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Saturday, March 16, 2013

Diane in the Evening 13-16-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all:









Book Banning in Chicago

Since I wrote a book a decade ago called “The Language Police,” I can’t pretend to be shocked that a book was pulled, removed, or censored by the Chicago Public Schools.
Jersey Jazxman sums up the controversy here.
It is no consolation, perhaps, to know that school boards–state and local–have been censoring books for many



My Debate in Louisiana

Last Thursday I flew to Louisiana for a lunch debate with Chas Roemer, who is chairman of the state board of education.
Before the debate, I read online about his strong support for vouchers, charters, evaluation of teachers by test scores. Knowing this, I used my time to demonstrate the poor results of what I expected he would say.
Chas responded that he would not contest anything I said, as there was already too much tit for tat in politics. 



Help Save Washington Irving HS

Help stop co-location of rich charter school in free public space. Join others to demand improvement, not privatization.
CONCERNED PARENTS
CONCERNED STUDENTS
CONCERNED TEACHERS
CONCERNED ABOUT THE CO-LOCATION OF A NEW
SUCCESS ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL
AT THE WASHINGTON IRVING HS CAMPUS?
WANT TO HEAR ABOUT A POSSIBLE LEGAL CHALLENGE TO THE PLAN?
MEET WITH ATTORNEYS FROM
ADVOCATES FOR JUSTICE
THE PUBLIC INTEREST LAWYERS WHO SUED TO KEEP SUCCESS ACADEMY
OUT OF BROWNSVILLE ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL
AND WON!
THURSDAY APRIL 4
5PM – 6PM
SEAFARERS HOUSE
123 EAST 15th STREET
WE HAVE JUST BEGUN TO FIGHT FOR QUALITY EDUCATION AT OUR SCHOOLS!
For more information call 212-285-1400 and ask for Laura Barbieri or send an email to LBarbieri@advocatesny.com
.
__,_._,___



TFA Alum: Is It Time for TFA to Fold?

Matt Barnum, a TFA alum (2010), asks whether TFA has run its course. Now a law student, he is glad that he joined TFA, and he thinks it had a very important original mission. But now that districts are hiring TFA youngsters to replace inexperienced teachers, he is worried about the role that TFA is playing. The very existence of TFA, he opines, makes it easy for districts to ignore the necessity of developing career talent and holding on to experienced teachers. He has more to say that makes for provocative reading.
For example:

“The other problem is the wasted investment a school makes in a teacher who leaves after just a few years. 


LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 3-16-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 minutes ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Who Is the Most Incoherent Ex-Governor in America? by dianerav Jersey Jazzman knows. Read here. Bill Gates “Loans” $10 Million to Central Falls, RI by dianerav This is an odd story Bill Gates is “loaning” $10 million to Central Falls, Rhode Island, to expand and repair “high-performing” public and charter schools. If you recall, Central Falls is the tiny district where the district superintendent announced her intention to fire the entire staff of the high sch... more »