Is ‘Willful Defiance’ Still Grounds for Suspension? NEA Today

NEA Today:

Is ‘Willful Defiance’ Still Grounds for Suspension?

By Edward Graham As more educators, administrators and educational experts around the country join the growing chorus of those questioning the effectiveness of suspensions, one school district has already decided to suspend the practice for minor infractions altogether. Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the largest school district in California and the 2nd largest in the nation with 640

by twalker / 23min 

Why We Can’t All Get Along Over School Reform

Tension over school reform is ok, writes Larry Ferlazzo in The Washington Post. What isn’t is the unwillingness to compromise. “I have a suggestion for those who are calling for less tension in the name of helping children: The best thing you can do for those kids is to organize more people to create more tension so that those who are presently unwilling to come to the negotiating table feel compe

by twalker / 23min 

More Schools Use Cellphones as Learning Tools

Although schools have traditionally banned or limited cellphones in the classroom, 73% of Advanced Placement and National Writing Project teachers said their students use phones in the classroom or to complete assignments, according to a Pew Research Center study released in February. ”Teachers are starting to take advantage of the opportunities of cellphones in the classroom,” said George Fornero

by twalker / 23min 

YESTERDAY

Are Single-Sex Classes an Effective Way to Educate our Children?

In recent years, single-sex classes in public schools have become increasingly popular as a low-cost remedy for two issues that plague our country’s public school system: the efforts to encourage girls’ ambitions in traditionally “masculine” arenas such as science, technology, engineering and math, and to address the “boy crisis” in schools, the chronic underachievement of boys, especially in trad

by twalker / 20h 

AUG 12

Is Higher Education Propping Up White Privilege?

By Mary Ellen Flannery White racial privilege still exists in America—did you doubt it? The latest proof is an extensive study from Georgetown University that shows two college pathways in America: one for white students at the nation’s most selective colleges, the other for black and Hispanic students—even with the same 3.5 or better GPA—at two- or four-year, open-access colleges. Higher educatio

200+ by twalker / 1d 

Jeb Bush’s Education Legacy Loses Luster

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has built his political career on a relentless drive to improve public schools – or, as he likes to put it, to help all children achieve their “God-given potential.” But in a startling turnabout, an education record that has looked to be an unvarnished plus for Bush may now be a liability. “Twenty-four months ago, most observers would have assumed that Jeb’s stance on

by twalker / 2d mark as read  //  save

Educators Discover Benefits of Home Visits

Several Northern Kentucky school districts are sending teachers out of the classroom and into homes to get to know their students and their families. Experts say teacher home visits can result in increased attendance, decreased discipline problems, more parental involvement and – ultimately – higher test scores. Source: Cincinnati Enquirer Related posts: Home Visits Yield Hope and Cooperation Try

by twalker / 2d 

Obama Signs Student Loan Deal, Says Job Isn’t Done

President Barack Obama signed into law Friday a measure restoring lower interest rates for student loans, pledging the hard-fought compromise would be just the first step in a broader, concerted fight to rein in the costs of a college education. Encircled by lawmakers from both parties in the Oval Office, Obama praised Democrats and Republicans alike for agreeing—finally—on what he called a sensib

2 by twalker / 2d 

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Byrd-Bennett's sleight-of-hand on charter schools?

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Byrd-Bennett's sleight-of-hand on charter schools?:

Byrd-Bennett's sleight-of-hand on charter schools?

Barbara Byrd-Bennett has promised that no school closed this year will be handed over to a charter. -- Chicago Tribune (April 23, 2013)

When Byrd-Bennett was first pushing her plan to close hundreds of public schools, she promised angry parents and community groups that she wouldn't allow any of the newly-closed schools to become charter schools. But as we noted at the time, she was only playing verbal sleight-of-hand. When the charter operators cringed, BBB winked at them, whispering,Don't worrry. There will be plenty of money and opportunities for you. The Trib editorial board even called it, "A promise worth breaking."

Yes, we understand that the political heat on closings is intense and that many parents are furious that neighborhood schools close while charters expand and thrive. The vow not to open a charter in a shuttered elementary school was intended to defuse suspicion that this is just an exercise designed to promote charters over traditional schools

Even while some 30,000 students, most in African-American communities,were being 

Louisiana Educator: Our Rubber Stamp BESE

Louisiana Educator: Our Rubber Stamp BESE:

Our Rubber Stamp BESE

BESE continued to rubber stamp Superintendent White's recommendations in committee actions yesterday, even when such actions seemed ridiculous by any reasonable standard. BESE members Carolyn Hill, Lottie Beebie, educators and others in the audience repeatedly questioned the logic of the continued moves toward privatization of our public schools. All to no avail.

But White had his well funded astro-turf organizations primed to make the usual appeals to the Board for more choice (privatization) even when their arguments were non-sensical. For example, in the debate over the acceptance of a whole new batch of charter schools for the failed Baton Rouge Recovery District, parents who had been brought in by BAEO and Stand for Children, explained how their children had been poorly served by the previous charter schools in the BR Recovery District and gave this as a reason why BESE should continue to approve more charters!!! Some of us in the audience scratched our heads at this twisted logic and then again when a teacher from one of the defunct charters said that it was time that BESE added stability to the staffing of the schools in the RSD by approving the new batch of charters. This is how it went. Beebie and Hill just kept asking "how does this make sense?" But the votes on our rubber stamp BESE kept going down 9 to 2 for whatever the privatizers wanted.

Questioned also was the logic of shutting down the Louisiana Virtual School by White, which had been in operation for years offering students all over the state courses that they could not

8-14-13 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.:

Read this: My friends from Occupy Naperville were arrested at the ALEC protest.

By Patricia Herrmann, Occupy Naperville From Paul Sjordal’s “news:” Police Charge Into Demonstrators at ALEC Conference in Chicago (4min video, these arrests happened before Maddie Sullivan was arrested) �In the first part of this video we see police using metal barriers to hem in demonstrators in front of The Palmer House Hilton Hotel in Chicago, site of the 40th annual conference of the America

2 by Fred Klonsky / 18min

The in box. At the anti-ALEC protest.

  Outside the Palmer House. My friends from Occupy Naperville. From Truthout. Writing on the building outside the Palmer House Hotel in downtown Chicago says “igniting passions since 1871.” The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) held its 40th anniversary conference at the hotel, igniting the passions of protesters who came out to inveigh against ALEC’s agenda during a demonstration Augu

2 by Fred Klonsky / 17min 

The in box. Teach for America’s civil war.

From The American Prospect: Teach for America is at universities, recruiting high-achieving graduates to teach in the nation’s underserved urban and rural areas. It’s at school boards, lobbying districts to renew its contracts and import hundreds of its members. It’s in corporate boardrooms, asking for tens of millions in funding. With more than 32,000 alumni, its former participants helm the maj

1 by Fred Klonsky / 9min 

Less there than meets the eye.

  Click on image to enlarge. H/T PURE.

1 by Fred Klonsky / 5min 

Mark Stefanik: They’re back.

  Middle school teacher and activist Mark Stefanik. By Mark Stefanik The Springfield Poltergeist have returned.   Just received a survey mailer from Democratic State Representative Robyn Gabel which begins “… it is my privilege to serve as your advocate.”   Hoo-Boy… With advocates like Robyn, who needs enemies?   Along with Republican-in-Democrat’s-clothing Senator Dan Biss, these ‘advocates’ of

2 by Fred Klonsky / 16min 

Jason Richwine. The racist wind bag that is a gift that keeps on giving.

H/T: Micah Uetricht Back in March I first heard of Jason Richwine when he appeared on a panel along with my brother Mike and Brother Jitu Brown of the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization (KOCO) discussing Rahm’s school closings. Brother Mike and Brother Jitu explained why the closing were wrong. Richwine babbled on about how throwing money at schools was a bad thing. Although I have never unde

1 by Fred Klonsky / 4min 

Rahm’s chaotic rule: District school close. Charters open.

  The bodies are barely cold. The summer began with the closing of 50 Chicago public district schools, mainly on the south and west sides where Black students attended them. Yesterday the district issued a request for proposals to open new charter schools. In a 52-page PDF posted without fanfare on the district’s website, CPS is asking for new charter operators and campuses for the 2014-15 and 20

by Fred Klonsky / 35min 

Losing seniority rights means running schools on the cheap. The CPS budget means winners and losers.

  Graphic: Catalyst. The always ridiculous CPS spokesperson Becky Carroll admitted there are winners and losers in the CPS budget. The losers are students and families in district run schools. No surprise that charters are winners when it comes to budgeting. The Catalyst’s Sarah Karp reports: 70 percent of district-run schools lost $100,000 or more (not including the 49 schools that were closed t

1 by Fred Klonsky / 4min 

8-13-13 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: The in box. Support for Logan Square TIF – Schools rally Sunday.From Will Guzzardi: Many of you joined with us in our struggle this past winter to keep Brentano Elementary open. Principal Salgado and the rest of the Brentano family are thrilled that the school will be opening its doors for another sch

by mike simpson / 10h 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 8-14-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all:

Pearson Goofs on 4,000 Test Scores in Virginia

Mega-publisher Pearson admitted that it released the wrong grades for 4,000 students in Virginia. “Pearson issued a similar apology last spring for making mistakes in the scoring of admissions tests for gifted and talented programs in New York City public schools. Other scoring problems by Pearson in recent years caused delays in final test results in Florida and Minnesota. “Pearson and state edu

2 by dianerav / 6min 

U.S. Department of Education Abandons Federalism

There is a sacrosanct principle that has informed the actions of the U.S. Department of Education throughout its 33-year history: federalism. That is, a recognition that the federal government has limited authority, and that states and localities have the primary responsibility for education. George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind was a direct assault on federalism because it asserted the power of

1 by dianerav / 3min mark as read  //  save

Principal: John King Hurt My Students

In response to my call for John King’s resignation, this principal in New Tork wrote: “Thank you, Diane! Last night I finally had the heart to review my school’s test scores, child by child. As I read their names and numbers, I saw their little faces on the days of the testing, so many in tears, and I cried. “This is so wrong for children. “I have an excellent school, smart, hard-working kids an

by dianerav / 9min 

NYC Teacher: The Common Core Standards Are Broken and Can’t Be Fixed

This letter was written by a New York City teacher to his union president. “I am writing as a loyal union member and as a special education teacher in a middle class ethnically diverse neighborhood who knows a lot about testing because I spent nearly two decades assessing disabled children as part of a school assessment team.until this Mayor deemed my psychometric skills to be worthless Neverthele

by dianerav / 4min mark as read  //  save

Gary Rubinstein: Analyzing the Success Academy Success

Gary Rubinstein has a well established reputation as a careful investigator of miracle schools. On many occasions, he has debunked miracle claims. See his wiki site here. In this post, he takes a close look at the scores of Success Academy on the new Common Core tests. I don’t think Gary would classify the Success Academy schools as “miracle schools,” because they don’t have the same demographic p

1 by dianerav / 34min 

Schneider: My Experience Teaching the Common Core Standards

Mercedes Schneider often writes analyses of politics in Louisiana and elsewhere and statistical critiques of studies. She has a Ph.D. in statistics and research methodology. But she has a day job. She teaches English in high school because that is what she loves. Recently she has been immersed in learning the Common Core standards. Here is her account of her experience with them.

by dianerav / 6:20 AM UTC-7 

Proof that There is No Liberal Media

This article from the Daily Kos proves there is no liberal media by listing the stories almost never mentioned in the major newspaper and TV shows. Think how little attention the reform wrecking ball has gotten. Only a major scandal like Bennett’s grade-fixing is noticed. No major paper would touch John Merrow’s exposé of cheating under Rhee. No one in the media cares about the US having the hig

1 by dianerav / 11min 

Chile: The Most Pro-Market School System in the World, Part 3

This is the third and final post about Education in Chile by Professor Mario Waissbluth, which he wrote for this blog to help us understand a system that took Milton Friedman’s advice and relied heavily on testing and choice.   Chile´s Education (III): A necessary change of course. In my two previous columns I described the Chilean political, economic and educational model. In short, growth with i

1 by dianerav / 14min mark as read  //  save

John King Should Resign

New York’s Commissioner of Education John King should resign. The job of state commissioner is to support and strengthen education and educators, not to undermine them. In his short tenure, King has used his position to wreak havoc on the state’s education system. He has demoralized educators. He has imposed an evaluation scheme that no one understands, but which he famously described as “building

100+ by dianerav / 1h 

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Fort Wayne School Board Votes to Disregard Bennett A-F GradesThe Fort Wayne Community School Board passed a resolution by a vote o 6-1 to discontinue using the A-F grading system created by disgraced former State Superintendent Tony Bennett. The South Bend, Indiana, school board is considering the same resolution:   RESOLUTION OF T

by mike simpson / 3h 

8-14-13 teacherken at Daily Kos

teacherken at Daily Kos:

Please bear with us as we mourn

When Leaves on the Current met him in a gas station in the southside of Virginia, they called him Midnight. She renamed him Cielito he looked like the heavens at night, with a splash of white He joined our household in May 2005, when we already had four rescued felines. He was only 9.  Last week he had some problems and we took him to the vet - he clearly had an infection, so they took blood for

5 by rss@dailykos.com ... / 7h 

 

8-13-13 teacherken at Daily Kos

teacherken at Daily Kos: Eugene Robinson asks "What NSA reforms?"In this Washington Post op ed Robinson notes The modest reforms Obama proposed do not begin to address the fundamental question of whether we want the National Security Agency to log all of our phone calls and read at least some of our e-mails, relying on secret judicial orders from a secret court for permission. The president indica

by mike simpson / 11h