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Sunday, December 22, 2013

12-22-13 @ THE CHALK FACE

@ THE CHALK FACE:




The Importance of Common Core for Nationally-pervasive Ed Reform
A great error made by those combating corporate reform is in viewing the reforms as separate and distinct one from another. I have noticed as much in discussions about the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).  However, the “standards” were not intended to “stand” without the entire spectrum of reforms. In fact, the power of a […]

The Axiom of the Abandoned: ” I Am the Union”
Just when I thought that the speeches and editorials from Dennis Van Roekel and Randi Weingarten were showing a turn-around back to reality, and just when I thought those two were going to start fighting for public education and their members, this showed up: The guy in that picture is John Engler, head of the […]

TUDA victor go the spoils?
The recently published 2013 Trial Urban District Assessment has received a great deal of attention, especially in regards to the District of Columbia Public Schools. Although leading education reform advocates express cautious optimism, they claim the results as “evidence” that the 2008 education reforms in D.C., vis-à-vis former DCPS Chancellor Michelle Rhee, were, not only […]

Our last show of 2013, DC mayoral candidate joins us At the Chalk Face
I attended a forum sponsored by the Washington Teacher’s Union on December 9th, which was part of a larger national day of action for AFT affiliations to reclaim public education. Candidates for DC mayor showed up to answer some questions on education posed by the President of the WTU. I was particularly impressed by the […]

Kindergarten and the #commoncore @dianeravitch
Some pretty emotional comments were posted to Diane Ravitch’s blog recently from Kindergarten teachers about how they’re teaching was forcefully changed by the Common Core. And by forcefully, I mean that new rounds of observation by new evaluators compel teachers to adjust their instruction in very negative ways. Two points. One, I do sympathize with […]

Battling Education Reform: In the End it must be a “calling.”
I am the “new” Dean of a School of Education at a Catholic College in the Midwest.  One of the major reasons I was attracted to this position was the prominence of the college’s Dominican values (Truth, Justice, Compassion, Partnership, and Community). Think about it.  If a college was committed to these values what would […]

I Don’t Need Standards To Teach, I Need Students
I Don\’t Need Standards To Teach, I Need Students. via I Don’t Need Standards To Teach, I Need Students.
Teachers of Conscience and the Common Core Scylla and Charybdis
Teachers of Conscience and the Common Core Scylla and Charybdis. via Teachers of Conscience and the Common Core Scylla and Charybdis.

All Week 12-21-13 @ THE CHALK FACE
@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: All Week @ THE CHALK FACE Supporting Common Core Is Supporting Entire Reform MachineSupporting Common Core Is Supporting Entire Reform Machine. via Supporting Common Core Is Supporting Entire Reform Machine.by plthomasedd / 1h YESTERDAYUPDATE: Common Core Unrest in 22 StatesOn November 23, 2013, I wrote a post briefly detailing the 17 states in which official