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Thursday, December 22, 2011

#OWS Thanks Our Supporters! | OccupyWallSt.org

OWS Thanks Our Supporters! | OccupyWallSt.org:

OWS Thanks Our Supporters!

‎2011 was a revolutionary year for a new movement that is changing the world. From NYC to Cairo, we are just getting started. We are still busy building this amazing movement, and we couldn't do it without you -- our supporters! Let's make next year even better!

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(This video was passed by consensus through the New York City General Assembly on Tuesday, December 20, 2011.)

I Lost Three Years of My Life – The Story of a Teacher Who May Never Teach Her Students Again « JD2718

I Lost Three Years of My Life – The Story of a Teacher Who May Never Teach Her Students Again « JD2718:

I Lost Three Years of My Life – The Story of a Teacher Who May Never Teach Her Students Again

by Rodney Grubiak, retired teacher

On this day, Wednesday, December, 21, 2011, Bronx Supreme Court Justice Dominic Massaro found Raqnel James not guilty and totally exonerated her of the criminal charges that were brought against her almost three (3) years ago by the Principal of Fordham HS of the Arts, Iris Blige. Fordham HS of the Arts is located in New York City in the borough of the Bronx and is a part of the Department of Education of the City of New York.

Raqnel James who was born and educated on the beautiful Island of Jamaica arrived in this country carrying the same hopes and dreams that all of us share. What she did not realize, at the time, was the fact that someday she might very well be forced to return to her country leaving behind nothing but shattered memories of what might have been.

In February 2009, after many successful years touching and changing the lives of each and every one of her

Sacramento Press / No swap for Sac High and West Campus – for now

Sacramento Press / No swap for Sac High and West Campus – for now:

No swap for Sac High and West Campus – for now

by Melissa Corker, published on December 22, 2011 at 6:28 PM



SCUSD board trustee, Patrick kennedy

The potential West Campus/Sacramento High School “swap” is off the table, but the budget and facility use problems that spurred the proposal still exist – leaving open the question, is this really the end of the conversation?

“We have serious issues as far as our budget goes,” Sacramento City Unified School District trustee Patrick Kennedy said Monday. “We’ll have to look at all of our facilities. I won’t say there won’t be discussions of (school)

All Things Education: When single-issue advocacy causes multiple-issue empowerment

All Things Education: When single-issue advocacy causes multiple-issue empowerment:

When single-issue advocacy causes multiple-issue empowerment

Education journalist Joy Removits recently wrote this article on the education "reform" lobby. The article was not particularly remarkable, but I did discern a bit of pivoting on the part of some of the organizations, such as Students First, Stand for Children, and DFER (Democrats for Education Reform) Removits wrote about. In particular, they talked about being "single-issue" advocates and financially backing politicians only based on their advocacy of issues the reform lobby pushes. For example, Removits wrote,
Melton stressed that StudentsFirst is a single-issue group. "We support candidates that have positions on other issues we don't support," he said.
Now, I can see agreeing with someone on one issue even when you disagree with them on most others. I, for, example, agree with Ron Paul's position that the War on Terror and the War on Drugs have been disasters, and have resulted most detrimentally in a War on Civil Liberties and a War on Dissent. But would I go so far as to

School Tech Connect: The Civil Rights Issue Of Our Time

School Tech Connect: The Civil Rights Issue Of Our Time:

The Civil Rights Issue Of Our Time

Separate but whatever...


Meanwhile, Rahm appears to be driving them away down at Lab.
There is much happening at the Schools as we end 2011—including the activities associated with the searches for division heads for the Primary, Middle, and High Schools. We have long planned

solidaridad: United Way' Elise Buik's Myopic One Percent Policies #ows

solidaridad: United Way' Elise Buik's Myopic One Percent Policies:

United Way' Elise Buik's Myopic One Percent Policies

First published on OccupyLAUSD.org

"By what logic does United Way engage in an activity that is shunned by all the other charities?" — Professor Ralph E. Shaffer

Occupy United Way! Group founded and manifesto published
United Way of Greater Los Angeles' CEO Elise Buik's total compensation in 2010 was $286,985. Entering that figure on http://www.globalrichlist.com/ provides the following insights:
  • You're in the TOP 0.001% richest people in the world!
  • You are the 107,565 richest person in the world!
With that in mind, is it any wonder that United Way of Greater Los Angeles' policies

Green Ribbon Schools Program - School Facility (CA Dept of Education)

Green Ribbon Schools Program - School Facility (CA Dept of Education):

Green Ribbon Schools Program


The U.S. Department of Education's Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) award is intended to recognize those schools taking a comprehensive approach to greening their school. A comprehensive approach incorporates and integrates environmental learning with maximizing positive environmental and health impacts. The award criteria are intended to focus on measurable outcomes wherever possible.

This is a two-step process. The first step is to complete and submit the online application in order to be selected as a state nominee. If your school is selected, you will be asked to complete the second step of the process by providing additional information for the nominee package that will be forwarded to the U.S. Department of Education.

Application reviews will be based on the applicant's demonstrated progress towards reaching the goals of each of the three ED-GRS Pillars, which are:

  • Pillar I: Environmental Impact and Energy Efficiency
  • Pillar II: Healthy School Environments
  • Pillar III: Environmental and Sustainability Education

Four items which are important to keep in mind as consideration is given to applying to become a nominee:

  1. These are ambitious goals and few, if any, schools are expected to have achieved all three, or perhaps even 100% of any of the Pillars.
  2. Schools demonstrating exemplary achievement in all three Pillars will receive the highest ranking.
  3. It is important to demonstrate concrete achievement, using quantified measures, wherever possible.
  4. Additional documents supporting your answers may be requested.

Guide to Completing the California State Green Ribbon School Application (DOC; 143KB; 23pp.)
This guide includes the full application. You are encouraged to use this guide to develop responses before you begin the online applicaiton.

Online Application (Outside Source)
Once you begin the application you may save and return to it at any time until you hit the "submit" button.

Resources to Assist in the Completion of the Application

Framework (Outside Source)
Based on the three Green Ribbon School Pillars and Elements.

Scoring Rubric

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbons School Program (Outside Source)

Civil Rights, Health, Environment, and Safety Statutory and Regulatory Requirements (Outside Source)

Additional Resources Provided by the U.S. Department of Education (Outside Source)

Frequently Asked Questions Provided by the U.S. Department of Education (Outside Source)

Questions: Kathleen Seabourne | kseabour@cde.ca.gov | 916-323-3926

Big Education Ape: 12-22-11 PM Bankers, Billionaires Try To Form Movement Against OWS EDition #ows #edreform

Big Education Ape: Ed News Now:
Big Education Ape: Ed News Now

Published by Coopmike48 – 7 news spotters today

Bankers, Billionaires Try To Form Movement Against OWS

motherjones.com - "Don't screw with me. I'm a job creator." Matt Brett/FlickrWhaddaya know? It seems the rich now want to eat the folks who want to eat the rich. Wrap your head around this Bloomberg report:Jamie Dim...

DianeRavitch

What if you feel betrayed by your union's leadership?

dailykos.com - I find myself asking that question right now as the result of reading an op ed in today's USA Today. It has the title Column: 3 ways to improve the USA's teacher, and it is jointly written by Denn...

DianeRavitch

Key Obama K-12 Programs Won Out in Budget Deal

edweek.org - The U.S. Capitol in Washington. While a final budget deal funding the U.S. Department of Education left intact Obama administration priorities such as Race to the Top, Investing in Innovation, and ...

DianeRavitch

Mavericks Charges Charter Schools $350K in Rent, Plus Fees

bobsidlethoughtsandmusings.wordpress.com - This is sure to bring out a new round of troll attacks. From Lisa Rab in the New Times: When a private company aims to profit from a taxpayer-funded public school, the extra dough must come from so...

tbfurman

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EducationSee all

3 ways to improve the USA's teachers – USATODAY.com

usatoday.com - By Wendy Kopp and Dennis Van Roekel Updated Teaching is one of the most challenging jobs in the USA— and one of the most vital. According to the Census Bureau, about one in five American children l...

DianeRavitch

3 ways to improve the USA's teachers – USATODAY.com

usatoday.com - By Wendy Kopp and Dennis Van Roekel Updated Teaching is one of the most challenging jobs in the USA— and one of the most vital. According to the Census Bureau, about one in five American children l...

mikeklonsky

Poverty Matters!: Questions Needing Answers pt. 2

dailycensored.com - In “Poverty Matters!: A Christmas Miracle pt. 1,” I conceded the new refrain that no one is discounting the negative influence of poverty on student learning, specifically on the narrow representat...

DianeRavitch

SocietySee all

Old News Cont. - Ta-Nehisi Coates - National

theatlantic.com - Yesteday Ron Paul claimed on CNN that he'd never read the newsletters that went out in his name. Here is Ron Paul in a 1995 video discussing the very newsletters he claims to never have read. If yo...

mikeklonsky

PoliticsSee all

Sposato Now Backs UNO School In Ward

chicagonewscoop.org - by DAN MIHALOPOULOS | Dec 21, 2011Facing the embarrassing prospect of seeing a new charter school approved for his ward without his blessing, freshman Ald. Nicholas Sposato (36th Ward) said Wednesd...

fklonsky

StoriesSee all

Lego: You Can Get With the Times

blogs.newmoon.com - When you think of girls playing with Legos do you think of this?Or this?It's probably no surprise that I like the top image better! And I wish I could say the same for Lego executives. In the next...

K12NN

BusinessSee all

FBI Now Investigating Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

news.firedoglake.com - The walls have closed in over the past couple weeks on mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The SEC charged former CEOs and executives at the companies with fraud. California Attorney Genera...

coopmike48

Art & EntertainmentSee all

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Old News Cont. - Ta-Nehisi Coates - National

theatlantic.com - Yesteday Ron Paul claimed on CNN that he'd never read the newsletters that went out in his name. Here is Ron Paul in a 1995 video discussing the very newsletters he claims to never have read. If yo...

mikeklonsky