"How billionaires rule our schools"

http://dissentmagazine.org/article/?article=3781 (Winter 2011)

Smilarities to another Broad district

On another post Anonymous wrote:

I cannot find the find "start a new topic" thread! I hope this will be considered. As many people know PPS and Charlotte-Mecklenburg NC, (CMS)school districts have almost everything in common, although CMS is quite larger. They have a Broad superitendent, (Peter Gorman) who was replaced by another Broad graduate even though Gorman was driving the district into the ground. They also won the "Broad Prize" and the Gates Grant. I stumbled upon a blog very similar to Pure Reform about CMS and the conversations and concerns that community is having basically mirrors our community concerns. I found the following iPad thread...it seems too coincidental.


http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4020455191286536580&postID=6214786489489764225

That is one thread of many.

Debate over layorr criteria

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/debate-over-teacher-layoff-criteria-continues-637471/

The school connection seems thin

From WPXI:

http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/police-search-gun-near-east-liberty-elementary-sch/nPC95/

An attempted robbery took place at night, the weapon was recovered in an apartment, the suspects are in custody; why even report that the police initially searched near a school?

Some of the media seem to go out of their way to mention PPS in connection with anything negative but this story is pulling in the school unnecessarily.

$500k+ to hire Success Schools as consultants

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/pittsburgh-cutting-about-75-special-ed-positions-637272/

- It would be interesting to know how many hours are expected to be worked for the 500k and to calculate what the cost per hour per consultant will be. 

More on start times

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/debate-continues-over-starting-time-for-city-public-high-schoolers-637209/

Pittsburgh anticipates $3M from nonprofits

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/pittsburgh-anticipating-3-million-from-nonprofits-636987/

- UPMC is not contributing, noting that it already contributes to the Pittsburgh Promise.  But, the school district is a separate taxing authority, and elected city officials did not have the opportunity to vote on whether the Pittsburgh Promise was the best and fairest use of money received in lieu of taxes.

Two kindergarten students wander away from MLK

From wpxi:


http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/2-kindergarteners-wander-away-north-side-school-ch/nPBhD/

You Tube/ U Prep

On another post Anonymous wrote:

I believe that this should be a new post.


Could the person who posted the youtube video



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yoyt0UnDrg4

please explain the content. The video has been removed by the person who posted it.

I've been out of town and am trying to catch up. So much has occurred in such a brief period.

"The one tool that has been shown to work"

From the New York Times:  "Making schools work":

"AMID the  ceaseless and cacophonous debates about how to close the achievement gap, we’ve turned away from one tool that has been shown to work: school desegregation."

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/20/opinion/sunday/integration-worked-why-have-we-rejected-it.html

Breaking the Silence

On another post Anonymous wrote:

Breaking the Silence, The mistreatment of teachers byron opals. This is an excellent read!


Truly a groundbreaking effort and one that deserves serious attention. (Don Saul, AASA American Superintendent of the Year, 2000 )


The book is based on extensive research, loaded with real examples, and it reflects the authors' concern to improve the conditions of all schools. Because of the book's comprehensive focus, it will be valuable to practitioners, fledgling administrators, and other educators who are striving to improve the conditions in schoools. (George E. Pawlas, Professor of Educational Leadership The School Administrator, January 2003 )

Breaking the Silence is the first empirical report of the actual experiences of abused teachers; that is, what constitutes principal mistreatment and its impact on teachers and their work. (Chicago Union Teacher, May 2003 )
Blase and Blase sound the alarm on principals’ mistreatment of teachers, and begin the important work of finding constructive solutions. Not just an exposé for the purpose of raising awareness, the book is also a guide, providing practical strategies for preventing and correcting this mistreatment. (Georgia Association of Teachers (NEA) Newsletter, 2003 )



Required reading for educators around the country.

Long overdue, and finally brings this serious problem to the public’s attention.

Phenomenal…every abused teacher’s story on every page. (American Society for Ethics in Education website )

The book fell from cyberspace…the answer to our prayers.
Blase & Blase have the integrity to reveal what has been a very deep, dark, destructive secret.

The descriptors of abuse are so accurate that few teachers could read this book without pits in their stomachs and tears rolling down their eyes. (National Association for the Prevention of Teacher Abuse website )

No 7:11 start time

PPS announced that high schools will start at 7:36, not 7:11, except for Perry which already has an earlier start time.

What is going on here?

On another post Curious George wrote:

There are many unhappy teachers in the district. In fact, I don't know of a single teacher who is satisfied with the current situation.

So can anyone please, please explain why the union reform slate lost? It can't be that most teachers are beyond caring, can it?

After all, more than 800 teachers voted for Nina's slate. And Nina was, along with John Tarka, the one who allowed this mess to happen.

Exactly what is going on here?

PFT elections

On another post Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous said...


http://www.pft400.org/


Nina Espisitp wins PFT presidency!

Rally to avoid seniority

On another post Anonymous wrote:
This is about the A+Plus rally.




UPREP students have their own A+ Plus Chapter.



Is this a African-American movement issuing a decree to our schook system. How many African-American adults will be furloughed?

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/rally-urges-keeping-teachers-based-on-ability-not-seniority-636116/

Incident/ UPrep/ teacher

From wpxi, as noted earlier on another post, reporting an incident involving a teacher and another person in the parking lot.

http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/police-investigating-teacher-involved-incident-uni/nN7Jg/

"The enduring appeal of the comprehensive high school"

"In its push to close comprehensive high schools in particular, and replace them with campuses of multiple, smaller, “themed” high schools, the Education Department is closing down the very “choice” that helps keep many students going to school through their teenage years: the option to pursue an array of courses and after-school activities in line with their interests and abilities. If some of those interests wane, then something of more interest might be right down the hall."

http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2012/02/28/the-case-for-large-high-schools/

When the principal is a bully

On another post Anonymous wrote:

Questioner, please consider a new post. I think the timing is right for this. Very few people realize what goes on in out schools.


http://fryed.wordpress.com/2012/04/14/when-the-principal-is-a-bully-5/.

Oliver student hospitalized

On another post Anonymous wrote:

Student hospitalized after fight at Oliver High School


WPXI Pittsburgh





Pittsburgh Public Schools spokeswoman Ebony Pugh said the student was taken to an area hospital Monday by paramedics. His name and condition have not been ...

http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/student-hospitalized-after-fight-oliver-high-schoo/nN6L9/

This ahould be a seperate thread.

"Why don't we have any white kids?"

From the NYT:

"Decades of academic studies point to the corroding effects of segregation on students, especially minorities, both in diminished academic performance and in the failure to equip them for the interracial world that awaits them. "


All but one or two of the students quoted in the article express a preference for greater diversity.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/education/at-explore-charter-school-a-portrait-of-segregated-education.html?_r=1

- A similar resegregation appears to be taking place in PPS.

Former PPS welding teacher files gender discrimination action

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/former-pittsburgh-public-schools-welding-teacher-sues-claiming-sex-discrimination-635874/

Summer programs offered by PPS

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/pittsburgh-public-schools-prepares-summer-offerings-635816/?p=2

Ed week perspective on furloughs

On another post Anonymous wrote:

"http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2012/05/tim_slekar_pennsylvania_school.html?cmp=SOC-SHR-FB


See what is happening to PPS in perspective of the state "

School Board elections could become nonpartisan

On another post Anonymous wrote:

School Board Elections Could Become Nonpartisan


Essential Public Radio



Under the bill, candidates for the Pittsburgh Public Schools Board would need 200 signatures. Pennsylvania law currently requires candidates to gather just ...

http://www.essentialpublicradio.org/story/2012-05-10/school-board-elections-could-become-nonpartisan-11057



Ring very true for great Pittsburghers to run-No more Primaries and party politics.

SOME EXCERPTS
A state Senate committee is considering a new bill that would eliminate primary elections for school board races, and omit those candidates’ party affiliations from general election ballots.
Senate Bill 327 also increases the number of nomination signatures required to run for school board, depending on the size of the district. Under the bill, candidates for the Pittsburgh Public Schools Board would need 200 signatures.



Pennsylvania law currently requires candidates to gather just ten signatures to launch a campaign for any school board.

If a political party is paying the expense to getting you elected, then you have an obligation — perhaps, I should say, you have an obligation back to that party when issues come up,” said Dinniman.

He said the mixture of politics and education usually ends up hurting students.

Senator Dinniman argued that the nonpartisan election process has been adopted by a majority of states with no ill effect. Dinniman said Pennsylvania’s current system has “scared away” talented people from running for school boards. He said it is intimidating to make one’s case before a local party committee when the candidate’s campaign has little to do with partisan politics.

Teacher escorted out of school

How strange.  No names please, but does anyone know if it was a new teacher or a veteran?

http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/officials-teacher-escorted-out-school-erratic-loud/nNzfZ/

On another post Anonymous wrote:

City schools seek to base layoffs on teachers' effectiveness


Pittsburgh Post Gazette
By Eleanor Chute / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


No one disputes that this fall will be a year of unsought change as Pittsburgh Public Schools battles a projected ...

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/city-schools-seek-to-base-layoffs-on-teachers-effectiveness-634712/?p=0

After the May 15th PFT election, will PFT Union elected postions change Senority posturing in June?

Resignations

On another post Anonymous wrote:

I feel this should qualify for a separate listing




04-25-2012 BOARD MINUTES SECTION H RESIGNATIONS STARTING ON PAGE 218



There are 30 teachers listed. Are the majority of teachers listed in this Section taking the Board-PFT Union buyout from December?



They are listed as resigning for personal reasons effective 6-18-12. Please explain to taxpayer and concerned parent.

Teacher Appreciation Week

On another post Anonymous wrote:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/05/opinion/blow-teaching-me-about-teaching.html?_r=2&hp

Foundations, mayor weigh in on seniority

From the Tribune:

http://triblive.com/home/1344216-74/teachers-seniority-pittsburgh-teacher-district-group-president-schools-foundation-henry

PFT VP's position on seniority

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/perspectives/overturning-teacher-seniority-would-hurt-students-633979/