Another week, and more snow is expected in the northeast. There’s more over the PARCC testing storm as well, but this time, there is a ray of sane sunshine. Here in New Jersey, State Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan Jr. (D-Middlesex), chairman of the Assembly’s education committee, has introduced a bill that would detail a procedure for… Continue reading PARCC Storm II: Sunshine Peeks Through
Category: Education
Salting the PARCCing Lot
Educators, are you getting excited? No, not about the next snowstorm, which looks like a whopper, but about the PARCC tests? You’d better be, because they are on the way and the impact will be measurable and unpredictable. For those non-educators, the PARCC tests are the standardized tests that students in grades 3-11 will take… Continue reading Salting the PARCCing Lot
Yes, Students Can See ‘Selma’ for Free
The producers of Selma have teamed up with Black business leaders from around the country for an unprecedented initiative to give students free access to the Oscar-nominated film. So far, nearly 100,000 middle schoolers have taken advantage of the program in cities like New York, Atlanta, Miami and New Orleans, BET reports. Due to popular… Continue reading Yes, Students Can See ‘Selma’ for Free
The New Smart
Yes, I know it’s the holiday break and students and teachers across the country are off, but really, this is just the calm before the storm. There are only two more months until the new PARCC tests are administered. Then there’s a 6 to 8 week break. Then more PARCC tests will be administered. These… Continue reading The New Smart
10 Year Old Embarrasses Politician on Live Television – Video
It happened in London, but the same thing can easily happen here, where our government has been infiltrated by Teapartiers and backward Republicans. The 10 year old decided to pose a math question to the Minister of Education, Nicky Morgan. But Morgan, equipped with her education position in the government, was no match for Leon’s… Continue reading 10 Year Old Embarrasses Politician on Live Television – Video
Thirty Years an Educator
Thirty years ago today, I walked into York Preparatory School on New York’s Upper East Side for my first day as a high school history teacher. I had no formal training as a teacher except for my degree in History from Syracuse University. I had been working in advertising for a Madison Avenue firm that… Continue reading Thirty Years an Educator
The Attack On History
I suppose that many Americans will see the report that the school board in Jefferson County, Colorado has decided not to blatantly impose its view of United States history on the district’s students as a victory for common sense and educational policy. For those who need a refresher, here’s the basic idea, from the article:… Continue reading The Attack On History
School Allegedly Uses Girl As ‘Bait’ For Sexual Predator, Leading To Her Rape
A lawsuit has been filed against an Alabama middle school that accuses teachers and administrators of directing a girl to put herself into a dangerous situation in order to “catch” her predator in the act. Instead of protecting her, they abandoned her to be sexually assaulted. The middle school allegedly tried to use a young… Continue reading School Allegedly Uses Girl As ‘Bait’ For Sexual Predator, Leading To Her Rape
In Education, Teachers Must Lead the Way
Aside from the December holiday season, the back-to-school late August and early September rush has the most profound effects on the United States. Shopping patterns change, traffic gets worse, and the general tenor of every community shifts to accommodate the children and adults who work in education. Welcome to this year’s edition. Some things have… Continue reading In Education, Teachers Must Lead the Way
Pension Outrage
Last year, my personal investments provided over a 19% return and I paid no investment or broker fees. Under Chris Christie’s dysfunctional fiscal management, the New Jersey Public Pension fund returned 15.9% (2014) but paid $398.7 million dollars in fees (fiscal 2013). Since his term in office began in 2009, the pension fund had paid… Continue reading Pension Outrage
President’s Weekly Address – The Ability To Afford Higher Education
President Obama used his weekly address to talk about the start of a new school year and the importance of preparing for an education beyond high school. Said the president; And so today, I want to talk directly with students and parents about one of the most important things any of you can do this… Continue reading President’s Weekly Address – The Ability To Afford Higher Education
How to Grow Your Own Tree That Produces 40 Different Fruits – Video
It’s simply amazing.