Sunday, September 29, 2013

9-29-13 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School:






Save Her The Money, Bill
De Blasio, on tour of Sandy battered Queens, offered to write college recommendation letter to girl wishing to go to NYU, his alma mater— Michael Barbaro (@mikiebarb) September 29, 2013Write her a nice letter of recommendation to a SUNY school and save her the money, Bill.NYU - overpriced, over-hyped, overrated.Kids should look very closely at CUNY and SUNY schools instead and visit Greenwich Vill

Students United For Public Education Take On Teach For America
From The Nation:On October 1, Students United for Public Education will be launching its first national campaign, Students Resisting Teach for America.The goal is to raise awareness in prospective TFA corps members about the problems surrounding TFA; elevate the voices of students and TFA alumni whose stories are often overshadowed by TFA’s message; put pressure on TFA as an organization to change

This Comment Crystallizes Why You Should Vote Against Dan Squadron
Someone left this comment on the Daily News endorsement of Dan Squadron for public advocate:How can the Daily News, once the paper of the working man, endorse an anti-labor candidate who is in bed with Bloomberg's developer cronies and charter school hedge fund investors and charlatans?As I wrote earlier,the public advocate's office should be held by someone who looks out for the powerless and the

How To Resist Corporate Education Reform
Someone asked in a comment on an earlier post how to resist the corporate education reformers.Michael Fiorillo responded to that question with eloquent advice:Resist by showing kindness to our students, and support for our colleagues.Resist by doing what you know is right in the classroom.Resist by supporting the union, but exposing and rejecting the leadership's collaboration with those who would

If The Daily News Likes A Candidate, You Know He Must Be Bad
The DN editors endorsed Dan Squadron for public advocate today: Since 2009, Squadron has ably represented lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn, including Greenpoint and Carroll Gardens, in the state Senate. He brought intelligence, diligence and rationality to the post with a strong bent toward problem-solving on behalf of his constituents — exactly the qualities needed in a public advocate. As a

NYCDOE Hires Interim Principal Accused Of Sexual Harassment, Intimidation And Lewd And Racist Comments To Run Flushing High School
Even the NY Post thinks they did this as revenge for not being to shit the school down last year.The city hired James Brown, a former middle school principal, to act as interim principal at Flushing High School, with the possibility that Brown could be hired permanently. The only problem?Brown has a nasty past:As The Post reported last Sunday, Brown seems to have racked up a dubious record while s

Are Americans Waking Up From Their Self-Induced Comas?
Washington Post polls finds many Americans no longer believe in the fantasy of the "American Dream:Four years into an economic recovery in which most of the benefits have flowed to the top earners, a majority believe that the American Dream is becoming markedly more elusive, according to the results of a Washington Post-Miller Center Poll exploring Americans’ changing definition of success an
Should He Be Using This Comparison?
From Politico: If the government shuts down on Oct. 1, the GOP will “fold like hotcakes” in the fight to defund Obamacare, Sen. Tom Coburn said Friday afternoon before a critical set of votes.The Oklahoma Republican said that after seven or eight days of shutdown the Republicans will begin to feel the heat from their constituents over lack of services back home, like pay for members of the militar
9-28-13 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School: The Google Cloud Monster Ate My GraphicsMulgrew Waves Goodbye To BloombergMulgrew on mayor: "We can all take comfort from the fact that Bloomberg will soon be only a bad memory to the people who care about schools"— Lisa Fleisher (@lisafleisher) September 27, 2013Alas, with all the concessions Mikey Mulgrew and his boss, Randi Weingarten, made to Bloomberg and the

Fees (the other Tax) pile up for parents in Colorado public schools - The Denver Post

Fees pile up for parents in Colorado public schools - The Denver Post:

Fees pile up for parents in Colorado public schools

By Zahira Torres
The Denver Post
POSTED:   09/29/2013 12:01:00 AM MDT11 COMMENTS| UPDATED:   ABOUT 5 HOURS AGO


Rocco Palumbo and Brock Rubley share a vise to work on their jewelry pieces during class at Mountain Vista High in Highlands Ranch. (Erin Hull, The Denver Post)
Gone are the days when parents could send their children to public school with a few classroom supplies and some lunch money.
Strapped school district budgets, caused by dwindling state and federal dollars, are forcing parents to dig deeper into their pockets as more school systems in Colorado and across the country turn to student fees to maintain services and programs.
Want to play sports? That could cost up to $130 at Adams 12 Five Star Schools.
Taking an advanced-placement class? You could pay up to $189 in fees at Jefferson County Public Schools.
Need to ride the bus to school? An annual transportation pass in the Douglas County School District is $150.
The fees pile up quickly for Lisa Ramsey,

empathyeducates – What We Know Now (and How It Doesn’t Matter)

empathyeducates – What We Know Now (and How It Doesn’t Matter):

What We Know Now (and How It Doesn’t Matter)

By P. L. Thomas
Originally Published at the becoming radical on August 19, 2013
Randy 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 considering Olson admits upfront that he stands with scientists who support evolution as credible science and reject ID as something outside the realm of science.
Olson’s film, however, offers a powerful message that rises above the evolution debate. Particularly in the scenes depicting scientists discussing (during a poker game) why evolution remains a target of political and public interests, the documentary shows that evidence-based expertise often fails against clear and compelling messages (such as “teach the controversy”)—even when those clear and compelling messages are inaccurate.
In other words, ID advocacy has often won in the courts of political and public opinion despite having no credibility within the discipline it claims to inform—evolutionary biology.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Wake Up Parents of Harrison (And New York City) You Need to Control Your Child's Education southbronxschool.com

http://www.southbronxschool.com:

Wake Up Parents of Harrison (And New York City) You Need to Control Your Child's Education

Even though this is addressed to the parents of Harrison, NY and NYC, it is for all the parents of New York State and the USA.

Lexington and Concord. The first battle in the American Revolution in 1775, almost 240 years ago.

The Journal News. Saturday, September 28, 2013, the first battle in the Revolution to Take Control
Back of Our Children's Education. All led by a humble reporter, Gary Stern.

I predicted this revolution back in June of last year.

I walked into Vassi's Deli on Underhill Ave in West Harrison this morning to get my breakfast and coffee. My son just had a hitting lesson and we were looking forward to spending some time together. I grabbed my copy of the Journal News and on the front page saw the headline. "Critics: Test Scores Failing, Not Students," by Gary Stern. 

What a joy it was to read an honest and thought provoking education article by a reporter that has not been tainted by the poison of Uncle Mike Bloomberg;
Is it possible that 56 percent of sixth-graders in Bedford are not proficient in math? How about 70 percent of eighth-graders in Dobbs Ferry? Or 75 percent of seventh-graders in Nyack? 

Could 50 percent of seventh-graders in Irvington not be meeting expectations in English/language arts? What about 58 percent of eighth-graders in Ramapo Central? Or 

Major Bill Actions in Education - OpenCongress

Education - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress:




 Bill Introduced: S.Res.257 A resolution designating October 3, 2013, as "Jumpstart's Read for the Record Day".
A resolution designating October 3, 2013, as "Jumpstart's Read for the Record Day".
Bill Introduced: H.Res.357 Supporting the goals and ideals of National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week.
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week.
Bill Introduced: S.Res.256 A resolution designating the week of September 23 through 29, 2013, as "National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week".
A resolution designating the week of September 23 through 29, 2013, as "National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week".
Bill Introduced: S.Res.259 A resolution designating September 2013 as "Campus Fire Safety Month".
A resolution designating September 2013 as "Campus Fire Safety Month".
Bill Introduced: S.Res.260 A resolution recognizing the month of October 2013 as "National Principals Month".
A resolution recognizing the month of October 2013 as "National Principals Month".
Bill Introduced: S.Res.240 A resolution designating the week beginning September 15, 2013, as "National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week".
A resolution designating the week beginning September 15, 2013, as "National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week".
Bill Introduced: H.R.2897 Access to Complete Education Act
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide grants for core curriculum development.
Bill Introduced: H.R.2881 Support Educators and Reinvest in Valuable Education Act
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase the amount of loan forgiveness available to highly-qualified teachers employed in low-income schools who teach in the same school district for five consecutive years.

9-28-13 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online:




Reign of Error Review: Kozol on Ravitch, Speculating on Why There is No Middle Ground in the Ed Wars
Having Kozol review Ravitch is like getting the gold ring. Which means someone at the NY Times Book Review has some sense. The NY Post has a Michelle Rhee clone do the review. I imagine there are different forces at work within the Times and I expect we will see a different type of review when the daily Arts section, usually Janet Maslin, review the book.In the school wars I am reminded of The Ter
Join MOREistas in Win Back Wednesday: Our Children are MORE than a Score!
See MORE's entire Win Back Wednesday ToolKit, including stickers you can download and print at the MORE site: http://morecaucusnyc.org/2013/09/26/day-of-action-toolkit/And here is another excellent video from the MORE Media Team.http://youtu.be/hIf7piHlbvo

9-27-13 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Leonie Haimon Goes to School and Finds Tweedie Implementation of Common Core Is a Disaster MovieSo, amongst all the inherent faults of the Common Bore, we have the totally inept Walcott-led Tweedies showing once again that they would find getting out of a paper bag a significant challenge.Heeeeere's Leonie:I toured school yesterday where majority of students are ELLs, either in du

9-26-13 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Shame on NYC Ed Reporters for Supporting E4E in Event Closed to Anyone Who Doesn't Sign Their PledgeI saw the names of the reporters who are going to be on the panel and was sort of shocked that the "neutral" press would be on a panel for an organization that has banned people who do not agree with their pledge. In fact at one point I tried to go in with my press pass an
Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Portelos Hearing: DOE Legal Invalidates Chapter Leader Election at IS 49SIImagine a union allowing the employer to invalidate an election for building rep and remaining mute.  Multiple contract violations involved in principal's refusal to meet w. elected CL on a regular basis, consult committee, etc. Not that they ( union bureaucracy)  care.... observer at Portelos hearingHow abs


9-24-13 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Where Are Rhee, Kopp, Klein, Moskowitz, E4E, DFER When it Comes to Defending Food Stamps Program (SNAP)?.....you might think that ensuring adequate nutrition for children, which is a large part of what SNAP does, actually makes it less, not more likely that those children will be poor and need public assistance when they grow up. ... Paul Krugman, NY TimesYou mean SNAP might actua



9-23-13 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Today: Back to Portelos HearingIt is game 2 of the Portelos vs the DOE et al and we expect some retiree MOREs to be there. We agreed not to reveal details until the case is over but we can write generally about the hearing. Transcripts are available which I assume can be published one day. See my reports from the last session.Portelos Hearing: NY Post Reporter Reuven Fenton C...He




9-22-13 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Thanks to General Diane Ravitch for the Shout Out on Preaching to the ChoirIs Diane Ravitch the George Washington of the educational revolutionary wars? Can we call it World War D (for Deform)? Can we get Max Brooks to write that story?As I would expect Diane Ravitch took the point I was trying to make in my column this week in The Wave about and extended it to a place I myself wa



What Does Reign of Error Mean? | Assailed Teacher

What Does Reign of Error Mean? | Assailed Teacher:

What Does Reign of Error Mean?

reign-of-error2

Diane Ravitch has always been my go-to person for matters of American schooling.
Back in 2004, I was 25 years old and starting my fourth year as a history teacher. It was the year I decided to branch out and create a philosophy elective at my school. I wanted to enable my philosophy students to deconstruct the world around them. Since they had already spent a good portion of their lives sitting in American schools, I figured I would be derelict in my duties if I did not help them deconstruct the American school system.
Yet, I knew next to nothing about the history and structure of American schooling. It was an embarrassing knowledge deficit for a history teacher to have. Before I could break down the school system with my students, I would have to break it down for myself. This meant a spate of independent research for me. It was at this point when I first read Diane Ravitch’s work.
Left Back: A Century of Failed School Reforms was an honest, direct and well-researched survey of the American school system. Diane’s simple yet