Latest News and Comment from Education

Monday, June 16, 2014

Nite Cap 6-16-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2



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




Have Elevator, Will Elevate (the Teaching Profession) | EduShyster
Have Elevator, Will Elevate (the Teaching Profession) | EduShyster: Have Elevator, Will Elevate (the Teaching Profession) How making teaching a career no one wants will finally make our kids college and career ready…The year was 2014 and, alas, all was not right with the world. Income inequality in these United States had both soared and skyrocketed to levels not seen since the 1920′s, and the mid
History repeats itself: First, as tragedy. Second, as farce. Third, as a Star-Ledger editorial. | Bob Braun's Ledger
History repeats itself: First, as tragedy. Second, as farce. Third, as a Star-Ledger editorial. | Bob Braun's Ledger: History repeats itself: First, as tragedy. Second, as farce. Third, as a Star-Ledger editorial. New Jersey’s largest newspaper unsurprisingly endorsed the absurd finding of a California judge that employment protections for school employees cause school failure and constitute, ther
empathyeducates – “Click, Clack, Moo”: Why the 1% Always Wins
empathyeducates – “Click, Clack, Moo”: Why the 1% Always Wins: “Click, Clack, Moo”: Why the 1% Always WinsBy Paul L. Thomas, Ed.D. | Published at The Becoming Radical. June 16, 2014[Originally posted at Daily Kos and Truthout, "Click, Clack, Moo": Why the 1% Always Wins is a powerful companion to George Saunders's Allegory of Scarcity and Slack.] October 18, 2011As a high school English
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 6-16-14
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Trusting Tax ExpendituresWritten by Red Queen in L.A., from her blog | http://bit.ly/U3CCmz Monday, 16 Jun 2014  ::  As an LAUSD parent of just four-years’ standing, there is a vast, murky gulf of incomprehension regarding this school system, yawning not only to the fore, but way, way into the dim, if recent, past of my own pre-LAUSD-involvement. When L
LAUSD school by school budgets | scpr.org
LAUSD school by school budgets | scpr.org: LAUSD school by school budgetsProduced by Annie Gilbertson & Chris Keller | Updated June 14, 2014The Los Angeles Unified School District gets $6.8 billion from the state to educate its 650,000 students. It receives about another $1 billion from the federal government.This data set shows how administrators plan to spend $4.6 billion in the 2014-15 scho
Cap on district reserves passes despite lawmakers’ reservations | EdSource Today
Cap on district reserves passes despite lawmakers’ reservations | EdSource Today: Cap on district reserves passes despite lawmakers’ reservationsJune 16th, 2014 | Add a Comment | By John FensterwaldShare on facebookShare on twitterShare on emailShare on pinterest_shareMore Sharing Services0The Legislature passed a state budget Sunday with a big funding increase for K-12 schools that pleased school
What Will Weingarten Say in Connecticut on June 17? | deutsch29
What Will Weingarten Say in Connecticut on June 17? | deutsch29: What Will Weingarten Say in Connecticut on June 17?June 16, 2014Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy is no friend to public education. As education historian Diane Ravitch notes in December 2013:Malloy has abandoned his commitment to equality of education opportunity and now relies on high-stakes testing, evaluation of teachers by test
Trusting Tax Expenditures – redqueeninla
Trusting Tax Expenditures – redqueeninla: Trusting Tax ExpendituresWritten by redqueeninla in EducationAs an LAUSD parent of just four-years’ standing, there is a vast, murky gulf of incomprehension regarding this school system, yawning not only to the fore, but way, way into the dim, if recent, past of my own pre-LAUSD-involvement.When Los Angeles voters passed Proposition BB in 1997, I was just
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: Making "Tenure" a Bad Word Helped Steal "Due Process!"
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: Making "Tenure" a Bad Word Helped Steal "Due Process!": Making "Tenure" a Bad Word Helped Steal "Due Process!"If you say something enough times, most people will believe it.Not only will they believe it, but they will embrace it, passionately.They will, foolishly, repeat, word for word or  improvise with their own words of
6-15-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle School Leadership Changes at South Shore/Graham HillSouth Shore K-8 is losing its award-winning principal, Keisha Scarlett.  Their new principal will be Dr. Laurie Morrison who had previously served as assistance principal and was the principal at Graham Hill Elementary.  Ms. Scarlett is going to be the district's "principal leadership coach." Wha
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES: WEEKEND QUOTABLESKen GriffinKent Redfield“It’s certainly an indication of the increasingly large role that wealthy individuals are playing in American politics.” -- Sun-Times, Billionaire Ken Griffin gives Rauner record-breaking $2.5 millionRev. Walter "Slim" Coleman“We’re not suggesting that Rauner is a member of the Klan or that there w
6-16-14 The Whole Child Blog — No Planned Obsolescence in Education — Whole Child Education
No Planned Obsolescence in Education — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGNo Planned Obsolescence in EducationJune 16, 2014 by Walter McKenzieWe are a nation of makers and consumers. And in this free market culture, value is king and the art of the bargain is most prized. It's a conundrum: you get what you pay for, but no one wants to pay full price. In every transaction, let the buyer bew
How many bad teachers are there? | Hechinger Report
How many bad teachers are there? | Hechinger Report: How many bad teachers are there?Not many, according to new – and expensive – evaluationsBy Sarah ButrymowiczPittsburgh officials revealed the first official results of a new teacher evaluation system designed to help weed out ineffective teachers Thursday. The verdict? Nearly all the teachers – 96.9 percent – are good at their jobs.The results,
6-16-14 Curmudgucation Week
CURMUDGUCATION: Did NYC Tenure Changes Chase Away Weaker Teachers?At EdWeek, Stephen Sawchuk reports on research which suggests that NYC tenure changes chased away weaker teachers. I suspect that the research is further proof that, when it comes to teacher quality, we have no idea what the hell we're talking about.The working paper, written by Susanna Loeb of Stanford with Luke C. Miller and James
6-16-14 LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District)
LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District): When the LA Unified watchdog watches too closelyVia Los Angeles Times | By Steve Lopez Commentary: If Stuart Magruder knew how to play the game, he might still have his volunteer watchdog job today. But he just had to speak up. The arrogance, the temerity, the insolence. How dare he challenge the leadersh
Vergara v. California: The court’s decision to gut teacher tenure will not improve poor schools.
Vergara v. California: The court’s decision to gut teacher tenure will not improve poor schools.: Tenure Is Not the Problem2.8k244546Teacher protections are not why poor schools are failing. Segregation is.By Richard D. Kahlenberg Racial segregation continues to bedevil American society and schools.Courtesy of ShutterstockOn Tuesday, a California court struck down state teacher tenure and seniorit
Agenda for 2014 PAA Leadership Conference | Parents Across America
Agenda for 2014 PAA Leadership Conference | Parents Across America:Agenda for 2014 PAA Leadership ConferenceSchedule for2014 PAA Leadership ConferenceDay 1 – Monday July 2810 am to 6 pm (optional) – Join BATS march. More info here.Beginning at 8:30 am (optional) – Meet your legislators on Capitol Hill.Pick up PAA materials if you have not already downloaded them (location TBA). We will coordinate
What’s Wrong with the Recent Court Decision for Teachers
What’s Wrong with the Recent Court Decision for Teachers: What’s Wrong with the Recent Court Decision for Teachersby JIM MILLER on JUNE 16, 2014 · 0 COMMENTSin CIVIL RIGHTS, EDUCATION, HISTORY, LABOR, UNDER THE PERFECT SUNBlueRobot / Foter / Creative Commons AttributionBy Jim Miller and Kelly MayhewLast week’s decision in the Vergara v. the State of California lawsuit that undermined tenure and se
6-16-14 Wait What? - Jonathan Pelto: Gubernatorial Candidate and A Really Nice Guy
Wait What?: Wait What? AFL-CIO Refuses To Allow Pelto to address Political Endorsing ConventionAFL-CIO Refuses To Allow Pelto to address Political Endorsing Convention The Connecticut AFL-CIO will be holding their 10th Biennial Political Convention starting today at the Omni Hotel in New Haven.  Although Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley and Lieutenant Governor candidate, Penny Bacchioc
Is the Need for Common Core STEM Education Based on Lies? | Missouri Education Watchdog
Is the Need for Common Core STEM Education Based on Lies? | Missouri Education Watchdog: Is the Need for Common Core STEM Education Based on Lies?inShareWhat is inSPIRE STEM USA?  It’s an organization supported by Chambers of Commerce, special interests and companies pushing for immigrants to take American STEM jobs because we have been told we don’t have enough Americans who can competently perfo
Morning Wink 6-16-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-16-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Why the Los Angeles School Board Ousted Stuart MagruderColumnist Steve Lopez of the Los Angeles Times explains why the school board did not reappoint Stuart Magruder to the “independent” Bond Ov
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-16-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Why the Los Angeles School Board Ousted Stuart MagruderColumnist Steve Lopez of the Los Angeles Times explains why the school board did not reappoint Stuart Magruder to the “independent” Bond Oversight Committee: He asked too many questions about why Superintendent Deasy was tapping the school bond fund to buy iPads instead of spen
6-16-14 Ed Notes Online Week
Ed Notes Online: The End of (Public Education) Is Near"Education reform" is powerless against eliminationism and is at best a mirage that diverts oppositional energies. The very idea of education activism becomes a comforting fiction."  ... Capitalism vs education In a nutshell - machines are replacing people, their labor is not necessary and an educated work force (other than at th
6-16-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher
Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: The myth of tenure for life.I received two comments from reader Joe Jeffrey this weekend regarding the suddenly hot topic of tenure. First, Joe writes: I suppose this will just convince everyone I’m a right-wing Republican, but I’ll ask it anyway: granted that teachers must be protected from unfair hi
6-16-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Two Good Links About CurationA lot has been written recently about the importance of “curation” in this age of information “overload.” In fact, I’ve previously posted The Best Posts & Articles About Curation. Here are two new additions to that list: Sue Waters has written a very helpful post, including lots of suggestio
Teachers' union leader blasts U.S. Education secretary over comments - Los Angeles Times
Teachers' union leader blasts U.S. Education secretary over comments - Los Angeles Times: Teachers' union leader blasts U.S. Education secretary over commentsAmerican Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten sharply criticized U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan last week for his praise of a ruling by a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge deeming certain job protections for teache
6-16-14 Schools Matter All Week
Schools Matter: What People Are Saying about Hoosier School Heist after the Dance CircusBy Doug Martin As I come off of my buzz from speaking to over 700 people as Dance Circus Ringmaster for the Nancy Sauer School of Theatrical Dancing's 60th Anniversary performances in Indiana (check out a few photos here: it was a great way to get the word out about corporate ed. reform to parents) and prepare
6-16-14 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: George Saunders’s Allegory of Scarcity and SlackGeorge Saunders’s Allegory of Scarcity and Slack. via George Saunders’s Allegory of Scarcity and Slack.1 by plthomasedd / 1h hide  //  save“Click, Clack, Moo”: Why the 1% Always Wins“Click, Clack, Moo”: Why the 1% Always Wins. via “Click, Clack, Moo”: Why the 1% Always Wins.1 by plthomasedd / 1h All Week 6-15-14 @ THE CHALK FACE@ TH
6-16-14 With A Brooklyn Accent: Love Letter to the BATS-
With A Brooklyn Accent: For those who say Strong Unions are A Problem for the NationIn the mid 1950's:35 percent of the US Labor Force was unionizedThe top 1 percent of earners made 9 percent of the incomeThe US was the most equal advanced nation in the world in terms of income distributionMillions of American families were moving out of crowded apartments intoprivate homesIn 201411 percent of the
6-16-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University)
the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): “Click, Clack, Moo”: Why the 1% Always Wins[Originally posted at Daily Kos and Truthout, "Click, Clack, Moo": Why the 1% Always Wins is a powerful companion to George Saunders's Allegory of Scarcity and Slack.] As a high school English teacher for nearly two de
6-16-14 Perdido Street School Week
Perdido Street School: De Blasio Finally Gets Some Profession Public Relations HelpFrom State of Politics:by reality-based edu... / 1h hide  //  saveEva Moskowitz Plans To Double Success Academies Network In Size In The Next Few YearsFrom the NY Times:The network, the Success Academy, said that it was submitting applications to the state to open schools in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens
Louisiana Educator: New Educational Series on Recovery District
Louisiana Educator: New Educational Series on Recovery District: New Educational Series on Recovery District A Perfect Storm: The Takeover of New Orleans Public Schools Part One 17 Days in November from N.O. Education Equity Roundtable on Vimeo.The New Orleans Equity Roundtable has produced a series of short videos that tell the true story about the takeover of public schools in New Orleans by the
Teacher tenure ruling energizes race for state school chief :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet
Teacher tenure ruling energizes race for state school chief :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: JUNE 16, 2014Teacher tenure ruling energizes race for state school chiefby Tom Chorneau(Calif.) Last week’s decision that invalidated the state’s teacher tenure law sent proponents on both sides scrambling to prepare for the appeals process and to do
David Berliner—Witness in Vergara Courtroom—Denies He Called Any Teachers “Grossly Ineffective” | janresseger
David Berliner—Witness in Vergara Courtroom—Denies He Called Any Teachers “Grossly Ineffective” | janresseger: David Berliner—Witness in Vergara Courtroom—Denies He Called Any Teachers “Grossly Ineffective”Posted on June 16, 2014 by janressegerLast week I blogged on the California teacher tenure decision in Vergara v. California. I concluded overall that, “The Vergara attorneys sought to portray t
Did Cami lose–or is she just lying again? | Bob Braun's Ledger
Did Cami lose–or is she just lying again? | Bob Braun's Ledger: Did Cami lose–or is she just lying again?Cami Anderson: Beaten–or just lying?Cami Anderson, the state-imposed Newark school superintendent,  can be beaten and already has lost a major battle in her drive to privatize Newark schools to help her friends in the charter school industry. That’s what parent leaders at the Hawthorne Avenue s
NYC Educator: Teacher Season Begins Nationwide
NYC Educator: Teacher Season Begins Nationwide: Teacher Season Begins NationwideIn the wake of Vergara, corporate reformers are smelling blood in the water, and see this as the time to pounce. How else would you explain the sudden return of education expert Campbell Brown to the tabloids, and the banner article on the cover of yesterday's Post? (I'm not linking to it.)The recipe is quite simple. T
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Billionaire Griffin's influence will be felt no matter who wins the election
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Billionaire Griffin's influence will be felt no matter who wins the election: Billionaire Griffin's influence will be felt no matter who wins the electionChicago MagazineThe Billionaire Boys Club is flexing it's electoral political muscles again in Illinois. The Sun-Times reports that Citadel hedge-fund CEO Ken Griffinhas kicked in a tidy $2.5 million to fellow

YESTERDAY

6-15-14 Schools Matter: NYT Finally Gets another Education Reporter who Gets It
Schools Matter: NYT Finally Gets another Education Reporter who Gets It: NYT Finally Gets another Education Reporter who Gets ItCommon Core, in 9-Year-Old EyesBy JAVIER C. HERNÁNDEZJUNE 14, 2014On that April day, Chrispin was determined. As one of the smallest children in the fourth grade, he had grown accustomed to being underestimated. With the right luck, he thought, he would earn high marks wh
6-15-14 Ed Notes Online Week
Ed Notes Online: MORE, Change the Stakes Sponsor Jose Vilson Book Conversation in InwoodThis Is Not a Test: A New Narrative on Race, Class, and Education with Jose VilsonWed. June 18 * 5-7pm * Inwood Local Beer Garden * 4957 BroadwayRSVP on Facebook.Join a discussion with Jose Vilson on the joys and burdens of today’s education system, celebrating the release of his first book, This Is Not a Test,
Success Academy Charter Schools Force Mayor Bill de Blasio to Confront New Law - NYTimes.com
Success Academy Charter Schools Force Mayor Bill de Blasio to Confront New Law - NYTimes.com: Success Academy’s Expansion Plans Put de Blasio in a Tough SpotSuccess Academy Charter Schools Force Mayor Bill de Blasio to Confront New LawA charter school network’s plan to double in size over the next few years could reignite a war over classroom space in New York City, only this time with the ground
Arne Duncan issues new statement with the ‘right lessons’ from Vergara trial - The Washington Post
Arne Duncan issues new statement with the ‘right lessons’ from Vergara trial - The Washington Post: Arne Duncan issues new statement with the ‘right lessons’ from Vergara trialIn case you weren’t sure what to think about last week’s verdict in the “Vergara trial” — in which a Los Angeles court judge tossed out state statutes giving job protections to teachers — Education Secretary Arne Duncan issu
Father's Day As A Healing Day - The Jose Vilson
Father's Day As A Healing Day - The Jose Vilson: Father’s Day As A Healing Dayby JOSE VILSON on JUNE 15, 2014in JOSEIt’s weird.With the World Cup in Brazil going and Father’s Day happening all around me (and for me), I’m reminded how, once or twice a year, I’d spend hours watching my father watch soccer in my grandmother’s (his mother’s) house in Brooklyn. I didn’t get why it was so exciting, espe
empathyeducates – Will California’s Ruling Against Teacher Tenure Change Schools?
empathyeducates – Will California’s Ruling Against Teacher Tenure Change Schools?: Will California’s Ruling Against Teacher Tenure Change Schools?Photograph Credit; Steven Depolo/FlickrBy Dana Goldstein | Originally Published at The Atlantic. June 11, 2014A judge said the state discriminates against poor and minority students by protecting the jobs of ineffective instructors. What will this mean f
Universal (for profit) Pre-K, DFER and the suits | Seattle Education
Universal (for profit) Pre-K, DFER and the suits | Seattle Education: Universal (for profit) Pre-K, DFER and the suitsFirst, a bit of background about my family and why I am concerned about preschool and what “Universal pre-K” really means.As I have mentioned before, my family is African American. My mother grew up in South Carolina in the early 1900′s with four siblings, a mother who was a music
Nite Cap 6-15-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
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 CAPThe Key to Ensuring Unconstitutionality-Strict Scrutiny A Key That Doesn't Fit in the Vergara Case By Kathleen Carroll - Perdaily.comThe Key to Ensuring Unconstitutionality-Strict Scrutiny A Key That Doesn't Fit in the Vergara Case By Kathleen Ca