EduShyster Welcomes a Reformer to Her Blog

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1. deb says:

   July 21, 2014 at 7:07 am

   Have you seen the news that Deasy has gotten a 15.8% pay increase from $330K to $382K+ while offering teachers a 2% raise? Interesting

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   • Duane Swacker says:

     July 21, 2014 at 7:18 am

     But Easy Deasy is so edu-important, way more so than a mere teacher.

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   • English Teacher in California says:

     July 21, 2014 at 7:38 am

     He thinks he’s being generous. It’s the first raise they’ve offered in 7 years, so we’re supposed to be happy.

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2. Duane Swacker says:

   July 21, 2014 at 7:16 am

   My comment on edushyster:

   “Some students who now attend schools other than their neighborhood district schools are receiving a higher quality of education. . . education reform is here to stay.”

   Beware of charterites bearing gifts?????

   Mole or plant?????

   Only the future will tell (or 49er him or herself)!!!

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3. Chiara says:

   July 21, 2014 at 7:34 am

   Thought you-all might be interested in this:

   “A prosecutor in the Atlanta schools cheating scandal has been suspended for three days without pay after she mistakenly hit “reply all” when commenting about a defendant’s Stage IV breast cancer.
   Assistant District Attorney Lori Canfield of Fulton County mistakenly sent a two-word comment to dozens of lawyers and others associated with the schools case, report the Daily Report, WABE and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
   Canfield commented after receiving notification that former schools superintendent Beverly Hall was too ill to attend trial or assist her lawyers, according to a doctor’s opinion. Canfield’s response: “Surprise, surprise.”
   In a written statement, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard announced the three-day suspension and said he was removing the lawyer from the trial team in the schools case. The statement did not mention Canfield by name, but the Daily Report, WABE and the Journal-Constitution all say Howard was referring to Canfield.”

   I’m not in education, and I have to say I find these trials really bizarre. Is there anyone who came up with the original standardized testing scheme who saw this potentially leading to criminal indictments and trials? Would the state have had a case at all without the bonuses that were based on the tests? I don’t think they would have. What would the charge be? Cheating on a standardized test isn’t a crime, as far as I know.

   http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/mistaken_reply_all_email_leads_to_suspension_without_pay_for_prosecutor/?utm_source=maestro&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly_email

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4. Chiara says:

   July 21, 2014 at 8:01 am

   And the absolute lunacy in Ohio continues:

   “A southwest Ohio judge has ordered the state Department of Education to sponsor an inner-city charter school to keep it operating.
   Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Nadine Allen ruled that the DOE made it difficult for the VLT Academy school to find a sponsor and that closing it would do “irreparable harm” to its 600 students.
   The Cincinnati Enquirer reports the department will have to provide nearly $300,000 to make sure teachers and staff are paid in the next school year.
   VLT’s sponsor had declined to renew its contract, leaving the school facing closure.”

   Now we can be ordered to sponsor a corrupt charter school. I’m sure the judge is just reading the charter law (such as it is! basically a free for all!) and applying it, but how nuts is this?

   Here’s why the school was slated for closure:

   “The superintendent of the VLT Academy, a charter school of 600 some students, was making $140,000 per year; her daughter was making $92,000 per year for data entry; and her husband was making $62,000 in addition to running his company that performs the charter’s janitorial services, under a highest bid contract, for $323,000 per year. The family was receiving nearly $1,000 per student for central office duties and cleaning.”

   Hey, the next time someone interviews the DC lobbyists at the Fordham Foundation, can they ask them about the absolute mess they stuck the people of Ohio with? They’re quoted constantly as experts on charter schools. When are they going to be held accountable for what they have done in this state? Can I invite national media to Ohio to come look at how ed reform plays out in real life?

   http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/07/15/0715-Ohio-judge-orders-state-to-sponsor-charter-school.html

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   • Linda says:

     July 21, 2014 at 10:23 pm

     Today, Cincinnati media are reporting that VLT’s lawyers have asked for clarification of an appeals court “stay” ruling. The lawyers think the court is just extending the 3-day Dept. of Ed. deadline to draw up a sponsorship contract. The report added that the DOE interprets the appeals court ruling as meaning DOE doesn’t have to sponsor the school.

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5. Laura H. Chapman says:

   July 21, 2014 at 8:08 am

   Test security is a major issue, as is tampering with scores. Teachers and administrators do have to sign off on these matters, on a form that has oath-like rhetoric. There are also strict rules on what teachers are permitted to say during the test (if they are in the room)’ and what students may do. Some tests are proctored by a third party, meaning an adult other than the teacher distributes and collects the books. The use of computers for testing and scoring has spawned a basket full of issues. Algorithms will detect outliers and other patterns that will be then be treated as red flags for investigation.

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   • Chiara says:

     July 21, 2014 at 8:19 am

     The SAT had a scandal maybe a year ago, where parents were paying better test-takers to take the test for their children. I’m wondering if that’s a crime? What’s the charge?

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   • deb says:

     July 21, 2014 at 8:20 am

     The testing situation simply sets up the opportunity for cheating issues. Think of the hairnet issue when inspectors are coming to a restaurant. Think of the white glove test when your lab is being examined. Think of the cleanup when showing a house. People live in messy lives and are expected to be pristine when they are observed…as if anyone is perfect all the time. All the garbage that is demanded with 10 evaluations per teacher per year plus examination of lesson plans for absurd lesson plan detail..does NOT improve teaching and learning. In fact, it doesn’t do anything but take away time from doing everything essential. Teachers are exhausted. This new, more punitive, environment is a breeding ground for at risk schools to try to hang on to their jobs any way possible. I don’t approve, but human beings want to survive.

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   • Jim says:

     July 22, 2014 at 2:07 pm

     Obviously having the tests administered by people whose compensation depends on the results is a very bad idea. The tests should be given by independent auditors whose compensation will not be affected by the results.

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6. Chiara says:

   July 21, 2014 at 8:17 am

   Here’s the Fordham Institute writing some nonsense about Ohio “getting tough” on charter schools in 2013. Do any of them ever visit this state or read a local newspaper?

   Someone should tell them that the Department of Education has now been ordered to sponsor corrupt charter schools. We were supposed to get additional regulation after the last giant scandal erupted, last month, but the charter promoters at the DOE intervened and promised oversight (to head off real regulation).

   Pure political spin:

   “While policy improvements have been made in recent years, it is refreshing to see State Superintendent Dick Ross and his team walking the walk, when it comes to cracking down on poor charter-authorizing practices. One can read the details in a Columbus Dispatch piece that cites unacceptable conditions—including fights, spotty food service, inaccurate tracking of students, and failure to educate students—at two brand-new charter schools authorized by the North Central Ohio Educational Service Center.”‘

   The Ohio DOE has absolutely no power over charter schools, and that’s how the law was DELIBERATELY written.

   http://edexcellence.net/commentary/education-gadfly-daily/ohio-gadfly-daily/getting-tough-on-charter-authorizing

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   • Linda says:

     July 21, 2014 at 10:15 pm

     Fordham was founded in Dayton, Ohio. They continue to have an office in Dayton, one in Columbus and one in Wash. D.C.
     Last year, I found research, on the web, by someone in Seattle, who drew a diagram of the connections among foundation funders. It was enlightening.

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7. Deborah says:

   July 21, 2014 at 5:40 pm

   Perhaps 49er can help (would be willing to) facilitate a sincere and honest dialogue between those education reformers who, in their hearts, believe they are doing right by our children, and the education experts and stakeholders, who have a better idea of what is right for our children, so that we all can work together to do what is right for our children. Or, am I just dreaming?

   Reply