tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24391943089001296612024-03-13T23:05:25.454-04:00MisterRogers' Rants, Reflections, and ReasonUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-23276206517225668542013-08-05T12:16:00.000-04:002013-08-05T12:26:56.633-04:00Are we overlooking the obvious in attempting to improve the quality of education in America?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Many of the current trends of education reform in America
are attempting to improve the quality of our public schools by applying various
management strategies used in the business world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the supposed lessons of business
being heralded as education reform don’t often enough look like the strategies
being seen in business-to-business advice about managing systems and working
effectively with people.</div>
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One person’s principles that the business world holds in
high regard is that of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Edwards_Deming" target="_blank">Edwards Deming</a>. Deming is best known for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Edwards_Deming#Key_principles" target="_blank">his 14 points of quality management</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Deming and his principles were instrumental
in working to improve the quality of Japanese manufacturing after World War 2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As companies in the United States began to
see the improved quality of Japanese products, they too adopted Deming’s
principles.</div>
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However, for some reason, the Deming strategies of quality
that businesses utilize are all but ignored when trying to improve education in
America.</div>
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For example, consider Deming’s third point of quality,
“Cease dependence on inspection to achieve quality. Eliminate the need for
massive inspection by building quality into the product in the first place”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the United States current education reform
initiatives seem to be totally ignoring that Deming principle by our reliance
of depending on inspection with standardized testing.</div>
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What are some examples of changes we could do to “build
quality” into education?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could revamp
the way teachers are trained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could
utilize <a href="http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2010/11/16/remaking-teacher-education-train-teachers-like-doctors/" target="_blank">the intern model used by the medical profession by having
quality internships for new teachers</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instead, in most cases new teachers are given the most difficult
teaching assignments and expected to perform alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doing so would also be honoring Deming’s
sixth point; “Institute training on the job”.</div>
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We could “build quality” by questioning the <a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/finding_common_ground/2011/12/the_power_of_two_co-teaching_in_the_classroom.html" target="_blank">idea of one teacher per classroom</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could “build quality” by redesigning the
school year calendar and replacing it with<a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B33GxeHInOyaZWZSRkJPUkliUkU/edit?pli=1" target="_blank"> a calendar that recognizes the quality benefits of time for
teachers to plan and evaluate student work</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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We could “build quality” by developing <a href="http://www.teachthought.com/learning/how-standardized-curriculum-short-circuits-innovation-in-education/" target="_blank">21<sup>st</sup> century techniques of education that aren’t
built on a foundation of a standardized curriculum</a> developed by <a href="http://american-education.org/490-committee-of-ten.html" target="_blank">10 elite men inthe 1890’s</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could “build quality”
by <a href="http://rethinkingeducation.bangordailynews.com/2013/07/23/home/many-of-the-best-teachers-leave-the-profession/" target="_blank">developing a support system in the education process that would
reduce the high percentage of teachers that leave the profession within the
first five years.</a></div>
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Another current trend in education is that of developing
punitive teacher evaluation systems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While there is a need to evaluate teachers, the current trends seem to
be ignoring Deming’s seventh and eighth principles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Number seven being “the aim of supervision
should be to help people and machines and gadgets do a better job” and number
eight being “<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2013/may/11/secret-teacher-teaching-climate-fear-ofsted" target="_blank">drive out fear</a>, so that everyone may work effectively for
the company”. Instead of using <a href="http://www.nbpts.org/national-board-standards" target="_blank">a system
to help teachers improve their craft</a>, many new teacher evaluation systems
tend to be pitting school administrators against the teachers and <a href="http://www.edwize.org/the-true-story-of-pascale-mauclair" target="_blank">putting fear into teachers of losing their job. </a></div>
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In addition the current teacher evaluation systems violate
one of Deming’s “Seven Deadly Diseases” that being “<a href="http://www.michiganradio.org/post/new-teacher-evaluation-system-proposed-michigan-legislature" target="_blank">Evaluation by performance, merit rating, or annual review of
performance</a>”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again<a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/top_performers/2013/07/true_or_false_teacher_evaluations_improve_accountability_raise_achievement.html" target="_blank">, if we “built quality” into the teacher development process</a>
there would not be such a great need for the current teacher evaluation
systems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Deming’s ninth principal “break down barriers between
departments” is also often ignored in the secondary level of schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/01/22/why-all-high-school-courses-should-be-elective/" target="_blank">Too often curriculum is taught in a vacuum which makes it
difficult to provide give meaning to learning and interdisciplinary
collaboration between teachers is not encouraged or supported in most schools.</a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Furthermore, Deming’s ideas included his list of "A
Lesser Category of Obstacles".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On
that list are many ideas that schools should pay attention to including:</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/04/technology/idaho-teachers-fight-a-reliance-on-computers.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0" target="_blank">Not relying on technology to solve problems</a>.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Not seeking examples to follow rather than
developing solutions </li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Not <a href="http://learnthingsweb.hubpages.com/hub/Are-Teachers-to-Blame-for-Our-Failing-Education-System" target="_blank">placing blame on workforces (teachers)</a> who are only
responsible for 15% of problems where the system designed by management (politicians)
is responsible for 85% of the unintended consequences.</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Deming during his lifetime did not seem to comment much on
education but <a href="http://daytonos.com/?p=7353" target="_blank">in this one interview</a>
he did share his views for reforming and improving education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that interview he made three particular points
that seem to stand out people in the education reform movement seem to be
overlooking:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Quality goes down when ranking people.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Cramming facts into students’ heads is not
learning.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>People talk about getting rid of deadwood (bad
teachers), but there are only two possible explanations of why the dead wood
exists: 1) You hired deadwood in the first place, or, 2) you hired live wood,
and then you killed it.</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our country has attempted to fix education with
recommendations beginning in 1983 in reaction to the “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Nation_at_Risk" target="_blank">A Nation At Risk</a>”
report, in the 1990’s with “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goals_2000" target="_blank">Goals2000</a>”, with “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Child_Left_Behind_Act" target="_blank">NoChild Left Behind</a>” in 2001, and in 2009 with the “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_to_the_Top" target="_blank">Race To The Top</a>” initiative.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of these fixes considered the
quality ideas of Edwards Deming . If we continue to ignore such quality ideas
such as Deming’s, we will never truly succeed in meeting the challenges that
education reforms in the 21<sup>st</sup> century present.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-21593389964034326762012-04-05T05:31:00.004-04:002012-04-05T05:52:20.539-04:00So I may not be a jazz critic, but I think I recognize good teaching!<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-strauss/fixing-education-system_b_1404553.html?ref=education" target="_blank">Can I get an "AMEN!" for this?</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.good.is/post/why-it-s-time-to-eliminate-class-schedules/" target="_blank">How about a "HALLELUIAH!" for this? Is it finally time to eliminate class schedules?</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.danielwillingham.com/daniel-willingham-science-and-education-blog.html" target="_blank">In this edition of "reinventing the wheel instead of inventing the hover board"...Are we rushing to electronic textbooks too quickly? </a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://grantwiggins.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/everything-you-know-about-curriculum-may-be-wrong-really/" target="_blank">A theory I believe is worth pondering... "Everything you know about curriculum may be wrong."</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://athens.patch.com/articles/how-do-you-know-when-teaching-is-good" target="_blank">Does my love for "Smooth Jazz" mean I can't recognize good teaching?</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF_aA9bIc1A" target="_blank">Jazz critic or not... I know what I like!</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lf9uQjT-rQw8N5Cf1XBqPHOn5YT2oNbFgPiuWgMSQ4Hq5MVJwpm68SEYgfEhOOj5kEIFvOY6nD764B_Vg1fexSx0cSKVDgZePACYCU316ffH1Ue90uupzp7oY5vkIi60E1PkAfxzEgY/s1600/smooth-jazz-snoopy-music.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lf9uQjT-rQw8N5Cf1XBqPHOn5YT2oNbFgPiuWgMSQ4Hq5MVJwpm68SEYgfEhOOj5kEIFvOY6nD764B_Vg1fexSx0cSKVDgZePACYCU316ffH1Ue90uupzp7oY5vkIi60E1PkAfxzEgY/s200/smooth-jazz-snoopy-music.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-39553637828954895152012-04-01T15:25:00.006-04:002012-04-02T04:05:25.999-04:00It's April!!!Well folks, it seems I took the entire month of March off from Ranting, Reflecting and Reasoning.<br />
<br />
Actually I got sidetracked by following the story of Pascale Mauclair. (In addition to my other plethora of excuses such as teaching 6 preps per day, being sick for four days, plus having to prepare for a conference presentation.)<br />
<br />
If you don't know Ms. Mauclair's story, she was declared New York City's "WORST" teacher based on a teacher evaluation system that utilizes the so-called "Value Added Measures". Her photo accompanied <a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/cursed_with_the_worst_in_queens_f5wLhEdDRN1Wl9h1GQgxAM" target="_blank">a front page story on The New York Post. </a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.edwize.org/the-true-story-of-pascale-mauclair" target="_blank">The REAL story of Ms. Mauclair</a> was revealed a few days later. Included in the REAL story were a number of notable facts.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">"Mauclair is an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher, and over the last five years she has had small, self-contained classes of recently arrived immigrants who do not speak English. Her students arrive at different times of the school year, depending upon that date of their family’s migration; consequently, it is not unusual for her students to take the 6<sup>th</sup> grade exams when they have only been in her class for a matter of a few months.<br />
<br />
If a journalist with integrity had examined the TDR data, a number of red flags which suggested something was seriously amiss with the scores for Mauclair would have presented themselves."</blockquote>"Value Added Measures" are being pushed by so-called education "reformers" as the gold standard of teacher evaluation. Almost every state that has followed the "reform" playbook has "Value Added Measures" as main component of teacher evaluation. However, the elephant in the room being ignored is the fact that "Value Added Measures" as a teacher evaluation instrument are highly unreliable. <br />
<br />
For some reason, politicians and "reformers" are ignoring the facts of "Value Added Measures" as described here by the <a href="http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/03/blowback_on_using_value-added.html" target="_blank">journalist Julie Mack</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uONqxysWEk8&feature=player_embedded#%21" target="_blank">cognitive scientist Dan Willingham</a>.<br />
<br />
Last week, teachers at my school had the opportunity to meet with t<span id="goog_1282532633"></span><a href="http://www.gophouse.com/welcome.asp?District=038" target="_blank">he local state representative.</a> Among the many questions regarding "reforms" that the representative had voted for were inquiries about the new statewide teacher evaluation requirements.<br />
<br />
His response? "If you're a good teacher, then you shouldn't have anything to worry about".<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to inform him of Pascale Mauclair's story.... A good teacher who should not have had anything to worry about.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-5047140376418895792012-02-24T07:27:00.001-05:002012-02-26T06:52:50.813-05:00Magic Erasers?<a href="http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_42/b4005059.htm" target="_blank">No Bush Left Behind...</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2012/02/a_perfect_storm_hits_public_sc.html" target="_blank">For some reason I've always been bothered by the phrase "a perfect storm".</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.9news.com/dontmiss/251179/630/Elementary-school-switches-erasers-to-improve-test-scores" target="_blank">This Week's "No, It's Not From TheOnion".... School Switches Erasers to Improve Test Scores.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/opinion/for-teachers-shame-is-no-solution.html?ref=education" target="_blank">Bill Gates discovers his educational Frankenstein Monster is being misused.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=ask_this.view&askthisid=00552" target="_blank">Alex, I'll take "99% of them absolutely do not" for $500...</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5iysAtHmCpNz-mOYoZDzMvCJ9yL3cNK7DdDUVAyRMCYmZvQqe1m-rxejRR8HyXCcnOmhhFNvRevb6Laco-gQQqbHC2Gr78orMusguShaWivu3C7QSHKCppwiP01DCyThRyRUSrvf-IbI/s1600/Al_BAeKCMAEp76Y.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5iysAtHmCpNz-mOYoZDzMvCJ9yL3cNK7DdDUVAyRMCYmZvQqe1m-rxejRR8HyXCcnOmhhFNvRevb6Laco-gQQqbHC2Gr78orMusguShaWivu3C7QSHKCppwiP01DCyThRyRUSrvf-IbI/s1600/Al_BAeKCMAEp76Y.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-23482110047138926252012-02-22T04:53:00.001-05:002012-02-22T04:56:18.190-05:00Looking for an "AMEN!".<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/why-dont-top-private-schools-adopt-corporate-driven-reforms/2012/02/17/gIQACrL3KR_blog.html" target="_blank">Question of the Month: Why don’t the top private schools adopt corporate-driven education "reforms"?</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://coopcatalyst.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/if-a-third-party-professional-development-group-must-be-used-by-educatedtodeath/" target="_blank">Can I get an AMEN! to this? "The standardized test and evaluation movement has opened a new predatory market allowing all sorts of snake oil salespeople into our schools and districts.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.denverpost.com/investigations/ci_19997418" target="_blank">Consultants consuming 35% of federal grants aimed for "school improvement". Who would have thunk that? </a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.carolinajournal.com/exclusives/display_exclusive.html?id=8762" target="_blank">Hey kid... your homemade sammich lunch is not nutritious, so eat this processed chicken nuggets/soylent green school lunch instead.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/you-are-so-smartwhy-did-you-become-a-teacher/2012/02/19/gIQA2vBNNR_blog.html#pagebreak" target="_blank">You are so smart…why did you become a teacher?</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwq6SJY-apxIrk-VMgwjEcZjF4xgvmfDILJ6rcaBTtzDuUls8vqBXtWuIeD4VuYs2Z3FLaMT6wQswpfKtxJnN-0xMi9PKvBrpttUwd09hoVXGmRqO_ewZdSoA452YjfNzrjJsYDIdi2LM/s1600/testschedule.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwq6SJY-apxIrk-VMgwjEcZjF4xgvmfDILJ6rcaBTtzDuUls8vqBXtWuIeD4VuYs2Z3FLaMT6wQswpfKtxJnN-0xMi9PKvBrpttUwd09hoVXGmRqO_ewZdSoA452YjfNzrjJsYDIdi2LM/s400/testschedule.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-36870100848185530032012-02-16T04:52:00.001-05:002012-02-16T04:57:39.200-05:00Should They Know It In 20 Years?<a href="http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/?p=3451" target="_blank">If the honest answer is, “No!” then we’re just playing a game.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.buffalospree.com/Buffalo-Spree/September-2011/Education-2011-A-case-study-in-seniorityand-burn-out/" target="_blank">A case study in teacher burn-out.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://withabrooklynaccent.blogspot.com/2012/02/when-best-and-brightest-dont-have.html" target="_blank">When the "Best and the Brightest" Don't Have the Answers- President Obama's Flawed Approach to School Reform. </a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teacher_in_a_strange_land/2012/02/the_opposite_of_social_promotion.html" target="_blank">A fifth grader who shaves?</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/14/noble-street-charter-scho_n_1276100.html" target="_blank">Late to class? That will be a $5 fine. Oh yes we can do that, we're a charter school.</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQgYYFoi6F3pn9qf3wWDeBd7TBMuFZIztBTOjTUYvKST2Bzy17T60DB4gI2m0YdMJ8RiK-hYalYtLF3KBZoGsIcaS1M2CV-gUO50_uR9_4F2CpeLzvgAmlYF_TpN02MCRhYPveiqwOPY/s1600/WhatAreYouDoingWrong2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQgYYFoi6F3pn9qf3wWDeBd7TBMuFZIztBTOjTUYvKST2Bzy17T60DB4gI2m0YdMJ8RiK-hYalYtLF3KBZoGsIcaS1M2CV-gUO50_uR9_4F2CpeLzvgAmlYF_TpN02MCRhYPveiqwOPY/s1600/WhatAreYouDoingWrong2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-67493315470207815692012-02-09T04:31:00.001-05:002012-02-09T04:37:15.739-05:00More Evidence for Politicans to Ignore.<a href="http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/02/cleveland_students_hold_own_wi.html" target="_blank">Cleveland students hold their own with voucher students on state tests.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2011/aug/18/local/la-me-lausd-20110818" target="_blank">Los Angeles Unified (public schools) bests so-called "reform" groups in most cases,</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090226093423.htm" target="_blank">Public Schools Outperform Private Schools in Math Instruction.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2011/12/philip_kovacs_teach_for_americ.html" target="_blank">Teach For America Research Fails the Test.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/118820339.html" target="_blank">Voucher schools in in Milwaukee not outperforming the Milwaukee Public Schools.</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DZmXCYw8iu5xUZ-A8nQLyDnJbrkw1ypJjW74XwzmzIhoKwB-_TkhQfv4ePGNufn2pUqRvyEctvmwzcZkZ0v-4PKS8ewMPuyyLmD9PhLpiSxs4S1QoZ-1NsWSQCNvNSpB_udvjhtH-qg/s1600/408677_2873735534078_1580635674_2547150_118331167_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DZmXCYw8iu5xUZ-A8nQLyDnJbrkw1ypJjW74XwzmzIhoKwB-_TkhQfv4ePGNufn2pUqRvyEctvmwzcZkZ0v-4PKS8ewMPuyyLmD9PhLpiSxs4S1QoZ-1NsWSQCNvNSpB_udvjhtH-qg/s200/408677_2873735534078_1580635674_2547150_118331167_n.jpg" width="182" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1c6_StQ8n-FbH7rJk18BdkChOa61W_XdVL1Ahu8ky0ekdulIsqV7ycn_q-sGhQE_EEoawMeNeBW9KOekgRqwGys_W_JXQHFB1D6cD2kr_yTvplnLx0scgvuMqB06g97uZZLeVAvzy8-o/s1600/raise11-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-52347974174724427062012-02-05T07:04:00.002-05:002012-02-05T07:06:00.780-05:00We Have Misdiagnosed the Problem and Ignored Common Sense.<a href="http://www.rsdla.net/enrollment.aspx" target="_blank">This is what they call "School Choice" in New Orleans?</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/walt_gardners_reality_check/2012/02/what_teachers_and_doctors_have_in_common.html" target="_blank">Evaluate Teachers and Doctors the Same Way?</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.21stcenturyfluency.com/blogpost.cfm?blogID=2453" target="_blank">How Education Fails Technology (And What to Do About It)</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mathalicious.com/2012/02/04/khan-academy-its-different-this-time/" target="_blank">We Have Misdiagnosed the Problem and Ignored Common Sense.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.truth-out.org/education-reform-order-magnitude-improvement/1327433628" target="_blank">Someone who is not ignoring common sense Part 1.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teacher_in_a_strange_land/2012/02/the_teacher_evaluation_juggernaut.html" target="_blank">Someone who is not ignoring common sense Part 2.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16387" target="_blank">There's nuttin' like a Mackinac Center headline that includes the words "teacher" and "monster".</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLiLtBlQN_0hV_Lm-O16m8WawC1snXz9iOH0RhtxaxX3Y3G77x48PZZUdvC2FyBiJ7vL1UEX_qs4-hca7B-AIjCrS7IqgSzLpk3Mm1Hp4bfEq-OeOfQOsLtww6PYSp147OhuuE-o-83Y/s1600/coffee_isn_t_helping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLiLtBlQN_0hV_Lm-O16m8WawC1snXz9iOH0RhtxaxX3Y3G77x48PZZUdvC2FyBiJ7vL1UEX_qs4-hca7B-AIjCrS7IqgSzLpk3Mm1Hp4bfEq-OeOfQOsLtww6PYSp147OhuuE-o-83Y/s320/coffee_isn_t_helping.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-76044319253409158782012-02-02T03:52:00.001-05:002012-02-02T03:53:27.951-05:00The Google.... It knows you.<a href="http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20120201/OPINION01/202010324/Mark-W-Smith-What-s-driving-Google-s-policy-shift-?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFrontpage%7Cp" target="_blank">The Google... It knows you.<br />
</a><br />
<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/does-obama-understand-race-to-the-top--ravitch/2012/01/31/gIQAUnI7eQ_blog.html" target="_blank">Diane Ravitch: " Does President Obama understand Race to the Top?" Me: "Nope, doesn't have a clue."<br />
</a><br />
<a href="http://times-journal.com/news/article_16355b2a-4c64-11e1-a0b1-001871e3ce6c.html" target="_blank">Today's "No, It's Not The Onion" is brought to you by Alabama.... "It's a Biblical principle. If you double a teacher's pay scale,you'll attract people who aren't called to teach."</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/01/do_principals_need_help_observ.html" target="_blank">I'll take "The Answer is Definitely Yes" for $50<span id="goog_1623876752"></span><span id="goog_1623876753"></span>0 Alex....</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wtop.com/?nid=41&sid=2730118" target="_blank">Today's T.M.I. alert... Guess where 75% of people use their cell phone?</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUy0IdTCOmW2Q5uTgBHE-T7Ahn76FnyRI9ee54FiCWMMbiqipXMX0Ev2ukUxnwu1EM1sEUfqlpVlzMitaUxUZPv4UrFRNs4KjWEs_LDXpYN4oDwLoye-83bw6H53YR4AMNVOM6uqwYmUY/s1600/417752_268286696575599_204152432989026_684855_1231710958_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUy0IdTCOmW2Q5uTgBHE-T7Ahn76FnyRI9ee54FiCWMMbiqipXMX0Ev2ukUxnwu1EM1sEUfqlpVlzMitaUxUZPv4UrFRNs4KjWEs_LDXpYN4oDwLoye-83bw6H53YR4AMNVOM6uqwYmUY/s1600/417752_268286696575599_204152432989026_684855_1231710958_n.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-71134441889260234512012-01-31T04:15:00.000-05:002012-01-31T04:15:50.342-05:00How To Kill A Mockingbird?<a href="http://www.mlive.com/opinion/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2012/01/8_theories_on_why_college_cost.html" target="_blank">8 theories on why college costs are so high...</a><br />
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<a href="http://ideas.time.com/2012/01/26/can-computers-replace-teachers/" target="_blank">Until we figure out how to best use technology in the classroom, are the bells and whistles instead often a distraction?</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/1809743/apples-announcement-the-educational-technology-world-reacts?partner=gnews" target="_blank">Educational Technology Experts Skeptical About Apple's iBooks </a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120128/METRO/201280350/School-suspends-cancer-survivor-over-long-hair-he-plans-donate?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE" target="_blank">"Public" Charter School suspends male cancer survivor over the length of his hair (Bonus: he is growing his hair long to donate to "Locks of Love".)</a><br />
<div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br />
<a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teacher_in_a_strange_land/2012/01/whos_developing_whom.html" target="_blank">Question of the Month: Why don't schools routinely tap their best teachers to organize and deliver custom-tailored professional development to their peers?</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdj-CRBVz5c7vjpLgtwPVfaTxyGMD6tfwJNm7Gj0lmVU2j-PI4Nq8lB-CooWyojBtvLg8vOJnCruSWYPj6nv6AOR8NbVcL0B6uRRT8TwojRJPMNNTj_TOpYUQ22Ump1oxvlskATft9Rg/s1600/399926_10150645962563465_129446698464_11251876_1295590158_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdj-CRBVz5c7vjpLgtwPVfaTxyGMD6tfwJNm7Gj0lmVU2j-PI4Nq8lB-CooWyojBtvLg8vOJnCruSWYPj6nv6AOR8NbVcL0B6uRRT8TwojRJPMNNTj_TOpYUQ22Ump1oxvlskATft9Rg/s400/399926_10150645962563465_129446698464_11251876_1295590158_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-60077546188898659792012-01-30T03:56:00.000-05:002012-01-30T03:56:34.175-05:00For-profit Cyber Schools... Does the Bad Outweigh the Good?<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/education/online-schools-score-better-on-wall-street-than-in-classrooms.html?pagewanted=all" target="_blank">Failing education standards but passing Wall Street Standards...gotta love those "price points".</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_24/b4232076996440.htm" target="_blank">Should we really trust the convicted "Junk Bond King" to be involved with a cyber school?</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://seekingalpha.com/article/310860-is-k-12-inc-the-future-of-education-here-s-why-i-m-skeptical?source=feed" target="_blank">What? There are people that are skeptical about for-profit cyber schools?</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/12/state_board_of_education_says.html" target="_blank">What? Even elected state board of education members are skeptical about cyber schools?</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.westword.com/2011-05-26/news/denver-north-high-school-credit-recovery/" target="_blank">Are online students Googling their way to to graduation?</a> <br />
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<a href="http://www.thenation.com/article/164651/how-online-learning-companies-bought-americas-schools" target="_blank">MUST READ.... "How Online Learning Companies Bought America's Schools".</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20120106/NEWS05/201060374/Virtual-charters-lag-other-public-schools-performance-report-says" target="_blank">Only 27% of for-profit companies operating virtual "cyber" schools met the adequate yearly progress standards of the federal No Child Left Behind law?</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://moodle.org/about/" target="_blank">Perhaps for-profit cyber schools are needed because the technology is too costly and complex for public schools and regular classroom teachers to provide a rich, online learning experience??? WRONG!!!</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0Z-LVU5Ff0nAfrxOaqjIA0iOGJMMd45mORjWygCEiXHDOXYr7tcYSwxa1lerC34xy2MJrExXganjWJzUAIr-yXpMFflu8bD5fSvpLtwj2iR57BJxUaiNn26gmVGU0BeXJFnWm1gIbH8/s1600/Bad_Sign.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0Z-LVU5Ff0nAfrxOaqjIA0iOGJMMd45mORjWygCEiXHDOXYr7tcYSwxa1lerC34xy2MJrExXganjWJzUAIr-yXpMFflu8bD5fSvpLtwj2iR57BJxUaiNn26gmVGU0BeXJFnWm1gIbH8/s1600/Bad_Sign.gif" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-897056383744721982012-01-27T04:28:00.001-05:002012-01-27T04:29:44.831-05:00Getting married on a cold day in you-know-where???<a href="http://coopcatalyst.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/youth-rights-dignity-and-the-anti-democratic-values-of-public-schooling/" target="_blank">A few points to ponder....</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/business/ieconomy-apples-ipad-and-the-human-costs-for-workers-in-china.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&hp" target="_blank">I think Upton Sinclair would be proud of the writers of this article. (Hint: It's about Apple's suppliers)</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/the-big-flaws-in-obamas-education-argument/2012/01/25/gIQAsH4iRQ_blog.html" target="_blank">The big flaws in President Obama’s education argument.</a><br />
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<a href="http://teachingunderground.blogspot.com/2012/01/they-dont-listen-because-they-dont.html" target="_blank">From "Teaching Underground".... "They" don't listen because they don't understand. </a><br />
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<a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teacher_in_a_strange_land/2012/01/voice_of_authority.html" target="_blank">Today's MUST READ - "Voice of Authority"</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20120125/LIFESTYLE/120124005/Get-married-cold-day-Hell-?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFrontpage%7Cp" target="_blank">Getting married on a cold day in you-know-where!!!</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7r5qqA0vvdpwV6NXguacelq8ZWrOHVLuDMhfjB0r6mTdhvtn8EE3DgtCHc5f_WuVYkSZp7SfhAFdiNUtoivUrUTV9lh81VLrVZCR8NBjhhK_xd112cVr86RXDJO2cEIRAaBO1UZkx1tk/s1600/joke2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7r5qqA0vvdpwV6NXguacelq8ZWrOHVLuDMhfjB0r6mTdhvtn8EE3DgtCHc5f_WuVYkSZp7SfhAFdiNUtoivUrUTV9lh81VLrVZCR8NBjhhK_xd112cVr86RXDJO2cEIRAaBO1UZkx1tk/s400/joke2.jpg" width="340" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-39066034880014702792012-01-25T04:59:00.001-05:002012-01-25T05:00:32.246-05:00Where is the outrage? (January 25 edition)<a href="http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2012/01/principal_at_mavericks_high_palm_springs_not_certified_teacher.php" target="_blank"> Charter school in Florida (Joe Biden's school) hires principal with no teaching experience...</a><br />
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<a href="http://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2012/01/teachers-story-why-dc-impact-system.html" target="_blank">How to drive out a great teacher from the classroom, volume 12, issue 71.</a><br />
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<a href="http://blogs.indystar.com/education/2012/01/20/lesson-from-finland-everything-indiana-is-doing-is-wrong/" target="_blank">Lessons from Finland....you're doing wrong...Yes Indiana, we're looking at you.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/01/23/exclusive-digital-dna-may-soon-be-required-to-take-sat-and-act-exams/" target="_blank">In today's episode of Testing Gone Wild, ‘Digital DNA’ May Soon Be Required To Take SAT And ACT Exams</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/apples-mind-bogglingly-greedy-and-evil-license-agreement/4360" target="_blank">Apple's mind-bogglingly greedy and evil license agreement for its new textbook publishing software.</a> <br />
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<a href="http://www.storiesfromschoolaz.org/2012/01/changing-of-the-guard-.html" target="_blank">An excellent article by an Arizona teacher: "What I'd like in a Superintendent." </a><br />
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<i><b>Picture of the Day... "Meeting Fatigue". </b></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3aGV46zC11sdGtCNTBcrlZzzZtMne6c3LjAb86Yssi55_hWKpK_nwLMjodvkF9G5_MgkxJmxoRgauREFkjdqUMOD9WGnGwXqxKii0nHg_em0-Eh06fBUgga_QYBhyphenhyphenbCdksAqgu7ZouUQ/s1600/workingitout2040657030902.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3aGV46zC11sdGtCNTBcrlZzzZtMne6c3LjAb86Yssi55_hWKpK_nwLMjodvkF9G5_MgkxJmxoRgauREFkjdqUMOD9WGnGwXqxKii0nHg_em0-Eh06fBUgga_QYBhyphenhyphenbCdksAqgu7ZouUQ/s1600/workingitout2040657030902.gif" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-81840299971495811722012-01-22T07:33:00.005-05:002012-01-22T07:39:45.125-05:00A Biscuit and a Cup of Tea?<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/business/apple-america-and-a-squeezed-middle-class.html?_r=1&smid=tw-nytimes&seid=auto" target="_blank">If only American workers could learn to live in company dormitories and work for a biscuit plus a cup of tea...</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2012/01/enthusiasm-for-ibooks-author-marred-by-licensing-format-issues.ars" target="_blank"> Apple makes great stuff, but it's also their proprietary control issues that disturb me.</a><br />
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<a href="http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2012/01/21/can-we-continue-to-provide-less-and-less-yet-ask-schools-for-more-and-more/" target="_blank">“We are being told, ‘You need to do more with less,’” ... “That sounds like a great philosophy. But it presupposes you weren’t doing the most that you could with what you had in the first place.”</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc" target="_blank">If you've never heard of Daniel Pink's work, you owe it to yourself to invest 10 minutes viewing this video.</a><br />
<br />
<i><b>Picture of the day:</b></i><br />
<i><b>Are the executives at textbook publishing giants McGraw Hill and Pearson seeing dollar signs?</b></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGBzsShQYtLbHSqQWYlYyyBrvqHJpXL8VDU6z5BteH3jTG1Knxfrow-j3ARNzfZWzPAkBCLe4OotXBL_Qw9_TSfl5i_CODWLOlFdHaaJX1KDxQidg-GRIaCiO7zHLVTToTucJHl3hWP8/s1600/iPad-Textbook2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGBzsShQYtLbHSqQWYlYyyBrvqHJpXL8VDU6z5BteH3jTG1Knxfrow-j3ARNzfZWzPAkBCLe4OotXBL_Qw9_TSfl5i_CODWLOlFdHaaJX1KDxQidg-GRIaCiO7zHLVTToTucJHl3hWP8/s1600/iPad-Textbook2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-72203062184012407192012-01-20T04:37:00.000-05:002012-01-20T04:37:17.093-05:00Resistance is Futile!<a href="http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jan/14/teachers-balk-at-bigger-classes/" target="_blank">Not to be outdone by Alabama, now Tennessee's governor has his own plans for an epic failboat.</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.michiganradio.org/post/plymouth-canton-school-district-banning-books" target="_blank">Old and busted: Book Banning.... New Hotness? Nope, same old and busted.</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/18/new-york-schools-strict-b_n_1214363.html" target="_blank">The new potty policy at New York's Coney Island's Public School #90.</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/gov-jerry-brown-calls-for-less-testing/2012/01/18/gIQAjVjy8P_blog.html" target="_blank">A sure sign of the Apocalypse... A governor proposes LESS standardized testing.</a><br />
<br />
What surely must have come from TheOnion.com but didn't....<br />
<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/duncan-rhee-starring-at-our-hearts-belong-to-data-summit/2012/01/11/gIQA7bh46P_blog.html" target="_blank">"Education Secretary Arne Duncan and former D.C. schools chancellor Michelle Rhee are starring at the National Data Summit ..."</a><br />
<i><b><br />
</b></i><br />
<i><b>Picture of the Day: RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!</b></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoWUL9zkavqjLwxA0gjkFul7CKyM9cfe0STIMl6g6iYSqGEbnhSpH9c3al24UOf0eI_wLibvXva1C9rJWucjGiuRUhZ1diC5q345DFKYjWP3QsAsyLM94jzB16gmTxzeSO45N2qAj-Ik/s1600/yoursign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoWUL9zkavqjLwxA0gjkFul7CKyM9cfe0STIMl6g6iYSqGEbnhSpH9c3al24UOf0eI_wLibvXva1C9rJWucjGiuRUhZ1diC5q345DFKYjWP3QsAsyLM94jzB16gmTxzeSO45N2qAj-Ik/s320/yoursign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-59436784208794272272012-01-18T05:34:00.002-05:002012-01-18T05:47:58.511-05:00Yes, I would like fries with that...<a href="http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=625067" target="_blank">Alabama's governor wants the state legislature to draw up plans for an Epic Failboat.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2012/02/ideas-bank/education-is-failing" target="_blank">Yoda might say "Failing the future, education is"...</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.npr.org/2012/01/01/144550920/physicists-seek-to-lose-the-lecture-as-teaching-tool?sc=tw" target="_blank">Physics professors seek to lose the least effective way of teaching as a teaching tool.</a><br />
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<a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teacher_in_a_strange_land/2012/01/the_problem_with_lesson_plans.html" target="_blank">Yet another Pultizer-class blog post from "Teacher in a Strange Land".</a><br />
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<i><b>"Gotta Have" Car Accessory of the Month!!!</b></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHSgE8zXYR6TblsSIjmQm2J6yv0sJBxNqG5roCNZpC9rM-b1Ayu4h6yyQD3tq7zBilxJeCVb9x9U69zIQzT70BEgG1mFk4qlPSewdBD3XNR6NLIacU4ebPbCVRwfhITJzcL2shFAZQI0/s1600/FryHolder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHSgE8zXYR6TblsSIjmQm2J6yv0sJBxNqG5roCNZpC9rM-b1Ayu4h6yyQD3tq7zBilxJeCVb9x9U69zIQzT70BEgG1mFk4qlPSewdBD3XNR6NLIacU4ebPbCVRwfhITJzcL2shFAZQI0/s320/FryHolder.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKMd9cNCEEMWD5lkAEFLdG-_hIA_SbGkh7Zvb7WnFVnvkT1FKZHOv7gxI-pHDPK8yExcD-y_mq5d_IwwwKLTB5VBxhemJnpWZu4SnFAZwReEwmXaHhyphenhyphenfUoy61jHRkDQeWP8YEWCeU6uA/s1600/katscan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-61685605849013528392012-01-16T13:17:00.001-05:002012-01-18T05:48:51.938-05:00The "Lee Majors" Comparison<a href="http://www.simplyzesty.com/technology/harvard-uses-vimeo-to-bring-students-course-choice-to-life/" target="_blank">A video syllabus?</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/class-struggle/post/matt-damons-mother-is-wrong/2012/01/13/gIQAneDQxP_blog.html" target="_blank">Jay Matthews says Matt Damon's Mom is wrong. I say Jay Matthews is wrong.</a><br />
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<a href="http://garyrubinstein.teachforus.org/2011/10/31/why-i-did-tfa-and-why-you-shouldnt/" target="_blank">And for Jay Matthews... An Inconvenient Truth... About "Teach For America."</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/01/from_the_comments_teachers_say.html" target="_blank">Good teachers comment: We don't need any stinkin' paddles to control our classrooms!</a><br />
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<a href="http://teachingunderground.blogspot.com/2012/01/unappreciated-metaphor-for-education.html" target="_blank">The "Lee Majors" comparison... are teachers "The Fall Guy" when they should be "The Six Million Dollar Man/Woman"?</a><br />
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<i><b>Picture of the day... gas prices are rising again... </b></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKlpBolN02ThtLbhdDouQwAy9kKuWnIaE1ivlT4OWSj0fFYfSX8hHsUv0sd8AnGjCvY6XgLkIVAhEmdmLxqc9ROPg88wd_7RYHUvNsn41eafcIRH-PfF5yWhgbphuRwJ0b2s9Xn_pQlY/s1600/Gas+pump+prices.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKlpBolN02ThtLbhdDouQwAy9kKuWnIaE1ivlT4OWSj0fFYfSX8hHsUv0sd8AnGjCvY6XgLkIVAhEmdmLxqc9ROPg88wd_7RYHUvNsn41eafcIRH-PfF5yWhgbphuRwJ0b2s9Xn_pQlY/s1600/Gas+pump+prices.jpg" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKlpBolN02ThtLbhdDouQwAy9kKuWnIaE1ivlT4OWSj0fFYfSX8hHsUv0sd8AnGjCvY6XgLkIVAhEmdmLxqc9ROPg88wd_7RYHUvNsn41eafcIRH-PfF5yWhgbphuRwJ0b2s9Xn_pQlY/s1600/Gas+pump+prices.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-24966907910344099242012-01-14T06:33:00.000-05:002012-01-14T06:33:24.902-05:00More cowbell can get you arrested?<a href="http://anne2011.teachforus.org/2012/01/11/the-5-stages-of-tfa/" target="_blank">The Five Stages of "Teach For America". But at least congress says they're "highly qualified".</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/01/13-3" target="_blank">Bi-partisan elitism...</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20120113/APC0101/301140039/Appleton-man-woman-charged-pushing-hitting-police-officer-recall-Wisconsin-Governor-Scott-Walker-demonstration-Oshkosh?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CAPC-News" target="_blank">Memo to Bruce Dickinson... Do you still need more cowbell?</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3rHFNJnDPYY" target="_blank">Today's Video Goodness... Every Presentation Ever: Communication FAIL </a><br />
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<b><i>"Part of the problem is the test and the questions that they ask. Because some of the questions are so obscure, that unless you know that they like to ask questions about that topic, you're not going to study it."</i></b><br />
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This above quote is about A:) a high school biology test. B:) a college geography test or <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/13/health/prescription-for-cheating/index.html?hpt=hp_c2" target="_blank">C:) a board certification exam for doctors of radiology.</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4EDc5IpwNo27d-dJxVpkLyTvvV6aeVSeLzN_YzEYfwbKXS8z-OEHdbjf8RhyEq74Zd28omvvTOwcquQSXAdgBaGedK7sN1B7GSL76PemS31hoMyh-OASWqUEfDsrttBP_eIq056ApHo/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4EDc5IpwNo27d-dJxVpkLyTvvV6aeVSeLzN_YzEYfwbKXS8z-OEHdbjf8RhyEq74Zd28omvvTOwcquQSXAdgBaGedK7sN1B7GSL76PemS31hoMyh-OASWqUEfDsrttBP_eIq056ApHo/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-64553412486337416942012-01-11T14:51:00.002-05:002012-01-11T14:56:34.135-05:00Don't Stop Believin'....<a href="http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2012/01/10/the-top-nine-education-myths-by-a-much-missed-debunker/" target="_blank">The top nine education myths by a much missed debunker...</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20120111/NEWS01/201110304/Michigan-s-curriculum-requirements-questioned-photo-gallery-" target="_blank">Finally!!! The one size fits all, cookie-cutter Michigan "Merit" Curriculum is under scrutiny!</a><br />
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<a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/01/newport-beach-students-bought-test-answers-on-amazon.html" target="_blank">Hey Kids! Guess what's for sale on Amazon.com?</a><br />
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<a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teacher_in_a_strange_land/2012/01/why_the_virgin_mary_left_nola_and_other_lessons_from_a_turnaround_school.html" target="_blank">Been having "Teacher In A Strange Land" withdrawal symptons lately? Your fix is here today! </a><br />
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<a href="http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120111/ENT04/201110396/Journey-singer-explains-South-Detroit-N-Y-writer-compounds-error?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE" target="_blank">Don't Stop Believin'... Journey singer finally realizes South Detroit is actually Windsor, Canada.</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bRLmXjiweP0zofj2LKq2K1dlsm2S_q3FhwanZ8mDd_YByFx7_zyTUPGkxJn_vdtcLdp59i974MS-6NCNKYECInVAdDSf5MhYPWwrod592pkfTBFwUzMHMl981hhHipDxVemUKcVGGzE/s1600/387533_3025943014313_1434902884_33213500_2029787021_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bRLmXjiweP0zofj2LKq2K1dlsm2S_q3FhwanZ8mDd_YByFx7_zyTUPGkxJn_vdtcLdp59i974MS-6NCNKYECInVAdDSf5MhYPWwrod592pkfTBFwUzMHMl981hhHipDxVemUKcVGGzE/s400/387533_3025943014313_1434902884_33213500_2029787021_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-60794033516111986542012-01-09T04:06:00.000-05:002012-01-09T04:06:26.673-05:00Is the Mayan Calendar Accurate?<a href="http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/945443-196/new-law-gives-parents-authority-to-veto.html" target="_blank">New Hampshire legislature overrides governor's veto... parents can now object to quadratic equation lesson plans.</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/public-education/is-poverty-the-key-factor-in-student-outcomes/" target="_blank">Really smart guy debunks popular myth that poverty isn't a key factor in education. (With video goodness)</a><br />
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<a href="http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2012/01/07/lesson-check-all-bags-bought-at-yard-sales-for-weapons-but-gwinnett-students-punishment-seems-harsh/" target="_blank">Today's episode of "Whatever Happened to Common Sense in Schools" is brought to you by Gwinnett County, Georgia. </a><br />
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<a href="http://stager.tv/blog/?p=2622" target="_blank">Curriculum not included? or Curriculum not included!!!</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/04/sarah-burge-human-barbie-liposuction-voucher-poppy_n_1183510.html?ref=mostpopular" target="_blank">And our first contestant for mother of the year....</a><br />
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<i><b>Picture of the day... Is the Mayan Calendar really that accurate? </b></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRBIgpCozQDyCukG-GRmFz02YJYeT6ETR0TTKN5fMzJhIYTX4axzW6Shq9zY9PTgddbK4x_f9jFBVo6bRAWWtrgsqtvfh9lo-6eu6OFVmo99VIbhxU7QLzqxG-eHtP532Ywb4-IjDV_8/s1600/MayaCalendar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRBIgpCozQDyCukG-GRmFz02YJYeT6ETR0TTKN5fMzJhIYTX4axzW6Shq9zY9PTgddbK4x_f9jFBVo6bRAWWtrgsqtvfh9lo-6eu6OFVmo99VIbhxU7QLzqxG-eHtP532Ywb4-IjDV_8/s1600/MayaCalendar.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-30169654409209398742012-01-06T03:55:00.002-05:002012-01-06T04:00:52.101-05:00Don't Mess With Matt Damon<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2012/01/05/matt-damon-and-mother-reject-unions-award/" target="_blank">Don't Mess With Matt Damon</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2012/01/05/in-creating-successful-schools-one-size-does-not-fit-all/?partner=rss&emc=rss" target="_blank">I love it when people start to see things my way...</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.startribune.com/local/east/136631848.html" target="_blank">Yet another reason people should be outraged at the effects of "No Child Left Behind".</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/01/three_reforms_to_improve_stude.html" target="_blank">These three low cost reform ideas probably make too much sense to ever get enacted.</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/local/pay-phone-owner-gets-3-months-in-4m-fraud-case-010512" target="_blank">Man scams pay phone users out of $4 million. In other news, people are still using pay phones.</a><br />
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<i><b>Picture of the week: </b></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjh0pEJHZar1yDxG0lXNk8x2gdT2-8ow1F7eWmme0TPubW3pM_tb0PvlK0kr-OHOTIDf1S7Rm1pNxsm2hOUeagKaX2gz1CcksK3Y0UdUbzMcMrFU9WzcQK4eG2b-FsXbe1Sx7Nz5mi1Uo/s1600/NEA-PeaceForOurTime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjh0pEJHZar1yDxG0lXNk8x2gdT2-8ow1F7eWmme0TPubW3pM_tb0PvlK0kr-OHOTIDf1S7Rm1pNxsm2hOUeagKaX2gz1CcksK3Y0UdUbzMcMrFU9WzcQK4eG2b-FsXbe1Sx7Nz5mi1Uo/s400/NEA-PeaceForOurTime.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-17693122274041037812012-01-04T05:12:00.003-05:002012-01-04T06:26:07.562-05:00Is Real World Math Yummy?<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/03/jon-huntsman-column-moder_n_1181641.html?ref=education" target="_blank">Presidential candidate promises to "modernize" education by offering no modern ideas.</a><br />
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<a href="http://innovativeedu.visibli.com/share/xmOWfm" target="_blank">Real world math is "Yummy"!!!</a><br />
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<a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teacher_in_a_strange_land/2012/01/whos_responsible_for_this_anyway.html" target="_blank">Responsibility or Obedience??? You shall obey and be responsible by reading this "must read"!!!</a><br />
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<i><b>Picture of the day: <br />
Will people call child protective services if they ever see one of these?</b></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AoVcv8BD9Fw/TwQlpcEDN9I/AAAAAAAAAT0/kaLm5rAelbo/s1600/BabyCarryingJacket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AoVcv8BD9Fw/TwQlpcEDN9I/AAAAAAAAAT0/kaLm5rAelbo/s1600/BabyCarryingJacket.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-37183272314824602012-01-01T08:40:00.003-05:002012-01-16T14:29:00.159-05:00My "Best of" 2011Ok... I realized in the last two weeks of December I blogged as many times as I had during the entire year of 2011.<br />
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However, I do think I had a few notable education advocacy efforts that I could declare as my "best of".<br />
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<a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teacher_in_a_strange_land/2011/04/mr_rogers_meets_charles_dickens.html" target="_blank">April - I was honored to provide a guest post for Nancy Flanagan's Education Week "Teacher In A Strange Land" blog...</a><br />
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<a href="http://thelivingstonpost.com/my-testimony-to-the-state-board-of-ed-save-our-career-and-technical-ed-classes/" target="_blank">May - I provided testimony to the Michigan Board of Education regarding the need to increase support for Career and Technical Education.</a><br />
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<a href="http://annarbor.com/news/opinion/voters-did-not-intend-school-aid-fund-to-be-used-for-higher-education-instead-use-it-to-avoid-cuts-t/" target="_blank">Also in May - The Ann Arbor News published my open letter to the governor regarding the misuse of the School Aid Fund</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://thelivingstonpost.com/teaching-for-the-stars/" target="_blank">July - LivingstonTalk.com published my game show idea, "Teaching for the Stars".</a><br />
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<a href="http://misterrogersrants.blogspot.com/2011/10/nfl-football-players-vs-teachers.html" target="_blank">October - I created a rebuttal to Fran Tarkenton's Wall Street Journal op-ed of "What if the NFL Played by Teachers Rules?".</a><br />
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And the year ended with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/NoviDesign" target="_blank">my YouTube channel</a> surpassing 40,000 unsolicited views with my "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0huJUPfK4w0&list=PL64109E68BBF58AF6&index=3&feature=plpp_video" target="_blank">Drawing 3D Roofs With AutoCAD Architecture</a>" being my most popular tutorial having been watched over 14,000 times.<br />
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HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--DsNPRorZ7Y/TwBjER6n4oI/AAAAAAAAATo/A9zLjiCEi9E/s1600/NewYearsEcard2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--DsNPRorZ7Y/TwBjER6n4oI/AAAAAAAAATo/A9zLjiCEi9E/s320/NewYearsEcard2.png" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-6177078649538195932011-12-30T09:21:00.003-05:002011-12-30T12:37:26.258-05:00If you pay peanuts, do you get monkeys?<a href="http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/2011/12/28/pupil-performance/" target="_blank">If you pay peanuts, do you get monkeys?</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.eclassroomnews.com/2011/11/21/tougher-teacher-evaluation-system-prompts-schools-to-ban-student-teachers/" target="_blank">Old and busted: Taking on a student teacher to help out a future educator and to benefit the teaching profession. New hotness: Scared to allow a student teacher to take over your classroom because it might cost you your job.</a><br />
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<a href="http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/12/new_alabama_education_policy_d.html" target="_blank">28 years old.... taught for 2 years, director of a farmers market for 5 months. Yep, that launched her career as an education expert. And now she is the Education Policy Director for the state of Alabama. But, but, but...she's a disciple of Michelle Rhee!</a><br />
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On a more personal note, I'd like to pay tribute to an educator who had a major influence on my life. Coach John Lacava coached track, football, and baseball in addition to being a guidance counselor at the junior high school I attended in the mid-70's.<br />
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Three years ago at age 77 he was still going strong working for the school system when he sustained a traumatic brain injury after slipping on a patch of ice on his way into work. Needless to say, that marked the end of his 50+ years as an educator.<br />
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Coach Lacava died this week. <a href="http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/knoxnews/obituary.aspx?n=john-b-lacava&pid=155250857&fhid=6410" target="_blank">His obituary can be read here</a>.<br />
May he rest in peace.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2439194308900129661.post-51108829635894263472011-12-29T10:36:00.001-05:002011-12-29T10:43:11.110-05:00Finally... An Accurate Pie Chart<a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2011/12/gingrich_lines_up_education_ad.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CampaignK-12+%28Education+Week+Blog%3A+Politics+K-12%29" target="_blank">Newt Gingrich uses his cerebralness to pick an education advisor who has ZERO experience as a teacher.</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/Main-Menu/Organizing-a-school/Time-in-school-How-does-the-US-compare" target="_blank">The education system in the U.S. is behind other countries because we spend less time school. Wait, WHAT? That's not true????</a><br />
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<a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2011/12/12-most-useful-ways-kids-can-learn-with.html" target="_blank">12 Most Useful Ways Kids Can Learn With Cell Phones... In other news, devices banned from most schools can enhance student learning.</a><br />
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<a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teacher_in_a_strange_land/2011/12/reform_vs_anti-reform_quoth_the_raven.html" target="_blank">Something too serious for a smarmy headline...</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/cliff-kuang/design-innovation/infographic-day-college-really-worth-it" target="_blank">Infographic of the Day: Is College Really Worth It? </a><br />
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<i><b>Picture of the day... A real pie chart.</b></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jAQ0_I4KQtQ/TvyI8oI-LuI/AAAAAAAAATc/aPJ-A90qXjs/s1600/pie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jAQ0_I4KQtQ/TvyI8oI-LuI/AAAAAAAAATc/aPJ-A90qXjs/s1600/pie.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1