Author Archives: educationalchemy

  It’s pretty widely known by now that American Federation of Teachers (AFT) received funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, leading many to question the motives of AFT leadership in their silent acquiescence to the gods of Common Core. But apparently there may be more reasons as well. My friend and trusted colleagueContinue reading “Is This Why AFT Leadership Sold Their Members Up the Common Core River?”

Can’t ALEC Make Up Its Mind? Or….Has It? Just three years ago I had never heard of The American Legislative Exchange Council, the uber right wing neoconservative think tank that forges pro corporate policies in secret with their legislative buddies. But for those of us studied in the ways and means of education reform, weContinue reading “Understanding ALEC: How ALEC’S Duplicity Undermines the American Public Education Project”

A recent article from Politico states that funding for certain groups opposed to Common Core standards is coming from heavy hitting right wing neoliberal bastions: “A spokeswoman for the Charles Koch Foundation said it hasn’t made any grants specifically aimed at the Common Core, but tax documents show the Koch brothers have supported many ofContinue reading “That’s Not My Resistance”

Education reformers love to use a lot of words like “accountability,” “rigorous,” and ….”stakeholders.” What is a stakeholder? In the corporate world a stakeholder makes decisions about the products, and how and what to sell to the consumers. A stakeholder could be an accountant, group, organization, member or system who affects or can be affectedContinue reading “Education Nation: Stakeholders or Stockholders?”

STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU Yes I’m stuck in the middle with you, And I’m wondering what it is I should do, It’s so hard to keep this smile from my face, Losing control, yeah, I’m all over the place, Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, Here I am, stuckContinue reading “Stuck in the Middle With You”

So you’re on an elevator. Let’s hope it’s slow and you’ve got every button pushed. Because the person next to you is asking why you oppose education reform and you’ve got about 2 minutes to answer. Here’s what you can say in 2 minutes or less (if you talk fast): –Education reform is crafted onContinue reading “A Two-Minute Opt Out Elevator Speech”

Seriously? Everybody. Stop the presses! It’s here! The solution to all of the social, economic, and pedagogical ills that have been plaguing our “failing” schools for decades! What is it you ask? Why Common Core apps, silly! Yes, now we can re mediate for the needs of ALL learners, especially those in schools with crumblingContinue reading “Want to Destroy Public Schools? Education Nation’s Got an App for That!”

WHAT the HELL is HOPE STREET? Founded in 2003 by “young entrepreneurs” from a wide range of industries, Hope Street Group is a national, nonpartisan 501(c3) group.  One of their multi-pronged agenda of course is education and refers to itself as national policy reform group. They support Race to the Top. They have also beenContinue reading “The Road to Hell is Paved by Hope Street”

Today in my email I received a message from Edliberation list serve. The message sent on behalf of Randolph Potts said: At the same time of day this email is being sent, 50 years ago…on Sunday, September, 15, 1963, Robert Chambliss placed a bomb under the steps of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham,Continue reading “How Far Have We Come? How Far We Have to Go?”

Driving to work today I was listening to BBC radio when they covered a story about the success of Finland’s Schools. The phenomena of Finnish schools is not new to anyone who follows education policies. And yet the simple truths about why they are successful continue to evade U.S. education policy makers (aka Billionaires andContinue reading “It’s Not Rocket Science-It’s Greed”