Latest News and Comment from Education

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Nite Cap 7-8-14 #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




Nutrition and Equipment Grants Awarded - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)
Nutrition and Equipment Grants Awarded - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces Winners of Nutrition and Equipment GrantsSACRAMENTO—Almost 700 California public schools will be awarded more than $16 million to ensure more low-income students will receive nutritious food prepared with modern equipment, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson a
7-8-14 The Whole Child Blog — Digitally Speaking: Creating Exceptional Podcasts, Videos, and More with Erik Palmer
The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education: Digitally Speaking: Creating Exceptional Podcasts, Videos, and More with Erik PalmerJoin Erik Palmer, author of the ASCD book Teaching the Core Skills of Listening and Speaking, for an exciting, free webinar to learn how you can use digital tools in your classroom to develop competent communicators. Wednesday, July 16, 2014, 3:00 p.m. eastern time Regi
Lesson 2: Merit Pay Is Unfair to Our Most At-Risk Students | Gatsby In L.A.
Lesson 2: Merit Pay Is Unfair to Our Most At-Risk Students | Gatsby In L.A.: Lesson 2: Merit Pay Is Unfair to Our Most At-Risk StudentsI’m the best teacher in the world. I just spent four days teaching a writing workshop and you would not believe how much those students improved in an incredibly short time. I guess it’s pretty obvious that I’m awesome. I deserve a giant raise!No, wait. I’m the wor
In Defense of Francesco Portelos, He Loves Kittens southbronxschool
http://www.southbronxschool.com: In Defense of Francesco Portelos, He Loves KittensI was away for the weekend. My son, who just turned 13, went to baseball camp for the week inPennsylvania and my wife decided to spend Sunday night in my old stomping grounds of Corning NY.Oh, just as an aside, since I have mentioned my son playing baseball people are free to mention in comments in comments section
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 7-8-14
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Mystery Group Sues Two Dozen School Districts Over Inadequate Physical Education, Including LausdBrett Kelman, The Desert Sun (Coachella Valley) |  http://desert.sn/1r6cHGn (Photo: File photo ) 10:07 p.m. PDT July 7, 2014  ::  Two desert school districts have been named in a far-reaching class-action lawsuit over inadequate physical education, but the s
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm: 'Don't ask, don't tell' on shootings
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm: 'Don't ask, don't tell' on shootings: Rahm: 'Don't ask, don't tell' on shootingsEdward Marshall, Political Producer for WBBM TV/CBS2 Tweets:We are not to ask @RahmEmanuel questions about weekend violence say his press team. — Edward Marshall (@edmarshallcbs2) July 7, 2014I can understand why the Little Emperor is refusing to take question about the horrific Jul
Chronicles of (the conceptually incoherent & empirically invalid) world of VergarNYa | School Finance 101
Chronicles of (the conceptually incoherent & empirically invalid) world of VergarNYa | School Finance 101: School Finance 101Data and thoughts on public and private school funding in the U.S.Chronicles of (the conceptually incoherent & empirically invalid) world of VergarNYaPosted on July 8, 20140As with the Vergara case in California, a central claim of the New York City Parents Union is
The Hard Part | Peter Greene
The Hard Part | Peter Greene: The Hard PartThey never tell you in teacher school, and it's rarely discussed elsewhere. It is never, ever portrayed in movies and tv shows about teaching. Teachers rarely bring it up around non-teachers for fear it will make us look weak or inadequate.Valerie Strauss in the Washington Post once put together a series of quotes to answer the question "How hard is
#educolor Calling *IN* All Anti-Racist, Anti-Sexist BATs: Your Voices and Actions Are Needed
#educolor Calling *IN* All Anti-Racist, Anti-Sexist BATs: Your Voices and Actions Are Needed: #educolor Calling *IN* All Anti-Racist, Anti-Sexist BATs: Your Voices and Actions Are Needed Like many, I came back from July 4 celebrations to hear of a horror show unfolding on Twitter involving many respected voices in the #edujustice community. I read what I could of the tweets that were public and fe
PAA Parent Voice Award Dinner honoring Leonie Haimson Tickets, Washington - Eventbrite
PAA Parent Voice Award Dinner honoring Leonie Haimson Tickets, Washington - Eventbrite: PAA Parent Voice Award Dinner honoring Leonie Haimson Tickets, WashingtonJoin Parents Across America in Wasington DC on July 28, 2014, at ourfirst annual Parent Voice Award Dinner honoring PAA co-founder LeonieHaimson, leader of New York City-based Class Size Matters.This year, Leonie nearly single-handedly org
National Board Certification to Build Professional Capital | InterACT
National Board Certification to Build Professional Capital | InterACT: National Board Certification to Build Professional CapitalJULY 8, 2014tags: Jose Vilson, Mitchell 20, NBPTS, NEA, professional capital,Roblesby David B. CohenThe blog post below is copied from a comment I left on José Vilson’s blog. You should probably read his entire post (click here to open it in a new window/tab), but here’s
Honest Practicum – Exclusive interview – A TFA teacher working at Success Academy, Part 1
Honest Practicum – Exclusive interview – A TFA teacher working at Success Academy, Part 1: Exclusive interview – A TFA teacher working at Success Academy, Part 1About this time last year I met Steve. I was conducting researching for What They Don’t Teach You and hoping to speak with a couple TFA teachers from around the country. Steve was just about to leave for the Teach for America training inst
7-8-14 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): Ouch! LAUSD to pay $1.1 billion for teacher pension rescueLA Unified must come up with $16 million this year to pay an unexpected bill as a result of legislation signed by Governor Jerry Brown aimed at rescuing the state’s teachers retirement pension system known as CalSTRS, but the district’s total incre
7-8-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week
Seattle Schools Community Forum: The History of Board PrioritiesAt the most recent Board Retreat, the Deputy Superintendent, Charles Wright, told the Board, in a rather elaborate fashion, that if the Board added a bell time switch to the list of Board priorities, it would have a severe impact on the staff's work. Nearly every department would bear part of the burden and nearly every current initia
The problem with Obama’s plan for teachers
The problem with Obama’s plan for teachers: The problem with Obama’s plan for teachersTUESDAY, JULY 8TH, 2014 AT 11:57 AMOn one level, today’s news that the Obama administration is ordering states to devise strategies to get better teachers into high-poverty classrooms should be welcomed. After all, although it’s true that every child deserves a great teacher, it’s also true that if there aren’t e
Morning Wink 7-8-14 AM Posts #edchat #edreform
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-8-14 Diane Ravitch's blog #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: The Best Way to Motivate People Is….In an article in the New York Times, two scholars explain how best to motivate people in every line of endeavor. Amy Wrzesniewski is an associate professor of organizational beh
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-8-14 Diane Ravitch's blog #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: The Best Way to Motivate People Is….In an article in the New York Times, two scholars explain how best to motivate people in every line of endeavor. Amy Wrzesniewski is an associate professor of organizational behavior at the Yale School of Management. Barry Schwartz is a professor of psychology at Swarthmore College. They make a d
7-8-14 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Child Abuse: NYC Parents Union Plaintifs' Use Their Own Kids for Naked Self-InterestDid Mona serve the best interests of her own daughter by keeping her in a lousy charter school so she could further her political aims? When Moaning Mona and Sam use their kids for their own political advantage and put them in the public eye in this way can that be termed child abuse? Doing worse t
7-8-14 Jersey Jazzman Jammin' All Week
Jersey Jazzman: Thomas Piketty Has Eric Hanushek's NumberI'm just starting Thomas Piketty's Capital in the 21st Century, which puts me months behind the mass of American public intellectuals who were obsessing about the tome this spring, but will give me the advantage of being able to say I actually read the thing.Last night, I came across a quote that was so perfectly relevant to the current stat
7-8-14 Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"
Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement": El Paso Teachers Union Recognized For Parent Engagement WorkThe El Paso Teachers Union was recently honored by the National Education Association for its parent engagement work. Here’s the announcement from the NEA: The Rosena J. Willis Memorial Award will be given to the El Paso Teachers Association (EPTA) for the work it
7-8-14 Wait What? - Jonathan Pelto: Gubernatorial Candidate and A Really Nice Guy
Wait What?: Wait What? All WeekHartford Courant – Is Pelto A Spoiler In Race For Governor?From the Hartford Courant comes their latest – a clear-cut, concise and to-the-point editorial; Is Pelto A Spoiler In Race For Governor? Former state representative and political consultant Jonathan Pelto has been a burr under the saddle of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy ever since the first Democratic governor in 20
The Answer Sheet 7-8-14
Answer Sheet: Why so many kids can’t sit still in school todayThe Centers for Disease Control tells us that in recent years there has been a jump in the percentage of young people diagnosed with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder, commonly known as ADHD: 7.8 percent in 2003 to 9.5 percent in 2007 and to 11 percent in 2011. The reasons for the rise are multiple, […]by Valerie Strauss / 13
7-8-14 Schools Matter All Week
Schools Matter: Duncan's Latest Party Balloon Just Got Popped in TennesseeWhen NAEP reported in May that Tennessee high school seniors finish next to last in NAEP proficieny in the latest testing derby (just behind West Virginia), it took some of the glory from the earlier report on NAEP scores for grades 4 & 8 that Kevin Huffman and his band of TFA lawyers plastered on every available wall sp
7-8-14 Fred All Week 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.: Bob Scharba’s cartoons.The Evil Leprechaun. Re-fixed. Fred: I’ve featured your suggested “stars” of Illinois pension theft in the cartoon I mentioned to you the other day to you. I wasn’t even aware of what some of these people looked like till I researched this……what a gruesome bunch. Biss is sort of
7-8-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL, & EF
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Useful Article: “How to Read Education Data Without Jumping to Conclusions”How to Read Education Data Without Jumping to Conclusions is a good article in The Atlantic by Jessica Lahey & Tim Lahey. I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Understanding How To Interpret Education Research. Here’s an excerpt:by Larry Ferlaz
Common Core: An Oligarchy of Tyranny of the Elite? | Missouri Education Watchdog
Common Core: An Oligarchy of Tyranny of the Elite? | Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core: An Oligarchy of Tyranny of the Elite?inShareHas our educational system moved from a rule of law (republic) to the rule of a few (oligarchy) via the Common Core States Standards Initiative?  Is the Common Core State Standards Initiative the vehicle for the rule of a few over the many?If you examine the po
Next NEA leader's first task: Win back public - Caitlin Emma - POLITICO.com
Next NEA leader's first task: Win back public - Caitlin Emma - POLITICO.com: Next NEA leader's first task: Win back publicThe new president of the largest teachers union in the country will become the voice of roughly 3 million teachers at perhaps the most critical moment in the National Education Association’s history.First item on the agenda: Win back the public.Continue ReadingText Size-+resetN
7-8-14 @ 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
7-8-14 With A Brooklyn Accent: Love Letters to the BATS
With A Brooklyn Accent: Why Charter School Scandals Resemble the Subprime Mortgage CrisisTo understand why  we may be approaching a charter school crisis that resembles the one that developed around subprime mortgages, you need to understand how investment banks and credit rating agencies seized upon an instrument to make homeownership available to people with limited resources as a vehicle to mak
7-8-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD
the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): Why Is Arne Duncan Still Pushing the Dangerous Myth of Low Expectations? | AlternetWhy Is Arne Duncan Still Pushing the Dangerous Myth of Low Expectations? | Alternet1 by plthomasedd / 2h hide  //  saveTeaching Students, Not Standards or ProgramsIf you believe shoddy com
empathyeducates – Black People Were Denied Vanilla Ice Cream in the Jim Crow South – Except on Independence Day
empathyeducates – Black People Were Denied Vanilla Ice Cream in the Jim Crow South – Except on Independence Day: Black People Were Denied Vanilla Ice Cream in the Jim Crow South – Except on Independence DayIt was only 60 years ago that this would have been an unheard of sight in the south. Photograph: My Mundane Life/ FlickrOver the last many decades, we have removed History from the curriculum. B
7-8-14 Curmudgucation Week
CURMUDGUCATION: Details on New Teacher Equity PlanThis aspect of school reform has been lurking around the edges for some time-- the notion that once we find the super-duper teachers, we could somehow shuffle everybody around and put the supery-duperest in front of the neediest students. But though reformsters have occasionally floated the idea, the feds have been reluctant to really push it.Now t
7-8-14 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School: How Is This Tweet Harassment?The Daily News:Two city parents who signed onto a suit to end teacher tenure in New York State say they’re being harassed by an educator who backs the protection.Mona Davids and Sam Pirozzolo of the New York City Parents Union say they were targeted by teacher Francesco Portelos in a Sunday tweet.“U need your protection removed so if you see a di
Q & A with Dr. Pamela High: Should reading be part of a checkup with the pediatrician? | Hechinger Report
Q & A with Dr. Pamela High: Should reading be part of a checkup with the pediatrician? | Hechinger Report: Q & A with Dr. Pamela High: Should reading be part of a checkup with the pediatrician?By Sara NeufeldNot all babies will attend day care or preschool, but sooner or later, just about every kid visits the doctor. So if you have a message you want the parents of all young children to he
Opportunity Stymied in Community Colleges by Extreme Partisanship and Money in Politics | janresseger
Opportunity Stymied in Community Colleges by Extreme Partisanship and Money in Politics | janresseger: Opportunity Stymied in Community Colleges by Extreme Partisanship and Money in PoliticsPosted on July 8, 2014 by janressegerIn a new and very thoughtful blog post, Mike Rose, well known education writer and professor at UCLA, explores a subject on which he is an expert: the meaning of community c
Are “Teacher Professional Partnerships” a viable career ladder option? | EdCentrist
Are “Teacher Professional Partnerships” a viable career ladder option? | EdCentrist: Are “Teacher Professional Partnerships” a viable career ladder option?Leave a commentDear Teachers,During a school day, have you ever wondered, silently or aloud, any of the following statements:1) There’s a more effective way of doing ____________________,2) If we could only change ____________________.3) I wish
Goodnight Sweet Poets | Bill Ayers
Goodnight Sweet Poets | Bill Ayers: Goodnight Sweet PoetsPassagesOne is responsible to life: It is the small beacon in the terrifying darkness from which we come and to which we shall return. One must negotiate this passage as nobly as possible, for the sake of those who are coming after us.—James BaldwinWhen Maxine Greene passed away on May 29, 2014, I felt that I’d lost more than a friend and a
Asking the Right Questions for Getting School-Driven Policies into Classroom Practice | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
Asking the Right Questions for Getting School-Driven Policies into Classroom Practice | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Asking the Right Questions for Getting School-Driven Policies into Classroom PracticeEvery single federal, state, and district policy decision aimed at improving student academic performance has a set of taken-for-granted assumptions that link the adopted pol
Mother Crusader: The Reformy Heavyweights Behind New York's Tenure Lawsuit
Mother Crusader: The Reformy Heavyweights Behind New York's Tenure Lawsuit: The Reformy Heavyweights Behind New York's Tenure LawsuitYesterday a Facebook friend wondered aloud about the parents behind New York's Vergara-like case. The article he posted featured quotes from "Staten Islander Sam Pirozzolo, who is both a parent plaintiff and vice president of the NYC Parents Union". "S
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm tries to outflank unions and political opponents on minimum wage
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm tries to outflank unions and political opponents on minimum wage: Rahm tries to outflank unions and political opponents on minimum wageMembers of the Progressive Caucus, including Aldermen Bob Fioretti (2nd), Roderick Sawyer (6th) and Scott Waguespack (32nd), proposed raising Chicago's minimum wage to $15 an hour. | Al Podgorski~Sun-TimesThe Little Emporer is ca
NYC Educator: Cyber Charter Whoppers on TV
NYC Educator: Cyber Charter Whoppers on TV: Cyber Charter Whoppers on TVI was pretty surprised to turn on my TV this morning and see a commercial for a company called K12. This company sells education via computer. The commercial showed loving parents, and suggested that if you really loved your kids you'd sign up right away. There's no charge because K12 is a public school. That's true in the sen

YESTERDAY

7-7-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Education News RoundupNorth Carolina is poised to exit from Common Core.  They also passed a student data privacy law earlier this year (and I'll be working to get one passed in the Washington Legislature).  North Carolina was one of the first states to embrace Common Core, now in place in more than 40 states. But support among some conservatives for the standards
A Chronicle of Echoes Gets Noticed in Salon | deutsch29
A Chronicle of Echoes Gets Noticed in Salon | deutsch29: A Chronicle of Echoes Gets Noticed in SalonJuly 7, 2014This summer, I am writing my second book, this time on the history, development, and promotion of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). On July 4th, I finished writing the ten-chapter body of that book, which means that even though I now turn my attention to proofing, editing, and form
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: Loving Classroom Tools That Start Free, and Stay Free! We Appreciate You!
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: Loving Classroom Tools That Start Free, and Stay Free! We Appreciate You!: Loving Classroom Tools That Start Free, and Stay Free! We Appreciate You!Click the pic to take you to the article on WeareTeachers Blog!It is common knowledge that teaching is one of the hardest professions. We  make very little money, and yet , we have a high level of "out-of-pocket&
The Daily Censored » Wal-Mart and the Apollo Group, owner of the University of Phoenix announce major mega-merger
The Daily Censored » Wal-Mart and the Apollo Group, owner of the University of Phoenix announce major mega-merger: Wal-Mart and the Apollo Group, owner of the University of Phoenix announce major mega-mergerStocks rose sharply today based on the recently released news that the retail giant, Wal-Mart, the biggest employer in America, will be merging with the Apollo Group, owner of the University of
Standing Up to Superman: An Interview with Barbara Madeloni | Jacobin
Standing Up to Superman: An Interview with Barbara Madeloni | Jacobin: Standing Up to Superman: An Interviewwith Barbara Madeloniby Barbara MadeloniIn choosing Barbara Madeloni as president, the Massachusetts Teachers Association has elected a fierce opponent of neoliberal education reform.(Yen Yen Woo / YouTube)Barbara Madeloni is an educator and activist from Northampton, Massachusetts, who was
7-7-14 Fred All Week 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.: Diane Ravitch’s blog. A Mass teacher’s hopes for Lily.Newly elected NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia and this blogger. - Diane Ravitch. This just in from a member of NEA from Massachusetts who is at the Denver convention. She hopes that Lily Eskelsen, the new president, will be a champion and fighte
Nite Cap 7-7-14 #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 CAPBattle For Texas: #SaveBillPowers Has Strong Record on Race & Gender | Cloaking InequityBattle For Texas: #SaveBillPowers Has Strong Record on Race & Gender | Cloaking Inequity: Battle For Texas: #SaveBillPowers Has Strong Record on Race