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Friday, September 20, 2013

Nite Cap 9-20-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2 #Cheats4Change


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

TODAY

If I were a Principal: An Enthusiastic Welcome to Take Note of - Student Voice
Student Voice: If I were a Principal: An Enthusiastic Welcome to Take Note of Welcome, students, to the start of another bright year at Interlake High!As your new incoming principal, as well as one of the youngest principles in the state, I feel exceptionally privileged to welcome everyone back to school, back to this great hall of learning. Call me naive, but I think that this next year will make
K-12 News Network | Open Letter to President Obama: The One Book You Should Read on Public Education: Diane Ravitch’s Reign of Error
K-12 News Network | Open Letter to President Obama: The One Book You Should Read on Public Education: Diane Ravitch’s Reign of Error: Open Letter to President Obama: The One Book You Should Read on Public Education: Diane Ravitch’s Reign of ErrorDear President Obama,You must read Professor Diane Ravitch’s latest book, Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America
Diane in the Evening 9-20-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Income Inequality and School ReformIt is not often that you see a juxtaposition between these two concepts: income inequality and school reform. But I would like to argue here that they are related and they matter. In a recent column, Paul Krugman reviews the evidence about income inequality. The rich have grown dramatically richer
The Libertarian Faerie: A Fable | the becoming radical
The Libertarian Faerie: A Fable | the becoming radical: The Libertarian Faerie: A FablePosted on September 20, 2013 by plthomaseddAmericans watched as their leaders battled: Senate versus House over the fate of food stamps:Republicans have emphasized that the bill targets able-bodied adults who don’t have dependents. And they say the broader work requirements in the bill are similar to the 1996 we
Torlakson Pushes for E-Rate - Year 2013
Torlakson Pushes for E-Rate - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Visits Nation'sCapital to Push for Student Broadband AccessSACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson will be in Washington, D.C., next week as he continues his push for increased federal assistance to provide broadband access for all students and schools across California.At
Against Cynicism: A Contemporary Philosopher’s Brilliant Reasons for Living - Online University of the Left
Against Cynicism: A Contemporary Philosopher’s Brilliant Reasons for Living - Online University of the Left: Against Cynicism: A Contemporary Philosopher’s Brilliant Reasons for LivingPosted by carl4davidsonPeter Sloterdijk, photo credit: Courtesy of Wikimedia CommonsBy Adam KirschThe New Republic | July 19. 2013Peter Sloterdijk has been one of Germany’s best-known philosophers for 30 years, ever
NYC Educator: Diane Ravitch, Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos
NYC Educator: Diane Ravitch, Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos: Diane Ravitch, Yellow Stripes and Dead ArmadillosAccording to Jim Hightower, yellow stripes and dead armadillos are the only things you'll find in the middle of the road. And yet Jessica Levin, over at Huffington Post, paints corporate reformers as occupying some middle ground. Levin mentions Michelle Rhee as one of these moderate vo
Gay and Lesbian Educators Remain Vulnerable to Bias | NEA Today
Gay and Lesbian Educators Remain Vulnerable to Bias | NEA Today: Gay and Lesbian Educators Remain Vulnerable to BiasSeptember 20, 2013 by twalker  Filed under Featured News, Top StoriesLeave a CommentBy Rita ZeidnerThe U.S. Supreme Court’s June decision striking down a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act DOMA promises many federal benefits to married gay and lesbian couples. But the landm
Achieving Excellence and Equity: The U.S. Department of Education’s Strategic Plan Released for Public Comment | ED.gov Blog
Achieving Excellence and Equity: The U.S. Department of Education’s Strategic Plan Released for Public Comment | ED.gov Blog: Achieving Excellence and Equity: The U.S. Department of Education’s Strategic Plan Released for Public CommentPosted on September 20, 2013 by Jim SheltonPlease submit all comments on the Department of Education’s draft FY2014-2018 Strategic Plan to strategicplancomments@ed.
9-20-13 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Bill Thompson "Tone Deaf" Campaign Deficiencies Exposed in NY Times...and UFT support shows how tone deaf they are. David Chen in the Times reported the other day - A very revealing article on Bill Thompson's faults and failures -- all of which were not noted by the equally tone deaf UFT.Mr. Thompson never articulated a clear message. “Muddled” was a word used by many. H
9-20-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools on SaturdayFrom SPS:Seattle Public Schools has teamed with the Washington Association of School Business Officials (WASBO) to bring to you a workshop specifically crafted for booster club members, parent group members, athletic and activity directors, principals and school administrators. The PTSAs and booster clubs that make up our support groups a
Cali Education Headlines Friday, September 20, 2013
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Peter Schrag: How are the schools doing? This year, don’t askEducation HeadlinesFriday, September 20, 2013KCSOS updates policies after disabled child forgotten on busThe father of an 8-year-old autistic boy who was discovered abandoned on an otherwise empty school bus said he's not appeased by new safety measures the Kern County Superintenden
Sandronsky TFA, Charter Schools Move into Sacramento
Sandronsky TFA, Charter Schools Move into Sacramento: TFA and Charter Schools Move into SacramentoBy SETH SANDRONSKYTeach for America, founded in 1990, employs recent university graduates, or corps members, to instruct low-income students. TFA, with a presence across the US, arrived in Sacramento, Calif., with 16 teachers in six area schools last school year.There was little news coverage of TFA’s
Susan J. Demas: Education is not a for-profit business, so don't treat it like one | MLive.com
Susan J. Demas: Education is not a for-profit business, so don't treat it like one | MLive.com: Susan J. Demas: Education is not a for-profit business, so don't treat it like oneMichigan has slashed education spending 9 percent since 2008, sparking several rallies against the cuts. (AP File Photo)Government should be run like a business. That mantra spills from the mouths of Republicans and Democr
Democratic Congressman who tweeted Ravitch is “evil” goes on to compare her to Koch brothers - Wait What?
Democratic Congressman who tweeted Ravitch is “evil” goes on to compare her to Koch brothers - Wait What?: Democratic Congressman who tweeted Ravitch is “evil” goes on to compare her to Koch brothers Jared Polis, a Democratic member of Congress from Colorado, who tweeted yesterday that America’s leading public education advocate, Diane Ravitch, was an “evil woman” went on to tweet, “Can’t think of
'Charter schools are like turkey hot dogs' and other education musings from a South Philly stoop lady [video] — NewsWorks
'Charter schools are like turkey hot dogs' and other education musings from a South Philly stoop lady [video] — NewsWorks: 'Charter schools are like turkey hot dogs' and other education musings from a South Philly stoop lady [video]September 19, 2013By Peter Crimmins, @PeterCrimmins Video by Lindsay Lazarski, @llazarski    Rate This: 12345 (27 votes)Ask a questionAlso from NewsWorks Tonight - Sept
Our School’s Utilization of Technology as a Vehicle for Growth | Connected Principals
Our School’s Utilization of Technology as a Vehicle for Growth | Connected Principals: Our School’s Utilization of Technology as a Vehicle for GrowthSeptember 20, 2013By Jonathan VanderElsWhen I walk into our kindergarten classrooms now, seeing a five-year old moving her avatar to the “School Lunch” or “Home Lunch” box does not seem like a big deal. This not only provides this information to the t
Morning Wink 9-20-13 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2 #Cheats4Change
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSTODAY2min2x: Brush kids' teeth for 2 minutes, 2 times a day.2min2x: Home: Brush kids' teeth for 2 minutes, 2 times a day.SEE ALL VIDEOS    Brush with BugsBunny and Daffy Duckfrom Looney Tunes.WATCH NOWPick a video and brushyour teeth for 2 minutes,2 times a day!Keep Kids’ Mouths HealthyBrush 2min2xVisit a DentistFloss Every DayUse FluorideLEARN THE WHAT, W
9-20-13 The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education
The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education: Consciously Dial Down ReactionRead the first, second, third, and fourth posts in this series. "Children should be taught to use their emotions and to be aware of them rather than control them." —Mary Helen Immordino-Yang Succeeding "despite the odds" or overcoming adversity has a lot more to do with resource capacity than luck. We m
2min2x: Brush kids' teeth for 2 minutes, 2 times a day.
2min2x: Home: Brush kids' teeth for 2 minutes, 2 times a day.SEE ALL VIDEOS    Brush with BugsBunny and Daffy Duckfrom Looney Tunes.WATCH NOWPick a video and brushyour teeth for 2 minutes,2 times a day!Keep Kids’ Mouths HealthyBrush 2min2xVisit a DentistFloss Every DayUse FluorideLEARN THE WHAT, WHEN, AND HOWAbout Kids’ TeethLEARN MOREGet kids' oral healthtips on your cell phone!REGISTER YOUR MOBI
Mother Crusader: Pitbull Is "Bringing Sexy Back" To Education, And Not Just In The 305
Mother Crusader: Pitbull Is "Bringing Sexy Back" To Education, And Not Just In The 305: Pitbull Is "Bringing Sexy Back" To Education, And Not Just In The 305No, I didn't make up that title.  He really said that."Sometimes what happens is that education is no longer sexy,” Pitbull said. “It’s no longer cool. I want to tell them or help put together either curriculum or scho
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Chicago Republicrats
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Chicago Republicrats: Chicago RepublicratsThere are no real Democrats or Republicans in Chicago. The only symbol saluted here is neither the donkey nor the elephant, but the dollar sign. They've even abandoned the two-party system, for electing the mayor. And statewide, now you have two former Obama chiefs of staff and his former Secretary of State, seemingly cutting
Superintendent: State’s reform strategy is to throw darts and see what sticks
Superintendent: State’s reform strategy is to throw darts and see what sticks: Superintendent: State’s reform strategy is to throw darts and see what sticksBy Valerie Strauss, Published: September 20 at 9:41 amE-mail the writerTennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman (www.tn.gov)On more than a few occasions, I have found myself trying to explain a policy change which in my view is not best f
Banning an American classic in a NC district: "Invisible Man"... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com
Banning an American classic in a NC district: "Invisible Man"... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: Banning an American classic in a NC district: "Invisible Man" disappears from school libraries  COMMENT(7) 1 3 8 27RelatedView Larger Invisible ManPrevious PostsSecrets of the smartest kids in the worldSeptember 19, 2013North Atlanta principal will stay and attempt to change a "Y
9-20-13 Wait What?
Wait What?: Special Master Steven Adamowski’s wild spending spree with Connecticut’s tax dollarsSince the Malloy administration gave Steven Adamowski his no-bid contract to serve as “Special Master” for Windham and New London, Adamowski has collected a salary of about $450,000 for himself and another $168,000 for his staff.  Add in over $140,000 more for health and insurance benefits, $17,000 for
The Educated Reporter: High-Stakes Testing Errors Nationwide Revealed in New Atlanta Journal-Constitution Series
The Educated Reporter: High-Stakes Testing Errors Nationwide Revealed in New Atlanta Journal-Constitution Series: High-Stakes Testing Errors Nationwide Revealed in New Atlanta Journal-Constitution SeriesWe spend quite a bit of time talking about cheating on standardized tests (even though incidences represent a minute fraction of the number of assessments given in public schools every year). What
All in For Profit | EduShyster
All in For Profit | EduShyster: All in For ProfitPosted on September 20, 2013A Wall Streeter explains why he’s bullish on for-profit education company K12By Mazinger ZAs president Coolidge once said, the business of American business is rent seeking. No surprise then that the efficiency, resources and ingenuity of our profit-seekers are increasingly being enlisted in the fight to turn around our f
Should I Stop Assigning Homework? - Jessica Lahey - The Atlantic
Should I Stop Assigning Homework? - Jessica Lahey - The Atlantic: Should I Stop Assigning Homework?What if my students think my class is too easy? And how will we ever get through A Tale of Two Cities? I have written in the past about my hatred of homework from the perspective of both a teacher and a parent, so when I heard about a teacher who had ditched the practice of assigning homework altoget
TO LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 9-20-13 Stephen Dyer on “Reign of Error” | Diane Ravitch's blog
Stephen Dyer on “Reign of Error” | Diane Ravitch's blog: Stephen Dyer on “Reign of Error”Stephen Dyer is a former legislator in Ohio who now works for a public policy organization called Innovation Ohio, in my book, I drew on some of his research. In this post, he situates my work in a longstanding American tradition. I especially liked these lines: “As I read the book, I couldn’t help but think o
9-20-13 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Quote Of The Day: “Why Paying Kids to Do Homework Can Backfire”Why Paying Kids to Do Homework Can Backfire is an article published today at TIME. It doesn’t offer anything particularly new to longtime readers of this blog or my books, but it does provide a good summary of research. Here’s an excerpt:7 by Larry Ferlazzo / 6h
Changing the Classroom Curriculum: Recapturing How I Taught a Half-Century Ago (Part 1) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
Changing the Classroom Curriculum: Recapturing How I Taught a Half-Century Ago (Part 1) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Changing the Classroom Curriculum: Recapturing How I Taught a Half-Century Ago (Part 1)I was a 21 year-old novice eager and anxious to become an first-rate high school history teacher at Glenville High School (Cleveland OH) in 1956. Within six months, I dis
9-20-13 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.
Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: The in box. Bev Johns: “Special ed class size proposal is dead for now.”From Bev Johns, Chair of the Illinois Special Education Coaliton. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) took NO action today on the proposal to eliminate all State rules on special education class size, and on the 30 percen
9-20-13 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School: Joe Lhota: I'm A Hug-Able Kind Of GuyFrom the Wall Street Journal:Mr. Lhota blamed his poll standing on a brutal primary in which his chief opponent, billionaire businessman John Catsimatidis, repeatedly described Mr. Lhota as mean and a bureaucrat. "John [Catsimatidis] was throwing as much mud as he possibly could—I've never met anybody who thinks I'm mean, I've never
9-20-13 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: The Indignant Teacher Reviews “Reign of Error”  The “nation’s children are on a train that is headed for a cliff“. This sentence, unobtrusively embedded in the middle of the first chapter of Reign of Error, effectively identifies the main idea of Diane Ravitch’s newest book. Like it’s prequel from 2010, The Death and Life of the Great American School System, Reign of Error serves
Education: Our Best Defense Against Ignorance | toteachornototeach
Education: Our Best Defense Against Ignorance | toteachornototeach: Education: Our Best Defense Against IgnorancePosted on September 19, 2013Education: Our Best Defense Against Ignorance by Michael RohrerPlease put your hands together and give a warm welcome to Linda Harvey, the founder of the conservative group Mission America and an all-around good Christian. Earlier this month she said:Why are
Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Friday Open ThreadWell hello there. Back from hiatus and a big thank you (and good job) to Charlie who kept this thing going quite nicely.  I did read from afar a couple of times but true to my word to myself, I did not comment or post. (And by the way, a BIG thank you to all our readers.  Our numbers continue to soar and it's quite amazing.  I like to think that p
9-20-13 Schools Matter
Schools Matter:   The Unmeasurable, Untestable YouI think you will agree that the following absolutely negates the "value" of the findings of any "standardized" testing in schools (and anywhere else for that matter)...or rather, it encourages us to understand the value of testing as producing outcomes that benefit those implementing the testing.  That is to say, testing does no

YESTERDAY

Teacher, two superintendents to hold key positions on funding law’s new agency | EdSource Today
Teacher, two superintendents to hold key positions on funding law’s new agency | EdSource Today: Teacher, two superintendents to hold key positions on funding law’s new agencySeptember 19th, 2013 | Add a Comment | By John FensterwaldShare on twitterShare on facebookShare on emailShare on printMore Sharing ServicesConsistent with the goal of shifting power over education decisions away from Sacrame
Boredom, Thy Name Is Charlotte Danielson (On Rubrics and Misuse) - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson
Boredom, Thy Name Is Charlotte Danielson (On Rubrics and Misuse) - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson: Boredom, Thy Name Is Charlotte Danielson (On Rubrics and Misuse)by JOSE VILSON on SEPTEMBER 19, 2013in MR. VILSONCharlotte Danielson“And another thing!”I’ve always wanted to start a post off like that, like I was in the middle of an impassioned diatribe and you just happened to step in to the thou
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Tilson short-selling K12Inc.
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Tilson short-selling K12Inc.: Tilson short-selling K12Inc.Hedge-funder TilsonYou would think that the online learning company, K12Inc. would find synergy with hedge-funder Whitney Tilson, the money bags behind DFER and a co-founder of TFA and KIPP board member. But no! Tilson would never let ideological unity get in the way of super-profits. So Tilson is having
Teachers For Social Justice: People's Board Meeting:Wed, 9/25, 5:30 PM
Teachers For Social Justice: People's Board Meeting:Wed, 9/25, 5:30 PM: People's Board Meeting:Wed, 9/25, 5:30 PMTired of not being listened to? Want your voice and views respected? Come to the People's Board Meeting!  Wednesday, Sept 25, 5:30 PMMount Carmel Missionary Church2976 S. WabashChicago, ILOrganized by theGEM (Grassroots Education Movement), CODE (Communities Organized for Democracy in E
Jersey Jazzman: The Shafting Of the American Teacher
Jersey Jazzman: The Shafting Of the American Teacher: @jaredpolis: America's Worst CongresspersonWhat a schmuck: Yes, 75 year old Diane Ravitch -- grandmother, author, and historian -- is "evil" in the eyes of this sitting member of Congress. Aren't you proud, Colorado? This empty suit is the 7th wealthiest member of Congress. But Polis is really just another phony Democrat who pushes id
Income Inequality, Educational Inequity, Privatization… Pittsburgh to Chicago | janresseger
Income Inequality, Educational Inequity, Privatization… Pittsburgh to Chicago | janresseger: Income Inequality, Educational Inequity, Privatization…  Pittsburgh to ChicagoTwo blog posts arrived in my in-box today.  The first is from a young woman, Jessie Ramey, whose blog is called Yinzercation and whose recent post is titled Diane Ravitch Launched, Yinzer-Style.  This sent me, of course to Google
Common Core and Dr. Strangelove | Reclaim Reform
Common Core and Dr. Strangelove | Reclaim Reform: Common Core and Dr. StrangelovePosted on September 19, 2013by Ken PrevitiHave you ever seen the movie Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb? There is a scene where a wild-eyed gung-ho pilot joyfully rides a nuclear bomb to his own destruction – “Whoop-whooping!” in glee all the way. The whole bombing situation was due
Whitney Tilson Gets Caught Yet Again With His Pants Down southbronxschool.com
http://www.southbronxschool.com: Whitney Tilson Gets Caught Yet Again With His Pants DownWhat a day yesterday was! The new phone books arrived, I, with other education bloggers, got to engage in a video conference with Diane Ravitch, and I found out that not only had Whitney Tilson finally make some sense, but he confirmed that he is in education for the moolah and lying hypocrite as well.So Whitn
Playing Games with Our Kids: Moms vs. Congress
Playing Games with Our Kids: Moms vs. Congress « MomsRising Blog: Playing Games with Our Kids: Moms vs. CongressPosted September 19th, 2013 by Kristin Rowe-FinkbeinerGames are a time-honored way of expanding people’s knowledge.My mom, who was a single mother throughout my elementary school years, played games with my brother and I in the grocery store when we were young to help make the price righ
My Review of Diane Ravitch's New Blockbuster Best Seller "Reign of Error"
My Review of Diane Ravitch's New Blockbuster Best Seller "Reign of Error"Thank You Diane!PS Watch out for Flying Monkeys of the Great Hoax A Parent's Guide to Corporate Education Reform: Why Rich Guys are Screwing Up Our Public SchoolsA Parent's Guide to Corporate Education Reform: Why Rich Guys are Screwing Up Our Public SchoolsAKAREIGN OF ERROR. An incisive, comprehensive look at today
Nite Cap 9-19-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2 #Cheats4Change
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 CAPTODAYNYC Educator: Be Afraid. Be Very AfraidNYC Educator: Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid: Be Afraid. Be Very AfraidOne of my students didn't have her homework today. She's pretty smart, and pretty eager, but not altogether that fluent in English. I as