Detroit: State Control Failed, Try Democracy for a Change

Diane Ravitch's blog

Tom Pedroni and Karen Twomey write in the Detroit Free Press that it’s time to restore democratic governance to the public schools of Detroit.

Plans and proposals are flying around from every district but all of them involve state control and privatization.

This is ironic as Detroit has had its fill of failed state control.

“All three proposals place inexplicable faith in the state’s ability to rectify the very problems that it, more than any other government entity, has created. Under the state’s watch for 13 of the last 16 years, the district has lost two-thirds of its students — more than 100,000 kids. Meanwhile, long-term debt has ballooned from around $700 million in 1999 to more than $2.1 billion today. Worst of all, state-mandated assessments, including the MEAP, reveal that Detroit’s students have lost even more ground to their state peers since 2009, when the state imposed emergency management.

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GLAM: Open GLAM

Summer Programs in DC: Cursive, Immigration, July 4th, Genealogy, Magna Carta and a Sleepover!

Education Updates

If you’ll be near Washington, DC, join us for our upcoming programs and professional development opportunities.

Magna Carta Family Day
Saturday, June 6, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.

Read the translation from Latin.

Celebrate 800 years of Magna Carta!  Meet Eileen Cameron and Doris Ettlinger, the author and illustrator of Rupert’s Parchment: Story of Magna Carta, a new book perfect for ages 6-11.  Participants will engage in hands-on activities as they discover more about this document that helped shaped how we think about rights.

Magna Carta is widely viewed as one of the most important legal documents in the history of democracy. With it, the King of England placed himself and England’s future sovereigns and magistrates within the rule of law. The copy housed at the National Archives was created in 1297 and placed on loan to the National Archives as a gift to the American people by David M. Rubenstein.

Saving Cursive: New tools in the fight for…

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Summer Professional Development

Education Updates

We still have a few spots available for summertime PD around the country.

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Denied reentry to the United States upon his return from an 1894 visit to China, San Francisco–born Wong Kim Ark was detained by the collector of customs in San Francisco. Wong filed a habeas corpus action against his detention. (Image from Departure Statement of Wong Kim Ark, 11/5/1894. From the Records of District Courts of the United States. National Archives Identifier: 2641490)

Teacher Professional Development at the National History Day National Contest

Teaching Historical Inquiry using Exploration, Encounter, and Exchange through Multiple Lenses of Immigration

June 15, 9–11:30 a.m. at the University of Maryland

How is history researched and written? Do students know how to read historical texts? How can you help your students construct a historical narrative and interpret historical themes? How can you enhance interest in a national topic by making local connections?

Join the National Archives for…

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Gmail’s New Login Screens Hints At A Future Beyond Passwords

How Tristan Walker Plans To Reach 5,000 Minority Students In Tech This Year

Opening Keynotes by Brother Jitu Brown and Newark Student Leader Tanaisa Brown

Diane Ravitch's blog

This is the final video that I will post from the Second Annual Conference of the Network for Public Education. Every keynote was superb, and this one was no exception. Brother Jitu Brown is the leader of Journey for Justice, which organizes parents and grassroots leaders to demand their rights; with others, his organization is filing civil rights complaints against cities that deny equality of educational opportunity. Tanaisa Brown from the Newark Students Union opened first; she and seven other high school students conducted a sit-in in the offices of Newark superintendent Cami Anderson. Tanaisa is finishing her junior year.

Brother Jitu and Tanaisa opened the conference on a high note and set the tone for everything that followed.

It is wonderful; please watch.

I have a special debt to Tanaisa, as she and her colleagues from the Newark Student Union presented me with a selfie-stick at the end of…

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The 21st Century Library is Now on FaceBook!

21st Century Library Blog

We are pleased to announce that The 21st Century Library Blog now has a ‘sister’ Facebook page!!

The 21st Century Librarian  

We will share timely news, articles and research about The 21st Century Library and Library Innovation.  And occasionally having a little fun!

Follow The 21st Century Librarian! 

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Space Race Teaching Activities

Education Updates

This Friday, May 1^st is National Space Day.  How can you celebrate this day that highlights the achievements and benefits of space exploration with your students?

Apollo 11 Commemorative First Day Issue Stamp from Postcard, 1969. From the White House Staff Member and Office Files (Nixon Administration) Collection. National Archives Identifier 1634230.

Visit DocsTeach, with its numerous primary sources related to the history of NASA and American space exploration, all from the holdings of the National Archives.

These primary sources come in a variety of forms, including written documents, photographs, and videos. Several DocsTeach activities teach students about the pioneering Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs. These early manned space programs set the foundation for the modern space program.

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The Mercury Program

Astronaut Scott Carpenter looking inside his Mercury spacecraft capsule “Aurora 7” prior to launch on May 24, 1962. From the Records of the U.S. Senate. National…

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The Formidable and Eloquent Loretta Lynch, 83rd US Attorney General – Swearing-in ceremony and remarks

ncmenterprises

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Excerpt from:

The CNN Wire

April 27, 2015

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Loretta Lynch, a formidable two-time U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, takes on the high-profile job at time when America faces a series of challenges, from dealing with strained relations and deep distrust in some cities between the police and the communities they serve, to criminal justice reform, to confronting the ongoing threat of terrorism.

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Lynch has some experience with the latter: the Eastern District of New York has tried more terrorism cases since 9/11 than any other office. In announcing her nomination in November, President Obama praised Lynch for successfully prosecuting the terrorists who plotted to bomb the Federal Reserve Bank and the New York City subway.

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Lynch, 55, has earned a reputation as a highly qualified, but low-profile prosecutor who has a good relationship with law enforcement and a history…

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