Linda McNeil of Rice University has started a new blog that you should read regularly. Linda is a respected scholar of high-stakes testing and its inequitable effects. Read this paper, for example, “Avoidable Losses,” which she co-authored.
She writes:
“I want to personally invite you to visit my new blog, Educating All Our Children. This project is my response to the need I perceive for a place to bring people together around the issues of public schooling, equity and high-stakes testing. I am reaching out to you, a group that feels as passionate about equality in our schools as I do. Many of you have already shown me much support in conceptualizing this blog, for which I am very grateful.
“I have a tag line for my blog: Bringing together research, analysis, advocacy and community on behalf of the public’s schools. I’m writing in part to ask you to help me with this goal by sending me important links, leads, new stories and information that I can use to advance the movement. I would also ask that you forward, share and circulate my posts with people who share our interests. I’m not on Facebook (yet), but you can add me on Blogger and Google+ and subscribe by email to my blog.
“Thanks again for all your support over the years, and I look forward to your participation in my new venture. I hope you will visit regularly and comment often.”
Here is a sample of one of her recent posts.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I think this is a helpful blog which will give people perspective on the cultural diversity needs in our schools. As someone who advocated for the ELL families at my child’s prior public school I recognized that the biggest disadvantage they have was the lack of understanding of their social and cultural needs from the teachers, fellow parents and administration. I was particularly sensitive to their struggles because my mother was an immigrant. I know exactly how out of place they feel at how intimidating it is to approach teachers and administration with their needs. To fully understand how to improve upon our education system we must address the elephant in the room which is not mentioned enough i.e. how to we tackle immigrant education. Contrary to claims by Duncan and other reformers the increase of rigor is not leveling the playing field. It has made reaching the bar all the more difficult. I have a close group of Mexican mother friends who feel overwhelmed and confused by the new standards. Prior to the Common Core their needs were not being addressed and now their children who are unable to read well in the 3rd and 4th grades are being asked to explain their reasoning in written form on math tests. Math until now was the one area they felt their children had a chance in. Who will help them? Will they be held back several grades before they will be permitted to graduate high school? How will this shape their self perception? Common Core does not equal Civil Rights. It instead is adding up to a Civil Disgrace! When anyone states that this is leveling the playing field I either assume them to be totally misinformed or a big _ _ _ liar. The number one thing all the ELL parents wanted was more access to English classes so they could help their children with homework. Someone take that piece of information and run with it. Unfortunately I do not work in the education field.
LikeLike
Thanks…I signed on.
LikeLike
To Dr. McNeil:
I wish that you will join and help Dr. Ravitch out in contributing more links, information, and any update related to public education from K-12 to higher education.
Dr. Ravitch is not getting younger. She will need more contribution and helping hand from many people who prefer to independently create their own websites.
IMHO, together, we build the strength plus we can alternately take vacation and break for relaxation. Individually, each creator will eventually burnout unnecessarily.
Particularly, in Public education, we must remind each other that “UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL”. Life is very complicated and a long fighting battle in dealing with corruption NOT ONLY towards corporations, BUT MOSTLY towards coward and soulless LEADERS or authorities who are in charge in NATIONAL EDUCATION RESEARCH/STANDARDIZED pedagogy. Back2basic
LikeLike
New stuff on CPS CEO scandal. I can’t follow the levels of crony contractors- it’s getting complicated 🙂
http://chicago.suntimes.com/education/7/71/629336/supes-academy-synesi-gary-solomon-chicago-public-schools
LikeLike