They enthusiastically embraced him as a true change agent, expecti... more »

The IEA’s response to being MIA on Labor Day. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
The IEA’s response to being MIA on Labor Day. « Fred Klonsky: The IEA’s response to being MIA on Labor Day. by Fred Klonsky *Photo: Sarah Ji* When retired teacher and IEA member Sig Lisowski emailed IEA President Cinda Klickna and asked her why the IEA was MIA at the huge Labor Day rally in support of Chicago teachers, she responded: *Thank you for your email.**I hope you had a wonderful Labor Day weekend. I’m currently out of state at the Democratic Convention, but I understand thousands of IEA members participated in Labor Day events all over the state in the last few days, makin... more »

Teaching with Integrity! « Deborah Meier on Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Teaching with Integrity! « Deborah Meier on Education: Teaching with Integrity! by debmeier I’m re-reading an ancient book–”Surely You’re Joking, Mr Feynman”. Well, its 27 years old and some readers weren’t born yet. None of my grandchildren, in fact. But I didn’t remember it’s wonderful final chapter–on what science vs junk science is. All the data we collect these days re school deform is clearly of the latter variety. But I’m reminded that so is a lot of what my side promotes too. Not everything good, I used to say, has to be labeled science. But Richard Feynman is making a di... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The 'Elephant in the Room' at the DNC

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The 'Elephant in the Room' at the DNC: The 'Elephant in the Room' at the DNC by Mike Klonsky Rahm: "Unions are trouble." IEA: "Unions don't want to cause trouble." ( Fred Klonsky) Which side are you on? Which side are you on? This is the question tearing at the very fabric of the Democratic Party as tonight's DNC opens up with Rahm Emanuel at the speaker's podium. *"The threat of a Chicago teachers strike is the elephant in the room at delegation meetings," writeS-T staff reporters Natasha Korecki and Fran Spielman. "Everybody is aware of it and co... more »

Resources By Teachers, For Teachers | Edwize

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Resources By Teachers, For Teachers | Edwize: Resources By Teachers, For Teachers by W.J. Levay [image: sharemylesson]ShareMyLesson.com, a new teaching resource site developed by the AFT and TES Connect, the digital arm of the UK’s long-running *Times Educational Supplement*, was officially launched at the AFT convention this summer. But as teachers and students head back to school here in NYC, it’s a good time to check out what the site has to offer. From the AFT: Developed by teachers, for teachers, Share My Lesson already includes more than 250,000 resources, and that collectio... more »

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan to Visit Sacramento, Calif., as Part of 2012 Cross-Country Back-To-School Bus Tour Promoting Education | U.S. Department of Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan to Visit Sacramento, Calif., as Part of 2012 Cross-Country Back-To-School Bus Tour Promoting Education | U.S. Department of Education: U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan to Visit Sacramento, Calif., as Part of 2012 Cross-Country Back-To-School Bus Tour Promoting Education *“Education Drives America” to Spotlight Education Successes, Engage Communities in Conversations about School Reform, College Affordability, and Link Between Education and Economy* SEPTEMBER 4, 2012 *Contact: * Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov As a part of t... more »

Annual paid teacher leave: Average is 13.6 days for veterans. Fulton gives teachers 20 days. | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Annual paid teacher leave: Average is 13.6 days for veterans. Fulton gives teachers 20 days. | Get Schooled: Annual paid teacher leave: Average is 13.6 days for veterans. Fulton gives teachers 20 days. 3:02 pm September 4, 2012, by Maureen Downey [image: Of Georgia's largest systems, Fulton offers the most teacher leave, according to a new study. (AP Images)] Of Georgia's largest systems, Fulton offers the most teacher leave, according to a new study. (AP Images) The print AJC offered several provocative education stories over the past few days, including one on the paid leave affor... more »

Teaching to the Test in Suburbia | United Opt Out National

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Teaching to the Test in Suburbia | United Opt Out National: Teaching to the Test in Suburbia by admin *Please read and share the following post by Stefanie **Fuhr**. Stefanie ** Fuhr** has been in the classroom for close to twenty years. She has a Master’s degree in Elementary Education and is a member of the National Writing Project. Stefanie’s concerns about public schools has led Stefanie to become an advocate for public education. She states, “Schools which once supported inquiry and learning have become solely data/number/measurement collectors.” **Staying home to raise her t... more »

Expansion of School Advisory Councils: Popular idea, but devil is in the details | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Expansion of School Advisory Councils: Popular idea, but devil is in the details | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Expansion of School Advisory Councils: Popular idea, but devil is in the detailsby thenotebook on Sep 04 2012 Posted in Latest news - COMMENTS (0)PRINT - EMAIL[image: ""] Tags: - ACTIVISM/ORGANIZING - budget cuts - parent involvement - parent organizing - student activism - School Reform Commission *By Paul Jablow* * * For supporters of extending School Advisory Councils (SAC) to all schools in the District - and there is vir... more »

Shanker Blog » Five Recommendations For Reporting On (Or Just Interpreting) State Test Scores

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Shanker Blog » Five Recommendations For Reporting On (Or Just Interpreting) State Test Scores: Five Recommendations For Reporting On (Or Just Interpreting) State Test Scores by Matthew Di Carlo From my experience, education reporters are smart, knowledgeable, and attentive to detail. That said, the bulk of the stories about testing data – in big cities and suburbs, in this year and in previous years – could be better. Listen, I know it’s unreasonable to expect every reporter and editor to address every little detail when they try to write accessible copy about complicated issues,... more »

Please Post Your Responses on Gates’ Blog « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Please Post Your Responses on Gates’ Blog « Diane Ravitch's blog: Please Post Your Responses on Gates’ Blog by dianerav Earlier today I posted Anthony Cody’s searing critique of the Gates Foundation’s support for profiteering and privatization. (“When Profits Drive Reform”) Cody pulled no punches. He went right into the house of the Emperor to tell him that he has no clothes. His post is now posted on the Gates Foundation’s own blog. They call it “Impatient Optimists.” Please leave your comments on the Gates’ blog so that the foundation staff is sure to read them. They need to hear... more »

New York City Fair Student Funding reform? Not so fair: exclusive analysis - NY Daily News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
New York City Fair Student Funding reform? Not so fair: exclusive analysis - NY Daily News: New York City Fair Student Funding reform? Not so fair: exclusive analysisThe analysis shows that schools opening in the last 3 years — Bloomberg’s ‘pets’ — get more dough than those getting shut down by city.Comments (4)BY RACHEL MONAHAN / NEW YORK DAILY NEWSTUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2012, 3:21 AM Facebook 0 Twitter 3 StumbleUpon Tumblr Email Print [image: Shenia Rudolph, with her twins, seventh-grader daughter, Capri Brown, 12 and eighth-grade, son, Coby Brown, 12, who both attend Junior High ... more »

Teachers unions' alliance with Democratic Party frays - latimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Teachers unions' alliance with Democratic Party frays - latimes.com: Teachers unions' alliance with Democratic Party fraysPublic efforts toward school reform have some Democrats questioning the party's support of guarantees that school districts have made to teachers for decades. - [image: print] - Comments 59 - Email Share - - - [image: Randi Weingarten, American Federation of Teachers] Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, says parent-trigger laws actually gave power to for-profit organizations, not parents and ... more »

Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis speaks to 18,000 supporters on Labor Day | Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis speaks to 18,000 supporters on Labor Day | Seattle Education: Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis speaks to 18,000 supporters on Labor Day from Seattle Education 2010 by seattleducation2011 Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis spoke to 18,00 supporters yesterday in Chicago’s Daley Plaza and she did not mince her words. Chicago was the birthplace of education reform as we know it with then CEO of Chicago Public Schools, Arne Duncan, and his failed Renaissance 2010 program to p... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Tuesday, September 4, 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION: Pelosi kicks off roster of speakers to California delegation Education Headlines *Tuesday, September 4, 2012* Local students boost test resultsStatewide, just over half of students -- 51 percent -- scored proficient or advanced in math. In English, 57 percent scored proficient or above. That's up by a percentage point in math and three in English over last year. Chino Valley USD reveals 4 teachers had sex with studentsThree of the four teachers allegedly involved in sexual relationships with students were ... more »

Teacher’s Unions in Tension With Democrats in Charlotte | FDL News Desk

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Teacher’s Unions in Tension With Democrats in Charlotte | FDL News Desk: Teacher’s Unions in Tension With Democrats in Charlotte by David Dayen Teacher in classroom with students (photo: Temari 09 / flickr) The Democratic platform on education includes the passage, “We Democrats honor our nation’s teachers, who do a heroic job for their students every day. If we want high-quality education for all our kids, we must listen to the people who are on the front lines.” However, it’s also perhaps the first education platform plank that tentatively dips its toe in the water of using student... more »

School Tech Connect: Obama, Are You Listening?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
School Tech Connect: Obama, Are You Listening?: Obama, Are You Listening? by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) I know I riff on this a lot, but... If I were a certain sitting Democratic president, I would be reaching out to the people who lifted me up. I would be looking in the mirror and asking myself, *Who got me here? What was it that people saw in me that I need to rekindle this time around?* * *This is the great Jitu Brown, speaking at Daley Plaza today. Like I say, if I were a certain someone facing re-election, I wouldn't be hitching my star to bland technocratic chamele... more »

The solution to everything: More Standardized Testing! - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
The solution to everything: More Standardized Testing! - Wait, What?: The solution to everything: A. More Standardized Testing! by jonpelto Public education experts Diane Ravitch and Gary Rubinstein write about a recent letter from 30 plus “education reform” groups to Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. The “education reformer’s” message; standardized test scores should be used to measure the effectiveness of teacher training programs in the United States. No don’t laugh, these people are for real. Here is what they want. Colleges graduate teachers; teachers get hired; the teacher... more »







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FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Wednesday, September 5, 2012

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team:


Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee's Husband makes rounds at DNC



Education Headlines

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Twin Rivers selects Foothill High principal as interim superintendent

Twin Rivers Unified School District trustees named one of the district's high school principals as interim superintendent for this school year, and indicated they will consider him for the permanent job.

Rosenblatt: Survey the hard way to understand hard choices

How does a school board get constructive input that actually represents the values and opinions of its constituency rather than just the often self-selected views of those who choose to participate?

Fensterwald: State Board now can wade back into eighth grade math debate

The State Board of Education will be able to disentangle competing math standards that have been creating confusion over what should be taught in eighth grade, under a bill headed to Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk.

LAUSD must pay $2.4 million to football player who broke neck

A 19-year-old North Hollywood High School student who broke his neck during a football tryout practice has won a $2.4-million arbitration award against the Los Angeles Unified School District.

SIA Cabinet Report: Alternatives to suspensions, expulsions await governor’s signature

Several bills designed to promote the use of alternative methods of school discipline made their way out of the Legislature last week and are now pending before Gov. Jerry Brown.

Oakland school aims to help black boys

At the 100 Black Men Community School, a new all-male public charter school, educators and organizers say they refuse to accept the statistics associated with black boys that include higher dropout rates, lower test scores and disproportionate placement in special education programs.

LAUSD proposes new teacher-evaluation system, negotiating with UTLA

Under a court order to demonstrate that they're trying to devise a new teacher evaluation system, Los Angeles Unified officials said Tuesday that they've presented formal proposals and continue to negotiate with union leaders.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Poll: Weak support for ballot propositions meant to fund education

According to the poll, conducted by the Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE)/USC Rossier School of Education, only about 55 percent of Californians support Prop. 30, Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed quarter-cent sales tax and income tax increase on individuals making more than $250,000 a year.

Top school retirees benefited from cash-out

For nearly a decade, California's top-paid school administrators got to collect six-figure lump sum cash payments in addition to their pensions by taking advantage of a little-known legislative provision that was intended to help retain and recruit teachers during the dot-com boom.

Local students boost test results

Statewide, just over half of students -- 51 percent -- scored proficient or advanced in math. In English, 57 percent scored proficient or above. That's up by a percentage point in math and three in English over last year.

State Board now can wade back into eighth grade math debate | EdSource Today

State Board now can wade back into eighth grade math debate | EdSource Today:


State Board now can wade back into eighth grade math debate - by John Fensterwald

UPDATE: A f—— conversation between Rahm and Axelrod. « Fred Klonsky

A f—— conversation between Rahm and Axelrod. « Fred Klonsky:



Hands around City Hall.

When Jackson Potter told me on Saturday night that we were going to join hands and encircle City Hall, I didn’t really believe it.
Believe it.


Former Governor Edgar to the state on pensions. “Pay up.”


Crain’s Greg Hinz reports on former GOP Governor Jim Edgar’s views on the pension issue. Edgar finds no common ground with today’s GOP, the Democrats or even the Civic Committee.

Mr. Edgar said he wouldn’t have called that late-August special legislative session that Mr. Quinn called — not without some reason to think that something was likely to happen. All that did is rile up the various factions, he said. Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan “is a smart guy. But he can’t govern the state. 



A f—— conversation between Rahm and Axelrod.


“Hello, Rahm. This is David.”
“Hey, Axe. How the f— are you? Good speech last night, huh?”
“Yeh. Michelle was great. A home run.”
“I meant f—— me.”
“Oh. Right. You were good. A little rough on the teleprompter reading. But good. Yes. good.”


The in box. Chris Ludkowski takes on Representative Elaine Nekritz

Lill Ludkowski is a teacher in my old district. A union stalwart. Chris Ludkowski is her son.
State Representative Elaine Nekritz is a chief sponsor of the pension cost shift that would place the state’s pension payment obligations to local school districts. She also backs benefit cuts to teacher retirees.
Hello Fred,
I’m writing so that your readers can be the first to know that my son, Chris Ludkowski, has decided to mount a write-in campaign for the office of State Representative of the 57th District.As many of your readers know, that office is currently held by Elaine Nekritz, sponsor of the bill to 

UPDATE Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm dumped as Obama campaign chair

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm dumped as Obama campaign chair:



Philly plan to "reform" collective bargaining

The Boston Consulting Group is pushing Philadelphia's school district to "undertake comprehensive collective bargaining reform” with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers and, simultaneously, “pursue legislative changes” in the school code.

According to The Notebook writer Ron Whitehorne, the “reforms” advocated in this document would roll back important protections that are afforded teachers under the school code and union contract.

Writes Whitehorne:
The attack on tenure and the call for laying off teachers based on performance rather than seniority is another familiar theme that has profound implications. “Performance” is mainly about 



Rahm dumped as Obama campaign chair

No wait, the headline is wrong. The latest from Charlotte is that Rahm Emanuel hasn't been dumped. He's been promoted. Yes, that's right. He's moving up the party ladder from campaign chair to fundraiser. If you readthe Washington Post (and who doesn't these days?) that's the story line behind Rahm being dropped as honorary chairman of the Obama campaign. You see, he was removed so he could "help raise big-dollar contributions so that Democrats can compete with what is emerging as a clear GOP fundraising advantage this election cycle." This according to unnamed "campaign and fundraising individuals."

As we all know, campaign chairs can't fund-raise. Right? They're too busy 

Remarks by the First Lady at the Democratic National Convention | The White House

Remarks by the First Lady at the Democratic National Convention | The White House:


Remarks by the First Lady at the Democratic National Convention

Time Warner Cable Arena
Charlotte, North Carolina

September 4, 2012
10:38 P.M. EDT
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you.  Thank you so much.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you so much. 
 
AUDIENCE:  Four more years!  Four more years!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  With your help.  With your help.  (Applause.) 
 
Let me start -- I want to start by thanking Elaine.  Elaine, thank you so much.  We are so grateful for your family’s service and sacrifice, and we will always have your back.  (Applause.)
 
Over the past few years as First Lady, I have had the extraordinary privilege of traveling all across this country.  And everywhere I’ve gone, and the people I’ve met, and the stories I’ve heard, I have seen the very best of the American spirit.  I have seen it in the incredible kindness and warmth that people have shown me and my family, especially our girls.
 
I’ve seen it in teachers in a near-bankrupt school district who vowed to keep teaching without pay.  (Applause.)  I’ve seen it in people who become heroes at a moment’s notice, diving into harm’s way to save others; flying across the country to put out a fire; driving for hours to bail out a flooded town.  
 
And I’ve seen it in our men and women in uniform and our proud military families.  (Applause.)  In wounded warriors who tell me they’re not just going to walk again, they’re going to run, and they’re going to run marathons.  (Applause.)  In the young man blinded by a bomb in Afghanistan who said, simply, "I’d give my eyes 100 times again to have the chance to do what I have done and what I can still do."
 
Every day, the people I meet inspire me.  Every day, they make me proud.  Every day, they remind me how blessed we are to live in the greatest nation on Earth.  (Applause.)
 
Serving as your First Lady is an honor and a privilege.  But back when we first came together four years ago, I still had some concerns about this journey we’d begun.  While I believed deeply in my husband’s vision for this country, and I was certain he would make an extraordinary President, like any mother, I was worried about what it would mean for our girls if he got that chance.  How will we keep them grounded under the glare of the national spotlight?  How would they feel being uprooted from their school, their friends, and the only home they’d ever known?
 
See, our life before moving to Washington was filled with simple joys -- Saturdays at soccer games, Sundays at Grandma’s house, and a date night for Barack and me was either dinner or a movie, because as an exhausted mom, I couldn’t stay awake for both.  (Laughter.)
 
And the truth is, I loved the life we had built for our girls, and I deeply loved the man I had built that life with -- and I didn’t want that to change if he became President.  (Applause.)  I loved Barack just the way he was.
 
You see, even back then, when Barack was a senator and a presidential candidate, to me, he was still the guy who picked me up for our dates in a car that was so rusted out, I could actually see the pavement going by in a hole in the passenger side door.  (Laughter.)  He was the guy whose proudest possession was a coffee table he’d found in a dumpster, and whose only pair of decent shoes was a half size too small.  (Laughter.)
 
But, see, when Barack started telling me about his family -– see, now, that’s when I knew I had found a kindred spirit, someone whose values and upbringing were so much like mine.
 
You see, Barack and I were both raised by families who didn’t have much in the way of money or material possessions but who had given us something far more valuable -- their unconditional love, their unflinching sacrifice, and the chance to go places they had never imagined for themselves.  (Applause.)
 
My father was a pump operator at the city water plant, and he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when my brother and I were young.  And even as a kid, I knew there were plenty of days when he was in pain, and I knew there were plenty of mornings when it was a struggle for him to simply get out of bed. 
 
But every morning, I watched my father wake up with a smile, grab his walker, prop himself up against the bathroom sink, and slowly shave and button his uniform.  And when he returned home after a long day’s work, my brother and I would stand at the top of the stairs of our little apartment, patiently waiting to greet him, watching as he reached down to lift one leg, and then the other, to slowly climb his way into our arms.
 
But despite these challenges, my dad hardly ever missed a day of work.  He and my mom were determined to give me and my brother the kind of education they could only dream of.  (Applause.) 
 
And when my brother and I finally made it to college, nearly all of our tuition came from student loans and grants.  But my dad still had to pay a tiny portion of that tuition himself.  And every semester, he was determined to pay that bill right on time, even taking out loans when he fell short.  He was so proud to be sending his kids to college, and he made sure we never missed a registration deadline because his check was late.
 
You see, for my dad, that’s what it meant to be a man.  (Applause.)  Like so many of us, that was the measure of his success in life -- being able to earn a decent living that allowed him to support his family.
 
And as I got to know Barack, I realized that even though he had grown up all the way across the country, he’d been brought up just like me.  Barack was raised by a single mom who struggled to pay the bills, and by grandparents who stepped in when she needed help.  Barack’s grandmother started out as a secretary at a community bank, and she moved quickly up the ranks, but like so many women, she hit a glass ceiling.  And for years, men no more qualified than she was -- men she had actually trained -- were promoted up the ladder ahead of her, earning more and more money while Barack’s family continued to scrape by.
 
But day after day, she kept on waking up at dawn to catch the bus, arriving at work before anyone else, giving her best without complaint or regret.  And she would often tell Barack, "So long as you kids do well, Bar, that’s all that really matters."
 
Like so many American families, our families weren’t asking for much.  They didn’t begrudge anyone else’s success or care that others had much more than they did -- in fact, they admired it.  (Applause.)  They simply believed in that fundamental American promise that, even if you don’t start out with much, if you work hard and do what you’re supposed to do, you should be able to build a decent life for yourself and an even better life for your kids and grandkids.  That’s how they raised us (Applause.)  That’s what we learned from their example.
 
We learned about dignity and decency -- that how hard you work matters more than how much you make; that helping others means more than just getting ahead yourself.  (Applause.)  We learned about honesty and integrity -- that the truth matters -- (applause) -- that you don’t take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules; and success doesn’t count unless you earn it fair and square.  (Applause.)  We learned about gratitude and humility -- that so many people had a hand in our success, from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors who kept our school clean.  (Applause.)  And we were taught to value everyone’s contribution and treat everyone with respect.
 
Those are the values that Barack and I -- and so many of you -- are trying to pass on to our own children.  That’s who we are.
 
And standing before you four years ago, I knew that I didn’t want any of that to change if Barack became President.  Well, today, after so many struggles and triumphs and moments that have tested my husband in ways I never could have imagined, I have seen firsthand that being President doesn’t change who you are -- no, it reveals who you are.  (Applause.)
 
You see, I’ve gotten to see up close and personal what being President really looks like.  And I’ve seen how the issues that come across a President’s desk are always the hard ones -- the problems where no amount of data or numbers will get you to the right answer; the judgment calls where the stakes are so high, and there is no margin for error.  And as President, you're going to get all kinds of advice from all kinds of people.  But at the end of the day, when it comes time to make that decision, as President, all you have to guide you are your values and your vision, and the life experiences that make you who you are.  (Applause.) 
 
So when it comes to rebuilding our economy, Barack is thinking about folks like my dad and like his grandmother.  He’s thinking about the pride that comes from a hard day’s work.  That’s why he signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to help women get equal pay for equal work.  (Applause.)  That’s why he cut taxes for working families and small businesses, and fought to get the auto industry back on its feet.  (Applause.)   
 
That’s how he brought our economy from the brink of collapse to creating jobs again -- jobs you can raise a family on, good jobs right here in the United States of America.  (Applause.) 
 
When it comes to the health of our families, Barack refused to listen to all those folks who told him to leave health reform for another day, another President.  (Applause.)  He didn’t care whether it was the easy thing to do politically -- no, that’s not how he was raised.  He cared that it was the right thing to do.  (Applause.)
 
He did it because he believes that here in America, our grandparents should be able to afford their medicine, our kids should be able to see a doctor when they’re sick, and no one in this country should ever go broke because of an accident or an illness.  (Applause.)   
 
And he believes that women are more than capable of making our own choices about our bodies and our health care.  (Applause.)  That’s what my husband stands for.  (Applause.) 
 
When it comes to giving our kids the education they deserve, Barack knows that, like me and like so many of you, he never could have attended college without financial aid.  And believe it or not, when we were first married, our combined monthly student loan bill was actually higher than our mortgage.  (Laughter.)  Yeah, we were so young, so in love -- and so in debt.  (Laughter.) 
 
And that's why Barack has fought so hard to increase student aid and keep interest rates down -- (applause) -- because he wants every young person to fulfill their promise and be able to attend college without a mountain of debt.  (Applause.)  
 
So in the end, for Barack, these issues aren’t political -- they’re personal.  Because Barack knows what it means when a family struggles.  He knows what it means to want something more for your kids and grandkids.  Barack knows the American Dream because he’s lived it.  (Applause.)  And he wants everyone in this country -- everyone -- to have that same opportunity, no matter who we are, or where we’re from, or what we look like, or who we love.  (Applause.)   
 
And he believes that when you’ve worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you.  No, you reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.  (Applause.)   
 
So when people ask me whether being in the White House has changed my husband, I can honestly say that when it comes to his character, and his convictions, and his heart, Barack Obama is still the same man I fell in love with all those years ago.  (Applause.)  He’s the same man who started his career by turning down high-paying jobs and instead working in struggling neighborhoods where a steel plant had shut down, fighting to rebuild those communities and get folks back to work -- because for Barack, success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.  (Applause.)   
 
He’s the same man, when our girls were first born, would anxiously check their cribs every few minutes to ensure that they were still breathing -- (laughter) -- proudly showing them off to everyone we knew. 
 
You see, that’s the man who sits down with me and our girls for dinner nearly every night, patiently answering questions about issues in the news, strategizing about middle school friendships.  (Laughter.) 
 
That’s the man I see in those quiet moments late at night, hunched over his desk, poring over the letters people have sent him.  The letter from the father struggling to pay his bills, from the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company won’t cover her care, from the young person with so much promise but so few opportunities. 
 
I see the concern in his eyes and I hear the determination in his voice as he tells me, "You won’t believe what these folks are going through, Michelle -- it’s not right.  We’ve got to keep working to fix this.  We’ve got so much more to do."  (Applause.)
 
AUDIENCE:  Four more years!  Four more years!  Four more years!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  I see how those stories -- our collection of struggles and hopes and dreams -- I see how that's what drives Barack Obama every single day. 
 
And I didn’t think that it was possible, but let me tell you, today I love my husband even more than I did four years ago, even more than I did 23 years ago, when we first met.  (Applause.)  Let me tell you why.  See, I love that he has never forgotten how he started.  I love that we can trust Barack to do what he says he’s going to do, even when it’s hard -- especially when it’s hard.  (Applause.)   
 
I love that for Barack, there is no such thing as "us" and "them" -- he doesn’t care whether you’re a Democrat, a Republican, or none of the above; he knows that we all love our country.  And he is always ready to listen to good ideas, he’s always looking for the very best in everyone he meets. 
 
And I love that even in the toughest moments, when we’re all sweating it -- when we’re worried that the bill won’t pass, and it seems like all is lost -- see, Barack never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise.  No, just like his grandmother, he just keeps getting up and moving forward -- with patience and wisdom, and courage and grace.  (Applause.)    
 
And he reminds me that we are playing a long game here, and that change is hard and change is slow, and it never happens all at once.  But eventually we get there.  We always do. 
 
We get there because of folks like my dad, folks like Barack’s grandmother -- men and women who said to themselves, "I may not have a chance to fulfill my dreams, but maybe my children will, maybe my grandchildren will."
 
See, so many of us stand here tonight because of their sacrifice, and longing, and steadfast love -- they swallowed their fears and doubts and did what was hard.  (Applause.) 
 
So today, when the challenges we face start to seem overwhelming -- or even impossible -- let us never forget that doing the impossible is the history of this nation.  It is who we are as Americans.  It is how this country was built.  (Applause.)
 
And if our parents and grandparents could toil and struggle for us -- if they could raise beams of steel to the sky, send a man to the moon, connect the world with the touch of a button -- then surely we can keep on sacrificing and building for our own kids and grandkids, right?  (Applause.) 
 
And if so many brave men and women could wear our country’s uniform and sacrifice their lives for our most fundamental rights, then surely we can do our part as citizens of this great democracy to exercise those rights.  Surely we can get to the polls on Election Day and make our voices heard.  (Applause.)
 
If farmers and blacksmiths could win independence from an empire, if immigrants could leave behind everything they knew for a better life on our shores, if women could be dragged to jail for seeking the vote, if a generation could defeat a depression and define greatness for all time, if a young preacher could lift us to the mountaintop with his righteous dream -- (applause) -- and if proud Americans can be who they are and boldly stand at the altar with who they love -- (applause) -- then surely, surely we can give everyone in this country a fair chance at that great American Dream.  (Applause.)
 
Because in the end, more than anything else, that is the story of this country -- the story of unwavering hope grounded in unyielding struggle.  That is what has made my story, and Barack’s story, and so many other American stories possible.
 
And let me tell you something.  I say all of this tonight not just as First Lady, no, not just as a wife.  You see, at the end of the day, my most important title is still "mom-in-chief." (Applause.)  My daughters are still the heart of my heart and the center of my world. 
 
But let me tell you, today, I have none of those worries from four years ago -- no, not about whether Barack and I were doing what was best for our girls.  Because today, I know from experience that if I truly want to leave a better world for my daughters -- and for all of our sons and daughters, if we want to give all of our children a foundation for their dreams and opportunities worthy of their promise, if we want to give them that sense of limitless possibility -- that belief that here in America, there is always something better out there if you’re willing to work for it -- (applause) -- then we must work like never before.  (Applause.) 
 
And we must once again come together and stand together for the man we can trust to keep moving this great country forward -- my husband, our President, Barack Obama.  (Applause.) 
 
Thank you.  God bless you, and God bless America.  (Applause.) 
 
END
September 4, 2012
11:03 P.M. EDT

Gloria Romero, The Charter Queen: The Trials of a Democratic Reformer - WSJ.com

The Weekend Interview with Gloria Romero: The Trials of a Democratic Reformer - WSJ.com:


Gloria Romero: The Trials of a Democratic Reformer

In California's capital, union officials 'walk around like they're God.' This pro-labor former legislator wants to bring them back to earth.




Los Angeles

Former Los Angeles Lakers Coach Phil Jackson once referred to Sacramento as a "cowtown," but Gloria Romero, a pro-labor Democrat who served as California's Senate majority leader from 2001 to 2008, takes exception to the belittling description. The capitol building in Sacramento, she says, has "the eighth most powerful economy in the world under that dome," and it operates not unlike other wealthy kleptocracies. "There's no other way to say it politely. It's owned."

Topping the list of proprietors is the California Teachers Association, which she calls the most muscular union and political player in the state. Then there are the unions for nurses, prison guards, firefighters and police. Call them California's "deep state."
Corporate Media = Corporate LiesMs. Romero now heads the California chapter of Democrats for Education Reform, a large tent of liberals who are as diverse as an Occupy encampment but united by a common desire to improve accountability in public schools. The group supports Democratic school reformers running for political office and promotes legislation that toughens standards.
But before taking up her current charge, Ms. Romero served a dozen years in the 

Support Fades for Healthy Families - Capitol Desk - California Healthline

Support Fades for Healthy Families - Capitol Desk - California Healthline:


Support Fades for Healthy Families

The Legislature never had a chance to hear arguments in favor of reinstating the Healthy Families program. The last day of the legislative session came and went on Friday with no movement on the two bills that would have reversed the planned conversion of nearly 880,000 children from Healthy Families to Medi-Cal managed care plans.
A statement from the California Children's Health Coverage Coalition -- a collection of six children's advocacy groups in California -- said lawmakers missed a chance to restore a successful program and save money for California.
"[The coalition] considers the end of session developments as a huge loss for California children, a missed opportunity to secure the $200 million in badly needed revenues from the Managed Care


Read more: http://www.californiahealthline.org/capitol-desk/2012/9/legislature-shuns-healthy-families-bills.aspx#ixzz25bAbNQKI