Latest News and Comment from Education

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-13-12 Mothers Day #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2



James Baldwin said it best: 

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."

A Big Education Ape Nite Cap

Jersey Jazzman: Calling Stupidity Stupid

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 minutes ago
Jersey Jazzman: Calling Stupidity Stupid: Calling Stupidity Stupid by Duke Earlier, I blogged about the one absurd test item (that we know) that came out of the last round of the NJASK. This follows on the heels of Pineapplegate, the absurd question on the 8th Grade NY Regents exam. Diane Ravitch turns to the NJASK story, and asks a very good question: What exactly is the point of this question? It does not ask the students to explain what he or she has learned. It is not related to what they were taught or should have learned. It is intrusive, nosy, pointless, and stupid. Hmm.... more »

Daily Kos: Progress versus Regress

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 minutes ago
Daily Kos: Progress versus Regress: Progress versus Regress by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) I know. That's an awkward titling of this post. Let me explain if I can. As I approach yet another birthday (in 11 days), I have again been reflecting on what will soon be 66 years on this earth. Recently the focus has been less on myself than it has been in the society in which I find myself. I can think of many ways in which we can see that society, all of us, progress. I have lived through many important, positive changes. I have seen and experienced civil rights for Blacks, for women, i... more »

School Tech Connect: Mothers' Day 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 58 minutes ago
School Tech Connect: Mothers' Day 2012: Mothers' Day 2012 by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) Ruth and BiscuitHappy Mothers' Day, by the way. I just wanted to thank my mom for supporting me in one of the most important decisions I ever made: she let me sell my violin in 1975 and use the cash to buy a snowblower. I later taught myself piano, so no big, but seriously, I loved that snowblower. And when you're the youngest kid, and all your brothers have moved away, and there you are with this expanse of driveway and a ribbon of sidewalk, and all you've got is a shovel, well, a

Compulsory Schooling – The Hammer of Educational Equality | Lefty Parent

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Compulsory Schooling – The Hammer of Educational Equality | Lefty Parent: Compulsory Schooling – The Hammer of Educational Equality by Cooper Zale Other than paying taxes and attending school when you are young, a human being pretty much decides for themselves how they are going to make a living and lead their life. I understand the taxes part, that’s the “ante” we pay to participate in a larger community that is not just about us but about the common welfare. But why is it so sacrosanct that kids must go to and be in school all day under penalty of law? So in trying to resolve thes... more »

NYC Public School Parents: The Pineapple Question And Confucian Wisdom

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
NYC Public School Parents: The Pineapple Question And Confucian Wisdom: The Pineapple Question And Confucian Wisdom by Leonie Haimson ***The following is by Marc Epstein, teacher at Jamaica High School:* We might be coming to the end of a dynastic cycle. This thought occurred to me when newspaper articles reported that the New York State Department of Education wanted to eliminate the mandatory Global History and Geography Regents exam and make it optional rather than a requirement for a diploma. That would also mean that I won’t be teaching the “dynastic cycle” to as many students,... more »

School Tech Connect: Opt Out, Baby

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
School Tech Connect: Opt Out, Baby: Opt Out, Baby by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) *Go to Parents Across America.* This is an astonishing development. SNOHOMISH -- More than 550 Snohomish School District students did not take state exams in the past two weeks, a revolt staged by parents who question whether the tests are worth the money. The parents also hoped to get the attention of state lawmakers. I've been trying to dip my feet into the opt-out water, but I haven't gotten far. What we need is for a friendly lawmaker to write up a little somethin'-somethin' that protects ... more »

If You Have Never Taught, You Simply Don’t Understand | Dailycensored.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
If You Have Never Taught, You Simply Don’t Understand | Dailycensored.com: If You Have Never Taught, You Simply Don’t UnderstandWritten by Paul ThomasDaily Journal (Opinion), Education, PoliticsMay 13, 2012 Just days ago, I completed my twenty-eighth year as a teacher—eighteen as a high school teacher of English followed by ten years as a professor of education. And I am excited about the coming semesters because, as I have felt every year of my teaching life, I know I failed in some ways this past academic year and I am confident I will be better in my next opportunities to teach.... more »

One View of the Reformers’ End Game « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
One View of the Reformers’ End Game « Diane Ravitch's blog: One View of the Reformers’ End Game by dianerav Con Academy Browse Con Academy library of over 3,100 educational videos... [image: U.S. Department of Education and Federal Student Aid logo (Start Here. Go Further.)] No sooner did I blog to question the reformers’ end game than NYC teacher Marc Epstein, who has a doctorate in history, wrote to remind me that he had already asked and answered that question a year ago on Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-epstein/the-education-reformers-e_b_840831.html M... more »

Do We Need Widget Makers or Solution Finders? « Cooperative Catalyst

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Do We Need Widget Makers or Solution Finders? « Cooperative Catalyst: Do We Need Widget Makers or Solution Finders? by pamelamoran Increasingly, we see stark evidence that evolving and adapting our educational system is not just about America’s future, but also that of Planet Earth. Who we choose to educate, how we educate, and why we educate represent critical questions facing this country and the world. The increased filtering and narrowing of curricula may result in learners who take tests well, but who are ill-equipped to think on their feet as the solution finders we need fo... more »

Big Education Ape - Mid Day Banana Break 5-13 #soschat #edreform

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
*Big Education Ape - Mid Day Banana Break* *Happy Mothers Day!* * * * * What’s a Mother’s Worth? « MomsRising Blog #MOTHERS coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 minutes ago What’s a Mother’s Worth? « MomsRising Blog: What’s a Mother’s Worth? by riane eisler By Riane Eisler and Shireen Mitchell Should Mother’s Day just be about nice cards and pretty flowers? Or should it be about giving the people who care for us, and the essential work they do, real worth? How did we do this Mother’s Day? [image: Image of Mother's Day Tea] Mother’s Day Tea in the East Room of the White House, May ... more »

What’s a Mother’s Worth? « MomsRising Blog #MOTHERS

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
What’s a Mother’s Worth? « MomsRising Blog: What’s a Mother’s Worth? by riane eisler By Riane Eisler and Shireen Mitchell Should Mother’s Day just be about nice cards and pretty flowers? Or should it be about giving the people who care for us, and the essential work they do, real worth? How did we do this Mother’s Day? [image: Image of Mother's Day Tea] Mother’s Day Tea in the East Room of the White House, May 10, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert) In our wealthy nation, millions of mothers – largely women who devoted all or part of their lives to taking care of o... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle School Board Meeting - Big and Bulky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle School Board Meeting - Big and Bulky: Seattle School Board Meeting - Big and Bulky by Melissa Westbrook A fascinating, chock-a-block Board meeting to come this Wednesday night and I can only say, "Superintendent Banda, help us!" That said, this meeting will have it all so he will get a very good look at what's to come. *You should make plans to come given the uncertainty of what the Transportation Plan is at this time. Both the Board and Banda should be able to see parents mean business. * * * To note: if you want to speak, sign-up start... more »

The Clownbloq is coming to Chicago | 99% Solidarity

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
The Clownbloq is coming to Chicago | 99% Solidarity: The Clownbloq is coming to Chicago Posted on May 13, 2012 by georgefranklin [image: 20120513-143737.jpg] If you will be on Chicago on May 18, be sure to check out the ClownBloq

Missouri Education Watchdog: What Gift Can you Give Birthmothers on Mother's Day? The Sunday Education Weekly Reader 05.13.2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: What Gift Can you Give Birthmothers on Mother's Day? The Sunday Education Weekly Reader 05.13.2012: What Gift Can you Give Birthmothers on Mother's Day? The Sunday Education Weekly Reader 05.13.2012 by stlgretchen A sweet baby. Happy Mother's Day on this Sunday....and did you know yesterday was Birthmother's Day? There are many ways to honor mothers, whether they be mothers who gave birth, are adoptive mothers or even those women who are caring for children in foster or family situations as legal guardians. Here are two very disparate ways to m... more »

Dallas ISD elections: How much did the winners spend per vote? | Dallas ISD Blog | dallasnews.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Dallas ISD elections: How much did the winners spend per vote? | Dallas ISD Blog | dallasnews.com: Dallas ISD elections: How much did the winners spend per vote? by Matthew Haag/Reporter A hallmark of this year's Dallas ISD school board elections will be the amount of money injected into the campaigns. For years, Dallas ISD school board candidates could win by raising somewhere between $15,000 and $30,000. Not this year. The winners -- Elizabeth Jones in District 1, Dan Micciche in District 3 and Bernadette Nuttall in District 9 -- raised substantial sums of money. They were helped... more »

The Reformers’ Narrative Is Wrong « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
The Reformers’ Narrative Is Wrong « Diane Ravitch's blog: The Reformers’ Narrative Is Wrong by dianerav In a commencement speech, Richard Rothstein challenged the reform narrative. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/the-fantasies-driving-school-reform-a-primer-for-education-graduates/2012/05/13/gIQA5vwzLU_blog.html First, he demonstrated that the central thesis of “reform” is wrong: American public education is not failing. Second, he demonstrated the dramatic progress made in recent years especially by African American students. Third, he challenged the “reform”...more »

Why Mother’s Day founder came to hate her creation (and more on moms, gifts, baby names etc.) - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Why Mother’s Day founder came to hate her creation (and more on moms, gifts, baby names etc.) - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: Why Mother’s Day founder came to hate her creation (and more on moms, gifts, baby names etc.) by Valerie Strauss Your friendly Census Bureau has provided the following facts about mothers, children and there is some surprising history behind the annual ritual we call Mother’s Day (and that some people see as a gift from greeting card companies to themselves). First of all, where did Mother’s Day originate and how is that the founder of the day ... more »

Fred Klonsky (Reposted.)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Fred Klonsky: * * *Fred Klonsky (Reposted.)* Word is that the pension bill is coming this week. (Reposted.) Fred Klonsky at Fred Klonsky - 2 minutes ago Word is circulating that there will be a bill put before the Illinois General Assembly next week. Will it increase teacher contributions? Will it move the eligibility age to 67? Will it reduce or eliminate the COLA? Will it shift the share of the obligation that the state has to local districts? Yes? Some?All four? [...] Saturday coffee. (reposted) Fred Klonsky at Fred Klonsky - 6 minutes ago Happy Mother’s Day Mrs. Eileen Quinn. T... more »

Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Week 33: WWCCD? (What would Common Core do)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Week 33: WWCCD? (What would Common Core do): Week 33: WWCCD? (What would Common Core do) by alicemercer [image: 33] My last post was about Common Core, and this one will be about an assessment my students did with our student teacher this week, and how that could look under some models of Common Core that have been pushed forward. Students were reading *The Coming of the Long Knives* from “Sing Down the Moon” by Scott O’Dell about the removal of the Navajo (spelled Navaho in this story) from Canyon De Chelly to Bosque Redondo (Fort Sumner). I... more »

A Parent’s Guide to K-12 School Success

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
*A Parent’s Guide to **K-12 School Success* [image: PARENTS CAN! (click on picture)]

Engaging Parents In School… » “Parent Handbooks” For Content Areas Are Nice, But What About “Parent Engagement Handbooks” For Teachers?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Engaging Parents In School… » “Parent Handbooks” For Content Areas Are Nice, But What About “Parent Engagement Handbooks” For Teachers?: “Parent Handbooks” For Content Areas Are Nice, But What About “Parent Engagement Handbooks” For Teachers? Posted on May 13, 2012 by Larry Ferlazzo 1 I was looking through the California Department of Education website to see theirparent engagement resources, and found that they had “Parent Handbooks” for each class content area. Each one is full of ideas about how parents can help their children learn more in those specific content areas (Languag... more »

Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Common Core at Ground-level

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Common Core at Ground-level: Common Core at Ground-level by alicemercer [image: "Street Level 2" - Vivitar Ultra Wide & Slim at Ground Level] In response to Don’t Be Snowed on the Complexity of Unwritten Common Core Assessments, I’ve pulled this post out of the dust-bin of “Drafts”… Many teachers at my site were scrambling to get more PD hours as the school year winds down, so we had a presentation from a fellow teacher who is on the district’s Common Core working group. She’s a great teacher. She does ELD and intervention pull-outs part-tim... more »

Malloy Not Alone: Last Minute Corporate Contributions from StudentsFirst to Missouri Democratic Legislators pays off - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Malloy Not Alone: Last Minute Corporate Contributions from StudentsFirst to Missouri Democratic Legislators pays off - Wait, What?: Malloy Not Alone: Last Minute Corporate Contributions from StudentsFirst to Missouri Democratic Legislators pays off A few readers have complained that it’s been unfair to single out Governor Malloy for his support of “education reform.” Despite the fact that he proposed the most anti-teacher, anti-union proposal of any Democratic governor in the nation, these apologists claim that there are lots of Democrats supporting Michelle Rhee and the corp... more »

Mother Crusader: Happy Mother Crusader's Day!!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Mother Crusader: Happy Mother Crusader's Day!!: Happy Mother Crusader's Day!! by darciecima I can't take any credit for the name of my blog. That credit goes to Bob Braun. On the polished floor of the community center in Millburn’s Taylor Park, a small group of children sat quietly, hands folded, as their mothers chanted: "What do we want? A vote! When do we want it? Now!" while an assortment of politicians pledged obeisance to what these parents demanded: An end to the unchecked growth of charter schools. The scene was repeated elsewhere last night, in South Brunswick and Highl... more »

Ninth Circuit Reaffirms Ruling That Trainee Teachers Not Intended as “Highly Qualified” Under NCLB eg: Teach for America | Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Ninth Circuit Reaffirms Ruling That Trainee Teachers Not Intended as “Highly Qualified” Under NCLB eg: Teach for America | Seattle Education: Ninth Circuit Reaffirms Ruling That Trainee Teachers Not Intended as “Highly Qualified” Under NCLB eg: Teach for America by seattleducation2011 *As a reminder that Teach for America, Inc. recruits should not be teaching our children.* From Public Advocates: A federal appeals panel yesterday re-affirmed its September 2010 ruling that the U.S. Department of Education unlawfully diluted the standard of teacher owed every student in the country ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Star-Ledger Op-Ed = Free Advertising For Ed Contractors!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: Star-Ledger Op-Ed = Free Advertising For Ed Contractors!: Star-Ledger Op-Ed = Free Advertising For Ed Contractors! by Duke With the exception of Bob Braun, the *Star-Ledger* op-ed pages have been exceptionally ill-informed about education. But today, they reach a new low: they give column space for a edu-preneur to hawk his wares. Along with the think-tanky Herbert Walberg from Hoover, David Anderson weighs in on the big problem facing New Jersey's schools: not enough standardized testing ! We commend Gov. Chris Christie for his proposal to make greater use of ach... more »

Thinking about “Corporate Reform”: Reflections on Language | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Thinking about “Corporate Reform”: Reflections on Language | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Thinking about “Corporate Reform”: Reflections on Language by larrycuban Critics of the contemporary school reform agenda of test-based accountability, evaluating and paying teachers on the basis of test scores, more charter schools, and Common Core Standards point to the stakeholders in the civic, philanthropic, and business led coalition (e.g., Walton, Gates, and Broad foundations, hedge fund managers, mayors who have taken over city schools, testing companies) that ... more »

SES IS A MESS: Scientology Tutoring Service Approved By Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
By MELANIE ALNWICK @ FoxNews WASHINGTON - Federal law says that failing public schools have to provide free tutoring service to students. It is called Supplemental Educational Services (SES). Concerned parents contacted FOX 5 about one of the groups approved for tutoring by D.C.'s Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) - a group that has connections to the founder of the Church of Scientology. Applied Scholastics International is one of 29 tutoring services listed in the Title I Supplemental Educational Services Guide. Parents of students in failing D.C. public s... more »

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 5-13 AM Posts Happy Mom's Day #soschat #edreform

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
*BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK AM POSTS* Happy Mom's Day! Respecting Moms on Mother’s Day « MomsRising Blog coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 30 minutes ago Respecting Moms on Mother’s Day « MomsRising Blog: [image: ACLU] Respecting Moms on Mother’s DayPosted May 13th, 2012 by ACLU *By Tiseme Gabriella Zegeye, ACLU Women’s Rights Project* The current presidential campaign has brought attention to the "war on women" and the "war on moms," with both Republicans and Democrats speaking out on the need to recognize and value the work mothers do in raising their children. Attention ...more »

Respecting Moms on Mother’s Day « MomsRising Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Respecting Moms on Mother’s Day « MomsRising Blog: [image: ACLU] Respecting Moms on Mother’s DayPosted May 13th, 2012 by ACLU *By Tiseme Gabriella Zegeye, ACLU Women’s Rights Project* The current presidential campaign has brought attention to the "war on women" and the "war on moms," with both Republicans and Democrats speaking out on the need to recognize and value the work mothers do in raising their children. Attention to this question is long overdue, and it is critical that we evaluate why our society has devalued the unpaid domestic labor women perform. However, what is missing... more »

School Tech Connect: Wall Street Has Spoken

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
School Tech Connect: Wall Street Has Spoken: Wall Street Has Spoken by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) This blogging is a full-time commitment, isn't it? Going to try to get back to it today---- I see from the email traffic that they're going to ram a pension bill through the legislature as early as next week. I have no doubt it will succeed. Evidently the state is about to be double downgraded by the gatekeepers of the 1%, and that scenario will make it difficult to keep the doors open across the state. Evidently the thinking is that even an unconstitutional maneuver will buy s... more »

Tim Slekar: Pennsylvania Schools get the Shock Treatment - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Tim Slekar: Pennsylvania Schools get the Shock Treatment - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Tim Slekar: Pennsylvania Schools get the Shock Treatment by Anthony Cody [image: PINEAPPLE REBELLION 2012 (click picture)] *Guest post by Tim Slekar.* About a year ago I published a blog that detailed how Pennsylvania governor, Tom Corbett, was using the shock doctrine to dupe the citizens of Pennsylvania into believing that a $1 Billion dollar cut to public education was necessary to help with the state's budget deficit. I quickly pointed out that these cuts would actually weak... more »

Daily Kos: I Don't Need Standards To Teach, I Need Students

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Daily Kos: I Don't Need Standards To Teach, I Need Students: I Don't Need Standards To Teach, I Need Students byplthomasEdDFollow Share2 PERMALINK1 COMMENT Just days ago, I completed my twenty-eighth year as a teacher—eighteen as a high school teacher of English followed by ten years as a professor of education. And I am excited about the coming semesters because, as I have felt every year of my teaching life, I know I failed in some ways this past academic year and I am confident I will be better in my next opportunities to teach. As a teacher, I am far from finished—and I never ... more »

Sunday links. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Sunday links. « Fred Klonsky: Sunday links. by Fred Klonsky *My mom. Helen Klonsky. 1916-1977. Feminist, socialist and peace activist. As a mom she hated racists, toy guns, coloring books (too restrictive), and white bread.* *The word is that the pension killing bill will finally be introduced in the Illinois legislature this week.* For information on the developments and phone numbers, legislative email addresses, background, talking points and actions: We Are One, IEA, IFT, Glen Brown, and me. *Keep track of Kyle Olson and the Education Action Group* at the relaunched EAG Truth... more »

Report: Charters outspend public schools - San Antonio Express-News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Report: Charters outspend public schools - San Antonio Express-News: Report: Charters outspend public schoolsBy Maria Luisa CesarUpdated 09:32 p.m., Saturday, May 12, 2012 [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] 0 inShare Comments (0)Larger | SmallerPrintable VersionEmail This Font Recent Headlines - Funeral set for child who died after alleged abuse - Wreck sends three to hospital - Lubbock Mayor Martin unseated - Bond propositions pass easily - A formal affair at Morgan's Wonderland A recently released report comparing per-student spending found ... more »

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee continues to push Payola

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Sarah Longwell: Want to appreciate teachers? Reward them with merit pay - Press-Telegram: Sarah Longwell: Want to appreciate teachers? Reward them with merit pay By Sarah Longwell Posted: 05/13/2012 12:00:00 AM PDT MANY Americans celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week last week with ceremonies and accolades for our many outstanding educators. In fact, most teachers are great - richly deserving not only of our praise but of compensation commensurate with their skills. Unfortunately, teachers unions are holding them back, paying them according to tenure, not ability, in the name of ... more »

Renowned scholar Diane Ravitch takes on public education 'reformers' | newjerseynewsroom.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Renowned scholar Diane Ravitch takes on public education 'reformers' | newjerseynewsroom.com: Renowned scholar Diane Ravitch takes on public education 'reformers' SUNDAY, 13 MAY 2012 09:00 Page 1 of 2 [image: ravitchDiane_051212_opt]BY PAT SUMMERSNEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM If the growing groundswell against the country’s so-called “education reformers” has a philosophical leader, it is Dr. Diane Ravitch, a gray-haired, soft-spoken and mightily armed education historian and author. Earlier this week in New Brunswick, Ravitch — now research professor of education at NYU and author most rece... more »

Trayvon's Mom and My Mom on Protecting Their Kids (Video) | MyFDL

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Trayvon's Mom and My Mom on Protecting Their Kids (Video) | MyFDL: Trayvon’s Mom and My Mom on Protecting Their Kids (Video) by spocko [image: Sybrina Fulton Trayvon Mom Video screen grab] My mom died this month last year. This will be my first Mother’s Day without her. When I was a little Vulcan going off to school my mother’s last words were always, “Watch out for the cars!” I could see cars and avoid them if I was watching and paying attention. I wonder what the last words Sybrina Fulton said to Travyon? What could she have said? “Watch out for concealed weapons?” Below is a video... more »

Daily Kos: A non-lawyer looks at DOMA

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Daily Kos: A non-lawyer looks at DOMA: A non-lawyer looks at DOMA by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) The Defense of Marriage Act was hastily enacted in 1996, and signed by President Bill Clinton. The occasion for its hasty enactment was an opinion by the Supreme Court of Hawai'i that they were not sure one could refuse to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple under the Hawai'i Constitution. While ultimately that court decided such license issuance was not required, by then the Congress had enacted overwhelmingly the legislation introduced by Rep. Bob Barr of Georgia. Here... more »

Of Education, Learning, School and the School of Life « Cooperative Catalyst

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Of Education, Learning, School and the School of Life « Cooperative Catalyst: Of Education, Learning, School and the School of Life by Brent Snavely After spending (much too much) time with the written words of such ilk as Plato, William James, C.S. Lewis, Focault, Derrida and others, I decided to attend a one and one-half week seminar at an ‘alternative ed’ school — I went camping with the Indians. They have been running their school for many generations. In a manner that parallels, but is not identical to the education-system-today-in-the-West they are thankful for those who mai... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: More Pushback from Around the Country

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: More Pushback from Around the Country: More Pushback from Around the Country by Melissa Westbrook Do you hear that sound echoing across the country? It's the sound of parents saying "Enough." And it is spreading throughout the country and I believe if parents stay strong and united, it will defeat this tide of ed reform and testing craziness that is really the problem with making strong academic outcomes for all students. - In *Missouri*, from the Fired Up! website, a story of Michelle Rhee's StudentsFirst group trying to create "grassroots"... more »

The Story of Jamie - Arlington, VA, United States, ASCD EDge Blog post - A Professional Networking Community for Educators

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
The Story of Jamie - Arlington, VA, United States, ASCD EDge Blog post - A Professional Networking Community for Educators: The Story of Jamie As the Information Age continues to unfold, educators at all levels are faced with several competing factors in promoting teacher efficacy and student achievement: brain research, instructional technology and the move towards state and national standards. Because these interests come from very different groups of stakeholders, educators often make the mistake of assuming that competing interests can not also be compatible. After all, if the... more »

The Innovative Educator: Dropping Out was a Great Idea

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
The Innovative Educator: Dropping Out was a Great Idea: Dropping Out was a Great Idea by noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Nielsen) *Editor's Note: I had the extreme pleasure of joining the author of this post, Nicholas Perez, as a guest on Paul Allison's Teachers Teaching Teachers. In the episode we discussed who drops out and why. I was invited on the show as author of the Teen's Guide to Opting Out of School for Success. Nick was invited because he was a teen who opted out of school to find success. I LOVED what Nick had to say and asked him to please consider sharing his story as I kno... more »

NYC Educator: Exported from NYC to Louisiana

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
NYC Educator: Exported from NYC to Louisiana: Exported from NYC to Louisiana by NYC Educator

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Civics - How Will Your Child Learn to Think?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Civics - How Will Your Child Learn to Think?: Civics - How Will Your Child Learn to Think? by Melissa Westbrook I ask that question because along with a student graduating high school to be college or career-ready, that student should also be citizen-ready. An 18-year old high school graduate can go fight in a war, get married, and vote. Those are some fairly high level decisions. Two thoughts run through my head on this subject. One, do you remember being 18? You went off to college or you went out and got training, got a job and suddenly le... more »

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: The death of the facts: IN L.A. PREGNANCY 'HOT SPOT,' AN ON-CAMPUS CLINIC smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 2 hours ago by smf for 4LAKids News A May 12 Capital Public Radio story by KCRW reporter Saul Gonzales begins: “Roosevelt High School in East Los Angeles has the only Planned Parenthood-funded family planning clinic in the Los Angeles Unified School District .“ http://bit.ly/KTTTs8 When that sort of untruth leads a story one stops reading. This is totally untrue and – one suspects – a bit of A-G REQUIREMENT: AN E... more »

A Parent Chooses « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
A Parent Chooses « Diane Ravitch's blog: A Parent Chooses by dianerav This is one of the best stories I have read in days. Here is an example of a parent who said “enough is enough.” http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2012/05/11/a-request-to-make-the-pearson-tests-public/?partner=rss&emc=rss This parent filed a Freedom of Information Act request demanding that the Pearson tests be released for public review. He is right. Why should this company and this state have the power to make decisions about our children (and

Schools Matter: 550 Parents Opt Out in Snohomish, Washington

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Schools Matter: 550 Parents Opt Out in Snohomish, Washington: 550 Parents Opt Out in Snohomish, Washington by Jim Horn We all know that teachers can advocate for children, organize opposition, and try to make the abusive testing environments as humane as possible. But we know, too, that parents hold the key to bringing down the high-stakes testing madness that has corrupted our schools and damaged learning for a whole generation of kids. Is it worth it? Parents say no, in ever-increasing numbers. When we get enough to make these

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-12-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2


James Baldwin said it best: 

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."

A Big Education Ape Nite Cap