Saturday Ohanian Special

I'm sending the  piece about the disastrous Vermont RTTT grant again because now it has a link to a cleaner version.

Big news today comes form Chicago, with two schools boycotting the ISAT, a low-impact. Don't miss the great videos the Chicago Teachers Union is producing.

Cartoon
Student-Teacher Relationship Advocated by the US Department of Education

Don't Let the Feds Destroy Child Wonder
http://susanohanian.org/cartoon_fetch.php?id=888
http://susanohanian.org/cartoon_fetch.php?id=889

Solidarity.

Susan

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Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation donations help with Common Core push in TN
Joey Garrison
The Tennessean
2014-01-29
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=673

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation made three donations in Tennessee near the end of 2013, totaling more than $1 million, to help the push the Common Core. Starting with that $90 million grant in 2009, Gates has  a lot riding on Tennessee continuing to toe the party line.

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Vermont Won a RTTT Early Childhood Grant & I'm As Mad As Hell
Susan Ohanian
blog
2014-02-23
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=672

Race to the Top Money comes at very high cost--to children and to democracy.

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Slicing and Dicing Curriculum Has Never Worked and Never Will
Marion Brady

2014-02-28
http://susanohanian.org/show_commentary.php?id=1156

Marion Brady challenges ed reformers who support status quo, stale curriculum model.

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Your Kid Is Being Bullied ---But Not in the Way You Think
Susan Ohanian

2014-02-28
http://susanohanian.org/show_commentary.php?id=1155

Jim Arnold makes a very good point  about who is bullying kids. New word: 'Accountabullies.' And he tells parents what they should do about it.

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Big Score When Mom takes the SATs
Elizabeth Kolbert

2014-02-25
http://susanohanian.org/show_commentary.php?id=1154

This is an informative, highly entertaining essay.

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To the editor
Susan Ohanian
New York Times
2014-02-24
http://susanohanian.org/show_letter.php?id=1647

Kudos to Op Ed for warning about the preschool performance bandwagon.

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To the editor
Susan Ohanian
New York Times
2014-02-22
http://susanohanian.org/show_letter.php?id=1644

Concern with Olympic hype for winning, and what 1/2 second actually means.

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To the editor
Stephen Krashen
Los Angeles Times
2014-02-24
http://susanohanian.org/show_letter.php?id=1644

Powerful letter. People who care about public schools in Los Angeles should flood the paper with similar letters.

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 Gates Foundation opposes release of teachers’ VAM scores in Florida
Valerie Strauss
Washington Post Answer Sheet
2014-02-27
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1783

In ploy of cynical opportunism, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation tries to have teacher 'value' every which way.

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 CPS threatens to discipline teachers who won’t give students ISAT
Becky Schlikerman
Chicago Sun-times
2014-02-28
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1782

Chicago Public Schools chief Barbara Byrd-Bennett has threatened to discipline any teacher who refuses to administer an annual state achievement test next week. There's a link to a short video on professional development in Chicago that you will not believe.

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Anatomy of a lesson on the Amplify Tablet
Shiloh Starners
Amplify
2014-02-26
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1781

Amplify commissions a teacher to say something good about the Amplify tablet.

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Need to Fund School Programs? Just Sell Your Kids’ Clothes
K J Dell'Antonia with Ohanian comment
New York Times
2014-02-26
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1780

Maybe it's an overreach to compare the moral of this piece with Melville, but so it goes. Don't worry, the piece is a light one. But I still the moral is a big one.

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Ugly News for Early Readers
Susan Ohanian
blog
2014-02-25
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1779

Big books go Common Core.

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A Primary Source for Ed Reporters
Susan Ohanian
blog
2014-02-25
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1778

Take a look at a primary source for ed reporters.
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----------------------
Order the CD of the resistance:
"No Child Left Behind? Bring Back the Joy."
To order online (and hear samples from the songs)
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dhbdrake4
Other orders: Send $15 to
Susan Ohanian
P. O. Box 26
Charlotte, VT 05445

Read More

Susan O warms us up on a cold Xmas morn

UPDATED With cartoons.

The miracle of this season is that the Burlington paper actually printed an anti-Common Core Op Ed.
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=647

They promised to print one of mine but never did. I hope this is a sign of an editorial shift.

Elsewhere, the Corporate Rule abounds. Take this cartoon, where sugar plums aren't dancing in infants' heads. Instead they are watching their iPad apps from the comfort of their Fisher-Price Apptivity (TM) Seat, getting in step to be workers for the Global Economy.

http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_cartoons.php?id=992

As usual, I can't remember if I sent the following cartoons. They are laugh-out loud funny: the wisdom of children.

Following Directions
http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_cartoons.php?id=991

Name the Quadrilaterals
http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_cartoons.php?id=990

NOTE: I call your attention to 'CPS says no to charter schools, but Michael Madigan says yes' by Dan Mihalopoulos. Yes, it's Illinois politics but important to us all.

1. Kudos to reporter to digging in and revealing it
2. My notes reveal the part the unions played in all this.
3. We need to stop supporting Democrats just because they aren't Republicans.

Hoping for The Revolution in 2014.

Susan

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The wrong choices on standards Vermont should opt out of the Common Core curriculum
Keri Gelenian
Burlington Free Press
2013-12-23
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=647

Here's a strong denunciation of Common  Core from Vermont school administrator.

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Connecticut Governor to drop a $1 million to persuade voters to support Common Core
Jonathan Pelto
Wait What? blog
2013-12-22
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=646

It's interesting that two governors who overcame dyslexia support 'solutions' shipped in from central headquarters rather than individualistic local decision-making.

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D.C. schools gave 44 teachers mistaken job evaluations
Nick Anderson
Washington Post
2013-12-23
http://susanohanian.org/data.php?id=532

One teacher was fired because of mathematical error in rating system. What can you expect from an outfit that talks of Teacher and School Dosage?

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Common Core and your family's data
Bob Confer with Ohanian notes
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal
2013-12-23
http://susanohanian.org/data.php?id=531

The NY Times doesn't care but news  of the invasion of privacy and sharing of information across multiple sectors is getting to some local newspapers.

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Common Core in Kindergarten Class
a teacher
Diane Ravitch blog
2013-12-22
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=644

Close reading in kindergarten

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Testing Expert Calls for Moratorium on Common Core Testing
Fred Smith
Change the Stakes
2013-12-11
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=643

A longtime employee of the NY citytate board of education testing department calls for a moratorium on Common Core-aligned testing.

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    Orwellian Statements by Education Secretary Contradict Teacher Testimony to State Board of Ed
Susan Ohanian
Second  Vermont Republic
2013-12-18
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=642

Vermont Education Agency ignores kindergarten teacher testimony but touts hot air from praise of Common Core.

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Following David Coleman's Common Core Model: 17 Days on One Short Story
Reality-Based Educator
Perdido Street School
2013-10-19
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=641

Don't miss this close-up look at how 'close reading' works in Common Core, as well as the writer's conclusions of why this is happening.

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Millions in private money poured into Common Core promotion
Valerie Strauss and Carol Burris
Washington Post Answer Sheet
2013-12-10
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=640

Good information here but the vastness of the Gates influence is understated.

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SUBSTANCE EXCLUSIVE. 'While, I respect the right to opt out of testing, it is extremely important that all families understand that by doing so their child’s future could be negatively impacted...'
George N. Schmidt with Ohanian notes
Substance
2013-12-22
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=0

I take a look at some of the people running NWEA and their Chicago connections.

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CPS says no to charter schools, but Michael Madigan says yes

 Dan Mihalopoulos with Ohanian notes
Chicago Sun-times
2013-12-23
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1750

Some bloggers accuse Illinois Speaker of the House Madigan of incestuous relations with Concept Charter and Gulen. I offer some info on  union connections with Madigan.

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Mayor Bloomberg says Plight of Homeless 11-year-old is 'just the way God works'
Susan Ohanian
blog
2013-12-20
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1749

Bloomberg attributes plight of homeless child to 'that's the way God works.'



Fisher-Price preparing worker for global economy. They call this the Apptivity (TM) Seat--for iPad device.

Newborn to toddler.

$79. iPad not included.

Download free apps for this product, created with child development experts. As baby gets older, age-appropriate (sic) apps introduce letters, numbers and more through sing-along songs, sounds and friendly characters.

Three-point restraint for safety (won't protect infant from adult stupidity).

Read More

Susan Ohanian's Saturday Morning Special

New Cartoon:
Found in a Standards-Struck Classroom
http://susanohanian.org/cartoon_fetch.php?id=854

This one received so much comment, I'll mention it again.
Teacher Contemplating Common Core
http://susanohanian.org/cartoon_fetch.php?id=851

You won't want to miss Duncan's recent remarks:

http://susanohanian.org/show_duncan.php?id=1889

http://susanohanian.org/show_duncan.php?id=1888

http://susanohanian.org/show_duncan.php?id=1887

I'm clearing my head tonight with a performance by classical guitarist, Xuefei Yang. I don't know how she did on PISA.

Susan


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Drinking the Technology-Enhanced Kool-aid
Susan Ohanian
blog
2013-12-06
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=636

Quick! Somebody tell PARCC how much highlighters cost.

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Hey, There, Listen Up
Susan Ohanian
blog
2013-12-04
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=635

Is anybody listening?

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It's official: No PARCC field tests for Florida
Jeffrey S. Solochek
Tampa Bay Times
2013-12-02
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=634

The Tampa Bay Times has been a vigorous cheerleader from the Common Core. There have been no editorials yet on this new wrinkle.

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To the editor
Stephen Krashen
San Francisco Chronicle
2013-12-03
http://susanohanian.org/show_letter.php?id=1626

Yes! We must say it again and again: Poverty. Poverty. Poverty.

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What’s Good For Bill Gates Turns Out To Be Bad For Public Schools
David Morris
Common Dreams
2013-11-30
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1742

Morris makes an especially important point ignored by the press: To qualify for Obama Race to the  Top Grants states had to march in step with Gates policies

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The Gates Foundation's Hypocritical Investments
Alex Park and Jaeah Lee
Mother Jones
2013-12-06
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1741

Contrasting what Bill Gates says with where the Foundation invests its money.

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The Googlization of the Far Right: Why is Google Funding Grover Norquist, Heritage Action and ALEC?
Nick Surgey
Center for Media and Democracy: PR Watch
2013-11-27
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1740

Google, the tech giant supposedly guided by its 'don't be evil' motto, has been funding a growing list of groups advancing the agenda of the Koch brothers.

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A Teacher Looks a Gift Horse in the Mouth
Sean Black  to John Stossel
letter exchange
2013-12-04
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1739

Sean Black explains why he's refusing Stossel's special offer to educators.
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----------------------
Order the CD of the resistance:
"No Child Left Behind? Bring Back the Joy."
To order online (and hear samples from the songs)
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dhbdrake4
Other orders: Send $15 to
Susan Ohanian
P. O. Box 26
Charlotte, VT 05445

Read More

Susan Ohanian Reports, November 26, 2013

Ten  Top Reasons the U. S. Congress Would Be a  Good Place to Field Test the Common Core Tests
Susan Ohanian blog 2013-11-23http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=626

I usually post Susan's stuff on Saturday morning but call this a Thanksgiving special. Susan's point about Bill Clinton joining hands with Lou Gerstner should be amended with the 3rd party - Al Shanker, who led the UFT/AFT into the entire neo-liberal ed deform morass from the early 80s right through today. The Richard Kahlenberg Shanker bio has lots of stuff about the alliance between him and the Clinton's and the business community -- that sucked the AFT/UFT into this entire nonsense. Those chapters of the book about the 80s and early 90s are chilling.

Someone told me a story that when the Business Roundtable "A Nation at Risk" report came out in 1982, people in the UFT, including Sandy Feldman, reacted against it -- and were shocked when Shanker supported it -- but of course, Unity followed along like sheep. If the UFT were a vibrant democratic organization we could have put a stop to the madness well before the ball got rolling.

From here on it's all Susan -- even if you don't get to all the links -- we at least have them recorded for research purposes.

As noted for years, the Common Core exists to deliver the national test that business interests have pushed for ever Arkansas governor Bill Clinton joined hands with Lou Gerstner to spearhead the Business Roundtable version of ed deform. President Clinton tried to get a national test. Now Obama has two tests but opposition is skyrocketing. If the Common Core tests collapse,  the curriculum will crumble.
Let's listen to 'Joe Hill' again. And remember that we are all in this together--one class against Ed Deform, working for equity in the schools.
Susan
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More states delay Common Core testing as concerns grow
Valerie Strauss
Washington Post Answer Sheet
2013-11-24http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=631
A national test was the goal of the Common Core and may now bring it down.
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Note to New York Times Columnists: Shut Up!
Susan Ohanian
New York Times
2013-11-24http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=629
Once again a New York Times columnist exhibits total ignorance of the topic, and no it isn't Thomas Friedman this time.
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Where Is the Students' Lobbyist?
Senator Jack M. Martins
letter
2013-11-21http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=628
New York Senator Jack Martins has a few words to say about the Common Core, with a link to a forum he called on the topic.
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Stop This Train: The Common Core and the Uncommon Student
Paul V. Hogan, with Ohanian notes
blog
2013-11-19http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=627
Read this and you'll know that we'd better start rolling on the Revolution today.
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Ten  Top Reasons the U. S. Congress Would Be a  Good Place to Field Test the Common Core Tests
Susan Ohanian
blog
2013-11-23http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=626
Yes, there are 10 reasons.
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PARRC Task Prototype: Turning Literature Into Pedagogical Chop Suey and Cyanide
Susan Ohanian
blog
2013-11-22http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=625
Sample PARCC questions. How long will educators, their unions, and their professional organizations keep their silence about this?
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Complicated, Imported Solutions Do Not Work
Jason Kass
New York Times
2013-11-19http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=624
You'll see why my letter about this article did not get published.
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N.Y. school principals write letter of concern about Common Core tests
Valerie Strauss and NY principals
Washington Post Answer Sheet
2013-11-21http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=623
I applaud this letter even as I worry that it seems to imply that what is needed is a better test.
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Education reform backed by the wealthy
James M. Odato, with Ohanian notes
Albany Times Union
2013-11-24http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1737
New York Regents show us that you'd better look a gift horse in the mouth.
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LAUSD iPad program gets mixed review from committee
 Pasadena Star-News
2013-11-21http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1736
Lots of controversy, not much sense.
------------------------------

----------------------
Order the CD of the resistance:
"No Child Left Behind? Bring Back the Joy."
To order online (and hear samples from the songs)http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dhbdrake4
Other orders: Send $15 to
Susan Ohanian
P. O. Box 26
Charlotte, VT 05445

Read More