We have a few new cartoons:
Classic New Yorker Cover Using Apple Maps app
http://susanohanian.org/cartoon_fetch.php?id=861
http://susanohanian.org/cartoon_fetch.php?id=860
Buy! Buy! Buy! Reading Comprehension Activity for ESL Students
One of the Great Openings in Literature
http://susanohanian.org/cartoon_fetch.php?id=859
Future Worker in the Global Economy
http://susanohanian.org/cartoon_fetch.php?id=858
Listen to Children
http://susanohanian.org/cartoon_fetch.php?id=857
Preparing tomorrow's critical thinkers for corporate America
http://susanohanian.org/cartoon_fetch.php?id=856
Greedy
http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_cartoons.php?id=988
Note to Control Freaks
http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_cartoons.php?id=986
I've tried to choose news items and commentaries that matter today and will still matter a year from now.
Susan
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Little learners need better curriculum
Michael Petrilli with Ohanian Comment
New York Daily News
2013-12-12
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=639
Petrilli delivers the joke of the week: the state of New York, under Commissioner John King, has developed a wonderful content-rich curriculum, aligned with the new Common Core standards
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Data Flood Outpaces Ethics
Paul Basken
Chronicle of Higher Education
2013-12-12
http://susanohanian.org/data.php?id=530
It's good to see comment and concern about the ethics associated with the flood of medical-research data. Schools need to start connecting these two words: ethics and data.
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A critique of Common Core math standards
Valerie Strauss and Michael Goldenberg
Washington Post Answer Sheet
2013-12-12
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=638
Michael Goldenberg speaks to the importance of mathematics education that is not geared to those who will take advanced math in college.
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The Exaggeration of Exceptional Children
Nathan Heller with Ohanian comments
2013-12-09
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=637
This book is about having exceptional children. As the author points out, having exceptional children exaggerates parental tendencies; those who would be bad parents become awful parents, but those who would be good parents often become extraordinary. I suspect that what's true for parents is also true for teachers.
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Children Giving Clues
Susan Ohanian
2013-12-07
http://susanohanian.org/show_commentary.php?id=1142
The issue is not how to parse out fiction and
nonfiction. The issue is in a democracy is Who
decides?
'Refuse all cooperation with the heart's death.'
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Give Teachers Some Time
Susan McWethy
2013-12-04
http://susanohanian.org/show_commentary.php?id=1141
A Georgia librarian speaks out.
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Holiday by the Numbers--Reading Comprehension Quiz
Susan Ohanian
blog
2013-12-13
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1748
I'm just steamed by a wretched reading comprehension activity based on holiday spending.
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Educational Publisher’s Charity, Accused of Seeking Profits, Will Pay Millions
Javier C. Hernandez
New York Times
2013-12-13
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1747
The Pearson Foundation, so-called charitable arm of the corporation, gets fined for 'assisting in for-profit ventures.'
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More parents want their children to skip CT standardized tests
Jacqueline Rabe Thomas
CT Mirror: Political Mirror
2013-12-11
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1746
I don't believe Connecticut parents will allow themselves to be bullied by the State.
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‘Revolving Door’ Between SD Unified, Contractors Still Open Despite Warnings
Will Carless
Voice of San Diego
2013-12-11
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1745
The Common Core requires truckloads of expenditures to get schools online with technological capability. Truckloads of money involved
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Invisible Child: Girl in the Shadows: Disani's Homeless Life
Andrea Elliott with Ohanian Comment
New York Times
2013-12-08
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1744
One in five American children is now living in poverty, giving the United States the highest child poverty rate of any developed nation except for Romania, and here is close-up portrait of one, a remarkable child named Disani.
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Paul Krugman column 'Obama Gets Real,' misses boat by ignoring failed ed deform factor
Paul Krugman with Norm Scott commentary
Ed Notes Online & New York Times
2013-12-06
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1743
A longtime New York teacher explains why President Obama--and Paul Krugman--are wrong.
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'PISA Day'--An Ideological and Hyperventilated Exercise
Richard Rothstein and Martin Carnoy
Economic Policy Institute blog
2013-12-01
http://susanohanian.org/show_research.php?id=540
The US Department of Education gives an advance look at the PISA scores to outfits like the Business Roundtable--but not to EPI. Our tax dollars at work.
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Streets For America
Dave Eggers
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
0000-00-00
http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_news.php?id=904
Here's a program. based on a senior thesis at Harvard, designed to reinvigorate America's police force.
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Order the CD of the resistance:
"No Child Left Behind? Bring Back the Joy."
To order online (and hear samples from the songs)
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dhbdrake4
Other orders: Send $15 to
Susan Ohanian
P. O. Box 26
Charlotte, VT 05445
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Susan's Saturday Morning Special
The weekly weekend reading list from Susan Ohanian.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Norm in The Wave: On Poverty, Education, Labor: Is Obama Really a Liberal?
A total (much-needed) rewrite of a blog post I did on a Paul Krugman column with some expanded political points.
Published Friday, December 13, 2013 in The Wave and at www.rockawave.com
On Poverty, Education, Labor: Is Obama Really a Liberal?
By Norm Scott
As a lefty/progressive (don’t dare call me a liberal), family events like Thanksgiving with a mostly conservative/tea party family can be either enervating or energizing, depending on who ends up with a bowl of cranberry sauce on his head. Obama is a major bone of contention with most of the family viewing him as a wild-eyed radical looking to take away their hard-earned money and hand it out on street corners in the poorest neighborhoods. Being an Obama critic from the left, I see him as a promoter of crony capitalism (socialism for the 1%) looking to give away our hard-earned income to his corporate and wealthy supporters.
One of my favorite NY Times columnists, Paul Krugman, touched on this issue in his December 6th column, "Obama Gets Real."
Krugman has criticized Obama from the left for going along with the Republican “deficit scolds” by agreeing that the major problem facing this nation was the deficit, not the high unemployment rate, with Obama mainly differing from Republicans over how much to cut, not how much we needed to spend to create jobs.
Krugman now claims Obama’s recent speech on inequality is a sign he is back to his progressive roots.
“Now… we have the president of the United States breaking ranks, finally sounding like the progressive many of his supporters thought they were backing in 2008. This is going to change the discourse — and, eventually… actual policy.”
Krugman ignores the gap between Obama’s rhetoric and action. Take education and labor policy. Obama and his Education Czar, Arne Duncan, and the rest of the pack of education deformers, have spent five years pushing the idea that the key too reducing poverty is education – keyed on getting higher quality teachers and removing weaker teachers, with judgments based on standardized tests – a ludicrous idea that somehow has been accepted by both political parties, most journalists, and most of the public.
“Mr. Obama laid out a disturbing — and, unfortunately, all too accurate — vision of an America losing touch with its own ideals, an erstwhile land of opportunity becoming a class-ridden society. Not only do we have an ever-growing gap between a wealthy minority and the rest of the nation; we also, he declared, have declining mobility, as it becomes harder and harder for the poor and even the middle class to move up the economic ladder…
One of my relatives said on Thanksgiving, “if you take away the safety net they (the lazy, shiftless 47% of the nation who are moochers) will find jobs.”
I must send him this video from Real News: “1 out of 3 Bank Tellers in NY on Public Assistance” (tinyurl.com/muy2wbz). You see, actual working people can’t make it without help.
“[T]he president was willing to assign much of the blame for rising inequality to bad policy....,” Krugman writes.
Whose bad policy? Did Race To The Top came from Republicans? Billions of dollars down the tubes for testing, merit pay, evaluation of teachers, consultants, etc. instead of real education reforms and fighting to reduce poverty so kids will have the kind of home environment that will support them in school.
The “new and exciting” idea? Raise the minimum wage and restore labor’s bargaining power. I’m all for it. The shock is that Obama actually mentioned labor after 5 years of turning his back on unions and engaging in drone attacks on teachers and blaming union rules for the problems in education.
Krugman doesn’t address the gap between Obama rhetoric and action, especially when it comes to educational policy. Obama/Duncan and the rest of the pack of ed deformers have pushed the neo-liberal market-based model. Sure, you can solve the poverty/inequality issue merely by getting better teachers.
Let's see Obama offer to bail out Detroit where public employee pension theft is taking place which will result in growing poverty and the inequality gap. Has Obama condemned the assault on the Chicago school system by his pal, Rahm Emanuel? When he does, Krugman can start talking about Obama returning to his progressive roots.
The Clinton/Obama rightward wing of the Democratic Party, “Third Way Democrats,” are facing an energized left led by Elizabeth Warren and given hope by the De Blasio victory (don’t count the chickens just yet).
The NYT reported, “In a sign of the left’s new aggressiveness, a coalition of liberals is trying to marginalize a centrist Democratic policy group that was responsible for a Wall Street Journal op-ed article this week that said economic populism was ‘disastrous’ for the party.”
Is a tea party brewing on the left?
Was Obama’s ‘inequality” speech a rhetorical response to protect Hillary Clinton’s flank?
Oh, what fun when politics becomes more of a contact sport than the NFL. Just watch out for those head injuries.
Norm blogs way too often at ednotesonline.org
Published Friday, December 13, 2013 in The Wave and at www.rockawave.com
On Poverty, Education, Labor: Is Obama Really a Liberal?
By Norm Scott
As a lefty/progressive (don’t dare call me a liberal), family events like Thanksgiving with a mostly conservative/tea party family can be either enervating or energizing, depending on who ends up with a bowl of cranberry sauce on his head. Obama is a major bone of contention with most of the family viewing him as a wild-eyed radical looking to take away their hard-earned money and hand it out on street corners in the poorest neighborhoods. Being an Obama critic from the left, I see him as a promoter of crony capitalism (socialism for the 1%) looking to give away our hard-earned income to his corporate and wealthy supporters.
One of my favorite NY Times columnists, Paul Krugman, touched on this issue in his December 6th column, "Obama Gets Real."
Krugman has criticized Obama from the left for going along with the Republican “deficit scolds” by agreeing that the major problem facing this nation was the deficit, not the high unemployment rate, with Obama mainly differing from Republicans over how much to cut, not how much we needed to spend to create jobs.
Krugman now claims Obama’s recent speech on inequality is a sign he is back to his progressive roots.
“Now… we have the president of the United States breaking ranks, finally sounding like the progressive many of his supporters thought they were backing in 2008. This is going to change the discourse — and, eventually… actual policy.”
Krugman ignores the gap between Obama’s rhetoric and action. Take education and labor policy. Obama and his Education Czar, Arne Duncan, and the rest of the pack of education deformers, have spent five years pushing the idea that the key too reducing poverty is education – keyed on getting higher quality teachers and removing weaker teachers, with judgments based on standardized tests – a ludicrous idea that somehow has been accepted by both political parties, most journalists, and most of the public.
“Mr. Obama laid out a disturbing — and, unfortunately, all too accurate — vision of an America losing touch with its own ideals, an erstwhile land of opportunity becoming a class-ridden society. Not only do we have an ever-growing gap between a wealthy minority and the rest of the nation; we also, he declared, have declining mobility, as it becomes harder and harder for the poor and even the middle class to move up the economic ladder…
One of my relatives said on Thanksgiving, “if you take away the safety net they (the lazy, shiftless 47% of the nation who are moochers) will find jobs.”
I must send him this video from Real News: “1 out of 3 Bank Tellers in NY on Public Assistance” (tinyurl.com/muy2wbz). You see, actual working people can’t make it without help.
“[T]he president was willing to assign much of the blame for rising inequality to bad policy....,” Krugman writes.
Whose bad policy? Did Race To The Top came from Republicans? Billions of dollars down the tubes for testing, merit pay, evaluation of teachers, consultants, etc. instead of real education reforms and fighting to reduce poverty so kids will have the kind of home environment that will support them in school.
The “new and exciting” idea? Raise the minimum wage and restore labor’s bargaining power. I’m all for it. The shock is that Obama actually mentioned labor after 5 years of turning his back on unions and engaging in drone attacks on teachers and blaming union rules for the problems in education.
Krugman doesn’t address the gap between Obama rhetoric and action, especially when it comes to educational policy. Obama/Duncan and the rest of the pack of ed deformers have pushed the neo-liberal market-based model. Sure, you can solve the poverty/inequality issue merely by getting better teachers.
Let's see Obama offer to bail out Detroit where public employee pension theft is taking place which will result in growing poverty and the inequality gap. Has Obama condemned the assault on the Chicago school system by his pal, Rahm Emanuel? When he does, Krugman can start talking about Obama returning to his progressive roots.
The Clinton/Obama rightward wing of the Democratic Party, “Third Way Democrats,” are facing an energized left led by Elizabeth Warren and given hope by the De Blasio victory (don’t count the chickens just yet).
The NYT reported, “In a sign of the left’s new aggressiveness, a coalition of liberals is trying to marginalize a centrist Democratic policy group that was responsible for a Wall Street Journal op-ed article this week that said economic populism was ‘disastrous’ for the party.”
Is a tea party brewing on the left?
Was Obama’s ‘inequality” speech a rhetorical response to protect Hillary Clinton’s flank?
Oh, what fun when politics becomes more of a contact sport than the NFL. Just watch out for those head injuries.
Norm blogs way too often at ednotesonline.org
NYC Principal Brian De Vale: I am Daniel-San
I would like to thank John King for forcing this system upon me. My job has never been easier. In fact a high functioning ape could now probably do my job.... Brian De Vale, NYC PrincipalIt doesn't get any better.
From: De Vale Brian
Sent: Wednesday, December 11, 2013 7:24 PM
To: Logan Ernest (SCA); mmulgrew@uft.org; Suransky Shael
Subject: I am Daniel -San
I think the entire New Teacher Evaluation System is a disgrace. It strips principals of our ability to write proper, professional observations and I believe it was more about the money paid to the people who made the software and system than it ever was about education.
Nobody involved in the development of this system commands an iota of respect from veteran classroom and school based educators.
That said, as the positive upbeat and God fearing Christian man that I am, I would like to thank John King for forcing this system upon me.
My job has never been easier. In fact a high functioning ape could now probably do my job. I perform several daily observations performed via the "short frequent cycles of observation" technique.... I take "low inference notes" and then align what is there with the rubric in the Danielson book.
No high order thinking required. This system is a disgrace and has nothing to do with anything I learned in my studies nor decades of superior service. (Please note that this is not MY ego run amok but rather the 7 Straight A's that We received on Their soon to be done away with report cads that none of us believe in).
I have done my observations so efficiently that I can quote certain Danielson realms and domains by heart, without believing a word...so I am now " reflecting" to let you know I have played the game.
I have become Daniel-San (wax on wax off).
MY OBSERVATION ARE COMPLETE!!!!!
I looked upon my Advance reports and old Johnny Cash would have been proud as all I saw was Forty Shades of Green. Yes that is right, every teacher has been observed 3 informal and one formal, Pre and post evaluation conferences completed, IPC and artifacts submitted. Screen turns green with each completed observation and now we are done....And everyone was rated the equivalent of SATISFACTORY under the old system.. I'm done!!!
Mambo anyone?????
And guess where the beauty lies? None of this was ever necessary. However, now that my official ratings are in, I can focus on the fun stuff that makes a school special.
Earlier today I watched our fifth grade ballroom Dance Celebration. Tomorrow I will talk about Mandela again with another class. Next week I will attend our Christmas Show, an annual tradition before our Classroom Christmas parties and then visit classrooms playing carols as part of our parrandas!!!
"It's a Wonderful Life"!!!!
These political hacks fail to realize that while they seek to lower the taxes of billionaires that is is school leaders like me who have fired veteran teachers who were no good or just burned out, have counseled out newcomers who just didn't have what it takes because TEACHING is simply the hardest profession in the world and THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS WHOLE SYSTEM.
We have unfortunately seen a decade of folks who ran from the classroom after a year in many cases, take charge and make ridiculous demands of school based educators, and the results have been a disaster.
Anyway, I have played their game, and my staff and students have won. Now we can all focus on real teaching ad learning.
As Sam Wainright said:
Merry Christmas and Hee Haw!!!!!!
22,091 homeless children, how many are at a Moskowitz Success Academy Charter School?
Their numbers have risen above anything in the city’s modern history, to a staggering 22,091 this month. If all of the city’s homeless children were to file into Madison Square Garden for a hockey game, more than 4,800 would not have a seat... Andrea Elliot, NY TimesAnd how many would find a seat at an Eva Moskowitz Success Academy Charter School? Or in fact, how many of these 22,000 children are in any charter school?
I taught many children like the wonderful Dasani and remember what the end results were for all too many of them. I hope so much there is something better for her. But think of where most of these children go to school and get a deeper understanding of what the charter movement is all about -- allowing the higher end of the poorer communities a choice -- a choice to get their kids away from the Dasanis. A form of educational apartheid. The alternate option for policy makers -- those ed deformers -- would have been to provide a level of support for the neighborhood public school that would really help Dasani and leave enough resources in the public school to support the parents who are deserting them for charters.
Today's 4th installment by the wondrous Andrea (just hand me my Pultizer and every other journalism award) Elliot.
Finding Safety and Strength in the Bonds of Her Siblings
Rosalie Friend Reports on Ravitch and Farina at PS 15
Excellent report from Rosalie as a follow-up to the report I received yesterday (Carmen Farina Introduces Diane Ravitch at PS 15K Community Library Opening).
And by the way, for those who don't get what school-based organizing is all about, check out an expert like Julie Cavanagh.
From Rosalie Friend to Change the Stakes Listserve:
And by the way, for those who don't get what school-based organizing is all about, check out an expert like Julie Cavanagh.
From Rosalie Friend to Change the Stakes Listserve:
At the presentation at PS 15, Carmen Farina seemed to back Diane's assertion that we need to return to a district system in which district supervisors are responsible for neighborhood schools. Carmen spoke of the importance of providing a GOOD school for every child in every neighborhood.
Diane spoke about the influence of private money in politics and school decisions. She cited an upcoming conference on how to make money in public education. She mentioned the methods the corporate "reformers" are using to minimize the cost of teachers' salaries. She also said that as she travels to schools around the country she finds a lot of fraudulent financial dealings among the charters.
I asked about whether we should be tackling Common Core when we have such a big challenge in getting rid of high stakes tests and getting small classes, support services like social workers, psychologists, and nurses, and effective programs like reading recovery. She responded that common core was going to drain resources from everything else, because of the need to buy huge amounts of computer equipment and services. The tests for the Common Core are going to be administered on computers. She also criticized the idea of having computers grade essay questions (one of my pet peeves).
Diane said she is hoping that Bill de Blasio will be the leader who will challenge the free market approach and the corporate "reformers." Jim Devor, who knows de Blasio from the District 15 school board, was much much less hopeful, though he did not give any specifics.
The audience was a mix of teachers, parents, and community members. Many were local, but there were several from Manhattan and one lady from the Bronx who had traveled to see Diane Ravitch. We heard from one distressed parent whose daughter is struggling with deadening lessons and poor test scores despite good classwork. There was a full range of age among attendees. I gave out 80-90 Change the Stakes fliers, so maybe we will get some new members.
Three cheers for Julie, her PS 15 colleagues, and the student "ambassadors" who guided us through the school to the library.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Carmen Farina Introduces Diane Ravitch at PS 15K Community Library Opening
Yesterday was a big day for the PS 15K community in Redhook with two red hot ed superstars, Diane Ravitch and rumored next chancellor Carmen Farina, in attendance. Actually in my book, 3 superstars if you count Julie Cavanagh, PS 15 chapter leader and one of the event organizers.
Carmen Farina has been the chair of the "Friends of PS 15 Committee" for 3 years and helped get the school a new library out of the ashes of co-loco battle with PAVE charter.
Today being the first book talk to introduce the new library as a community space, the Committee thought it fitting to invite Diane Ravitch, who graciously accepted.
Farina in introducing Ravitch, talked a lot about PS 15 and connected the struggles there to Diane's book. Carmen complimented Diane's work, pointing to her travels around the nation as she visits schools and programs and listens to what people have to say.
She made the point that there is plenty of room for agreement and disagreement but informed discussion should be at the center and Diane's work is an important part of that.
Diane said during her talk "Every community needs a great neighborhood public school like PS 15.... We need to be citizens, not consumers, when it comes to public education."
Carmen closed by saying we need to stop focusing on what "they" – the corporate reformers – are doing and focus on what we are doing, echoing Diane. We need great public schools in every neighborhood.
Afterburn
I'm not sure exactly what Farina was trying to say here but I agree with this point: That we are beyond focusing on the outrages and should work on organizing. How to do that effectively is another story.
Carmen Farina has been the chair of the "Friends of PS 15 Committee" for 3 years and helped get the school a new library out of the ashes of co-loco battle with PAVE charter.
Today being the first book talk to introduce the new library as a community space, the Committee thought it fitting to invite Diane Ravitch, who graciously accepted.
Farina in introducing Ravitch, talked a lot about PS 15 and connected the struggles there to Diane's book. Carmen complimented Diane's work, pointing to her travels around the nation as she visits schools and programs and listens to what people have to say.
She made the point that there is plenty of room for agreement and disagreement but informed discussion should be at the center and Diane's work is an important part of that.
Diane said during her talk "Every community needs a great neighborhood public school like PS 15.... We need to be citizens, not consumers, when it comes to public education."
Carmen closed by saying we need to stop focusing on what "they" – the corporate reformers – are doing and focus on what we are doing, echoing Diane. We need great public schools in every neighborhood.
Afterburn
I'm not sure exactly what Farina was trying to say here but I agree with this point: That we are beyond focusing on the outrages and should work on organizing. How to do that effectively is another story.
Substance: Chitown CEO Nixed in NYC!... Byrd Bennett strikes out in New York City as her slavish adherence to Rahm's school closing quota catches up with her
Chicago schools Chief Executive Officer Barbara Byrd Bennett completed her main assignment from Mayor Rahm Emanuel at the Board of Education's May 22, 2013 meeting when she recommended the gutting of the city's real public school system with the unprecedented closing of 49 of Chicago's real public schools. The recommendation, which was passed unanimously by the seven member school board of the nation's third largest school system, followed six months of maneuvering and lies which saw "hearings" during which 30,000 people virtually unanimously opposed Byrd Bennett's proposal to close those schools.... Substance
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| Photo by George Schmidt |
George N. Schmidt - December 10, 2013
Despite her attempt to escape Chicago, schools chief Barbara Byrd Bennett will not find a new home running the nation's largest school system after a little more than a year running the nation's third largest school system. In a confirmation that Chicago Schools "Chief Executive Officer" Barbara Byrd Bennett was shopping around to get back to New York City, this time as chancellor of the largest school system in the USA, the New York Daily News reports on December 10, 2013 that she is being nixed in New York.
http://www.substancenews.net/articles.php?page=4667§ion=Article
Why? Because she had been such a slave to the whims of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Specifically, according to the New York sources, her closing of 50 of Chicago's real public schools in May 2013 was the deal breaker. Despite Rahm Emanuel's posings as a major force in politics across the USA, it may be that there is a Curse of Rahm and Byrd Bennett's failure to reach the finalists for the NYC job is just the beginning.
Newly elected New York City Mayor Bill diBlasio was elected on a promise to change things from the dictatorial regime of billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and one of the most important changes will come if deBlasio decided to take on corporate school reform and begin to roll back the expansion of charter schools and the closing of the city's real public schools. Clearly, as The Daily News notes, the person who did the dirty work of corporate reform in Chicago is unlikely to be the choice to undo such corporate dirty work in New York.
But the deal isn't done until New York selects a schools chancellor, so Byrd Bennett is still officially in the running. And one question for Chicago is how long she has to remain here, now that she has made it clear that she wants out. She won't be the first to leave abruptly after proclaiming her love for Chicago, its schools, and the children -- repeating regularly the talking points of those who script corporate school reform locally and across the USA.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Farina and Cashin, Part 2: MOREistas Chime in With Praise for Both
There were mostly positive reactions to both candidates from MORE members on our post, Farina vs. Cashin: Battle of Philosophies, Part 1.
Given that my progressive education preferences lead me to favor Farina, I may be unfair to Cashin who 20 years ago I had a personal problem with due to her harassment of a teacher friend when she was principal at PS 193K.
So this came in from a respected colleague in ICE and MORE.
From a retired MOREista:
Maybe more later.
Given that my progressive education preferences lead me to favor Farina, I may be unfair to Cashin who 20 years ago I had a personal problem with due to her harassment of a teacher friend when she was principal at PS 193K.
So this came in from a respected colleague in ICE and MORE.
With all her faults, class sizes at PS xxx, in Brownsville, were always kept low during the Cashin years. I can presume that the same was true for other schools in the neighborhood. Cashin understood the inter-relation of class size, teachability and management. Like it or not, she also understood the relation of Brownsville education to gentrification and test scores. District and later Region stability depended on a tight community school district and network relation to yearly improving test scores, which kept Bloomberg from justifying a Chicago destruction operation and complete charterization there. Cashin retired when she saw that her network could no longer maintain this autonomy.
The DOE Teachers College ELA curriculum was minimized in content, while the process was tokenized as much as needed to front the mandate.
Farina's TC approach does not work well with high needs children: children of poverty, of crime, of ELLs and kids with special ed issues. It is too student-directed for kids whose lives are socially and emotionally topsy turvy and need so much emotional and social support. These kids can give you a look, but their learning requires a lot of structured, scaffolded, and developmentally appropriate repetition and review, especially in the early years.Farina faves:
By the way Cashin also introduced E.D. Hirsh's Core Knowledge social studies curriculum in her network (but not the reading program). She saw it in action in one R. 5, D. 27 school in Black middle class Queens. She was right! Kids of color loved it in every school in district 23 I visited. Most kids loved learning about different world cultures and their histories, but especially children of color. This legitimates and also includes their own diversity and cultures. This curriculum also helped cool the pits of the DOE, which also liked it.
Klein ran a pilot in Staten Island. Unfortunately, the teachers in the upper grades never got the PD to continue it. The program died with Cashin's retirement when the DOE and Tweed superintendents and principals came in for the first time. Cashin never allowed Tweed to invade her schools. Yeah, top-down can have its very positive as well as disgustingly negative aspects. None of us is perfect.
If you can take the time, watch the videos with Prof. James Cummins, a Toronto ed research analyst. He points out correctly, I feel, that the public ed system never failed the middle class since the 30's, only communities of poverty, immigrant, ELL and special ed. He avoids pointing out that this is after our eastern and southern European immigrant forebears had been allowed work their way into whiteness. He also avoids pointing out that high needs kids today are almost always children of color. He leaves the social and economic analysis to others. Nevertheless, these children never have gotten a fully fair shake. No matter what reforms came down the pike, these students were economically and pedagogically marginalized. However, there is also another big omission here: the successful education of the fortunate Black and Latino middle class that benefited from the culturally relevant pedagogy of the civil rights-inspired Pre-K through college education of the 70's and 80's. Nevertheless, the numerous public school reforms have been so short lived and scripted that teachers, including teachers of color have never been allowed to adapt them to fit the paticular needs of most of their high needs students. The same will be true of the common core standards if the current kind of implementation continues.
As a Canadian white man, he is big proponent of the African-American school of cultural relevant pedegogy and understands exactly what it is. It worked to create the middle class of color today, and it can work again if we allow it to. Unfortunately, this has been unjustly prevented by the educrats for too large a portion of our population since the 1930's. The economic "advantage" should be obvious in the current observer!
She is a very knowledgeable educator who believes the best way to improve schools, and the best kind of ps, is collaboration between admins, teachers, community. She has said there is no better way for eds to get support than for them to support each other, nothing they can learn that can't be learned from each other. That foundational vision distinguishes her from Cashin and any other candidate out there. She is a very thoughtful educator. She is practical and no nonsense. But compassionate and has the absolute best of intentions.--------
No Chancellor is going to be perfect, all will have their flaws, and certainly BDB isn't going to choose a "radical" (whatever that means).-------
Carmen is foremost an educator, a thoughtful, knowledgeable educator with experience at every level. Her foundation is solid.
Having her at the helm will not create magical changes (and let us not forget the state and national control factors that cannot be changed and politically, for those in positions such as this one, have to be appeased)... But there would be significant changes that are teacher friendly and most importantly deeply rooted in what benefits children and builds strong schools.
She understands something that I think drives a positive vision for schools, which is that they are collaborative, humane places, where principal and teacher support and opportunities to grow and learn from each other are the best way to improve, innovate, and evaluate.
We'll see what happens, but on a personal leveI, I would be very happy with her appointment.
From a retired MOREista:
Great Carmen Farina Experience:One Farina knock:
About 9 years ago, in December, principal announced that he was going to interclass the majority of my kindergarten students. The plan was to replace those children with double service ESL students. I have an ESL license, and he wanted to use that to his advantage.
Meeting was held with parents. Mothers cried in the hallway, to no avail. The principal was adament.
A mother from Holland (unusual in Elmhurst, Queens) emailed Carmen Farina. Within 30 minutes of the mother's email, the plan was off. Carmen Farina reached out to the principal and told him that he could forget his interclassing,
Don't know what else he was told, but I am left with respect for Carmen Farina. Her actions speak very loudly for integrity, and caring.
I worked with Carmen when at Teachers Network. She's a little woman with a strong ego. We used to have our teacher fair at her school PS6 on the Tony upper east side of Manhattan when she was principal. I would coordinate the event and introduce her to everyone.And a response:
I don't recall a collaborative style, but an intimidated staff. When I first booked the teacher fair she told me over the phone no more sessions on “how to break a principal”! I was astonished. We never had such a session (although I was intrigued). I may be mistaken, but I think she’s the brainchild of learning boards, print rich, workshop model for all lessons (the bane of our existence in high schools). If that’s her hallmark, deBlasio is proving a disappointment already.
I think your experience w Carmen reflects her VERY direct, short method of communication. She is "no-nonsense" but she does listen and, she does know what the hell she is talking about, unlike anyone we have worked under in the last 12 years.
Maybe more later.
Farina vs. Cashin: Battle of Philosophies, Part 1
Rachel Monahan is reporting that the job of chancellor is all hers if Carmen Farina wants it. Farina only has emerged as a serious candidate over the past few days given her stated desire to spend time with her grandkid(s). I hear from some people this is close to a done deal. And given the options it is one I support despite some feelings that Farina doesn't always live in the real world -- I'll expound on that in a follow-up.
The candidacy of Kathy Cashin, who has been lobbying for the job for many years, is left hanging by a thread.
Cashin and Farina represent 2 very different education philosophies that have run through the NYC school system over the past 50 years. Farina comes from District 15 (Park Slope dominated) of fairly wealthy families compared to the rest of the city -- though it does have poverty areas like Sunset Park. She was also a principal at PS 6 on the upper east side. Call her a "constructivist", Teachers College idealogue -- which by the way, no matter how bad it was implemented by Joel Klein/Diana Lam, is a concept I support.
Cashin comes from the opposite extreme -- core E.D Hirsh Core Knowledge which Sol Stern raves about. (Sol Stern explains the personal reasons for joining one side of the curriculum wars. (City Journal)
These are 2 very different visions and both Farina as Region 8 head (Dist 14, 15, 13) and Cashin as Region 5 head dealt with.
Though they will never say it out loud, Cashin is the UFT candidate and has been for a long time due to the strong connections they have with her. As Region 5 Supt. Cashin gave the UFT space in 2 schools in East NY (Dist. 19) for their charters. Region 5 was made up of 2 Bklyn districts -- Cashin's old D. 23 in Ocean-Hill Brownsville -- scene of the '68 strike -- plus D. 27 in Queens -- Ozone Park and Rockaway -- a massive 60 school district.
Peter Goodman's Ed in the Apple blog is always a good weather vane as to UFT thinking. Watch how he presents Cashin and Farina and Starr, trying to sell Cashin:
The candidacy of Kathy Cashin, who has been lobbying for the job for many years, is left hanging by a thread.
Cashin and Farina represent 2 very different education philosophies that have run through the NYC school system over the past 50 years. Farina comes from District 15 (Park Slope dominated) of fairly wealthy families compared to the rest of the city -- though it does have poverty areas like Sunset Park. She was also a principal at PS 6 on the upper east side. Call her a "constructivist", Teachers College idealogue -- which by the way, no matter how bad it was implemented by Joel Klein/Diana Lam, is a concept I support.
Cashin comes from the opposite extreme -- core E.D Hirsh Core Knowledge which Sol Stern raves about. (Sol Stern explains the personal reasons for joining one side of the curriculum wars. (City Journal)
These are 2 very different visions and both Farina as Region 8 head (Dist 14, 15, 13) and Cashin as Region 5 head dealt with.
Though they will never say it out loud, Cashin is the UFT candidate and has been for a long time due to the strong connections they have with her. As Region 5 Supt. Cashin gave the UFT space in 2 schools in East NY (Dist. 19) for their charters. Region 5 was made up of 2 Bklyn districts -- Cashin's old D. 23 in Ocean-Hill Brownsville -- scene of the '68 strike -- plus D. 27 in Queens -- Ozone Park and Rockaway -- a massive 60 school district.
Peter Goodman's Ed in the Apple blog is always a good weather vane as to UFT thinking. Watch how he presents Cashin and Farina and Starr, trying to sell Cashin:
Candidates, at least candidates in the press (see Gotham Schools here and the NY Daily News here) that espouse de Blasio’s policies are Josh Starr, superintendent in Montgomery County and Kathleen Cashin, a member of the Board of Regents with a long resume within New York City. Starr, in a high wealth district has been an aggressive opponent of testing, and had a lackluster six years as superintendent in Stamford, Cashin, in her role as a regent, voted against the Principal/Teacher Evaluation Plan and aggressively supports parents and classroom teacher, she was a beloved and highly effective superintendent in the poorest districts in New York City. Carmen Farina, who has been “out of the loop” for years, is a close advisor to de Blasio.Cashin was not much loved due to a high-handed style - except by the UFT (who at one point made fun of her people for high levels of micro-managment.) And note how Goodman praises Cashin for voting against the plan she knew would fail as a way to gain supporters.
More later
Eva Moskowitz' Success Academy Gets Preferential DOE Treatment, Emails Show- DUHHH!
We saw this in person shortly after GEM got rolling in 2009 when they wiped out PS 123's teacher's stuff and tossed them in the bin. We went down for an early morning rally on the day after school ended - Tony Avella showed p and even Scott Stringer. (I have some video up somewhere on you tube but no time to link to it now. I challenged Stringer to reappoint Patrick Sullivan to the PEP.)NEW YORK CITY — When Eva Moskowitz starts a new charter school, top officials at the city’s Department of Education move heaven and earth to meet her demands.During the past two years, the DOE gave Moskowitz’s controversial chain, Success Academy, rent-free space in city school buildings to open 14 new co-location sites. In each handover, Moskowitz demanded the DOE deliver the space clear of furniture and broom-swept by 5 p.m. on the last day of the school year, according to sources and emails obtained by DNAinfo New York.But since students used the space until the second-to-last day of the school year, the DOE was left with less than 36 hours to clear the area — costing the department tens of thousands of dollars in overtime from contracted workers scrambling to meet the onerous deadline.“The cost was astronomical,” a DOE insider told DNAinfo New York. “We don’t have to do it the very last day of school. There’s absolutely no need for this.”
MORE at:
http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20131210/new-york-city/eva-moskowitz-success-academy-gets-preferential-doe-treatment-emails-show
39% of frontline bank employees must rely need public assistance because of insufficient wages - The Real News
Use this info at your next family gathering where your tea party relatives rail against the 47% of the nation who are "moochers" living off the hard-earned "winnings" of the 1%.
1 out of 3 Bank Tellers in NY on Public Assistance
New report finds bank executives receive big bonuses, while 39% of frontline bank employees must rely on welfare because of insufficient wage. See video at:How much more are we to take on from the banksters, the Waltons, McDonalds. the oil companies, the backers of ALEC and all of the rest of the fraudulent and amoral 1% who are taking the future away from our children economically and in terms of the environment?Dora Taylor [recently elected to Seattle school board against massive ed deform money pouring in against her]
Monday, December 9, 2013
E4E Member Resigns in Protest Over Their Support for King/Tisch
Here is something you will never see mentioned at Gotham Schools.
Here is the E4E call to action:
On Mon, Dec 9, 2013 at 2:26 PM, Jonathan Schleifer info@
Consider this my resignation of membership for E4E and the corporate driven ideology which binds this organization as a supporter of the Common Core and it’s test driven oppression of learning.... A NYC Teacher and FORMER member of E4ESo, E4E is trying to organize a force to support John King and Meryl Tisch and is urging its "people" to turn out in support to counter what is sure to be a vocal opposition. This teacher has had enough. I always say, the harder these characters push their ed deform crap the more they shoot themselves in the foot. The reality for those E4E people who actually are teaching and facing the Danielson rubric and common core in action is that it basically sucks. Good luck to E4E - maybe try starting a chapter in Detroit.
Dear Jonathan [Schleifer],
I am writing in regard to the E4E letter to Commissioner King stating “We are writing to thank you again for your leadership over the last two years in making New York’s teacher evaluation law benefit teachers and students across the state—and to urge you to make good on that commitment again as you develop a teacher evaluation system for New York City.”
I think the recent video and protests against the Common Core, and the state being forced to apply for waivers to allow developmentally disabled students with an IQ of 60, exempt from state tests. The issue of Danielson, with an untested rubric, and one which does not suit teachers or students of disabilities is central in the error of congratulating Commissioner King. Where was the foresight? Did anyone at E4E ever project the negative consequences of evaluating impoverished students (solely to determine “teacher effectiveness”) and essentially sanctioning teachers who serve them? I think not. Did anyone at E4E ever reflect to see how the Danielson Rubric may sanction educators? I think not.
Consider this my resignation of membership from E4E and the corporate driven ideology which binds this organization as a supporter of the Common Core and it’s test driven oppression of learning.
Regards,
Here is the E4E call to action:
On Mon, Dec 9, 2013 at 2:26 PM, Jonathan Schleifer info@
Trouble viewing this email? You can View this Message Online
Educators 4 Excellence: An Independent Voice for Teachers
December 11
- Brooklyn: Medgar Evers College, 6:30-8:30 PM
- Bronx: Evander Childs Campus, 6:00-8:00 PM
RSVP here to join E4E at one or more of the town halls.
- Manhattan: Spruce Street School, 6:00-8:00 PM
If you can’t attend the town halls, you can engage in the conversation on Twitter by following @Ed4Excellence. We’ll have teachers live tweeting each event. By replying to them or mentioning them in a tweet of your own, you the too can join the conversation and have a voice at the discussions.
Looking forward to hearing from you -
JonathanJonathan Schleifer
Executive Director, E4E-New York
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Diane Ravitch in Red Hook Wednesday Hosted by Julie Cavanagh and PS 15 Red Hook Community
You all know how I feel about both these ladies. Put them together and there's magic. So sorry I can't make this but Darren will be there to film.
When I first met Julie 4+ years ago I would never have bet on her to get involved with union politics at this level (I expected her to leave marks on my forehead with a 10-foot pole). I figured she had some ambition and a great array of skills and would go pretty far if she just had gone with Unity.
For those of you who get upset when Diane promotes Randi stuff, keep this one in mind and remember that Julie was the one who ran against Mulgrew. Does this mean that Diane is dissing Mulgrew? Not at all, though in the minds of Unity hacks I guess they might think that way. Diane has taken a non-sectarian approach to internal union stuff. Given her long-time connections to the UFT/AFT I look at neutrality as a positive thing, not for MORE per se, but for Julie and the kind of relationships she has built with a remarkable array of people and just by Julie's connection to MORE lends a level of credibility to the opposition that I have generally not seen in the past. (People would run from any hint of connection to the opposition in the UFT - and some still do.)Reminder: I Will Be at P.S. 15 in Brooklyn on December 11
by dianeravitch
I will join with teachers, parents, and anyone else who wants to attend on December 11 at 5 pm at P.S. 15 in Brooklyn for a conversation about my recent book Reign of Error.No lecture, just discussion. All are welcome.P.S. 15 is located in Red Hook on Sullivan Street in Brooklyn.You are invited!
When I first met Julie 4+ years ago I would never have bet on her to get involved with union politics at this level (I expected her to leave marks on my forehead with a 10-foot pole). I figured she had some ambition and a great array of skills and would go pretty far if she just had gone with Unity.
Squaring the Circle on Common Core: Left Meets Right on Huckabee
Interesting too how not one of these people mentioned Gates, Broad and Co. and all allowed Huckabee to spin a bullshit narrative as to the genesis of CC. ... Patrick WalshI haven't had time to watch these videos yet. But Carol Burris and Ethan Young appearing on FOX is something to behold. Here is Leonie's update:
....apparently Huckabee has been getting heat from his audience for his support of Common Core so the beginning is his attempt to pull away/clarify his views on the topic – not altogether successfully... Leonie Haimson
NY HS principal Carol Burris and Tennessee HS student Ethan Young on the Common Core & tests on Huckabee show last night.Carol was named principal of the year is the author of a petition against the teacher eval system in NYS that more than 1/3 the principals in the state signed onto.Ethan’s speech before the Knox Co. school board on the Common Core has gone viral on YouTube, BuzzFeed and elsewhere.Their appearance on the Huckabee Show is in two segments on you tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ptk4eCfpEWU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2MdQooDxQk Carol and Ethan come on at about 7 minutes in the first segment; apparently Huckabee has been getting heat from his audience for his support of Common Core so the beginning is his attempt to pull away/clarify his views on the topic – not altogether successfully.Leonie HaimsonExecutive DirectorClass Size Matters
Randi Munches on PISA
“The crucial question we face now is whether we have the political will to move away from the failed policies and embrace what works in high-performing countries so that we can reclaim the promise of public education... Randi WeingartenIs she talking about the failed policies of the teacher unions without whose support NCLB or RTTT could have been enforced?
I can't believe anything Randi says is taken seriously. She certainly did not issue a call for AFT locals to refuse to endorse RTTT.
Race to the Top, Teacher Evaluations, Teachers and Teaching, Testing
In Parting Shot, Bloomberg/Walcott Oversee Demise of Adult Ed
Thus the charge in an email document received from an anonymous source.
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GENERAL MILLSIf Chancellor Walcott has sent the current Superintendent, Rose-Marie Mills, to the Office of Adult and Continuing Education in order to oversee its demise, she has been well chosen. The policies she has instituted, and the many vice-principals she has brought with her, have nothing to do with Adult Education. There is no awareness of or care for our students or the specific issues that they must face. If, as the new supervisors tell us, the Danielson assessment is soon to be used in Adult Education, they should read what Danielson has to say about taking into consideration who the students are and the nature of the school and the class.Considering monetary issues, classes are being cut and schedule changes are being implemented that directly affect the income of the program. Since the program is paid for on a reimbursable basis, every class that is cut, and every person who is forced to leave before the end of a class because of schedule changes, costs the program money. Every senior, experienced teacher who finds herself with too few students to sustain a class is in danger of having that class closed, to the detriment of the students. The students then leave, to the detriment of the program. The closed classes then become an excuse to cut the program further.Why is this Superintendent, who is paid for by tax levy monies, unlike the teachers, as she boasts to staff, shrinking the number of classes? Why is she spending scarce money for children’s books, at one end, or for recorded books that are entirely too difficult for our population on the other end? Why has she chosen to purchase huge, unwieldy and impractical easels, when teachers need decent text books or access to copying services, or smaller classes? Perhaps it is because she does not know and does not care who our population is. Or is this merely another instance of the improper use of funds that caused the parents of District 19 to drive her out? Ms. Mills consistently refers to the needs of the program as separate from the needs of the people it is supposed to serve, among them the parents of the P-12 students. Ms. Mills boasts that she was specially selected for this job. Why might that be? Is it possible that her superiors do not want our population too well educated, so that they will be docile and will not cause trouble?That might explain why the teachers who should be preparing their students for the new High School Equivalency exam , the TASC, have been given no information as to what that exam is like. Professional development time that could be profitably devoted to helping these teachers is spent on explications of the Common Core, which becomes vaguer every time it is explained, and in spite of the fact that Adult Education is exempt from the Common Core, since our tests are different from those of the P-12 students.Teachers are demoralized. People suddenly hate to go to work. Our twelve hour days, hard as they were, were manageable because the rewards of working with our students were great enough to overcome our exhaustion. Now we all feel beset; we cannot concentrate on our students’ needs. What a wonderful way to serve our population, who are already working the same twelve hour days as we are, after which they flog themselves into coming to class! And what do they find? Teachers who are not allowed to teach, or to answer their questions, because a schedule must be adhered to, and a certain objective must be met, never mind what the students are telling us that they need. Thank you, Ms. Mills. Thank you, Mr. Walcott. Thank you, Regents.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Obama's Admiration for Mandela - Is He Pal'n Around With Terrorists?
....the people who complain today about fast food workers organizing or the government taking guns away would have been the same people in the 80s saying Mandela was a terrorist. I can imagine the 1980s Facebook statuses. "Mandela died today. Thank God he never got a chance to steal South Africa away from the hard-working people and hand it over to a bunch of whiners who just want to profit off of the hard work and nation building of others". Or "thank God this dangerous maniac who supported a terrorist group that used to set people on fire is dead before he killed again." It is amazing how an ignorance of history and media propaganda could determine the perceptions of entire generations.... Dave Siroonian, Facebook
When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.... Nelson Mandela
www.telegraph.co.uk
Nelson Mandela and his African National Congress party have been removed from the US terror watch list.... 2008
I wonder how many of you actually know anything about Nelson Mandela. "Oh, he was such a great man." But I bet you can't explain why. If he would have died in the 80s, all the people crying over his death now because the media tells you to would have been villifying him as a terrorist and a communist, as the media would have told you to back then. Take your cues and bark like good little doggies... Dave Siroonian, Facebook
The Mandela That the Mainstream Media Won’t Tell You About
by dianeravitch
Thanks to TeacherKen for directing me to this terrific article that contains a dozen Mandela quotes that are not likely to be repeated in the mainstream media.When you read Mandela's obituary in the corporate media, he is sanitized and turned into a benign African version of Martin Luther King, Jr. (who was also sanitized by the MSM, which liked his lofty sentiments about justice but not his strong statements supporting unions and opposing the Vietnam War and poverty).... Diane Ravitch
Sen. Ted Cruz's praise for Nelson Mandela met with criticism by supporters. The Texas senator posted a message on his Facebook page saying that Mandela would 'live in history as an inspiration for defenders of liberty,' but some of the comments posted called the former South African leader a 'terrorist, communist, scumbag and murderer.'... Daily NewsThe DN printed some of the Facebook comments directed at Cruz. Makes for some fine bedtime reading.
But even more interesting was the downplaying of Mandela's politics, termed "right washing" --
With the passing of South African president Nelson Mandela Thursday came plenty of commentary from conservatives that completely altered his legacy, while at the same time trying to pretend that they have been supporters of Mandela all along. As Joan Walsh wrote in Salon, this “right washing” of Mandela’s legacy in order to paint the Republican party as allies in his fight against apartheid is unacceptable. But nothing is more symbolic of how far removed from reality the GOP is than a quick glance at Senator Ted Cruz’s Facebook post honoring Mandela’s legacy.... The Grio, MSNBCRemember that Ronald Reagan supported the apartheid South African government because it was anti-Soviet and the Soviets supported Mandela's ANC. Did some ANC engage in terrorist acts in the struggle? Sure. As Mandela said in the lead quote: When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.
Thus Mandela justified guerrilla and terrorist tactics and who is questioning that today given the conditions forced on the people of South Africa -- other than the even righter than thou critics of Ted Cruz -- which is pretty astounding -- and just read some of the comments directed at the press for supposedly using these wing nut comments as way to discredit Cruz -- in fact, that Cruz didn't go over that ledge is praiseworthy.
Thanks to the work Dave Siroonian did on this issue on his Facebook page.
Here are a few more:
David Siroonian shared a link.
One
of my favorite Louis Theroux documentaries. This combined with the
article posted below gives you the dark side of South Africa in the age
of the ANC.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mgr7xO1vmlw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mgr7xO1vmlw
Susan Ohanian's Saturday Morning Special
New Cartoon:
Found in a Standards-Struck Classroom
http://susanohanian.org/
This one received so much comment, I'll mention it again.
Teacher Contemplating Common Core
http://susanohanian.org/
You won't want to miss Duncan's recent remarks:
http://susanohanian.org/show_
http://susanohanian.org/show_
http://susanohanian.org/show_
I'm clearing my head tonight with a performance by classical guitarist, Xuefei Yang. I don't know how she did on PISA.
Susan
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Drinking the Technology-Enhanced Kool-aid
Susan Ohanian
blog
2013-12-06
http://susanohanian.org/core.
Quick! Somebody tell PARCC how much highlighters cost.
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Hey, There, Listen Up
Susan Ohanian
blog
2013-12-04
http://susanohanian.org/core.
Is anybody listening?
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It's official: No PARCC field tests for Florida
Jeffrey S. Solochek
Tampa Bay Times
2013-12-02
http://susanohanian.org/core.
The Tampa Bay Times has been a vigorous cheerleader from the Common Core. There have been no editorials yet on this new wrinkle.
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To the editor
Stephen Krashen
San Francisco Chronicle
2013-12-03
http://susanohanian.org/show_
Yes! We must say it again and again: Poverty. Poverty. Poverty.
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What’s Good For Bill Gates Turns Out To Be Bad For Public Schools
David Morris
Common Dreams
2013-11-30
http://susanohanian.org/
Morris makes an especially important point ignored by the press: To qualify for Obama Race to the Top Grants states had to march in step with Gates policies
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The Gates Foundation's Hypocritical Investments
Alex Park and Jaeah Lee
Mother Jones
2013-12-06
http://susanohanian.org/
Contrasting what Bill Gates says with where the Foundation invests its money.
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The Googlization of the Far Right: Why is Google Funding Grover Norquist, Heritage Action and ALEC?
Nick Surgey
Center for Media and Democracy: PR Watch
2013-11-27
http://susanohanian.org/
Google, the tech giant supposedly guided by its 'don't be evil' motto, has been funding a growing list of groups advancing the agenda of the Koch brothers.
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A Teacher Looks a Gift Horse in the Mouth
Sean Black to John Stossel
letter exchange
2013-12-04
http://susanohanian.org/
Sean Black explains why he's refusing Stossel's special offer to educators.
------------------------------
Order the CD of the resistance:
"No Child Left Behind? Bring Back the Joy."
To order online (and hear samples from the songs)
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/
Other orders: Send $15 to
Susan Ohanian
P. O. Box 26
Charlotte, VT 05445
Friday, December 6, 2013
Today's Paul Krugman column, "Obama Gets Real," misses boat by ignoring failed ed deform factor
How Krugman continues to refuse to address the gap between Obama rhetoric and action, especially when it comes to ed policy, is beyond me. Obama/Duncan and the rest of the pack of ed deformers have spent 5 years pushing the idea that getting higher quality teachers and removing so-called weaker teachers is the answer to the poverty/inequality question.
Because Obama made yet another speech Krugman feels we will see a change in policy? Let me tell Paul what I tell everyone about Randi and Mulgrew and de Blasio -- watch what they do, not what they say.
There is such an inherent contradiction between Obama's words and actions he firmly belongs in the Randi Weingarten "speaking out of 12 sides of the mouth while doing something else" hall of fame.
How Krugman refuses to address the gap between Obama rhetoric and action, especially when it comes to ed policy, is beyond me. Obama/Duncan and the rest of the pack of ed deformers have spent 5 years pushed the neo-liberal market-based idea that getting higher quality teachers and removing so-called weaker teachers is the answer to the poverty/inequality question.
Let's see Obama offer to bail out Detroit and his old town Chicago where public employee pension theft is taking place and will lead many more people into poverty and grow the inequality gap. Let him renege on the policies of his boy Rahm. Then Krugman can start talking about Obama returning to his progressive roots -- if he ever really had progressive roots.
Obama should seriously think of what Mandela might do in this situation and he will find he is a far cry from Mandela.
At least there are signs of a rising progressive wing in the Democratic Party as evidenced by Elizabeth Warren and Bill de Blasio (the jury will be out on him for a while).
A must-read piece in today's Times addressed this issue:
Coalition of Liberals Strikes Back at Criticism From Centrist Democrats
The Clintons and Obama are 3rd Way Democrats and the counter reaction to their weak-kneed moves to the right is causing them to reassess and nudge themselves in the direction of the Progressive wing -- a way to coopt. For us Randi-watchers we know exactly how that works. Just say a few words to cover your ass and stay the course. That is exactly what Obama's speech was about. Too bad Krugman keeps falling for it.
Obama Gets Real
By PAUL KRUGMAN
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/06/opinion/krugman-obama-gets-real.html?ref=todayspaper
And because the president was willing to assign much of the blame for rising inequality to bad policy....Whose bad policy? Do you think Race To The Top came from Republicans? Billions of dollars down the tubes to the testing/merit pay/bullcrap evaluations of teachers/consultants/etc., etc, etc. instead of going to really reforming education in a way to fight poverty. They might as well have just dumped that money directly into the pockets of the families of the poorest kids and they would have gotten better education results than looking for quality teacher nuggets -- or tossing more money at Teach for America.
Now, however, we have the president of the United States breaking ranks, finally sounding like the progressive many of his supporters thought they were backing in 2008. This is going to change the discourse — and, eventually, I believe, actual policy. ... Paul Krugman, NYTI'm a big Krugman fan but WTF is Krugman talking about? Breaks ranks from what Krugman has termed the "deficit scolds," which is where Obama has been coming from. But it's just a speech.
Because Obama made yet another speech Krugman feels we will see a change in policy? Let me tell Paul what I tell everyone about Randi and Mulgrew and de Blasio -- watch what they do, not what they say.
Mr. Obama laid out a disturbing — and, unfortunately, all too accurate — vision of an America losing touch with its own ideals, an erstwhile land of opportunity becoming a class-ridden society. Not only do we have an ever-growing gap between a wealthy minority and the rest of the nation; we also, he declared, have declining mobility, as it becomes harder and harder for the poor and even the middle class to move up the economic ladder..... And because the president was willing to assign much of the blame for rising inequality to bad policy, he was also more forthcoming than in the past about ways to change the nation’s trajectory, including a rise in the minimum wage, restoring labor’s bargaining power, and strengthening, not weakening, the safety net.So, Obama actually uttered the words "labor bargaining power" after 5 years of turning his back on unions and especially after 5 years of engaging in drone attacks on teachers and blaming union rules for the problems in education while signing on to the "no excuses based on poverty" argument? After giving the highest praise to the likes of Michelle Rhee?
There is such an inherent contradiction between Obama's words and actions he firmly belongs in the Randi Weingarten "speaking out of 12 sides of the mouth while doing something else" hall of fame.
How Krugman refuses to address the gap between Obama rhetoric and action, especially when it comes to ed policy, is beyond me. Obama/Duncan and the rest of the pack of ed deformers have spent 5 years pushed the neo-liberal market-based idea that getting higher quality teachers and removing so-called weaker teachers is the answer to the poverty/inequality question.
Let's see Obama offer to bail out Detroit and his old town Chicago where public employee pension theft is taking place and will lead many more people into poverty and grow the inequality gap. Let him renege on the policies of his boy Rahm. Then Krugman can start talking about Obama returning to his progressive roots -- if he ever really had progressive roots.
Obama should seriously think of what Mandela might do in this situation and he will find he is a far cry from Mandela.
At least there are signs of a rising progressive wing in the Democratic Party as evidenced by Elizabeth Warren and Bill de Blasio (the jury will be out on him for a while).
A must-read piece in today's Times addressed this issue:
Coalition of Liberals Strikes Back at Criticism From Centrist Democrats
The Clintons and Obama are 3rd Way Democrats and the counter reaction to their weak-kneed moves to the right is causing them to reassess and nudge themselves in the direction of the Progressive wing -- a way to coopt. For us Randi-watchers we know exactly how that works. Just say a few words to cover your ass and stay the course. That is exactly what Obama's speech was about. Too bad Krugman keeps falling for it.
Obama Gets Real
By PAUL KRUGMAN
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/06/opinion/krugman-obama-gets-real.html?ref=todayspaper
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