Latest News and Comment from Education

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: Rally Against Bronxdale Principal John Chase Jr 1/10/2012

SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: Rally Against Bronxdale Principal John Chase Jr 1/10/2012:

Rally Against Bronxdale Principal John Chase Jr 1/10/2012

We here at SBSB have been right on top of the the"Objects My Penis Loves" scandal at Bronxdale High School in the Bronx. We also provided commentary when the DOE gave Bronxdale High principal John Chase Jr, a slap on his pen..., er we meant hand when it found that yes, he was guilty of guilty of violating Chancellor's Regulations A-830 regarding sexual harassment and allowed to stay on as principal in lieu of the outrage of female staffers and the danger to the inanimate objects of Bronxdale High.

We would also like to take the time to commend NYC Councilman James Vacca for going to bat for the

Adjust pension benefits? Cullerton says the unions have “indicated a willingness to do so.” « Fred Klonsky

Adjust pension benefits? Cullerton says the unions have “indicated a willingness to do so.” « Fred Klonsky:

Adjust pension benefits? Cullerton says the unions have “indicated a willingness to do so.”

As I discussed earlier, Senate President John Cullerton has chosen a different path in going after state employee pension benefits than his cohorts in the House leadership.

Cullerton believes that a frontal assault will only waste time and money in years of court battles.

Following the old notion that you catch more flies with honey than crap, Cullerton wants to come up with a

The Photographs of Your Junk (will be publicized!)

My View: Time for the status quo to make room for meaningful school reform – Schools of Thought - CNN.com Blogs

My View: Time for the status quo to make room for meaningful school reform – Schools of Thought - CNN.com Blogs:

My View: Time for the status quo to make room for meaningful school reform

Courtesy Anthony Codyby Anthony Cody, Special to CNN

Editor’s note: Anthony Cody worked in high-poverty schools in Oakland, California, for 24 years. For 18 of them, he taught middle school science. He now lives in Mendocino County and leads workshops for teachers. He writes the Living in Dialogueblog and you can follow him on Twitter at @AnthonyCody.

We are now three decades into a huge effort to improve our schools using standards and tests. This project has become the status quo, but it has failed to live up to its promise. I spent the past 24 years teaching science in an urban school district, where I experienced this all first-hand. The students that were supposed to be served are still being “left behind.”

Let’s take a look at some of the big ideas that have become the status quo in education, contrasted with what I believe to be more meaningful reforms.

Status quo reforms promise that schools or teachers alone can eradicate the

Is It Our Job to “Unteach” Behavior Learned at Home? « Diary of a Public School Teacher!

Is It Our Job to “Unteach” Behavior Learned at Home? « Diary of a Public School Teacher!:

Is It Our Job to “Unteach” Behavior Learned at Home?

Letter to Arne Duncan - Two Teachers and a Microphone



Letter to Arne Duncan


Listen for a minute to what I say
We don't teach kids for the merit pay
I wipe away tears and break up fights in the halls
While Arne Duncan plays basketball
Public school you never taught in your life
But you studied Harvard so it gives you the right
To bully the states who don't in your run race
Who oppose the policies that you embrace
Based on the test you and your crew
Crucify teachers and close our schools
Pimping out Pearson and private charters.
Carrots and sticks ain't gonna make kids smarter
Public education is under attack
By those who caused our economic collapse
The Department of Ed put your letter on the Web
Did you read the comments? What the teachers said?


Test scores rising, check the illusion
What is proficient? This is the confusion
Headlines saying the scores are getting higher
But they're just juking the stats, like you seen on The Wire
Hire those who lack credentials off the streets
The rich get enrichment & the poor get worksheets
Amazing feats when schools close their doors
And go shopping for the kids with the parents and test scores
Ignoring kids with special needs
ELLs ... IEPs
Take away the bargaining & budget freeze
And just watch the swarm of corporate entities
Doing to schools whatever they please
Skimming from the top of that government cheese
We don't need a test to assess this disease
It's time to repeal NCLB!


Arne Duncan, please listen
A lot of things in our schools we're missing
Smaller classes, arts and enrichment
Light a fire and the kids will listen
On the front lines, where you ought to be
Trust teachers and communities
Acknowledge poverty
And talk honestly
About race, and class, and equality!


Hey, yo' Bunk?
What's the word McNutty?
Smash this fool Duncan like he's Silly Putty!
Alright, okay I got something to say
How you be S.O.E. and never taught a single day?
Your resume's impressive but you're still not a teacher
Cater to the market, not to our future!
How many parents you called? How many lessons you planned?
How many kids have you given your heart and your hand?
And Mr. Duncan can you tell me please
What do you know about SDAIE strategies
Your 150 g's we don't really want it
Can't buy our respect, you already lost it
Get up a get get a get down
Race to the Top is a joke in your town!
I said it before y'all I'll say it again
This man ain't no teacher just the president's friend
Mr. Obama if you want our vote
Can your boy Duncan and bring back that hope!


Creepin and creepin
On the Web we're tweetin'
Your rep is reekin'
Like Bernie on the weekend
Wasted billions and wasted time
Do us all a favor and just resign!
Your Superman movie, damn I ain't down with
The Superman at my school got a pink slip
Mad 'cause I'm paying my union dues
I bet you're hoping that Katrina hits all our schools.
Thinking of ways to get teachers fired
For working with the kids who aren't desired
No top down, corporate overhaul
We're here to save our schools! Yes, yes y'all!
Trade a ball player for an educator
Not a businessman or a teacher-hater
Your career we're here to now bury
Diane Ravitch for Education Secretary!


Arne Duncan, please listen
A lot of things in our schools we're missing
Diversity, true integration
The vision of Brown vs Board of Eduction
On the front lines, where you ought to be
Trust teachers and communities
Acknowledge poverty
And talk honestly
About race, and class, and equality!


Two Teachers and a Microphone: We are both products of LAUSD schools and have spent our careers teaching in LAUSD schools. We love what we do, and we feel that our public school teachers are compassionate, creative and critical to the intellectual and emotional success of our youth.


If you feel the same please call the LAUSD school board members and demand that they follow AB114 and rescind pink slips immediately: 213-241-6389


All music and lyrics written, produced, performed and recorded by Two Teachers and a Microphone.

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Evening Posts #ows #edreform


The Answer Sheet - A School Survival Guide for parents (and everyone else). - The Washington Post

The Answer Sheet - A School Survival Guide for parents (and everyone else). - The Washington Post:Do schools need a longer school day? A debateValerie Strauss at The Answer Sheet - 1 hour agoA policy brief released last month concluded that contrary to popular perception, most U.S. public schools require at least as much or even more instructional time for students than countries touted for their high performance on international tests, including Finland, Japan and South Korea. There were a ... more »

44 Years After Walkouts, Are Latino Students Better Off? - Hispanically Speaking News

44 Years After Walkouts, Are Latino Students Better Off? - Hispanically Speaking News:44 Years After Walkouts, Are Latino Students Better Off?The following commentary was produced by South Kern Sol, a new, hyperlocal online outlet for youth reporting on community health issues in South Kern County. It is a project of New America Media, and is supported by The California Endowment and The Knight Foundation.The first time I got to listen to Sal Castro speak was four years ago at UC ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Stoopid, Ovurpayed Teechurs

Jersey Jazzman: Stoopid, Ovurpayed Teechurs:Stoopid, Ovurpayed Teechursby DukeOK, Mr. Biggs and Mr. Richwine - let me get this straight:Teachers are overpaid (they aren't) because they get vacations (which school boards set due to parental demands) and pensions (leave aside the fact that pensions save taxpayers money). Their salaries are the same as similar workers in the private sector (they aren't), but they get retiree health care benefits (aside from Medicare, which everyone gets, so is it really that big of ... more »

The Educated Reporter: Big Payoff For D.C. Teachers, Romney Says He Would Veto Dream Act

The Educated Reporter: Big Payoff For D.C. Teachers, Romney Says He Would Veto Dream Act:Big Payoff For D.C. Teachers, Romney Says He Would Veto Dream Actby Emily Richmond"We want to make great teachers rich."I gotta admit, that's a heck of a pull quote from Sam Dillon's New York Times story on teachers in Washington, D.C. earning sizeable bonuses for consistently solid performance. (Side note: Sam Dillon is one of the NYT reporters taking a recent buy-out offer. The education beat ... more »

California and Sacramento-area teachers took pay hits last year - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

California and Sacramento-area teachers took pay hits last year - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee:California and Sacramento-area teachers took pay hits last yeardlambert@sacbee.comPUBLISHED WEDNESDAY, JAN. 04, 2012School districts across California slashed teacher payrolls by historic amounts last school year, cutting 15,000 teachers and $1 billion from their budgets, according to a Bee review of new state data.The roughly 5.5 percent statewide reduction in teaching payroll eclipsed the 3 percent cut the prior year."This $1 ... more »

Schools Matter: The importance of access to books

Schools Matter: The importance of access to books:The importance of access to booksby skrashenSent to the San Francisco Chronicle, Jan 3, 2012According to the Chronicle, Ze’ev Wurman thinks that “access to books is not a problem” because of one finding in one report produced by the US Government (“Fewer California schools have trained librarians,” Jan 2, 2012). This is like dismissing global warming because yesterday was cold. And it is counter to the results of a multitude of studies.Numerous scientific ... more »

#edreform Papa Was A Rolling Stone

It was the third of September.That day I'll always remember, yes I will.'Cause that was the day that my daddy died.I never got a chance to see him.Never heard nothing but bad things about him.Mama, I'm depending on you, tell me the truth.And Mama just hung her head and said,"Son, Papa was a rolling stone.Wherever he laid his hat was his home.(And when he died) All he left us was ALONE.""Papa was a rolling stone, my son.Wherever he laid his ... more »

"NYSUT: SED decision to suspend funding to all SIG schools 'shocking'."

"NYSUT: SED decision to suspend funding to all SIG schools 'shocking'." January 03, 2012. NYSUT: A Union of Professionals. www.nysut.org:NYSUT: SED decision to suspend funding to all SIG schools 'shocking'NYSUT Media Relations - January 3, 2012 ALBANY, N.Y. January 3, 2012 - New York State United Teachers President Richard C. Iannuzzi today reacted to the unexpected suspension of School Improvement Grant (SIG) funding for 10 school districts:"The State Education Department's decision to now immediately suspend funding to all 10 districts ... more »

NCLB’s Lost Decade Report | FairTest

NCLB’s Lost Decade Report | FairTest:NCLB’s Lost Decade ReportSubmitted by fairtest on December 30, 2011 - 5:13pm fairtest on national FairTest publications FEA high stakesk-12 k-16 national national legislative national reports news publications whats newNO CHILD LEFT BEHIND 10TH ANNIVERSARY REPORTNCLB’s Lost Decade for Educational Progress:What Can We Learn from this Policy Failure?By Lisa Guisbond with Monty Neill and Bob SchaefferJanuary 2012The federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law failed badly in terms of its own goals, leading to a ... more »

An Urban Teacher's Education: In Case You Misunderstood Their Power for Something Lesser

An Urban Teacher's Education: In Case You Misunderstood Their Power for Something Lesser:In Case You Misunderstood Their Power for Something Lesserby James BoutinIn case you misunderstood the power of the educational corporate reform movement for something lesser, New York City's recent inability to come to a decision over teacher evaluation will provide the appropriate lesson.Over the holiday break, New York City Public Schools Chancellor and UFT (the teachers union in NYC) President Michael Mulgrew came to an impasse over a ... more »

Support PURE! » PSAT for 1-3-12: New challenges for a new year

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » PSAT for 1-3-12: New challenges for a new year:PSAT for 1-3-12: New challenges for a new yearby adminReady for battle?There are important opportunities coming up right away to voice your concerns about one of the greatest scourges of public education today: disruptive school closings/interventions.Beginning this Friday, January 6, and repeating again, same time, same places, on Friday January 20, hearings will be held all over Chicago on the school district’s plans ... more »

Green Ribbon Award Launched - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education)

Green Ribbon Award Launched - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education):State Schools Chief Tom TorlaksonLaunches Green Ribbon Award ProgramSACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today that California schools may apply for the inaugural Green Ribbon Award to receive federal recognition as some of the nation's highest-performing green schools."California is proud to participate in this new federal program to recognize schools with environmentally sustainable learning spaces that have boosted student performance," said Torlakson. "Not only do green school... more »

LDF Successfully Defends Lower Court Ruling in Historic School Desegregation Case | The Defenders Online | A Civil Rights Blog

LDF Successfully Defends Lower Court Ruling in Historic School Desegregation Case | The Defenders Online | A Civil Rights Blog:LDF Successfully Defends Lower Court Ruling in Historic School Desegregation CasePosted By The Editors | January 3rd, 2012 (20 seconds ago) | Category: Education | No Comments » Print This PostNew York, NY – On December 28, 2011, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eight Circuit affirmed key aspects of the lower court’s decision in Little Rock School District v. ... more »

Statement on Charter Rent Lawsuit Ruling « New York City Parents Union

Statement on Charter Rent Lawsuit Ruling « New York City Parents Union:Statement on Charter Rent Lawsuit Rulingby adminJanuary 3, 2012Contacts:Mona Davids, NYC Parents Union, (917) 340-8987Leonie Haimson, Class Size Matters, (917) 435-9329 Statement on Charter Rent Lawsuit RulingOn December 28, State Supreme Court Judge Paul Feinman confirmed the need for a trial to determine whether or not charter schools co-located in public school buildings should be paying for space and services to the New York City Department of Education (“DOE”). ... more »

Teaming Up to Support Rural Community Colleges | ED.gov Blog

Teaming Up to Support Rural Community Colleges | ED.gov Blog:Teaming Up to Support Rural Community CollegesPosted on January 3, 2012 by John WhiteIt’s no secret that community colleges are leading the way to achieving the President’s goal for the United States to once again have the highest college attainment rate in the world by 2020. Community colleges are hubs for career-training, re-training, adult education and for recent high school graduates seeking a pathway into the careers of their choice.Secretary Duncan, ... more »

Charters Don't Have to Pay Rent, For Now – SchoolBook

Charters Don't Have to Pay Rent, For Now – SchoolBook:Charters Don't Have to Pay Rent, For NowFACEBOOKTWITTERPRINTJan. 3, 2012, 2:39 p.m.By ANNA M. PHILLIPSA state Supreme Court judge has blocked public school parents and advocacy organizations from obtaining a preliminary injunction that would require New York City to charge charter schools rent for the space they occupy inside of public school buildings.The ruling by the justice Paul G. Feinman of the state Supreme Court on Dec. 28 said that the ... more »

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION- REALLY FIX PUBLIC EDUCATION- IT'S REALLY NOT THAT DIFFICULT IF YOU WANT TO - Perdaily.com

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION- REALLY FIX PUBLIC EDUCATION- IT'S REALLY NOT THAT DIFFICULT IF YOU WANT TO - Perdaily.com:NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION- REALLY FIX PUBLIC EDUCATION- IT'S REALLY NOT THAT DIFFICULT IF YOU WANT TOby Leonard Isenberg(Mensaje se repite en Español)(For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post)Probably the great malaise that continues to infect all those involved with public education is a sense of apathy and hopelessness. Whether explicitly expressed by those who have ... more »

Ever Wonder if You’re the Worst Principal in the World? | Connected Principals

Ever Wonder if You’re the Worst Principal in the World? | Connected Principals:Ever Wonder if You’re the Worst Principal in the World?Posted by James Brauer on 1/03/12 • Categorized as Leadership EssentialsHave you ever wondered if you’re the worst school administrator in the entire world? OK, maybe I’m exaggerating the question a bit. But truthfully, this question has entered my mind on a few occasions. I’m sure it’s natural instinct to compare my performance, knowledge, and achievements against my colleagues. ... more »

School Tech Connect: More on Crain's

School Tech Connect: More on Crain's:More on Crain'sby noreply@blogger.com (Tim)I've been taking my time reading the withering TRS response to Crain's, and I have to say this one thing: the underlying dishonesty of the Crain's piece goes so far beyond the pale that it achieves an entirely new class of yellow journalism.I'm going to name names here, so forgive me. But Crain's picks two TRS members out of the blue, and evidently after feeding them some of their foregone conclusions, ...more »

Modern School: Ed Reformers Want More Studying, Like Koreans, Who Want Less Studying, Like Americans

Modern School: Ed Reformers Want More Studying, Like Koreans, Who Want Less Studying, Like Americans:Ed Reformers Want More Studying, Like Koreans, Who Want Less Studying, Like Americansby Michael Dunn(I caught this one in News of the Weird, which picked it up from Time Magazine, 9/25/11)U.S. Ed Deformers love to hold up South Korea as the epitome of a successful education system (along with Finland). One of the hallmarks of the South Korean system is obsessive hard work, long hours and ... more »