Was that our mayor last seen trapped in a glass-encased parking meter box and dangled from a crane over the goby-infested waters of Burnham Harbor with hordes of Chicago public school parents threatening to tip the crane? -- Sun-Times columnist Mark BrownPoor Rahm. He can't even catch a break from his own pals at the Sun-Times. Check it out. Sunday […]
We define indifference as a lack of interest, an unimportance or insensibility. As the Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel states: “[It] is more dangerous than anger and hatred.” We might add that indifference courts a complicit relationship with political and social injustices and that, conversely, these injustices owe their success and power to indifferen […]
Let’s Make Deal: SB2404Quite honestly, I was at first befuddled when it came to choices as a retiree looking at SB2404. I’m not good at choices. I lose at Blackjack without fail.Could be worse. I could be an active teacher looking at SB2404. Thank goodness I’m not an active anymore. The spreadsheet on the IEA Fact Sheet reads like a graduate level test […]
I'm surprised at how many people are shocked at NYC Schools Chancellor Walcott's sales presentation to principals last Saturday. It's encouraging, of course, that the principals gave him such a cool reception. After a decade of crap that never works, it's good to see that even administrators are not buying it. Bloggers I read regularly ar […]
This week has been insane. In my personal life, in my social life, and in my career I am facing a ridiculous number of challenges this week, but there’s also some real coming out of it. I am reminded of A Christmas Carol, where a miserly old skinflint who cares more about money than about […]
I just posted about Maine "Chief For Change," Stephen Bowen, and how he's had to back off on plans - written by his patron, Jeb! Bush - to fast-track for-profit virtual charter schools into the state. Before we move on to another state and another CFC Fail, however, let's take a moment to enjoy the twisted logic of Commissioner Bowen: Sec […]
I have been reading and rereading our IEA president’s email response to my last blog, “Betrayal. Deception, Investigation, Robocalls: SB2404.” The future of our Illinois pensions hinge on this. Perhaps George Orwell could decipher it for me, but he’s still … Continue reading →
Notes by Donald March, chapter leader of Christopher Columbus HS Bronx Mayoral Forum. May 8, 2013. Christine Quinn, Bill DeBlasio, Bill Thompson, John Liu As has been the case at these forums or late, Christine Quinn arrives ahead of the pack and is allowed to speak and take questions first. She is a rather forceful […]
Tennessee charters have learned the secret to high test scores: push out low-performing students right before testing time. That way, the charter keeps the money, and the public school gets the low score. This is not a closely guarded secret, but it usually fools the media and the politicians. Here is one journalist–Dennis Ferrier at […]