Peripheral+Topics+with+tenuous+connection(s)+to+CCNS

PRIVATIZATION
//EXCERPT: The attack on our profession, on our schools, on our unions has little to do with concerns about quality and excellence. Those attacks are, in my opinion, a (smartly) orchestrated effort (by some business corporations and conservative politicians) to create space for a multi-billion dollar education market, based on the illusion that education can be delivered more cheaply and efficiently by the private sector with fewer and less qualified staff, without tenure of course, and a liberal dose of one-size-fits-all on line programmes. Suffice it to say that this is not our vision. We do not want education businesses to tell us what and how to teach, we do not want them to tell us if, when and how to grade our students. We do not want our profession to be dumbed down to an army of teaching pawns. No, we will not be "Pearsonized".// http://download.ei-ie.org/Docs/WebDepot/Remarks%20Fred%20van%20Leeuwen%20AFT%20Convention%202014-07-11.pdf  **Jan Resseger, "Stunning New Report and Website Expose Connected State-by-State Web of Privatizers," Nov. 2013.** //Blog post about [|stinktanks.org]'s exposing of the State Policy Network (SPN), a "tightly connected web of think tanks across the states...with the purpose of promoting privatization and unfettered free markets, and undermining government [and] regulation...." // http://janresseger.wordpress.com/2013/11/15/stunning-new-report-and-website-expose-connected-state-by-state-web-of-privatizers/  **Valerie Strauss, "The Quote that Reveals How at Least One Corporate School Reformer Really Views Students," Answer Sheet column in the //Washington//** **//Post,// Aug. 2014.**  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/08/27/the-quote-that-reveals-how-at-least-one-corporate-school-reformer-really-views-students/
 * Fred van Leeuwen (General Secretary of //Education International//), text of speech given at the AFT Convention, Jul. 2014. //[Links to a pdf file.]// **


 * GENERAL CRITICISM OF ED REFORMS **

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-nelson/fiddling-with-schools-whi_b_5652255.html?utm_hp_ref=tw
 * Steve Nelson, "Fiddling with Schools while our Nation Burns," //Huffington// Post, Aug. 2014.**

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-breslin/dickens-and-standardized-testing_b_5760932.html
 * Frank Breslin, "Dickens and Standardized Testing," //Huffington Post,// Sep. 2014.**

http://realmrfitz.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-intellectual-bank-account-how-to.html
 * David Finkle, "The Intellectual Bank Account: How to Invest in Students' Minds," //The Real Mr. Fitz// blog, Aug. 2014.**


 * UNION ISSUES **

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/07/05/why-many-democrats-turned-against-teachers-unions/?tid=recommended_strip_1
 * Valerie Strauss and Jeff Bryant, "Why Many Democrats Have Turned Against Teacher Unions," Answer Sheet column in the //Washington//**
 * //Post,// Jul. 2014. **


 * INTERNAL UNION ISSUES: MICHAEL MULGREW of NYUFT, AFT **

http://preaprez.wordpress.com/2014/07/14/theres-a-national-assault-on-teacher-pensions-i-wonder-if-the-aft-and-the-nea-heard/
 * Fred Klonsky, "There's a National Assault on Teacher Pensions, I Wond if the AFT and the NEA Heard?" //Fred Klonsky's blog,// Jul. 2014.**

http://preaprez.wordpress.com/2014/08/07/the-ufts-michael-mulgrew-gets-punchy-but-only-towards-union-members-in-the-hall/
 * Fred Klonsky, "The UFT's Michael Mulgrew Gets Punchy, but only towards Union Members in the Hall," //Fred Klonsky's blog,// Aug. 2014.**

http://preaprez.wordpress.com/2014/08/08/the-fight-for-union-democracy-you-wont-read-about-in-the-post/
 * Fred Klonsky, "The Fight for Union Democracy you Won't Read about in the //Post,//" //Fred Klonsky's blog,// Aug. 2014.**

http://gatorbonbc.wordpress.com/2014/08/10/pissing-off-mulgrew-dotherightthing/
 * GatoronBC, "Pissing Off Mulgrew: #DoTheRightThing," //Continuing Change// blog, Aug. 2014.**


 * EFFECTS OF ED REFORMS ON KIDS **

//This article points out the strong correlations between the timeline of certain education reforms and the increasing diagnoses of ADHD.// [|http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/20/magazine/the-not-so-hidden-cause-behind-the-adhd-epidemic.html?]
 * Maggie Koerth-Baker, "The Not-So-Hidden Cause Behind the ADHD Epidemic," //New York Times,// Oct. 2013.**

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teaching_now/2014/07/study_too_many_structured_activities_hinder_childrens_executive_functioning.html
 * Ellen Wexler, "Too Many Structured Activities Hinder Children's Executive Functioning," //Education Week,// Jul. 2014.**

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/10/09/mind-wandering-and-creativity/
 * Maria Popova, "How Mind-Wandering and 'Positive Constructive Daydreaming' Boost Creativity and Social Skills," //Brain Pickings,// Oct. 2013.**

http://vigornotrigor.wordpress.com/2014/08/10/thoughts-and-feelings-do-matter/
 * John Chase, "Thoughts and Feelings Do Matter," //WagTheDog// blog, Aug. 2014.**


 * THE IMPORTANCE OF TRUSTING TEACHERS **

//A teacher points out the importance of trusting teachers to do the job they were trained to do.// http://skeptophilia.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-matter-of-trust.html
 * Gordon Bonnet, "A Matter of Trust," Skeptophilia blog, Oct. 2013.**


 * SCHOOL CLOSINGS **

//The first two sentences in this report: "This is a guide for school district operators considering school closures to address significant budgetary challenges. Note that this tool was not designed to assist with school closures as part of a periodical closing and opening of schools for academic performance, though a subset of the strategies may still be applicable."// http://failingschools.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/school-closure-guide1.pdf
 * Broad Foundation, "School Closure Guide: Closing Schools as a Means for Addressing Budgetary Challenges", 2009 report //[pdf file]//**


 * CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS **

http://michaelklonsky.blogspot.com/2014/07/it-was-duncan-who-launched-chicago.html
 * Michael Klonsky, "It was Duncan who Launched Chicago Schools on the Trail of Tiers," //Michael Klonsky's Smalltalk Blog,// Jul.2014.**

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/08/02/337338509/-you-don-t-really-know-us-chicago-kids-tell-news-media?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20140802
 * Bill Chappell, "'You Don't Really Know Us,' Chicago Kids Tell News Media," //NPR,// Aug. 2014.**

http://www.ibtimes.com/chicago-mayor-rahm-emanuel-cuts-schools-pensions-while-preserving-fund-corporate-subsidies-1648754
 * David Sirota,"Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Cuts Schools, Pensions while Preserving Fund for Corporate Subsidies," //International Business Times,// Aug. 2014.**


 * CHARTER SCHOOLS **

[]
 * Ani McHugh, "My Fundamental Objections to Charter Schools," Sep. 2013. **

media type="custom" key="26364504"

//** Mark Naison, host of "Education News" YouTube series asks, **// //** " Are Charter Schools Todays Version of Sub Prime Mortgages?" Jul. 2014.**//


 * KOCH BROTHERS **

//30 min program with guests Christina Wilkie Sumner, L'Hereux Lewis-McCoy, Henry Giroux, and Mark Naison// http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/the-koch-brothers-highland-park-youth-entrepreneurs-organization/53c7c33602a760832800006f
 * Marc Lamont Hill (host), "Are the Koch Brothers Brainwashing Students?" //Huffington Post Live,// Jul. 2014.**


 * THE WAR ON DUE PROCESS: **** CAMPBELL BROWN **

http://www.salon.com/2014/07/16/tenure_haters_big_delusion_why_campbell_brown_has_teaching_all_wrong/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow
 * Gabriel Arana, "Tenure haters’ big delusion: Why Campbell Brown and Co. are wrong about teaching," //Salon,// Jul. 2014.**

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/07/colbert-spars-union-busting-campbell-brown
 * Karoli, "Colbert Spars with Union-Busting Campbell Brown," //Crooks and Liars,// Aug. 2014.**

http://mothercrusader.blogspot.com/2014/08/campbell-browns-ties-to-billionaire.html?spref=tw
 * Darcie Cimarusti, "Campbell Brown's Ties To Billionaire 'Vulture Fund' CEO," //Mother Crusader// blog, Aug. 2014.**

http://jerseyjazzman.blogspot.com/2014/08/campbell-brown-lame.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+JerseyJazzman+(Jersey+Jazzman)
 * Jersey Jazzman, "Campbell Brown: Lame," //Jersey Jazzman// blog, Aug. 2014.**

http://baileyshawley.wordpress.com/2014/08/01/an-open-letter-to-campbell-brown-from-a-teacher-on-leave/
 * Bailey Shawley, "An Open Letter to Campbell Brown from a Teacher on Leave," //Life Under the Ponytail// blog, Aug. 2014.**

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/08/01/stephen-colbert-to-campbell-brown-why-are-we-blaming-the-teachers-maybe-its-the-dumb-kids/
 * Valerie Strauss, "Stephen Colbert to Campbell Brown: ‘Why are we blaming the teachers? Maybe it’s the dumb kids,’"**
 * //Answer Sheet// blog in //Washington Post//, Aug. 2014.**

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/08/03/fact-checking-campbell-brown-what-she-said-what-research-really-shows/
 * Alyssa Hadley Dunn, "Fact Checking Campbell Brown: What She Said, What Research Really Shows," Valerie Strauss' //Answer Sheet// blog in //Washington Post//, Aug. 2014.**

http://realcampbellbrown.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/TheRealCampbellBrown.pdf
 * Alliance for Quality Education's 9 page, extensively footnoted report, "The Real Campbell Brown"** //[Links to pdf file]//

http://www.danagoldstein.com/2014/08/discussing-teacher-melissa.html
 * Dana Goldstein, Randi Weingarten, Derrell Bradford, and Amy Goodman, Conversation with Melissa Harris-Perry about tenure, //Dana Goldstein's blog// (includes embedded //MSNBC// video clip), Aug. 2014.**


 * THE WAR ON DUE PROCESS: **** WHOOPI GOLDBERG **

media type="youtube" key="x-shockwave" width="420" height="315" //**Keith Reeves' video response** to Whoopi Goldberg's comments (made originally on The View, and expanded-upon in a FB video)// //about teacher tenure, **Aug. 2014.**//

//By the way, Ari Emanuel is Whoopi Goldberg's agent. Ari Emanuel is both co-CEO of William Morris, and brother to Rahm Emanuel (mayor of Chicago, who has been involved in many controversial actions involving closing 50 public schools).// @http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ari_Emanuel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahm_Emanuel#Chicago_Public_Schools

http://badassteachers.blogspot.com/2014/08/an-open-letter-to-view-from-badass.html
 * Open letter to //The View// from Badass Teachers Association, //BATs// blog, Aug. 2014.**

http://www.laprogressive.com/whoopi-goldberg-tenure-controversy/
 * Yohuru Williams, "Making Whoopi: Missing the Point in the Tenure Debate," //LA Progressive,// Aug. 2014.**


 * "GRIT" **

//This exceptional article contains ** over 20 links ** to other articles on "grit"!// http://radicalscholarship.wordpress.com/2014/03/17/npr-whitewashes-grit-narrative/
 * P.L.Thomas, "NPR Whitewashes 'Grit' Narrative," //The Becoming Radical,// Mar. 2014.**


 * SPECIAL EDUCATION AND ED REFORM **

http://nancyebailey.com/2014/08/23/do-public-school-students-need-special-ed-anymore/
 * Nancy Bailey, "Do Public School Students Need Special Ed Anymore?" Nancy Bailey's Education Website, Aug. 2014.**


 * ANALYSIS OF ED REFORMERS / FORCES BEHIND ED REFORMS **

http://withabrooklynaccent.blogspot.com/2014/08/education-reforms-and-sociopathy-guest.html
 * Wilma DeSoto, "Education Reforms and Sociopathy," Mark Naison's //With a Brooklyn Accent// blog, Aug. 2014.**

http://truth-out.org/news/item/25425-flipping-schools-the-hidden-forces-behind-new-jersey-education-reform
 * Owen Davis, "Flipping Schools: The Hidden Forces Behind New Jersey Education Reform," //Truthout,// Aug. 2014.**

http://www.epi.org/publication/grading_the_education_reformers/
 * Richard Rothstein, "Grading the Education Reformers," //The Economic Policy Institute,// Aug. 2011.**


 * PARODIES OF COMMON CORE STANDARDS & THEIR CREATORS **

//Two consecutive series from the Mr. Fitz comic strip, in which we find out that Mr. Fitz is a BAT, and has to attend a presentation by a character who is suspiciously similar to David Coleman, and what that meeting inspires him to crreate....// http://realmrfitz.blogspot.com/2014/08/a-common-core-dialogue-mr-fitz-meets.html //and// http://realmrfitz.blogspot.com/2014/08/mr-fitzs-un-common-un-standards.html
 * David L. Finkle, //The Real Mr. Fitz,// Aug. 2014.**
 * "A Common Core Dialogue: Mr. Fitz Meets Dylan Trollman"**
 * "Mr. Fitz's Un-common Un-standards"**