Thursday, July 28, 2011

ED Wraps Up its Let’s Read! Let’s Move! Summer Series | ED.gov Blog

ED Wraps Up its Let’s Read! Let’s Move! Summer Series

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Guest Blogger

Special guest Dora the Explorer joined Secretary Duncan and ED Senior Advisor on Early Learning Jacqueline Jones to encourage young students to be physically active and to keep reading during the final Let’s Read! Let’s Move! event at ED headquarters Tuesday afternoon.

Duncan and Jones read Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems, sparking an animated discussion with the children over what would happen if the book’s pigeon began to operate a motor vehicle, one particularly enthused young student shouted “he would go to jail,” much to the amusement of the adults in attendance.

Following the Let’s Read portion of the event, the students joined Dora in exploring theobstacle courses and participating in physical activities. The fitness activities are part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative to emphasize the importance of an active and healthy lifestyle.

Click here for an alternate version of the video with an accessible player.

This week’s event marks the end to the 2011 Let’s Read! Let’s Move! series; for more information on the initiative and its sponsors, read our previous posts on this summer’sfirst, second, and third Let’s Read! Let’s Move! events.

Noah Bokat-Lindell and Simone Zhang are interns at the Department of Education.

#SOSMarch An Urban Teacher's Education: SOS Conference Day One

An Urban Teacher's Education: SOS Conference Day One

SOS Conference Day One

by James Boutin

Today, the first day of the SOS Conference in DC, I had the privilege of being around some phenomenal people and having some very interesting conversations.

The day began with a talk by Jonathan Kozol. Although he's always been one of the people I've looked up to most in the education world (and I learned today just how many others have too), I was even further impressed by his ability to address a crowd. He gave a riveting talk. He demonstrated an ability to be sensitive and genuine in his description of his time in the classroom and, at the same time, intensely passionate about his anger and frustration with the ongoing catastrophic inequities that continue to plague public education. For me, his compassion, tenderness, and commitment to this cause came through even more clearly than when I read his books.

I moved on to a lecture by Texas Superintendant John Kuhn. Kuhn has written and spoken out widely on destructive state and federal policies that have hurt him and his students. He's even published an ebook that you

Inclusion and Standardized Tests « Cooperative Catalyst

Inclusion and Standardized Tests

by joebower

Plans can be important… but it’s important to ask who the plans are for.

Most school districts have education plans. So I want to know… who are these education plans for?

I am familiar with one school district’s education plan where one of their goals is Inclusion of All Students. The priorities for this goal are two-fold:

Each student is engaged in meaningful learning that is appropriate to his or her abilities and takes place in the most enabling environment.

Each staff member has the ability to meet the diverse needs of all students.

Inclusion is an impressive goal, and one that I applaud. I honestly can find no

#SOSMarch Teachers march on Washington: a look at the issues

Teachers march on Washington: a look at the issues

by admin

The following originally appeared on Education Week. Read the original here.

Educators frustrated with federal policies and feeling increasingly under siege by their states will be converging on Washington, D.C., the last week of July 2011 for a rally, conference, and march to the White House. Theorganizers and endorsers—an array of teachers, advocates, researchers, and bloggers—have several issues that they’re pressing with the Save Our Schools rally. The chart below takes a look at the pro and con positions on seven of those issues.

No Child Left Behind

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, signed into law by President George W. Bush, is a

Big Education Ape - PostRank Today's 10 #SOSMarch

#SOSMarch School Tech Connect: Good For The SOS Marchers School Tech Connect: Good For The SOS Marchers Good For The SOS Marchers by effacethefacade@yahoo.com (Tim) I'm so proud of the March organizers; you really can't get the attention of this administration unless you're a hedge fund manager, a person who ...

#SOSMarch Save Our Schools Rally Kicks Off In D.C., Teachers Invited To Meet With Arne DuncanSave Our Schools Rally Kicks Off In D.C., Teachers Invited To Meet With Arne Duncan Save Our Schools Rally Kicks Off In D.C., Teachers Invited To Meet With Arne Duncan [image: Washington] First Posted: 7/28/11 12:26 PM ET Updated: 7/28/11 12:28 PM ET ...

#SOSMarch Obama administration reaches out to education activists before march - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post Obama administration reaches out to education activists before march - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post Obama administration reaches out to education activists before march by Valerie Strauss Two days before thousands of teachers, parents and ...

Blogger Fred Klonsky's crusade against public education reform | Ben Joravsky on Politics | Chicago Reader Blogger Fred Klonsky's crusade against public education reform | Ben Joravsky on Politics | Chicago Reader July 28, 2011NEWS & FEATURES » BEN JORAVSKY ON POLITICS Blogger Fred Klonsky's crusade against public education reform Klonsky's is a voice from ...

The Corporate Education Act Becomes Law | Dissident Voice The Corporate Education Act Becomes Law | Dissident Voice The Corporate Education Act Becomes Law by Luke Hiken Republican lawmakers were ecstatic today to announce passage of the Corporate Education Act (CEA). The President expressed his support for ...

#SOSMarch Welcome to the Save Our Schools Conference Day I: Keynote speech by Jonathan Kozol | The Classroom Sooth Welcome to the Save Our Schools Conference Day I: Keynote speech by Jonathan Kozol | The Classroom Sooth Welcome to the Save Our Schools Conference Day I: Keynote speech by Jonathan Kozol by classroomsooth It is an exciting time to be a public school ...

Florida Education Association Sues State « Tangerine, Florida Florida Education Association Sues State « Tangerine, Florida Florida Education Association Sues State by 5redherrings Reposted from Union Library Workers: *FEA suing state over pay cuts to teachers, other state workers for pension “contribution.”* * ...

voiceofsandiego.org: Education voiceofsandiego.org: Education Why Would Focusing on Weakest Students Cost School?Comments *(3)* | 11:34 am I had one big question for the U.S. Department of Education: Why should focusing on struggling students cost a Logan Heights school? Last week I ...

Oakland teacher turned activist rallies for education reform | KALW #SOSMarch Oakland teacher turned activist rallies for education reform | San Francisco Bay Area News - Crosscurrents from KALW Oakland teacher turned activist rallies for education reform By BEN TREFNY on July 27, 2011 - 5:13pm Flickr photo by Thomas Favre-Bulle. ...

This Week In Education: Thompson: Culture Of Respect A Two-Edged Sword This Week In Education: Thompson: Culture Of Respect A Two-Edged Sword Thompson: Culture Of Respect A Two-Edged Sword [image: Kanye-west]I always had mixed reactions when told, "Dr. Thompson, students listen to you because they respect you." I never got ...

Thursday Churn: Lobato maneuvering | EdNewsColorado

Thursday Churn: Lobato maneuvering

by EdNews staff

What’s churning:

Gov. John Hickenlooper and Attorney General John Suthers this afternoon took the public relations initiative on the Lobato school-finance lawsuit.

Losing the suit could wreck the state budget, and school funding decisions are the responsibility of the legislature and the voters, they told reporters during a hastily called Capitol briefing.

“If we lost this decision the consequences would be devastating,” Hickenlooper said. “It’s up to the people and the legislature to decide what to do about school funding,” not the courts, Suthers said.

Supporters of the suit on Thursday announced an 11 a.m. Sunday rally and news conference on the Capitol’s

Education Research Report: Republican Governors Running on Education Records as Candidates for President

Republican Governors Running on Education Records as Candidates for President

by Jonathan Kantrowitz

Ω

Three governors running for president in 2012 – (former governors) Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty, and (perhaps a current governor) Rick Perry – come from states that outperform the U.S. average on the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress tests. Romney takes top honors for overall student performance in Massachusetts, and Perry can hail the outstanding achievement of Texas Hispanic students.

In an analysis of the leading Republican contenders in the presidential race,The 2012 Republican Candidates (So Far): What they’ve said and done on education in the past, and what they might do about our public schools if elected, Allison Sherry writes, “In staking out platforms in the coming months for what will likely be a feisty GOP

#SOSMarch Duncan Meets With 'Save Our Schools' Organizers, Their Dolls - Politics K-12 - Education Week

Duncan Meets With 'Save Our Schools' Organizers, Their Dolls - Politics K-12 - Education Week

Duncan Meets With 'Save Our Schools' Organizers, Their Dolls

by Michele McNeil

Everyone knows that cabinet secretaries are busy people, so when you want to get your message across, it's all the better to be brief—and memorable.

So when the organizers of the Save Our Schools March and National Call to Action wanted to quickly convey their concerns with the direction of education reform, they presented Education Secretary Arne Duncan with an

The Treacherous Rainbow of Identity Politics in History | Mr. D’s Neighborhood

The Treacherous Rainbow of Identity Politics in History

by ldorazio1

“The thing is, you cannot judge a race. Any man who judges by the group is a pea-wit. You take men one at a time.” ~ Sergeant ‘Buster’ Kilrain, in Gettysburg (1993)

I’m always uneasy when government messes with actual classroom instruction—even when it’s for the best intentions.

The day before I left for California, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law SB 48, an education bill designed to acknowledge the achievements of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) individuals in California and American history. Furthermore, the bill thwarts educators, administrators and school districts from advocating

Brother, Richard Chavez, Dies, Organized Grape Boycotts of ‘60s - Hispanically Speaking News

Brother of Cesar Chavez, Richard Chavez, Dies – Helped Organized Grape Boycotts of ‘60s

0 Comments

Published at 2:35 pm, July 28, 2011

Photo Credits: Richard Chavez Dies in Bakersfield

The brother of Cesar Chavez, Richard Chavez has died in California at the age of 81. Richard helped his brother build the United Farm Workers to the political and civil rights force it became.

Richard was born, like his brother, a migrant farm worker who grew up during the Great Depression.

According to the Mexican-American Legal Defense & Educational Fund (MALDEF):

“Richard joined the United Farm Workers of America as a young man and dedicated the rest of his life to chasing the dream envisioned by him, his brother

Taking Their Money, Stealing Their Votes: A Dispatch from the Republican War on Students « Student Activism

Taking Their Money, Stealing Their Votes: A Dispatch from the Republican War on Students

by Angus Johnston

Charlie Webster, the state chair of the Maine Republican party, has produced documents claiming to show thatover two hundred of the state’s college students have committed fraud by voting in Maine while paying out-of-state tuition.

This is a lie. It’s an evil lie. It’s just … jeez.

Here’s the deal. If you move to Maine for college, you have to pay out-of-state tution your first year. And your second. And your third. And your fourth. And your fifth. You have to pay out-of-state tuition forever, in fact, until you demonstrate that you have “established a Maine domicile for other than educational purposes.”

And as long as you’re attending college full-time, you’ll be “presumed to be in Maine for educational purposes

When Profiteering and Union-Busting Repackaged as School Reform | MyFDL

When Profiteering and Union-Busting Repackaged as School Reform

by David A. Love

Teacher's Desk (photo: Pikaluk on Flickr)

This is one of those stories that shows how far some people will go in America to make a buck—even if it means profiting at the expense of children, or exploiting the legacy of the civil rights movement.

Stand for Children is an unassuming name for an organization. Just taken at face value, one would conclude that the Portland, Oregon-based nonprofit aspires to accomplish what the title suggests. Their website says SFC is “an innovative, grassroots child advocacy organization. Our mission is to use the power of grassroots action to help all children get the excellent public education and strong support they need to thrive. Our members believe we need to stand up for our children now – particularly for their education from pre-school through high school –

Why Save Our Schools #SOSMarch is happening Saturday - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Why Save Our Schools March is happening Saturday - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Why Save Our Schools March is happening Saturday

by Valerie Strauss

I long wondered why public school teachers sat quietly during the decade-long No Child Left Behind era watching high-stakes standardized test-based reform take hold, leading to a host of damaging unintended consequences (narrowed curriculum and teaching to the test, just to name a few).

This Saturday, teachers, along with principals, parents and other activists, quiet no longer, are scheduled to take their concerns to Washington, D.C., with a march intended to let the Obama administration know that they are unhappy with corporate-based school reform that is obsessed with test-based “accountability,” the expansion of charter schools and other measures.

Read full article >>

Confession of a cheating teacher | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Confession of a cheating teacher

by Benjamin Herold

by Benjamin Herold
for the Notebook/NewsWorks

She said she knows she's a good teacher.

But she still helped her students cheat.

"What I did was wrong, but I don’t feel guilty about it,” said a veteran Philadelphia English teacher, who shared her story with the Notebook/NewsWorks.

Featured Title:

Notebook/NewsWorks exclusive

Changes coming to the Newsflash

by Wendy Harris

The Notebook has been publishing its e-newsletter, the Newsflash, for nearly a decade. We wanted to alert you to some changes to the Newsflash and ask for your feedback on the best way to share our hard-hitting news stories with you.

Writing about Teachers That Made a Difference | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Writing about Teachers That Made a Difference

by larrycuban

I recently read Mike Rose’s post about his high school English teacher. It is a beautiful piece that captures the ineffable moment 40 years ago that Rose was ready–he did not know it, of course, at the time–to dig deeper into literature and the pushing and prodding he got from Jack McFarland, his young English teacher. McFarland’s teaching, Rose said, changed “the direction of my life.”

Rose’s post reminded me of letters I had received from former high school students, those I had trained as teachers in Washington, D.C., and from doctoral advisees at Stanford. A glow of satisfaction would come over me whenever I read such letters that asserted my influence in their lives. I suspect that Jack McFarland might have experienced such a glow when reading Mike Rose’s post. As I read the compliments and how much the student attributed to me in shaping his or her life’s work, however, a small doubt, surely no more than a speck, flashed over me. That speck of a doubt had to do with the tricks that our memories play on us in selectively

Reform: The Trojan Horse Wheeling into Schools | Labor Notes

Reform: The Trojan Horse Wheeling into Schools

by Mike Dunn | Thu, 07/28/2011 - 10:51am

The attempts to crush teacher unions legislatively in Wisconsin, Indiana, and elsewhere have so far had only limited success. The enemies of teacher unions have been much more effective at weakening unions discreetly, through “education reform.”

Reforms that limit tenure, due process, or seniority protections also squelch dissent, union participation, and even advocacy for students, by making it easier to fire teachers for any reason, regardless of their skill in the classroom. Charter schools weaken union power because they are exempt from districts’ closed shop policies and are almost always non-union.

But education reform has also been undermining union strength in a more subtle way, by deskilling teachers. Deskilling is the Trojan horse that weakens unions, and schools, from the inside out.

The Original Deskiller

History shows how deskilling weakens unions. Before the Homestead Steel strike of 1892, in Pittsburgh, the

Latest News and Comment from Education

Thursday, July 28, 2011