Latest News and Comment from Education

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Jersey Jazzman: Another Day, Another "Miracle" Charter School Debunked

Jersey Jazzman: Another Day, Another "Miracle" Charter School Debunked:









Big Education Ape: 5-10-14 Jersey Jazzman NJ Ed News Round-up Jammin' All Week
Jersey Jazzman:Jersey Jazzman Jammin' All WeekWould Linda Brown's Parents Have Wanted a "Choice" District?This weekend is this 60th anniversary of Brown v Board of Education, the landmark case that ended separate but equal public schools. The case was originally brought against the Topeka, Kansas school board by Oliver Brown, the father of Linda, a third grader.Oliver had tried to enroll


Another Day, Another "Miracle" Charter School Debunked



Some of you who read this blog might think I've got something against charter schools. I really don't; I started my career in a charter. There are some good charters out there, and a few really excellent ones. We can even have a discussion about the similarities between urban families who enroll their children in charter schools and families who move to suburban schools to enroll their children in low-poverty public schools.

But here's the thing...

What really makes me freakin' bananas is when the press -- often abetted by the charter cheerleading class and charter school leaders themselves -- pushes yet another "miracle charter school" story that is based on nothing but half-truths, distortions, and (yes, let's just say it) outright lies.

Let's go to Trenton for the latest example:
The city’s public schools saw a graduation rate as low as 48 percent last year, but at one charter school this year, officials expect not only to graduate every 12th-grade student, but also to see all 17 go on to four-year colleges. 
“There’s no secret to what we do,” said Graig Weiss, intermediate school principal for Foundation Academies. “It’s really, really hard work. 
“We will not make any excuses for why our students do not and will not achieve, because we believe in setting high expectations for our kids, both behaviorally and academically. And when you set high expectations for kids, they absolutely rise to the challenge, and our students are proof of that, year
- See more at: http://jerseyjazzman.blogspot.com/2014/05/another-day-another-miracle-charter.html#sthash.sVKoJPzX.dpuf




Lawyer For Teachers; Bryan Glass Attorney-at-Law southbronxschool.com

http://www.southbronxschool.com:



Lawyer For Teachers; Bryan Glass Attorney-at-Law

I should be writing about the contract and upcoming vote, but everyone else is, I'm in a contrarian
mood, and I have something to share.

Back in December I raised $665, less the 10% fee, through GoFundMe so I can put down a deposit on hiring an outside attorney. That turned out not to be quite enough for the lawyer, and we had to save and scrimp a little more through April until I finally retained the him.

In the last 2 months or so I have consulted, retained, and conferred with my attorney Bryan Glass as we prepare to take the NYCDOE, and others to federal court. For those that donated and/or sent me emotional support I apologize in not being more forthcoming and sharing more information.

There were several reasons for this. I wanted to keep things pretty close to the vest until I retained Bryan, the case it turned out is quite sensitive in nature and I couldn't share too many facts, and at one time we thought we might settle and I did not want to throw a monkey wrench into that. But now the gloves are in the process of being removed.

On another note, words alone cannot describe Bryan Glass. There are not enough superlatives I can think of to say how smart, intuitive, and caring as he is.

If you are a teacher in trouble, about to be in trouble, being harassed, being belittled, or anything, you need to call or email Bryan ASAP.

Bryan truly believes in what he is doing. Bryan is not in this fight for himself, but for the teacher that has no other place to turn, for the teachers that is being bullied, for the teacher that cries herself to work everyday, for the teacher who needs their feelings validated, for the teacher that feels helpless.http://www.southbronxschool.com:

National union leader leads rally for funding, against Brownback | CJOnline.com

National union leader leads rally for funding, against Brownback | CJOnline.com:



National union leader leads rally for funding, against Brownback

Visit from AFT's Weingarten takes political tone as unions blast Brownback, laud Davis

Posted: May 17, 2014 - 10:01am


Educators with the American Federation of Teachers and the Kansas National Education Association listened Saturday as American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten spoke on the south steps of the Kansas statehouse.  THAD ALLTON/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL
THAD ALLTON/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL
Educators with the American Federation of Teachers and the Kansas National Education Association listened Saturday as American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten spoke on the south steps of the Kansas statehouse.




Addressing a crowd of hundreds of teachers Saturday on the south steps of the Statehouse, Randi Weingarten thundered in a voice that belied her petite frame.
“We will not be silenced,” Weingarten said.
Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers and its 1.5 million members, visited Topeka for the 60th anniversary of the Brown v. Board decision. 
Her group used the anniversary to muster opposition to Gov. Sam Brownback and the conservative-led Legislature, saying their policies are leading the state to greater educational inequality in contrast to the 1954 court decision.
Blue-shirted educators from AFT joined red-shirted members of the Kansas National Education Association in a march from the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic site to the Statehouse, where they rallied for more K-12 spending and protections for teachers.
Weingarten whipped up the crowd of several hundred by telling them Brown v. Board's legacy demands they fight those seeking to destabilize public education to promote private alternatives that will leave some children behind.
"There is a real attack on the institutions that remain a ladder of opportunity," Weingarten said.
House Minority Leader Paul Davis, Brownback's Democratic opponent, spoke at the rally.
Davis said Kansans "believe that we have a moral obligation to give our children the very best education possible" but current leadership is failing to fulfill that obligation.
"Right now we have a governor and we have far too many state legislators who see

Nite Cap 5-17-14 #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



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YESTERDAY

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