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Monday, August 19, 2013

Nite Cap 8-19-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2 #Cheats4Change


James Baldwin said it best: 

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."


A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP


TODAY

Garcetti picks up mantle from Villaraigosa, appoints education deputy | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC
Garcetti picks up mantle from Villaraigosa, appoints education deputy | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC: Garcetti picks up mantle from Villaraigosa, appoints education deputyAdolfo Guzman-Lopez | August 19th, 2013, 2:25pmL0s Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti plans to appoint veteran school district administrator Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana as his new education deputy, KPCC has learned.The arrangement came to l
by mike simpson / 23min 
The Burdens of Working-Class Youth - Online University of the Left
The Burdens of Working-Class Youth - Online University of the Left: The Burdens of Working-Class YouthPosted by carl4davidson Tim Foley for The ChronicleBy Jennifer M. SilvaThe Chronicle of Higher EducationBrandon, a 34-year-old black man from Richmond, Va., labels himself "a cautionary tale." Growing up in the shadow of a university where both his parents worked in maintenance, he was told from a
by mike simpson / 25min 
In South Florida, AFT President Weingarten targets Bush, Bennett - Schools - MiamiHerald.com #CHEATS4CHANGE
In South Florida, AFT President Weingarten targets Bush, Bennett - Schools - MiamiHerald.com: In South Florida, AFT President Weingarten targets Bush, Bennett BY DAVID SMILEYDSMILEY@MIAMIHERALD.COMWith the architects of Florida’s education system on the defensive, the fiery leader of the country’s second-largest teachers union launched another round of attacks on former governor Jeb Bush and the s
by mike simpson / 29min 
Diane Ravitch’s new book was preemptively attacked. Wow! | Reclaim Reform
Diane Ravitch’s new book was preemptively attacked. Wow! | Reclaim Reform: Diane Ravitch’s new book was preemptively attacked. Wow!Posted on August 19, 2013by Ken PrevitiPeter Cunningham, a professional spin-doctor, today attacked Diane Ravitch and her yet to be published book, The Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America’s Public Schools. Wow! she must have
by mike simpson / 39min 
Back to School Campaign — Coming Soon Student Voice
Student Voice: Back to School Campaign — Coming Soon With the Digital Backpack’s Launch just a few days away, Student Voice wanted to take the time to explain “why” — Why does the Digital Backpack matter?This is why.The easiest way to support Student Voice is to personally share the Digital Backpack with your friends, colleagues, and community. Share it, talk about it, and find us on Twitter, Fa
by mike simpson / 2h 
L.A. TIMES SANDY BANKS - REPORTER OR SHILL FOR LAUSD, BROAD & GATES, AND THE PRIVATIZATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION? YOU DECIDE - Perdaily.com
L.A. TIMES SANDY BANKS - REPORTER OR SHILL FOR LAUSD, BROAD & GATES, AND THE PRIVATIZATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION? YOU DECIDE - Perdaily.com: L.A. TIMES SANDY BANKS - REPORTER OR SHILL FOR LAUSD, BROAD & GATES, AND THE PRIVATIZATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION? YOU DECIDE(Mensaje se repite en Español)Sandy Banks of the Los Angeles Times is too smart to mistakenly continue to concoct one-sided feel go
by mike simpson / 2h 
Petrilli’s Desperate Attempt To Save Democracy Prep’s Reputation | Gary Rubinstein's Blog
Petrilli’s Desperate Attempt To Save Democracy Prep’s Reputation | Gary Rubinstein's Blog: Petrilli’s Desperate Attempt To Save Democracy Prep’s ReputationThe hardest thing about trying to have an intellectual debate with ‘reformers’ is every time they start to lose, they try to change the rules.First they say “poverty doesn’t matter” and when it becomes clear that it does, they start saying “Well
by mike simpson / 2h 
8-19-13 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.: Rahm Emanuel. Worst. Mayor. Ever.  Catching crabs with the grand kids on Block Island, Rhode Island. Jesus Christ, Rahm. Can’t I leave Chicago for a God-damn week without you screwing things up even more? I’m writing this sitting on a bench behind the Block Island library. It’s the only place in town
by mike simpson / 3h 
Diane in the Evening 8-19-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Chile: Vouchers and InequalityPlease read the series of blog posts by Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig of the University of Texas on the subject of Chile, vouchers, social segregation, and inequality.by dianerav / 12min  LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 8-19-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog |
by mike simpson / 3h 
If The Corleone Family Were Involved In Education Deform...southbronxschool.com
http://www.southbronxschool.com: If The Corleone Family Were Involved In Education Deform...So here I am on Saturday on I-81 driving north just outside of Binghamton on my way to Skaneateles. My wife is on her iPhone doing whatever as is my son. I am left alone to listen to flip between the Sirius channels.One can do a lot of pondering in such a situation. I did. I pondered, or was it wondered, or
by mike simpson / 4h 
NYC Public School Parents: An Evening with Diane Ravitch on Sept. 11; RSVP now!
NYC Public School Parents: An Evening with Diane Ravitch on Sept. 11; RSVP now!: An Evening with Diane Ravitch on Sept. 11; RSVP now!RSVP at http://reignoferror-eorg.eventbrite.com/ Here is a flyer.New Yorkers for Great Public Schools andClass Size MattersInvite You To:An evening with education historian and activistDIANERAVITCHOn the release of her new book, “Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Priva
1 by mike simpson / 4h 
What we know about schools — but choose to ignore
What we know about schools — but choose to ignore: What we know about schools — but choose to ignoreBy Valerie Strauss, Published: August 19 at 1:30 pmE-mail the writerHere’s an important piece on school reform by P.L. Thomas, an associate professor of education at Furman University in South Carolina. He edited the 2013 book “Becoming and Being a Teacher,” and wrote the 2012 book, “Ignoring Povert
by mike simpson / 4h 
Feds offer new guide on IDEA and mediation + Lawmakers move to protect educational rights of troubled teens SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources
SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources: Feds offer new guide on IDEA and mediationBy Tom ChorneauMonday, August 19, 2013With special education’s status as the most litigated component of the public school system, the U.S. Department of Education has released updated guidance on mediation, dispute resolution and due process procedures.As part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education A
3 by mike simpson / 5h 
Teachers Learn by Doing, Too | InterACT
Teachers Learn by Doing, Too | InterACT: Teachers Learn by Doing, TooAUGUST 19, 2013tags: Center X, engineering, guest posts, NGSS, professional development, science, UCLAby ACT Guest Blog PostsToday’s ACT guest blog post was written by Jane Ching Fung, an ACT member and teacher from Los Angeles.  Jane is a Milken Award winning teacher and has served in various leadership capacities for organizati
by mike simpson / 5h 
What We Know Now (and How It Doesn’t Matter) | the becoming radical
What We Know Now (and How It Doesn’t Matter) | the becoming radical: What We Know Now (and How It Doesn’t Matter)Posted on August 19, 2013 by plthomaseddRandy Olson’s Flock of Dodos (2006) explores the evolution and Intelligent Design (ID) debate that represents the newest attack on teaching evolution in U.S. public schools. The documentary is engaging, enlightening, and nearly too fair considerin
by mike simpson / 6h 
Wellford Wilms: How Kafkaesque Bureaucrats Are Ruining Education - Truthdig
Wellford Wilms: How Kafkaesque Bureaucrats Are Ruining Education - Truthdig: How Kafkaesque Bureaucrats Are Ruining Education EMAIL     PRINT     SHARESHARE ON REDDITPosted on Aug 19, 2013ShutterstockBy Wellford WilmsLast week the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest in the nation, opened its doors to more than 640,000 students for the new school year. The following story is a s
by mike simpson / 6h 
8-19-13 The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education
The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education: Teacher Walkthroughs Focusing on Student LearningAlthough there is great value in observing peers teaching, for some classroom walkthroughs, teachers strictly focus their observations on student learning. This focus perfectly aligns with the second tenet of ASCD's Whole Child Initiative, "Each student learns in an environment that is physically and emo
by mike simpson / 6h 
8-19-13 Jersey Jazzman
Jersey Jazzman: NJ Teacher Evaluations: Countdown to "Operation Hindenburg"We are at around t-minus two to three weeks, depending on your district, until the launch of New Jersey's new teacher evaluation system, code name: "Operation Hindenburg." Unfortunately, just like the fabled zeppelin, this entire thing could be avoided if the people in charge would just stop and think for a minute: Superint
by mike simpson / 6h 
Cali Education News Monday, August 19, 2013
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: NYC Educator: Arne Duncan Sics His Flying Monkeys on Diane Ravitch Monday, August 19, 2013Enrollment up in many Marin schools this year"We're seeing increased enrollment in many districts," Marin County Superintendent of Schools Mary Jane Burke said. "Mill Valley has 200 more kids. San Rafael has an increase in numbers. We are lucky to get mo
by mike simpson / 6h 
“Indescribably insane”: A public school system from hell - Salon.com
“Indescribably insane”: A public school system from hell - Salon.com: “Indescribably insane”: A public school system from hellPennsylvania's right-wing governor drains public schools of basic funds -- and the sickening details will shock youBY AARON KASEPennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett(Credit: Associated Press)Want to see a public school system in its death throes? Look no further than Philadelphia.
2 by mike simpson / 7h 
Morning Wink 8-19-13 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2 #Cheats4Change
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSTODAY8-19-13 Wait What?Wait What?: Failing our obligation on school integrationIn a recent commentary piece written for the Stamford Advocate and other Connecticut newspapers owned by Hearst Media, Wendy Lecker, the outspoken school advocate wrote about our nation and state’s failure to truly deal with racial isolation in our public schools. Wendy Lecker’s
1 by mike simpson / 7h 
8-19-13 Wait What?
Wait What?: Failing our obligation on school integrationIn a recent commentary piece written for the Stamford Advocate and other Connecticut newspapers owned by Hearst Media, Wendy Lecker, the outspoken school advocate wrote about our nation and state’s failure to truly deal with racial isolation in our public schools. Wendy Lecker’s observations come almost 50 years to the day that Martin Luther
by mike simpson / 7h 
8-19-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools Rethinking the Mann Building UseIn the "what!?" category, the Times is reporting that the district is "reconsidering" their plans for the Horace Mann building which is to rehouse Nova High School.  There are some pretty unbelievable statements like:- in one place in the article the Times says the district has not been charging rent to any of the gro
by mike simpson / 7h 
The Folly of a Preemptive & Deceptive Attack on Diane Ravitch's New Book | Kevin Welner
The Folly of a Preemptive & Deceptive Attack on Diane Ravitch's New Book | Kevin Welner: The Folly of a Preemptive & Deceptive Attack on Diane Ravitch's New BookPosted: 08/19/2013 10:09 amWriting here in The Huffington Post, the former press secretary for Education Secretary Arne Duncan launched a pre-emptive attack on the forthcoming book from Diane Ravitch -- a book he hasn't read. One p
by mike simpson / 8h 
NYC Educator: Arne Duncan Approved NY Times Column
NYC Educator: Arne Duncan Approved NY Times Column: Arne Duncan Approved NY Times ColumnI continue to be amazed at precisely how low the bar is for professional writers. Maybe they, rather than we, should be compelled to prove added value with some ridiculous mathematical formula. Even as teachers are under assault nationwide for the egregious offense of devoting their lives to helping children, N
by mike simpson / 8h 
8-19-13 Missouri Education Watchdog
Missouri Education Watchdog: My Common Core Conversation with KHQA in Quincy, IllinoisMaggie's Notebook published an article about an interview I did in Quincy, Illinois where Anne and I appeared at a Common Core presentation.  Maggie did an excellent job with the transcription and we want to thank her for spreading the word about CCSS. From  Common Core: Mandated Not Law, Not Funded, Not Evidence
by mike simpson / 8h 
Public Approval in the Face of Poverty | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights
Public Approval in the Face of Poverty | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights: Public Approval in the Face of PovertyBy AASA, The School Superintendents Association on August 19, 2013By Daniel A. Domenech, Executive Director, AASA: The Superintendents' AssociationA new school year is about to start. For the past five years, school systems have suffered the worst economic decline sin
by mike simpson / 8h 
College-for-all vs. career education? Moving beyond a false debate | Hechinger Report
College-for-all vs. career education? Moving beyond a false debate | Hechinger Report: College-for-all vs. career education? Moving beyond a false debateBy Sarah CarrThis piece was originally published in the Wilson Quarterly.At New Orleans charter schools, even students in the primary grades sometimes start the day with rousing chants professing their commitment to college. “This is the way, hey!
by mike simpson / 8h 
Education Research Report: Survey: Parents’ Attitudes on the Quality of Education in the United States
Education Research Report: Survey: Parents’ Attitudes on the Quality of Education in the United States: Survey: Parents’ Attitudes on the Quality of Education in the United StatesThe Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research conducted a national survey of 1,025 parents or guardians of children who completed a grade between kindergarten and 12th grade during the 2012 - 2013 school ye
by mike simpson / 8h 
Math teacher: Inherent flaws in how Georgia and Common Core... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com
Math teacher: Inherent flaws in how Georgia and Common Core... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: Math teacher: Inherent flaws in how Georgia and Common Core teach math COMMENT(16) 2 25 2 60RelatedView Larger MathPrevious PostsAshton Kutcher: Sexiest thing in entire world is being smartAugust 18, 2013Political scientist: Druid Hills charter cluster vote was neither fair nor legal.August 15, 2013Most en
by mike simpson / 8h 
8-19-13 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School:  Education Reformers Are Trying To Smear Common Core Critics As Know-Nothings And CretinsFormer NY Times editor and current columnist Bill Keller attacked opponents to the Common Core standards as a "very loud, often paranoid, if-that-Kenyan-socialist-in-the-White-House-is-for-it-I’m-against-it crowd." Keller acknowledges that there are opponents to the standards on the left
by mike simpson / 8h 
8-19-13 Schools Matter @ The Chalk Face
SCHOOLS MATTER @ THE CHALK FACE:  How YOU Doin’?A friend asked me just a day ago, “How are you holding up? Sending a child off to college and the start of school can be very stressful.” I will admit that I went a bit of a rant – and fortunately for me the friend understood. How am I doing? Turns out – not […]by antiqueteacher60 / 2min  8-18-13 Schools Matter @ The Chalk FaceSCHOOLS MATTER @ THE CH
by mike simpson / 9h 
Citywide Parents Meeting: Back to school updates | Parents United for Public Education
Citywide Parents Meeting: Back to school updates | Parents United for Public Education: Citywide Parents Meeting: Back to school updatesPosted on August 19, 2013 by PARENTSUNITEDPHILALeave a commentWhat can parents expect for the first day of school? What are our best strategies to change school resources before school starts?The last 10 days have been a rollercoaster of school ultimatums, dueling
by mike simpson / 9h 
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 8-19-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Anti-Testing Movement Grows in NY Suburbs and TownsThe collapse of test scores in New York following the first tests of the Common Core standards is fueling the growth of the anti-testing movement. A huge protest took place in Port Jefferson Station on Long Island on Saturday. Fifteen hundred people turned out to denounce the Commo
by mike simpson / 10h 
School crisis drives families from city - Philly.com
School crisis drives families from city - Philly.com: School crisis drives families from cityRealtor Christopher Plant, drying dishes with his son Mason, tells perspective buyers "they can't rely on any of the public schools." TOM GRALISH / Staff PhotographerBy Melissa Dribben, Inquirer Staff WriterPOSTED: August 18, 2013Brian Hackford is divorcing Philadelphia, citing irreconcilable differences o
by mike simpson / 10h 
Parents, denied a voice at BESE, speak out here | Crazy Crawfish's Blog
Parents, denied a voice at BESE, speak out here | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: Parents, denied a voice at BESE, speak out herePosted on August 19, 20130At BESE’s august meeting parents were denied an opportunity to speak about Common Core and inBloom.  Because the feedback given so far has been overwhelmingly negative, I can understand why Chas Roemer, John White and their allies would go that route.  R
by mike simpson / 10h 
Thom Hartmann: Kochtopus Tentacles are Coming for Public Schools | www.kochwatch.org
Thom Hartmann: Kochtopus Tentacles are Coming for Public Schools | www.kochwatch.org: Thom Hartmann: Kochtopus Tentacles are Coming for Public SchoolsPrinter-friendly version
by mike simpson / 10h 
The Educated Reporter: Word on the Beat: Proficiency
The Educated Reporter: Word on the Beat: Proficiency: Word on the Beat: ProficiencyAs a regular feature, The Educated Reporter features a buzzword or phrase that You Need To Know (yes, this designation is highly subjective, but we're giving it a shot). Send your Word on the Beat suggestions to erichmond@ewa.org.Word on the beat: ProficiencyWhat it means: In education circles, proficiency typically
by mike simpson / 10h 
What’s the ‘most pernicious cliché of our time’?
What’s the ‘most pernicious cliché of our time’?: What’s the ‘most pernicious cliché of our time’?By Valerie Strauss, Published: August 19 at 4:00 amE-mail the writer0CommentsMore(Source: Bloomberg)According to a new piece in The New Republicby the magazine’s science editor, Judith Shulevitz, the term “disruption” is, as the headline says, “the most pernicious cliché of our time.” That’s almost ri
by mike simpson / 10h 
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES: WEEKEND QUOTABLESCPS teacher Ed Hershey, arrested trying to save La Casita "We couldn't just let them sweep it away without at least doing what we could. The school doesn't have a library and they bulldozed it. There's 160 schools that don't have a library." -- ABC NewsLisa Angonese, community activist“He’s [Ald. Solis] been giving us so many diffe
by mike simpson / 10h 

YESTERDAY

A Scandal That's Exposing Ugly Truths About the School Privatization Agenda | Alternet #CHEATS4Change
A Scandal That's Exposing Ugly Truths About the School Privatization Agenda | Alternet: A Scandal That's Exposing Ugly Truths About the School Privatization AgendaThe recent scandal ousting Florida's top education official shows the privatization movement is about profits.August 16, 2013  |   Paradoxes come in all different forms, but here’s one that perfectly fits this Gilded Age: The most signif
by mike simpson / 19h 
Associated Press Propaganda: What the AP Survey Really Shows | deutsch29
Associated Press Propaganda: What the AP Survey Really Shows | deutsch29: Associated Press Propaganda: What the AP Survey Really ShowsAugust 18, 2013On August 17, 2013, the Associated Press (AP) announced that a survey they conducted in June and July 2013 found that not only do parents really like standardized tests– they approve of the high-stakes usage of such tests and believe that the number o
by mike simpson / 19h 
inBloom’s actual Dear John Letter to John White: (It’s not me, it’s you) | Crazy Crawfish's Blog
inBloom’s actual Dear John Letter to John White: (It’s not me, it’s you) | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: inBloom’s actual Dear John Letter to John White: (It’s not me, it’s you)Posted on August 18, 20130 Sometimes life hands you stories that are simply better than any cheap fiction you can pick up from a newsstand or checkout line. Take for example this on-again-off-again “data sharing” relationship betw
by mike simpson / 19h 
Teachers pay more out of pocket for their kids - NBC News.com
Teachers pay more out of pocket for their kids - NBC News.com: Teachers pay more out of pocket for their kidsFile photo of school teacher Liza Gleason shopping for back to school supplies at a Target store August 13, 2008 in Daly City, California. Teachers are paying more of their own money for supplies and even clothes and food for schoolchildren.A second-year pre-kindergarten teacher at Salem El
2 by mike simpson / 23h 
Nite Cap 8-18-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2 #Cheats4Change
James Baldwin said it best: "For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAPTODAY8-18-13 Seattle Schools Community ForumSeattle Schools Community Forum:Arson at Madrona Elementary SchoolThe Times reports an arson-based fire at Madrona sometime Sunday morning.  It was reported by someone who drove by the school and reported seeing
2 by mike simpson / 23h 




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Garcetti picks up mantle from Villaraigosa, appoints education deputy | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC

Garcetti picks up mantle from Villaraigosa, appoints education deputy | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC:

Garcetti picks up mantle from Villaraigosa, appoints education deputy

Adolfo Guzman-Lopez | 
L0s Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti plans to appoint veteran school district administrator Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana as his new education deputy, KPCC has learned.
The arrangement came to light in documents for L.A. Unified’s Tuesday school board meeting. A “reimbursement agreements” section included a request by the City of Los Angeles to hire an LA Unified employee.
Vivian Ekchian, L.A. Unified’s Chief of Human Resources, said that item refers to Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana, who was hired by the school district at a $140,000-a-year salary.
“The superintendent’s office informed us that she was processed about a week ago,” Ekchian said.
But the district won't pay her salary. Instead, she'll be on loan to the City of L.A. as a Director of Education and Workforce Development. That would make her Mayor Garcetti's education deputy.
Her one-year contract includes teacher retirement benefits, health and welfare, and 
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The Burdens of Working-Class Youth - Online University of the Left

The Burdens of Working-Class Youth - Online University of the Left:

The Burdens of Working-Class Youth

Posted by  

The Burdens of Working-Class Youth 1
Tim Foley for The Chronicle
By Jennifer M. Silva
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Brandon, a 34-year-old black man from Richmond, Va., labels himself "a cautionary tale." Growing up in the shadow of a university where both his parents worked in maintenance, he was told from an early age that education was the path to the "land of milk and honey." An eager and hard-working student, Brandon earned a spot at a private university in the Southeast—finally, his childhood dream of building spaceships seemed to be coming true. He shrugged off his nervousness about borrowing tens of thousands of dollars in loans, joking: "Hey, if I owe you five dollars, that’s my problem, but if I owe you $50,000, that’s your problem."
But his light-hearted banter belies the long train of obstacles and uncertainties that have followed him at every turn. Unable to pass calculus or physics, Brandon switched his major from engineering to criminal justice. He applied to several police departments upon graduation, but he didn’t land a job.
With "two dreams deferred," Brandon took a job at a women’s-clothing chain, hoping it would be temporary. Eleven years later, he’s still there, unloading, steaming, pressing, and pricing garments on the night shift. When his loans came out of deferment, he couldn’t afford the monthly payments and decided to get a master’s degree in psychology—partly to increase his chances of getting a good job, and partly, he admitted, to put his loans back in deferment. He finally earned a master’s degree, paid for with more loans from "that mean lady, Sallie Mae."
So far, Brandon has not found a job that will pay him enough to cover his monthly loan and living 
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In South Florida, AFT President Weingarten targets Bush, Bennett - Schools - MiamiHerald.com #CHEATS4CHANGE

In South Florida, AFT President Weingarten targets Bush, Bennett - Schools - MiamiHerald.com:

In South Florida, AFT President Weingarten targets Bush, Bennett


BY DAVID SMILEY

DSMILEY@MIAMIHERALD.COM





With the architects of Florida’s education system on the defensive, the fiery leader of the country’s second-largest teachers union launched another round of attacks on former governor Jeb Bush and the state’s recently resigned education chief during a Monday visit to South Florida.
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten called Florida “ground zero for every single market-based experiment that has been done to our children” during a speech before hundreds of teachers at a back-to-school event at Sun Life Stadium. She compared former State Commissioner of Education Tony Bennett, who resigned this month amid a school grade-fixing scandal, to the late, disgraced Miami-Dade union boss Pat Tornillo.
“I love when somebody says, like Jeb Bush, ‘[Bennett] had to resign because of hits he was taking from the right and the left.’” Weingarten said. “No. He had to resign because he was cooking the books. Just like Tornillo had to leave.”
Tornillo’s scandal — using union funds to pay for a lavish lifestyle — put him in prison about a decade ago and was far worse than the allegations that led to Bennett’s fall. But emails showing that Bennett in his time as Indiana’s state superintendent changed a “C” to an “A” for a struggling charter school run by

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/08/12/3558598/in-south-florida-aft-president.html#storylink=cpy
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Diane Ravitch’s new book was preemptively attacked. Wow! | Reclaim Reform

Diane Ravitch’s new book was preemptively attacked. Wow! | Reclaim Reform:

Diane Ravitch’s new book was preemptively attacked. Wow!

Posted on August 19, 2013by 
Peter Cunningham, a professional spin-doctor, today attacked Diane Ravitch and her yet to be published book, The Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America’s Public Schools. Wow! she must have hit a nerve!
reign of error
There is no doubt that with his governmental and political connections Cunningham is privy to monitored information gathered by means of modern surveillance.
“I served as Assistant Secretary for Communications and Outreach in the U.S. Department of Education, where one of my jobs was to monitor criticism of our policies and develop our responses… I understand that Dr. Ravitch is about to publish another book attacking education reform. She will go after my good friend Arne Duncan.”
Cunningham goes on to “predict” the evils of her book-to-be.
“She will call on America to invest more in fighting poverty, as if we have not spent tens of trillions of dollars fighting poverty since the New Deal and the Great Society and will spend tens of trillions more… Worst of all, she will use poverty as an excuse to avoid any 
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Back to School Campaign — Coming Soon Student Voice

Student Voice:

Back to School Campaign — Coming Soon


With the Digital Backpack’s Launch just a few days away, Student Voice wanted to take the time to explain “why” — Why does the Digital Backpack matter?
This is why.
The easiest way to support Student Voice is to personally share the Digital Backpack with your friends, colleagues, and community. Share it, talk about it, and find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.
- See more at: http://stuvoice.org/blog/2013/08/19/back-to-school-campaign-coming-soon/?utm_source=feedly#sthash.0U2axjrL.dpuf
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L.A. TIMES SANDY BANKS - REPORTER OR SHILL FOR LAUSD, BROAD & GATES, AND THE PRIVATIZATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION? YOU DECIDE - Perdaily.com

L.A. TIMES SANDY BANKS - REPORTER OR SHILL FOR LAUSD, BROAD & GATES, AND THE PRIVATIZATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION? YOU DECIDE - Perdaily.com:

L.A. TIMES SANDY BANKS - REPORTER OR SHILL FOR LAUSD, BROAD & GATES, AND THE PRIVATIZATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION? YOU DECIDE

Sandy Banks.jpg
(Mensaje se repite en Español)

Sandy Banks of the Los Angeles Times is too smart to mistakenly continue to concoct one-sided feel good articles that completely ignore anything but a "dominant narrative" that blames seasoned teachers for a long-failed public education system in a traditionally top-down LAUSD model that teachers have never had any ability to change. After reading our little email exchanges and the articles she wrote, are any of the issues I addressed ever addressed? Is this just an oversight?

It is worth noting that after contacting me to seek my input, she ultimately never followed up on any of the issues I raised. It is also interesting that she cites in her defense to my initial email response the reporter's ideal of getting a scoop without every acknowledging that there is a filter on what she and other reporters at the L.A.Times and elsewhere in commercial and public media are allowed to report...if they expect to keep their jobs. In what profession other than teaching would you prefer a novice to a seasoned professional?- unless you didn't consider what teachers do to be a profession. Ms. Banks and her colleagues have no small part in disseminating this false message.

A while back, Ms. Banks approached me at the behest of teacher Paula Hurdle to get my take on what was causing the enmity between veteran teachers and the glorified novice teachers being hired to replace them for what I believe to be the exclusive motives of saving money and the dumbing down of American public 
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Petrilli’s Desperate Attempt To Save Democracy Prep’s Reputation | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

Petrilli’s Desperate Attempt To Save Democracy Prep’s Reputation | Gary Rubinstein's Blog:

Petrilli’s Desperate Attempt To Save Democracy Prep’s Reputation

by Gary Rubinstein


The hardest thing about trying to have an intellectual debate with ‘reformers’ is every time they start to lose, they try to change the rules.
First they say “poverty doesn’t matter” and when it becomes clear that it does, they start saying “Well, it matters, but we still need to make schools as good as possible and standardized test accountability is the best way to do that.”  First they deny that charters have a self-selected population that is easier to teach, and then when you prove them wrong, they say “Yes, it’s true, but it is a good thing.”
So for years they have been hailing “miracle schools” which are high poverty schools with, supposedly, the “same kids” as the nearby ‘failing’ school who get incredible standardized test results.  In New York City these included the KIPP schools, the Democracy Prep schools, and the Success Academy schools.  Then, when the results came back from the more difficult common core tests, the KIPP and Democracy Prep schools didn’t do so well, though the Success Academies did.
This certainly put ‘reformers’ in to an awkward position.  If Success Academies are so much better than KIPP and Democracy Prep, why not throw those other two charter chains under the proverbial bus and focus on the one true Messiah?
Instead the ‘reformers’ are trying to have it both ways:  For Success Academies, there have been many op-eds about how those schools are proving all the critics wrong with their superior test results.  As far as the schools who are not proving any critics wrong with their inferior test results, well, we have this recent Huffington Post piece by Michael Petrilli from the Thomas B. 
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8-19-13 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.:

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Rahm Emanuel. Worst. Mayor. Ever.
  Catching crabs with the grand kids on Block Island, Rhode Island. Jesus Christ, Rahm. Can’t I leave Chicago for a God-damn week without you screwing things up even more? I’m writing this sitting on a bench behind the Block Island library. It’s the only place in town that you can get a decent internet connection. There is internet access here even when the library is closed. I’m sharing the benc
1 by Fred Klonsky / 4min 




8-18-13 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.: Logan Square Rally Today to Support Our Public Schools.Logan Square Rally to Support Our Public Schools Sunday, August 18 4:00 PM Logan Square Monument Milwaukee & Logan Join parents, students, educators, community organizations, activists, and local elected officials as we rally and call on Mayor
by mike simpson / 1h 



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Diane in the Evening 8-19-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

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





When Competition Is Pointless
The other day, I was involved in an extended online discussion about proficiency and accountability with about 50 people, mostly inside the Beltway. These are big names, people who make decisions that control your child’s life in school. I got more and more exasperated as the various think tank experts waxed on about how and why parents NEED to know how their child compares to children of the same
2 by dianerav / 6min 

Please Help the Brilliant Paul Krugman Understand the Problems with Common Core
Paul Krugman posted this commentary about the Common Core standards. Clearly he has never read them and has no idea about the legitimate concerns that teachers and principals have. Instead, he echoes the claim by Times’ writer Bill Keller that the opponents are nearly all rightwing extremists. I just left a short comment, which has not been moderated and approved yet. I expressed my concern about
7 by dianerav / 19min 

If You Are in New York City, Join Me to Discuss “Reform” on September 11
I will be discussing my new book, “Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America’s Public Schools” at Judson Memorial Church, near New York University, on September 11 at 6 pm. The event is sponsored by Class Size Matters and New Yorkers for Great Public Schools Wednesday, Sept.11th 6-7:15 PM at Judson Memorial Church 55 Washington Square South, Manhattan Trains:
3 by dianerav / 36min 

The New York Times Hearts Common Core: Susan Ohanian Calls Foul
This morning the New York Times published a lengthy defense of the Common Core standards by Bill Keller, previously executive editor of the paper. Keller asserts that opposition to the Common Core comes from extremists on the far-right fringe. (He does say that there are critics on the left, and adds a link to my blog, but not to the post explaining my reasons for not supporting the Common Core.  
by dianerav / 10min 

Literacy Experts Blast NCTQ Report
Literacy experts who are members of the Reading Hall of Fame took issue with the report of the National Council on Teacher Quality, which recently lambasted the nation’s schools of education. They questioned the bona fides of NCTQ, questioning its partisanship. Their strongest criticism was directed at the report’s fervent advocacy of phonics as the only legitimate way to teach reading. I have stu
by dianerav / 8min 

Chile: Vouchers and Inequality
Please read the series of blog posts by Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig of the University of Texas on the subject of Chile, vouchers, social segregation, and inequality.
by dianerav / 12min 
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 8-19-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Anti-Testing Movement Grows in NY Suburbs and TownsThe collapse of test scores in New York following the first tests of the Common Core standards is fueling the growth of the anti-testing movement. A huge protest took place in Port Jefferson Station on Long Island on Saturday. Fifteen hundred people turned out to denounce the Commo
by mike simpson / 2h 
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If The Corleone Family Were Involved In Education Deform...southbronxschool.com

http://www.southbronxschool.com:

If The Corleone Family Were Involved In Education Deform...

So here I am on Saturday on I-81 driving north just outside of Binghamton on my way to Skaneateles. My wife is on her iPhone doing whatever as is my son. I am left alone to listen to flip between the Sirius channels.

One can do a lot of pondering in such a situation. I did. I pondered, or was it wondered, or was it
daydreaming, that the Godfather movie (or even organized crime) is a lot like what we are seeing now in education amongst the deformers. Think about it, we're fighting against a crime family.

So what if the Godfather movie and the Corleone's were involved in education reform. Let's take a look.

Be sure to read the last fantasy or parody all the way at the bottom.

Michael: My credit good enough to buy you out?
Moe Greene: Buy me out?  [Fredo laughs nervously]
Michael: The school, the playground. The Corleone Family wants to buy you out.
Moe Greene: The Corleone Family wants to buy me out? No, I buy you out, you don't buy me out. Michael: Your school loses money, maybe we can do better.
Moe Greene: You think I'm skimmin off the top, Mike?
Michael: [Michael shakes his head] You're unlucky.
Moe Greene: You goddamn guineas you
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