Latest News and Comment from Education

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Nite Cap 7-17-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT



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




Eduwonk » Blog Archive » Challenges in American Indian Education
Eduwonk » Blog Archive » Challenges in American Indian Education: Challenges in American Indian Education50,000 American Indian students (approximately 7 percent of all American Indian students) attend 183 Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools across the country—about the same size as the Atlanta Public School system. These students scored significantly below American Indian students attending
What happened to “No bias, no bull”? The new face of CNN’s Campbell Brown | Edwize
What happened to “No bias, no bull”? The new face of CNN’s Campbell Brown | Edwize: What happened to “No bias, no bull”? The new face of CNN’s Campbell BrownFormer CNN talk show host Campbell Brown is all over the headlines these days, but not for her skills as a journalist. Instead, Brown has reinvented herself as the face of attacks on teacher tenure, teacher unions and the teaching profession. 
Education Research Report: Teachers’ Work Hours and Wage Comparisons
Education Research Report: Teachers’ Work Hours and Wage Comparisons: Teachers’ Work Hours and Wage ComparisonsResearchers have good data on teachers' annual salaries but a hazy understanding of teachers’ hours of work. This makes it difficult to calculate an accurate hourly wage and leads policy makers to default to anecdote rather than fact when debating teacher pay. Using data from the American
The Answer Sheet 7-17-14
Answer Sheet: A basic flaw in the argument against affirmative actionA panel of judges from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals just issued a ruling saying that the University of Texas can continue to use race as one factor in undergraduate admissions decisions in an effort to create a diverse student body. The judges were ruling in the high-profile case of a white Texas […]by Valerie Strauss / 
Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » What’s new for NEA?
Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » What’s new for NEA?: What’s new for NEA? At last week’s NEA Representative Assembly, a new leadership team was elected that included Lily Eskelsen Garcia as president, Becky Pringle as Vice President, and Princess Moss as Treasurer. They are not the first women or women of color in these positions, but having all three positions filled by women of color is
Ravitch: Campbell Brown Too Pretty to Be Smart -- NYMag
Ravitch: Campbell Brown Too Pretty to Be Smart -- NYMag: Diane Ravitch: Campbell Brown Shouldn’t Worry Her Pretty Little Head About Education PolicyDiane Ravitch has some fair critiques of your work. Photo: Brad Barket/Getty ImagesPaul Farhi profiles Campbell Brown, the former CNN anchor turned education-reform activist, who is working to end strict teacher tenure protections. Naturally, this enra
7-17-14 The Whole Child Blog — Tacoma Public Schools: Measuring the Whole Child
The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education: Tacoma Public Schools: Measuring the Whole ChildEducators across the nation are working to improve their students' academic achievement, engage families and communities in learning, and maintain safe and healthy learning environments. But in Washington State's Tacoma Public Schools, educators are being held accountable for all of these responsibilities
Viewing every black student as at-risk: Pathologizing children... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com
Viewing every black student as at-risk: Pathologizing children... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: Posted: 1:14 p.m. Thursday, July 17, 2014Viewing every black student as at-risk: Pathologizing children and creating risk COMMENT(1) 0 0 0 NewView Larger Locking students into labelsPrevious PostsMany complain about schools but don't vote when it matters. And it matters TuesdayJuly 17, 2014A head teach
7-17-14 LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD
LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District): Morning read: National poll shows public suport for preschoolMorning read: National poll shows public suport for preschool Poll shows support for public preschool funding In a new national poll conducted by a bipartisan research team, respondents voiced their strong support for expanding public preschool,
7-17-14 Curmudgucation
CURMUDGUCATION: Joy and Pain in PLC-landOh, if only we could easily sort all education ideas into perfectly embraceable and easily rejectable. But it's rarely that simple; we have to use the Power of Actual Thinking to separate the usable from the risible.Last week I spent two and a half days in the arms of PLC with colleagues from my school. Our administration is looking longingly at taking the P
Schooling in the Ownership Society: It's Gates' company Microsoft that needs a good "turnaround"
Schooling in the Ownership Society: It's Gates' company Microsoft that needs a good "turnaround": It's Gates' company Microsoft that needs a good "turnaround"Bill Gates is fond of blaming the schools for failing to produce enough highly-skilled workers to grow the economy or enough properly-trained workers for his company. As if that is truly the purpose of PUBLIC education. Ga
ACADEMIC TRACKING: Segregated access to knowledge…hurts!
Concerned Black Parents, Inc.: ACADEMIC TRACKING: Segregated access to knowledge…hurts!: The Big Sort: How Chicago’s school choice system is tracking kids into different high schools based on achievement | Hechinger ReportThe Big Sort: How Chicago’s school choice system is tracking kids into different high schools based on achievement | Hechinger Report: The Big Sort: How Chicago’s school choice s
7-17-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Special Education in our Country - One ViewI haven't seen this education writer before but all I can say is she's good (and a great advocate for Special Education students and their parents.)  Thank you, Dr. Nancy Bailey.  As she says:Let’s take back reform and revive, rally, and recover public schools.Here she takes on Arne Duncan (red mine):The fact is there has
The Big Sort: How Chicago’s school choice system is tracking kids into different high schools based on achievement | Hechinger Report
The Big Sort: How Chicago’s school choice system is tracking kids into different high schools based on achievement | Hechinger Report: The Big Sort: How Chicago’s school choice system is tracking kids into different high schools based on achievementBy Linda LuttonThis story also appeared at:This spring, at grammar schools all across Chicago, thousands of eighth graders donned caps and gowns and wa
On the Rocketship | EduShyster
On the Rocketship | EduShyster: On the RocketshipRichard Whitmire’s new book chronicles a bumpy ride for Rocketship charter schools…EduShyster: Your book is meant to chronicle the take-off of a high-performing charter school but to me it read more like a cautionary tale. You made the strongest case I’ve seen for why Silicon Valley-style disruption and education are a mismatch. I’m thinking of Rock
7-17-14 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: About the radio showJoin Drs. Shaun Johnson and Tim Slekar LIVE Sundays at 6PM EST and Wednesdays at 7PM EST on Blog Talk Radio for progressive, pro-public education talk radio. Call in to speak live with Tim and Shaun during the show, (805) 727-7111. You can also listen to our Monday "Sunday-Replay" at 7PM EST, and re-broadcasts of the archives every Tuesday and Thursd
Morning Wink 7-17-14 AM Posts #edchat #edreform
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-17-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Courtney Bowie: Vouchers and Privatization Undermine Educational EquityCourtney Bowie is a senior staff attorney with the ACLU Racial Justice Program. In this article, she describes the ACLU’s e
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-17-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Courtney Bowie: Vouchers and Privatization Undermine Educational EquityCourtney Bowie is a senior staff attorney with the ACLU Racial Justice Program. In this article, she describes the ACLU’s efforts to stop discrimination against students with disabilities in Wisconsin’s voucher program. Privatization, she says, is promoting segr
7-17-14 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Speculating on Karen Lewis Challenge to Rahm: Who Will Get the Jewish VoteTwo Jewish candidates to square off in Chicago. (If you don't believe me ask Karen to show you her CHI.Someone emailed me when I was in LA, cocerned that Karen and Chicago crew weren't challenging Randi enough - that was before the Common Core shootout (AFT14 Report - Common Core Debate - Epic Battle B....).
7-17-14 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.: Stephanie Gadlin. Fear and loathing in Chicago. Run Karen. Run.- Stephanie Gadlin is Communications Director for the Chicago Teachers Union A THOUGHT: I am growing uncomfortable with the direction of the tone of the media stories emerging in light of the Sun-Times poll that has CTU President Karen Lew
7-17-14 Wait What? - Jonathan Pelto: Gubernatorial Candidate and A Really Nice Guy
Wait What?: Wait What? Connecticut Labor Leader attacks Pelto/Murphy (including on education)Yesterday, the Political Director of the Machinists Union posted a commentary piece at My Left Nutmeg (http://www.myleftnutmeg.com/) belittling Ebony Murphy and my effort to give voters an alternative to the Democratic and Republican candidates in this year’s election for governor. My Left Nutmeg then prov
7-17-14 Schools Matter
Schools Matter: Charter Cap in Massachusetts Will Not Be LiftedIt is gratifying to know that the legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where public schools were born, took a significant step this week to support Horace Mann's notion of quality public schools for all children.  As Mann said some 160 years ago, "agitate, agitate, agitate, but always for a good cause." The good
7-17-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: This Week’s “Round-Up” Of Useful Posts & Articles On Education Policy© 2012 Richard Hurd, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio Here are some recent useful posts and articles on educational policy issues: Did Obama and Duncan really hear what four teachers told them? is the third in a series of posts at Valerie Strauss’ Washington
7-17-14 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School: Governor Cuomo Plays Pre-Election Games With Bridge/Road Toll HikesIt is important that Governor Cuomo be made to publicly defend what his administration is doing here:ALBANY—The state Public Authorities Control Board on Wednesday approved a controversial loan for the Tappan Zee replacement bridge, but not before the amount was cut in half without explanation and officials a
Shanker Blog » Do Students Learn More When Their Teachers Work Together?
Shanker Blog » Do Students Learn More When Their Teachers Work Together?: Do Students Learn More When Their Teachers Work Together?Posted by Esther Quintero on July 17, 2014This is the second post in a series on “The Social Side Of Reform”, exploring the idea that relationships, social capital, and social networks matter in lasting, systemic educational improvement. For more on this series, clickh
We’ll Have to Do Something About Poverty to Improve School Achievement | janresseger
We’ll Have to Do Something About Poverty to Improve School Achievement | janresseger: We’ll Have to Do Something About Poverty to Improve School AchievementPosted on July 17, 2014 by janressegerIn the New Yorker essay she just published on the Atlanta test-cheating scandal, Rachel Aviv quotes education researcher David Berliner: “The people who say poverty is no excuse for low performance are now
Outgoing South Carolina School Chief: I Will Kill Common Core | Truth in American Education
Outgoing South Carolina School Chief: I Will Kill Common Core | Truth in American Education: Outgoing South Carolina School Chief: I Will Kill Common CoreFiled in Common Core State Standards, Education at State Level by Shane Vander Hart on July 17, 2014 • 0 Comments27Photo credit: Milken Family FoundationI have a healthy skepticism about how the review and replacement of the Common Core will go d
Mona Davids' Minion Sam Pirozzolo Gets It Wrong Again southbronxschool
http://www.southbronxschool.com: Mona Davids' Minion Sam Pirozzolo Gets It Wrong AgainThe laughs and the comedy stylings coming from NYC Parents Union are just too much to keep up with. Back in April, Mona Davids tweeted out that 50% of NYC can't read or write at grade level. Remember, this is before the opportunity came to take advantage of an opportunity only for Mona.Mona never cited her source
Climbing Rungless Ladders | WagTheDog
Climbing Rungless Ladders | WagTheDog: Climbing Rungless Ladders Common Core definition of rigor; learning activities that cultivate student grit, climbing a rungless ladder…Nearly 1 in 4 children in America are currently living in poverty, and one would expect that a data-driven campaign to raise academic achievement in America would take into account this staggering figure.The Ed Department awar
Russ on Reading: Chris Christie's Hypocritical Stance on School Choice
Russ on Reading: Chris Christie's Hypocritical Stance on School Choice: Chris Christie's Hypocritical Stance on School ChoiceOn Monday, Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey issued an executive order that delayed his much ballyhooed teacher evaluation program – AchieveNJ. I wrote about the impact of that action earlier this week here.Along with the executive order, Christie’s office issued a press
NYC Educator: The UFT Million Name Ballot Subverts Democracy
NYC Educator: The UFT Million Name Ballot Subverts Democracy: The UFT Million Name Ballot Subverts DemocracyWhen you tell members of the elite, invitation-only UFT Unity Caucus that you don't like the fact that everyone with a vote in UFT, NYSUT, and AFT has signed a loyalty oath and represents leadership rather than membership, they'll first deny it exists. When you show it to them, they'll say i
empathyeducates – It’s Not Race, It’s Class…And Other Stories Folks Now Tell
empathyeducates – It’s Not Race, It’s Class…And Other Stories Folks Now Tell: It’s Not Race, It’s Class…And Other Stories Folks Now TellBy Black&Smart, AKAdemic | Originally Published at Black&Smart July 10, 2014I have been studying race, racism and its damaging effects for most of my adult life. And I have witnessed the “racial fatigue” of people who don’t have to consciously deal with ra

YESTERDAY

Live from Netroots Nation! | Lily's Blackboard
Live from Netroots Nation! | Lily's Blackboard: Live from Netroots Nation!Jul 16th, 2014 by LilysBlackboard.Our very own president-elect Lily Eskelsen García will be part of the opening keynote at Netroots Nation! We will be livestreaming here. Don’t miss it!
Waking Up To Our Broken Education Policies
Waking Up To Our Broken Education Policies: Waking Up To Our Broken Education PoliciesWho could ever forget comedian Jon Stewart’s commentary in early 2009 on how financial reporters totally botched reporting of the Great Recession. Stewart mocked journalists at CNBC for missing all the warning signs of the over-valued housing market and their failure to question wild speculation on sub-prime mort
No Sacramento Bee, Banda Bashing Won't Bring Jonathan Back!
After controversial leader, Sacramento City Unified eyes low-profile replacement - Our Region - The Sacramento Bee: After controversial leader, Sacramento City Unified eyes low-profile replacementBy Loretta Kalblkalb@sacbee.comPublished: Wednesday, Jul. 16, 2014 - 8:11 pmJonathan Raymond came into the Sacramento City Unified School District nearly five years ago as a hard-charging superintendent,
Kathleen Carroll Soars on the Wings of Research Blunder; Jim Horn Hitches a Ride | deutsch29
Kathleen Carroll Soars on the Wings of Research Blunder; Jim Horn Hitches a Ride | deutsch29: Kathleen Carroll Soars on the Wings of Research Blunder; Jim Horn Hitches a RideJuly 16, 2014On July 15, 2014, California attorney Kathleen Carroll posted a piece on the City Watch LA blog entitled, When Did Teacher Unions Decide to “Turn”… Against Collective Bargaining Rights? Based upon emails I have re
7-16-14 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: About the radio showJoin Drs. Shaun Johnson and Tim Slekar LIVE Sundays at 6PM EST and Wednesdays at 7PM EST on Blog Talk Radio for progressive, pro-public education talk radio. Call in to speak live with Tim and Shaun during the show, (805) 727-7111. You can also listen to our Monday "Sunday-Replay" at 7PM EST, and re-broadcasts of the archives every Tuesday and Thursd
HealthierUS School Challenge Initiative - Healthy Eating & Nutrition Education (CA Dept of Education)
HealthierUS School Challenge Initiative - Healthy Eating & Nutrition Education (CA Dept of Education): HealthierUS School Challenge InitiativeInformation about and instructions how to apply for a HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC) Award.BackgroundThe HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC) is a voluntary certification initiative established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and
Russ on Reading: Guest Post from Denny Taylor, Friend of Public Education, Families and Children
Russ on Reading: Guest Post from Denny Taylor, Friend of Public Education, Families and Children: Guest Post from Denny Taylor, Friend of Public Education, Families and ChildrenDenny Taylor is author of the influential books Family Literacy and Learning Denied, two books that had a huge influence on my thinking about literacy instruction. When she speaks, we all should listen. After years away fro
Nite Cap 7-16-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #AFT14
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 CAPArne Duncan’s Reaction to Recent VAM Research |Arne Duncan’s Reaction to Recent VAM Research |: Arne Duncan’s Reaction to Recent VAM Research Valerie Strauss wrote a recent piece for the Washington Post about an email she recently sent to Arne Du