High stakes testing - John Merrow -- a sign the media is turning on the ed deformers

Because I spent three years chronicling the tenure of Michelle Rhee in Washington, DC – another city with a spate of thus-far-unexplained 'wrong to right' erasures on standardized tests — I am interested in this story. ---- John Merrow


There was a time not long ago when Merrow seemed to go along with all the sins of ed deform. Then he started talking to teachers.
Here he realizes that it is not about the physical act of cheating - which until the heat got turned up the people running school systems winked at - as did many principals -- and many still do.

But the focus on phys cheating when your job is threatened puts the teachers under the gun. "If you may take my job anyway if I don't cheat what's the worst that could happen if I do?"

As Merrow is beginning to realize it is the collateral effects of high stakes testing that is the root.

Merrow was full of praise for Rhee and Vallas in New Orleans.
Now the late returns are coming in.


A Trifecta Of Sins

A comprehensive report in late March by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution provides strong evidence that adults in as many as 200 school systems have been cheating on their students' standardized tests.

We looked at this for NewsHour in 2011:

Because I spent three years chronicling the tenure of Michelle Rhee in Washington, DC – another city with a spate of thus-far-unexplained 'wrong to right' erasures on standardized tests — I am interested in this story. I'd like to know if anyone cheated in the DC schools. If so, who and why?

But a teacher I correspond with occasionally brought me up short recently. My focus on actual, literal cheating — physically changing answers or giving kids answers in advance — is too narrow, this teacher wrote.

More at: http://takingnote.learningmatters.tv/?p=5681

------
On way to 3020a hearing. If possible will post and tweet from there.

Wild Day: Deb Meier, Meeting Nancy Carlson Paige, A 3020a Hearing, Hanging With Peter Pan

Yesterday is so far away but I've got to get it all down before it fades.

We started working on our new film, working title, "High Stakes Testing: The Inconvenient Truth" and I had to race into the city early in order to catch up with one of my heroes, Deb Meier for an interview. I won't give you the entire history but I tried an open classroom for parts of 2 years (1970-72) and it was somewhat of a disaster. I heard of an amazing teacher who was doing wonderful work and always wanted to meet her but didn't actually do that until about 5 years ago. Deb's blogging with Diane Ravitch, two people who at one time were coming at things from opposite directions, has given vitality to the battle against ed deformers and their influence has made them giants. Talk to Deb and you get a wonderful sensibility about children and how they learn. Deb's latest post to Diane is: 'Soft Science' & Less Certainty

Deb was in town for the day for a meeting at a CUNY building on 31st St. We had to find a spot for the interview and it was so noisy we went up the meeting to look for a space. The first person to greet us was Nancy Carlson Paige, a noted educator battling ed deform, who got some great publicity when she and brought her son Matt Damon to SOS in Washington last July. Deb introduced me to her as one of the people who made TITBWFS and I was walking on air the rest of the day after Nancy started telling people how much she liked it. I called Julie afterwards to tell her. Her response: "you should have gotten an interview with Nancy." I thought of it but she was anxious to get the meeting going and I'm just too shy to ask but having her in our film would have been great.

As the mother of a major actor, she did give my flimsy equipment a look but Deb and I found an office for the 10 minute interview. Just listening to her energizes me. Here is the link: http://youtu.be/owi2SKa4EA. 

Or watch it here.



I may have an interview with Diane Ravitch next week. Now all I have to do is lure Susan Ohanian away from Vermont.

 
3020a
After that I headed over to B&H for some fun shopping and I blew a load. My wife was meeting me at 2PM for a matinee and I had a few hours so I headed downtown for the first day of a 3020a hearing (I'm heading  back today.) It is absolutely astounding to attend one of these where the teacher is clearly an excellent teacher by every possible judgement but is being persecuted for a statement in facebook. Whether that was good or bad judgement, the DOE lawyer objected to every possible piece of evidence that show what a good teacher she is by saying, "Irrelevant. We are only interested in the facebook incident." Proof that the DOE is willing to waste thousands of dollars to fire what even they would acknowledge is a good teacher. Another wrinkle is that she is African-American and the 3rd African-American woman the principal has gone after: the real civil rights issue of our time.

The room was packed with supporters and even students who supported the teacher, including Christine Rubio who was fired for facebook comments but won her case in court.
You can read more about the case at The Assailed Teacher: The Joke of 3020a
"The process has become so biased that real courts of law are overturning more 3020a decisions than ever before. It happened in the case of Christine Rubino, whose case Betsy Combier describes in her latest post." Betsy is always there for people and has a lot of fans.

I fear that the persecution of teachers will lead to the loss of people like Assailed Teacher: read the collateral damage in this post: Teacher in Crisis.

I have notes and will try to do a longer piece tonight.

---------
The lunch break came just in time for me to make the matinee "Peter and the Star Catcher" an absolutely hysterical prequel to Peter Pan. The best line from the future Captain Hook: You made your bed, Pan.

Then is was off to 5Napkin Burger on 9th Ave (I needed 6 napkins to coral that burger.) After dinner I had the option to head over to CUNY for the Change the Stakes meeting where parents are discussing opting out of the test: check the great GEM blog that covers this issue.
Change the Stakes | Take a Stand Against High Stakes Testing: Our Children Are More Than Test Scores!

But this old guy had enough for the day.

Is There a Tweed Bounty on ATRs? 63 Year Old Female ATR Accused of Corporal Punishment - in Brooklyn Vocational HS

This one is almost funny if it weren't so tragic.

I won't name names or schools, but this high school is almost all male. And not focused on college. So here comes this 63 year old female ATR in classes difficult to control and SHE gets charged with corporal punishment. She has to attend a meeting to see what's what Thursday. Think she a target of administrators?

What if the DOE channels the New Orleans Saints and offers principals a bounty for every ATR they can bump off, with double bonuses if they can get them to retire before having to go through a hearing?

Fred Rubino Arrangements

Check out the CECDist14 web site for more pics and writings and music from Fred:
www.cecdistrict14.com

Subj: FW: Mr. Rubino 4/2/2012

PLEASE SHARE FAR AND WIDE SO FOLKS CAN  WE PAY THEIR  RESPECTS TO OUR BROTHER FORTUNATO "FRED" RUBINO.  HE WAS TRULY THE BEST OF US ALL...


OUR THANKS TO YOU ALL.


EVERGREEN FUNERAL HOME INC. 131 NASSAU AVE. BROOKLYN NY. 11222

THE TIMES OF VIEWING ARE :



WEDNESDAY APRIL 4TH. 2:00 PM. TO 5:00 PM -- 7:00 PM TO 9:00 PM.

THURSDAY     APRIL 5TH. 2:00 PM  TO 5:00 PM  --7:00 PM  TO 9:00 PM.

FRIDAY FUNERAL MASS 9:30 AM. AT ST.CECILIA R.C. CHURCH

FOLLOWING CREMATION AT ST. MICHAEL'S CEMETERY.



For more information please check out our Website:       www.cecdistrict14.com

In lieu of flowers

The family would appreciate any donations

Be given to the following;

In Memory of the late

Fortunato (Fred) Rubino

Rachel Cooper Foundation

66-15 Thornton Pl.

 Rego Park NY. 11374

Faith in the Future

P.O. Box 780188

Maspeth NY. 11378

I.S. 318 Chess Club

101 Walton Street

Brooklyn, NY. 11206

There's Gold in Them Thar Common Core Hills

Common Core scam:

David Coleman made over $76,000 by NY State Ed over a 5 month period. What did he get from NYCDOE?

UPDATE, 4/6/12: Cuomo, Common Core and Pearson-for-Profit

Just about every ed deform idea can be traced to a bundle being made by someone – the modern version of the public dole.

David Coleman is the Common Core guru -- remember when ODOE did a mic check (see video) to Walcott in Oct.? That was Coleman with him there to explain to parents what CC is but leave out how much moola he was taking home. Google him for more.

From: NYSED FOIL <FOIL@mail.nysed.gov>
Date: Tue, Apr 3, 2012 at 1:35 PM
Subject: Re: FOIL request
To: Carol Burris <burriscarol@gmail.com>

Dear Ms. Burris

          This email is in response to your Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request regarding payments made to David Coleman and Student Achievement Partners. From April through August 2011, David Coleman has been paid $76,472.30.

Carol Burris if you don't know is one of the Long Island principals leading the resurrection against the data munchers. She will be a guest at the Grassroots Education Movement (NYC) event:

Teacher Evaluation Nightmare! Forum – Tuesday, April 17 at 5:30 PM. Joined by Arthur Goldstein (Francis Lewis HS CL), Gary Rubinstein and Leonie Haimson.  

Leonie reports:
Also today it was announced that NYSED Awards $13M Contracts for Development of Common Core ELA & Math Curricula - http://goo.gl/Z1bLi.

More windfalls to come.  That means there are FOIL requests out to the NYCDOE to find out how much they have given Coleman -- and others.

Need I remind you that not only Tweed is pushing Common Core but so is the UFT/AFT.

Read a post I put up re CC from a teacher who pointed out the hypocrisy (and idiocy).
NYC Teacher Unpacks Common Core vs. 50 Banned Word...


But on the other hand ---- about time the UFT used it's muscle on the outright breaking of the law by the DOE when it comes to FOIL.

Union Sues City Education Department to Obtain E-mails

April 3, 2012, 5:47 p.m.
By Beth Fertig
The United Federation of Teachers filed suit in state Supreme Court on Tuesday to force the Department of Education to hand over copies of official e-mails that it has been requesting since May 2010.
The union wants to see e-mails between various city officials and education groups regarding proposals to phase-out failing schools and to open new charter schools. The suit accuses the city of violating the state’s Freedom of Information Law by repeatedly saying it needs more time, calling that a “constructive denial” of the requests for information.
The union’s president, Michael Mulgrew, issued a statement noting that Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg “rushed” at the chance to release teacher ratings to the media with the names of individual teachers.
MORE  - http://goo.gl/BGRMj

Fred (Rubino) and Frank (Freeman)

One sad story about Fred Rubino (A Giant is Lost) is nagging at me and I'd like to get it out.

I first heard of Fred Rubino from Frank Freeman, one of his best friends from when they both began teaching at IS 318.  I got to know Frank through my old pal Bob Baratto from Another View (the first political group I worked with) when we all car-pooled together from Rockaway (my school was about a half mike away).

Bob taught at IS 318, along with many others in Another View --- really IS 318 was a sort of radical hotbed in the early 70's with Lew Friedman and Bob Norman, along with a liberal ex-priest named Tom. They had some real support in the school. And a sort of warfare broke out there -- Howie Tames was also at that school along with future principal Al Fierstein, both of whom were part of UFT kingpin Mario De Stefano's crew, who introduced himself to me in 1970 with these words: "I'm going to kick your ass." So you can see things were a bit rough. But I digress (Another View in relation to IS 318 deserves a separate post.)

Back to Frank Freeman and Fred Rubino. I believe they either co-taught special ed or started together and were real pals. I know Frank use the words "me and Fred" very often. They were both kids -- early 20's.

Frank was born and bred in Rockaway and ended up teaching at IS 318 I believe due to the fact his dad was a teacher at another middle school in District 14. Frank was a real athlete --- you know those Rockaway guys are born swimmers. At one point Frank did triathlons.

Well, at some point --- maybe mid to late 80's, Frank had some problems with Fierstein who had become principal and one thing led to another, he left the school with some bitterness towards all, even Fred. They never spoke after that as far as I know.

Frank went on to teach at Midwood HS. We used the same gym so I saw him around. He was a tall, gangly guy, very strong and lithe. As I said -- an athlete. My memory is vague as to dates but at one point Frank told me he was taking a sabbatical to go to Thailand. Six months later he was back but told me he was leaving to move there permanently.

And he did. A few years later --- maybe 2 or 3, the awful news came that Frank had died. From what, it was not clear. The family was told it was a heart attack. Really hard to believe given his athleticism. But who knows? Frank was 37 years old.

A few years ago I mentioned Frank to Fred. He got a real sad look on his face. "One of the big regrets in my life was what happened with Frank," Fred said. He indicated that there was some contact at some point but I am not sure of that. But he seemed sure that if Frank hadn't died so young they would have become friends again.

For an atheist to say the following is blasphemy:  but if you are a true believer, believe that that friendship is being renewed again.

-------
Previous Ed Notes on IS 318: Ed Notes Online: In Defense of IS 318

Parents Call for Moratorium on Charter Applications in District 2

Hey, we know CECs are basically powerless but they are expressions of where communities stand. The mostly affluent District 2 in Manhattan is being invaded by charters that are being forced into an already overcrowded district. Those who don't know that there is a corporate game being played under the neo-liberal agenda, just can't fathom the policies of the DOE in undermining the fabric of the public school system. As CEC3 leader Noah Gotbaum asks in our film, "Why is it that the NYCDOE which is supposed to manage our schools refrains from accepting any responibility or accountability for running them."

From CEC 2 President Shino Tanikawa:

At the March calendar meeting, the CECD2 passed the following resolution.

We passed four others:
1) against charter co-location (a renewal of an old reso),
2) against the turnaround proposals for school improvement,
3) for creating a construction fund tied to residential development, and
4) for amending the State law to give CECs authority to approve proposals on school closures, co-locations and grade truncations.

I hope to re-affirm the two resos we passed on the use of test scores at the next meeting.

RESOLUTION #58
Moratorium on Charter Applications in District 2

WHEREAS, charter schools were originally intended as pedagogical laboratories for innovation in teaching to better meet the needs of all our students, but particularly those at-risk, and to improve District schools by collaborating with District schools and sharing best practices with District schools;

WHEREAS, many charter schools in the City today are not pedagogical laboratories for educational innovation, do not serve students at-risk, and neither collaborate nor share best practices with District schools;

WHEREAS, some charter schools have discharged struggling students to improve school-wide test scores;

WHEREAS, many charter schools compete against District schools for per-student funding and school facilities and have created tension in the very community they serve and have even pitted parents against parents;

WHEREAS, according to the NY State Education Department, the educational needs in District 2, which was designated as a District in Need of Improvement (DINI), are 1) improving progress made by Special Education students in elementary and middle schools and 2) improving struggling high schools;

WHEREAS, the applications submitted by Success Charter Network and the Great Oaks Foundation do not address the educational needs in District 2;

WHEREAS, resources available to students in District 2 should be used to address the educational needs in District 2, rather than to create more school choice for students not at risk;

WHEREAS, families in District 2 have good options for their children’s education through their zoned or district wide option schools or Gifted & Talented programs for elementary school and through the middle school choice program;

WHEREAS, it is not clear if families in District 2 desire more options in the form of charter schools;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Community Education Council District 2 urges the SUNY Charter Institute and the NY State Education Department to institute a moratorium on charter school applications in District 2 unless proposed charter schools directly serve at risk students or until educational and community needs for charter schools are assessed and articulated by families, educators, advocates and students in District 2;

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the CECD2 rejects the applications made by Success Charter Network and Great Oaks Foundation.

Approved and adopted by CECD2 on March 28, 2012

 =====
AFTERBURN: Families for Excellent Schools

New Astroturf org to create parent charter lobby.

A look at another player in the GAME: "Families for Excellent Schools"

The mission of Families for Excellent Schools is to mobilize public charter school families in support of aggressive education reform. 

We are a fast growing non- profit and advocacy organization that partners with over 50 high performing charter schools in New York City, Connecticut and Newark, New Jersey to train parents to participate and lead grassroots advocacy in their communities and with elected officials. We believe that the ability of parents to advocate and promote the schools’ their children attend is more important than ever. Families for Excellent Schools believes that coordinated parent voices are crucial to ensuring that all children have access to a high quality education. We turn out families for important events, we help parents to meet with elected officials and high profile community leaders, and train the most committed parents to lead these efforts on behalf of their schools. Additionally, we will be leading efforts in a massive Get Out the Vote campaign to register and educate charter school families and supporters on the power of voting for pro-charter school elected officials.

Their website: http://www.50can.org/who-we-are

-- 

Save the 33 - Closing Hearings Galore With More to Come -- No One is Safe

UPDATE: Gotham tweeting from turnaround hearings at Lehman and Grover Cleveland high schools. (GS Twitter).

Plus 7 schools removed - Save the 33 26

This Monday night, April 2nd, I will be going to the closing hearing at Grover Cleveland High School at 6 PM. If anyone wishes to join me and lend support to our brother and sister UFT members there, let me know. Bloomberg is planning to close 8 Queens schools, including Cleveland, Bryant, LIC, Richmond Hill, John Adams, Newtown, and nearby Flushing. Do you remember this poem, attributed to pastor Martin Niemöller?

First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

Arthur Goldstein, CL, Francis Lewis HS

A bunch of the PLA schools have been meeting and are organizing a protest on April 19 at Tweed. It all may be fruitless but to just give up seems untenable. Arthur really nails what's going on. All too  many teachers are still oblivious thinking , "not me." But one day it just may be you.

As a matter of fact, I saw a bunch of eastern Queens schools mentioned in an email this morning indicating that the DOE was beginning to force kids into these schools from the closing schools to turn them into dominoes while the difficult kids will be funneled out of the closing schools to make it appear the turn around policy is working once they open new schools in their buildings and dump out a bunch of teachers while pretending they are keeping the same kids instead of creaming. Of course once they close all of the big high schools they will run out of room to roam, but Bloomberg will be gone by then, leaving a vast wasteland in his wake.

See AFTERBURN for this important email, which deserves a special post of its own but the traffic coming in is so high I can't keep bombarding you with these posts.

Lehman and Cleveland hearings tonight.

CL Anne Looser has been doing a great job over at Lehman and tonight things should be spirited. An 11th grader wrote a strong piece at Ed Vox. Expect some great video from this hearing.

Cleveland had a few articles in local press:

http://www.glendaleregister.com/view/full_story/18033963/article-Grover-Cleveland-gears-up-for-hearing-?instance=home_news_right

http://www.qchron.com/editions/central/doe-exec-says-firings-not-certain/article_83c933ef-b94a-5bd6-bc28-065288bb2af6.html

And these letters from CL Brian Gavin:

My Colleagues:

The rally sponsored by community groups under the aegis of Committee for Educational Justice  and Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan will take place at 5 pm (EARLIER FLIERS SAID 4 PM, THIS WAS AN ERROR).  I have been emailing back and forth between the UFT and CEJ re: this event.   I know you all have many responsibilities, including some of you running home to tend your families, grab a bite, and run right back to school, after the extended day meetings, but if you can I think it is important that we have a presence there as well.  Please let me know if you can attend, either from the start or towards 5:30. Remember, sign up for speaking starts at 5:30, concludes at 6:15. 

Thank You,

Brian

My Colleagues:

Some useful information, but most importantly note the appeal for teachers to attend the Joint Public Hearing at Grover Cleveland.  The Chapter Leader will be here; Richmond Hill will have at least 5 people there, I expect others to check in with me over the weekend.   

TO THE FEW GCHS STAFF WHO HAVE SOMETHING BETTER TO DO MONDAY:

DOES IT SEEM RIGHT THAT TEACHERS FROM OTHER SCHOOLS, WITH NO OTHER AFFILIATION WITH US OTHER THAN BEING FELLOW UFT MEMBERS, CARE MORE ABOUT YOUR COLLEAGUES THAN YOU DO? 

By not going, you are raising the middle finger to everyone at the school and all the kids; indeed, the entire community. 

DO YOU REALLY THINK WE ARE NOT GOING TO NOTICE?

DO YOU REALLY THINK WE ARE GOING TO FORGET?

THERE IS AN AWFUL LONG TIME BETWEEN NOW AND JULY.

AND IF THE SCHOOL DOES NOT CLOSE? ...

A very long time to be in a workplace where everyone knows how you feel about them, and where you have shown them that they are not worth a few hours of your time, to stand in solidarity with them, because they are your friends, your colleagues, indeed, your Union brothers and sisters.  Even if they say nothing to you, when they look at you - you will know what they are thinking and how well they esteem your presence. 

I'm not talking about people who are tending to the sick, are ill themselves, are working two jobs and can't call in sick because, well, that would be lying and you could be fired.  And other similar dire situations.

I'm talking about those who feel it's useless anyway so they are going home to watch the Big Bang Theory.  Please come.  Your attendance says to me that I have meant something to you as a colleague. 

I'm talking to those who are self absorbed and can't be bothered because it's a long day.  It is in your interest to attend, your attendance makes a powerful statement to people that you will need at some point;  your non-attendance also makes a powerful statement to those very individuals. 

I KNOW YOU ARE BURNT, I KNOW YOU ARE DONE.  ME TOO.  I'M EMAILING YOU AT 930 ON A SAT. MORNING, YOU THINK I DON'T GET IT? 

I'm not giving up.

See ALL of you on Monday. 

Brian

AFTERBURN

At the Queens High School Presidents' Council on March 12th, I spoke with Chancellor Walcott concerning his Office of Student Enrollment which threatens Francis Lewis, Cardozo, Forest Hills and Bayside high schools. Although promised a follow-up, after several attempts, nothing has been received and your help is needed to stop the DOE from carrying out what will be disastrous for these great schools.

Being the PTA Co-President of Bayside High School and a School Leadership Team (SLT) member, my comments are focused but are pertinent to each of these great schools. I am also a resident of Bayside, so my interest extends well beyond just my own child.

Using Bayside as an example, the school received 13,244 applications from 7,900 individual students for 2012-13. Note the school is currently at 158% of capacity. Our SLT committee ranked 54% of the applications for the 510 seats including over 200 special education students. It was a lot of work to do this fairly.

OSE sent offers to only 11.6% of the students that we ranked in any program. They then sent offers to an additional 155 students we never ranked- including 88 offers for our zoned program to students who don't even live in the zone! They were holding seats for their own purpose.

This is one major reason why this community wants this zoned program to end this kind of abuse by the DOE.

Now the DOE is running a second round of applications in which it actively solicited 1700 more applications from students not living in the zone to come to Bayside. Almost all of these 1700 are zoned for the schools the Mayor has decided to close: Flushing, Bryant, Adams, Richmond Hill, Jamaica, Long Island City, and Newtown as well as from Bowne and Van Buren. Parents are running from these schools in droves and threaten to overwhelm Cardozo, Bayside, Francis Lewis and Forest Hills in the process.

The students forced-placed by OSE last year who did not choose programs in schools are now underperforming their peers.

This forced placement of students who did not choose a school goes against the ideal of school choice and makes a joke out of the ranking process and leads to issues that trigger school closure. This is not the first year the DOE has resorted to this forced placement.

The Chancellor must instruct his Office of Student Enrollment to respect the rankings of students that schools strive to perform completely and fairly and must stop the misleading use of schools' zoned programs as places to push students from out of zone.

Respectfully,

David L. Solano

Bayside High School PTA Co-President & SLT Member

Queens H.S. Presidents Council Rep to D-26 DLT

CB 11 Education Committee

Queens BP's Parent Advisory Board

April 2, 2012 - A Giant is Lost: Fortunato (Fred) Rubino

UPDATE: Previous Ed Notes on IS 318: Ed Notes Online: In Defense of IS 318

Fred Rubino -- captured from video at Success Charter Hearing, April 2011

I am truly saddened to inform you all of the passing of our Superintendent and brother Fortunato  "Fred" Rubino.   Freddy was truly THE BEST our city has to offer! ----- Email sent to District 14 principals, April 2, 2012

I received the call early this morning from a teacher at IS 318 with the news that former principal and current District 14 Superintendent Fred Rubino had died of a heart attack early this morning. Shock waves are reverberating throughout the Williamsburg/Greenpoint community and beyond.

Why do I feel like I did the day John Lennon died?

I knew Fred more by reputation than personally since his early days as a teacher at IS 318 in the 80's but got to chat with him in later years when he was an AP and then principal. Fred had been offered numerous principal jobs and often was pulled from the school for months at a time to help fix schools in trouble. But he was loyal to the school and waited years for his mentor Al Fierstein to retire before taking the principal job.

When District 14 Supt James Quail retired 6 weeks ago, Fred was appointed as Superintendent --- as a matter of fact on Feb. 16 the night of the 2nd co-location hearing at MS 50. People in the district were so relieved that Fred was appointed and would be able to offer the district some cover from the attacks of the privatizers.

A major going away party was thrown for Fred by the IS 318/District 14 community. I am now kicking myself for not going to honor him.

Fred was a behind the scenes voice opposing ed deform. We have lost possibly the only Superintendent in the NYC schools who would have been willing to defend us against the onslaught of the privatizers. He was opposed to co-locations and to the closing of schools.

We not only lost a great guy, a wonderful family man and one of the more decent people but also a great educator and a warrior on the right side of the ed wars fence.

IS 318 was a school in great demand because of the array of programs the kids were offered. The chess team won the national championship beating out even the top private schools. A film about the team was premiered at the SXSW Film Festival, a very big thing. Here's the site: http://www.brooklyncastle.com/ and an article: Greenpoint Gazette:Chess-in-the-Schools: Brooklyn IS 318 National Champs

The school not only has chess, but robotics, sewing, yoga and more. One of my friends who was attacked over her low TDA in fact teaches these special programs full-time.

When slime bags from the Daily News went after the school and Fred a few weeks ago for the fact that IS 318 doesn't score as high as others and has a higher % of teachers with low TDAs, they naturally ignored reality.

Whereas most schools would never have extensive programs like yoga and sewing and robotics but use the time for test prep, IS 318 is into educating the entire child. Which is why it is so popular among the parents in the district.

Is it a surprise that the press would attack an outspoken principal who defends teacher union rights as this Gotham Schools piece from last March points out?

1. With tenure decisions under scrutiny, a principal tapes his own .

   gothamschools.org/.../with-tenure-decisions-under-scrutiny-a-princip...

   Mar 21, 2011 – Last year, when Fortunato Rubino, the principal of a high-performing Williamsburg middle school, wanted to grant tenure to one of his teachers, ...

I looked for some video of Fred. Here is a very brief clip of Fred challenging Success public relations flack Jennie Sedlis at a co-location hearing when she claimed they had 1400 signatures --- very brief at 3:17-20 of this video I caught him calling out:




You can also see Fred applauding Brian De Vale when Brian tried to present Cathie Black with a teddy bear at her Dist 14 appearance in Feb. 2011: at 6:27 of this video: http://youtu.be/ibwyGXD3CI4. 

I grabbed a still of Fred applauding with delight.

I have a 30 minute clip where Fred challenged Tweedies at the same meeting at the 28 minute mark where he questions whether Tweed listens to the community and asks the CEC if they are ever listened to. https://vimeo.com/21717003


It turns out that my yoga teacher is best friends with Fred's sister-in-law. She was equally shocked when I told her this morning. "Every one of the people in that family were known for giving so much to people. Whatever someone needed they were there for them," she told me this morning. His sister-in-law who I know always spoke of Fred with reverence. He always went beyond the call of duty.

At a recent meeting, Fred came over and whispered, "Norm, you're ruining me. I  waste an hour a day reading your blog with all the links. Keep 'em coming."

I will Fred.

We have not only lost a great man but warrior in the battle for public education.


Follow-up stories:

Fred (Rubino) and Frank (Freeman)

Assailed Teacher didn't know Fred at all but writes a moving tribute:

Fortunato Rubino: Profile of the Possible


 

Trayvon Discussion at Family Event

An interesting discussion that may be indicative of the kinds of discussions going on all over. But note that the neutral party who had not heard of the case if only getting the FOX Facts without counter arguments might have gone the other way.

Location: Family birthday party for one year old. Many people of all ages attend.

Players:

• Conservative right winger (RW): 60 yrs old
• YGen, 30 years old, with no interest in politics who doesn't follow news but who often sides with the right/pro business point of view. No knowledge of Trayvon Martin case.
• Left winger, late 60s.

RW: Explains case to YGen using FOX Facts: Trayvon attacked Zimmerman, was suspended 3 times for drug possession. Jumped Zimmerman who had nose broken and blood on head. An eyewitness has come forward to corroborate Zimmerman.

RW sympathetic to Zimmerman. Using FOX Facts.

LW: Terms RW account as FOX Facts. Explains to YGEN chronology of event from Zimmerman phone call through Trayvon call to friend that he was being followed who told him to run but he said he wouldn't. Also that video of Zimmerman going to police station showed no marks on him.

RW: Kid was suspended for drugs -- 3 times.

LW: "Drug" was Marijuana -- turns to GENY -- a noted offiicianado of the use of that substance ---what would have happened to you?

GENY: In my day (over a decade before) I would have been suspended every day. They are going crazy now with these inspections. Totally unfair to students.
"Was the kid on the guy's private property?"

RW: No

LW: Even if Trayvon attacked what about his self-defense when being followed?

GENY: He had no right to confront the kid--- he is responsible no matter what happened between them. Case closed.

Discussion ends. 

April Fool No Joke: Tier 4 Pension Last Calls

The best the UFT could do on this middle of the night assault by the NY State Legislature on pensions by creating a Tier 6 was to tell people to get themselves into the system by today, April Fools. There were long lines.


Of course, as the ed deformers execute their plan they don't really expect many teachers to spend enough years to get a pension.
Pics and comments from a former NYC teacher.
Pension comparison by Loretta Prisco (Independent Community of Educators).

Teacher Comment:
The future public sector workers in NY are going to be screwed as of today, April 1 (oh, I wonder if Albany is giving us a bad April's Fools Joke).

Anyway, the pictures are depressing. So many people were lined up at 65 Court Street waiting to enroll with BERS (board of education retirement system, for those who do not know what it stands for).

Comparison of Tier 4/6

Credited Service

Tier IV

1.67% per year for those with less than 20 years of credited service

2% per year of service for those with 20 to 30 years of credited service

1.5% per year of service for each year of credited service beyond 30 years

Tier VI

1.67% per year for those with less than 20 years of credited service

For those with 20 or more years of credited service, 35% for the first 20 years plus 2% for each year of credited service in excess of 20 years

Full Retirement

Tier IV – age 57

Tier VI – age 63

Vest after

Tier IV – 5 years

Tier VI – 10 years

 

Contributions

Tier IV                                           Tier VI

4.85% for 10 years                         No contribution cutoff

                                                      Salary up to $45,000 – 3%

                                                      Salary $45,001 to $55,000 – 3.5%

                                                      Salary $55,001 to $75,000 – 4.5%

                                                      Salary $75,001 to $100,000 – 5.75%

                                                      Salary greater than $100,000 – 6%

 

Final Annual Salary (FAS)

Tier IV

Average of 3 consecutive years but the average in one year can’t exceed the average of the other two years by more than 10%

Tier VI

Average of wages earned during any continuous period of employment for which the member was credited with 5 years of credited service. However, wages earned during any year used cannot exceed the average of the previous four years by more than 10%  

NYC Teacher Unpacks Common Core vs. 50 Banned Words

When the DOE banned 50 words were they channeling George Carlin's - 7 dirty words you can't say? 

I was asked to post this from a teacher I know who I'm keeping anonymous because of being out front on criticizing the DOE on TDAs. (No need to give the DOE any ammo.) Here is a contrast between the banned words and some gruesome stuff in the common core which is being pushed by the ed deformers and the AFT/UFT like some drug. Really, when you think of drug pushers how much difference is there?

Common Core Excerpts: Appropriate or shocking?

by Anonymous

While the NYCDOE is busy banning words under the guise of "sensitivity," they are simultaneously expecting 8th graders to read about identifying the bodies of women who have been raped, murdered and disfigured.

Disconnect?  You decide.

-----

A recent piece on CBS news disclosed that the NYCDOE has requested 50 words not be included on standardized tests.  Banned words include:  birthday, divorce, Halloweeen, homelessness, homes with swimming pools, poverty, slavery and nuclear weapons.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/03/26/war-on-words-nyc-dept-of-education-wants-50-forbidden-words-removed-from-standardized-tests/

Meanwhile on the other end of the spectrum.....

NYC teachers have been instructed to "unpack the Common Core".  This year, ELA and math teachers are supposed to administer performance tasks to their students. 

If you download the 8th grade ELA "bundle" from the DOE website, you will see that teachers have been instructed to investigate forensics.   It reads in part, 

http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/05F0FE33-6EDA-4CBB-8610-E9ADF016F009/0/NYCDOEG8LiteracyForensicAnthropology_Final.pdf.    

      You are a forensic anthropologist. You are taking your dog for a walk, and he breaks free and sprints down the block. When you catch up with him, you find him digging in the dirt. Your dog pulls out what looks like a bone. Upon further investigation, you realize your dog has discovered the remains of a human body. As a forensic anthropologist, you must identify the body. What steps will you take and with whom will you consult?

       Write an informative/explanatory essay in which you explain the steps you will take and the people you will consult. In your text, be sure to:

• Explain at least three steps you will take (after calling the police to report the body) and write reasons for these steps. In other words, explain: why will you take these steps and why take them in this order?
• Explain who you will consult and write your reasons for consulting these people.

Use textual evidence from two of the four texts. The texts you should use are ones we've read previously. They include:

• "What is Forensic Anthropology?" by R.U. Steinberg
• "Dead Men Talking: Solving Crime Through Science" by David Kohn
• "Identifying the Victim" by Angela Libal
• "Giving Faces to the Lost" by Angel Libal

On p. 40 of this document which provides an example of what a student who scores a 4 should be writing, it says the following:

In the case of Mwivano, whose face had been cut off after being raped and murdered by her cousin, a forensic anthropologist and artist used her skull to reconstruct a model of her face (i.e., facial reconstruction).

The book "Giving Faces to the Lost," which is supposed to be read during this unit, contains a case study of two boys who found a bag containing "the decomposing remains" of a young woman who had "...been cut into pieces with the skin of the face removed."  Later it reads, "Since the skull contained crucial evidence - the marks of the knife the murderer had used to cut off the victim's face - a copy of the skull was made with computer scans and lasers."

http://ewittperformancetasks.wikispaces.com/file/view/Givingfaces.pdf

Appropriate or shocking?

=====
More on Common "Gore" as Pogue calls it in a comment from NYCDOENUTS:

Common Core -Read This; You May Laugh Or Cry 

Flabby to the ‘Core’

By Boston Herald Editorial Staff | Saturday, March 31, 2012 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Editorials

PAVE Charter Anti-PS 15 Graffiti

What are they teaching the kids at PAVE Academy which shares a building with PS 15 in Red Hook?

The day after I wrote this about PAVE and PS 15 (Having Lunch With Spencer Robertson of Pave Charter)  this was seen around the school building:

PS 15: DO NOT PASS

Mayoral Control - 15 Years of Failure in Chicago

Before you check out this very important report published in Feb. 2011 -

Here is a reminder of where Mulgrew and the UFT stand on mayoral control no matter what they say for the public at large and internally:

Mulgrew was very up front w/ me that he supports continued if ameliorated mayoral control and wants to look at other cities where it is going well...

Yet his toadies near the top of the org will proclaim he is NOT! Are they misled? out of loop? guilty of wishful thinking?----- Anon Parent activist

So when the Unity hacks come around saying the UFT will oppose mayoral control ask them to list the cities where it is going well.

Really useful for the coming battle here.

Here is the exec summary and recos.

Email me for the entire report: normsco@gmail.com