BobBl's Education Policy Blog

Two Stories for the price of one in eSchool News

BobBl — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:19:39 EDT

One of the "Electronic" sources of information that I scan periodically is an "Industry" E-Newsletter that calls itself E-School News. I characterize them as being an "Industry" publication because they stay afloat by selling advertising to the private sector businesses that the sell hardware, software and services required for online and blended courses and schools.

Last Friday (July 17, 2009) they published a piece titled:

Layoffs prompt teachers to move online
Virtual schools are seeing a dramatic rise in job applications as state officials cut education budgets to battle declining tax revenues
By Laura Devaney, Senior Editor

I've attempted to share a comment below that piece. but since I'm implicitly critical in my comment about some of their big advertisers, I thought it might be worth posting publicly here for my friends, family and fellow Democrats.

Because there are actually two different stories in the E-School News piece cited, in the spirit of fairness I've offered two caveats.

The first caveat is guardedly critical of some "unnamed" elearning vendors who continue to offer online educational services, but seem consistently "unwilling" to say very much about the specialized training that their newly hired online teachers do or don't get before going to work online.

The second caveat isn't exactly critical (yet), but it poses a metaphorical question to our Secretary of Education (Arne Duncan) about whether or not that rabbit he's trying to influence with 100 Billion $$'s worth of Congressionally authorized carrots is liable to be be dead before he catches up with it.

If you want the good stuff, read all about it in my extended posting.

As always,

BobBl

Secretary Duncan’s “Listening Tour,” the Education Budget and Priorities

BobBl — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:57:25 EDT

The last time I posted something in BobBl’s Blog was way back before the elections. At that time I "engaged" in a rant against the old Secratary of Education's attempt to pull over a "fast one" and stick whoever the new Secretary would be with some bad policy apples.

A number of other blogs picked up on it and I achieved some measure of visibility for my "colorful position." That's a hard act to follow, but I'll give it a shot.

Back in December of '08, I went on record in my Obama blog saying that I though Arne Duncan was a “pragmatic” choice to become the new Secretary of Education and expressed my hope that he would reconsider and carefully weigh the “meaning” of the No Child Left Behind Education Act of 2001 (PL 107-110) in terms of it’s actual “social consequences.”

Last month (May, 2009) the Department of Education announced that Secretary Duncan was starting out on a “Listening Tour” to visit selected schools all across the US for the purpose of listening to what America’s teachers have to day about the “impact” of NCLB on teaching and learning out in the trenches.

Readers who are interested in learning more about the tour and following the conversations it has created can start here:

NCLB : listening tour (@ Blogspot) Saturday, May 09, 2009

Listening and Learning: A Conversation About Education Reform (@ Ed.Gov Blog): Postings include videos of Duncan’s stops on the tour w. summaries written by Duncan & his staff. Some of the discussion threadss are still open for comment.
More “official information” about the “Listening and Learning” tour:
http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/05/05052009.html

This seems like a good start. Secretary Duncan should be applauded for employing the full power of Web 2.0 technologies (Blogs, discussion forums, etc.) to provide a “transparency” to his re-examination of national educational policy that is unprecedented.

(See extended posting on ED Budget and Priorities )

IT AIN'T OVER YET! THIS HAS GOT TO BE STOPPED!!

BobBl — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:29:34 EDT

I've written a lot of Blogs this election year about educational policy and practice in this space. But NONE of them is as critically important as this one.

The long and the short of it is that the Secretary of Education has published her "New Rules" for implementing NCLB in the Federal Register. The implementation of these new rules MUST BE STOPPED.

I've blogged about this already today in my "My.Barackobama" blog.

BobBl's My Obama Blog - Oct 28th, 2008 at 3:20 pm EDT

Everyone who cares about education in America should go there, read it, and contact their Representatives in the House and Senate to DEMAND that the implementation of these new rules be stopped immediately.

This is a waste of time and precious Federal Educational $$'s that our country's educational system can't afford.

TAKE ACTION TODAY!!

This battle isn't over till President Obama is inagurated. Then we all need to be prepared to go to work on undoing the damage done during the last eight years.

God bless Senator Obama, his campaign staff and his beautiful family. Protect and support them from now till election say.

VOTE AND WORK TO ASSURE THAT EVERY REGISTERED VOTER IN AMERICA DOES SO TOO!!

As always,

BobBl

Good advice from Columist Clarence Page Oct 17th Chi Tribune

BobBl — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:40:32 EDT

Colleagues:

I've used this space to Blog about Educational Issues. Since there's lots in the media about both Obama's & McPain's respective education positions, I encourage all our friends to create Ed Week accounts and have at it:

Education Week - Published September 15 online

My user account as WEdWeek was somehow "blocked from posting." But maybe some of you will have better luck with their site.

In case anyone needs reminding what McPains ed position is... I wrote this before Democrates had yet chosen a candidate. He has't really changed his positions ONE IOTA!

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/rblomeyer/Cvs4

On another topic (the one up top), this AM in the Chi Tribune, Clarence Page posted what I think is some good "Strategic" advice for the Obama campaign.

Page from Oct. 17th Chicago Tribune Commentary

I'd be interested to hear back from my friends and any right-leaning "trojan horses" out there who are brave enough to spar with BobBl. I do love a good intelligent scrap.

But remember, if you've got nothing significant to contribute, don't expect me to recognize you. Amd if you get abusive I'll report you to the new management. :-)

BobBl

A Rant about "Education Issues" in my reply in Matt Nisenoff's Blog

BobBl — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 15:14:51 EDT

I posted this today in Matt

Nisenoff's Blog:http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/mattnisenoff/CCsv

I applaud Matt for his posting about "holding the other side responsible."

But as some of you will remember, I'm IRATE because the Bush Administration's Educational Policies still aren't being held accountable for the grevious damage they've done to ALL OF AMERICA"S SCHOOLS under lies and deception the USDOE continues to perpetuate about the "purpose" behind educational choice initiatives.

So I hope Matt will forgive me for hijacking his blog to rant about how Bush and McCain's educational programs and policies favor selling about America's public educational system to VESTED INTERESTS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR!!!

On another completely related subject:

I LOVE the new "look and feel" of the revision done on this DNC website. GEE WHIZ!! It finally looks and acts as PROFESSIONALLY IMPLEMENTED as SENATOR OBAMA"S HAS ALL ALONG!!

But IMHO what this country needs isn't simply CHANGE... just to be changing any ole' thing.

What this country needs is PROFESSIONALIZATION!

Senator Obama is much more than an ideologue or political pundit merely calling for change out of desperation to grab national sound bytes. (like John McPain)

Senator Obama IS a visionary leader and a powerful "project manager" who is showing us all EVERY DAY how TRULY proficient he as at manageing and directing THIS complex enterprise called a PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN!

HEll's Bells! He's even got the DNC website looking PROFESSIONAL! It's been good fun for all of us who've used it earlier this year. But HONESTLY, I didn't think I'd live long enough to ever see it looking this good!

IT HAPPENDED BECAUSE HE DELEGATED THE JOB TO THE PROFESSSIONALS AT FACEBOOK WHO ARE SUPPORTING HIS CANDIDACY!

And, in that Ohio Education speech I ranted about in Matt Nisenhoff's Blog, he makes it very clear that he's planning to turn educational policy and practive BACK OVER TO EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONALS TOO!

PEOPLE... that was music to my tired old ears.

LETS PROFESSONALIZE THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT!

LET"S GET ALL THE DAMN POLITICAL APPOINTEES OUT OF THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND OTHER CURCIAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES!!

LETS TURN THE PAGE AGAIN TO BEING A GOVERNMENT RUN BY PROFESSIONAL CIVIL SERVANTS DULY ELECTED OFFICIALS, not lobbiests and political appointees!

Every time I hear McPain and Sarah Barracuda talk about "change"... I know what they mean. They mean firing more experienced civil servants in Government Offices & Entitlement Programs.

Anyone who need an "example of what I'm talking about doesn't need to look much further than the very successful US Department of Veteren's Affairs that President Bush is now determined to PRIVATIZE!

US Department of Veteren's Affairs

Our Government (and schools) should be operated by well credentialed and service-oriented professionals.

Not private sector operatives overseen by political appointees, which is the "change" McPain and Sarah Baracudda are crowing about.

WE NEED PROFESSIONALIZATION. ... not change without socially and morally accountable direction from a qualified leader.

We've had eight years of that already and it doesn't work!

BobBl

Problems in Illinois with NCLB mandated standardized testing

BobBl — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:28:55 EDT

Friends:

By now, everyone is surely aware that the NCLB Education act "mandates" annual standardized, "high-stakes" tests be developed and administered in all our States to nominally increase "accountability" in public education.

I want to raise another question. What agency has responsibility for oversight of the "testing companies" that are building and administering the States' standardized tests?

The obvious answer is that the USDOE has "statutory responsibility" for oversight and final "approval" of the State's testing systems.

But recent developments in Illinois seemingly call the "efficacy" of the DFederal Department of Education's oversight system into question.

Here's the link to a story in today's Chicago Tribune that started me examining the issue and related facts:

Errors may snarl state testing Officials hire auditor, worry state test scores may show failure of system (By Stephanie Banchero - Chicago Tribune reporter August 2, 2008)

(Click Link for Story)

Here are some links to the "official correspondence" between the US Department of Education and the Illinois State Board of Education about the "review and approval" of the Illinois Statewide Assessment and Accountability system.

(June 23, 2006)
http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/nclbfinalassess/il.html

(September 8, 2006)
http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/nclbfinalassess/il2.html

(June 29, 2007)
http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/nclbfinalassess/il3.html

(January 4, 2008)
http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/nclbfinalassess/il4.html

The apparent problems with "validity and reliability" of the ISAT were resolved; according to USDOE's standards for oversight of state assessment systems.

These are the facts; as reported by the Chicago Tribune today and from the US Department of Education's "official correspondence" with the Illinois State Board of Education.

Does anyone besides me see a discrepancy here? Could it be either the Illinois statewide assessment system is flawed, or the Federal oversight of that system is flawed.... OR BOTH?

I'm very temped to offer my "interpretation" of what this might mean and the situation's underlying causes. But I'll hold off on that and monitor the posting to see if anyone besides me thinks this subject is worth talking about.

If appropriate, I'll conntribute my views to subsequent discussions.

BobBl

Retired Justice Sandra Day O'Conner advocates for an application of ed technology to teaching H.S. Civics and American Government

BobBl — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:52:41 EDT

Democrats, Friends & Colleagues:

In my last posting, I said some critical things about the potentially negative influence of instructional technology-related businesses and their "surrogates" on advocacy for instructional technology use in America's schools.

In that posting I didn't say much about the sources for instructional applications of educational technologies that might be better for our schools than the "private sector."

In this morning's N.Y. times I found one heck of a good example. The article describes a remarkable application of educational technology to improving the teaching of Civics and American Government in America's high schools.

The two universites collaborating to bring this about are Georgetown University and Arizona State University, in collaboration with Retired Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Sandra day O'Conner.

When I read it this morning in the N.Y Times, I could barely belive my eyes! You should all consider reading it too: Former Justice Promotes Web-Based Civics Lessons New Your Times - June 9, 2008 In it, retired Supreme Court Justice O’Conner has this to say about NCLB:

“One unintended effect of the No Child Left Behind Act, which is intended to help fund teaching of science and math to young people, is that it has effectively squeezed out civics education because there is no testing for that anymore and no funding for that,” she said. “And at least half of the states no longer make the teaching of civics and government a requirement for high school graduation. This leaves a huge gap, and we can’t forget that the primary purpose of public schools in America has always been to help produce citizens who have the knowledge and the skills and the values to sustain our republic as a nation, our democratic form of government.”

I won’t comment here on her inference that the described effect was “unintentional.” (No kooky conpiracy theorists here!)

It’s enough that she said what she did. Intent is irrelevant. It’s happened.

BobBl

(portions reposed from my My.BarackObama blog)

Evidence "Education" has Resurfaced as an Issue

BobBl — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:37:00 EDT

Friends:

I, for one, am glad that we finally have two "presumptive" nominees.

Now maybe our Nominee and his representatives can finally begin atriculating and defining where our candiates stands on important issues; like for instance... EDUCATION!

There is limited evidence supporting the notion that "Education" is surfacing again as a national issue:

From eSchool News (6/6/2008): McCain, Obama reps discuss education

In the piece from eSchool News, some good ideas are attributed to Jeanne Century, director of science research at the University of Chicago's Center for Elementary Mathematics and Science Education,

Unfortunately her ideas are presented "third hand" and probably lost lots in translation. I'd like to hear more from Ms. Century, but in her own words!

Unfortunately, eSchool News is a venue supporting (and supported by) large, "corporate" interests, with much to gain financially from increasing broadband access to all the schools.

I don't and WOULDN'T EVER argue against increasing broadband access for the "have not" schools as a policy objective. The "Digital Divide" is alive and well; paricularly in the "Great City Schools" in cities like Chicago; despite good ongoing efforts by the CPS Chief E-Learning Officer, Sharnell Jackson.

However, the message needs to be spread through information channels that are less alligned with corporate "vested interests" than this one. Letting a source like eSchool News promote the message is functional equivalent to taking donations from an eLearning industy PAC!

Can't the DNC and Obama campaign staff do a better job controlling the venue for information releases relating to Education and Educators?

BobBl

(I'm back!)

Lesson from a Pedernales River School Teacher

BobBl — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:50:59 EST

Friends & fellow Democrats:

I've been thinking lately about Texas; for multiple reasons. Thinking about Texas started me remembering one of our truly "great" education Presidents, Lyndon Baynes Johnson.

For an American history lesson borrowed from LBJ, continue on to the extended posting.

It includes a link to a U-Tube video for those of you who are "audio-visual" learners.

BobBl

Senator Barack Obama On: A World Class Education

BobBl — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:39:25 EST

Senator Barack Obama On: A World Class Education (click link to review Obama website)

Let me begin by being clear I believe Senator Barack Obama is the best available candidate, from either party, to become the next nationally elected President of the United States of America. I'm stating that up-front, because some of my “critical” comments later on might otherwise suggest I don’t fully support his candidacy.

In fact I do support support Senator Obama to become the next Democratic President. Additionally, I am becoming more and more confident that increasing numbers of American voters (in BOTH PARTIES) agree and that there will most surely surely be an Obama family gracing the White House sometime shortly after the election this coming November, 2008!

On the “Educational Issues” Senator Obama’s plans for “reforming” American educational policy, and orchestrating a turn-around to improve American educational practice (managed and supported by the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of the Federal Government) offers, in my opinion, a compelling vision and plan for education in 21st Century America’s K-20 schools.

For starters, Senator Obama’s educational web pages offer 1293 words, 40 paragraphs and 131 lines.

By comparison, Senator John McCain’s educational platform, as presented on his campaign’s website consists of 482 words, 9 paragraphs (click here to view McCain ed platform) 21 sentences.

Hillary Clinton’s campaign website offers 746 words, 29 paragraphs and 73 lines describing her proposed educational platform. (click here to view Clinton ed platform)

Based only on a rudimentary content analysis (done using the Microsoft Word Spell Checker), it appears that Senator Obama has devoted considerably more time and effort to detailing and articulating his emerging “educational platform,” than either Senator McCain or Senator Clinton.

Although the various candidates’ website presentations on “Educational Issues” don’t include texts from all their related speeches and public appearances, website summaries could offer insights into their respective priorities.

If so, Senator Obama's website content clearly devoted more time and energy into articulating his educational platform than either of the other remaining national candidates.

For a more "fine grained" and informative summary of Senator Obama's emerging "educational platform," and for my own "critical commentary" of his positions on educational policy and practice, continue reading the EXTENDED POSTING.

ENJOY!

BobBl

(Continued Extended Posting)

Senator Hillary Clinton's Educational Platform

BobBl — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:26:23 EST

Senator Hillary Clinton about: Issues – Improving Our Schools (Click link to see Clinton webpage)

Senator Clinton devotes a fair number of words in the description of her “educational platform” on her campaign website's pop-down "issues" menu. Regrettably, she doesn't say a lot more than is on the pop-down menu underneath!

The "education" section under "Issues" on her campaign website describes what she’s “done” and “accomplished that is educationally related to date, during her career serving the public good in a variety of roles and capacities. Major themes include:

“As a senator, Hillary worked to reform and fully fund No Child Left Behind.”
“She helped enact legislation to recruit and retain teachers and principals to high-need areas.”
“She has been committed to strengthen and fully fund our special education system.”
“Hillary will fight for each and every child in America to have access to the highest quality schools so that they can fulfill their potential and reach their dreams.”
“Hillary knows that parents are our children's first teachers, and the early years have a tremendous impact on their lives.”

The presentation on Senator Clinton’s website includes two details lists of “bullet points” which details the actions she intends to take if elected president, which have implications for K-20 education. The summary on her campaign’s website is comprehensive and understandable, two values that are sadly lacking in the present Republican administrations education program.

Senator Clinton’s detailed educational program for a new Democratic President includes all the following, and more.

Keep reading for my "criticisms" of Senator Clinton's "Education Platform." She's not as much a "guardian of the status que" as John McCain clearly is.

But she doesn't define her own position substantially enough for me to have much faith that she's give sufficient thought to what it really takes to CHANGE THINGS to do our students, teachers, schools and our communities any real good.

Read on!

BobBl

(continued in extended posting)

Senator John McCain's Educational Platform

BobBl — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:08:14 EST

Friends:

It is time for me to refocus on the Educational Issues to which this blog is dedicated. My last two postings containing music videos were fun, but it's time to get back down to the business of examining how positions on Educational Policy and Practice fit into the scheme of things for the major candidates in BOTH PARTYS.

For starters, I'll summarize and comment on the educational platform of Arizona Senator John McCain:

Senator John McCain on: Excellence, Choice, and Competition in American Education

(Click te link to see what Senator McCain's website actually says!)

I found Senator McCain’s positions on educational policy and practice to be disappointing. On other fronts, he’s shown signs of potentially being a strong, honest, and honorable leader.

But on educational issues, his “choice of words” for the header on his educational policy web-pages just about sums things up: “excellence, choice and competition.”

For starters, the second two adjectives are redundant, and that probably foreshadows what ed policy would be like under a McCain Presidency. Pairing “choice and competition” offer strong indicator that what we can all probably expect MORE OF THE SAME!

It seems clear that Senator McCain has no intention what-so-ever of changing the course set out by the Bush/Cheney administrations showcase legislation, THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND EDUCATION ACT of 2001.

As Joe Friday said at the beginning of every Dragnet episode, those are the apparent: "... facts mam, just the facts."

My commentary on the "facts" follow in the extended posting.

Enjoy! (Or not, if you're a McCain supporter.)

BobBl

About Making the Schools a Better Place for Our Children #2: About Music Education

BobBl — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:40:43 EST

In my last blog posting, I posted a link to a "political" music video I'd discovered that seemed to me at the time to be genuinely inspirational. It favored one of the major Democratic Presidential candidates, so I feel compelled to give the OTHER major candidate equal time. This time it's on U-TUBE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FvyGydc8no

IMHO, that piece of work speaks for itself. But since that's never been known to stop me before, I'll continue in the EXTENDED POSTING and let you all know what I REALLY THINK!

Read on if you're interested in reading a little judicious "criticism." In it, I'll offer a few words about the video's "aesthetic," "educational," and also it's "political" content.

ENJOY!

BobBl

About making the schools a better place for our children

BobBl — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:26:53 EST

I was a music teacher and I like/LOVE all kinds of music. But I experienced something today that moved me so profoundly I want to share it with anyone out there who by chance may have heard "about it," but hasn't already seen this music video for themselves.

Go here:

http://www.dipdive.com/

For anyone who's wondering why I'm posting a music video in a Blog that's "supposed to be" about educational policy and practice, it's because the artists who created it chose to include these words in their recorded performance.

"That the hopes of the little girl that goes to the public school in Dillon are the same as the boy who leans on the streets of Los Angeles."

We can make all of America's schools a better place for our children, and for our Children's Children!

YES WE CAN!

¡SI, SE PUEDE!

BobBl

Bush's Last State of the Union Address: About Education Policy and NCLB

BobBl — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:44:56 EST

Friends:

My Education Policy blog has been dormant for some weeks. We raised a number of issues concerning educational policy and practice and once that was accomplished, continuing to post regularly on those subjects risked becoming boring and redundant. So I didn't.

Last night the "outgoing" incumbent President delivered his final "State of the Union" address. In it he included significant remarks about No Child Left Behind, in which he affirmed his position that it should be fully reauthorized by the Congress; as soon as possible

President Bush nearly identical language and tone to assure the American public that NCLB is working he used to assure us that the "Surge" is working in Iraq and that America is "winning" the "War on Terror." He asked the Congress and the American people to support reauthorizing NCLB (PDQ) using virtually the same "rhetoric" used to justify continuing full support for our "War on Terror." In essence, the President said: "It's true because I say so." (ipsi dixit)

There is also evidence that neither NCLB, nor the "War on Terror," has effectively improved on either of the "problems" these policies were nominally developed to solve.

In the "EXTENDED POSTING" I've placed links pointing to both a summary of Bush's points about education policy from last night's State of the Union Address, and to a rebuttal posted today on the website of the American Association of School Administrators.

THE AASA's rebuttal is well written and authoritative. Importantly, it is a good representation of how educational leaders and school administrators I know personally describe and discuss the impact of NCLB on their schools and communities.

One thing is certain. Unless this nation's educational policy has the support of our educational leaders, it can't and won't succeed at changing the status quo; one way or the other. Read and decide for yourselves.

BobBl

Advice from an Ozark one-room school marm for the House and Senate Education Committees About Revising NCLB

BobBl — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:06:28 EST

Subtitled: The Good, The Bad, and the UGLY about NCLB

In my last Blog posting entitled "Responsible Criticism" of NCLB and Persistent Problems in Public Schools, I offered what I consider to be an excellent illustrative example of a "Responsible Criticism" of NCLB.

I made the mistake of burying it in an long extended posting no one will ever read, so I decided to repost it here, in hopes someone actually will.

In that posting I tried, but didn't do a very good job of defining what I mean by "Responsible Criticism." The Kozol example is an good example, But I thought of a metaphor that might do a better job of illustrating what I'm trying to communicate, particularly to Educators.

Here goes...

(See "Extended Posting" for a metaphor explaining why strategies used by good student teaching supervisors can and should be used to direct the revision of NCLB, and for some pithy advice from my Grandmother, the Ozark one-room "school marm.")

BobBl

EXTENDED UPDATE: "Responsible Criticism" of NCLB and Persistent Problems in Public Schools

BobBl — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 13:03:58 EST

Since I began to write for this blog on Educational Policy,” I've repeatedly criticized the NCLB Education Act for it's failure to effectively support teaching and learning in America's public schools.

I’ve criticized what I firmly believe to be a pernicious, persistent and ideologically motivated hatchet job being undertaken by the Bush administration’s operatives in the US Department of Education, to undercut the public's confidence in our public education by declaring increasing numbers of public schools to be GLOBAL FAILURES.

I shared this critique because I strongly believe the Bush administration’s "essentialist" education agenda (Readin', Rightin' & Rithmatic) is being used by socially conservative elements in the current administration to justify replacing the traditional American public educational system with privately operated, for-profit "educational choices."

Recently, I’ve reviewed and reflected on the primarily negative “tone” of my critique. I’ve asked myself whether my own words might be further undercutting readers’ confidence in public education, as opposed to my stated purpose to question the impact of and the actual political ideology and social "intent" behind NCLB.

This weekend, the Chicago Tribune published an interview conducted with Jonathan Kozol, entitled “Keeping good teachers is the true test.” (November 11, 2007; click the Title/link to read) In the past, I’ve personally had trouble warming up to Professor Kozol’s books, for the same reasons I’ve recently been questioning the impact of my own critiques of NCLB.

The educational “inequities” Kozol has portrayed vividly in many of his books has been so negative and compelling that in the past reading them has plunged me into the depths of emotional despair; as is often the deliberate intent of “Marxist social critique.” (See Kozol’s , Savage Inequities, 1992; from Harper Perennial)

Instead, in the interview in Sunday’s November 11th Chicago Tribune Kozol offers hope and insights grounded by a clear personal and professional commitment to nurturing Democracy by supporting the institution of American Public Education.

I look forward to reading his newest book (Letters to a Young Teacher) and wish to express my gratitude to Jonathan Kozol for reminding me how "Responsible Criticism" can be used to exert a powerful and positive influence that is both crucial for protecting America's public education system and for maintaining our great nation's Constitutional Democracy.

The interview, written by Jonathon E. Briggs, is one of the finest examples of a “Responsible Criticism” of NCLB that I’ve read to date! In it, Dr. Kozol affirms the commitment and professionalism of the “majority” of America’s teachers, explains clearly and succinctly why NCLB is making things worse instead of better, and makes clear and actionable recommendations regarding revisions the House and Senate should undertake to NCLB before it is reauthorized and signed into Law for another SEVEN YEARS.

I strongly recommend everyone read Professor Kozol’s interview and consider not only his message about the fundimental inadequacy of NCLB, but also his praise for the thousands and thousands of dedicated and truly “service oriented” teachers who continue teaching in the public schools, despite the Bush administration’s relentless efforts to drive them away from the teaching profession and eventually close the doors of all our public schools.

This “opening ” is a bit longer than those I’ve been writing to date for my other blog postings. Anyone who’s gotten this far and is still interested in reading an elaboration and “good ole’ fashioned RANT” about “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” in Federal Educational Policy,” check back and watch the “Extended Posting” over the next couple of days.

It may take a little time (a few days) for me to “get it right,” Writing “Responsible Criticism” is challenging. But I hope I interested readers will ultimately find it entertaining and informative.

BobBl

(Check back for more in the "Extended Posting" tomorrow. Persons wishing to comment are encouraged to so sooner, and later too.)

Serious Concern About NCLB Reauthorization

BobBl — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:56:38 EDT

I'm very concerned about the Title I (NCLB) reauthorization. It seems like the Administration is going to successfully reauthorize their elitist, anti-democratic social agenda (disguised as an education bill), without much significant revision or reconsideration in either the House or Senate.

Too few Democrates in the House and Senate seem to be questioning the lies and half-truths that are being passed of as "facts" about the impact of NCLB. How many of you out there have actually read the "official version" of the story that this Administration is trying to pass off about the "impact" of NCLB on America's public educational system?

Click Here for "Official" Support for NCLB Reauthorization

BobBl

(Read extended posting for a "good old fashoned" RANT on NCLB & Education Policy.)

The Importance of Teachers & Public Schools in Democratic Society

BobBl — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 12:52:01 EDT

Today, pundits and the public seemingly love to criticize the public schools. I'm admittedly critical myself of the No Child Left Behind Education Act (previously known as the Elementary & Secondary Education Act or ESEA).

I'm also critical of underperforming teachers and schools. I still wish my children had been in better school and had better teachers. But I also know that teaching is a hard job and none of us live in a perfect world.

Criticisms aside, there are truly wonderful teachers working with students in public schools with our students who disserve recognition and seldom receive it.

Sometimes new stories come along that disserve to be read and discussed. In this past Sunday's Chicago Tribune (Oct. 21, 2007), there are two stories entitled: "How Holocaust heroine rescued 2,500 children" and "Finding unsung heroes."

Chicago Tribune Stories, by Kirsten Scharnberg (10/21/07)

(See extended posting for details)

BobBl

Response to Ryan about "Saving Education" from October 20

BobBl — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 16:34:44 EDT

This is an edited & revised version of a response I wrote hurriedly yesterday to a reply made yesterday by Ryan to my last posting entitled "Invitation to Blog About Educational Issues." Ryan's response, and a revised versions of mine back to him, are shared below.

Ryan was recently a student in public schools and shares some of his personal story and misgivings about public schools. Any discussion of national and state educational policy and practice should include and honor critical student voices. No group within our populaton understands educational problems better than recent public high school graduates.

I hope more young Democrates, with real educational stories will come forward, share them with us, and join us t odo that hard work of rebuilding our schools, our Nation's eductional policies, and confidence in our American Public Educational System.

(See Extended Posting)

BobBl