Susan O warms us up on a cold Xmas morn

UPDATED With cartoons.

The miracle of this season is that the Burlington paper actually printed an anti-Common Core Op Ed.
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=647

They promised to print one of mine but never did. I hope this is a sign of an editorial shift.

Elsewhere, the Corporate Rule abounds. Take this cartoon, where sugar plums aren't dancing in infants' heads. Instead they are watching their iPad apps from the comfort of their Fisher-Price Apptivity (TM) Seat, getting in step to be workers for the Global Economy.

http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_cartoons.php?id=992

As usual, I can't remember if I sent the following cartoons. They are laugh-out loud funny: the wisdom of children.

Following Directions
http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_cartoons.php?id=991

Name the Quadrilaterals
http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_cartoons.php?id=990

NOTE: I call your attention to 'CPS says no to charter schools, but Michael Madigan says yes' by Dan Mihalopoulos. Yes, it's Illinois politics but important to us all.

1. Kudos to reporter to digging in and revealing it
2. My notes reveal the part the unions played in all this.
3. We need to stop supporting Democrats just because they aren't Republicans.

Hoping for The Revolution in 2014.

Susan

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The wrong choices on standards Vermont should opt out of the Common Core curriculum
Keri Gelenian
Burlington Free Press
2013-12-23
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=647

Here's a strong denunciation of Common  Core from Vermont school administrator.

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Connecticut Governor to drop a $1 million to persuade voters to support Common Core
Jonathan Pelto
Wait What? blog
2013-12-22
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=646

It's interesting that two governors who overcame dyslexia support 'solutions' shipped in from central headquarters rather than individualistic local decision-making.

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D.C. schools gave 44 teachers mistaken job evaluations
Nick Anderson
Washington Post
2013-12-23
http://susanohanian.org/data.php?id=532

One teacher was fired because of mathematical error in rating system. What can you expect from an outfit that talks of Teacher and School Dosage?

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Common Core and your family's data
Bob Confer with Ohanian notes
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal
2013-12-23
http://susanohanian.org/data.php?id=531

The NY Times doesn't care but news  of the invasion of privacy and sharing of information across multiple sectors is getting to some local newspapers.

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Common Core in Kindergarten Class
a teacher
Diane Ravitch blog
2013-12-22
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=644

Close reading in kindergarten

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Testing Expert Calls for Moratorium on Common Core Testing
Fred Smith
Change the Stakes
2013-12-11
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=643

A longtime employee of the NY citytate board of education testing department calls for a moratorium on Common Core-aligned testing.

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    Orwellian Statements by Education Secretary Contradict Teacher Testimony to State Board of Ed
Susan Ohanian
Second  Vermont Republic
2013-12-18
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=642

Vermont Education Agency ignores kindergarten teacher testimony but touts hot air from praise of Common Core.

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Following David Coleman's Common Core Model: 17 Days on One Short Story
Reality-Based Educator
Perdido Street School
2013-10-19
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=641

Don't miss this close-up look at how 'close reading' works in Common Core, as well as the writer's conclusions of why this is happening.

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Millions in private money poured into Common Core promotion
Valerie Strauss and Carol Burris
Washington Post Answer Sheet
2013-12-10
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=640

Good information here but the vastness of the Gates influence is understated.

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SUBSTANCE EXCLUSIVE. 'While, I respect the right to opt out of testing, it is extremely important that all families understand that by doing so their child’s future could be negatively impacted...'
George N. Schmidt with Ohanian notes
Substance
2013-12-22
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=0

I take a look at some of the people running NWEA and their Chicago connections.

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CPS says no to charter schools, but Michael Madigan says yes

 Dan Mihalopoulos with Ohanian notes
Chicago Sun-times
2013-12-23
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1750

Some bloggers accuse Illinois Speaker of the House Madigan of incestuous relations with Concept Charter and Gulen. I offer some info on  union connections with Madigan.

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Mayor Bloomberg says Plight of Homeless 11-year-old is 'just the way God works'
Susan Ohanian
blog
2013-12-20
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1749

Bloomberg attributes plight of homeless child to 'that's the way God works.'



Fisher-Price preparing worker for global economy. They call this the Apptivity (TM) Seat--for iPad device.

Newborn to toddler.

$79. iPad not included.

Download free apps for this product, created with child development experts. As baby gets older, age-appropriate (sic) apps introduce letters, numbers and more through sing-along songs, sounds and friendly characters.

Three-point restraint for safety (won't protect infant from adult stupidity).

Fred Smith, Poet Luareate of the Real Reform Movement

The Night Before… Once More

‘Tis the old year that’s closing rosy and gloomy,                  

In with de Blasio and goodbye to Bloomy.                          

With citywide hope cautiously mingled with doubt,            

We’ll soon know down here whether to smile or to shout.   

Some fresh air to breathe, perhaps, while out of the North,  

Tisch and King blow chill winds and continue to froth.       

Insistent on putting coal core in each stocking,                     

They say with disdain our resistance is shocking.                 

“Tough standards we need them to prep kids for college,    

Make them think deeper, absorb non-fiction knowledge.”   

Took Tisch merely a decade to find the right path                

And figure that graduates should read and do math.            

Now there’s no time to lose, can’t afford to be late.             

We must race to the forefront; let other states wait.             

High expectations are back in fashion again.                        

“Hail to our boldness!  Can we get an amen?!                      

The answer is simple. We’ve discovered the Grail.               

Yet in order to grasp it, most children must fail.”                 

But New York parents from each hamlet and region            

Began to question SED’s rhyme and reason.                        

Teachers and principals also were worried;                           

They knew very well the “reform” had been hurried.           

Lofty goals had been set—wrapped in gold platitudes         

“Overcome inequities; reach high latitudes.”                         

Who’d dare to attack that—why, you might as well try       

To take arms against motherhood and apple pie.                   

But launching the Core would require much testing             

Which took place in April. And things got interesting.                     

We were warned that kids would be frustrated and fret.     

To the State that made sense, not a cause for regret.            

For they needed some measure to anchor the Core,              

No matter how poor the tests or how low the score.             

But the exams were so bad—much worse than they’d dreamed,     

Items so difficult, teachers silently screamed.                                   

Children couldn’t finish them; many even cried.                  

Parents said enough this time, and protests grew wide.        

King and Walcott assured them: “You don’t understand.    

A thirty percent drop in scores—Just what we’d planned.   

We now have a baseline from which we can grow.               

Going Down is the New Up.  Why, didn’t you know!”       

But if tests were the answer one question remained             

Where were all the resources to get teachers trained?           

To give students a chance of meeting Core standards          

The public rose up.  Explanations demanded.                       

Tisch and King had to leave their Albany palace                  

And hear how we felt ‘bout their Common Core Chalice.    

“How dare you set children up as pawns to knock down?   

This isn’t some board game and you aren’t the Crown!”      

King heard it straight from parents at his first forum.           

Teachers spoke up too.  He cringed.  It lacked decorum.      

Syracuse and Poughkeepsie—feelings running strong;         

Eastport roared the many ways the Core was wrong.           

Got so hot, King lost his cool; the jeers upset him.               

Saw soccer moms and special ops out there to get him.        

“That’s it.” he said. “It’s too real. Time to change the rules.

Give me crowds who love the Core, not truth-seeking fools.

‘Specially now, when I’m forced to visit the City.

Those crowds will be loud and show me no pity.”

And sure enough in Brooklyn, those allowed to speak

Each bore an I ♥ Core sign.  It truly was weak:

The sound of Core, Core seemed like cawing from all rows,

I felt I’m in a cornfield surrounded by crows.

The next night the City held a much fairer forum.

Half the crowd taught Tisch and King the meaning of De-Core’em.

~And so back to the future and twenty-fourteen.

We’re stronger now and growing and we have a dream.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And my friends, with 2014 upon us, we must hope with vigilance that the new mayor honors his commitment to a progressive agenda for the good of all children in the sacred trust of the New York City Public Schools. We know we must continue to beat back those at all levels who would do them harm.

Happy Holidays and a Healthy New Year.

Fred

Cato Holds Conference to PROVE Early Education Makes No Difference

Why hold a conference when you already know the answers? What next, finding research showing that pre-natal care has no impact? Actually, why have health care at all?

Ask anyone involved in this sham if they send their own kids to preschool programs. Will they mention the multi-million word gap between wealthy and poor kids entering school? Cato claims benefits of pre-school don't last. Of course if that is all we do they may not last. That's like saying that treating ill people with drugs and then taking them away means they get sick again.

Norman,

I wanted to let you know about an upcoming Cato event happening on January 7th that I thought you might be interested in covering.  The event centers around the debate over universal preschool education and features an excellent line-up of panelists including David J. Armor, Professor Emeritus of Public Policy, George Mason University, Deborah A. Phillips, Professor of Psychology, Georgetown University, Grover J. “Russ” Whitehurst, Director, Brown Center on Education Policy, Brookings Institution, and William T. Gormley, University Professor of Public Policy, Georgetown University.  The event will be moderated by Cato scholar Neal P. McCluskey, Associate Director, Center for Educational Freedom, Cato Institute.

For more details, please see the link below.  Additionally, if you’re unable to make it to the Cato Institute, we do stream all of our events live online.  Just go to cato.org/live at the time of the event.  We also post complete video coverage of the event on our website within a day of the event’s occurrence. 

Preschool Education: What the Research Says

If you would like to attend feel free to send me an email and let me know, I’ll make sure you’re added to the list of attendees.  Also, if you would like to interview Neal McCluskey don’t hesitate to let me know and I can arrange a time.

Thanks for your consideration,

Alexa

Alexa Moser

Media Relations Coordinator

The Cato Institute

Phone: 202-789-5251

@CatoPress

Here are some quick links on the issue so there is not need to try to guess the outcome of the conference.

1. Preschool is No Answer | Cato Institute

   www.cato.org/publications/commentary/preschool-is-no-answer‎

   by DF Salisbury - ‎2012 - ‎Cited by 1

   Those who call for more state funding for preschool age children are ignoring one important fact: American preschoolers are doing better than ever. Throughout ...
2. 
   

   The Poverty of Preschool Promises: Saving Children ... - Cato Institute

   www.cato.org/.../poverty-preschool-promises-saving-children-money-ea...‎

   by AB Schaeffer - ‎2012 - ‎Cited by 1 - ‎Related articles

   The political momentum behind state-level preschool programs is tremendous, but existing proposals are often flawed and expensive. Preschool can provide ...
3. 
   

   Preschool Education: What the Research Says | Cato Institute

   www.cato.org/events/preschool-education-what-research-says‎

   by N McCluskey - ‎2014

   Indeed, touting the benefits of “high-quality” programs, President Obama has proposed spending $75 billion to expand preschool to all four-year olds. But on ...
4. 
   

   Universal Preschool Is No Golden Ticket: Why ... - Cato Institute

   www.cato.org/.../universal-preschool-is-no-golden-ticket-why-governme...‎

   by DA Olsen - ‎2012 - ‎Cited by 12 - ‎Related articles

   Georgia and New York have implemented universal preschool programs for four-year-olds, and other states have taken steps in that direction. Those programs ...
5. 
   

   Benefits of Preschool Don't Last | Cato Institute

   www.cato.org/publications/commentary/benefits-preschool-dont-last‎

   by DA Olsen - ‎2012 - ‎Cited by 1 - ‎Related articles

   “Universal preschool” is the education establishment's catchphrase for expanding the public school system to include all 3- and 4-year-olds, and Gore is making ...
6. 
   

   Preschool's Anvil Chorus | Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute

   www.cato.org/blog/preschools-anvil-chorus‎

   Feb 12, 2013 - Overcome by the sound of their own chorus, universal federal pre-K advocates are deaf to the evidence. For the sake of the children they seek, ...
7. 
   

   Preschool in the Nanny State | Cato Institute

   www.cato.org/publications/commentary/preschool-nanny-state‎

   by DA Olsen - ‎2012 - ‎Cited by 1 - ‎Related articles

   MAKE NO MISTAKE: The push for universal preschool is on. Already the state of Georgia offers free preschool to every 4-year-old, and New York is phasing in a ...
8. [PDF]
   

   30. Early Education and Child Care - Cato Institute

   object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/serials/files/cato.../hb107-30.pdf‎

   mistaken idea that today's preschoolers aren't prepared for kindergarten. The truth is that 70 percent of preschool-aged children already attend preschools, and ...
9. 
   

   Universal Preschool Is No Golden Ticket: Why ... - Cato Institute

   www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-333es.html‎

   by DA Olsen - ‎Cited by 12 - ‎Related articles

   Feb 9, 1999 - Why Government Should Not Enter the Preschool Business. by Darcy Ann Olsen. Darcy Ann Olsen is an entitlements policy analyst at the Cato ...

True Confessions: I Used to Give Kids Finish-like Breaks

An American teacher now working in an elementary school in Finland, via the Diane Ravitch blog, writes about the differences.

Finnish schools often schedule lessons into hour-long blocks: 45 minutes of instruction, 15 minutes of break. Students rarely have back-to-back lessons without breaks—and at the elementary level, it's expected that children will spend their breaks playing outside, rain or shine.... This was a turning point for me. I shifted my approach, and began to notice that the students were more refreshed when they returned to the classroom after frequent but short breaks. The breaks helped children pace themselves.... Back in the States, I remember days when I pushed young students to produce work even when they were clearly dragging their feet. The idea of allowing a break away from the classroom didn't cross my mind. Now I'm convinced that regular breaks help students to stay balanced and sharp throughout the day. 

Back in those ancient days of teachers controlling what they could do in the classroom, when I detected fatigue on the part of the children I would say, "Take a break."What that break entailed was entirely up to them. They were free to move about the room but no running or leaving the room unless they asked. Lights out meant break was over and they were to go to their seats. It wasn't only about detecting their fatigue -- it was about mine too. I tried to be an energetic teacher and when I wasn't my effectiveness went into a dive. So logically, taking a few minutes to recharge made sense -- and one of the things that recharged me was the ability to have kids during the break just come up and chat about anything. And the chats they had with each other resulted in world peace in my classrooms -- kids really got along because of this level of socialization -- and I think they had fun. But I won't get away from the fact that there was time taken away from the learning that is so prevalent today. Does common core standards have room for social interaction?

Randi, Cami and Newark: Anyone for a Quisling Reference?

These two have a long history together. The dynamic works like this: Randi gives Cami whatever she wants, then complains about Cami exercising the freedoms that Randi has given her. It's sort of like the dynamic Randi is alleged to have with everyone else, except the 'gives', and later the 'complaints', are more pronounced and eye catching than anywhere else....she's not just given the keys to a reformer, Randi has given the keys to a loser reformer. ... JG on MORE Discussion list

This is so much shit it is not funny. They make veteran teachers' lives a living hell. They transfer us, give us lousy evaluations and refuse to listen to a word we say. The administrators in my two most recent schools all parrot the same crap about Common Core. It is like talking to the wall. The newbies live in fear.... Newark veteran teacher

I reported on the attempt to destroy pub ed in Newark and the resistance the other day Klein Klone Kami Gets Pushback Over Attack on Publ... 

So Randi actually has the nerve to make these comments after helping force a contract down the throats of the Newark teachers. My anon friend quoted above despises Randi.

Weingarten cited what she called “grievance upon grievance” lodged by union members who say the district has not lived up to its pledges, which included additional support and coaching of lower-performing teachers. Of Anderson, Weingarten said she has “turned her back and stopped listening to teachers’ voices. . . . She has said tough luck, and if you can’t do it, you’ll be fired.”

Worst Person in the World

DUHHH, Randi! You mean you couldn't trust a snake like Cami Anderson? City after city falls to the idiocy of a union leadership falling into the trap of ed deform. Randi could make the same statement and just change the name of the city and the slug in charge.

A comment on one of the listserves made this point: "Quisling Rat Weingarten who snared Newark teachers with her dirty deal with Christie and Cami Anderson whines about the trap she helped set."

RBE at Perdido Street did a hit on Randi's bullshit today:

Weingarten is so full of crap every time she opens her mouth in criticism of Bloomberg. She was integral to the Bloomberg Reform Agenda when she was leading the UFT and later when she moved over to the AFT... she got teacher raises for her "collaboration" with Bloomberg. But the salary increases teachers received for conceding on seniority and other givebacks has in the end turned into blood money....the Newark contract that sold out teachers was pushed by Weingarten and hailed as a new model for teacher contracts......Calling Randi Weingarten Out On Her Bloomberg Criticism

The Star-Ledger of course jumps to the whistle of ed deform like a dog but here is a one response.

What the newspaper calls “sensible and bold reforms” amount to the elimination of neighborhood schools in much of the city, a transfer of assets to corporate-backed charters, and the destruction of much of the city’s history and culture–Weequahic High, one of New Jersey’s most historic high schools,  should be on the National Registry, not on the auction block, nor on the table for a “redesign” that will close it.

"Shrieking" People of Color Demanding Autonomy, and Other Threats to America

When black people in Newark start getting a little too "uppity," it's time to fluff up the pillows on our local punditocracy's fainting coach. Quickly, someone catch the editorialists at the Star-Ledger - and bring the smelling salts!

- See more at: http://jerseyjazzman.blogspot.com/2013/12/shrieking-people-of-color-demanding.html#sthash.feG2RheP.dpuf

"Shrieking" People of Color Demanding Autonomy, and Other Threats to America

- See more at: http://jerseyjazzman.blogspot.com/#sthash.GjnMggqH.dpuf

Jersey Jazzman  takes 2 bites of the apple:

Two Newarks - So the big plan to "save" Newark's schools, One Newark, was announced this week, and - surprise! - the big winners are the charter schools: As part of a co... 

"Shrieking" People of Color Demanding Autonomy, and Other Threats to America - When black people in Newark start getting a little too "uppity," it's time to fluff up the pillows on our local punditocracy's fainting coach. 

Here is the essence of the union sellout - dirty money.

The agreement between the district and the Newark Teachers Union included the state’s first large-scale use of performance bonuses for teachers found to be performing at a high level. It also included extensive provisions for teachers to take part in peer evaluations and the reviews of the final job ratings.

....a good reason why teachers are so mistrustful of the latest force tube feeding of ed deform pablum by the unions: the evaluation system and the common core. If Bill Gates said every teacher would improve if they ate a spoonful of shit every morning Randi would be handing out spoons.

Anderson largely stayed out of the fray yesterday, leaving her spokesman to issue a statement criticizing the rally as a whole…In a phone interview, state Education Commissioner Chris Cerf was less reluctant to engage, and he strongly contested Weingarten’s specific claims.

Chris Cerf in drag

He said an additional $50 million was spent to meet the agreement’s promises to teachers and other staff.
“I can assure you that the contract has been fully and honorably implemented,” Cerf said. “I am absolutely confident that all the components of the contract have occurred exactly as they were agreed upon.”

 Cerf added that the city teachers union subsequently blocked the district from gaining federal Race to the Top money for new technology and programming, because they union claimed it has not been kept apprised of the application. “What Randi seems to have forgotten is this contract brought $50 million more into the pockets of Newark teachers, http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/13/12/09/new-era-of-cooperation-in-newark-school-gives-way-to-animosity/

So Cerf makes the point about Randi's dirty money -- she sold the $50 million in exchange for getting screwed.

Here are some comments on the MORE Discussion list:

I'll start with a clarifier; Anderson has never ever listened to teachers' voices and Randi knows this well.  Cami was the d79 sup and never ever listened to teachers back then (who consistently said that college prep shouldn't be the focus of the district). She also worked closely with Randi and Marc Korashan to close d79 schools quicker, and without public input, than any other type of school back (in 2007). These two have a long history together. The dynamic works like this: Randi gives Cami whatever she wants, then complains about Cami exercising the freedoms that Randi has given her. It's sort of like the dynamic Randi is alleged to have with everyone else, except the 'gives', and later the 'complaints', are more pronounced and eye catching than anywhere else. And through this, Cami has never ever once demonstrated a noteworthy success. So she's not just given the keys to a reformer, Randi has given the keys to a loser reformer. From an arguments perspective, both Randi AND the reformers are weakest when the topic turns to Newark..... John G.

I'm less interested in responding to the central problems of this issue, though there are many, but to the constant refrain by our union leaders that they are "shocked, shocked," to find that some agreement, some contract, some evaluation system, some merit pay system, some "anything" they've negotiated has not implemented, funded or administered in the way that "it was intended." If our union's leaders enter into these agreements, over and over and over again, and the results are not 'managed" as they were intended, then the other side of the table should be ASSUMED to be acting in bad faith and the folks on this side of the table should be ASSUMED to be imbeciles.  Members who continue to elect such union leaders should be ASSUMED to be unconscious or willfully negligent.    .... HL

Quisling AstroTurf Groups Like E4E and Teach Plus Reality Distortion

 ...the views of most early career teachers differ from those of many veteran teachers. As a national survey conducted by Teach Plus in 2012 found, early career teachers are more likely than their veteran peers to strongly support rigorous evaluations, performance-based compensation, and inclusion of student growth measures in teacher evaluations..... Balderdash from ed deform astroturf orgs.

NYC has been inundated by early career teachers over the 12 years of Bloomberg. Are they shouting about supporting ed deform crapola other than the few in E4E which despite enormous funding with full-time organizers can't gain much traction while MORE begins to attract teachers who decide to remain in the system once they get tenure and finish their grad studies?

I would say that most MOREistas have only been teaching under Bloomberg. In fact looking at the 11 new MORE steering committee taking office this week and the 10 people on the outgoing committee about half are in the relative newbie category. But I guess we can classify a veteran teacher nowadays at about 4 or 5 years.

The people in MORE vs the temps who join E4E is a counter-sign to their claims. They don't seem to have the nerve to test out their polls by actually running in a union election to see just how they would fare.

The fact that they are trying to claim union Quislings like Randi are out of touch because they fight ed deform is laughable. The very rise of MORE and CORE and NEW Caucus and lots more are due to Weingarten and her brethren doing the very opposite of fighting ed deform (see my follow-up piece on Randi whining about being stabbed in the back by her pal Cami Anderson in Newark -- and see Christie's response which will give you a laugh.

Just watch the next few years and see whether I or Teach Plus is right about where the new generation of teachers will stand once they get a few years in the classroom under their belts.

The Teacher “Union” Problem Within As teacher unions step up their calls to stop the “corporate agenda” in education and to confront the “privatization” movement, there is a far more real and serious threat facing teacher unions. The threat comes not from billionaires or charter schools or philanthropists. Rather, it comes from many teacher unions’ difficulty to modernize and reshape themselves in the midst of profound demographic changes of their members. At stake are the relevance and even existence of teacher unions–a force that historically has played such a vital role in American public school education.

Three basic demographic facts of today’s public school teachers should give teacher unions long pause before continuing to support policies that appeal primarily to a shrinking base of veteran teachers: 1) 52% of U.S. public school teachers have fewer than 10 years of experience (up from 25% in the 1980′s); 2) Approximately one million (or about 30%) of all U.S. public school teachers are expected to retire in the next five years; and 3) Today, there are more first year teachers in American classrooms than there are teachers at any other experience level.

As significantly, the views of most early career teachers differ from those of many veteran teachers. As a national survey conducted by Teach Plus in 2012 found, early career teachers are more likely than their veteran peers to strongly support rigorous evaluations, performance-based compensation, and inclusion of student growth measures in teacher evaluations  http://www.teachplus.org/page/newsroom-6/news/december-2013-342.html?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter+December+2013&utm_content=Newsletter+December+2013+CID_db0b06033f284dd40592acc2e0299360&utm_source=Campaign%20Monitor&utm_term=Read%20more

Matt Vaz in The Brooklyn Rail (With an Old Quote From Moi)

Then he gets on the train, everybody in the train car has to lie face-down on the floor with their hands behind their head. Then the train goes 150 yards, and then stops in between two stations, and then Bloomberg exits through a private tunnel, and then gets back in his helicopter and flies to Bermuda to get a manicure and pedicure. He goes to Bermuda every day. He loves that spot. He bought a house down there because he wanted someplace to practice his Spanish. See, he thought they speak Spanish in Bermuda. It sounds like a Spanish name right. And nobody even told him. He just goes around talkin’ to everybody in Spanish, and they just nod, mumble some bullshit, and keep on wit’ his manicure. But see, he couldn’t even find somebody to tell him they speak English down in Bermuda. Everybody just tells ’im what he wants to hear.  ... Matt Vaz quoting Efrain Irizarry, The Brooklyn Rail

While I remember the rally we (GEM, Class Size Matters, etc) held at Bloomberg's home, I don't remember much about my conversation with Matt. And look at what I said -- actually makes sense and is sort of literate -- something I am not capable of doing today. Matt, thanks for reminding me I used to have a brain. And that I was once energetic.

Here is the quote:

On the evening of January 21, 2010 a group of protestors has assembled outside of the Mayor’s mansion on 79th Street in Manhattan. “We’re here to protest school closings,” explains Norm Scott, a retired teacher and an energetic activist. “We’re here to stop the privatization of the public school system. People are here from all over the city,” he says pointing to the crowd of 350 people. “We have young teachers, old teachers. We have parents out here, we have elementary school kids out here. They want to keep their schools open. They want to be treated fairly. They can see what’s going on. This mayor and his friends want to privatize the schools. And in order to do that they need to break the organic connection between neighborhood and school. They make some money on Wall Street and in the banking sector, and they feel that makes them experts in educational policy. They have an ideology that puts private over public. They would privatize the air we breathe if we gave them the chance. If nobody stands up to this man we’ll be breathing corporate air and attending Halliburton schools.”

And this note from Matt, who used to be a teacher in Brooklyn - congrats on your escape from the madhouse.

Hi Norm,

My name is Matthew Vaz. I am a professor in the History department at City College. I did a little slapdash interview with you about four years ago, on the day you organized that wonderful protest outside of Bloomberg's mansion.

I was going to use the material for a piece in the Brooklyn Rail...but for some reason I stuffed it in a drawer. Yet the Politics Editor at the Rail is stepping down, so I decided to squeeze in one last piece while he is till over there...also I wanted to get in some final thoughts on Bloomberg. So I dusted off the piece, updated it a bit and ran it...

You are quoted at length...I think you may find the whole thing amusing.

...I am a former Public School Teacher (PS 305 in the old District 13) and I was raised by a Public School teacher (PS 85 in Queens)...and I love and admire what you (and those who roll with you...Julie Cavanagh etc.) are doing and have been doing...

Keep up the fight for real reform

feel free to share the link or the text of the piece...

http://www.brooklynrail.org/2013/12/local/bloombergs-in-his-helicopter-and-the-children-are-snug-in-their-beds

Best Regards
Matt Vaz

 And the link to Matt's article.

Videos of PS 321 Event: Teachers Talk Testing

Help Us Lower the Stakes Around Testing for Teachers and Families in NYC

I attended this amazing event at PS 321 which I reported on (Teachers Talk Testing Forum at PS 321)
I didn't have to film as a professional film maker, Michael Elliot, has been working with various groups opposing high stakes testing. He has put up a batch of videos cut into short very watchable segments. They include teachers from PS 321 and MOREistas Julie Cavanagh and Sam Coleman.

View then here:
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOTDp0kcHMYXNLtZmiTvv-w 

And here is the email we got today -- they want to spread the word to as many places as possible. So if you have something to say about testing, turn on those video cameras or cell phones and go to it -- then you will be able to upload to their site.
If interested in hosting a similar event at your school email:
teacherstalktesting@gmail.com

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Thank you for signing our "Help Us Lower the Stakes Around Testing for Teachers and Families in NYC".   We are thrilled that so many have signed on.  We've been getting attention from the press and have almost 700 signatures already!

We are so excited to share selected videos from the December 3rd Teachers Talk Testing Forum. They can be found at www.teacherstalktesting.com. The videos feature the stories shared by the teachers and administrators who spoke during the forum.  The stories were powerful expressions of the high cost of high-stakes testing.  We encourage you to view & share!  

We're planning on hand-delivering our petition against high-stakes testing to Mayor-elect de Blasio on Wednesday, January 15th.  We have almost 700 signatures already. Help us get past 1,000 by sharing link to the video and petition as widely as possible.

Teachers, please share your story about how high-stakes testing has impacted you.  Send a short video to teacherstalktesting@gmail.com and we will post it on teacherstalktesting.com.  For questions, email us at teacherstalktesting@gmail.com. 

Sincerely, 

Alex

PS

To view the full length speeches, visit our Youtube channel here:  http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOTDp0kcHMYXNLtZmiTvv-w 

And to see some of the press we've been getting, visit the follow links:

http://www.wnyc.org/story/brooklyn-teachers-decry-high-stakes-attached-tests/

http://gothamschools.org/2013/12/06/at-forum-teachers-share-testing-woes-and-parents-talk-opt-out/ 

Portelos Update: A Para for the Defense, Part 2

The story below is a warning to anyone who might think that taxpayer supported DOE Legal has any interest in the truth.

Part 1 is here: Portelos Update: A Para for the Defense, DOE Pulls Race Card, Theresa Europe Sits in to Intimidate Hearing Officer


PORTELOS HEARING DEC. 18, 2013

CROSS EXAMINATION by DOE Legal Jordana Shenkman –

JS: U heard rumors of Apr 2011 meeting P brought up safety concerns – u weren’t there to hear who brought what up and based on hearsay –U didn’t hear admin response – CS: “they don’t talk to us”
JS: U don’t say hello to Hill – 
CS: she doesn’t say hello to us. Majority of tchrs said – she didn’t --- I took it personal – but told to get used to it.
None of admin said hello to most teachers – I stopped taking it personal

JS: you say people at schl afraid of Admin – are u aware of people afraid of P? 
CS: NOT ONE.
JS: You say safety not being addressed at school – 
CS: I KNOW IT.
JS: That didn’t stop u from sneaking in 2 strange men thru back door not through schl security?
OBJ from Chris Callegy: – You don’t get to make things up. No foundation for your question. 

Now you have to follow the bouncing ball of Shenkman's outrageous (and embarrassing - to her) question about 2 strange men sneaking through security. Shenkman made a big point that they did not sign in - making it look like a criminal act. And also Shenkman's attempt to make it appear CS was disciplined for doing so. The real story came out under Chris C's cross. I'll paraphrase.

CS had bought a small refrigerator for the office she shared and brought her husband and his friend to the school to take it down to his car. [CS was leaving the school permanently and it was the end of the school year.] He drove up to the front of the school but the custodian told him to drive to the loading dock where the door would be open which it was. As they walked two of the AP'S were there and saw them and said nothing. CS took them to security where the guard did not have passes handy and also said she knows CS' husband so she waved them through without signing in.

Principal Linda Hill, vindictive in every way, got in touch CS' district 75 principal who had to take his valuable time to look at the video tape and then told CS not to go back to the school again for the final few days.

She was never disciplined in any way.

The story above is a warning to anyone who might think that taxpayer supported DOE Legal has any interest in the truth.

Portelos Update: A Para for the Defense, DOE Pulls Race Card, Theresa Europe Sits in to Intimidate Hearing Officer

There was only fear of the administration. YES everyone is in fear of them, not Portelos. .. former Para, IS 49SI.

According to Shenkman, a para - with a high school education - and a parent with 5 kids of her own - is not qualified to make a judgement as to whether someone is a good teacher. What arrogance and elitism. ... Report from Portelos hearing, Dec. 18

I finally was able to attend the 14th day of the Portelos 3020a hearing after missing the last few. Today there will be another and more after the holidays. For DOE lawyers and subsidiaries: ka-ching - At the afternoon session there were 4 DOE lawyers taking part, including Slug in Chief, Theresa Europe, who was there to make sure DOE Legal Slugette, Jordana Shenkman, pulled the race card with vigor (she did). But that was in the afternoon.

I'll do a follow-up about the afternoon testimony where we watched in amusement (and horror) as DOE legal beagle Shenkman pulled the race card on a Portello witness, as they had previously tried to do on Portelos himself - (also pulling the anti-semitic card on him). Shenkman should never be allowed into a China shop.

One thing is clear from these hearings: The absolute incompetence of IS 49 SI principal Linda Hill who everyone at the DOE seems to know is incompetent but is being protected by assaulting Portelos, who once he came under attack struck back with a vengeance. It is that vengeance he is being charged with while they try to bury the attack on him. I'll get more into the weeds in future posts.

A Para for the Defense

First to the morning testimony of a very strong witness for Portelos, a District 75 para (initials CS) at IS 49 who has since transferred to another school, who stood up to every attempt by Shenkman to break her, including an attempt so clumsy we had to hold our sides to keep from laughing out loud.

CS was a management para who followed the children she worked with from class to class through the day (except gym).

On Portelos as a teacher

Worked with him every year. Judgement of him as a teacher – very impressed – always put nice spin on teaching – kids very attentive. He gave Dist. 75 kids extra attention – especially one child with extreme difficulties. The kids were always orderly and listened to him.
Colleague to colleague he was very easy to work with – he once did rocket ships in school yard and included me, making me feel very much part of the lesson.
CC: Was it remarkable to be included by a teacher? CS: Yes [P was different from other teachers in the way he treated paras as equals.]

Shenkman OBJECTIONS and Cross Examination on this point alone:
 - anything you saw a first yr probat tchr do is not relevant (referring to how he treated one special ed child years ago when P was a new teacher). Then this from Shenkman:

JS: Not part of your resp to observe or eval tchrs.

CS: No.

JS: What is your ed degree?

CS: None. HS diploma.
JS: Was it your job to pay attention to special needs students – your job to stay focused on them – get them started with work – [meaning she couldn't know what kind of teacher P was if she was focusing on her job]

CS: I always instructed to help all public school children not just mine.
JS: You saw P one per a day – 8 periods – for 7 per follow assigned student – you didn’t see P teach other 7 periods.

According to Shenkman, a para - with a high school education - and a CS is also a parent with 5 kids of her own - is not qualified to make a judgement as to whether someone is a good teacher. What arrogance and elitism.

Note to Jordana Shenkman: Paraprofessionals are education professionals with the ability to make a judgement as to what good teaching is.

Jordana Shenkman with less qualifications to judge a teacher's competency than CS feels perfectly free to judge Portelos as not competent to teach (as she tried to prove by calling a network curriculum support person who was sent in to do a hit job).


How principal Linda Hill treated the staff
This testimony was so strong on how Linda Hill has run IS 49. (When the hearing is over we will print the transcripts). If a teacher said good morning Hill would not respond. "It was that way from the day I set foot in the school. At first I though it was personal but I was told she treats everyone that way so get over it."

We needed help – kids hitting teachers, wallet stolen –and we can’t report it - teachers crying – fear – always the principal against us – I worked in other schools – administration and teachers always worked together.

When there was a problem did you speak to Hill?

"She was unapproachable – she locked herself in her office all day."

On Portelos as a colleague

Shenkman: Are you aware of people having nervous breakdowns over fear of P or crying in hall? People filing police reports for fear of P? 

CS: NO.

JS: You weren’t aware in fear of P stalking or following them? 

CS: There was only fear of the administration. YES everyone is in fear of them not Portelos.

On the April 2011 meeting where Portelos first spoke up about the safety issue:

CS: I wasn't at the meeting but the school was buzzing.
Did u hear what P did? He stood up and said things about security and safety of building? I said to him you are so young and naive – I knew there would be retaliation.
P told me – what do u mean? I spoke the truth.
But you opened can of worms – everyone should be backing you. I was very concerned he was going to be a target. He led everyone to be able to say something.

This was April 2011, 6 months before things began to blow up. And when they did in January 2012,

CS: I spoke to R(another para) – this is all because P spoke up at that (April 2011) meeting.

There's more to this testimony where Shenkman made an outrageous attempt to discredit CS, an attempt crude and truly disgusting. And how her D. 75 admins backed her all the way. Best to do that in a separate post.

And then there is the afternoon disgusting stuff where the hearing officer, maybe hoping to impress Theresa Europe, made an outrageous decision to allow a racist neo-Nazi publication that intentionally misquoted a Portelos witness into official evidence. Portelos lawyer Chris Callegy is usually a cool customer but in this case he was livid.

READ Portelos' latest post on his blog (he is gagged from commenting on the hearings until they end):

DOE’s Digital Duct Tape

Teacher Protest Over Naming College Office for Walcott

It's hugely disappointing that administration has unilaterally decided to pay tribute to a man who has worked tirelessly to make our jobs less professional, who has vilified us at every turn, who has refused to offer us the compensation he saw fit to give other city employees, and who has supported every baseless corporate reform that has come down the pike while he occupied this office.....Arthur Goldstein, UFT Chapter Leader, Francis Lewis High School

Suck-up deal done without consultation. Two well-known bloggers involved in the school object. Frankly, after watching the 3 Bloomberg Chancellors in action, I would rather see something named for the Cathie Black who did the least harm.

NYC Educator has the scoop (Read some great comments there too.)

As does former FLHS teacher Pissed Off who suggests a better name for the office: Jeff Spielvogel College Office

I think I went to high school (and maybe grade school) with Jeff Spielvogel who had a very distinctive voice that comes back to me even 50 years later. Sadly, I believe he is no longer alive (but if you know differently let me know).

Klein Klone Kami Gets Pushback Over Attack on Public Education in Newark

Cami Anderson, the new Michelle Rhee, is trying to pull off massive destruction of Newark public school system. Is Anderson real or just a marionette whose strings are being pulled by ed deformers behind a curtain?

From NEW Caucus:

ESS CONFERENCE AND RALLY AT WEEQUAHIC HIGH SCHOOL!

-  Fight School Closings/Renews/Charters

-  11am, Weequahic High School, 279 Chancellor Ave., Newark, 07112.

We know most of you will be in school working hard, but if not, please join the education workers and community to defend historic Weequahic High.

In Solidarity,

Newark Education Workers Caucus

(NEW Caucus)

And the Star Ledger:

http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2013/12/baraka_community_leaders_to_rally_in_protest_of_newark_school_closings.html

Baraka, community leaders to rally in protest of Newark school closings

By David Giambusso/The Star-Ledger

on December 19, 2013 at 2:20 PM, updated December 19, 2013 at 4:19 PM

Newark Mayoral Candidate Ras Baraka is organizing a rally to protest changes to Newark schools announced this week.Saed Hindash/The Star-Ledger 

NEWRK — Newark mayoral candidate and South Ward Councilman Ras Baraka is heading up a rally Friday morning to protest a major overhaul of Newark public schools announced this week by Superintendent Cami Anderson.

The plan, which met with a raucous reception at a school board meeting this week, would increase the presence of charter schools by expanding them into district-owned buildings.

Anderson plans to convert three elementary schools into early childhood centers, relocate five schools to under-utilized facilities and transform three comprehensive high schools into smaller academies. The goal, Anderson said, is to improve local options for all residents.

"You should have options for great schools in your neighborhood or ward," Anderson said this week. "How do we get to that day faster and in every ward? We're jump-starting change."
But community members in the state-run district routinely accuse Anderson of shuttering neighborhood schools in order to expand charters.
"Baraka will discuss how the plan will further damage Newark’s public and charter schools with an onslaught of unproven “reforms” that violate charter school guidelines and practices, close traditional public schools, and virtually eliminate parental involvement," read a statement from the Baraka campaign.

The rally will be held in front of Weequahic High School — one of the schools set to be eliminated and remade as two single-sex academies — Friday at 11 a.m.

RELATED COVERAGE

• Newark school restructuring includes plans to put charters in district buildings