Dr. Markovitch's Video

This is well worth the 13 minutes of viewing time to get a good overview of the issues surrounding HB 6004, as well as the other "reform" bills pending in the Michigan House and Senate.  The statistics at the end of the video are startling and enlightening.


http://www.schooltube.com/video/83edb442197a46939bc9/NEEDED:%20A%20Million%20Michigan%20Voices%20for%20Public%20Education

Excellent letter from the Michigan PTA

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2012/11/30/michigan-coalition-opposes-race-to-top-finalist-in-letter-to-obama-duncan/

This is from the superintendent of the Bloomfield Hills School District

It's really not just the hysterical folks on the EGR Legislative Committee. 

http://www.bloomfield.org/news/item/index.aspx?pageaction=ViewSinglePublic&LinkID=215&ModuleID=167&NEWSPID=1

Our tax dollars hard at work

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/11/28/online-schools-ads-public-/1732193/

Please consider signing this petition

  . . . in addition to sending your own letter or making a call to Reps. Lyons and MacGregor and to Gov. Snyder

http://capwiz.com/miparentsforschools/issues/alert/?alertid=62182501

If it's such a good idea, why are they sneaking it in during thanksgiving?

http://www.freep.com/article/20121120/OPINION01/121120056/Editorial-Rush-to-school-reform-in-Legislature-likely-to-get-it-wrong?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Sample letter to Gov. Snyder

Governor Rick Snyder
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, Michigan 48909
Phone: (517) 373-3400
Email: Click Here

Dear Governor Snyder:

We need to reinvest in our schools throughout the state and provide each and every student with a world-class education.  I believe your Oxford Foundation recommended proposal does exactly the opposite.  The proposed overhaul of Michigan’s school aid funding is a deeply flawed plan that would end community-run public education in Michigan by enacting nearly the same voucher system that Michigan voters overwhelmingly rejected in 2000.  It would create fiscal uncertainty for every single school in the state.  Call it what you like; “funding follows the child” is a voucher.  It does not matter that you limit the funding to public schools, because you have redefined “public schools” to include all manner of privately run, even for-profit, enterprises. 

 

Your plan will be disastrous to public education.   As a parent of two public school children, I am outraged and dismayed by this sledgehammer approach to public education and urge you to reject all of the Oxford Foundation’s recommendations.  We can address the issues of failing schools without failing our schools, our communities, or our children.  But this is most certainly not the way.

Very sincerely yours,

Summary of Oxford foundation recommendations

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121120/SCHOOLS/211200317/Michigan-schools-overhaul-faces-fight

Let's make sure Michigan joins the other states that rejected phony "reforms"

http://www.salon.com/2012/11/13/phony_school_reform_agenda_takes_a_beating/

seriously, please write to your representative, senator, and the governor

http://www.freep.com/article/20121118/NEWS15/311180296/Education-funding-proposal-allows-school-choice-more-online-learning

No surprise

http://chestertontribune.com/Indiana%20News/teachers_colleges_see_drop_in_ap.htm

It's pretty bad. We really have to act quickly.

http://dianeravitch.net/2012/11/18/michigan-is-on-its-way-to-ending-public-education/

In case you missed it . . .

http://www.mlive.com/opinion/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/11/letter_writer_mega_school_choi.html

What's Finland's secret?

Fantastic article about why this focus on competition and constant testing is so wrong-headed.

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/12/what-americans-keep-ignoring-about-finlands-school-success/250564/#.Ty7SHQfxMk4.facebook

This editorial sums up the problem with MEAPs

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121019/OPINION01/210190328

Standardized testing costs an enormous amount

In addition to giving us questionable results, at best, and being used in completely inappropriate ways to evaluate effective teaching, standardized tests, like the MEAPs, cost states enormous sums.  There has to be a better way to ensure quality education.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/30/school-finance-expert-8-b_n_2045896.html?utm_hp_ref=education