Tuesday Open Thread
A fairly definitive list of every Christmas movie and tv show made. It would be a hard choice to decide which is the "best" but I'd go with It's a Wonderful Life (for drama), A Christmas Story (comedy) and Die Hard (for action).
According to the LA Times, Governor Jerry Brown of California, pushing back against standardized testing, says he is still "haunted" by a final exam he took in high school (and one particular question).
If you have not read this 5-part series on a homeless girl in the NY Times, it's very good (and sobering) reading.
What's on your mind?
According to the LA Times, Governor Jerry Brown of California, pushing back against standardized testing, says he is still "haunted" by a final exam he took in high school (and one particular question).
If you have not read this 5-part series on a homeless girl in the NY Times, it's very good (and sobering) reading.
What's on your mind?
Comments
It doesn't matter whether one thinks the local union is right or wrong in pushing back and refusing another vote on the issue. The end result of that refusal for our area will be strongly negative. Which means may citizens will be angry at the Unionization with a capital U. All unions.
And that's where it comes back to teachers. Think the anti-union hostility toward teachers won't increase as a side effect of the Boeing issue? I'd place a large wager otherwise. The Boeing issue will become another destabilizing force for our state's unionized teachers.
It will also be another obstacle in getting voters and state legislature to fully fund education. Politically and pocketbook-wise.
Glum thoughts.
EdVoter
concerned
It scares her. I tell her, me too.
-reader
NEmom
NEmom
As the intended purposes of K-12 ed affect, if not effect, all else, starting by listing the current purposes, then reevaluating them, and finally proposing reforms in accordance with fulfilling chosen purposes seems appropriate.
It strikes me that arguments about reform are blather unless related to what the public defines (not assumes or guesses) are the purposes of K-12 ed. The corporate community, for example, emphasizes development of each student as part of the economy. Charlie's emphasis on motivation suggests personal satisfaction as a purpose. I might look to development of self-discipline as a purpose. Melissa might consider social awareness as an individual and multi-community member as a purpose.
Identifying the various purposes of K-12, choosing which we want to focus on now, reconciling their conflicting demands, and prioritizing them within the limited K-12 timeframe seems a starting point in considering education reform.
A couple days ago, Lynne Varner wrote an editorial regarding charter schools. Varner was DEAD wrong and states that dollars follow students. Today, I see this on Washington State Charter Schools facebook page:
Washington State Charter Schools Association
"For now, state law and public money for operating costs remain firmly behind charter schools." Strong editorial from
Washington State Charter Schools Association facebook page then links Varner's article.
How much misinformation are these folks willing to tout???
I feel that especially with Common Core, we are turning (not 180 degrees but turning) more towards training than educating.
My late great friend, Professor David Notkin used to say, "It's like asking parents this: do you want your child to get sex training or sex education at school?"
I'm with an educated citizen. In the end, that will serve our country best.
Yay! If it's true, who's up for celebratory libations?
Mirmac1, yes, that would be my guess as well.
Perhaps we can start funding the people who work crazy hours with amazing attitudes to support and education our children.
- Rooting for teachers
“It’s fair to say that New York City has done more than any city to help the homeless and we should be very proud of that,” declared the mayor, who went on to express optimism that the city’s public schools system would help Dasani break the cycle of poverty.
“This kid was dealt a bad hand. I don’t know quite why. That’s just the way God works. Sometimes some of us are lucky and some of us are not,” he said.
The Times report was deeply critical of the city’s homeless policies, describing the shelter where Dasani’s family lived as a place “where mold creeps up walls and roaches swarm, where feces and vomit plug communal toilets, where sexual predators have roamed” that was unfit for children. But Mr. Bloomberg admitted no fault, and proceeded to praise both those who work on behalf of the homeless and the government programs already in place."
Homeless has gone up 60% under Bloomberg's leadership. It's a heavy burden to place on an already over burdened school system to ask them to act as society's safety net. For Bloomberg to imply that the school system will rescue students from every social ill instead of directly addressing issues of homelessness and unemployment belies the "let them eat cake" approach of a government official who is out of touch with the plight of his poorest constituents.
"Not sure if it's true but been told that the indecision about the Mann Building will cost students and taxpayers over $180k for penalties & overtime to get back on schedule... anybody know if this is true? Has a change order been approved?"
At the time, the contractor had not filed for late fees/delay of contract. That may have come by now, I'll have to ask. But I sincerely doubt that they won't - the delay is months and that cost the contractor time and money. I would not blame them for asking for it.
Mary, I cannot believe what Bloomberg said. Paraphasing Aasif Manvi, "Does he know we can hear him talking?"
That's how God works?
And good point (that I have often made) that the public education system cannot right all the ills of society.
NEmom
In fact, I will always suggest anything by Neil Postman, particularly his brilliant "Amusing Ourselves to Death".