Monthly Archives: May 2013

Huffman vs. Straw Man

Posted on May 29, 2013 by garyrubinstein

Kevin Huffman is one of two TFA alumni who is currently a state education commissioner.  I was a 1991 Houston corps member and Kevin was one in 1992 so I have known him, at least informally, for over twenty years.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Teach For America | 28 Comments

My Discussion with Matt Barnum Part 4

Posted on May 27, 2013 by garyrubinstein

Gary,   If you’re not finding any thoughtful reform writing, then you’re not looking hard enough. Read Michael Petrilli and the Fordham Institute’s stuff, particularly Education Next; read some of the Dropout Nation, which includes important discussion of school discipline; … Continue reading →

Posted in Discussion With Matt Barnum | 13 Comments

Good Kopp, Bad Kopp

Posted on May 24, 2013 by garyrubinstein

Two months ago I wrote about Wendy Kopp stepping down and two new co-CEOs of TFA taking her place.  As the weeks have passed, I’ve been able to get more of sense of who these CEOs are and what their … Continue reading →

Posted in Teach For America, tfa rants | 18 Comments

At KIPP, at least for 07102, zip code is destiny

Posted on May 20, 2013 by garyrubinstein

One of the most annoying phrases uttered in ed reform is some version of ‘poverty is not destiny.’  Occasionally they mix it up a little with something like ‘zip code is not destiny.’  The implication is that there are some … Continue reading →

Posted in Research | 41 Comments

My Discussion with Matt Barnum Part 3

Posted on May 18, 2013 by garyrubinstein

Dear Gary, I’ve often heard teachers complain about the latest reform “fad.” It’s understandable insofar as veteran teachers have been around for many rounds of “reform,” only to see each and every one swept abashedly into a locked closet in … Continue reading →

Posted in Discussion With Matt Barnum | 24 Comments

StudentsFirst (again) Distorts Numbers

Posted on May 18, 2013 by garyrubinstein

StudentsFirst has raised tens of millions of dollars on the lie that they, alone, care about students who need to be defended from all the teachers who only care about themselves. The biggest distortion of their numbers is their claim … Continue reading →

Posted in Teach For America | 5 Comments

New TFAers read a Top 10 list on Letterman

Posted on May 14, 2013 by garyrubinstein

On Letterman the other day, the top 10 category was:  Top 10 reasons I’ve decided to become a teacher.  Reading the reasons were ten brand new 2013 corps members. So of course it is pretty ironic that out of all … Continue reading →

Posted in Teach For America | 5 Comments

Canada’s Legend-ary TED Talk Lie

Posted on May 12, 2013 by garyrubinstein

Geoffrey Canada recently did a TED talk entitled ‘Our failing schools.  Enough is enough.’  Canada is the president and CEO of The Harlem Children’s Zone and star of ‘Waiting For Superman.’ The premise of Harlem Children’s Zone is a good … Continue reading →

Posted in Research | 18 Comments

Bizarre Common Core Ad Campaign on NYC Subway

Posted on May 3, 2013 by garyrubinstein

Riding the Subway today I saw this poster about the Common Core tests.  I won’t analyze it at length here.  Just take a look at how far away the basket is from the kid.  If he can’t make that shot, … Continue reading →

Posted in Teach For America | 21 Comments