- Week One of hearings on the newest Common Core repeal bill in Ohio ended yesterday. Goodness me I’m tired. Here are some reactions to and coverage of Day Three. Just as hearings were starting yesterday, it was reported that the board of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District had voted the night before to support Common Core in Ohio and oppose HB597. (Cleveland Plain Dealer) Coverage in Columbus focused on concerns about standards and testing opt-out provisions in the bill. (Columbus Dispatch) As noted in the Dispatch article, committee members heard the first non-proponent testimony yesterday, in the form of “interested party” testimony from StudentsFirst. This seemed to open the door to some testy commentary from members both on and off the record. (Gongwer Ohio) Finally, the folks at Gongwer were aware of the Common Core polling results showing decreasing support for “Common Core” and this piece discusses these results in the light of testimony given so far. (Gongwer Ohio)
- Fordham’s good friend Tom Lasley of Learn to Earn Dayton penned this commentary in support of Common Core. (Dayton Daily News)
- Yesterday, we told you that it seemed some encouraging news related to Reynoldsburg’s teacher contract negotiations was being kept on the down low, lost in the heated rhetoric and dramatic images being reported. This morning, I think I figured out why. Checking the Reynoldsburg News website at 9:00ish, I saw this headline: “Reynoldsburg board hires scab firm in case teachers strike”. It was the same story as the Dispatch covered yesterday, but without the encouraging news and with that completely egregious headline. At around 9:30 I tweeted this to our motley collection of followers (hi everyone!) and to the news outlet. At 10:11 am, the online article was retitled “Reynoldsburg school board ready to hire substitutes in case teachers strike”. (ThisWeek News/Reynoldsburg News)
Sadly, the URL remains unchanged, as you can see below, and that whooshing sound you hear is that of objective journalism being flushed down the toilet:
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- We noted some months ago about the angst generated by the first high school closure in Columbus in decades. Well, the former Brookhaven students started at Mifflin this week, and the Big D was on hand to see how it went. Sounds like a lot of good work went into creating a smooth transition, but seriously, y’all have air conditioning now. That’s got to help! (Columbus Dispatch)
- The numbers are in and about 470 students will have to repeat all or part of third grade in Columbus City Schools because of the Third Grade Reading Guarantee. That’s about 12% of last year’s third graders. Not bad at all, really. But as we noted with Cleveland’s numbers last week, the real proof of progress will be the numbers reported this time next year. (Columbus Dispatch)
- A planned back-to-school luncheon event for Toledo Public Schools staff is causing some concern because it is to be held at a church. Everyone’s falling over themselves to note this is not a religious event. TPS’ Chief Academic Officer says, “Nobody is mandated to go” and that people who would be uncomfortable at a Christian church can stay away. This is true, but it’s not exactly the “everybody should be here to bond” welcoming attitude that builds a cohesive team. Weird. (Toledo Blade)
- Badges? We don’t need no stinkin’ badges! For Pete’s sake. Just wear your visitor badge when you go to your child’s school! (Canton Repository)
