There are solutions to fascism, and patriarchy for that matter.
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Final Grade: first class back UCLA after 19 years—5 unit Capstone Seminar: Classics: Ancient Novel
First class back @UCLA after 19 years—5 unit Capstone Seminar: Classics: Ancient Novel #UCLA http://t.co/h1LlpKYVuU pic.twitter.com/2bdvdmBgzO
— Robert D. Skeels (@rdsathene) December 17, 2013While my initial goal was just to pass, earning that “A” really boosted my morale. Class was hard though, hundreds of pages of reading a week for 10+ weeks. Two classes next quarter and I’m done!
MIT Researchers: Higher Test Scores Do Not Translate into Higher Levels of Thinking
MIT Researchers: Higher Test Scores Do Not Translate into Higher Levels of Thinking http://t.co/edCbAClW1g
— Diane Ravitch (@DianeRavitch) December 17, 2013MIT Researchers: Higher Test Scores Do Not Translate into Higher Levels of Thinking via Professor Diane Ravitch
Monday, December 16, 2013
CA-NAME Conference Reclaiming Multicultural Education: Fighting Back, Imagining and Building Socially Just Worlds
MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE
JANUARY 11, 2014
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FULLERTON
OVER 25 WORKSHOPS! POWERFUL KEYNOTE SPEAKERS!
REGISTER ONLINE! REGISTRATION WILL BE CAPPED AT 250 PARTICIPANTS!
On behalf of the California Chapter of the National Association for Multicultural Education (CA-NAME), we invite you to our 3rd annual conference, entitled "Reclaiming Multicultural Education," that will take place Saturday, January 11, 2014 at California State University, Fullerton.
The conference is an all-day event that offers teachers, counselors, and others working directly with diverse student populations an opportunity to learn about multicultural teaching, curricular, and community strategies. We have a line up of respected scholars in the field of multicultural education, including Dr. Antonia Darder, Dr. Kevin Kumashiro, and Dr. Thandeka Chapman.
Workshops topics include:
• Culture, Community, and the Arts• Multicultural Literacies• Critical Media Literacy• Literacy and Social Studies• Second Language Learners & Policy Changes• Student Identities and Institutions• Teacher Identities and Practices• Ethnic Studies: Surviving Neoliberal Assaults
Panel topics include:
• Decolonial Perspectives on Higher Education• Bilingual Teachers: Raising Critical Consciousness• Student Organizing in the CSUs• School-Based Family Counseling
Conference registration: University Affiliates: $50.00; Teachers and Community Activists: $25.00; Students: $15.00. Registration fees include access to conference, conference program, lunch, and gift. Attendees can register online at: www.CaliforniaNAME.org. If you have any questions, please contact ca.name.conference@gmail.com.
SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS: California Teachers Association (CTA), Student California Teachers Association (SCTA), Los Amigos of Orange County, Researchers and Critical Educators (RACE), Cultural And Public History Association (CPHA). Cal State Fullerton Departments: Chicana & Chicano Studies, African American Studies, Asian American Studies.
Friday, December 13, 2013
UCLA F13 Survived
Noon: turned in overwrought 3750+ word Classics 191 paper. @UCLA F13 done. Won't miss carrying these everywhere #UCLA pic.twitter.com/HSQfjHCnId
— Robert D. Skeels (@rdsathene) December 13, 2013Saturday, December 07, 2013
Parents in Action for Student Services (PASS) organize to return LAUSD Breakfast in the Cafeteria!
Parents in Action for Student Services (PASS) organize to return Breakfast in the Cafeteria! by Robert D. Skeels
A parent organization, Parents in Action for Student Services (PASS), is organizing to have Breakfast in the Cafeteria, before school. They are educating parents about school privatization and connecting it to BIC. This week they showed the connection between privatizers and BIC. Next week they plan to show the video from UTLA to drive the point home to fellow parents.
The messaging for this is very simple and effective:
"Should children eat breakfast in the classroom during instruction, or before school in the cafeteria?" Even L.A residents with no connection to public schools sign these petitions. This is not a ballot initiative petition, therefore signers do not need to be U.S citizens.
There are 1,000 schools in LAUSD. If each school in can collect 100 signatures, that would be 100,000 signatures! In our school alone, we have collected 300. We have received another 200 signatures from a school in the Valley. Between staff and parents at each school site this is very doable.
Please have people in your school communities circulate widely and sign. Turn in all petitions to the PASS address at the bottom of the petition by January 31, 2014.
An investigative documentary into the Common Core State Standards Initiative
BUILDING THE MACHINE (2014) - Official Trailer [HQ]
I want to use the same disclaimer here that I did the last time I posted Common Core State Standards (CSSS) related materials from sources that I disavow any connection with. The video is produced by, and also features, individuals that are from fringe-right-wing groups. The last time I published a disclaimer like this, I was subjected to a firestorm of criticism from the right. That's fine, we will never be allies in any sense other than shared opposition to the vile corporate CCSS curriculum being foisted on students. That said, there's a distinction to be made between factual information about CSSS, and ideological opposition. That's why I am posting this film trailer, because the factual case against CCSS can be made from either end of the political spectrum.
Friday, December 06, 2013
School Matter: Thieving charter charlatan-scoundrel Juan Rangel steps down from UNO! He was a darling of the AEI
First published on Schools Matter on December 06, 2013
Thieving charter charlatan-scoundrel @JuanRangel steps down from #UNO! He was a darling of @AEIeducation http://t.co/svdm81drB5
— Robert D. Skeels (@rdsathene) December 6, 2013Via Professor Diane Ravitch: Powerful Chicago Charter Leader Resigns in Wake of Financial Scandal
My commentary: Thieving charter charlatan-scoundrel Juan Rangel was a darling of the fringe-right American Enterprise Institute (AEI). In addition to their loving his stuffing of public money into his private pockets, AEI gushed about Rangel and UNO's systematic program of right-wing indoctrination.
Alex Russo, intrepid blogger defending the 1%'s education privatization project
Alex Russo, intrepid blogger defending the 1%'s education privatization project http://t.co/09j2GXLCu1 pic.twitter.com/hGsm62NM9e
— RDSkeels4Schoolboard (@RDSkeels4LAUSD) December 6, 2013Alex Russo, intrepid blogger defending the 1%'s education privatization project
Alexander Russo has finally exposed @TeacherSabrina as a teacher! World is shocked and stunned by his incisive reporting.
— Arthur Goldstein (@TeacherArthurG) December 6, 2013Ms. Klein your schadenfreude over LaMotte's death was more than a little offensive
From: "Robert D. Skeels" <*********@ucla.edu>
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2013 23:43:47 -0800
Subject: Ms. Klein your schadenfreude over LaMotte's death was more than a little offensive
To: Karin Klein <karin.klein@latimes.com>
Message-Id: <93C75696-38C7-49D2-8770-C53706CFAA8F@ucla.edu>
Ms. Klein:
Your fringe-right leanings coupled with your limited knowledge of pedagogy have always tainted your awful editorials and op-eds. However, you really outdid yourself with today's painfully gleeful obituary of the Honorable Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte. In the future when someone asks me how to define schadenfreude, I'll point them to the mean spirited and duplicitous screed you penned today.
You are truly shameless.
Advocating Public Education and Social Justice
Robert D. Skeels
"Problem posing education does not and cannot serve the interests of the oppressor" — Paulo Freire
Update: Here's the conversations we're having about this on fb:
- Vik Chaubey: No surprise. Lamotte stood for principle and integrity people like that are usually attacked. When you challenge charter schools you get attacked.
- Robert D. Skeels: Los Angeles Times' Karin Klein uses the word "feisty" to describe LaMotte over and over. She may as well have used "uppity" to express her (and her handlers) disdain of a woman of color who stood up to Eli Broad's cabal. Every time I think the LA Times can't be more disgusting I'm sadly proven wrong.
Thursday, December 05, 2013
John Deasy prioritizes corporate handouts over student lives—let's provide LAUSD kids with nurses!
Deasy prioritizes corporate handouts over student lives—let's provide #LAUSD kids with nurses! http://t.co/BF7SEAHnLs pic.twitter.com/EbfKp7cb6X
— Robert D. Skeels (@rdsathene) December 6, 2013The tragic death of sixth-grade Philadelphia student Laporshia Massey illustrates the dire need to ensure that every child has access to quality health and wellness services at school. I urge you to support requiring that every school have a full-time health professional on staff — and to commit to fully funding this critical resource.
In LAUSD, John Deasy prioritizes corporate handouts over student lives—let's provide all LAUSD kids with nurses! As a community, we've grown weary of school resources being diverted to tests and test-prep, when tragedies like the one described above are entirely preventable.
Rest in Peace: LAUSD's Honorable Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte
Honoring Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte. #LAUSD champion for students & bulwark against corporate #edreform. #RIP pic.twitter.com/rI0c6Ju5P3
— Robert D. Skeels (@rdsathene) December 5, 2013Update: check out these amazing comments by people on facebook in response to the above tweet.
Charlatan John Deasy calls transferring LAUSD's wealth to corporations a "civil rights issue"
Charlatan @drDeasyLAUSD calls transferring #LAUSD wealth to corporations "Civil Rights Issue" http://t.co/k0YkfzlM4S pic.twitter.com/MjmXgymf3G
— Robert D. Skeels (@rdsathene) December 5, 2013Parent Engagement Committee as opportunity to address LAUSD CAC concerns
From an avid reader [edited for anonymity]
Here's the link to the next Early Childhood Education and Parent Engagement Committee meeting scheduled for next Thursday, December 12, 1013. It has an unfortunate late start of 4PM due to Curriculum and Instruction Committee scheduled at 10am, and the Budget, Facilities and Audit Committee scheduled at 1PM the same day. Hopefully the Budget meeting won't go overtime and we can start at 4. As they will be speaking about Local Control Funding Formula, it is possible that public comment will not occur until around 6PM.
School board staffers recently spoke regarding difficulties with our Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting structure today and ongoing since PCSB has been helping us. It's been requested that this issue could be placed on the agenda as a whole, but it's full for next week. Officials facilitating the Ad Hoc committee suggest that it would carry weight if members of the CAC and other interested members of the public could come to the meeting and speak to the committee regarding this. The public could ask to have the committee consider this for a future agenda item. If anyone is able to attend, it would be beneficial to the CAC.
Link to committee info and agenda.
Wednesday, December 04, 2013
What Does the PISA Report Tell Us About U.S. Education? (corporate edreform is a bust)
When the OECD releases the PISA report every three years, many people use the ranking to claim public education in the U.S. is failing and push their corporate education reform agenda. But looking at the data, lessons that can be learned from the highest performing countries point in a completely different direction. For more information: http://go.aft.org/pisa #ReclaimIt
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Cheryl Ortega for UTLA Director of Bilingual Education
Cheryl Ortega for #UTLA Director of Bilingual Education #LAUSD http://t.co/bQ32mfIniz pic.twitter.com/Usfrdc92jF
— Robert D. Skeels (@rdsathene) December 1, 2013Cheryl Ortega for UTLA Director of Bilingual Education by Robert D. Skeels
Cheryl Ortega for UTLA Director of Bilingual Education
Endorsements
"I am an enthusiastic supporter of Ms. Ortega not only for her deep understand and support of bilingual education but also for her ability to see the big picture, to consider what is right for all students. In Gandhi's terms, Ms. Ortega one of the "perfect resisters" we need to win the battle of right versus wrong." — Professor Stephen Krashen
"Cheryl fights, heart and soul, for Bilingual Education and has a sense of justice that UTLA needs." — Lisa Karahalios Board of Directors Valley East, Milliken Middle School
"I wholeheartedly endorse Cheryl. Her dedication and tenacity are a great service to our teachers and students. She was there at the beginning of LAUSD's implementation of bilingual education. No one has the same experience or institutional memory that she has." — Marina Salas, Chair UTLA Bilingual Ed Cmte, Hoover St. ES
"We need to keep our most experienced, dedicated individual at the helm of UTLA Bilingual Education." — Robert D. Skeels
Matthew Kogan, Jeff Pott & Anne Zerrien-Lee: The best team to serve you as UTLA North Area Chair and Directors!
Matthew Kogan, Jeff Pott & Anne Zerrien-Lee The best team to serve you as UTLA North Area Chair and Directo... by Robert D. Skeels
We are three independent voices for constructive change who share a common vision of inclusiveness and union solidarity. We are not beholden to any faction; we know that the only way to make our union strong is to respect our diverse membership and work together with everyone for the common good.
We ask to serve you because we want to work to strengthen our union’s collective ability to champion members’ rights and stand up for public education. It’s time to turn away from destructive internal factionalism and focus on what really matters. We can’t do this alone. We need your help. If you entrust us with your vote, we pledge to work with all of our union brothers and sisters to:
- Build union solidarity and recruit chapter chairs for all North Area schools.
- Defend and empower all members and all schools, raise pay and boost morale.
- Protect your contract rights and benefits from all threats.
- Fully staff schools, reduce class size and secure full funding for Arts, Health and Human Services, Libraries, Adult Education, SRLDP, Bilingual Education, Field Trips, and more.
- Make sure teachers get the subs they request, and subs get called when requested.
- Eliminate excessive high-stakes standardized testing and test prep.
- Return Breakfast to cafeterias and halt the theft of instructional time.
- Make schools safer and healthier for us and for students.
- Hold elected officials accountable for votes that harm our members.
- Strengthen organizing ties with families, school communities, and other unions.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Charlatan Steve Perry exposed for the world to see!
Charlatan @drStevePerry exposed for the world to see! http://t.co/iDjFd9GXH8 pic.twitter.com/IflQ6Qfsm7
— Robert D. Skeels (@rdsathene) November 28, 2013Ebony Murphy-Root's courageous exposure of one of the most pernicious corporate neoliberal education reformers is a must read: 'Did You Grow Up Around Black People?' My year working for "America's Most Trusted Educator"
The comments under this reprint of the piece are worth visiting as well: A powerful and haunting report from a former Capital Prep teacher
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Thank you for Klansplaining me Brian!
My response to a bigot on The Daily Bruin
Thank you for Klansplaining me Brian!
Your fact-free diatribes about documents, citizens, governments, and such almost made me forget the long history of genocide, trail of tears, stolen lands, and broken treaties (Guadalupe Hidalgo for one) that comprise the so-called nation of laws you mention. "Free to return to their native land"? I know you probably didn't learn this in your white supremacist studies classes, but the indigenous peoples of this continent ARE ALREADY on their native land. The depraved depths of racism and ahistoricism one must plumb to insinuate that "we [sic] are being colonized" is breathtaking. Save that Klanspeak for your next JBS meeting, this isn't the forum for your brand of bigotry and hate speech.
Monday, November 25, 2013
What's left for me to do at UCLA?
It's been a long road for this 48 year old undergraduate. My last complete year of high school was the tenth grade. I passed the GED test while stationed at Pearl Harbor in the Navy. I started at Glendale Community College in 1988 and transfered to UCLA in Spring 1991. I was forced to drop out of UCLA by my capricious employer at the end of the Winter 1995 term before I was able to graduate. Recently, after finishing second in the 2013 LAUSD School Board elections, my wife strongly encouraged me to return to UCLA. Readmission to the UC was painless, and under the new requirements I only had 12 units left to graduate.
I'm currently finishing this, which was the only required class...
and then all that's left is...
I had classes with Professor Morris when I was last at UCLA some nineteen years ago. She's one of the smartest people I've ever known, and it will be nice to study under her again.
I'll be walking in June of 2014—the first time graduating from anything ever for me. Then hard choices. UCLA GSE&IS? Peoples College of Law? A MSW program somewhere? The first two choices are pretty attractive given my social connections and the people who would recommend me. However, I'm not sure at this point. First things first.
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