Weekly roundup of national news of note.
In case you missed it: teacher quality, outside managers
Submitted by Erika Owens on Wed, 03/03/2010 - 17:17 Posted in In case you missed it | Permalink
Building a Better Teacher New York Times magazine
Teacher quality is all over the news the days, and Elizabeth Green of GothamSchools.org gives the topic a thorough look in this cover story.
Obama's unfortunate comments on teacher firings The Answer Sheet
Teacher quality also arose in reference to the Rhode Island district that fired all of its teachers. This blog post does a great job of explaining why advocates for wholesale firing "have it all wrong."
See also: School Fires Its Teachers In The Name Of Progress NPR
L.A. School Board Snubs Charter School Operators AP via Education Week
The school board turned the schools over to nonprofit groups of teachers and administrators.
Former 'No Child Left Behind' Advocate Turns Critic NPR
Diane Ravitch has become a vocal critic of NCLB. This piece also includes an excerpt from Ravitch's new book, The Death and Life of the Great American School System.
Every weekday you can find a roundup of the local education news, but we're working to make In case you missed it a regular place to catch up on national news. Thanks to Angela Chan and Timothy Boyle for the suggestions for this week's post. Please email us if you have any suggestions, too.
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In case you missed it: Unsung hero, TFA, teacher quality
Submitted by Erika Owens on Mon, 01/11/2010 - 16:52 Posted in In case you missed it | Permalink
Top Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Unsung Hero 2009 - Helen Gym Asian Pacific Americans for Progress blog
Congrats to Helen! She was nominated for her ongoing activism, including her work with students at South Philly High. Part of the group who co-founded the Notebook, she's still involved on our Leadership Board and as a blogger.
Teach for America: Icon with Feet of Clay? Blue Avocado
A thorough overview of the many debates and discussions TFA inspires.
What Makes a Great Teacher? The Atlantic via The Educated Reporter blog
To try to answer that question reporter Amanda Ripley studied data TFA has collected since it began in 1990. The data point to several personal factors that affect success in the classroom including perseverance, grit, and "life satisfaction."
See also: Thompson: How We Feel about Urban Education This Week In Education
Study shows how dumb we can be Class Struggle
Jay Mathews highlighted a study that tracked how teachers use classroom time.
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In case you missed it: RttT and turnarounds, class disrupters, constructive criticism
Submitted by Erika Owens on Mon, 11/30/2009 - 16:47 Posted in In case you missed it | Permalink
Stimulus Rules on 'Turnarounds' Shift Education Week
In the final version of rules for the $4 billion grant competition, school "transformation" became a first option for school turnaround in addition to more aggressive methods. Transformation methods include "providing professional development and coaching for a school’s current staff, and making changes to curriculum and instruction."
Alternative Class for Disrupters? The Core Knowledge blog
A teacher in Florida wrote about problems caused by students who check out of class. School climate is also the topic of our Winter edition, and an editorial by the NY Times.
Why Every Student Needs Critical Friends Educational Leadership
This piece outlines how to bring constructive criticism between peers into the classroom, and the benefits of that approach.
Poor Schools or Poor Kids? Education Next (via Core Knowledge blog)
Q&A between Joe Williams for the Education Equality Project and Pedro Noguera for A Broader, Bolder Approach to Education.
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In case you missed it: Choice, evaluation, war, charters and segregation
Submitted by Erika Owens on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 16:22 Posted in In case you missed it | Permalink
School choice series: High school search frustrates ambitious student The Times-Picayune
The final installment in a series about school choice in New Orleans, the current home of Philly's former CEO Paul Vallas.
Mr. Goldfarb’s Evaluation The Core Knowledge Blog
This post urges readers to check out Jay Mathews' piece that details Mr. Goldfarb's experience with the new evaluation system in place in D.C.
The War on Kids: What Ails Public Schools? Better Ask, What Doesn’t? The New York Times
The new documentary "suggests a system regulated by fear and motivated by the desire to control." But Alexander Russo is skeptical.
Push for charter schools sparks segregation concerns Montgomery Advertiser via JCCF
Alabama, and nine other states, do not currently have charter school laws, but the Race to the Top application is pushing states to quickly change that.
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In case you missed it: Race to the top, orchid kids, union CEO?
Submitted by Erika Owens on Mon, 11/16/2009 - 17:38 Posted in In case you missed it | Permalink
Rules Set for $4 Billion 'Race to Top' Contest Education Week
States will be judged on a 500-point scale. This article outlines the details behind the three most important factors: that states "make a persuasive case for their education reform agenda, demonstrate significant buy-in from local school districts, and develop plans to evaluate teachers and principals based on student performance."
See also: Education Department to Demand School Pay Data Education Week
The Science of Success The Atlantic via This Week In Education
A new theory suggests that while most of us are dandelions, hardy and able to deal with most anything, some of us are orchids. Orchid children can thrive in great environments or wither in less supportive circumstances.
Teacher union's Randi Weingarten for next D.C. schools chief The Washington Post
Jay Mathews' thought experiment is provocative. I like it! A union leader as a district leader would be an interesting change of pace. A commenter on the article notes that in her district, the union-leader-turned-superintendent has done a great job.
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In case you missed it: Merit pay, youth violence, Halloween
Submitted by Erika Owens on Mon, 11/09/2009 - 15:55 Posted in In case you missed it | Permalink
The Debate Over Differentiated Pay: The Devil is In the Details Rethinking Schools
Great, multi-faceted look at merit pay and the ideas swirling around on how to improve teacher compensation.
A Powerful Idea on Youth Violence The New York Times (opinion)
The Times praises Chicago's public schools chief for his ideas on how to curb violence. But, Alexander Russo cautions praising a plan that is not fully public yet.
Thompson: The Edusphere This Week In Education
John Thompson reflects on NCLB and "cyberpolarization" in the education blogosphere.
The demise of Halloween Washington Post, Great Pundit Contest
One of the contestants is Kevin Huffman, an executive with TFA. This entry is pretty funny, and looks at the changing expectations for Halloween, inside and outside of the classroom.
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In case you missed it: Teacher ed, ELL, God in the stands
Submitted by Erika Owens on Mon, 11/02/2009 - 12:22 Posted in In case you missed it | Permalink
Teach Your Teachers Well New York Times (opinion)
The director of Williams College's teaching program, Susan Engel, suggests treating teaching like a craft, with intensive mentoring.
Students remaining in English language classes too long, study shows Los Angeles Times
Even though nearly 70% of students in ELL classes were born in the U.S., nearly 30% remain in ELL classes in high school.
Barred From Field, Religious Signs Move to Stands New York Times
Fearing a lawsuit, a Bible-belt school barred religious signs from the football field, but that did not silence revelers.
The Answer Sheet: The feuding is getting in the way Washington Post
Moving past a polarized debate is an important point to keep in mind as contract negotiations and major reform continue here, too.
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In case you missed it: National news
Submitted by Erika Owens on Fri, 10/23/2009 - 13:39 Posted in In case you missed it | Permalink
Now that we bring you a roundup of Philly education news every day, we're thinking about how to share national news as well. One idea is to bring "In case you missed it" back as a weekly national news roundup.
What do you think? What kind of national news do you want the Notebook to highlight each week?
Here are a few major stories from this week:
Teacher Contract Called Potential Model for Nation Education Week
The New Haven teachers' contract grapples with many of the issues facing the negotiators in Philadelphia.
RIP: Ted Sizer (June 23, 1932 - October 21, 2009) This Week In Education
Sizer was a singular education thinker who founded the Coalition of Essential Schools and helped drive the high school reform movement, especially small schools.
Teacher Preparation: Reforming the Uncertain Profession—Remarks of Secretary Arne Duncan at Teachers College, Columbia University Ed.gov
Duncan calls out "many if not most" ed schools as "doing a mediocre job" preparing teachers for 21st century classrooms.
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In case you missed it, week of Aug. 23
Submitted by Erika Owens on Mon, 08/31/2009 - 11:40 Posted in In case you missed it | Permalink
The composition of the SRC continued to be big news this week. First, the Notebook reported that SRC nominee Joseph Dworetzky's name was recalled from consideration by the state Senate. Then, two days later Rendell announced that he plans to renominate Dworetzky and to fill Ramirez' seat with Republican, former U.S. ambassador David Girard-diCarolo.
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In case you missed it, week of Aug. 16
Submitted by Erika Owens on Mon, 08/24/2009 - 05:59 Posted in In case you missed it | Permalink
The Notebook was first with the week's big news about Heidi Ramirez' resignation from the SRC. Other coverage of the resignation:
Here is a video of the announcement from Al Día:
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Renaissance School provider applicants await the first cut
by Dale Mezzacappa
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