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ARE CHARTERS PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR SMALL BUSINESSES?
Carol Burris: Charter Schools Ask for Federal Money Though They Suffered No Loss
From Diane Ravitch
Charters claim to be “public schools” when that’s where the money is. But when the money is available for small businesses, they claim to be small businesses. Public schools aren’t eligible for the federal money. But charter schools are.
Public schools are not small businesses. Charters just defined themselves: Not public schools. Small businesses.
NEIFPE ENDORSEMENT
NEIFPE Endorsement: John Stoffel for District 50 State Representative
From NEIFPE
Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education proudly endorses John Stoffel, Republican, for State Representative for District 50.
Since NEIFPE’s inception, John Stoffel has been a friend and fellow advocate of ours. John’s leadership in the fight for public education continues as he battles for a seat in the Statehouse.
"WE'RE ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY," SAID NO TEACHER EVER
Of Pandemics And Teacher Motivation
From Curmudgucation
Remember that time that schools were shut down because of a pandemic, and all the teachers said, "Yippee! Extra vacation! I am out of here" and all jumped in their Porches and drove to their beach homes?
Yeah, neither do I.
Here's what I'll remember. Teacher after teacher, from the ones in my Twitter feeds to the ones in my email to the ones that I know personally, sharing how miserable and worried they are, how they can't sleep for worrying about their students. Teacher after teacher frustrated about a lack of clear direction and leadership-- can we work? how can we work? what resources are we going to be given, or do we just have to hunt down the right tech ourselves?
...If you think the only reason anyone ever does anything is to get paid, then I am sad for you. But keep your sad hands off education policy. When this storm has passed, sit down, shut up, and let the teachers work.
INDIANA PLAN FOR THE REST OF THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR
Verbatim: Gov. Holcomb, Superintendent McCormick Outline Education Changes for the Remaining School Year
A free article from the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette**
“Students are the future of our state and teachers are the heart of our schools,” Gov. Holcomb said. “While COVID-19 is impacting every classroom, our teachers, administrators, school board members and school staff are going to extraordinary levels to deliver quality learning to students all across our state, even while school buildings are closed. We'll continue to do everything we can to empower educators and parents, while protecting students' health.”
WANT STABILITY? CHOOSE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Two brothers to care for. Little classwork. SAT worries. For this 16-year-old, days now feel like weeks
Chalkbeat ignores the bigger headline- Students/Parents/Taxpayers Cannot Depend on Charter Schools
From Chalkbeat*
For so many students who already struggled to manage the many stresses in their lives — whether due to poverty, community violence, or caregiving responsibilities — school is the glue helping to hold it all together. Now, as school buildings across the country shut down, students and families like Sarah’s are forced to go without the layers of structure and support that schools provide, making existing inequities even more pronounced.
In Chicago, students’ uneven access to the internet and computers means the school district has been slow to transition to remote learning. Officials say they will formally launch their plan in mid-April, which includes distributing devices and offering both paper and digital assignments. Charter schools like Sarah’s are making their own decisions, though the state now says schools must offer digital or other remote instruction.
STANDARDS FOR NEW HOME SCHOOLING PARENTS
WE, THE HARD-WORKING, NEWLY HOMESCHOOLING PARENTS OF AMERICA, HAVE REWRITTEN THE COMMON CORE STANDARDS
From McSweeneys
Domain 1: Snack Time
GRADES K-5
1-A. Students will learn not to ask for a snack every five minutes, or in the thirty minutes directly following a full meal.
1-B. Students will learn the elements of a healthy snack, and in particular, that consuming one’s body weight in goldfish crackers is not a healthy choice.
GRADES 6-8
2-A. Students will learn to get their own damned snacks.
2-B. Students will learn that consuming every edible item in this house within the first day of home confinement is not compatible with sustaining life in this house.
GRADES 9-12
3-A. Students will learn to make a mean bowl of Rice Krispies.
3-B. Students will learn that you cannot cook a hot dog in a toaster.
3-C. Students will learn to hunt and process squirrels for food.
Domain 2: Screen Time
GRADES K-5
1-A. Students will learn that screen time is the only time during the blessed day when the grown-ups caring for them can get some peace.
1-B. Students will learn to solve computer problems on their own, rather than yelling for a grown-up. This is called “inquiry-based learning.”
QUESTIONS FOR INDIANA STUDENTS
How Indiana high schools are trying to keep students on track to graduate amid coronavirus closures
From Chalkbeat*
Schools in Indiana are closed through at least May 1 in response to the novel coronavirus, which raises concern about all students’ academic progress. But it creates a significant complication for high school juniors and seniors, who need to meet a strict set of requirements in order to graduate.
QUICK...NAME A SECRETARY OF EDUCATION WHO USED TO BE A TEACHER...
Where Is Teaching's Dr. Fauci?
From Curmudgucation
...teachers have always been boxed out of all leadership positions. Which sucks, and explains a lot, and not just the last thirty-five years of reformster baloney.
Other professions are in charge of their own professions. They're in charge of their training; you can't hand out medical degrees unless you're certified by a bunch of doctors. Ditto for training lawyers or nurses or physical therapists. But any college that wants to start cranking out teachers just has to satisfy some bureaucrats at the state capitol. And these days, you can even set up an "alternative pathway" to teaching and all you need to do is convince some lawmakers to let you do it.
Training for the profession? Done by other members of the profession. Entrance to the profession? Lawyers and doctors and physical therapists have to convince other members of the profession to certify them. But teacher schools include many professors who wouldn't last five minutes in a real K-12 classroom, and the gatekeepers of the profession include folks like the notably non-teacher folk running the bogus edTPA test.
TEACHERS RISE TO THE OCCASION
Teachers staying creative to bond with students
A free article from the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette**
The closure has highlighted the power of the bond between teachers and students, who normally spend seven hours a day together, said Emily Oberlin, director of New Tech Academy at Wayne High School. Suddenly, she said, that consistent structure has disappeared.
“In our case at New Tech Academy, our students have been seeking connection with us because the closure has placed a void of those adults they interact with every day,” Oberlin said by email.
New Tech Academy has held Zoom meetings – video conferences – with staff and students to connect with each other, she said.
“I believe we as educators have the ability to really help our students get through this time,” Oberlin said.
*Note: Financial sponsors of Chalkbeat include pro-privatization foundations and individuals such as EdChoice, Gates Family Foundation, The Walton Family Foundation, and others.
**Note: The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette has changed its online access and is now behind a paywall. Digital access, home delivery, or both, are available with a subscription. Staying informed is important, and one way to do that is to support your local newspaper. For subscription information go to fortwayne.com/subscriptions/
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