drone life 5: Chicago alderman proposes using drones for students' safe passage to school

Yes, seriously, Chicago Alderman George Cardenas proposed this.

And the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International chimed in, saying that 'drones can be a boon to law enforcement agencies by keeping officers out of dangerous situations, helping with search and rescue missions, responding to natural disasters and saving on the bottom line. The group claims drones can operate for as little as $25 to $75 per hour, which is far less than the $400-per-hour cost of using a manned helicopter.' And -- “The technology could certainly be used to help keep children safe. Importantly, however, it is up to local leaders to determine whether this is an appropriate use in their community," according to AUVSI spokeswoman Melanie Hinton.

One wonders whether Mayor Rahm Emmanuel might not be in favor, since all the school closings that his administration mean that many school children who going to new schools will have to cross gang boundaries and to be "in the line of fire."

Chicago's Charter Schools Fail the Math Test

From Naked Capitalism, October 8.

I found this bit very telling:

In the 1970, teacher starting pay in New York City was only $2000 below that of starting salaries at top law firms. But now, as the relative status and pay of public school teachers having declined, so too has educational achievement among teachers. A recent McKinsey study found that nearly half of the K-12 teachers in the US had graduated in the bottom third of their college classes. It recommended increasing starting teacher pay from an average of $39,000 to $65,000 in high needs classes in order to attract instructors who had graduated in the top third of their classes.

So why should we be surprised that charter schools, which pay teachers less than public school teachers in the same geographic area, are having trouble delivering the educational goods?

Karen Lewis addresses CTU

Karen Lewis, President of the Chicago Teachers Union, addresses their rally last Saturday. She is so impressive and so inspiring. She gets some great digs in at the billionaires who want to tell teachers how to teach, at the Walton and the Gates Foundations, and at John Legend. A must, must see.

Louisiana: state will continue to fund private and charter schools even if students fail

From Reuters, Monday, July 23

State money will continue to flow to scores of private and religious schools participating in Louisiana's new voucher program even if their students fail basic reading and math tests, according to new guidelines released by the state on Monday. 

The voucher program, the most sweeping in the nation, is the linchpin of Louisiana's bold push to reshape public education. The state plans to shift tens of millions of dollars from public schools to pay not only private schools but also private businesses and private tutors to educate children across the state... 

Under the new rules, schools will not be penalized for poor scores on state standardized tests if they have fewer than 40 voucher students enrolled in the upper elementary or secondary grades. Those schools can continue to receive state funds even if their voucher students fail to demonstrate basic competency in math, reading, science and social studies... 

Some of the schools the state has approved for voucher students use Bible-based science textbooks and other controversial teaching approaches.

Achieving excellence through education reform: outsource the failures

"A high-performing Bronx public high school [Bronx Health Sciences HS in Baychester] has been maintaining its 95 percent graduation rate by forcing dozens of students who underperform to transfer to other schools, students, staffers and other sources charge."

Read more here.

Note: the blog of the hog is now receiving lots of info on education "reform." I'm gonna be posting a lot on this in future. Inshallah, as they say.

Kufiyas at University of California Protests

Kufiyas were much in evidence at the University of California protests that erupted last week, against plans by the Regents to raise tuition by 32%. (Despite the protests, the Regents did the dirty deed.)

Here's a photo from the LA Times of students at UCLA on November 18, heckling two UC regents as police escort them from Covel Commons.

Al Seib / Los Angeles Times / November 19

And another one, of students at UCLA, demonstrating near Campbell Hall on 18 November, from the LA Times.

Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times / November 19

At Covel Commons, UCLA, linking arms to create a barricade between police and protesters. At least one student got tasered in this action.

AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes

Kufiyas were also in evidence in protests at UC Berkeley. At least one kufiya wearer was among those who occupied Wheeler Hall for 12 hours. Here the occupiers are catching food thrown to them, while they were barricaded on the second floor. (From the SF Chronicle.)

Michael Macor / The Chronicle

And courtesy twitpic, another shot of a kufiya-wearer in Wheeler.

Please note the diversity of the students. Note too that kufiyas have not been reduced simply to empty signifiers of hipsterdom. Don't believe the hype.

Since there will no doubt be need for additional actions like this, I hope at least some students from UC--and at other campuses where trustees are attempting to take the axe to education--will consider purchasing real Palestinian kufiyas from the last remaining factory in Palestine. Available from The Kufiyeh Project. I just got one in the mail--$12 + $6 shipping. But consider buying a kufiya-patterned tie as well for $25, with no extra shipping. Then you'll have a kufiya scarf to wear to all the protests, and a kufiya tie for professional drag.

P.S. Thanks to FB pals Jenny, Ken and Cathy for leading me to most of these items.