The MMSD website just posted the proposed budget amendments of Board of Education members (and one from the administration). The Board will consider and vote on the budget on Monday, May 12. It looked like there might be some action (click for video) on class size and specials classes and some other things, [...]
My students have an exercise based on primary sources due soon. It seemed like a good idea to post some here.
It is hereby declared to be the policy of the commonwealth to encourage all school committees to adopt as educational objectives the promotion of racial balance and the correction of existing racial imbalance in [...]
“Let me chop it, let me chop it”
Roger and the Gypsies - Pass the Hatchet (listen)
Marc Eisen of the Isthmus has checked in again on the Madison Schools with a column titled “When Policy Trumps Results.” This time the target of his ill informed scribblings is the equity work of the district, particularly the Equity [...]
Folks,
Steve Braunginn, former head of the Urban League of Greater Madison, has called on Madison to really take action to boost minority achievement. As an advocate for our schools, please read the recent Isthmus opinion article at:
http://www.isthmus.com/isthmus/article.php?article=22251
If you didn’t know it already - we’ve got some real problems here with performance and achievement disparities [...]
At the April 4 th press conference for the release of the MMSD administration’s proposed budget — at the prompting of the press — the “R-Word” (referendum) was discussed. Since the one time Tax Incremental Finance District disbursement saved Madison from the annual rituals of cuts and conflict this year (and [...]
James C. Wright Middle School is holding a 10th anniversary celebration on Sunday, April 6 from 3:00-5:00 (1717 Fish Hatchery Road). Wright is a very bright spot in our district and community. Please come and join in recognizing the good work. There will be an original play on Reverend Wright’s life and work, the release [...]
In honor of MMSD’s Spring Break, I’m posting this video from one of my favorite Elvis movies, Girl Happy.
Thomas J. Mertz
At the March 3d Board of Education meeting Truth and Alternatives to Militarism in Education (TAME) presented a detailed proposal for regulating military recruiting in Madison schools. Proposed policy changes developed by staff and the Board will be on the agenda at the Board’s March 24 workshop meeting (no public testimony). I hope that TAME’s ideas [...]
The Student Achievement Guarantee in Education (SAGE) contracts for MMSD schools will be on the agenda at Monday’s (3-10-2008) Special Board of Education Workshop meeting. I have mixed feelings about the SAGE program because of the choices it forces school district to make.
A serious overhaul of the school funding system is needed and one of the [...]
The knee jerk critics of public education, including our local contingent, are quick to propagate any story that appears to put our school systems in a bad light. Too quick.
A story spread around the anti-public education sphere today under headlines such as “Parental Rights Die In California,” “Education or indoctrination,” You vil go to our [...]
