Vergara Wasn’t About Tenure! Among all the hoopla surrounding Vergara v. California and the loss of so-called teacher tenure, I noticed some strong voices yesterday that rose above the fray. They argued, essentially, that Vergara wasn’t about tenure. California teachers never had tenure to begin with. It was only about due process. This claim is […]
Can You Hate Tenure and Love Your Teachers?
The Los Angeles Superior Court has struck down teacher tenure and protections in Vergara v. California. This, by the looks of venomous comments in newspapers, seems to delight some people. Arne Duncan, who represents the Obama administration’s viewpoint, apparently loves it too. See here. Great isn’t it? That the President of the U.S. thinks so […]
The Educator Called Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou, the educator’s voice rang out loud and it rang out clear. Though not a credentialed teacher, she educated all of us about life’s challenges and the ability to overcome life’s difficulties. She was an inspiration to all of us. She left us with so much that can be used to teach young people […]
Common Core Camps of Confusion and Strife—What’s For Dinner?
There has been a lot of confusion and controversy over different camps and what they think about Common Core State Standards (CCSS). While everyone is posturing and arguing who is right and which political group is shaking hands with which other group, or who we shouldn’t shake hands with, students continue to be tested to […]
Butterfly in the Sky? Educational Programs for Children
There has been a lot of buzz over Levar Burton’s Kickstarter campaign, here, to bring Reading Rainbow back as an app. Sorry for you folks who don’t have access to Netflix Streaming, iPad, iPhones, Xbox, or computer internet TV. There will be no butterfly in the sky returning to PBS. If you are lucky, and […]
Au Revoir NOLA Public Schools
They can call charter schools public schools all they want. They will never be public until they accept ALL children and hire credentialed teachers, led by actual school administrators who understand children and how they learn. How sad for New Orleans. How sad for a country that was conned into thinking charters were going to […]
So Now You Can Read the PARCC and Smarter Balanced Tests to Students with Disabilities?
Ed. Week is having a live chat this Thursday afternoon, 3 to 4 ET, to discuss PARCC and Smarter Balanced accommodations for students with disabilities. They say this assessment will “offer the promise of more inclusion and self-sufficiency for students with special needs and English-language learners.” How any assessment is going to do all that […]
Can We Afford to Lay Off Public School Guidance Counselors?
Is there a movement to lay off guidance counselors, even college and career counselors, in public schools? With the “everyone should attend college” movement, you wouldn’t think so. In fact, the need would seem to be to hire more counselors. Still, there are signs…. See here in Michigan for example. Or here in California. Or […]
Always Give Students a Chance
In my freshman year in college I signed up for Art 101. The class was merry and a nice respite from all the reading and testing involved with hard core basic subjects freshmen take. Make no mistake I was no future Rembrandt. But I enjoyed the class so much that I boldly signed up for […]
The Continuing Bizarre Message That We MUST Test Students with Severe Disabilities—Say NO!
I wish I were a judge and had some of these ed. reformers who believe tests are more important than children come before me. Honestly. I’d send them to jail. Mandates written to play Gottcha with children’s services, intentionally designed to get rid of services and teachers, are wrong. America shouldn’t be the place to […]