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Saturday, April 7, 2012

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Evening Posts 4-7 #SOSchat #p2 #edreform


NYC Chancellor won’t grade himself | Outside the Cave

NYC Chancellor won’t grade himself | Outside the Cave: NYC Chancellor won’t grade himselfbyStephen LazarIf this is how the Chancellor evaluates himself, why is he grading schools and teachers on a curve that ends with letter grades, or their equivalent? Froman interview with Anna Phillips:Q. If you were to rate yourself, give yourself a grade for your first year as chancellor, whether it’s an A through F or a 1 to 10, what would you give yourself and why?A.And my ... more »

Education Research Report: HIV, Other STD, and Pregnancy Prevention Education in Public Secondary Schools — 45 States, 2008–2010

Education Research Report: HIV, Other STD, and Pregnancy Prevention Education in Public Secondary Schools — 45 States, 2008–2010: HIV, Other STD, and Pregnancy Prevention Education in Public Secondary Schools — 45 States, 2008–2010ΩComplete article with tables and notesIn the United States, 46% of high school students have had sexual intercourse and potentially are at risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and pregnancy (1). The National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States recommends educating young ... more »

Tracks for Trayvon | Dissident Voice

Tracks for Trayvon | Dissident Voice: Tracks for TrayvonbyAlexander Billet In a recent interview with Hip-Hop DX, a hoodie-clad Nas exhibited an understandable amount of despair at the case of Trayvon Martin:You never want to hear that kind of news. When it happens, you remember how many Trayvon incidents happen everyday all over the world… It doesn’t seem like the race problem will ever get solved. I like to be optimistic, but it doesn’t seem like it’ll ever get solved.And ... more »

How Do We Improve Public Schools? | Dissident Voice

How Do We Improve Public Schools? | Dissident Voice: How Do We Improve Public Schools?byElizabeth WaltersHow can we improve public education for our children?The answers to this question — and the perspectives on the current quality of public education in the United States — are as varied and individualized as the 55 million students who attend public school in this country. Recently, legislators in Louisiana, like their counterparts in many other states, have sought to improve their state’s educational climate. ... more »

The Clock Begin Ticking on USF Poly Split, Dockery Asks Scott to Visit the Campus | Scathing Purple Musings

The Clock Begin Ticking on USF Poly Split, Dockery Asks Scott to Visit the Campus | Scathing Purple Musings: The Clock Begin Ticking on USF Poly Split, Dockery Asks Scott to Visit the CampusbyBob SikesFlorida Governor Rick Scotthas until April 21to sign SB 1944. Within a letter Senator Paula Dockery sent to Scott recommending he visit the campus are some facts that many Floridians don’t know about the existing school:Dockery sent a letter to Scott’s office this week asking him ... more »

Disciplinary Literacy with the Common Core State Standards | Connected Principals

Disciplinary Literacy with the Common Core State Standards | Connected Principals: Disciplinary Literacy with the Common Core State StandardsbyjjohnsonOver spring break I had the opportunity to attend a one day workshop with Doug Buehl on Disciplinary Literacy with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). First of all, I must say that Mr. Buehl was an amazing presenter! I was surprised to find out that he is originally a HS Social Studies teacher (yes, you read that right) and had great, ... more »

What Isn’t for Sale? ( Michael J. Sandel) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

What Isn’t for Sale? ( Michael J. Sandel) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: What Isn’t for Sale? ( Michael J. Sandel)bylarrycubanMichael Sandelis a political philosopher and professor at Harvard University. This abridged version appeared in the April 2012 issue ofThe Atlanticmagazine. I, like others, have often referred to current efforts to improve U.S. schools, as “market-driven school reform.” Sandel places that phrase in a the larger context of American society over the past quarter-century.There are some ... more »

Disgusted with standardized tests, group of parents shunning them | Seattle Times Newspaper

Danny Westneat | Disgusted with standardized tests, group of parents shunning them | Seattle Times Newspaper: Disgusted with standardized tests, group of parents shunning themA rebellion over standardized school testing in the Seattle Hill neighborhood southeast of Everett echoes a larger uprising around the country.Danny WestneatSeattle Times staff columnistRELATEDRead more of Danny Westneat's columnsDanny Westneat's columns via RSSMOST POPULAR COMMENTSHIDE / SHOW COMMENTSWhat is wrong with this picture: "Kids take the tests in the spring, but nobody...(April 3, 2012, by ... more »

Schools Matter: Dave Green: "The Inconvenient Truth Behind Teach for America and Its Inadequate Version of Teacher Training"

Schools Matter: Dave Green: "The Inconvenient Truth Behind Teach for America and Its Inadequate Version of Teacher Training": Dave Green: "The Inconvenient Truth Behind Teach for America and Its Inadequate Version of Teacher TrainingbyJim HornContinuing our teach-in from last weekend's Occupation at ED, next up isDave Green, who does field supervision of teacher interns for Fordham U. in NYC. This is a really well-crafted presentation by someone who has seen TFA up close and personal. Please watch and learn.The KIPP ... more »

FEA Files Complaint Against State Board of Education on SB 736 | Scathing Purple Musings

FEA Files Complaint Against State Board of Education on SB 736 | Scathing Purple Musings: FEA Files Complaint Against State Board of Education on SB 736byBob SikesFrom Jeff Solochek inGradebook:The Florida Education Association is contending that the state Board of Education hasn’t created appropriate rules to do the lawmakers’ will.“We believe they’ve written it in such a way that no one really can figure out how to comply,” Tony Demma, the FEA’s lawyer, told the Gradebook.The State Boardrule, adopted in ... more »

Top Content this Week - The Educator's PLN

Top Content this Week - The Educator's PLN: Top ContentRank1What is 21st century education?Added byThomas Whitbyon April 3, 20122The Power of Reflection...Posted bySandra Trachon March 31, 20123How do you motivate your online learners?Posted byJackie Savinion March 12, 20124Motherly instinct in teachers, is it necessaryPosted byDianaon April 3, 20125Interview with Heidi Hayes JacobsAdded byThomas Whitbyon March 29, 20126KONY 2012Added byThomas Whitbyon March 9, 20127Not on the TestAdded byThomas Whitbyon April 1, 20128By Chance or By Change: Allowing the "Why?"Added byAnne Beckon ... more »

Daily Kos: An unusual Saturday morning

Daily Kos: An unusual Saturday morning: An unusual Saturday morningbyrss@dailykos.com (teacherken)since it has been more than a week since I last saw my students - spring break began a week ago Friday.Yet I have not been totally out of touch from them - some have emailed me, as did several former students, in one case who had just heard that I was retiring.And today I begin to refocus on the forthcoming week. Officially it begins at 8 AM on Monday, ... more »

More on ALEC from Wisconsin to Florida, Legislation and Education | Seattle Education

More on ALEC from Wisconsin to Florida, Legislation and Education | Seattle Education: More on ALEC from Wisconsin to Florida, Legislation and Educationbyseattleducation2011Due to the wide-spread interest in ALEC based on the responses fromyesterday’s post, I am going back through the archives and bringing up some of the “best” of ALEC which seems to bring out some of the worst in our legislators.By the way, Kraft just dropped ALEC, seeKraft Foods Joins Coca-Cola and Pepsi in Leaving Corporate Front Group ... more »

Sacramento Press / "Bully" Hits Sacramento Friday

Sacramento Press / "Bully" Hits Sacramento Friday: "Bully" Hits Sacramento FridaybyKen Pierce Following the successful New York/L.A. premiere of“Bully”distributor Harvey Weinstein and filmmaker Lee Hirsch will open the compelling documentary in cities across the U.S. April 13, 2012. Last week the heavy-hitting documentary opened in five theaters and made an average of $23,000 per-theater in a single night.Here in Sacramento“Bully”will premiere at theTower Theaterfor invited guests Tuesday, April 10 then open for a limited run beginning Friday, April 13th.During the ... more »

Cash: Charter Schools will Take Millions from Unified District | Memphis Breaking News, Weather & Sports | WPTY-TV | ABC24, abc24.com

Cash: Charter Schools will Take Millions from Unified District | Memphis Breaking News, Weather Sports | WPTY-TV | ABC24, abc24.com: Cash: Charter Schools will Take Millions from Unified DistrictVideoReported by:Mike MatthewsEmail:mmatthews@abc24.comPrint StoryPublished: 4/05 5:27 pmShareUpdated: 4/05 7:03 pmMEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - The superintendent of Memphis City Schools says money is going to be tough to find for schools Memphis and Shelby County. He's concerned after the state allowed 17 new charter schools for Memphis.The money for education follows the students, ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top 4-7 AM Posts #soschat #edreform

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts 4-6 #soschat #EDReformBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-40 minutes agoThe Bully Politics of Education Reform | Dailycensored.comBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-20 minutes agoThe Bully Politics of Education Reform | Dailycensored.com: The Bully Politics of Education ReformWritten byPaul ThomasDaily Journal (Opinion),Education,PoliticsApr 6, 20120diggShareAmerica is a bully nation.America is the embodiment of might-makes-right. When another country (USSR) invades Afghanistan, America is filled with righte... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts 4-6 #soschat #EDReform

The Bully Politics of Education Reform | Dailycensored.comBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-20 minutes agoThe Bully Politics of Education Reform | Dailycensored.com: The Bully Politics of Education ReformWritten byPaul ThomasDaily Journal (Opinion),Education,PoliticsApr 6, 20120diggShareAmerica is a bully nation.America is the embodiment of might-makes-right. When another country (USSR) invades Afghanistan, America is filled with righteous indignation, but when America invades Afghanistan, well, all is right with the world.America has bred the bully tactic of vigilantism ... more »

It's the law, court briefs allege, LAUSD needs to include student progress in teacher evals | 89.3 KPCC

It's the law, court briefs allege, LAUSD needs to include student progress in teacher evals | 89.3 KPCC: It's the law, court briefs allege, LAUSD needs to include student progress in teacher evalsTwo briefs were filed this week in a Los Angeles County Superior Court case that alleges the Los Angeles Unified School District is violating a state law requiring student progress be included in teacher evaluations.“By failing to assess teachers and administrators based on the progress of pupils and ... more »

Portland parents raise a record $3 million to hire teachers, support schools | OregonLive.com

Portland parents raise a record $3 million to hire teachers, support schools | OregonLive.com: Portland parents raise a record $3 million to hire teachers, support schoolsPublished: Friday, April 06, 2012, 5:39 PM Updated:Friday, April 06, 2012, 5:47 PMByBetsy Hammond, The OregonianFollow4ShareEmailPrintParents and other volunteers fundraised a record $3 million to help bolsterPortland Public Schoolsnext year, primarily to add teachers and other staff,the Portland Public Schools Foundationreported Friday.That represented a 10 percent increase from just two years earlier and is more ... more »

Modern School: Detroit Unions Give It Away, Snyder Not Satisfied, Will they Strike?

Modern School: Detroit Unions Give It Away, Snyder Not Satisfied, Will they Strike?: Detroit Unions Give It Away, Snyder Not Satisfied, Will they Strike?byMichael DunnWill Work for Free (Image from Flickr, bypsyberartist)Last week,30 Detroit public sector unions sold out their members by giving away major concessions to the city, including a 10% pay cut, layoffs, and changes to their pensions, in a completely voluntary reopening of existing contracts well before they expire. The move was an attempt to preempt the ... more »

Third Whistle-Blower Suit Filed Against Mavericks Charter Schools - Broward/Palm Beach News - The Daily Pulp

Third Whistle-Blower Suit Filed Against Mavericks Charter Schools - Broward/Palm Beach News - The Daily Pulp: Third Whistle-Blower Suit Filed Against Mavericks Charter SchoolsByLisa RabFri., Apr. 6 2012 at 7:01 AMCategories:Breaking News,Education,Investigationsmaverickshigh.comA former special-education teacher at Mavericks High in Palm Springs has filed a whistle-blower lawsuit alleging that the charter school is inflating enrollment records and fabricating grades.Angenora Mechato's suit is the third whistle-blower case to be filed againstMavericks in Education Florida, a for-prof... more »

Daily Kos: Dear Mitt,

Daily Kos: Dear Mitt,: Dear Mitt,byteacherkenFollowShare2PERMALINK7COMMENTSI heard your comments about the president: We have a president who I think is a nice guy, but he spent too much time at Harvard, perhaps," said Romney.""Or maybe not enough time working in the real world.That you spend one more year at Harvard than he did might lead me to question what that says about you.But that's not where I think we have a bit of a quarrel.You seem to think that you ... more »

Schools Matter: Arne Duncan, Let My People Go!

Schools Matter: Arne Duncan, Let My People Go!: Arne Duncan, Let My People Go!byJudy RabinOccupy the Department of Education, sponsored by United Opt Out, took place in DC March 30 - April 2, 2012 in Washington, DC. The quantitative numbers were somewhat low for an Occupy protest but from a qualitative standpoint, the event was a huge success. Teachers, parents, concerned citizens and academics gathered for four straight days outside the DoED. They came from California, Colorado, Florida, Tennessee, Virginia, ... more »