In Public School Efforts, a Common Background: Private EducationBy MICHAEL WINERIP
New York Times
Published: April 17, 2011
Summary: There is one thing that characterizes a surprisingly large number of the people who are transforming public schools: they attended private schools.
Does a private school background give them a much-needed distance and fresh perspective to better critique and remake traditional public schools? Does it make them distrust public schools — or even worse — poison their perception of them? Or does it make any difference?
Presents a "Who's Who" list of education reformers and the elite private school they attended.
Audience: General public.
Key Points: When President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind legislation, he expressed his hope that it would combat the “soft bigotry of low expectations.” Indeed, the law could not have higher expectations: every child in the nation is required to be proficient in math and English by 2014. Schools that do not meet their proficiency goals, which are raised every year, are labeled as failing.
Last month, Mr. Duncan predicted that by the end of this year, 82 percent of schools will miss their goal. At this rate, it is highly likely that in a few years, every single public school in the United States will be labeled a failure.
Relevance: Interesting to see the list of people involved in education reform and their private education roots.
Showing posts with label Posted by Sean. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Posted by Sean. Show all posts
Monday, April 18, 2011
Former Obama Staffer Changes Universe - Lengthens Day
Emanuel Gets Boost, and Challenges, in Schools Bill
Rebecca Vevea
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/us/17cncschools.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=educationNew York Times/Chicago Times
April 16th 2011
Summary: A sweeping public school reform bill unanimously approved by the State Senate gives Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel a chance to fulfill a campaign promise and lengthen Chicago’s school day, currently one of the shortest in the nation. But he will have to overcome daunting budget, educational and labor obstacles.
Audience: General Readers
Key Points: 1) NCLB test emphasis has caused cuts in social studies, science, PE etc... 2) Chicago has one of the shortest school days in the nation. 3) More school hours will cost more money.
Relevance: Education reform will not be easy, no matter what shape or form it takes.
Rebecca Vevea
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/us/17cncschools.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=educationNew York Times/Chicago Times
April 16th 2011
Summary: A sweeping public school reform bill unanimously approved by the State Senate gives Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel a chance to fulfill a campaign promise and lengthen Chicago’s school day, currently one of the shortest in the nation. But he will have to overcome daunting budget, educational and labor obstacles.
Audience: General Readers
Key Points: 1) NCLB test emphasis has caused cuts in social studies, science, PE etc... 2) Chicago has one of the shortest school days in the nation. 3) More school hours will cost more money.
Relevance: Education reform will not be easy, no matter what shape or form it takes.
Teacher Inspires from Beyond the Grave
Katie Sanders
In memory of long-time Newton high school teacher Tom DePeter
Read more: http://www.wickedlocal.com/newton/archive/x1393574167/In-memory-of-long-time-Newton-high-school-teacher-Tom-DePeter#ixzz1JuUS2emb
The Newton Tab
May 13, 2009
Topic: This is a tribute article written by a former student on a teacher who passed away. I came across it while pursuing my 'unclaimed money' hobby and thought that it needed to be a blog post.
Key Points: Great Teachers Still make a great difference. You don't have to follow the rules to be a great teacher.
Intended Audience: For the general public, but should be read by those who aspire to be teachers.
Relevance: After a semester of depressing news of budget cuts and layoffs, something inspirational.
In memory of long-time Newton high school teacher Tom DePeter
Read more: http://www.wickedlocal.com/newton/archive/x1393574167/In-memory-of-long-time-Newton-high-school-teacher-Tom-DePeter#ixzz1JuUS2emb
The Newton Tab
May 13, 2009
Topic: This is a tribute article written by a former student on a teacher who passed away. I came across it while pursuing my 'unclaimed money' hobby and thought that it needed to be a blog post.
Key Points: Great Teachers Still make a great difference. You don't have to follow the rules to be a great teacher.
Intended Audience: For the general public, but should be read by those who aspire to be teachers.
Relevance: After a semester of depressing news of budget cuts and layoffs, something inspirational.
Monday, April 11, 2011
In New York Charter School Debate, the tables are turned
A City School’s Uphill Fight Over Sharing Space With a Charter
New York Times
By MICHAEL WINERIP
Published: April 10, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/11/nyregion/11winerip.html?_r=1&ref=education
Topic: In what many might consider a "Man bites dog" story, it is the defenders of the public schools who are up against the larger, better funded, better connected charter school system.
Key Point: In a mixed race and mixed economic area of New York City, the goals of the local public school parents to improve the Middle School have hit unlikely snags. P.S. 9 parents have fought City Hall, scoring a few upset victories. But they have also learned a hard lesson: once the mayor’s people set their sights on a charter school location, the chances of successfully challenging a charter are slim. Supporters of district schools fear that once a charter moves in, it will take over the building. They resent being compared academically, when on average, charters in New York City have fewer poor, immigrant and special-education students.
New York Times
By MICHAEL WINERIP
Published: April 10, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/11/nyregion/11winerip.html?_r=1&ref=education
Topic: In what many might consider a "Man bites dog" story, it is the defenders of the public schools who are up against the larger, better funded, better connected charter school system.
Key Point: In a mixed race and mixed economic area of New York City, the goals of the local public school parents to improve the Middle School have hit unlikely snags. P.S. 9 parents have fought City Hall, scoring a few upset victories. But they have also learned a hard lesson: once the mayor’s people set their sights on a charter school location, the chances of successfully challenging a charter are slim. Supporters of district schools fear that once a charter moves in, it will take over the building. They resent being compared academically, when on average, charters in New York City have fewer poor, immigrant and special-education students.
Monday, April 4, 2011
MARIE MYUNG-OK LEE
What I learned at School
March 30, 2011
New York Times
Complete URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/opinion/31lee.html?_r=1
An Op-Ed on some of the real education that happens in school which has nothing to do with the curricula, and everything to do with the teachers. In this case I found it compelling that the teacher who made such a difference in this person got laid off due to budget cuts and never returned to teach.
This article is relevant to the general population. It is an important reminder that teachers do make a huge difference in the lives of individuals.
What I learned at School
March 30, 2011
New York Times
Complete URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/opinion/31lee.html?_r=1
An Op-Ed on some of the real education that happens in school which has nothing to do with the curricula, and everything to do with the teachers. In this case I found it compelling that the teacher who made such a difference in this person got laid off due to budget cuts and never returned to teach.
This article is relevant to the general population. It is an important reminder that teachers do make a huge difference in the lives of individuals.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
How to Raise the Status of Teachers
Another "Room for Debate" er, Debate
New York Times
March 27, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/03/27/how-to-raise-the-status-of-teachers
New York Times
March 27, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/03/27/how-to-raise-the-status-of-teachers
Topic: Debate
Key Point: This is a collection of 9 short written segments by 'debaters' answering the question, "how to raise the status of the status of teachers". Each writer has links and references to other articles, organizations, and studies, so it makes for a great start to branch off to other resources.
States around the country are looking to trim their budgets, and public school teachers are feeling unfairly attacked. At the same time, the United States continues to fall behind other countries in student performance rankings.
In high-scoring countries like Finland, Japan, The Netherlands, Canada and South Korea, teachers have higher status and are typically paid better relative to other workers. It also noted, "countries that have succeeded in making teaching an attractive profession have often done so not just through pay, but by raising the status of teaching."
Key Point: This is a collection of 9 short written segments by 'debaters' answering the question, "how to raise the status of the status of teachers". Each writer has links and references to other articles, organizations, and studies, so it makes for a great start to branch off to other resources.
States around the country are looking to trim their budgets, and public school teachers are feeling unfairly attacked. At the same time, the United States continues to fall behind other countries in student performance rankings.
In high-scoring countries like Finland, Japan, The Netherlands, Canada and South Korea, teachers have higher status and are typically paid better relative to other workers. It also noted, "countries that have succeeded in making teaching an attractive profession have often done so not just through pay, but by raising the status of teaching."
Why Blame the Teachers?
Room for Debate
New York Times
March 6, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/03/06/why-blame-the-teachers?ref=education
Topic: Debate
New York Times
March 6, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/03/06/why-blame-the-teachers?ref=education
Topic: Debate
This is a collection of 8 short written segments by 'debaters' including Diane Ravitch author of Language Police and Daily Show guest.
With states and cities going through hard times, teachers, their pensions and their unions have become big targets for budget cutters. Lawmakers in some states are trying to change teacher tenure rules and school districts are laying off teachers by the thousands. In public debate and private conversations, teachers have come under increasing criticism for being ineffective and overpaid. Yet not long ago, education reform efforts sought to elevate the prestige and pay of teachers as a key to improving achievement in the classrooms.
Middle School Sexting
A Girl's Nude Photo, Altered Lives
Jan Hoffman
New York Times
March 26, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/27/us/27sexting.html?pagewanted=1&ref=general&src=me
Topic: High Tech flirting turns explicit, Altering Young Lives
Key Points: Last year in Olympia Washington this case of middle schoolers being arrested for 'sexting' made the news, the article follows the longer term ramifications when the naked photo goes 'viral'. The girl who originally sent the photo was not arrested, but three others were for disseminating it, making it more a case about bullying than child pornography.
Relevance: As we have discussed in our Learning Communities class, we are expected to know what's going on with our students. We need to know how easy it is for bullying to occur using this media. The article goes into considerable detail how the administration handled the issue and is using it to educate new middle schoolers.
Jan Hoffman
New York Times
March 26, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/27/us/27sexting.html?pagewanted=1&ref=general&src=me
Topic: High Tech flirting turns explicit, Altering Young Lives
Key Points: Last year in Olympia Washington this case of middle schoolers being arrested for 'sexting' made the news, the article follows the longer term ramifications when the naked photo goes 'viral'. The girl who originally sent the photo was not arrested, but three others were for disseminating it, making it more a case about bullying than child pornography.
Relevance: As we have discussed in our Learning Communities class, we are expected to know what's going on with our students. We need to know how easy it is for bullying to occur using this media. The article goes into considerable detail how the administration handled the issue and is using it to educate new middle schoolers.
In Advanced Placement Redesign Bruner tops Skinner
Rethinking Advanced Placement
Christopher Drew
New York Times
January 7, 2011
Topic: Advanced Placement test get a redesign, out goes memorization, in comes discovery and critical thinking.
Key Points: Beginning in 2012, the College Board will present redesigned AP tests which will focus on critical thinking skills. Previously, students were responsible for learning the entire AP textbook which amounted to memorization of large amounts of facts with no time for context or lab work (history & biology being the worst offenders).
"We really believe that the New A.P. needs to be anchored in a curriculum that focuses on what students need to be able to do with their knowledge,” Trevor Packer, VP of the AP, says. The new approach is important because critical thinking skills are considered essential for advanced college courses and jobs in today’s information-based economy. College administrators and veteran A.P. teachers familiar with the new biology curriculum believe the changes could have significant reverberations for how science is taught in introductory college classes and even elementary school classrooms, and might bring some of the excitement back to science learning.
A committee of the National Research Council, called attention to the A.P. problems in 2002. It criticized A.P. science courses for cramming in too much material and failing to let students design their own lab experiments. It also said the courses had failed to keep pace with research on how people learn: instead of listening to lectures, “more real learning takes place if students spend more time going into greater depth on fewer topics, allowing them to experience problem solving, controversies and the subtleties of scholarly investigation.”
Relevance: The article shows how the A.P. courses are adapting to what colleges say they want to reflect in their A.P. students. That is, they want them to think critically like college students before granting the "Placement" part of the A.P. It also reinforces what we are discussing in Ed Psych, where colleges expect a completely different type of learning style than high schools.
Christopher Drew
New York Times
January 7, 2011
Topic: Advanced Placement test get a redesign, out goes memorization, in comes discovery and critical thinking.
Key Points: Beginning in 2012, the College Board will present redesigned AP tests which will focus on critical thinking skills. Previously, students were responsible for learning the entire AP textbook which amounted to memorization of large amounts of facts with no time for context or lab work (history & biology being the worst offenders).
"We really believe that the New A.P. needs to be anchored in a curriculum that focuses on what students need to be able to do with their knowledge,” Trevor Packer, VP of the AP, says. The new approach is important because critical thinking skills are considered essential for advanced college courses and jobs in today’s information-based economy. College administrators and veteran A.P. teachers familiar with the new biology curriculum believe the changes could have significant reverberations for how science is taught in introductory college classes and even elementary school classrooms, and might bring some of the excitement back to science learning.
A committee of the National Research Council, called attention to the A.P. problems in 2002. It criticized A.P. science courses for cramming in too much material and failing to let students design their own lab experiments. It also said the courses had failed to keep pace with research on how people learn: instead of listening to lectures, “more real learning takes place if students spend more time going into greater depth on fewer topics, allowing them to experience problem solving, controversies and the subtleties of scholarly investigation.”
Relevance: The article shows how the A.P. courses are adapting to what colleges say they want to reflect in their A.P. students. That is, they want them to think critically like college students before granting the "Placement" part of the A.P. It also reinforces what we are discussing in Ed Psych, where colleges expect a completely different type of learning style than high schools.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Preschool Learning
Why Preschool Shouldn't Be Like School
Alison Gopnik
Slate.com
March 16, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/26/us/26charter.html?ref=education
Topic: Research shows preschools should avoid direct instruction style of education.
New research shows that teaching kids more and more, at ever-younger ages, may backfire.
Key Points: Studies provide scientific support for the intuitions many teachers have had all along: Direct instruction really can limit young children's learning. Teaching is a very effective way to get children to learn something specific. But it also makes children less likely to discover unexpected information and to draw unexpected conclusions.
Relevance: More fodder for the very interesting and imprecise science of early childhood learning and education psychology.
Alison Gopnik
Slate.com
March 16, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/26/us/26charter.html?ref=education
Topic: Research shows preschools should avoid direct instruction style of education.
New research shows that teaching kids more and more, at ever-younger ages, may backfire.
Key Points: Studies provide scientific support for the intuitions many teachers have had all along: Direct instruction really can limit young children's learning. Teaching is a very effective way to get children to learn something specific. But it also makes children less likely to discover unexpected information and to draw unexpected conclusions.
Relevance: More fodder for the very interesting and imprecise science of early childhood learning and education psychology.
Charter School Champion Shifts Focus
Charter School Champion Shifts Focus
Sam Dillon
New York Times
March 26, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/26/us/26charter.html?ref=education
Topic: The evolution of Charter Schools
This is an article about the founder of an organization who has more enthusiasm than patience and is moving on from his project to take on new ones. It is a typical pattern.
Key Points: Steve Barr, the founder of an LA based charter school organization, "Green Dot" has moved on to form his own organization in New York and elsewhere.
Green Dot is one of a dozen or so nonprofit, high-performing charter chains that focus on students from low-income families and have grown rapidly over the past decade with philanthropic financing. Most of the others, which include the Kipp Schools, with 99 schools in 20 states, and Achievement First, with 19 schools in Connecticut and New York, operate with largely nonunion teachers.
Green Dot is similar but staffs its schools with union represented teachers.
Relevance: The article is a good jumping off point for a look at different charter school operations. It references a forthcoming book about the Green Dot experience written by Alexander Russo, which might be interesting to those with interest on the subject.
Sam Dillon
New York Times
March 26, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/26/us/26charter.html?ref=education
Topic: The evolution of Charter Schools
This is an article about the founder of an organization who has more enthusiasm than patience and is moving on from his project to take on new ones. It is a typical pattern.
Key Points: Steve Barr, the founder of an LA based charter school organization, "Green Dot" has moved on to form his own organization in New York and elsewhere.
Green Dot is one of a dozen or so nonprofit, high-performing charter chains that focus on students from low-income families and have grown rapidly over the past decade with philanthropic financing. Most of the others, which include the Kipp Schools, with 99 schools in 20 states, and Achievement First, with 19 schools in Connecticut and New York, operate with largely nonunion teachers.
Green Dot is similar but staffs its schools with union represented teachers.
Relevance: The article is a good jumping off point for a look at different charter school operations. It references a forthcoming book about the Green Dot experience written by Alexander Russo, which might be interesting to those with interest on the subject.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
In Florida, Push to Link Teacher Pay to Student Performance
LIZETTE ALVAREZ
March 8, 2011
In Florida, Push to Link Teacher Pay to Student Performance
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/education/09florida.html?ref=education
New York Times
Summary: The Florida Legislature quickly set its sights on measures that would link the pay of new teachers to student performance and allow school boards to fire teachers more easily for mediocre results.
The far-reaching bills in the House and Senate would shake up a system of pay and tenure in Florida that has existed for decades and would position Florida as a leader among those states taking on teachers’ unions. Supporters say it will make it easier to reward and promote the state’s best teachers, not by their longevity, but by their work in the classroom. This, they say, will ensure that the lowest-performing schools can lure more effective teachers.
Intended Audience: General Public
Key Points: 1) Contrary to education experts who blame poverty for low performance, this bill places the sole measure of performance on teachers.
2) New teachers will be subject to one year contracts. They will also be eligible for merit pay increases.
Relevance: Why am I doing this again?
March 8, 2011
In Florida, Push to Link Teacher Pay to Student Performance
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/education/09florida.html?ref=education
New York Times
Summary: The Florida Legislature quickly set its sights on measures that would link the pay of new teachers to student performance and allow school boards to fire teachers more easily for mediocre results.
The far-reaching bills in the House and Senate would shake up a system of pay and tenure in Florida that has existed for decades and would position Florida as a leader among those states taking on teachers’ unions. Supporters say it will make it easier to reward and promote the state’s best teachers, not by their longevity, but by their work in the classroom. This, they say, will ensure that the lowest-performing schools can lure more effective teachers.
Intended Audience: General Public
Key Points: 1) Contrary to education experts who blame poverty for low performance, this bill places the sole measure of performance on teachers.
2) New teachers will be subject to one year contracts. They will also be eligible for merit pay increases.
Relevance: Why am I doing this again?
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Gay Friendly Curricula and Backlash
Gerry Shih
"Clashes Pit Parents vs. Gay-Friendly Curriculums in Schools"
THE NEW YORK TIMES
MARCH 3, 2011
URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/04/education/04bcgay.html?pagewanted=1&ref=education
TOPIC: MANDATED GAY FRIENDLY CURRICULUM IN SCHOOLS AND THE INEVITABLE BACKLASH FROM PARENTS AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS.
SUMMARY: In the California Bay Area, after a lesbian student joined with the American Civil Liberties Union in 2008 to accuse the local school district of discrimination, district officials agreed as part of a settlement to show films and assign homework depicting same-sex families, beginning in elementary school.
But recently, more than a dozen parents, rallied by community religious leaders, attacked the school board, asserting that their rights were being violated because they had no control over whether their children received such lessons.
The clash was one of several related controversies at Bay Area schools.
INTENDED AUDIENCE: GENERAL PUBLIC
KEY POINTS: They’re here, they’re not queer, and they are having a hard time getting used to it.
Where is the sweet spot between mandatory education on LGBT issues, tolerance, bigotry, versus requiring all history textbooks to include figures and events in gay history and portray them “in a positive light”.
RELEVANCE: Continues our education on LBGT issues covered in yesterday’s seminar. Even a reference to And Tango Makes Three.
"Clashes Pit Parents vs. Gay-Friendly Curriculums in Schools"
THE NEW YORK TIMES
MARCH 3, 2011
URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/04/education/04bcgay.html?pagewanted=1&ref=education
TOPIC: MANDATED GAY FRIENDLY CURRICULUM IN SCHOOLS AND THE INEVITABLE BACKLASH FROM PARENTS AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS.
SUMMARY: In the California Bay Area, after a lesbian student joined with the American Civil Liberties Union in 2008 to accuse the local school district of discrimination, district officials agreed as part of a settlement to show films and assign homework depicting same-sex families, beginning in elementary school.
But recently, more than a dozen parents, rallied by community religious leaders, attacked the school board, asserting that their rights were being violated because they had no control over whether their children received such lessons.
The clash was one of several related controversies at Bay Area schools.
INTENDED AUDIENCE: GENERAL PUBLIC
KEY POINTS: They’re here, they’re not queer, and they are having a hard time getting used to it.
Where is the sweet spot between mandatory education on LGBT issues, tolerance, bigotry, versus requiring all history textbooks to include figures and events in gay history and portray them “in a positive light”.
RELEVANCE: Continues our education on LBGT issues covered in yesterday’s seminar. Even a reference to And Tango Makes Three.
Los Angeles Teacher Layoff Plans
Jennifer Medina
"Teacher Layoff Plans in Los Angeles Pose Broad Implications"
THE NEW YORK TIMES
MARCH 4, 2011
URL: WWW.NYTIMES.COM/2011/03/05/US/05LAYOFFS.HTML?REF=EDUCATION
TOPIC: THE HEIGHTENED CONFLICT BETWEEN TEACHER LEAYOFFS, SENIORITY, BUDGET DEFICITS, AND TEACHERS’ UNIONS.
SUMMARY: In Los Angeles a court ruling ratified a settlement agreed to by plaintiffs and the school district, is being appealed by the teachers’ union.
Last spring, the American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights groups sued the school district on behalf of parents, saying that their children’s right to an education, guaranteed in the State Constitution, would be violated by the layoffs. Like most districts in the country, Los Angeles has long had an agreement with the union that layoffs are based primarily on seniority. Lawyers for the parents argued that the layoffs would disproportionately affect poor, black and Latino students, who are more likely to attend schools that are difficult to staff and have a high proportion of inexperienced teachers.
If the ruling is upheld for the seemingly inevitable layoffs this summer, Los Angeles, the second-largest district in the country, will be among the first to dismiss teachers using criteria other than seniority.
INTENDED AUDIENCE: GENERAL PUBLIC
KEY POINTS: In essence, the ruling put the rights of students above job protections.
RELEVANCE: As new teachers, we would benefit from being protected from layoffs based on seniority alone. On the other hand, with 30,000 teachers facing layoffs in California alone, will there be any jobs for us to apply?
"Teacher Layoff Plans in Los Angeles Pose Broad Implications"
THE NEW YORK TIMES
MARCH 4, 2011
URL: WWW.NYTIMES.COM/2011/03/05/US/05LAYOFFS.HTML?REF=EDUCATION
TOPIC: THE HEIGHTENED CONFLICT BETWEEN TEACHER LEAYOFFS, SENIORITY, BUDGET DEFICITS, AND TEACHERS’ UNIONS.
SUMMARY: In Los Angeles a court ruling ratified a settlement agreed to by plaintiffs and the school district, is being appealed by the teachers’ union.
Last spring, the American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights groups sued the school district on behalf of parents, saying that their children’s right to an education, guaranteed in the State Constitution, would be violated by the layoffs. Like most districts in the country, Los Angeles has long had an agreement with the union that layoffs are based primarily on seniority. Lawyers for the parents argued that the layoffs would disproportionately affect poor, black and Latino students, who are more likely to attend schools that are difficult to staff and have a high proportion of inexperienced teachers.
If the ruling is upheld for the seemingly inevitable layoffs this summer, Los Angeles, the second-largest district in the country, will be among the first to dismiss teachers using criteria other than seniority.
INTENDED AUDIENCE: GENERAL PUBLIC
KEY POINTS: In essence, the ruling put the rights of students above job protections.
RELEVANCE: As new teachers, we would benefit from being protected from layoffs based on seniority alone. On the other hand, with 30,000 teachers facing layoffs in California alone, will there be any jobs for us to apply?
Friday, February 25, 2011
The Drug Free Cure for ADD
OK, this post is just for fun because it came to mind when we watched the animated lecture in Learning Communities it mentioned the epidemic of ADHD diagnoses.
It's dumb, but it's short.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1ytqd4gqh8
It's dumb, but it's short.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1ytqd4gqh8
Counting by Race Can Throw Off Some Numbers
Susan Saulny
"Counting by Race Can Throw Off Some Numbers"
The New York Times
February 9,2011
URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/10/us/10count.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&hp
Topic: Discussion of how difficult it is to classify race in an increasingly mixed race society. There is also a "continued discussion" with other writers attached.
Summary: When it comes to keeping racial statistics, the nation is in transition, moving, often without uniformity, from the old “mark one box” limit to allowing citizens to check as many boxes as their backgrounds demand. Changes in how Americans are counted by race and ethnicity are meant to improve the precision with which the nation’s growing diversity is gauged. In the process, however, a measurement problem has emerged. Despite the federal government’s setting standards more than a decade ago, data on race and ethnicity are being collected and aggregated in an assortment of ways. The lack of uniformity is making comparison and analysis extremely difficult across fields and across time.
Intended audience: General Public
Key points: Contrary to the debate on Saturday, the classification of race by the US government is not being pressed by whites for discrimination, but by racial minorities who want to ensure funds for disadvantaged students are directed appropriately.
Relevance: Continues our discussion from the Race as an Illusion seminar.
"Counting by Race Can Throw Off Some Numbers"
The New York Times
February 9,2011
URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/10/us/10count.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&hp
Topic: Discussion of how difficult it is to classify race in an increasingly mixed race society. There is also a "continued discussion" with other writers attached.
Summary: When it comes to keeping racial statistics, the nation is in transition, moving, often without uniformity, from the old “mark one box” limit to allowing citizens to check as many boxes as their backgrounds demand. Changes in how Americans are counted by race and ethnicity are meant to improve the precision with which the nation’s growing diversity is gauged. In the process, however, a measurement problem has emerged. Despite the federal government’s setting standards more than a decade ago, data on race and ethnicity are being collected and aggregated in an assortment of ways. The lack of uniformity is making comparison and analysis extremely difficult across fields and across time.
Intended audience: General Public
Key points: Contrary to the debate on Saturday, the classification of race by the US government is not being pressed by whites for discrimination, but by racial minorities who want to ensure funds for disadvantaged students are directed appropriately.
Relevance: Continues our discussion from the Race as an Illusion seminar.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Michelle Ree and education reform
Richard D. Kahlenberg
Still Waiting for Superwoman
What Michelle Rhee's fans don't get about education reform.
The Slate
February 21, 2011
URL: http://www.slate.com/id/2285650
Topic: Controvertial Superintendent Michelle Ree
Summary: Rhee's message about education reform is very seductive because it's simple and optimistic. Childhood poverty and economic school segregation, in Rhee's world, are just "excuses" for teacher failure. If we could just get the unions to agree to stop protecting bad teachers and allow great teachers to be paid more, she says, we could make all the difference in education.
Intended audience: General Public
Key point: Most education researchers, recognize that Rhee's simple vision of heroic teachers saving American education is a fantasy, and that her dramatic, often authoritarian, style is ill-suited for education. Michelle Rhee's war on teachers' unions was a sideshow that distracted from the more important effort to give more low-income students a chance to attend middle-class public schools.
Relevance: Discussion on both political and practical fallout of current school reform efforts
Still Waiting for Superwoman
What Michelle Rhee's fans don't get about education reform.
The Slate
February 21, 2011
URL: http://www.slate.com/id/2285650
Topic: Controvertial Superintendent Michelle Ree
Summary: Rhee's message about education reform is very seductive because it's simple and optimistic. Childhood poverty and economic school segregation, in Rhee's world, are just "excuses" for teacher failure. If we could just get the unions to agree to stop protecting bad teachers and allow great teachers to be paid more, she says, we could make all the difference in education.
Intended audience: General Public
Key point: Most education researchers, recognize that Rhee's simple vision of heroic teachers saving American education is a fantasy, and that her dramatic, often authoritarian, style is ill-suited for education. Michelle Rhee's war on teachers' unions was a sideshow that distracted from the more important effort to give more low-income students a chance to attend middle-class public schools.
Relevance: Discussion on both political and practical fallout of current school reform efforts
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