More things you can do for today’s Day of Action (or even afterwards).
Sign the Open Letter to the Board of Regents
Send a note to the Governor, reminding him of his responsibility to the students of New York State (Here’s a sample letter you can use if you like)
Sign Al Graf’s petition to Fix New York Schools
Contact other legislators or the Board of Regents
Email these links to friends and family or re-post them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or whatever
From Al Graf’s Facebook page:
“Here is a copy of the email that I just sent to Newsday, may I suggest that anyone that is disappointed as I am about their coverage of what has been going on throughout the state also send an email concerning their displeasure as well. Please be respectful and express your feelings about their coverage joie.tyrrell@newsday.com
The following is my email to Newsday,”
Hi can you please explain to me why Newsday refuses to acknowledge that there is an assembly bill A7994 in New York that has 30 sponsors to withdraw from common core and race to the top, that people throughout this state have used this bill to rally behind. Could you further explain the fact you refuse to report that there is a website that over 19,500 people have used to send letters to the Governor to fix education in New York and put the breaks on implementation of common core in New York State. Please visit fixnyschools.com, Or why Newsday refuses to recognize that 10 out of 12 forums have taken place by members of the Assembly Education Committee, and minority members of the Assembly because of the Assembly’s Education Committees Chairwoman’s refusal to respond to calls to hold hearings on common core throughout the state. This is not and should not be a republican or democrat issue. Your coverage of this issue has been a disgrace. You have failed to do any investigative reporting, rather choosing to print sound bites originating from the state education department. You are doing a tremendous disservice to your subscribers. I hope that in light of this letter and other correspondence from others who may choose to write or call you and your paper this oversight will be rectified.
Alfred C. Graf
Assemblyman 5th Assembly District
Member of the New York State Education Committee
Sponsor of A7994
“In Indiana, where [Common Core] was adopted in 2010, lawmakers voted to pause it last spring and the future of the curriculum remains uncertain. That delay was considered a victory for Hoosiers Against Common Core, a coalition that mobilized about 50 grassroots groups throughout the state against it, said Heather Crossin, co-founder of the group and a parent from Indianapolis.
“We want it to be out by May first,” Crossin said. The group seeks local control over education and wants to reduce the power of standardized testing.”
Read the full article here.
On the same day that Illinois’s governor signed a bill that continues the war on public employees by cutting retirement benefits not only to future retirees but also to those who have already retired, The Guardian reports that “Conservative groups across the US are planning a co-ordinated assault against public sector rights and services in the key areas of education, healthcare, income tax, workers’ compensation and the environment.“
This video busts some myths about American education in general, and specifically addresses the misleading statements being made about the PISA results. (AFT)
Four of the NYS Regents have their terms expiring this year, and NYSAPE is calling for action. (PJSTA)
Local journalist Michael White reminds us of the importance of parental involvement in the fight to fix the Common Core mess. (Riverhead News Review)
Here’s another article about Long Island Parents & Teachers Revolting Against the Common Core (LI Press), which brings to mind a classic movie quote:
In other news…
Dr. Cohen forwarded an article about the latest PISA scores and how they’ll be misleadingly used, once again, to make U.S. public schools look bad. For a more humorous perspective on this, check out Jersey Jazzman’s blog post.
Speaking of Dr. Cohen, his opinion piece about “Educational Apartheid” is quoted in this article about the Massive LI Revolt Against the Common Core (Independent Sentinel)
In case you missed it, Frank Bruni, whose experience as a food critic makes him only slightly less qualified to write about education than John King’s three years of charter school experience qualifies him to be Commissioner, penned this absolutely moronic piece about the Common Core.
It probably wouldn’t even be worth mentioning, except that it sets up this beautifully written response from blogger Jersey Jazzman. Besides his excellent takedown of CC architect David Coleman, it’s worth reading just for phrases like “jumps into the pool of education policy unencumbered by the water wings of knowledge.”
Please sign these petitions and send the links to everyone you know who cares about education.
Assemblyman Al Graf’s petition to fix NY Schools.
Petition to remove Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education.
Governor Cuomo continues to back away from the common core (Newsday)
New York is now the ONLY state still completely on board with inBloom (Wall Street Journal)
The terms of four of the members of the Board of Regents are expiring early next year, and their fate will be mainly decided by the State Assembly (WBFO)
Reformers are “Full of It” (Salon)
A review of Diane Ravitch’s Reign of Error that also serves as a perfect takedown of the reform movement. (Commonweal)
More states are delaying Common Core testing (Washington Post)
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