The Brooklyn accent. The making of an education catastrophe-one activist’s journey of discovery: Mark Naison at TEDxCCSU  NOT the Common Core state standards or corporate influences.  A primer on the damaging movement to privatize public schools https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/01/07/a-primer-on-the-damaging-movement-to-privatize-public-schools/ $300 MILLION taken from special education! Illinois state board votes to move special ed funding to charter schools. Illinois… Read more »

Christie is dumb. Christie: Teachers union ‘single most destructive force’ in education http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-primaries/265324-christie-teachers-union-single-most-destructive-force-in The “central result”. Students Can Grade Themselves When We Make It About Learning http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/work_in_progress/2016/01/students_can_grade_themselves_.html Fun and engagement? Yes.  Rigor? No!  The Pied Piper?  Maybe. This Principal’s ‘Electric’ Education Strategy Is ‘Making A Difference’ http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/this-principals–electric–education-strategy-is-making-a-difference-598805059508 https://www.facebook.com/nbcnightlynews/videos/10153923415943689/?fref=nf Get BustED Pencils Trending News to come… Read more »

Happy 13th Birthday Lacey! Our Very Own BustED Pencils Student Correspondent Turns 13! Lacey Slekar – our Newest Student Hero Lacey Slekar – our Newest Student Hero Lacey Slekar addresses School Board   Get BustED Pencils Trending News to come right to your in-box! Enter your email under “SUBSCRIBE” on our Home or Trending News page at bustedpencils.com

Writing as a parent. ‘Beyond Measure: Rescuing an Overscheduled, Overtested, Underestimated Generation’ http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/20/books/review/beyond-measure-rescuing-an-overscheduled-overtested-underestimated-generation.html?_r=0  Fired for having a heart!  What??!!  We say “Higher the Hero” – Dalene Bowden is Busting Pencils!!! This Idaho Middle School Lunch Lady Was Fired for Giving a Free Lunch to a Hungry Student http://news.yahoo.com/idaho-middle-school-lunch-lady-233401253.html Update: Cafeteria worker fired over free lunch… Read more »

In response to a shopping mall shooting, one Wisconsin elected official (probably hasn’t passed the civics test yet) proposed that officials pass a Conceal and Carry bill that “would allow students, faculty and visitors with conceal carry permits to have guns at UW-System schools.” “Wisconsin does not have a death penalty law, but with significant… Read more »

Fired-Religous Struggle-In Social Studies U.S. History Class. Muslim Teacher Fired After Showing Malala Video http://www.bluejersey.com/2015/12/3-5/ “…disregarding science in favor of a particular religious belief is unconstitutional,” writes Stephen D. Foster Jr. 11-Year-Old Student Sues His Florida Public School For Failing To Teach Evolution https://www.freespeech.org/text/11-year-old-student-sues-his-florida-public-school-failing-teach-evolution Reading for enjoyment??? What an idea! Teacher: Why I stopped assigning homework… Read more »

No meaningful link!  First part of this article rocks.  The second part doesn’t really relate to the standardized tests.  It more relates to the “teacher made” tests.  Take a look and decide for yourself. Four Tips to Make it Easier on Everyone http://southhills.macaronikid.com/article/1124535/too-much-testing Clap clap clap! BustED some Pencils!! How important is arts education? https://www.facebook.com/natgeotvUS/videos/10153617771436005/?fref=nf… Read more »

“the exposure to trauma has a profound impact…” , writes AISHA SULTAN The Limitations of Teaching ‘Grit’ in the Classroom http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/12/when-grit-isnt-enough/418269/ High-achievers segregated. The New ‘Education Segregation’ Hurting the U.S. http://www.forbes.com/sites/haroldsirkin/2015/12/03/the-new-education-segregation-hurting-the-u-s/   Gold for corporations! TS Gold – A Child’s Report Card http://www.pegwithpen.com/2015/12/ts-gold-childs-report-card.html Get BustED Pencils Trending News to come right to your in-box! Enter your… Read more »

Boring to students and teachers.  Type of bullying.  Follow the rules, do what you are told, ignore the interactive part.  Keep BUSTING PENCILS Barry!! The Sad Art of Closed Reading http://www.barrylane.com/2015/12/closed-reading/ RTI raises MANY concerns! “Response to Intervention”—An Excuse to Deny Services to Students with Learning Disabilities? http://www.livingindialogue.com/response-intervention-excuse-deny-services-students-learning-disabilities/ Smoke in Mirrors!!! Success Metrics Questioned in… Read more »

…”a much needed student centered redesign of public education”, writes Jamaal Bowman Principal to N.Y. Gov. Cuomo: Stop spreading a false narrative about public education https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2015/11/27/principal-to-n-y-gov-cuomo-stop-spreading-a-false-narrative-about-public-education/    Can the Kahn Academy “personalize” karate? Education is broken — but this entrepreneur has a stunningly simple idea to fix it http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-fix-education-khan-academy-ted-video-2015-11 The things we know that help children develop are… Read more »