OpineRegress: Matthew Yglesias' reactionary education policy pandering "In the long run, charter schools are being strategically used to pave the way for vouchers. The voucher advocates, who are very powerful and funded by right-wing foundations and families, recognize that the word voucher has been successfully discredited by enlightened Americans who believe in the public sector. So they've resorted to two strategies. First, they no longer use the word "vouchers." I've been following the exchange between Rachel Levy and Matthew Ygelsias online. Yglesias is a marginally left of center political pundit whose supposed "progressive" leanings have allowed him to provide cover for some of the most reactionary education policies we've ever seen. Even Yglesias' notions of what constitute a good school reveal both his privilege and ignorance. "KIPP schools are "good schools" in that KIPP students perform better than one would predict from the demographics, and we've got the sophisticated studies to back it up."
06-03 The Militarization of Canada's Universities Reprinted with permission from author Laura Beach, Co-founder of TapThirst and student activist. This article was originally published by The Mark From simulation programs to unmanned drones, Canada's schools have joined the fight. Fifty years ago, in his farewell address, President Dwight Eisenhower warned the American public against the “unwarranted influence” of industry and military interests on academic institutions. The influence of what Eisenhower termed the “military industrial complex” within the university sphere has been facilitated by a number of radical changes in post-secondary research and funding paradigms. External (corporate) funding for research has assumed a central role in the university funding paradigm with the rise of proprietary research, accompanying sales and revenues generated through royalties, and a growing emphasis on public-private research partnerships. For example, Arthur C. Photo courtesy of Reuters.
Save Our Schools March builds momentum and spreads nationwide. - Topeka K-12 The Save Our Schools March and National Call to Action, a grassroots event to support - perhaps even save - public education, is scheduled for July 28-31 in Washington, D.C. The event features two days of activism workshops, followed by the March and Rally on July 30th. “We’re putting the public back in public schools,” says the SOS March home page. “We, a collection of people from all walks of life and every corner of this nation, embody a mixture of ideas and opinions regarding how we can improve educational opportunities for all children. As concerned citizens, we demand an end to the destructive policies and rhetoric that have eroded confidence in our public schools, demoralized teachers, and reduced the education of too many of our children to nothing more than test preparation. A well-educated society is essential to the future of the United States of America. The July 30thrally will begin at noon, featuring Diane Ravitch, Jonathan Kozol, and other speakers.
Don’t Believe Critics, Education Reform Works: Jonathan Alter America’s education-reform movement - - the most significant social movement of our time -- is just completing another productive school year, with hundreds of districts beefing up accountability and standards. Amid grim news about budget cuts, the year brought new awareness that relying on seniority alone in determining teacher layoffs is mindless. It’s like saying that if the Chicago Bulls wanted to cut costs, they should start by releasing Derrick Rose, the NBA’s MVP, because he has only been in the league for three years. Unfortunately, the forces of the status quo are still working overtime. Obstructionists with a talent for caricature are determined to discredit important progress under way in some of the poorest school districts in the country. The leader of this rear-guard action is Diane Ravitch, a professor at New York University who was an assistant secretary of education in the administration of George H.W. Healthy Skepticism Misuse of Statistics Straw Men Classroom Malpractice
Not Insulted « InterACT As my school year is coming to a close, I try to stay connected to the developments in national education reform, but it is the developments here in South Central Los Angeles that have barely allowed me to keep my head above water. Let’s just say that as a classroom teacher, I have a close and personal relationship with education reform policies, and can speak to them from experience. miracle So it was with curiosity that I noticed my twitter feed trending on the topic of Arne Duncan, Diane Ravitch, and Jonathan Alter these last few days. Diane Ravitch is in denial and she is insulting all of the hardworking teachers, principals and students all across the country who are proving her wrong every day Hardworking teachers? Is Arne Duncan speaking for me? Is Arne Duncan speaking for the millions of hardworking teachers across the nation? It would not be the first time that Mr. Not a good move, Mr. I work at a high poverty school. The teachers are not going to stop reading. Like this:
Inside Job - Over de lessen van de kredietcrisis De controversiële Oscarwinnende documentaire Inside Job (2010, Charles Ferguson) gaat over de oorzaken van de kredietcrisis. Ferguson sprak met alle direct betrokkenen. Het blijkt dat iedereen vuile handen heeft, bankiers, toezichthouders, maar ook wetenschappers die zich lieten betalen voor adviezen over de heilzame werking van ‘deregulering'. Maar als iedereen vuile handen heeft, wie is er dan verantwoordelijk? Na vertoning van de film een debat over de lessen van de kredietcrisis en over de vraag of die lessen ook daadwerkelijk geleerd zijn. Met Kees de Kort (macro-analist bij AFS Vermogensbeheer en columnist voor BNR Nieuwsradio) en Eelke de Jong (hoogleraar Internationale Economie aan de Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen), onder leiding van Piet-Hein Peeters. >meer
Harvard Signs Agreement To Officially Recognize Naval ROTC Navy Secretary Ray E. Mabus (seated, left) and Harvard University President Drew G. Faust (seated, right) sign an agreement Friday afternoon to re-establish the Naval ROTC at Harvard after nearly 40 years of absence due to Harvard's non-discrimination policy. Ending a 40-year standoff between Harvard and the military that began with the Vietnam War and culminated in the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” University President Drew G. Faust signed an agreement Friday with Navy Secretary Ray E. Mabus formally recognizing the Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps on Harvard’s campus. “Our renewed relationship affirms the vital role that the members of the armed forces play in serving the nation and securing our freedoms,” Faust said at the signing ceremony Friday. Speaking before a bank of television cameras and around two dozen Navy sailors and Marines in dress uniform, Faust said that she had “looked forward to this day with anticipation and pride.” “It is wonderful news.
Bert van der Zwaan volgt Hans Stoof op als rector Biogeoloog Bert van der Zwaan wordt volgend jaar de nieuwe Utrechtse rector-magnificus. De huidige decaan van de faculteit Geowetenschappen neemt op 1 mei 2011 het stokje over van Hans Stoof die per april van dat jaar met emeritaat gaat. De nieuwe rector is door de Raad van Toezicht zoals gebruikelijk benoemd voor een periode van vier jaar. Bert van der Zwaan (1952) studeerde geologie aan de VU en in Utrecht. Hij is paleontoloog van origine, maar ontwikkelde al snel een sterke belangstelling voor onderzoek op het grensvlak van de biologie en de geologie. In 2004 stond hij aan de basis van de oprichting van het Darwincentrum voor Biogeologie. In een interview met het Ublad zei hij in 2007: ‘Voor het onderzoek naar de biosfeer is een kruising tussen een aardwetenschapper en een bioloog perfect. Van der Zwaan initieerde en leidde tal van grootschalige wetenschappelijke programma’s en was sterk betrokken bij de voorbereiding voor het FES programma Kennis voor Klimaat. foto: Pieter van Dorp
Het Laatste Oordeel – Prof. Dr. G.J. van der Zwaan Duffe opsommingen of ultiem entertainment? Iedere maand verschanst ANS zich in de collegebanken om een genadeloos oordeel te vellen over het onderwijs aan de RU. College: Geologie en Evolutie, donderdag 11 september, 10.45 – 12.30, LIN1 Docent: Prof. dr. Uitstraling: Aanbeden kindervriend met evolutie-fetisj Publiek: De persoonlijke fanclub van de professor Inhoud: Vinken en de verbluffende vooruitgang Eindcijfer: 9 Een daverend applaus. Het laatste Oordeel der Studenten Lof alom. Tekst: Martine Peters van Ton Foto: Loes Perrée
Prof. dr. Bert van der Zwaan nieuwe rector Universiteit Utrecht Prof. dr. Bert van der Zwaan is door de Raad van Toezicht van de Universiteit Utrecht benoemd tot rector magnificus en daarmee tot lid van het College van Bestuur. Van der Zwaan, momenteel decaan Geowetenschappen, is benoemd per 1 mei 2011 voor de periode van 4 jaar. Prof. dr. G.J. van der Zwaan Bert van der Zwaan (1952) is sinds 2006 decaan van de faculteit Geowetenschappen. Meer informatie
Research: Oxford students condemn arms investments By Elizabeth Gibney University of Oxford investments in arms companies haves been criticised by a group of students, graduates and lecturers in this week’s Lancet. Freedom of Information requests made by the Oxford Anti-War Action group show that between 2008 and 2010 the university invested £4.5 million of its assets, through third-party funds, in BAE Systems, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and other UK and US arms manufacturers. In the comment, published in the journal’s 4 June issue, the group says the university is not unique in investing large amounts of its endowment capital in shares in major global arms companies. The group has not said which other UK universities it believes invest their endowments in arms firms. “It will surprise nobody to learn that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq… have reaped enormous profits for arms companies,” reads the statement. At the time Research Fortnight Today went to press, Oxford University had not responded to requests for a response on the issue.
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