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Saturday, August 24, 2013

Calling All Tales from the Opt Out Trenches | United Opt Out National

Calling All Tales from the Opt Out Trenches | United Opt Out National:

CALLING ALL TALES FROM THE OPT OUT TRENCHES

UOO BannerREV
Let your voice be heard!
Aggie Sung Tang, the producer of Education Roundtable (an amazing blog and public access TV show in Princeton NJ) has invited the administrators of United Opt Out to contribute a series of stories from parents, teachers, and students who are opting out of corporate reform in public education. We invite members of our FB site and website to tell their “opt out stories” to be posted at the Education Roundtable. The these stories aim to challenge the existing dominant mainstream media “reform” narrative that includes high stakes testing, Common Core, and other education destructive policies. The goal is to allow our stories to become part of the public narrative — to share our experiences with others who seek to know the truth about what’s happening to our schools, and to bring real solutions, strength, and solidarity to the broader opt out community.
Submissions should be approximately 1000 words in length and sent as a Word doc.  Stories can be about a wide variety of opt-out related experiences including: 1) tales from the trenches- what happened when you opted your child (or yourself as a student) out from high stakes standardized testing?, 2) the struggles, challenges and fears that you face(d) in making the choice to opt out, 3) experiences from teachers or students facing high-stakes pressures, dehumanizing policies, or bully tactics, 4) stories of hope in communities, schools, and classrooms that include solutions and alternatives to current corporate-dominated policies or practices. UOO stories will support democratically-driven public education as a civil right for all children and reflect the mission and vision of United Opt Out. We are seeking stories that provoke emotion, truth about “what is” and a vision for what education “can be.” All submissions will be reviewed by the UOO editorial team prior to being published. Please send all stories to unitedoptoutnational@gmail.com . We hope to hear from ALL of you out there!!!

SBSB Calls for Campbell Brown to Advocate for the Arrest, Prosecution, and Conviction of Husband Dan Senor southbronxschool.com

http://www.southbronxschool.com:

SBSB Calls for Campbell Brown to Advocate for the Arrest, Prosecution, and Conviction of Husband Dan Senor


It was good to see Mike Mulgrew totally p3wn Campbell the other day. Sadly, this is the one true time that I actually wither saw Mike truly outraged. Who knows how things would be if he actually acted like this other times. But enough about Mike.

So Campbell (should I just refer to her as the "Shicksa From The Bayou"?) is outraged that out of 128 school employees over the last year that were accused of sexual dalliances with students, only 33 were fired. To Campbell Brown, all 128 should have been fired even if the charges against them were, how shall we say, false.

She did ask Mike to make a pledge to her that he will seek to fire all teachers that engage in sexual misconduct. Mike p3wned her again by telling her that he will not make any pledges to her at all. That the system in place works, and that is the system that we will live by.

What Campbell fails to realize is we live in a country of laws and one of the laws of the land are due process. That whether or not you are a private citizen or a government employee, you are entitled to 

School chief on McNair ordeal: A day when good overwhelmed evil. | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com

School chief on McNair ordeal: A day when good overwhelmed evil. | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com:

School chief on McNair ordeal: A day when good overwhelmed evil. 

school
Students from Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy are welcomed at McNair High School by DeKalb superintendent Michael Thurmond (left).
Michael Thurmond is interim school superintendent in DeKalb County.
By Michael Thurmond
What could have been one of our worst days was miraculously transformed into one of our best days. A day that could have borne witness to yet another senseless school rampage turned into an inspiring day that spotlighted the heroics of our school personnel, the calmness and resilience of our schoolchildren, the patience of our parents, the courage and tenacity of our police officers, and the effectiveness of our press.
Among the many lessons I have learned, the most important one is to be thankful. Thankful that our students, administrators, faculty and staff were not injured. Thankful that a wonderful lady named Antoinette Tuff took the initiative to courageously talk a deranged gunman literally to the ground. She not only saved her own life, but the lives of countless others, and quite possibly the 

Nite Cap 8-24-13 #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

What David Sirota Gets Wrong About Martin Luther King |
What David Sirota Gets Wrong About Martin Luther King |: What David Sirota Gets Wrong About Martin Luther KingAugust 24, 2013 in StudentsEarlier today, as the 50th anniversary March on Washington got underway, writer David Sirota tweeted the following:This is a premise that Sirota has indulged frequently in recent months — that his own criticism of Obama’s foreign policy is in the tradition of Mar
Before the days of Reading First, and NCLB, and all the fraudulent “reforms” th... Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive
Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive: Before the days of Reading First, and NCLB, and all the fraudulent “reforms” th... Before the days of Reading First, and NCLB, and all the fraudulent “reforms” that came to education, you had initiatives for site-based decision making and having more democratic input from stakeholders (parents, teachers, etc.) These came because of initiatives started by our
One Teacher's Perspective: Embrace Yesterday and Today for Tomorrow
One Teacher's Perspective: Embrace Yesterday and Today for Tomorrow: Embrace Yesterday and Today for TomorrowMonday I “officially” report for my 11th year of teaching in Janesville’s public schools. This year, however, will be my first season of servicing Janesville without a negotiated contract between the district and my teachers union.Janesville’s teachers union is one of the last holdouts in W
NYC Public School Parents: Your child's state test scores are now posted; read this advice first from Tory Frye
NYC Public School Parents: Your child's state test scores are now posted; read this advice first from Tory Frye: Your child's state test scores are now posted; read this advice first from Tory FryeDear Parents and Guardians,Your child's scores are now available on ARIS Parent Link.  For what it is worth, there are a few things that I think we should all do:1) Ignore the test results and do not tel
Lillian Weber | Deborah Meier on Education
Lillian Weber | Deborah Meier on Education: Lillian WeberPosted on August 24, 2013 by debmeierDear readers,Thanks to Julie Diamond (who, she reminded me, was my grandson’s kindergarten teacher), I have a copy again of The English Infant School and Informal Eduction by Lillian Weber, published 42 years ago!  Teachers and parents of young children should figure out how to get hold of it and pour ove
8-24-13 Saturday Special Corporate Reform School Girls News Breakout
Saturday Special Corporate Reform School Girls News BreakoutTODAYDespite ‘Enormous Strides,’ Minorities Still Face Barriers, President Says - NYTimes.comDespite ‘Enormous Strides,’ Minorities Still Face Barriers, President Says - NYTimes.com: Christopher Gregory/The New York TimesObama on Equal Access to College: At a town hall meeting at Binghamton University, the president was asked how his plan
Despite ‘Enormous Strides,’ Minorities Still Face Barriers, President Says - NYTimes.com
Despite ‘Enormous Strides,’ Minorities Still Face Barriers, President Says - NYTimes.com: Christopher Gregory/The New York TimesObama on Equal Access to College: At a town hall meeting at Binghamton University, the president was asked how his plan will ensure that underrepresented groups will be able to have access to higher education.By JON HURDLE and PETER BAKERPublished: August 23, 2013SCRANTON
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: PARENTS: Tips for a Successful School Year!
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: PARENTS: Tips for a Successful School Year!: PARENTS: Tips for a Successful School Year!The other day as I was listening to the Tom Joyner Show, Jeff Johnson came on and shared, "Be a Role Model: 4 Back to School Steps for Parents".Somewhere along the way, we have given parents a free pass. Somewhere along the way, many, not all, of our parents have fallen off th
Diane in the Evening 8-24-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Virginia School Boards Fight State TakeoversIt is a curious fact that there has never been a successful,state takeover of a local school district. Correct me if I am wrong. Maybe there is one somewhere but I don’t know of any. Pennsylvania took control of Philadelphia in 2001, and Philadelphia is near bankruptcy. New York took cont
Japan turns up pressure on pro-Pyongyang schools - SFGate
Japan turns up pressure on pro-Pyongyang schools - SFGate: Japan turns up pressure on pro-Pyongyang schoolsBy ERIC TALMADGE, Associated PressUpdated 7:35 am, Saturday, August 24, 20131 of 7VIEW: LARGER | HIDEIn this Saturday, June 1, 2013 photo, high school students attend a class at a North Korean school in Toyohashi, near Nagoya, central Japan. Japan’s government is moving to ostracize the schoo
Hey Did I mention that Diane Ravitch has a new book coming out on September 17?
REIGN OF ERROR. An incisive, comprehensive look at today’s American school system that argues against those who claim it is broken and beyond repair; an impassioned but reasoned call to stop the privatization movement that is draining students and funding from our public schools.REIGN OF ERROR COMING SOON (CLICK PICTURE)Diane Ravitch's Newest - Pre-order Price Guarantee!
Federal Government to have Access to your Child’s Data via Common Core Assessments | Truth in American Education
Federal Government to have Access to your Child’s Data via Common Core Assessments | Truth in American Education: Federal Government to have Access to your Child’s Data via Common Core AssessmentsThe Common Core State Standards (CCSS) assessments will provide the federal government access to information about your child. Yes, that is right. And you were never asked as a parent if this is okay with
Thirteen Great Lines That Were Cut From John Lewis’ Speech to the March on Washington |
Thirteen Great Lines That Were Cut From John Lewis’ Speech to the March on Washington |: Thirteen Great Lines That Were Cut From John Lewis’ Speech to the March on WashingtonAugust 24, 2013 in StudentsThis week, as we all know by now, is the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.Martin Luther King gave his “I have a dream” speech that day, but he was only one speake
2nd Banana 8-24-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post #EDchat #EDreform #RealEdTalk #p2 #1u
BIG EDUCATION APE 2ND BANANA RECAP OF LAST WEEK'S BEST POSTPCSGP Regional Assignments - Administration & SupportPCSGP Regional Assignments - Administration & Support (CA Dept of Education): PCSGP Regional AssignmentsRegional Assignments for Education Programs Consultants for Public Charter School Grant Program subgrantees, with contact information. Charter Schools Division - (CA Dept of Ed
8-24-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: What We Would Like Teachers to be Doingby Melissa Westbrook / 51min YESTERDAYQuick Updates as We Head into the WeekendOne update, from KUOW, is that the contract negotiations between the district and the union have hit an impasse.  The district has indicated they have given all they can.What are the issues?The SEA and the district are at odds over several issues. T
8-24-13 Missouri Education Watchdog
Missouri Education Watchdog: No Federal Role In Education? Really?Government officials like to promise the voters everything because it looks good on paper and sounds good around election time. But are these guys ever going to think about the logistics of how these promises would have to be handled to come true? If you listen to what Charlie Rangle and President Obama said this week regarding educ
8-24-13 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.: Saturday coffee.    Martin Luther King, James Baldwin and my dad at a fundraiser in LA for the Southern Civil Rights Movement, around 1965. My dad is the guy sitting while James Baldwin is intro ducing Dr. King from the microphone. Somebody went to find a clothes hangar  and some aluminum foil to try
8-24-13 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Susan Ohanian: Liar! Liar! Pants on Fire! War on the New York Times Embrace of the Common CoreOHANIAN: Choose the best answer:The New York Times education coverage proves once again that  Cherry-picking is a) the last refuge of scoundrels b) the last refuge of the lazy c) a) and b) We must hold the press as accountable for bad reporting as they want teachers to be held accountable
Charter schools' state report cards: Failing - Canton, OH - CantonRep.com
Charter schools' state report cards: Failing - Canton, OH - CantonRep.com: Charter schools' state report cards: FailingOf the 40 letter grades awarded to local charter schools on the new state report cards, more than half were F’s.Area charter schools received mostly failing grades in student achievement, graduation rates and academic progress on the 2012-13 state report cards released Thursday.Sc
Morning Wink 8-24-13 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2 #Cheats4Change
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSTODAYLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 8-24-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: The Biggest Fallacy of the Common Core Standards: No EvidenceLately, I have noticed that defenders of the Common Core are smearing critics as Tea Party fanatics and extremists. That is what
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 8-24-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: The Biggest Fallacy of the Common Core Standards: No EvidenceLately, I have noticed that defenders of the Common Core are smearing critics as Tea Party fanatics and extremists. That is what Arne Duncan said to the nation’s newspaper editors last month, when he claimed that opponents of the Common Core are members of “fringe groups,
WEEKLY ADDRESS: Making Higher Education More Affordable for the Middle Class | The White House
WEEKLY ADDRESS: Making Higher Education More Affordable for the Middle Class | The White House: WEEKLY ADDRESS: Making Higher Education More Affordable for the Middle ClassWASHINGTON, DC— In his weekly address, President Obama noted that while college education has never been more important, it has also never been more expensive.  That’s why the President proposed major new reforms to make college
Data Drunk — Let’s Take the Ass Out of Assessment | toteachornototeach
Data Drunk — Let’s Take the Ass Out of Assessment | toteachornototeach: Data Drunk — Let’s Take the Ass Out of Assessmentby Larry StraussTruth — or the passionate pursuit of truth — should always be a guiding principle in the educating of our children. So we ought never delude ourselves about whether we are effectively teaching our students.Without some means of measurement, a belief in our effect
Back to school: “This isn’t reform. This is destruction.” | Parents United for Public Education
Back to school: “This isn’t reform. This is destruction.” | Parents United for Public Education: Back to school: “This isn’t reform. This is destruction.”Posted on August 23, 2013 by HELENGYMLeave a comment(Photo: Emma Lee for Newsworks)Emani Edwards, 9, and Khyair Goodwin, 7, rally at City Hall for Philly schools.Listening to Superintendent William Hite on “Radio Times” was a harsh wake up call
8-24-13 teacherken at Daily Kos
teacherken at Daily Kos: Saturday morning - another reflection on teachingwhich may seem a little premature.  After all, I do not see students until next week.  This was teacher planning week, full of meetings, setting up the classroom, making copies, and even planning. I am back in my role as a classroom teacher. I will have 6 classes, each of which will meet alternate days for 90 minutes, a new
8-24-13 Get Schooled | www.ajc.com Obama: 'Higher education cannot be a luxury."
Obama: 'Higher education cannot be a luxury." | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: Obama: 'Higher education cannot be a luxury."  COMMENT(15) 0 2 0 2President Barack Obama speaks about affordable college education during a town hall meeting at Binghamton University, Friday, Aug. 23, 2013, in Vestal, N.Y. Obama is on a the second day of his two-day bus tour in upstate New York and Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/
8-24-13 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School: It's Time For Bill Gates To Get Out Of His Public Education Malanthropy Work And Go Save MicrosoftMicrosoft is a disaster.CEO Steve Ballmer announced his retirement on Friday, though it seems he was pushed from the company for his many failures:The company portrayed the departure as voluntary, but it comes amid rising complaints among investors and a month after a disappoint
8-24-13 Radical Scholarship
Radical Scholarship: Why Critique the Druid Hills Charter Cluster in DeKalb County, GeorgiaWhy Critique the Druid Hills Charter Cluster in DeKalb County, Georgia1 by P. L. Thomas / 3h YESTERDAYPassive Radicals: The Manufactured Myth — Writers on Writing — MediumPassive Radicals: The Manufactured Myth — Writers on Writing — Medium1 by P. L. Thomas / 19h What We Know NowWhat We Know Now (and How It
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… 8-24-13 …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EF
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFLLARRY FERLAZZO’S WEBSITES OF THE DAYSorry Again About The Multiple EmailsSorry again for the multiple emails. This post is a test one being sent out by Edublogs staff to confirm the problem has been fixed. It’s another example of why I recommend Edublogs so highly — their customer service is unmatchable!by Larry Ferlazzo / 13
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 8-17-13
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:4LAKIDS - SOME OF THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FITLAUSD CHARGED WITH VIOLATING UNION CONTRACT IN TEACHER EVALUATION + smf’s 2¢By Barbara Jones, Los Angeles Daily News  | http://bit.ly/13XkEAL 8/22/13, 9:05 PM PDT  ::  Los Angeles Unified’s teachers union has filed an unfair labor practice charge against the school district, saying administrators failed to negot
NPE News Briefs ← from The Network for Public Education 8-24-13
NPE News Briefs ← from The Network for Public Education:NPE News BriefsChancellor Tisch Promises Higher Test Scores Next Year | Diane Ravitch’s blogThe head of NĂ©w York state’s Board of Regents Merryl Tisch says everyone should calm down about the collapse of test scores across the state. Next year, she promised, the scores will go up. You can count on that, because the state commissioner can lowe
This Week's Education Research Report 8-24-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Education Research ReportTHIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORTSingle-sex classes & student outcomes: Evidence from North CarolinaThe effects of single-sex education are hotly contested, both in academic and policy circles. Despite this heated debate, there exists little credible empirical evidence of the effect of a U.S. public school's decision to offer single-sex classrooms on the educationa
All Week 8-24-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER
@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: All Week 8-10-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTERWe Were Doing Just Fine, ThanksThe following is an excerpt from my latest book, Uncommon: The Grassroots Movement to Save Our Children and Their Schools. Before NCLB (and even during those years, for some), public education was moving along quite well in many places under locally controlled entities, such
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 8-24-13 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2
Diane Ravitch's blogLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONGDIANE RAVITCH'S BLOGChicago Parents Say: Follow the MoneyChicago Public Schools say they are out of money, but look where they are spending money freely. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Representatives available for print or broadcast media interviews Contact: Amy Smolensky, 312-485-0053 Parent Group, Raise Your Hand Blasts CPS for Budget Priorities

YESTERDAY

Discipline and Punish | Bill Ayers
Discipline and Punish | Bill Ayers: Discipline and PunishMichel Foucault, the French philosopher and historian, analyzes a novel kind of disciplinary power that was implemented in the 17th century to combat the plague, a new threat that was lethal, invisible, and highly contagious. The innovative approach not only isolated a town or village in which an outbreak had occurred, it also brought a grou
Choosing Democracy: Join the March on Washington
Choosing Democracy: Join the March on Washington: Join the March on Washington“You can’t talk about ending the slums without first saying profit must be taken out of the slums. . . . There must be a better distribution of wealth . . . and maybe America must move toward a democratic socialism.”-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., speech to the SCLC staff, Frogmore, S.C., November 14, 1966    Democratic soc
Friday Nite Special 8-23-13 Corporate Reform School Girls News Breakout
Friday Nite Special 8-23-13 Corporate Reform School Girls News BreakoutTODAY8-23-13 Wait What? Malloy balks at efforts to require the state to further desegregate Hartford’s schoolsWait What?: Malloy balks at efforts to require the state to further desegregate Hartford’s schoolsMalloy balks at efforts to require the state to further desegregate Hartford’s schools (CT Mirror 8-23-2013) Wait, What?
8-23-13 Wait What? Malloy balks at efforts to require the state to further desegregate Hartford’s schools
Wait What?: Malloy balks at efforts to require the state to further desegregate Hartford’s schoolsMalloy balks at efforts to require the state to further desegregate Hartford’s schools (CT Mirror 8-23-2013) Wait, What? “Gov. Dannel P. Malloy drew a line in the sand on what he is willing to agree to.” Wait, what?? Malloy says…“Let me be very clear, I don’t think failing to reach a standard is a rea
IS PRIVATIZATION WORKING FOR YOU? Mapped: Every Protest on the Planet Since 1979 - By J. Dana Stuster | Foreign Policy
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Remarks by the President and the Vice President on College Affordability | The White House
Remarks by the President and the Vice President on College Affordability | The White House: Remarks by the President and the Vice President on College AffordabilityLackawanna CollegeScranton, Pennsylvania4:42 P.M. EDTTHE VICE PRESIDENT:  Urica, thank you very much for that introduction. Hello, Scranton!  (Applause.)  I tell you, it’s good to be home.  I left you a long time ago, but as a lot of my
NYC Educator: The Campbell Brown Show
NYC Educator: The Campbell Brown Show: The Campbell Brown ShowSome people simply call this place earth, but for legal expert Campbell Brown, it's a forum for her to shock us with her spectacular and lurid accusations. There are 128 teachers who were accused of some sort of sexual offense. Why can't Walcott fire them? The short answer, of course, is that arbitrators, chosen jointly by UFT and DOE,
SBE Agenda for September 2013 - State Board of Education
SBE Agenda for September 2013 - State Board of Education (CA Dept of Education): SBE Agenda for September 2013Agenda for the California State Board of Education (SBE) meeting on September 4, 2013.State Board MembersMichael W. Kirst, PresidentIlene W. Straus, Vice PresidentSue BurrCarl CohnBruce HoladayAida MolinaPatricia A. RuckerNiki SandovalTrish WilliamsJesse Zhang, Student MemberVacancySecreta
4LAKids - LAUSD CHARGED WITH VIOLATING UNION CONTRACT IN TEACHER EVALUATION + smf’s 2¢
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: LAUSD CHARGED WITH VIOLATING UNION CONTRACT IN TEACHER EVALUATION + smf’s 2¢: LAUSD CHARGED WITH VIOLATING UNION CONTRACT IN TEACHER EVALUATION + smf’s 2¢BY BARBARA JONES, LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS  | HTTP://BIT.LY/13XKEAL8/22/13, 9:05 PM PDT  ::  Los Angeles Unified’s teachers union has filed an unfair labor practice charge against the school district, sa
California Educators, Events to Honor 50th Anniversary of March on Washington - California Teachers Association
California Educators, Events to Honor 50th Anniversary of March on Washington - California Teachers Association: California Educators, Events to Honor 50th Anniversary of March on WashingtonNOTE TO MEDIA ON INTERVIEWS: To arrange interviews with a few Bay Area teachers who were at the historic march in 1963, contact Mike Myslinski at CTA at 408-921-5769.BURLINGAME – California educators, labor and
Nite Cap 8-23-13 #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 CAPTODAYThe school with no name. The child with no name. | Reclaim ReformThe school with no name. The child with no name. | Reclaim Reform: ← Fifty Shades of Ravitch: A Book ReviewThe school with no name. The child with no name.Posted on August 23, 2013by Ken