Thursday, February 28, 2013

Video: How Teachers Unions Hurt Schools, Kids and Education

Video: How Teachers Unions Hurt Schools, Kids and Education

We talk endlessly about improving public schools. So what's standing in the way? Stanford Political Science Professor, Terry Moe, identifies the biggest obstacle -- teachers unions.

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Schools are prisons: The Purpose Of Schooling

Schools are prisons: The Purpose Of Schooling

John Taylor Gatto (born December 15, 1935) is a retired American school teacher with nearly 30 years experience in the classroom, and author of several books on education. He is an activist critical of compulsory schooling, of the perceived divide between the teen years and adulthood, and of what he characterizes as the hegemonic nature of discourse on education and the education professions.

Oversight of Child Protective Services Outside New York City Report 2011-F-19

Oversight of Child Protective Services Outside New York City | Report 2011-F-19

Note: Once again both New York State Office of Family and Children Services Commissioner Gladys Carrion and the Office of the New York State Comptroller attempt to 'normalize' New York State Office of Family and Children Services circumvention of the laws of New York SOS Article 6, Title 6, Section 424.

Read related articles on history of NYS OCFS circumventing SOS Article 6, Title 6, Section 424, here and here.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

NYSED and the Fear Machine, revisited « The Plain Satisfactions

NYSED and the Fear Machine, revisited « The Plain Satisfactions

You might recall my post–my reaction–to the memo that NYSED sent to all schools across New York State back in January.  If not, you can read that here, and also read the memo itself.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Letter: Governor is clueless on education reform - Opinion - The Buffalo News

Letter: Governor is clueless on education reform - Opinion - The Buffalo News

I was appalled by the inaccuracies and misinformed notions contained within Chris Gabrieli’s Another Voice column reflecting upon the “new” direction of public education and the impact of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s regime. Crediting Cuomo for education reform is severely misappropriated.

Related reading: Cuomo’s strong-arm tactics won’t improve public schools

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Rule would clarify N.Y. judges' role in pro se cases

Rule would clarify N.Y. judges' role in pro se cases

NEW YORK, Jan 25 (Reuters) - The New York State Office of Court Administration has proposed a rule that would authorize judges to make reasonable efforts to facilitate the ability of unrepresented litigants to have their matters fairly heard.

Note: OCA is accepting public comments on the proposal through March 25. 

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Not giving us the facts we should have in Abdi case - City & Region - The Buffalo News

Not giving us the facts we should have in Abdi case - City & Region - The Buffalo News

What part of “public” do public servants not understand? Come to think of it, you could ask the same question about “servant,” which causes equal amounts of confusion in government offices.

Note related reading here and here.