I found this great pamphlet tonight while researching another post. It does a very good job of describing what school choice advocates believe is the purpose of school choice. View the pamphlet here. This is from Choices-K12.org. They are school choice advocate. I have not done a lot of reading [...]
I have read both a Washington Post article (requires free registration) and a blogger’s take on this issue by Jenny D. Both neglected to link to the actual study although Jay does tell you how to find it. I think at least Jay believes if he gives the link to the story he [...]
Here is an article about teacher negotiations in D-46.
Teacher bargaining begins in D46
By Marcia Sagendorph
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS SUN
GRAYSLAKE — When classes begin in District 46 elementary schools Aug. 24, it is likely teachers will start work without a contract.
Negotiations are currently under way with the teachers’ union in the Grayslake-based district.
The [...]
The misleading of the public by BOE members even happens downstate (Hat tip: Students First). Here is an example from Canton Unified District 66. They claim to the public they are millions of dollars in debt, while their finances show they have been in the black. Yes, I understand $300 K is [...]
Here are 2 articles about District 158 trying to do what they promised and limit the tax increase to $0.55. Of course they are doing this now after the truth was discovered after the referendum passed. (Hat tip: Students First)
These articles show the lengths to which school districts will go to get [...]
This week has great posts as usual. Here are the ones I foudn the most interesting:
Favorite teacher?
What should kids learn in high school math?
More on the NEA and their non-education agenda
Humorous look at teaching numbers driving salary offers
A look at kidspeak
The bilingual ed debate takes a new twist in Arizona
Harry Potter more interesting than [...]
I received this request in email. If anyone is interested in helping out Waukegan Public Schools and Preschool Centers please consider signing up or getting more information.
SIGN UP YOUR TEAM BY FRIDAY, JULY 29TH AND JOIN HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE!
Please Join Abbott and United Way of Lake [...]
The 73 year old President to the Sauk Village School Board, Louise Morales, has been “charged with one count each of theft and misappropriation of funds, and three counts of official misconduct.” You can read the full story in the Chicago Sun-Times.
In court, prosecutors described Morales as a “puppet” of an unnamed school official.
————————-
Kenneth [...]
I found this letter to the editor from Sunday’s Daily Herald. It is from a former teacher with details about Dr. Anderson’s record from a teachers view.
Posted Sunday, July 24, 2005
In a recent Daily Herald article about his last board meeting as District 46 superintendent, Dr. Kurt Anderson made some statements that require clarification. [...]
This is my first Blog post. My name is Lisa (Lennie’s wife). Lennie thought it would be a good idea to have my account of what went on at d46.info since a great deal of this is about what I did. I’d like to thank Lennie for letting me post on his site and for [...]
I am finally posting about what took place on the D46.info Message board on June 18th. I wrote the post below on June 19th. I did not feel it was appropriate to post it then. I wanted to make sure I had time to revisit this after a few days to make [...]
A new subdivision is being proposed that would affect Grayslake schools. Read the article below or visit the News-Sun. I highlighted a section of the article below.
I have a suggestion here. Has anyone considered having the developer back a charter school within the development. That would certainly help the district and [...]
The Illinois State Board of Educaiton has a special task force trying to talk to thecitizens of Illinois about how to improve Education in the State. They will be holding a meeting open to the public tomorrow night in Naperville. Go here for the full article.
Northern Illinois University satellite campus
1120 E. Diehl Road
Naperville
Tuesday [...]
We took the kids to see Beauty & The Beast today. It was put on by the Christian Community Theater. It was a wonderful show. If you enjoy theater and/or want your kids to as well, take them to see the show next weekend. CCT and CYT always produce kid friendly [...]
I want to discuss some things I hear over and over again in regards to public education. I will offend those that believe every word coming out of Big Ed’s mouth. My goal is to clear your mind from the brainwashing you have received from the Government/Education Complex.
The topics are:
Some parents don’t care [...]
I received an email yesterday from the Illinois Loop. If you do not receive their email or visit their site, please start. They have lots of wonderful information about education in Illinois and how other States rules can affect ours here.
The article yesterday was about Catholic Schools and how they can give us [...]
Bruno has a great new look for his site over at Extreme Wisdom. Also, while you’re there check out the GRE Scores graph he made from the data used in my earlier post.
The District 46 BOE and new Superintendent have been able to find another $125 K with a compromise on Teachers Aides. The Aides will be limited to 2 1/2 hours per week this year instead of the usual 5. The Principal will decide when there is a need and us the time appropriately. [...]
What do billboards have to do with helping kids learn? Nothing. The Administration in Peoria District 150 hasn’t figured that out though.
While in the midst of a $7 Million deficit, the Administration has spent $19,000 on billboards to advertise the school and improve its’ image. It hasn’t had the desired effect, as [...]
This weeks Education Carnival 24 is now up and running.
Here are some of the posts I found interesting. Please stop by and see what else you like though as well.
Ogre tells us about grade manipulation in NC. Welcome Ogre to the carnival.
Edu-Wonks look at NCLB in 2014.
Sense of Soot tells us what [...]
I was fianlly able to get the written Ethics Violations ruling today. It was delayed because of lack of a signature. I’ll go through this more later and scan in parts of it.
The basics of the written ruling was the Shawn’s complaint was not frivilous. There was enough evidence to warrant the [...]
Does class size really make a difference in student achievement? Let’s start with these 2 studies:
BEYOND SMOKE AND IRRORS: A Critical Look at Smaller Class Sizes
The Effects of Class Size on Attainment and Classroom Processes in English Primary Schools
Both of these studies show that reducing class size is only helpful in the first year [...]
In this third installment I will focus on whether Phonics is a Fraud? Read part I and part II if you have not done so.
I know you have all seen reading examples like the one below. Whole language supporters like to use these as proof that their methods are correct and phonics is [...]
This is a continuation of my whole language post from yesterday. The article I am using is a couple years old, but it gives a good explanation of variations of whole language processes being used at the time. To my knowledge, these are still in place today. You can also read the [...]
“Thank You Whole Language” is an anonymous letter posted on the Illinois Loop website. I can relate to this letter, because I was taught with Phonics, but my wife was not. She was taught with whole language. I can also tell the difference in my children. My oldest was taught whole [...]
Here is another example of a school district cutting programs and then spending money on other things. They are even under investigation by the State’s Attorney. For those of you who don’t know who that is, it’s Joe Birkett. He is running for Governor and promoting the 65% Solution. It’ll be [...]
West suburban Dad and activist Dave Ziffer tells his experience with his school district. Below are some excerpts.
Recently we’ve all been inundated with a lot of ed establishment propaganda suggesting that if only we would reduce class sizes and/or improve the “quality” of incoming teachers (whatever that means), then we would have better [...]
The Illinois Policy Institute has just finished a study of those now infamous bills, HB750, HB755, SB1484. (Hat tip: Extreme Wisdom) If you were still trying to decide if these were good for Illinois and for schools, you really need to read this. It is devastating to the arguments that this was good way [...]
The latest Education Carnival over at The Education Wonks
My favorites this week are:
Ticklish Ears who talks about the NEA and Homeschoolers
Spunk Homeschooler talking about schools selling naming rights
Number 2 Pencil on a family bucking the mainstream in the expensive testing game of SAT, ACT, etc.
Jenny D about Michigan’s Race to Catch Mississippi as the most [...]
Do any of you remember Dr. Anderson raving about how many PhDs are now employed by District 46? According to him, this was a major accomplishment. Well, thanks to Gene Expression I now have some very interesting numbers about GRE Test Scores on the 7 major fields of study and other miscellaneous ones. [...]
