Category Archives: EDUCATION

What they’re saying about Common Core and Education in NC (WE 1/23/15)

Posted on January 25, 2015 by A.P. Dillon

Last week I started talking about What they’re saying about Common Core and Education in NC. This is sort of a continuation of education items going on in North Carolina. Some of the updates this week are on a national level.

A-F grading changes Related: Virginia repealing A-F

WCPSS board meeting recap
Video: Board of Education Official Meeting – 1/20/2015
Video: Board Work Session – 1/20/2015.

National – ESEA Support/Yr end assessments

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Posted in EDUCATION, June Atkinson, NC Ed Updates, Wake County School Board | 2 Comments

The Common Core Weekend Reads – 1-25-15

Posted on January 25, 2015 by A.P. Dillon

These are the Common Core Weekend Reads for January 25th, 2015.

This is a review of the past week of news on Common Core nationwide and in North Carolina.

Articles are organized by category.

Prior Edition of Weekend Reads: 1-18-15

KEEP READING… Continue reading →

Posted in Common Core | Tagged Weekend Reads | 1 Comment

Guillory’s ‘Nudge’ Article

Posted on January 23, 2015 by A.P. Dillon

On January 14th, I wrote about the latest education non-profit, EducationNC. In that article, I made an assertion:

It is my personal assertion that this organization is less about “nonpartisan news” in education and more about branding and steering education narratives in North Carolina with an eye towards influencing public opinion. Time will tell, but my gut says this is a PR outfit dressed up as a non-profit. Looking at their board and supporters lends some credence to this hunch; same people, same money.

An article currently up at EducationNC by one of its founders, Ferrel Guillory, seems to be proving that assertion true. The of the article title is, Why Graduating From High School Isn’t Enough. This article is a fine example of narrative driving. Ironically enough, the article opens with the words, “Rhetoric matters.”

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Posted in A.P. Dillon (LL1885), EDUCATION | Tagged EducationNC | 2 Comments

Former NC Board of Ed Chair Not Really Keen On 10 Pt Grading Scale

Posted on January 22, 2015 by A.P. Dillon

Former NC State Board of Education Chairman, Howard Lee, was asked about the new 10 pt grading system North Carolina is adopting. Lee doesn’t see a “downside to it” but would prefer the grading scale “the way it was”.

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Posted in A.P. Dillon (LL1885), EDUCATION, NC Board Of Education, Video | Tagged NCSpin | Comments Off

Chapel Hill EWA Seminar On Common Core (Pt II)

Posted on January 21, 2015 by A.P. Dillon

Yesterday, I did a short write-up of one of the videos taken at the EWA Seminar in Chapel Hill on January 12th. Today is party two, “The Southern Context Of Common Core”.

“The Southern Context of Common Core“
20 minutes, 17 seconds
Participants: Jill Stancill and Ferrell Guillory

Description: “Education Writers Association conference panel on the Southern context of Common Core. News & Observer Education Reporter Jane Stancill interviews Ferrel Guillory, member EducationNC Board of Directors and professor of the practice at the UNC School of Journalism and Mass Communication.”

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Posted in A.P. Dillon (LL1885), Common Core, Video | 3 Comments

Pearson Is Everywhere: Silencing Edition

Posted on January 21, 2015 by A.P. Dillon

Welcome back to Pearson Is Everywhere!

Last time we looked at Pearson’s involvement with the GED: 2014 GED Results Show 90% Drop In Passage Rate

Today, we’re looking at how Pearson silences opposing viewpoints.

A reader sent me this tweet:

How testing giant Pearson buys/bullies its way to teacher silence on standardized testing. http://t.co/cO00WM5950 @LadyLiberty1885

— Michelle V. Douglas (@MichelleDouglas) January 20, 2015

This article is a long read, but well worth it. In a nutshell, Pearson went behind the scenes to dismantle and discredit a critic. From the article, “Pearson’s real counterattack took place largely out of public view.”

Excerpt:

KEEP READING…. Continue reading →