An epic set of news clips and commentary inaugurates the new Gadfly Bites - education news and opinion pieces from around Ohio with analysis and commentary to keep you in the loop:
- Bet you thought I’d start with Mike’s quote on Common Core. But no! Today, editors at the Dispatch opined in praise of Columbus Collegiate Academy – its past and present success, its future plans, and its recent award of over $375,000 from the Columbus Foundation. Oh, and its sponsor is namechecked as well. Note that three successful Columbus City Schools were lauded in just the same way last week. Just the way it ought to be. (Columbus Dispatch)
- As you probably have already seen, Fordham’s Mike Petrilli is quoted along with other Common Core supporters in today’s piece from the Big D defending Ohio’s New Learning Standards in light of the planned new legislative assault. Can’t wait for Mike’s next testimony appearance in Ohio. I just hope it’s not past my bedtime again. (Columbus Dispatch)
- The Common Core piece, above, references Governor Kasich’s reaction to the new legislative assault on Ohio’s New Learning Standards. Here is a more detailed report on that reaction, given in response to a question asked by a citizen during a campaign stop in Steubenville. Why yes, there IS a gubernatorial election going on in Ohio. Probably explains the abrupt and disturbing segue from CCSS to capital punishment in this piece. (Columbus Dispatch)
- Editors at the Beacon Journal are aghast to learn that the Governor has admitted to “some concerns” with Common Core and opine strongly in favor of him standing his ground against attempts to derail the standards in Ohio. Wow. (Akron Beacon Journal)
- In other news of equally jaw-dropping concern: just when you thought Columbus’ data scrubbing story couldn’t get any worse, we get allegations of an inappropriate personal relationship among investigator and investigatee which may or may not have coincided with mysteriously-vanishing computer files. And in case you’re one of those folks who skip to the end of the mystery book – they’re broken up already. (Columbus Dispatch)
- I am totally cool when it comes to my personal data and entities “looking over my shoulder”. Heck, Amazon has known forever the books and videos and bands I prefer, and now my browser knows too. It’s impossible to keep a Christmas gift a secret with all the search-based ads on my browser these days. In that spirit, I can see the expected benefit, and I can even join in with the chorus of “hopefully we’ll never have to use it”, but even I have to think that someone will have a problem with live video feeds from school buildings being made available – even to first responders – via the Cloud. (Willoughby News-Herald)
- What were Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez doing yesterday? Visiting the Toledo Technology Academy, a Toledo Public Schools magnet high school that “mixes traditional coursework, hands on technological training, and internships. It consistently scores among top high schools in Ohio.” This is completely awesome of course and kudos to Superintendent Durant and the district, but I sure hope the distinguished guests got to stop by Tony Packo’s too since they went all the way there. (Toledo Blade)
- Does this sound like a threat to you? “The Legislature passes many things, but they don’t always hold up when they’re tested in court.” What’s this Supe talking about? The authority – or lack thereof? - of academic-distress commissions, which is - as yet - not being questioned in any court anywhere. (Youngstown Vindicator)
- Only the relevant section is clipped below, but suffice it to say that the rhetoric around Reynoldsburg’s teacher contract negotiations is getting more serious. And a new issue has emerged during door-to-door leafleting by the union and its supporters: class size. (Columbus Dispatch)
- We end with an important story with, I think, serious implications for school choice for students with special needs. A student with autism living in the Akron school district will be transported to and educated at a private school at a cost of over $100,000 per year. This is the outcome of a long dispute between the district and the child’s parents. The district will pay those fees in full and receive about a third of that amount from the state for that child’s education. (Columbus Dispatch)
