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Adding Value to the Worthless?–Debra Meier

Then I read Deborah Meier’s December 26, 2012 piece[4] quoting material she had written 31-years ago:   “The task of returning testing to its proper place will be difficult….Our belief in democracy–that normal every day people can make sense of their world and learn to make decisions about it– is at stake…There…is arising a renewed interest … Continue reading →

Civil Rights Orgs File Complaint Over New York’s High Stakes Tests

Civil Rights Orgs File Complaint Over New York’s High Stakes Tests

Please share our OPT OUT OF HIGH STAKES TESTING Flyer

Please share with your personal contacts, schools, CECs, community education groups, other coalition groups and elected officials. Testing opt out flier 3-12

HIGH STAKES 101: What does high stakes testing mean – March 19, 6:30PM

HIGH STAKES 101: What does high stakes testing mean – March 19, 6:30PM

HIGH STAKES 101
What does high stakes testing mean
for our children?
our teachers?
our schools?

MONDAY, MARCH 19 at 6:30pm
*Education reporter Meredith Kolodner (Daily News, InsideSchools)
will moderate a panel discussion with distinguished guests:
Shael Polakow-Suransky
Chief Accountability Officer of the NYC Dept. of Education

Sean Feeney
Principal of the Wheatley School and Author of the New York Principals APPR Position Paper

Elijah Hawkes
Former Principal of The James Baldwin Expeditionary Learning School
Q&A TO FOLLOW
If interested in CHILDCARE and PIZZA (starting at 6 PM, $5 suggested donation), RSVP to rsvp@bns146.org
THE BROOKLYN NEW SCHOOL AUDITORIUM
610 HENRY STREET @3rd PLACE
F or G to Carroll St. station, exit 2nd Place
Continue reading →

REGISTER ONLINE for State of the Union – Part II: Next Steps – 3/10/12 – 10AM to 4PM

STATE OF THE UNION

Part 2: NEXT STEPS

MARCH 10: 10am-4pm
Graduate Center for Workers Education (25 Broadway)

On February 4, over 200 people attended State of the Union – Part 1, featuring 15 workshops focusing on issues facing the UFT in the age of ed deform.

That was only the beginning.

Join us on March 10 to help plan the next steps in moving our union forward, and unite those who came together on February 4th into a common organization.
As the UFT and NYSUT agree to an evaluation system that requires 40% of evaluations to be based on state or local high stakes tests, mandates unannounced observations, and allows for an independent appeal on only 13% of first time ineffective ratings, it becomes even more urgent to discuss how we can build a movement in our union to fight for an alternative to the concessionary approach. Continue reading →

The Truth About High Stakes Testing

Please download GEM NYC’s The Truth About High Stakes Testing in NYC pamphlet. Find out why high stakes testing is ultimately a destructive force for children and schools and what alternatives exist! Continue reading →

Upcoming Event: National Day of Action to Defend Public Education

COME OUT ON THURSDAY MARCH 1ST TO DEFEND PUBLIC EDUCATION. For more information please visit http://www.occupyed.org/nyc.

SOS March

The SOS March in DC was an inspiring event.              See pictures here:  http://sosmarchgem.shutterfly.com/4 Checkout video at the bottom of this post.  Two videos you are unlikely to see anywhere else that are must sees are here:  Seattle Teacher discussing recent trip to Palestine:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cnnfwr51JA Karen Harper-Royal, New Orleans Parent, PAA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZlRTxHsY0o Top Ten Event Highlights: … Continue reading →

SOS Solidarity!

A group of GEMers are off in the morning to participate in the Save Our Schools March.  If you plan to be there Saturday and want to march with us, meet at Freedom Plaza, at the fountain, at 10:30.  Stay tuned for updates, pictures and video from what is sure to be an exciting and … Continue reading →

Two Upcoming Events!

1.  Monday, July 18th, 5pm CUNY Graduate Center Room 5414 5th Ave and 34th St. 1/2/3/B/D/F/M/N/Q/R to 34th St. ***Read below, a powerful letter from parent, Janine Sopp, who is a member of the testing Committee 2.  If you haven’t seen it already, here is another opportunity to see The Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting for … Continue reading →