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O Brave New World!

By dianeravitch
April 4, 2018 //
9

 

China has brought surveillance of its citizens to new levels, using face recognition technology. 

A woman jaywalked, thinking nothing of it. The police demanded her identity card, but she didn’t have it. They snapped her picture and promptly pulled up her identity and her personal history.

This incident was but a small indicator of China’s determination to monitor its people.

“Mao Yan’s Shenzhen is part of one of the great social experiments of mankind — the use of massive amounts of data, combined with facial recognition technology, shaming and artificial intelligence to control a population via marriage of the state and private companies. Already on the packed highways of Shanghai, honking has decreased. That’s because directional microphones coupled with high-definition cameras can identify and ticket — again, via WeChat — noisy drivers and display their names, photographs and identity card numbers on the city’s many LED boards. On some streets, if drivers stop their cars by the side of the road longer than seven minutes, high-definition cameras identify the driver and, again, issue him or her an instant ticket…

”But as Mao Yan’s story makes clear, this technology is bleeding into the rest of China, where 95 percent of the population is Han Chinese. And China’s authorities won’t be content with traffic stops. Their goal is behavioral modification on a massive scale. Chinese planners have announced their intention to tap the vast AI and surveillance infrastructure currently under construction to generate “social credit” scores for all of China’s 1.5 billion people. With a high score, traveling, securing a loan, buying a car and other benefits will be easy to come by. Run afoul of the authorities, and problems begin.
Some Chinese businessmen who are benefiting from this massive investment in data have argued that the Chinese are less concerned about privacy than people in the United States. Robin Li, the founder of Baidu, China’s version of Google, which routinely shares its data with the Chinese Communist Party, argued over the weekend that Chinese people don’t care that much about privacy. “The Chinese people are more open or less sensitive about the privacy issue,” said Li, speaking at the China Development Forum in Beijing. “If they are able to trade privacy for convenience, safety and efficiency, in a lot of cases, they are willing to do that.” Ironically, Li’s remarks were released by the Chinese magazine Caixin on the same day that Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg issued an apology for releasing user data to a political consultancy.
In her article, Mao Yan didn’t seem to agree with Li’s optimistic interpretation of the campaign. “Maybe,” she wrote, “it’s intimidation to make everyone afraid.” I think she’s right. Hours after Mao Yan posted her story on China’s Internet, censors took it down.”

We should never normalize the invasion of privacy.

Thats why I left Facebook. So did Elon Musk.

The protection of privacy—some basic human dignity—should concern us all.

Categories Privacy and Privacy Rights, Technology

Network for Public Education: A Report on Online Learning: What Every Parent Should Know

By dianeravitch
March 23, 2018 //
7

 

The Network for Public Education has released an important report on online learning, directed at parents who need more information about the value of the time spent on computers and other devices in and out of the classroom.

The report urges parents to be wary of hype intended to sell a product of inferior quality and to protect their children’s instructional time from hucksters.

The report aims to answer such questions as:

With so much attention focused on online learning, it is important that parents be armed with the facts. What does the research tell us about online learning, and what are the different types? How well do students do when they take courses online vs. courses with face-to-face classmates and teachers? What is online learning’s promise, and what are its pitfalls? What role does profit play in online learning? When virtual schools get dismal results, why are they still supported? And what are the privacy implications of outsourcing more and more student data into private hands, as occurs when more learning goes online?

It reviews the research literature, which is thin, and warns parents against programs whose sponsors whose primary motive is profit. It looks at blended learning, “personalized learning,” and such programs as Rocketship Charter Schools, School of One (now known as Teach to One), and Mark Zuckerberg’s Summit Learning Platform. It also casts a wary eye towards virtual charter schools, behavioral management apps, and online credit recovery. Additionally, close attention is paid to student privacy issues, which few of the vendors have protected.

 

 

Categories For-Profit, Network for Public Education, Privacy, Technology, Virtual Charter Schools

Network for Public Education Releases a Parents’ Guide to Online Learning

By dianeravitch
March 9, 2018 //
12

MEDIA ADVISORY FOR
March 9, 2018

For more information contact:
Carol Burris, NPE Executive Director

718-577-3276

cburris@networkforpubliceducation.org


Kew Gardens, New York – Today the Network for Public Education (NPE) released a new report, Online Learning: What Every Parent Should Know, in response to the growing dependence on technology in K-12 education. Schools are increasingly implementing digital instruction, often requiring that students use online programs and apps as part of their classwork. Many students even attend a virtual, full-time charter school, never meeting teachers or classmates face to face.

Yet there is scant evidence of educational technology’s success and growing concerns regarding its negative impact. This guide presents a frank assessment of the intended and unintended consequences of online learning in K-12 school and offers questions parents should ask principals if their child’s school adopts computerized programs to deliver instruction, assessment or behavior management.

Rachel Stickland, Co-Chair of the Parent Coalition for Student Privacy, had the following to say about the report: “NPE’s Online Learning report is essential reading for anyone questioning the research behind the national push toward digital education. With this report in hand, parents can discuss their concerns with online learning confidently with school leadership – whether it’s the lack of evidence showing that it actually works, the political and moneyed interests advancing it, or how it places student privacy at risk.”

Dr. Faith Boninger of the University of Colorado Boulder researches and writes about commercial activities in schools. Commenting on the importance of the report she said, “As much as companies are eager to sell digital technology to schools, and schools are eager to increase children’s achievement, research does not support claims that shifting to digital educational platforms achieves the desired goals. What a growing body of research does indicate, however, is that excessive computer use by children leads to negative health effects such as vision and sleeping problems, social-emotional disturbance, and addiction to digital devices. NPE’s report on on-line learning is an important, timely, resource for parents. In plain language, its review of what we know about online learning shows that parents would do well to not accept promises or bland reassurances, but rather be extremely skeptical consumers. Armed with this report, parents will be able to ask administrators the very hard questions that must be answered adequately in order to justify the use of digital technologies to teach children.”

The 18-page guide is a parent-friendly review of the research on virtual schools, online courses, blended learning and behavior management apps. It also includes a discussion of the student privacy issues that arise when highly sensitive personal student data is collected by online programs and then distributed to third-party vendors without parent knowledge or consent.

The guide’s harshest criticism is reserved for virtual charter schools, whose academic ineffectiveness, coupled with fraudulent attendance practices, resulted in NPE’s recommendation that parents refrain from enrolling their children in online charters.

Based on the report’s findings, NPE President Diane Ravitch advises parents to “be wise consumers.” According to Ravitch, “Technology can be used creatively in the classroom by well-prepared teachers. But most of what is sold as ‘digital learning‘ is a sham that allows vendors to mine student data. Worse, online charter schools are educationally worthless. Students learn best when there is human interaction between teachers and students and among students. Parents must beware of false promises by profiteers.”

Online Learning: What Every Parent Should Know is available online at https://networkforpubliceducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Online-Learning-What-Every-Parent-Should-Know.pdf.

The Network for Public Education (NPE) was founded in 2013 by Diane Ravitch and Anthony Cody. Its mission is to protect, preserve, promote, and strengthen public schools for both current and future generations of students. We share information and research on vital issues that concern the future of public education. For more information, please visit: networkforpubliceducation.org.

Categories Accountability, Education Reform, Network for Public Education, On-Line Education, Technology, Virtual Charter Schools

Utah Legislator Who Sponsored Charter Bill: They Are a “Grave Disappointment”

By dianeravitch
March 5, 2018 //
13

The legislator who launched charter schools in Utah declared that they are a “grave disappointment” to him.

Sen. Howard Stephenson, sponsor of the laws that launched charter schools in Utah, said Tuesday that the alternative schools have fallen short of their mission to improve education through innovation and competition.

The Draper Republican said he’s looking for a “fresh start” for charter schools, as their average performance on statewide tests is no better than that of their school district counterparts.

“I don’t want to discount the fact that many, many students have found success in these schools of choice but on average, we have not seen that occur,” Stephenson said. “That has been a grave disappointment for me as the sponsor of that [original] legislation.”

Stephenson thought that if he changed the composition of the state charter school board, that might fix things. First, he offered a prohibition on anyone who was currently a charter school board member or member of a charter governing board. But that would have cut some of the current board members, so he revised the bill to seek someone “with expertise in classroom technology and individualized learning.”

One of the charter members who might have been kicked off warned that the board needed someone with expertise in digital technology and “personalized learning” since that was the wave of the future.

Guess the word hasn’t reached Utah that “personalized learning” means “depersonalized learning” and that teachers and parents are rebelling against the replacement of teachers by machines.

Categories Accountability, Charter Schools, Failure, Privatization, Technology, Utah

Parents Across America: A Detailed Critique of the Dangers of Screen Time for Young Children

By dianeravitch
February 26, 2018 //
13

 

Parents Across America (an independent group of parent activists that is critical of the commercialization and corporate takeover of education) has created a valuable resource about the effects of screen time on children. 

It is titled “Our Children @ Risk.”

The paper is 26 pages long. It contains extensive documentation.

It is a valuable resource in light of the profit-driven effort to promote EdTech in the schools without regard to is effects on children.

Here is the introduction:

“Children have a basic right to live in environments that promote their social, emotional and intellectual well-being. They have the right to grow up, and parents have the right to raise them, without being undermined by greed.” Susan Linn

“Parents Across America has developed a position paper and associated informational materials which detail a number of concerns about the invasion of EdTech* into our schools, and which we have collected under the title, “Our Children @ Risk.”

“This document is an annotated bibliography of resources we used to inform our position paper and materials. References to the outline letters and numbering below are used parenthetically throughout the informational materials to indicate the corresponding supportive research, documentation, expert opinion, and anecdotal and other background information.

“There is some overlap in the categories, and, of course, many of the sources quoted address more than one area of concern.

“A. Effect on children’s mental/emotional health

“B. Impact on student learning

“C. Physical effects – screen time

“D. Physical effects – vision E. Physical effects – sitting

“F. Effects on schooling

“G. Questionable effectiveness of EdTech

“H. Constant testing/lack of informed consent

“I. Privacy issues

“J. Who benefits?”

 

Categories Accountability, Childhood, Data and Data Mining, Education Industry, For-Profit, Privatization, Technology

Facebook Lies About Facebook for Kids

By dianeravitch
February 19, 2018 //
28

Wired magazine reports that Facebook funded most of the experts who “vetted” Messenger Kids, an app designed for children as young as 6. It did not consult critics or defenders of children’s privacy and their childhood.

One of the “experts” that consulted with Facebook was the National PTA, which received funding from Facebook.

What is it with the National PTA? They were enthusiastic about charters and garnered big donations from Gates, now Zuckerberg gets them on board to put little kids online.

Categories Privacy, Technology

Ohio: ‘Twas Greed Killed the Beast

By dianeravitch
February 13, 2018 //
4

Stephen Dyer writes that ECOT will argue in court tomorrow that it should be paid for kids that were not there. 

Categories Accountability, Ohio, Technology

Indianapolis Hires Failed Corporate Turnaround Specialist to Take Over a Public School

By dianeravitch
February 11, 2018 //
39

 

Led by the privatization-mad Mind Trust, Indianapolis is bringing in Sajan George to take over a low-performing school. Sajan George is not an educator. His schools in Detroit and Newark failed. So of course, Indianapolis must hire this proven failure.

Saman George is a management consultant who had a top job with Alvarez & Marsal as they pillaged their way through New Orleans, St. Louis, and New York City, collecting huge fees ($500 an hour) to introduce business practices into education. In St. Louis, A&M installed the retired CEO of Brooks Brothers clothing store as superintendent. $5 Million later, they left town, and the struggling district lost its accreditation (it just now won it back).

In New York City, Sajan George led the A&M effort to revise the city’s complex bus schedule. The plan was rolled out on the coldest day of the year, and thousands of children were stranded by poor planning. A&M collected $15 million in a no-bid contract from Joel Klein for that failure.

Recently Sajan George has re-emerged as a “turnaround specialist,” although he failed in both Detroit and Newark. Chalkbeat tells the story here. 

“When it comes to turning around troubled schools, Matchbook Learning has a troubled history — two schools it took over were closed soon after. But Sajan George, founder of the management group, thinks Indianapolis is his chance to succeed.

“Indianapolis Public Schools leaders have recommended Matchbook as a partner to restart School 63, a school with chronically low test scores. The nonprofit operator has been through layers of vetting from the district and its partners. But the network’s past troubles raise significant questions about whether it is likely to succeed in Indianapolis and highlight the limited pool of partners with the interest and experience in restarting failing schools.”

Mercedes Schneider carefully examined the dismal record of Sajan George and A&M here:

When It Comes to Employing Services of Sajan George, Indy Is a Sitting Duck.

Reformers are never deterred by failure. If at first you fail, try again. If at second time you fail, try again. Never learn from experience. Failure apparently is just another path to profit.

Indianapolis is off to a bad start in their zeal to wipe out public schools.

Categories Charter Schools, Education Industry, Indianapolis, Privatization, Technology

Tech Pioneers Form New Organization to Warn about Tech Dangers

By dianeravitch
February 8, 2018 //
43

 

Some of the early pioneers of the tech industry have banded together to earn about the dangers of tech addiction.

Hopefully, they will warn about the dangers of data mining, invasion of student privacy, and the false promise of replacing skilled teachers with computers.

 

Categories Technology

Bill Phillis: Make ECOT Founder William Lager Pay Back Ohio’s Public Schools

By dianeravitch
February 4, 2018 //
7

 

 

William Lager, the entrepreneur who invented The Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow, had a brilliant political strategy. He has collected nearly $2 billion since the school opened in 2000, and he gave a few million each year in campaign contributions to politicians. No public school could do that. Top state officials spoke at ECOT’s graduation ceremonies, as did Jeb Bush, who is fanatically devoted to digital learning. ECOT was lucrative but had the highest dropout rate of any high school in the nation.

When the State auditor Dave Yost (a recipient of Lager funding) audited ECOT, he discovered that enrollment was inflated and reached a settlement for the mega-school to repay the state on a monthly basis. Rather than give up money to which it was not entitled, the school closed.

One of the most persistent and well-informed critics of ECOT is Bill Phillis, former Deputy Superintendent of Education for Ohio, now retired.

He asks a question: why not hold Lager personally responsible for the hundreds of millions diverted from real public schools?

He writes:

“State probably won’t be able to recover all of the over-payments to ECOT in face of its closure: but continuation of payments is not the solution

“The chairman of the House Education and Career Readiness Committee is in a tizzy because the ECOT closure stops the clawback of $4 million per month. (The chairman, a leading benefactor of ECOT campaign donations, is a consummate defender.)

“ECOT’s average monthly payment for the students “enrolled” thus far this school year is $7.7 million. $4 million per month is being held back to repay the previous fraudulent claims. Therefore the state is spending $7.7 million to get $4 million back. The $7.7 million monthly payment will stop because ECOT, at least temporarily, is out of business; hence, ECOT allegedly will no money to pay back the ill-gained money. But ECOT and the ECOT Man have assets that should be tapped.

“The two ECOT for-profit companies, the real estate and facilities and the personal real estate holdings and other assets might accrue to the amount ECOT owes. The ECOT Man has accumulated vast holdings with money that should have been spent on educating children.

“All the powers of the state should be unleashed to recover the money ECOT owes. School districts have lost hundreds of millions from ECOT’s claims for students not served. The Governor, Attorney General, Auditor, State Superintendent, State Board of Education and the sponsor should join efforts to develop a strategy for recovering every dime possible.

“The chairman and his legislative colleagues should learn from the ECOT fiasco and either eliminate charters or put the entire charter industry under the sponsorship of elected school district boards of education. The for-profit concept must be eliminated.”

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

PS: When I looked up ECOT in Wikipedia to check the founding date, I note that the only critic quoted works for the pro-choice Thomas B. Fordham Institute, not the knowledgeable Bill Phillis, who has tracked Lager’s misdeeds for years.

Categories Ohio, Technology
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