Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 12/23/15

CORPORATE ED REFORM

Schools Matter: Will the Real Hillary Clinton Please Stand Up?

Schools Matter: Will the Real Hillary Clinton Please Stand Up?: Will the Real Hillary Clinton Please Stand Up?Hillary Clinton with Eli Broad at the pre-ball dinner hosted by Eli Broadat the Inauguration Ball of Barack Obama on January 20, 2009.Hillary Clinton has caused a major scramble by her supporters after she spoke at a small high school outside Des Moines, Iowa. In her remarks she told the s

by mike simpson / 1min 

Clinton team walks back her math. Cunningham still talks “winners and losers.” | Fred Klonsky

Clinton team walks back her math. Cunningham still talks “winners and losers.” | Fred Klonsky: Clinton team walks back her math. Cunningham still talks “winners and losers.”The Hillary Team was pretty busy today walking back her fuzzy math.A video of her speaking in Iowa went viral.  The video has her supporting the school closing agenda of the corporate school reformers.“I wouldn’t keep any schoo

by mike simpson / 5min 

Hillary Clinton: Still on the Hook | deutsch29

Hillary Clinton: Still on the Hook | deutsch29: Hillary Clinton: Still on the HookOn December 22, 2015, Hillary Clinton spoke at a high school in Iowa, and she made a comment that speedily boomeranged on her:I wouldn’t keep any school open that wasn’t doing a better-than-average job.I wrote a wry response regarding the mathematical nonsense related to her misspoken goal of all schools’ being “abov

by mike simpson / 1h 

No, Hillary Clinton didn’t say she wants to close most U.S. schools. Here’s what she actually said. - The Washington Post

No, Hillary Clinton didn’t say she wants to close most U.S. schools. Here’s what she actually said. - The Washington Post: No, Hillary Clinton didn’t say she wants to close most U.S. schools. Here’s what she actually said. Hillary Clinton got into hot water for saying at a rally Tuesday in Keota, Iowa:Now, I wouldn’t keep any school open that wasn’t doing a better-than-average job.  If a school’s

by mike simpson / 2h 

I Doubt Hillary Clinton Plans to Close Half of All Public Schools – But She Does Want to Close Some | gadflyonthewallblog

I Doubt Hillary Clinton Plans to Close Half of All Public Schools – But She Does Want to Close Some | gadflyonthewallblog:I Doubt Hillary Clinton Plans to Close Half of All Public Schools – But She Does Want to Close Some“This school district, and these schools throughout Iowa, are doing a better than average job. Now, I wouldn’t keep any school open that wasn’t doing a better than average job. If

by mike simpson / 4h 

No, Hillary Clinton Does Not Want to Close Half of the Country's Schools - US News

No, Hillary Clinton Does Not Want to Close Half of the Country's Schools - US News: No, Hillary Clinton Does Not Want to Close Half of the Schools in the U.S.The Democratic candidate's remarks about shuttering below average schools were taken out of context. You may have heard that Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton wants to close half of the country's public schools.Speaking to

by mike simpson / 4h 

Draft History–Social Science Framework - Year 2015 (CA Dept of Education)

Draft History–Social Science Framework - Year 2015 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Invites Public Comment on Draft History–Social Science FrameworkSACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today that California is taking a step forward in updating its history—social science curriculum by inviting the public to comment on a new draft f

by mike simpson / 4h 

Seems to Me… | DCGEducator: Doing The Right Thing

Seems to Me… | DCGEducator: Doing The Right Thing: Guest Essayist, Bernie KellerRetired Bronx high school Master English teacherIn the interest of full disclosure, I have to say that I am not a big supporter of charter schools or the current reform efforts. While those who espouse and advocate the current “solutions” may be well meaning, I am reminded of a saying I used to hear growing up that ass

by mike simpson / 5h 

CURMUDGUCATION: Context Does Not Absolve Clinton

CURMUDGUCATION: Context Does Not Absolve Clinton: Context Does Not Absolve ClintonWell, that was quick.After the interwebs blew up with Clinton's ill-considered comment about closing below-average schools, Lauren Camera leapt up at US News to say, "Oh, no. Y'all just misunderstood. It was taken out of context."I had read the original context when I first responded to her comment. It does

by mike simpson / 6h 

USDED: No Student Assessment Opt-Outs Allowed | Truth in American Education

USDED: No Student Assessment Opt-Outs Allowed | Truth in American Education: USDED: No Student Assessment Opt-Outs AllowedThe U.S. Department of Education has spoken on student opt-outs for the 2016 statewide assessments.Ann Whalen, the acting assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education, wrote a letterto state school chiefs reminding them of “key assessment requirements” for the sta

1 by mike simpson / 7h 

NYC Public School Parents: How Class Size Matters helped the city save $727 million

NYC Public School Parents: How Class Size Matters helped the city save $727 million, and our plea to the Mayor how to use these funds to give an early Xmas present to NYC kids: How Class Size Matters helped the city save $727 million, and our plea to the Mayor how to use these funds to give an early Xmas present to NYC kidsLast February, on a lazy Sunday afternoon, I was perusing the list of DOE c

1 by mike simpson / 7h 

Hillary Clinton may want to close every public school in America, according to math - The Washington Post

Hillary Clinton may want to close every public school in America, according to math - The Washington Post:Hillary Clinton may want to close every public school in America, according to mathThis post has been updated.During an event in Iowa on Tuesday, Hillary Clinton offered a suggestion to improve the nation's schools. "I wouldn't keep any school open that wasn’t doing a better-than-average

by mike simpson / 7h 

BustED Pencils Trending News: Over...; Hungry; Delusion | BustED Pencils

BustED Pencils Trending News: Over...; Hungry; Delusion | BustED Pencils: BustED Pencils Trending News: Over…; Hungry; DelusionWriting as a parent.‘Beyond Measure: Rescuing an Overscheduled, Overtested, Underestimated Generation’http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/20/books/review/beyond-measure-rescuing-an-overscheduled-overtested-underestimated-generation.html?_r=0 Fired for having a heart!  What??!!

by mike simpson / 8h 

A holiday greeting from Diane Ravitch

A holiday greeting from Diane Ravitch: A holiday greeting from Diane RavitchDear Friend of Public Schools,Holiday greetings from the Network for Public Education! We wish you and your family a joyous season and a healthy New Year.We hope you will join with us in 2016 to continue the battle for better education for every American child and for policies that address the needs of children, instead of

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

How Business Got Schooled in the War Over Common Core Standards - Fortune

How Business Got Schooled in the War Over Common Core Standards - Fortune: How Business Got Schooled in the War Over Common Core Standards When Exxon Mobil, GE, Intel, and others pushed for the education standards, they incurred the wrath of Tea Party conservatives and got a painful lesson in modern politics.In February 2014, two of the world’s richest men, Bill Gates and Charles Koch, dined toget

by mike simpson / 8h 

Teachers won't be judged on end-of-year tests under revamp | The Herald

Teachers won't be judged on end-of-year tests under revamp | The Herald: Teachers won't be judged on end-of-year tests under revampCOLUMBIA, S.C. Teachers won't be judged by their students' scores on end-of-year tests under a proposed revamp of South Carolina's educator evaluation system.State Superintendent Molly Spearman announced her proposal this week following Congress' overhaul of the No Chi

by mike simpson / 8h 

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Even under new law, Common Core still impacts curriculum

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Even under new law, Common Core still impacts curriculum: Even under new law, Common Core still impacts curriculumAbandon the notion of subject-matter as something fixed and ready-made in itself, outside the child's experience. -- John DeweyRemember back a couple of years ago when Common Core critics were being raked over the coals by Arne Duncan, Peter Cunningham an

by mike simpson / 8h 

Education Department Asks 12 States to Address Low Test-Participation Rates - Politics K-12 - Education Week

Education Department Asks 12 States to Address Low Test-Participation Rates - Politics K-12 - Education Week: Education Department Asks 12 States to Address Low Test-Participation RatesIf you've been wondering how many states had significant issues with test participation last spring, there's an answer from the U.S. Department of Education.Twelve states have received letters from the Education Dep

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

Random thoughts. Averages. | Fred Klonsky

Random thoughts. Averages. | Fred Klonsky:Random thoughts. Averages.This clip of Hillary is making the social media rounds this morning.I will tell you whose Facebook news feed it’s on.Every teacher I know.They are NEA and AFT members who may well be wondering why our leadership rushed their endorsement of her.They are math teachers who wonder what Hillary was doing when she attended math class at

by mike simpson / 8h 

Merry Christmas, Ramone. You Represent Hope in a Seriously Messed-Up Education Nation

Merry Christmas, Ramone. You Represent Hope in a Seriously Messed-Up Education Nation. - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: Merry Christmas, Ramone. You Represent Hope in a Seriously Messed-Up Education NationIt's a touching and gut-wrenching story, well-told. Ramone Williams, 26, of Flint, Michigan (yes--that Flint, Michigan) is living out of his aging mini-van, because he can't

1 by mike simpson / 9h 

An Early Christmas Gift for the Common Core Naysayers » Missouri Education Watchdog

An Early Christmas Gift for the Common Core Naysayers » Missouri Education Watchdog: An Early Christmas Gift for the Common Core Naysayers The Jacksonville Florida Superintendent says otherwise.Parents who have been concerned about Common Core standards dictating curriculum, take heart.  You’ve been called delusional by those teachers, administrators, legislators, and choice architects who need Co

1 by mike simpson / 9h 

Malloy gives Charter School Industry another seat on the CT State Board of Education - Wait What?

Malloy gives Charter School Industry another seat on the CT State Board of Education - Wait What?: Malloy gives Charter School Industry another seat on the CT State Board of EducationA News Update from Jonathan Pelto and Wendy LeckerWhile Connecticut’s public schools continue to suffer from inadequate state funding and Governor Dannel Malloy and his administration strive to undermine, dismiss and

by mike simpson / 9h 

With A Brooklyn Accent: Will Hillary Clinton Throw Teachers in High Poverty Schools Under the Bus?

With A Brooklyn Accent: Will Hillary Clinton Throw Teachers in High Poverty Schools Under the Bus?: Will Hillary Clinton Throw Teachers in High Poverty Schools Under the Bus?When I was doing community history projects in Bronx schools -they were all pushed out when the testing mania struck and the Bloomberg Administration started assigning schools letter grades - I met some incredible teachers in

by mike simpson / 9h 

A free speech and student rap case is at the Supreme Court - Yahoo News

A free speech and student rap case is at the Supreme Court - Yahoo News: A free speech and student rap case is at the Supreme CourtCan a public school high school student be suspended for critically rapping about teachers outside of school? A case heading toward a Supreme Court private conference early nextyear could draw a new First Amendment boundaryThe case of Bell v. Itawamba County School Boa

by mike simpson / 10h 

These Presidential Candidates Flip-flopped in the War Over Common Core - Fortune

These Presidential Candidates Flip-flopped in the War Over Common Core - Fortune: These Three Presidential Candidates Flip-flopped in the War Over Common CoreRepublican candidates have shifted positions—or waffled—on this key educational issue.Illustration by Arian Behzadi; Original Photos, Christie: Nicholas Kamm—AFP/Getty Images; Cruz: Mandel Ngan—AFP/Getty Images; Bush: Charles Ommanney—The Was

by mike simpson / 10h 

Best and worst education news of 2015 — a teacher’s list - The Washington Post

Best and worst education news of 2015 — a teacher’s list - The Washington Post: Best and worst education news of 2015 — a teacher’s listLarry Ferlazzo is a veteran teacher of English and social studies at Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, California.  Every year he writes a list of the best/worst education news of the year — and here’s what he has come up with for 2015. Ferlazzo has writte

by mike simpson / 10h 

YESTERDAY

Closing the achievement gaps: Will California’s reforms make a difference? | EdSource

Closing the achievement gaps: Will California’s reforms make a difference? | EdSource: Closing the achievement gaps: Will California’s reforms make a difference?Student scores on the Smarter Balanced assessments, the centerpiece of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, or CAASPP, were released in September 2015. They underscored the continuing achievement gaps that decades

5 by mike simpson / 19h 

Hillary Clinton: Vowing to Close Schools Not “Above Average” | deutsch29

Hillary Clinton: Vowing to Close Schools Not “Above Average” | deutsch29: Hillary Clinton: Vowing to Close Schools Not “Above Average” A numeric average is a relative statistic. If I have a set of numeric values and I calculate an average using the set, by definition, some individual values will fall below average, and likely, some will be right on the average. If I remove these below-average and

1 by mike simpson / 22h 

New Fafsa Rules to Eliminate Frustrating Financial Aid Problem - The New York Times

New Fafsa Rules to Eliminate Frustrating Financial Aid Problem - The New York Times: New Fafsa Rules to Eliminate Frustrating Financial Aid ProblemAfter holiday celebrations are over, students who plan on attending college next fall should begin preparing for a looming financial chore: completing the document that is crucial for financial aid.Known as Fafsa, which is short for Free Application for

1 by mike simpson / 22h 

CURMUDGUCATION: Clinton's Math Problem

CURMUDGUCATION: Clinton's Math Problem: Clinton's Math ProblemIn Iowa, Clinton displayed a lack of-- well, something. Math comprehension? Education reform understanding? Thinking things through? She wouldn't keep any school open that wasn't doing above average. So... close half the schools? Of course, once you close half the schools, then the average will have to be recalculated, and then you'll h

1 by mike simpson / 23h 

Jersey Jazzman: Democracy, Markets, & Charter Schools: Part I

Jersey Jazzman: Democracy, Markets, & Charter Schools: Part I: Democracy, Markets, & Charter Schools: Part II promise I'll get back to Teachers Village in a bit and wrap up that series. But recent events have got me thinking more about the intersection of democratically elected school boards, local control, race, class, and charter schools.Because the argument I often hear from the "r

1 by mike simpson / 23h 

Clinton: 'I Will Close All Schools that Fail to Meet The Lake Wobegon Standard

Clinton: 'I Wouldn't Keep Any School Open That Wasn't Doing A Better Than Average Job' | The Weekly Standard: Clinton: 'I Wouldn't Keep Any School Open That Wasn't Doing A Better Than Average Job'Hillary Clinton may be planning to close a lot of schools. At a town hall event today in Keota, Iowa, Clinton said she would keep open "better than average" schools:"This school district an

by mike simpson / 1d 

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 12/22/15

CORPORATE ED REFORMMike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: That's a quarter-million #RahmResign sigs with a QMike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: That's a quarter-million #RahmResign sigs with a Q: That's a quarter-million #RahmResign sigs with a QA coalition of activists demanding Mayor Rahm Emanuel's resignation marched to City Hall Monday, carrying 250,000 petition signatures. That's a quarter million with a

7 by mike simpson / 1d 

Schools Matter: Will the Real Hillary Clinton Please Stand Up?

Schools Matter: Will the Real Hillary Clinton Please Stand Up?:

Will the Real Hillary Clinton Please Stand Up?

Hillary Clinton with Eli Broad at the pre-ball dinner hosted by Eli Broad

at the Inauguration Ball of Barack Obama on January 20, 2009.

Hillary Clinton has caused a major scramble by her supporters after she spoke at a small high school outside Des Moines, Iowa. In her remarks she told the students at Keota High School on Tuesday, December 22,

This school district and these schools throughout Iowa are doing a better than average job. Now I wouldn't keep any school open that wasn't doing a better than average job. If a school is not doing a good job then, you know, that may not be good for the kids, but when you have a district that is doing a good job it seems kind of counterproductive to impose financial burdens on it.

This has been seized on by her political opponents to claim that she said she is in favor of closing half of the schools in the United States that are doing an “average job”.

The U.S. News and World Report came to her defense Wednesday, December 23, saying her remarks “were taken out of context”.

Speaking about this, Diane Ravitch agreed. Sounding like a campaign manager for Hillary Clinton, Ravitch echoed U.S. News and World Report saying,

She mis-spoke. Hillary understands that the federal government doesn’t close schools. Period. A mistake. A slip of the tongue. An unthinking bow to corporatist ideology. She was wrong and she knows it. She has to walk back this careless statement. We don’t need any more school closings. Such closings have had a disproportionately harmful affect on communities of color.  Talk about school support, school helping, not closings. That’s yesterday.

So where does Clinton stand on the Broad method of closing “low-performing” public schools in low-income communitiesand turning them over to charters?

In a December 17^th article in the Wall Street Journal, “Clinton Views on Charter Schools, Teacher Evaluations Upset Some Schools Matter: Will the Real Hillary Clinton Please Stand Up?:

Clinton team walks back her math. Cunningham still talks “winners and losers.” | Fred Klonsky

Clinton team walks back her math. Cunningham still talks “winners and losers.” | Fred Klonsky:

Clinton team walks back her math. Cunningham still talks “winners and losers.”

The Hillary Team was pretty busy today walking back her fuzzy math.

A video of her speaking in Iowa went viral.  The video has her supporting the school closing agenda of the corporate school reformers.

“I wouldn’t keep any school open that wasn’t doing a better-than-average job,” she told Clinton team walks back her math. Cunningham still talks “winners and losers.” | Fred Klonsky:

Hillary Clinton: Still on the Hook | deutsch29

Hillary Clinton: Still on the Hook | deutsch29:

Hillary Clinton: Still on the Hook

On December 22, 2015, Hillary Clinton spoke at a high school in Iowa, and she made a comment that speedily boomeranged on her:

I wouldn’t keep any school open that wasn’t doing a better-than-average job.

I wrote a wry response regarding the mathematical nonsense related to her misspoken goal of all schools’ being “above average.”

However, even as US News rushed to Clinton’s rescue to say that Clinton’s comment had been taken out of context, the greater problem is that Clinton tossed off such a comment at all.

  

Hillary Clinton

School closure is destructive, and Clinton demonstrated her corporate-Democratic lack of awareness of the impact of the continued, privatizing-reform attack on the traditional, community-centered, American public school.

In November 2015, Clinton appeared to be critical of charter schools– and her husband Bill assisted with the backpedaling as billionaire charter-pushing funders like Eli Broad tightened his grip in his wallet. As the December 17, 2015, Wall Street Journal reports:

WASHINGTON—Democrats backing the effort to overhaul American education have become increasingly concerned that presidential front-runnerHillary Clinton isn’t committed to their cause, and some donors are holding back support for her campaign.

Their worries stem from skeptical comments she has made about charter schools and teacher evaluations, as well as her close relationship with teachers’ unions, who are critical of both.

“There are a lot of deep-pocketed donors who are concerned, and they’re going to hang onto their checkbooks until there is more clarity,” said Whitney Tilson, managing partner of Kase Capital, who has given more than $150,000 

Hillary Clinton: Still on the Hook | deutsch29:

No, Hillary Clinton didn’t say she wants to close most U.S. schools. Here’s what she actually said. - The Washington Post

No, Hillary Clinton didn’t say she wants to close most U.S. schools. Here’s what she actually said. - The Washington Post:

No, Hillary Clinton didn’t say she wants to close most U.S. schools. Here’s what she actually said.

 Hillary Clinton got into hot water for saying at a rally Tuesday in Keota, Iowa:

Now, I wouldn’t keep any school open that wasn’t doing a better-than-average job.  If a school’s not doing a good job, then, y’know, that may not be good for the kids.

How did she define “better than average?” She didn’t. There are different ways one could define that, with varying results. (You could even construct a bell curve in which there is only one “above average” entity.) But some news  organizations (including a blog on washingtonpost.com) ran with the remarks to say that she might want to close as many as half — or even most — of the schools in the country.

Please. Like Clinton or not, she hasn’t been a big advocate for large-scale school closures, and her words, in context with the remarks before and after, don’t suggest that she is planning on advocating the closure of public schools. (See transcript below.)

Certainly her language wasn’t artful, and she might wish she hadn’t said what she said. But according to her campaign, she doesn’t favor closing all of the schools that don’t do a “better-than-average job” and has never been an advocate for school closings.

Here is what she said, taking from a more than one-hour video, with the relevant comments, starting at about 17:00:

 I’m also going to do everything I can to defend education, and to make it clear that the best way to improve elementary and secondary education is to actually listen to the teachers and educators who are in the classrooms with our students and not scapegoat them and treat them like they don’t have any contribution to make.

And I wanna say a word about small rural schools like this one. Because I know that was the original reason that you all got so excited and why you were stalking presidential candidates. [laughter] And I don’t blame you. And I actually looked up some numbers.

Y’know Iowa has one of the best education systems in the country and has had for a long time. And I believe [applause] — Since I grew up in Illinois, we used to take a test they called the Iowa Basic Test, we used to take that test all the time. I wasn’t happy about it. But we did it because your education system was viewed as one of the best in the country. And your students have I think the second-highest ACT scores in the country. And I looked at the average of what Iowa students have, which is higher than the national average. This school’s students are higher than the Iowa average. [applause]

And so for the life of me, I don’t understand why your state government — and I know Governor Brandstad vetoed the money that would’ve come to help this school, and it was a bipartisan agreement. Y’know those are hard to come by these days. You had a bipartisan agreement in your legislature for more one-time student funding to help deal with some of the financial challenges that districts like this one have.

And Governor Brandstad vetoed it. Yet at the same time you have these laws which require if you have a deficit you may not be able to be a school district. It doesn’t make sense to me. When you- When you- Something is not broke, don’t break it. Right?

And this school district and these schools throughout Iowa are doing a better-than-average job. Now, I wouldn’t keep any school open that wasn’t doing a better-than-average job.  If a school’s not doing a good job, then, y’know, that may not be good for the kids. But when you have a district that is doing a good job, it seems kinda counterproductive to impose financial burdens on it.

So the federal government doesn’t have a whole lot to do with this, this is mostly state and local decision-making. Very little, less than 10 percent I think maybe 7 percent or so of the money that’s used to run schools in Iowa comes from the federal government. So therefore this is primarily a state issue.

But as president what I’m looking for are schools that exceed expectations. And I don’t care whether they’re urban, suburban, or rural. And where there are small districts like this one, I know you’ve got online opportunities, and maybe there should be 

No, Hillary Clinton didn’t say she wants to close most U.S. schools. Here’s what she actually said. - The Washington Post:

 

I Doubt Hillary Clinton Plans to Close Half of All Public Schools – But She Does Want to Close Some | gadflyonthewallblog

I Doubt Hillary Clinton Plans to Close Half of All Public Schools – But She Does Want to Close Some | gadflyonthewallblog:

I Doubt Hillary Clinton Plans to Close Half of All Public Schools – But She Does Want to Close Some

“This school district, and these schools throughout Iowa, are doing a better than average job. Now, I wouldn’t keep any school open that wasn’t doing a better than average job. If a school’s not doing a good job, then, you know, that may not be good for the kids.”
-Hillary Clinton

The above comments have caused a tremendous stir in the media lately.

Hillary Clinton wants to close half of all public schools!? She wants to shutter all public houses of learning that are average or below average!?

The Federalist even did some quick math and decided this means Clinton would shutter 50,000 schools. They even put that number in the headline of their article!

But hold your horses, media backlash.

I’m not really a Hillary supporter, but this has gotten a little out of hand.

Maybe I’m being too generous here, but I’m going to assume that Clinton may be a lot of things, but stupid isn’t one of them.

She made a gaffe. She said something that doesn’t make much sense mathematically. Close all schools below average? Average means 50%. That’s half of all schools.

It was a blunder, a mistake, a foot-in-the-mouth moment.

I can believe a lot about Clinton, but not that her education policy includes shuttering half of our nation’s schools.

However, don’t take my word for it. Seriously! Ask her. She should clarify what she I Doubt Hillary Clinton Plans to Close Half of All Public Schools – But She Does Want to Close Some | gadflyonthewallblog: