Ed Notes Extended

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Sunday, August 5, 2012

SOS - Saturday Day 2 - Debbie Meier and Jonathan Kozol


I tried to post this Saturday night but the hotel internet connection wasn't working.

I can listen to Deb Meier all day. (See the one on one interview I did for our next film). Don't forget that a major counterattack against ed deform comes from the blogging between Deb and Diane Ravitch. Diane is a policy person who often tells us she was looking at the schools from a plane looking through a bombsite. Deb was on the ground in classrooms. She didn't need to do academic studies of the schools to know the ed deform movement would fail. Deb is the first teacher to get the MacArthur grant genius award.

After dinner we heard another great presentation from the legendary Jonathan Kozol.
I posted the full videos of these 3 keynotes on ed notes:

@SOS12 Videos: Deb Meier, Jonathan Kozol, Nancy Carlsson-Paige


Below are some tweets from Arthur Goldstein and others on both of Deb and Jonathan in reverse order so you can get a flavor of what they were saying if you can't get to the videos. Arthur does a great job of getting to the essence.


No matter what they do to try to silence me, I will keep on fighting in this struggle with you to my dying day.
 
4h Arthur Goldstein Arthur Goldstein ‏@TeacherArthurG
I like irreverent children. Power of intelligent irreverence is what we need.

4h
When asked to comment on Chick-Fil-A's problems with gay protests, Ronald McDonald simply said, "I'm lovin' it".
Retweeted by
4h
In a real democracy, kids would not have to rely on their charm to get an equal education.

4h
Very small class size, time teacher can give class as result--if good for children of privileged, good for poor.

4h
Is solution really throwing money at it? I say yes. Dump it by helicopter. Bring it myself. Split class sizes by half.

5h
Success for all. didn't work in Bronx, so tried in Chicago, Didn't work there, tried iin LA. SFA didn't work anywhere.

MORE BELOW


5h
Replicate the utilization of alignment. Won't just say copy. Why say utilize? Why not just use it?

5h
School compensated instability by rigid conformity in instruction. Horrible tedious books. Aligned to standards.
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5h
If you hold a child back once, reduces chance of grad. by 50%, twice 90%.
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5h
Student gave Mr. Rogers big kiss, said, "Welcome to MY neighborhood, Mr. Rogers.
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5h
Mr. Rogers didn't ask about test scores. "Why do you have that bump on your cheek?" Important stuff.
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5h
Took Mr. Rogers to school. Teachers recogized him more than students.
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5h
Not too many White kids are going to go to those Black "Leadership Academies."
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5h
Gotta love Jonathan Kozol. Calls KIPP schools Clarence Thomas institutes. They deceive parents with these names.
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5h
How many kids he knew survived testing regime? Some never recovered from damage done to them in early years.
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5h
Didn't start with NCLB. Bush not smart enough to think of this himself.
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5h
Stress defense of children, for whom this legacy must remain intact.
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5h
Most important issue of all--defense of public ed. itself, under fierce attack.
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5h
We're in a real battle, rising tide of protest from teachers will give us more and more support.
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5h
A few dramatic and redemptive policy changes from Obama in weeks ahead might tilt balance in very close election.
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5h
Most of us will vote for Obama, but many who trusted him in 08 may not make it to polls, nor galvanize friends.
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5h
What do we do? Reach out to one another. Cling to one another. We need that sense of solidarity.
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5h
Seeing end of meritocracy in US, if ever was one. Avarice within public system now acceptable,
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5h
According to NYT, ind. schools in richest districts can raise extra million $ a year, not compelled to share.
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5h
Racial segregation worst since 1968. Inequalities bet. poor and very wealthy extreme, even within urban dist.
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5h
Names like "Nobel Academy." Is that where they go to win Nobel Prize?
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5h
If states want waivers, they must increase charters. In this way union-busting in Wisconsin goes national.
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5h
Charters do no better, often great deal worse than public schools they think they can humiliate.
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5h
Claim kids are the same, but in terms of social capital not true-which parents hear about it-can fulfill contracts.
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5h
Charter schools, bombast, slogans, no excuses, "If it is to be, it's up to me." Always stupid rhymes.
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5h
Don't believe corporations can run better schools than real teachers--exceptions those well-funded by foundations.
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5h
When # of ELL students rises, scores go down, states must shut school, fire teachers, principals, give to corporation.
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5h
Numbers on bubble test remain chief criteria hanging over teachers' head like a sword.
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5h
As mild sweetener, state may consider other factors in rating teacher, like opinion of principal, peers,but secondary.
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5h
. wants states to intensify pressure, judging classroom teachers by tests, giving rewards or punishments.
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5h
First 1990 all kids proficient. Clinton made in 2000. Now says states may be exempted from impossible.
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5h
We don't give urban kids what we give children of lawyers, presidents.Make sure they're docile, mechanistic. By 2014. Kozol
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5h
We don't allow criticality, joyfulness, or hilarity for urban kids. No time for moment of simple happiness. Kozol
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5h
No effort made to give urban kids same curriculum we give rest of nation. Only things that can be measured simply.
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5h
GW Bush pushed test and terror, decimated creativity. Schools in state of siege. Kozol
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5h
Long enduring consequences for NCLB. Even more destructive policies from pres. Prez. Kozol
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5h
Langston Hughes banned in all Black school for "not meeting standards" using "street talk." Kozol
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6h
Critical thinking skills Have served me really well. Thankful for teachers, parents who taught me to think! 2/2
Retweeted by
View conversation
7h
Students need a voice, and at some age, more and more of a vote.
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7h
Better we instill a system to help them grow up and be powerful.
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7h
Imagine telling kindergartener you're here because in 16 years you'll be able to make more money.
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7h
If this were my class, I would wake the snoring guy up. Is that democracy?
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7h
Same kids easier in morning than afternoon--when told this, kids suggested having lunch later-lesson in democracy.
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7h
Wonderful thing--no decision irrevocable--through imagination, sharing of wisdom, what we did yesterday we might not do tomorrow.
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7h
. giving funny, lively speech, but guy at my table snoring nonetheless.
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7h
"You should MOSTLY argue in the presence of kids. I want them to hear how you think things thru."
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7h
Very few adults experience democracy, see engagement in discussion and decision making.
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7h
"Children spend those 180 days in the company of adults. Do they ever see who makes the powerful decisions in that group?"
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7h
Office where kids ran through, so they could see and hear adults making decisions, arguing, seeing how we made decisions.
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7h
Why do you have tp take reading test? To go to 2nd grade. Can you stop reading then? No.Have to take tests, 2nd, 3rd grade,
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8h
Why do parents send you to school? Kindergarteners--learn to stand in line, raise hand, share, not talk when teacher talks.
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8h
There was a period businessmen said capitalism was underpinning of democracy. Confirmed for some when USSR collapsed.
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8h
It's a miracle anything resembling democracy has survived and we should be grateful.
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8h
Traditionally, children learned directly from adults around them.
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8h
Children are not living amidst adults, as they did throughout most of human history.
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8h
Thinking about democracy more complicated than thinking about algebra, trig and other things,
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8h
All the contradictions we hope children are not paying attention to...
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8h
There is an enormous, extraordinary number of disenfranchised people.
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8h
If you really started discussing it, you'd realize how undemocratic this thing we call democracy has become.
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8h
Education only institution to promote democracy and public good.
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8h
If you have one bad conference, as a teacher, you're ready to jump out the window.
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8h
My first experience becoming a teacher showed me what it was like to be treated with real disrespect.
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8h
We used to, from right to left, praise democracy and public ed. Was a connection.
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8h
Of course, if you're dead, whether or not there is democracy may not matter to you.
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8h
Pacifists have different sense of going to war, but there are things that merit it, like democracy.
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8h
Never stopped teaching kindergarten, just taught it for 6,7,8,...18 year olds.
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Why do parents send you to school? Kindergarteners--learn to stand in line, raise hand, share, not talk when teacher talks.
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1m
"Children pick up these clues about what they value."
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2m
"If everyone could do what they want, they would likely continue doing what they're doing."
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4m
We couldn't cover fall of USSR because of Regents exams.
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4m
"There was a time where we were told we can't have democracy without free markets."
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4m
Lynn Stoddard: Better than Common Core
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4m
There was a period businessmen said capitalism was underpinning of democracy. Confirmed for some when USSR collapsed.
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5m
It's a miracle anything resembling democracy has survived and we should be grateful.
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"We're more touchy about preparing children for democracy, than we are for preparing them for sex!"
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1m
Traditionally, children learned directly from adults around them.
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1m
Children are not living amidst adults, as they did throughout most of human history.
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2m
"They knew who was a powerful person in the community & who wasn't. None of that is true today."
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3m
"You think of all the falsehoods --- democracy is more complicated than that."
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3m
Thinking about democracy more complicated than thinking about algebra, trig and other things,
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4m
All the contradictions we hope children are not paying attention to...
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4m
Holy crap, if you aren't following u oughta. Are you ready to fight for democracy?
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5m
There is an enormous, extraordinary number of disenfranchised people.
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5m
"What the ethos was around it... Democracy... if you ever start discussing it, you'd realize how undemocratic it is."
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6m
If you really started discussing it, you'd realize how undemocratic this thing we call democracy has become.
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7m
with respect - this is something of a "pollyanna" attitude, given intent/history of creation of public ed
View conversation
8m
"Democracy just becomes a phrase."
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10m
this statement is denial of actual history of establishment of public education - it was never intended to democratise
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10m
Education only institution to promote democracy and public good.
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10m
listen to the reading of excerpts from early public ed creators - NOT AT ALL ABOUT DEMOCRACY:
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11m
"I realized they were frightened of these kids. It wasn't ALL race, but it was..."
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11m
Deb Meier throwing humorous quips and stories at the keynote crowd
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12m
"Everything about the climate treated me just a step above the way the kids were treated."
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13m
If you have one bad conference, as a teacher, you're ready to jump out the window.
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14m
High light of my birthday week. Deb Meier enjoyed my session at I am so honored.
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14m
"By the time I started teaching, my only experience in schools were in schools of privilege."
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14m
My first experience becoming a teacher showed me what it was like to be treated with real disrespect.
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16m
"At no point in our history did it make sense that schools weren't for democratic purposes."
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17m
We used to, from right to left, praise democracy and public ed. Was a connection.
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18m
"We've all heard if we want democracy, we have to go to war. There are some things worth losing your life over, democracy is one."
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18m
Of course, if you're dead, whether or not there is democracy may not matter to you.
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19m
Pacifists have different sense of going to war, but there are things that merit it, like democracy.
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20m
"I realized I was out of anecdotes so I went back to school."
View photo
20m
Deb Meier keynote: Ed Wk reporter asked why 8000 last yr and 150 this. Mike Klonsky said: next yr we're hoping for 10.
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21m
Listening to Deborah Meier. Democracy and Education. So wise and real. I want more schools like her Mission Hills
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22m
"Finished paper for SOS Early Childhood & didn't even receive any criticism."
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23m
Never stopped teaching kindergarten, just taught it for 6,7,8,...18 year olds.
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25m
"If your purpose is to decide on how an organization, this is the right size group!@
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26m
"I want to tell you how happy I've been these last few days."
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27m
"if you can afford to"? You CANT AFFORD not to...
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28m
has been an educator, teacher for 49 years... Says "Do what makes you happy." [if you can afford to do it]
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28m Arthur Goldstein Arthur Goldstein ‏@TeacherArthurG
Advice--Do what makes you happy--if you can afford to.

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The opinions expressed on EdNotesOnline are solely those of Norm Scott and are not to be taken as official positions (though Unity Caucus/New Action slugs will try to paint them that way) of any of the groups or organizations Norm works with: ICE, GEM, MORE, Change the Stakes, NYCORE, FIRST Lego League NYC, Rockaway Theatre Co., Active Aging, The Wave, Aliens on Earth, etc.

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