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Monday, January 17, 2011

NYC Public School Parents: NYC HS Success in Intel STS Continues Its Post-2002 "De-Klein"

NYC Public School Parents: NYC HS Success in Intel STS Continues Its Post-2002 "De-Klein"

NYC HS Success in Intel STS Continues Its Post-2002 "De-Klein"

by Steve Koss

One of the more disturbing educational trends in NYC public schools under Bloomberg/Klein has been the precipitous “de-Klein” in the city’s success in the Intel Science Talent Search (STS), the high school science fair equivalent of the World Cup. Last week’s announcement by STS of its three hundred 2010/2011 Semifinalists brought the unhappy news that NYC public schools’ share of that winners’ pool had shrunk yet again, this year to a dispiriting, all-time low of just fourteen students representing a mere three schools: eight from Bronx Science, five from Stuyvesant, and one from Townsend Harris. The table
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The Answer Sheet - Martin Luther King Jr. on education: In his own words

The Answer Sheet - Martin Luther King Jr. on education: In his own words

Martin Luther King Jr. on education: In his own words

Here are some writings by Martin Luther King Jr., on education. Though they are from decades ago, some of this sounds like it could have been written today. In the Morehouse College student newspaper, the Maroon Tiger, he wrote a piece, “The Purpose of Education, in January-February 1947 edition that included: "...It seems to me that education has a two-fold function to perform in the life of man and in society: the one is utility and the other is culture. Education must enable a man to become more efficient, to achieve with increasing facility the ligitimate goals of his life. "Education must also train one for quick, resolute and effective thinking. To think incisively and to think for one’s self is very difficult. We are prone to let our mental life become invaded by legions of half truths, prejudices, and propaganda.
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Susan Ochshorn: Trouble Ahead: Teacher Quality, Junior Division

Susan Ochshorn: Trouble Ahead: Teacher Quality, Junior Division
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Trouble does, indeed, lurk, as President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan gird themselves for the inevitable debate about the overhaul of No Child Left Behind, the nation's signature education reform initiative. Obama's upcoming state-of-the-union address, we're told, will highlight education, and Duncan's been conveying a great sense of urgency as he makes his rounds in all the public forums. On NPR, in an interview last week, the Secretary referred to education as "an economic imperative," a matter of "national security," and "the civil rights issue of our generation" -- all in one breath.

But the trouble lies beyond elusive bipartisan support. There's that little problem of teacher quality. The mantra du jour of 21st-century education reform, teacher quality has become the proxy for all that is wrong with our broken education system -- indeed, our society at large.

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NYC Public School Parents: What would Martin Luther King Jr. say about class size and charter schools?

NYC Public School Parents: What would Martin Luther King Jr. say about class size and charter schools?

What would Martin Luther King Jr. say about class size and charter schools?

by Leonie Haimson
On this, the holiday commemorating Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, we should remember that African-American children still suffer from inequitable conditions in our nation's schools - foremost among them, larger classes.

This is despite the fact that class size reduction is one of the very few reforms that have been proven to narrow the achievement gap, as poor and minority children receive twice the benefit from smaller classes than the average student. (See this recent issue brief from ETS, with data revealing the persistent inequities in class size,
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Detroit Federation of Teachers: They steal elections don’t they? | Dailycensored.com

Detroit Federation of Teachers: They steal elections don’t they? | Dailycensored.com

Detroit Federation of Teachers: They steal elections don’t they?

Written by Danny WeilEducationJan 17, 2011
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Irregularities in the Detroit Federation of Teachers presidential election have come to the surface. As Keith Johnson, Eli Broad and Robert Bobb ally, claims victory. The following is from the Steve Conn for DFT presidential campaign.

Urgent notice to all DFT Members:

The investigation of irregularities in the recent DFT election has begun. It appears that many DFT members’ votes were NOT counted. A recount is scheduled for this Wednesday, January 19, beginning 9:30 am. All DFT members have the right to observe. But there is also the issue of voter disenfranchisement — the refusal to

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Last Stand for Children First: Congressman Jack Kimble on Martin Luther King and Education Reform

Last Stand for Children First: Congressman Jack Kimble on Martin Luther King and Education Reform

Congressman Jack Kimble on Martin Luther King and Education Reform

by Last Stand for Children
The details of Martin Luther King's assassination are lost to history. The where, when, and how may never be known, but that's not really important to the legacy of Dr. King. What's sad about his assassination is that by silencing his voice much to young, his assassin deprived future generations of hearing Martin Luther King's voice on the issues that are important to our generations.

It's hard to think back, but in the time of Martin Luther King racism was a serious problem in the Untied States. As a Republican who believed in equality for all, this was something that Dr. King could not abide. King spent his life on a crusade against the horrors of racism. The question remains though, in our world where racism has long been eradicated what would Martin Luther King focus his attentions on now.

We have to wonder how Martin Luther King would have reacted if faced with the public workers who serviced his Birmingham, Alabama home were protecting ineffective employees or calling a strike that stopped vital public
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Modern School: Teachers Strike Over Job Cuts

Modern School: Teachers Strike Over Job Cuts

Teachers Strike Over Job Cuts


In England, teachers have gone on strike at Rawmarsh Community School in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, over proposed job cuts. The school plans to cut 34 staff, including up to 20 teachers, in order to reduce a £1.3 million deficit. This would slash one-fourth of the teaching staff, as there are currently 80 teachers at the school.

Teacher strikes are rare n the U.S. Here, it is typical for teachers unions to take the simplistic and wimpy attitude that they should only fight over contractual issues. They will resist violations of their contracts, bad faith by admin during negotiations and, most of all, threats by admin to cut pay and benefits guaranteed by their contracts. But when admin starts handing out pink slips due to budget shortfalls, unions typically acquiesce, arguing to their members that it is admin’s right to do so under Ed Code (so long as seniority rights are protected).

This approach treats newer teachers like fodder, throwing them in front of the train as a buffer against job cuts for more senior teachers. However, it also undermines working conditions for
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