There is still time to register for the big conference that will show you how to make big profits from the tax dollars supposed to be spent on children and teachers.
Hey, those teachers are making out like bandits, with some of them hauling in $40,000 a year, even as much as $75,000 a year, and all they do is teach 35-40 kids at a time.
Why shouldn’t you learn the secrets to extracting millions from the system by clever investing?
To the investor goes the spoils.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I read the announcement for the seminar and it made me physically ill…
I felt like PUKING.
“Take, for example, the Big New Thing — competency-based learning. This approach replaces traditional lectures, exams, and credit hours with the successful completion of assessments that prove students’ mastery of their subjects. Accreditors are now recognizing this approach — and the U.S. Dept. of Education has qualified it for Title IV funding.”
CBL = OBE The more things change the more they stay the same except that now anyone with money can suck off the government teat of public education by providing services at an additional price (profit) we are already paying for in the public school system.
“Teacher Evaluations — now being put into the hands of third parties.”
If that doesn’t scare you into fighting this beast of privatization nothing will.
Compentency-Based Learning is NOTHING NEW. I taught in a program like this. It was well … implemented because of the need for $$$$$. See just one more of the same thing….holding educators hostile. I want Competency-Based Learning for congress. Their LACK of morality ethics would make them fail.
… and what a bargain for this one-day event!
“– the standard fee is $1395 for the conference.
At the door, if space is available, the fee is $1495 for the conference.
Special group rates –.”
All teachers need a second job these days. We could all learn how to exploit tax dollars a make some extra money!!!! Woo boo ill be rich!
There was a time not so long ago when people working in national retail chains worked predictable hours, made decent wages, and even got pensions and health insurance. Their prices were a little high, though, so Walmart came in and lowered costs by introducing “efficiencies” in the form of lower wages, just-in-time-scheduling, and DIY pensions and health plans… Businessmen and investors who admire Walmart (and those who shop there to get bargains) see public education as a place to save money and earn a healthy profit by introducing the same kinds of efficiencies… and politicians who want to take tough stands against unions, make “tough decisions” in the name of austerity, and want to avoid any tax increases love the idea of converting public schools to for-profit chains…
In short, all of this “reform” has nothing to do with improved testing or improving student learning: this is about making money for shareholders…
I take comfort in punk culture. There is always a reaction to the status quo– and soon someone will market that too. But at least it brings it back to center (or closer to).
A little Ramones please.
Btw, anyone hear the piece on NPR this morning about the Portuguese singer who protests with songs? And now they have a choir.
Maybe a bunch of us should start attending reformer events and singing
Be careful what you wish for. Johnny Ramone was a notoriously right wing Republican and very pro-Reagan.
Joanna you are so right. Music is the most powerful form of communication. So why not make up songs about them ruining our lives and sing them at board meetings during speaking time. It is your time. If I could play and sing I would have done it a long time ago remembering being in the music scene in the 60’s and 70’s I know the power of music on minds. We got civil rights and out of Vietnam in a large part because of music.
Notice it was all about banking not education. This is where they are.
I will get started!
I just read the advertisement, and I can’t comment on it right this second. I have to run to the bathroom and throw up . . . . .