Bullying goes viral
It used to be that a bully would punch Johnny in the nose and steal his lunch money. Now, he or she’s more likely to write a nasty note on Johnny’s Facebook wall and send a withering rebuke to his cell phone via text message. And he or she is more likely to do it outside of school time. So what’s a school to do?
The cold union shoulder
After many rounds of election-time Kumbaya, both of the nation’s big teacher unions seem to have had it with Change We Can Believe In. Nobody from the Obama administration will speak at either the American Federation of Teachers or National Education Association conventions this summer.
Poor translation
Is Savannah’s Alfred Ely Beach High a “failing school”? After hiring a new principal in 2005, its graduation rate rose from 49 to 66 percent. Most students now meet state standards. Its school choir was even invited to sing at President Obama’s inauguration. But after seven years on the state’s academic watch list, it’s now primed for state takeover.
Second chance or fresh start?
How much does a track record matter? Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa says a lot. That’s why he’s encouraging the LA Unified School District to hand over more schools to charter operators in this year’s round of school takeover bids.
The education lives of team captains: ESP & GER
Yesterday Netherlands knocked out Uruguay and became the first team to advance to the World Cup 2010 finals, making a lot of fans happy.
Education news nuggets
Arne Duncan is losing favor quickly with the NEA, but this teacher likes a lot of what he has to say.
Quotable and notable
?We passed [national standards] as what was best for Wyoming. It was not attached to any kind of federal reason at all.? ?Sandra Barton, Chair of the Wyoming State Board of Education
Education news nuggets
It was the 4th of July this weekend, and a blistering heat wave swept the east coast, but Congressman Obey's welcome might be cold enough for Arne Duncan.
Quotable and notable
?In a lot of places we've had almost no incentives and a lot of disincentives to figure out who are the hardest working teachers and principals and how ?we systemically get them to the children ? inner city, suburban, rural ? who need the most help.? ?Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education
What if silver lined a harmless cloud?
In response to Stafford's previous post on edujobs and our discussion, I've got a couple questions for Stafford ? and also Mike, Rick, and Andy, and our audience ? when you all get a chance:
Education news nuggets
Hope everyone out there is preparing for a great Independence Day weekend, but if you have some time it might not hurt to watch a SEED grow on Sixty Minutes.?
A silver lining to Obey's edujobs?
Stafford PalmieriDon't let the title of this blog post confuse you: I still think the Obey amendment is an abomination. But Mickey just came in my office (on a tear!) to find out, having read my post from this morning, whether or not I think ?RTT is the most effective federal education program ever.? So let me clarify.
Too late, Obey's edujobs amendment passes
Stafford PalmieriLast night, the House passed that war bill with the $10 billion in teacher job bailout (H.R.
Quotable and notable
?At the end of the day, we must always act?truly act?in the best interest of our students. That is why I am an educator, and that is what education must be about.? -Deborah A. Gist, Rhode Island Commissioner of Education
The worst news in Cleveland this week has nothing to do with LeBron
Emmy L. PartinThe same week that Washington, DC's city council approved that district's landmark teachers union contract, an arbiter in Ohio has issued a ruling that may kill Cleveland's aca
Education head-to-heads: ARG v. GER & PAR v. ESP
Bianca Speranza, Jamie Davies O'LearyThis morning Netherlands ousted Brazil to secure a spot in the World Cup final four. Ohio Gadfly wrongly?predicted Brazil's win, even though we know the Netherlands? is a tough contender in both futbol and in education.
Education head-to-heads: BRA v. NED & URU v. GHA
For those of us who are still utterly disappointed that Italy didn't even make it to the round of 16, or that the US couldn't pull off an equally stunning last-minute win against Ghana, there are still some great matches headed our way as World Cup 2010 heads into the final eight.?
Bobb v. Detroit School Board: Round?20439580
Stafford PalmieriWe've been following the Detroit Public Schools' (nay, the entire city of Detroit's) makeover attempts for going on a
Quotable and notable
?It's no good to have great standards and horrible assessments. We have seen what poor assessments can do.? ?Terry Stoops, Director of Education Studies, John Locke Foundation 68
Education news nuggets
Will for profit colleges survive?these Wall Streeters don't think so. Looking for potential National Standards pitfalls? New Zealand has some important lessons to teach us.
Edujobs bill: To avoid cuts, make cuts?
Stafford PalmieriI'd be hard pressed to top Mike Antonucci's beautifully apt blog post title ?Cannibals,? but mine is a little more explanatory.
Quotable and notable
?The education system in Nevada does not measure up and is not providing all our children with the world-class education they deserve.? -Brian Sandoval, Nevada Gubernatorial Candidate
Skepticism about Chicago's charter unionization
Emmy L. PartinTeachers at the Chicago Math and Science Academy notified school leaders last week that they are joining the AFT-affiliate Chicago Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff.?? Curbing teacher turnover was touted as the primary driver for unionizing.
The Impact of a Universal Class-Size Reduction Policy: Evidence from Florida's Statewide Mandate
Matthew ChingosHarvard University, Program on Education Policy and GovernanceMay 2010
The National Study of Charter Management Organization (CMO) Effectiveness
Kathryn Mullen UptonCenter for Reinventing Public EducationRobin Lake, Brianna Dusseault, Melissa Bowen, Allison Demeritt, Paul HillJune 2010
Public catching on to pension system woes
Emmy L. Partin, Terry RyanThe truth is finally setting in about the health of Ohio’s public pension systems, but one shouldn’t be too optimistic that major reforms are on the horizon.
Worst SIG-winning schools get $31 million. Similar charters would be shuttered.
Emmy L. PartinOhio has one of the most stringent academic ???death penalties??? in the country for our charter schools.?? If they perform poorly enough for long enough, the state will force them to close their doors.?? (And, for the record, that's a good thing ???
Cyber-learning lessons from Georgia
Terry RyanTerry has an op-ed in yesterday's Cleveland Plain Dealer that's worth checking out if you're interested in virtual learning, ways to save costs in K-12 education during unprecedentedly bad times, smart accountability mechanisms for charters (including e-charters), or a c