Archives for category: Honor Roll
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Our Children, Our Heroes: The March for Our Lives

By dianeravitch
March 24, 2018 //
88

 

I am so enthralled with the new youth activism that has burgeoned since the horrific massacre of 17 students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on February 14. The students who survived immediately collected themselves and determined to fight for change so that the loss of their friends and teachers will have some meaning and will not be forgotten and assuaged by empty thoughts and prayers. I have seen the kids interviewed on TV programs and been enormously inspired by their thoughtfulness, their poise, their dignity, their presence of mind. They have been viciously attacked and ridiculed by detractors but they dismiss the slurs with humor. They are on a mission. They don’t want children to be afraid in school. They want to save lives. As one of them said today on CNN, “Our cause is not partisan. Surely we can all agree on the importance of protecting the lives of children.”

These young people are heroes. Having faced death, they value life. They have encouraged their peers across the nation to use their voice and stand for up for a better society.

Young people want a better world. We should help them. They are right. They are too young to have been corrupted. They have not grown cynical. They do not believe the status quo is inevitable. Youth is a time for idealism and high energy. This generation may be the change we have been hoping for.

They give all of us hope for the future.

Kids today.

They are terrific!

Categories Honor Roll, Students

Adell Cothorne, an Educator of Courage, Honesty, and Integrity

By dianeravitch
December 31, 2017 //
16

Earlier this year, Adell Cothorne won the Kenneth S. Goodman “In Defense of Good Teaching” Award at the University of Arizona. I was not aware of this honor when it happened but wanted to take this opportunity to salute Adell.

Adell was the whistle-blower in Washington, D.C., who called attention to the cheating that was happening during the regime of Michelle Rhee.

This was the citation:

“Adell Cothorne, teacher, administrator, and teacher educator, is the 2017 winner of the In Defense of Good Teaching award

“The award is given every year, in honor of Dr. Kenneth S. Goodman, to an educator who has stood up for students at great personal and professional risk. Ms. Cothorne blew the whistle on standardized test cheating in one of Michelle Rhee’s “success story” schools in Washington, D.C. because she did not want her students to miss out on access to a high-quality education. This decision ultimately led to loss of her career in K-12 public education, reflecting how much she is willing to fight for her students.”

Cothorne was principal of the Noyes Education Campus from 2010-2011. She discovered cheating, reported it, and was fired by district officials. After she tightened test s3curity, the school’s test scores plummeted. She blew an inconvenient hole in the “miracle” of Adam.C. Success under Rhee. She was featured in John Merrow’s last PBS documentary.

Mercedes Schneider invited Adell Cothorne to tell her story here.

She joins the honor roll of this Blog.

Categories Cheating, Courage, District of Columbia, Education Reform, Honor Roll

Kevin Ohlandt: The Death of a Beloved Teacher in Delaware, a Hero Teacher

By dianeravitch
December 7, 2017 //
5

Kevin Ohlandt, the author of the blog Exceptional Delaware, here pays tribute to teacher Laurie Howard and names her as the Hero of the Year for her exceptional dedication to teaching and students. Laurie Howard recently died of lung cancer, far too young.

She fought corporate reform, against great odds.

Kevin writes:

I’ve known Laurie for almost three years. I met her through this blog. A teacher in Caesar Rodney School District, Laurie and I were in fierce agreement on many things. That standardized testing in the form of the Smarter Balanced Assessment is wrong. That every single parent has a fundamental right to opt their child out of that test. That corporations are slowly taking over public schools and school districts are powerless to stop it.

He describes her passion for the arts and her passion for authentic teaching, not test-driven teaching.

And he writes:

I will miss you Laurie Howard. I find comfort that you are watching over all of us and I pray that you can impart your wisdom to those who think education is a financial playground. I know Laurie would want me to keep fighting the fight, and I will, the best I can. May you rest in peace my sweet friend.

Posthumously, in recognition of Laurie’s impact on others, and on Kevin’s recommendation, I name Laurie to the Honor Roll of this blog. She would have loved it.

Categories Delaware, Honor Roll, Teachers

New Jersey Superintendent: My Students Are Drowning in Assessments.

By dianeravitch
December 1, 2017 //
15

Charles Sampson, superintendent of the Freehold Regional High School District in New Jersy, sent out a bulletin about the ridiculous number of tests his students are required to take.

For speaking out against stupidity, I add him to the Honor Roll of the blog.

He writes:

“Our testing requirements under the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) extend far beyond federal requirements. With the introduction this year of the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment-Science (NJSLA-S) we have jumped the proverbial shark. With the NJSLA-S, a junior in a New Jersey Public High School will sit for approximately 13 hours of testing between mid-April and mid-June. This does not include Advanced Placement or College Admissions Exams (e.g. SAT, ACT) also commonly taken in the junior year. In fact, current juniors who have already taken the New Jersey Biology Competency Test (NJBCT) as ninth graders, will now take a four-hour field test in the sciences even though they have already taken the federally required assessment!

“The NJSLA-S will have teeth-in fact, it will be comprehensive and there are plans to include it as a graduation assessment requirement. Students that follow interests or passions in the sciences and not prescribed course sequences may be at a disadvantage in meeting assessment benchmarks. These consequences will be compounded by the reverberations of PARCC. If current requirements hold, additional gates barring graduation will be raised, hundreds of students may be required to take a “refresher” course based on standardized assessment performance, equity issues for poor students will become more pronounced and test preparation far worse than what we experienced under No Child Left Behind will be the answer.

“Sound frightening? It should.

“As a superintendent, I am gravely concerned. As a parent, I am outraged.

“We need to stop adding to our standardized assessment load and give back time and energy to teaching and learning. We have a responsibility to speak up for the children we serve, for our own children and for children who have no one to speak for them. I want to see New Jersey lead the nation in educational experiences for children, not seat time for standardized assessments.”

Categories Administrators, superintendents, Honor Roll, New Jersey, Standardized Testing, Stupid

Florida: Video of Public High School Principal Step Dancing Goes Viral!

By dianeravitch
November 10, 2017 //
11

This video is a vivid demonstration of the public school as the heart and anchor of the community.

Mickey Reynolds, principal of Lake Mary High School in Seminole County, Florida, surprised everyone by joining the school’s step dancing team and putting in a very creditable performance. The students in the stands and on the floor of the school gym roared with delight as Ms. Reynolds kept up with her students. She is a trouper!

Lake Mary High School is no fly-by-night. It has been at the center of its community since 1981-82. Take a look at its comprehensive program.

This is public education.

This is a School for all the people’s children.

Betsy DeVos. You lose.

Try step dancing with students.

My money is on Ms. Reynolds.

Ms. Reynolds, thanks for reminding us that the experience of school is about fun and games as well as academics.

For your courage and good humor in daring to step dance with those beautiful students, I name you to the honor roll of this Blog!

Categories Florida, Honor Roll, Humor, Play, Principals

Tony Bennett and Susan Benedetto on the Importance of the Arts and Public Schools!

By dianeravitch
October 28, 2017 //
7

This is a beautiful and inspiring 4-minute video about the iconic singer Tony Bennett and his wife Susan Benedetto,who generously support the arts in public schools.

It is a magnificent testimony to the arts, to public schools, to diversity, and to the way that the arts bring hope to the world.

They may never know about it, but I gladly add Tony Bennett and Susan Benedetto to the blog’s Honor Roll for their love of the arts and for their recognition of the transformative power of the arts in the lives of young people.

Categories Arts Education, Goodness, Honor Roll, Supporting public schools

NAACP Demands Reform of Charters!

By dianeravitch
July 26, 2017 //
155

The NAACP today released a strong report demanding the reform and regulation the charter school industry. The NAACP report calls for a flat prohibition of for- profit charters and for-profit charter management companies. It says that only school districts should be allowed to authorize charters. It says that charter teachers should be certified.

The task force of the NAACP said that “while high quality, accountable and accessible charters can contribute to educational opportunity, by themselves, even the best charters are not a substitute for more stable, adequate and equitable investments in public education in the communities that serve our children.”

The NAACP report boldly acknowledges that charters are part of a public-funded system. It says that it makes no sense to strip funding from the public schools that enroll the great majority of students in order to fund a parallel system that is usually no better than the public system and often worse.

Carol Burris analyzes the report here:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/07/26/naacp-report-charter-schools-not-a-substitute-for-traditional-public-schools-and-many-need-reform/?utm_term=.9d91271f673d

There is also a link to the full text of the NASCP report and resolution.

This report strips away the claims of charter advocates who say that they are advancing civil rights. They are not. They are undermining public education by stripping students and resources away from the public schools.

The NAACP recognizes that the best way to advance civil rights in education is to assure a strong, accountable,and equitable system of public schools.

Like every national organization, the NAACP relies on major donors to survive. By standing strong against privatization of public schools, the NAACP has demonstrated courage and integrity. I add the NAACP to the honor roll of this blog, with admiration and respect.

Categories Accountability, Charter Schools, Civil Rights, Corporate Reform, Courage, Education Industry, Equity, For-Profit, Honor Roll

Carol Burris Will Receive Well-Deserved Honor for Her Tireless Work on Behalf of Public Schools!

By dianeravitch
July 13, 2017 //
13

Carol Burris, executive director of the Network for Public Education, has been selected by the board of the Horace Mann League as its 2018 Outstanding Friend of Public Education.

The presentation will be made at the HML Annual Meeting in February in Nashville (AASA Convention).

The HML made an excellent choice. Carol has been a peerless leader in the fight against privatization and high-stakes testing and in the ongoing struggle to transform public education so that it meets the needs of every child.

In recent years, she has published frequently on Valerie Strauss’s Answer Sheet blog at the Washington Post.

She is former principal of South Side High School in Rockville Centre on Long Island in New York. She has received numerous awards. In 2010, she was named Educator of the Year by the School Administrators Association of New York State, and in 2013, she was named SAANYS New York State High School Principal of the Year. She received her doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University.

I am proud to be her friend, colleague, and ally. I humbly name her to the honor roll of the blog for her energy, leadership, thoughtfulness, kindness, compassion, scholarship, respect for the teaching profession, love of children, and intellect.

She is an educator, and a great one.

Categories Honor Roll, Network for Public Education, Networkfor Public Education Action Fund

U.S. News Kicks KIPP NYC School Off Its List of “Best High Schools” Due to Gary Rubinstein’s Analysis

By dianeravitch
July 8, 2017 //
75

Let’s begin with the stipulation that the lists of “America’s Best High Schools” based on test scores or AP coursetaking encourage schools to game the system and are invalid on their face.

Then, congratulations to Gary Rubinstein! He not only demonstrated that New York City’s KIPP high school gamed the rankings by U.S. News & World Report, but the magazine noticed his critique, decided Gary was right, and dropped that KIPP school from its list.

Gary wrote:

“U.S. News and World Report publishes an annual list of the best high schools based on a metric involving mostly AP tests. Two months ago I noticed something strange when examining the data for a KIPP high school in New York that was ranked 29th in the country and 4th in the state on this list. Though there is just one KIPP high school in New York, there were four KIPP high schools in the rankings. These schools were actually middle schools. One of those schools had 100% of their students passing an AP while the other three had 0%. The only logical explanation for this is that KIPP manipulated their rosters, assigning kids who passed APs to one ‘school’ and kids who didn’t to the other three ‘schools’ even though they were all just part of one high school.”

He now wonders whether all the publications that hailed KIPP’s success will print the correction: Rupert Murdoch’s New York Post; Campbell Brown’s The 74; and the National Review.

Gary writes:

“In my years of blogging and uncovering things like this, this is a nice tangible ‘victory.’ I’m pretty sure that if I had never discovered this discrepancy, this correction would have not happened. KIPP had done the same thing with this school for a few years and have surely been using it in fund raising materials and maybe even grants. In the scheme of things it is a pretty small victory but still worth feeling good about.”

Thank you, Gary. You are a hero of the Resistance to corporate reform. You most certainly belong on the Honor Roll.

Categories Accountability, Charter Schools, Education Industry, Hoax, Honor Roll, KIPP Charter Schools, New York City

Bill Phillis: We Need The Separation of Church and State

By dianeravitch
July 4, 2017 //
24

Bill Phillis retired years ago as a Deputy Commission of Education in Ohio. He is passionate about equitable funding for the public schools. He has been relentless in exposing the raids on the state treasury by private profiteers like ECOT and for-profit charters. He founded an organization called Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy. If you live in Ohio, you should join his work.

Bill Phillis is a tireless warrior for public schools. Like almost everyone who fights for Democratic public schools, he is unpaid. He fights because of his convictions, not his wallet. The reverse is true for corporate reformers. Take away the hundreds of millions behind their malevolent privatization movement, and it would collapse.

I name Bill Phillis to the honor roll of this blog. He is a hero of public education.

He said this about the recent Supreme Court decision, which will divert more money from public schools to religious schools:

“U.S. Supreme Court rules Trinity Lutheran Church in Missouri is entitled to public funds for non-religious purposes

“The June 26 ruling in the Missouri case probably will not affect how Ohio does business with churches and parochial schools, but it does provide another wrecking ball to help knock down the wall of separation between church and state. Although it is a narrow decision, it paves the way for further mischief.

“Ohio provides several tax-funded perks for parochial schools-auxiliary services, administrative cost reimbursement, transportation and vouchers. Ohio already is at the very top of the nation in tax support for private parochial schools. The state provides more tax dollars per student to private schools than many public schools receive.

“Companion bills (SB 85 and HB 200), pending in the legislature, would greatly accelerate public support for a parochial education.

“The nation’s founders had good reason for erecting a wall between church and state. Many of them had firsthand knowledge and experience regarding the mischief inherent in mixing the two. Both church and state lose when the two become intertwined. Public support of one’s faith trivializes it. The dominate faith community tends to have undue influence on government. Iran is a good example of a country with no wall between church and state.

“The wall in the United States need repairs, not further demolition.”

William L. Phillis | Ohio Coalition for Equity & Adequacy of School Funding | 614.228.6540 | ohioeanda@sbcglobal.net| http://www.ohiocoalition.org

Ohio E & A, 100 S. 3rd Street, Columbus, OH 43215
ohioeanda@sbcglobal.net

Categories Accountability, Charter Schools, Education Industry, Honor Roll, Ohio, Privatization, Religion, Separation of church and state
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »