ICYMI: Mattress Edition (11/3)
I'm playing in the pit orchestra for my old high school's production of Once Upon A Mattress, a show that I have been involved with in one capacity or another about six times now. But the first time, which was also probably my first outing as a pit musician, was in 1974 when I was a high school junior at this same school (when I say "my old high school" I mean both where I taught and where I studented). So this is one of those circle of life experiences. It's a cute score, nice show without a single serious bone in its body. The original Broadway production was Carol Burnett's big break.
It's always good to play, and it's good to watch the magic of theatrically turning marks on a page into a story on a stage. Just the thing for this weekend.
Meanwhile, here are some pieces to read from the week. If you haven't already voted, get out there on Tuesday. and vote for Harris and not that other guy. Then get ready for weeks of attempts overturn the results. It's marathon, not a sprint, but if we want any kind of decent democracy, we'll need to just keep at it.
Terrified, Outraged, Exhausted
Nancy Flanagan is facing the election with some realistic and exhausted insights.
What to Expect if Radicals Flip Your School Board.
Sue Kingery Woltanski is in Florida, so she should know. A guide to why you should be paying attention to your local board elections, and what happens when you don't.
Tennessee’s costly, disruptive school turnaround work didn’t help students long term, says research
If it seems like you've heard this song before, you have. The Achievement School District is one of the longest-running failed reformster experiment ever, and yet...
Poll: New Orleans parents feel less bad about the school system, worse about charter schools
Speaking of failed reformster experiments, let's see how things are going in New Orleans.
Despite what Trump Says, Project 2025 Will Be His Blueprint for Taking Away Our Freedoms
Maurice Cunningham writes his closing argument for the Presidential election for the Progressive.
'School choice' under Amendment 2 is a transfer payment to wealthiest families
Kentucky should not approve a constitutional amendment allowing for vouchers, explains Brigitte Blom.
How your children's personal data is getting bought and sold without your consent
Yeah, this is still going on. A reminder that the College Board makes a lot of money selling student data.
As Ryan Walters’ Right-Wing Star Rose, Critics Say Oklahoma Ed Dept. Fell Apart
The 74 provides Ryan Walters with some national exposure. Is it bad that he's being exposed as the least competent education chief in the country?
Teachers had ideas for improving education after the pandemic. We failed to listen
Hechinger Report with more old news-- post-pandemic education would have been a great time to actually listen to teachers, but that did not happen.
I’m voting for strong, fully-funded public schools
Barb Kalbach with an op-ed in Iowa. Let's hope voters listen.
Privatized Schools Will End Democracy
If you still haven't gotten your copy of The Privateers, maybe this look inside the book by Thomas Ultican will motivate you.
Open Letter to the SC Board of Education
Steve Nuzum sends a letter about the process of banning books on the state level, because they do that in South Carolina.
Bloomberg Reframes Q2 on MCAS: It is Oligarchy v. Teachers Union
Massachusetts voters have a chance to get rid graduation exam. Some folks don't like that idea, and Maurice Cunningham knows who they are.
Teacher as Classroom Politician
Larry Cuban reminds us that every classroom teacher does politics as part of the job.
On Public Education Policy, the Choice for President Is Clear
Jan Resseger makes her final argument.
Benjamin Riley's piece is a little deep and philosophical, but it's also a good look at another way to see the inadequacies of AI.
This week at Forbes.com, I looked at seven lessons about vouchers from The Privateers.
I've been reviving my participation at Bluesky. If you're over there, look me up at @palan57.bsky.social
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On reaching the title I thought for a moment that you had “gone to the mattresses”! - which would be understandable imho.