Education Issues

The latest NEA Today carried a feature story called "(Secretary of Education) Arne Duncan Answers Your Tough Questions."  We think it would be more aptly titled, "Arne Duncan Dodges Your Tough Questions" … CBITS High School teacher Jack Gerson has translated Arne’s doublespeak into English for parts I and II of "Annotated Aren."  Stay tuned for part III on merit pay!

From coastal North Carolina

IT’S TIME TO LEAVE "NO CHIILD" BEHIND

Jacksonville (NC) Daily News Editorial July 26, 2008

No Child Left Behind, the massive education program enacted by U.S. Congress in 2001, is one of those well-intended initiatives that has turned into a train wreck. It is time to admit that it simply doesn’t work. Onslow County Schools, like many other educational systems, have struggled with the stringent goals set by NCLB

by Steve Neat

The Oakland Unified School District has yet another idea for something that will solve all of the problems in our public schools. The good news is that this time they are on to something beneficial and substantive—something that’s even supported by the California Teachers Association. That something is the principle of “professional learning communities,” or groups of teachers working together to improve their practice. The bad news

by Steve Neat

Teachers and parents from Eureka to San Diego will come together at hundreds of locations on May 14.  They will protest the budget cuts that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is proposing, cuts that would mean larger class sizes, less enrichment for students, and laid-off teachers across the state.

The governor’s proposed $4.8 billion cut to public education would affect students across the state. The cut would reduce funding by

By Marijke Conklin (*)

When I testified at the Oakland Board of Education meeting last November, I was nervous.

The last time I testified at a public meeting was over ten years ago.  As a student in District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), I implored then Mayor Marion Barry to provide us with textbooks.  And permanent teachers.  And potable water.  I had lived and traveled abroad and I knew that some conditions

May 14: Rally at City Hall 4:00

No Cuts—Full Funding for Quality Public Education On this DAY OF THE TEACHER we will testify demonstrate for quality teaching and learning conditions for all.

Teachers: STAR Testing is fast approaching, and the pressure to practice for the tests is increasing. This is a reminder that according to the California Department of Education STAR Testing Regulations and the Ed Code, you have the right to inform parents of their right to opt out of the tests for their children (but not solicit or encourage).  (See below

 According to the NY Times (Jan. 21, 2008), New York City’s Department of Education will use student scores on standardized tests to evaluate the performance of 2,500 teachers at 140 of the city’s public schools. Although the United Federation of Teachers (NYC’s teachers’ union) knows about the "experiment", it doesn’t know which schools are involved, and neither do the teachers who–together with their students–will be used as guinea pigs.

Let’s

In this piece, John Merrow revisits the school where he taught 40 years ago and discovered for himself what a profound influence teachers have on their students. A very moving article, and a morale booster for all of us working hard to make a difference in our students’ lives.

I wrote Mr. Merrow to thank him for the article, and received a warm response in return; both are at the end