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Thursday, December 24, 2015

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 12/24/15



CORPORATE ED REFORM





The Spirit of Christmas Present: Children versus Corporate Greed | Reclaim Reform
The Spirit of Christmas Present: Children versus Corporate Greed | Reclaim Reform: The Spirit of Christmas Present: Children versus Corporate Greed“One major theme in A Christmas Carol was rooted in Charles Dickens’ observations of the plight of the children of London’s poor. In 1839 it was estimated that nearly half of all funerals in London were for children under the age of ten. Those who survi
Hillary, Politicians, Education Reformers, & Education Profiteers: You Are Cowards & Failures | msvigeljsmith
Hillary, Politicians, Education Reformers, & Education Profiteers: You Are Cowards & Failures | msvigeljsmith: Hillary, Politicians, Education Reformers, & Education Profiteers: You Are Cowards & FailuresYou say my school is failing. You label my students as failing. You call me a failure. Then you shake hands with profiteers who wear fancy suits and promote edperialism and atestoc
School Closures Remarks Put Clinton in a Bind - Living in Dialogue
School Closures Remarks Put Clinton in a Bind - Living in Dialogue: School Closures Remarks Put Clinton in a BindWith her ill-informed remarks on school closures, Hillary Clinton set off a bit of a firestorm among education activists. Her full remarks have been posted by Valerie Strauss, so there is no question what she said, and as Peter Greene points out, context does not help much. She clearly
I Wish You Whatever Makes You Happy, Merry or Blessed
I Wish You Whatever Makes You Happy, Merry or BlessedThese celebrations are among those that will happen this year: Ramadan (Muslim)Eid al-Fitr (Muslim)Saint Nicholas Day (Christian)Eid'ul-Adha (Muslim)Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexican)St. Lucia Day (Swedish)Hanukkah (Jewish)Christmas Day (Christian)Three Kings Day/Epiphany (Christian)Boxing Day (Australian, Canadian, English, Irish)Kwanzaa
Why NonProfits Can’t Lead The 99% | PopularResistance.Org
Why NonProfits Can’t Lead The 99% | PopularResistance.Org: Why NonProfits Can't Lead The 99%Above Photo: From BlackAgendaReport.com.A seasoned movement elder examines what happens left organizations are led exclusively by college-educated professionals answerable to self-perpetuating boards and philanthropic funders, what happens when union leaderships free themselves from their memberships, and w
A Reading List for Hilary Candidates | Live Long and Prosper
A Reading List for Hilary Candidates | Live Long and Prosper: A Reading List for Hilary CandidatesDespite the fact that NEA and AFT “endorsed” Hillary Clinton, she is not, IMHO, a strong supporter of public education.Her math mistake in Iowa (misunderstanding the meaning of average) notwithstanding, she believes that closing schools will help…well…somehow. She said,Now, I wouldn’t keep any school
Elves, Marshmallow Farms, and the K-12 Education Political Disconnect
Elves, Marshmallow Farms, and the K-12 Education Political Disconnect: Elves, Marshmallow Farms, and the K-12 Education Political DisconnectMerry Christmas! Today I am writing about illusion and how K-12 education, despite some cursory remarks, is still ignored by Presidential candidates.If you haven’t already noticed, while there are many topics discussed at Presidential debates, there is never,
CURMUDGUCATION: IN: Let's Try Solo Bargaining + NY: USED Rattles Sabres
CURMUDGUCATION: IN: Let's Try Solo Bargaining: IN: Let's Try Solo BargainingIndiana State Senator Pete Miller is not the first guy to have this idea, but he's the one currently floating it in a state legislature-- let's do away with collective bargaining and let every teacher negotiate her own individual contract.This is Miller's idea for fixing the teacher shortage. Let's treat teachers fairly, h
NYC Educator: Leaving Hillarytown
NYC Educator: Leaving Hillarytown: Leaving HillarytownHillary Clinton opened her mouth the other day, and said she wouldn't keep open any school that wasn't better than average. She later clarified to say she meant good, rather than better than average. To me, that was not much of a distinction. I work in a good school, even by reformy standards, but I don't delude myself that it's because we are
Can students pray in school? Wyoming school district learns what’s legal and what isn’t. - The Washington Post
Can students pray in school? Wyoming school district learns what’s legal and what isn’t. - The Washington Post: Can students pray in school? Wyoming school district learns what’s legal and what isn’t.Can students pray in school? A Wyoming school district has learned what’s legal and what isn’t — and the truth may surprise some people.In October, several students at a Wyoming high school formed a c
Nine questions for the Obama administration about school reform - The Washington Post
Nine questions for the Obama administration about school reform - The Washington Post: Nine questions for the Obama administration about school reformEducation Secretary Arne Duncan has only a few days left before his official exit on Dec. 31. Though his designated successor, John King, the former education commissioner of New York State, will have about a year in the job, the education legacy fro
State funding of charter schools causing woes for public schools - The Jackson County Times-Journal: News
State funding of charter schools causing woes for public schools - The Jackson County Times-Journal: News: State funding of charter schools causing woes for public schools JACKSON— There was a brief discussion during a Jackson Board of Education meeting regarding the downfalls of charter or community schools, some of which are online programs.According to Jackson City Schools Superintendent Phil H
Bill Gates names the 6 best things that happened in 2015 - Yahoo Finance
Bill Gates names the 6 best things that happened in 2015 - Yahoo Finance: Bill Gates names the 6 best things that happened in 2015Every year, Bill Gates puts out his annual list of the year's best news on his blog GatesNotes.It's a nice feel good message, especially since 2015 also ushered in so many negative things, like the rise of extremist terrorist groups, the Paris attacks, the ongoing Syria
Education Reform and the Asian Values Debate
Education Reform and the Asian Values Debate: Education Reform and the Asian Values DebateIn Westchester County, a suburb of New York City, tutoring businesses are popping up like mushrooms in the forest after a rain. The Kumon Math and Reading Center near the local elementary school, for instance, promises to “give your child the academic advantage to compete in today’s world.” Unlike the nearby
There Could End Up Being Little Difference Between No Child Left Behind and the ESSA - The Atlantic
There Could End Up Being Little Difference Between No Child Left Behind and the ESSA - The Atlantic: No Child Left Behind Is Gone, But Will It Be Back?The new law could mean it will still be business as usual.For years, there has been talk of leaving the 2002 “No Child Left Behind” law—the first real attempt by the federal government to hold schools accountable for helping all students learn—behin
Mayor Emanuel's political weakness is opportunity for Chicago Teachers Union - Opinion - Crain's Chicago Business
Mayor Emanuel's political weakness is opportunity for Chicago Teachers Union - Opinion - Crain's Chicago Business: Emanuel vs. the teachers union? My money's on the unionMayor Rahm Emanuel is the weakest he has ever been since assuming City Hall. Expect the Chicago Teachers Union to use that weakness against him in the coming months—not just in negotiating a new contract, but also to push for prog
2015's Top Florida Education Stories | Sunshine State News | Florida Political News
2015's Top Florida Education Stories | Sunshine State News | Florida Political News: 2015's Top Florida Education Stories2015 was a year of adjustment -- and readjustment -- for Florida’s education system. It marked the end of the state’s long running standardized test, the FCAT, and was the first full year of the Florida Standards. Here's what made headlines in education this year:Testing, Testin

YESTERDAY

Will @HillaryClinton go all in with us or Wall Street? | Cloaking Inequity
Will @HillaryClinton go all in with us or Wall Street? | Cloaking Inequity: Will @HillaryClinton go all in with us or Wall Street? Are you mad at Secretary Clinton about the “school closure” comments? I get it. You don’t want to be Barack Obama’d on education. We were promised hope and change and thought that would extend to education. Instead Arne Duncan took the reigns from George W. Bush, Rod P
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Was Hillary misquoted? Taken out of context?
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Was Hillary misquoted? Taken out of context?: Was Hillary misquoted? Taken out of context?"I Wouldn’t Keep Any School Open That Wasn’t Doing A Better Than Average Job”Let me start by saying, I don't think Hillary Clinton has either the will or the power to close half of America's schools. But her recent comments still deserve a strong critical response.When I po
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 12/23/15
CORPORATE ED REFORMSchools Matter: Will the Real Hillary Clinton Please Stand Up?Schools Matter: Will the Real Hillary Clinton Please Stand Up?: Will the Real Hillary Clinton Please Stand Up?Hillary Clinton with Eli Broad at the pre-ball dinner hosted by Eli Broadat the Inauguration Ball of Barack Obama on January 20, 2009.Hillary Clinton has caused a major scramble by her supporters after she spo