Cathie Black's Choice Of Birth Control

I am a prophet. A soothsayer. A fortune teller. I am Oz. On December 4, 2010 it was predicted in regards to The Talking Cathie Doll,

"You have no perspective, you have no clue. You will fail. You will have a complete fail by the summer of 2011. How is this known? Your mouth. You just can't keep stupid things coming out of the hole under your nose."

It all came true on January 13, 2011.

Now I have predicted a major fail by the summer. I still stick to that, However, fellow blogger, Accountable Talk is predicting a major fail of The Talking Cathy Doll by April 1. I suggest we start some kind of pool to see when the fail comes. Mr Talk, let's go mano a mano in our predictions for the fail that is to come.

What gibberish spewed out of The Talking Cathie Doll's mouth? According to today's Daily News, two dumb comments. First, in a discussion with parents about overcrowding The Talking Cathie Doll sayeth;

"Could we just have some birth control for a while?" "It would really help us."

Gee, why stop at at birth control? What happens if there is a family opposed to birth control? Why not suggest that all male children of parents at PS 234 drown their sons in the Hudson River? Or better, why not have all parents, other than the ones at PS 234, post spring lamb's blood on their doors as the spirit of Mayor Bloomberg passes over. This will certainly relieve the overcrowding situation at PS 234, and what a perfect way to discuss her next stupid comment.

In the same meeting The Talking Cathie Doll claimed that weighing the needs of different schools reflected a "Sophie's Choice." Let me see if I understand this. The Talking Cathie Doll is comparing situations at different schools and how decisions are made to each school to a story about a mother who during WW II had to decide which daughter of hers to allow the Nazis to kill. This would make a very interesting venn diagram to use in a classroom, or perhaps on a state ELA exam. See? The Talking Cathie Doll is already contributing to education. And to believe there were people out there who said that she would bring nothing to the education table.

But to give The Talking Cathie Doll a break, she said she was only "joking." Yes, I believe she was joking. It was an insensitive comment, and showed a lack of empathy to the parents. But, as Mr Spock once said, "One usually makes jokes about one's anxieties and insecurities." This was said in an outtake of "Star Trek IV, The Voyage Home," in which Captain Kirk ran into Shecky Greene and needed to learn about 20th Century humor. One can wonder what The Talking Cathie Doll really says at those Upper East Side cocktail parties once she has a few 7&7's inside of her.

But there is something even more disturbing. The fact that she compared the atrocities of the Nazis and the pain of a mother must make under unspeakable conditions. Yes, "Sophie's Choice" is fiction, but it is metaphorical of what Jews had to live through and face every single day of WW II. With a workforce that I still think, if not is predominantly Jewish, but still a goodly amount, with strong roots in the Jewish community, this was a not just a poor choice of words, but a horrifying choice of words as well. Yeah, her boss is Jewish. But, Bloomberg is a self loathing Jew who still feels that he is needs the acceptance of the well heeled, upper class gentile types.

For a person who lost a family member in the Holocaust, one of the greatest Polish-Jewish artists of his time, Maurycy Trębacz, who died a horrible death in the Łódź Ghetto in 1941 I truly am offended and quite concerned that the chancellor of the New York City Department of Education would make such a remark. If The Talking Cathie Doll is able to denigrate Jews and the memories of the Holocaust, what other ethnic groups does she make sly, snarky comments about at those exclusive cocktail parties? Think about it. Think about it all.

But not to fret, today, Tweed's Minister of Propaganda, Natalie Ravitz, put out a release that said in regards to the birth control joke by The Talking Cathie Doll,

"...regrets if she left a different impression by making and off-handed joke in the course of that conversation."

Unfortunately, not a mention was made of her "Sophie's Choice" comment.

Confucious Thinks Whitney Tilson Is Always Wrong

Rodney Dangerfield had his wife, I have Whitney Tilson. I owe this "man" such a debt of gratitude. He provides me, and others, with endless streams of free material. For this I say to Whitney, thank you.

Yesterday afternoon while sitting in the car, waiting for my family, on our weekly trip to Target for groceries (I highly encourage anyone to do their grocery shopping at Target, the prices and deals are out of this world!) I checked my email. Lo and behold there was one of Whitney's Adderall induced emails. I couldn't help but laugh. In fact I was laughing so hard, I actually inhaled a Doritio. But soon I stopped laughing and noticed a contradiction. Yes, Whitney contradicts himself ll the time, but this one was special. I started to think that Whitney has zero core beliefs except when it comes to money.

Whitney was touting an article written by Amy Chua, "Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior." Amy has also written a book, "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother." Both the article and the book explain why the Chinese method of raising kids and the emphasis on their education is far superior than American ways.

An excerpt from Amy's book goes;

For example, if a child comes home with an A-minus on a test, a Western parent will most likely praise the child. The Chinese mother will gasp in horror and ask what went wrong. If the child comes home with a B on the test, some Western parents will still praise the child.

And from the WSJ article;

Here are some things my daughters, Sophia and Louisa, were never allowed to do: • attend a sleepover• have a playdate• be in a school play• complain about not being in a school play• watch TV or play computer games• choose their own extracurricular activities• get any grade less than an A• not be the No. 1 student in every subject except gym and drama • play any instrument other than the piano or violin • not play the piano or violin.

Whitney is beside himself. Whitney writes; I find what Chua describes (no sleepovers, playdates, or ability to make any decisions at all) to be extreme, but if one were to put parental expectations of/pressure on/control of kids on a 0-10 scale, with 10 being what Chua describes, I think the ideal is much closer to 10 than 0 – maybe an 8.

I agree with Whitney. Oh no, I must dip my fingers in acid. But seriously, he does have a point. But right away we can see him talking out the side of his mouth. He is admitting that parental expectations play a role in a child's development in school. He at one time said the single most important person in a child's education is the teacher. But right here he has agreed that it is the parent. Yes, it begins in the home, as well as the community, but the home is where the values, the mores, are introduced.

But there is even more blabbering by Whitney.

In a world filled with endless, cheap, mind-rotting entertainment via hundreds of TV channels (heavily weighted toward 24/7 sports, cartoons and other junk), the internet, video games, music and movies, I’m firmly convinced that nearly all children will spend every waking hour messing around with these activities and wasting their lives, unless their parents AND schools (but the former much more importantly) keep a very close eye on them, tightly restrict what they can do, and make them to do many things they don’t want to do...

I didn't paste the entire paragraph he wrote. I am saving that for a surprise. But Whitney is right. There is a lot of crap on TV. There are many shows I will not let my son watch, and we do restrict his watching TV. But to whine about sports? C'mon Whitney. Sports are good for kids. I know you never played team sports (Polo does not count, though I am sure you tried out for the wrestling team. Wink, wink.). My son watches SportsCenter every morning. But Whitney, here is the problem. When children are having children, the parents lack parenting skills. They lack the wherewithal to be a parent to that child and too often are that child's friend. And this is not just in poverty stricken urban areas. This happens, is prevalent, and ignored by people like you in Appalachia (which can be explored in another posting.). I know of 1st graders who consistently go to R rated movies, of 2nd graders staying up late watching TV, of the TV being the babysitter, of students watching Bret Michaels on TV.

And what I have been saving......

such as study hard, read books, have a reasonable diet, go to bed on time, dress decently, etc.

Yes, Whitney!!! Study hard and read books!!! You hit the nail on the head. As teachers we are forbidden by law to enter a private residence and demand that both studying and reading go on everyday. But it is up to the PARENTS for a child to do these things. Not the teacher. The teacher can cajole, facilitate, encourage, but what happens behinds ones closed doors we have no control. I wish we did, but we don't. I make my son, do his assigned reading every night. We all eat dinner together. He has Cheerios for breakfast, not grape soda and Cheetos.

I would argue that this has been true forever, but it’s especially important for parents and schools to have very firm oversight today given the decline of social values/norms and the exponential increase in the availability of mindless entertainment.

The schools Whitney do have a grasp on it. More than you will ever care to truly know. But again, we can't control what happens outside the school. I am not saying this as an excuse or a cop out, but an explanation. Gee Whitney, you are parroting everything teachers have been saying. Yet, because you say it and agree with it, it is gospel.

Very firm oversight combined with high expectations and a no-excuses attitude is sorely lacking in the United States, both among parents and schools (with many wonderful exceptions of course; among schools, for example, the no-excuses charter schools like KIPP (I’m on the board of KIPP NY) are successful in part because they do that same things that Chinese mothers do).

Want all the schools to be like KIPP? Tell the lawyers at Tweed to let the teachers teach the same way as they do at KIPP. But allowing for critical thinking and higher order thinking skills. KIPP students and parents sign contracts and can be removed from KIPP. Can, does this happen in a traditional public school? No. If a student does not maintain his or her grades and test scores what happens at KIPP? Yeah, they say bye-bye to KIPP. Does this happen in a traditional public school? Oh one more thing, and this is why I think you are about yourself and have zero core values. WE GET IT ALREADY! YOU ARE A KIPP BOARD MEMBER! Everyone who gets your emails knows that, why do you find the need to flaunt it and remind what we already know?

Whitney, it is time to stop wetting your finger and sticking it in the wind. You are all over the place, no convictions, no values, no true beliefs. You are always and forever about one person. Yourself.

Next South Bronx School Internet Radio Cast

This Tuesday night, January 11 will be groundbreaking!!! A one time event!

We will be joined by Chaz, from Chaz's School Daze Blog. Chaz has been in the Rubber Room for 4 1/2 years. On this show, Chaz will reveal for the first time anywhere, live, why he has been in the Rubber Room for such a long time.

It is sure to be shocking and revealing!!! As always the call in # is 917 932 8721

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bronx-teacher/2011/01/12/the-mind-of-a-bronx-teacher-1

BREAKING MAYOR BLOOMBERG NEWS!!!

We here at SBSB pride ourselves on being at the forefront of breaking news. We go where no other blog dares to tread. We look into every nook and cranny there is to get to the meat of a story. We are also fortunate to to have in our employ a crack team of investigators have no problem getting their hands dirty.

So what have we uncovered about Mayor Bloomberg? Recall if you will, his supposed absence from the scene of last week's blizzard. He was unaccounted for and refused in a press conference to reveal where he was. Well, search no more. The crack team has uncovered photographic proof of where he spent his time for those unaccounted 36 hours. He was as everyone suspected hitting the beach in his beloved Bermuda. The crack team uncovered a photo of him cavorting on the beach with several young, buxom young ladies. We here at SBSB applaud Mayor Bloomberg for such virility for a man in his late 60's, yet are saddened by his failure to prioritize what is important.

Here now is the exclusive photo of Mayor Bloomberg in Bermuda.

Blake Unger Dvorchik Data Expert

I would first and foremost like to apologize to those who listened to the radio program last night and were anticipating Blake Unger Dvorchik. Unfortunately, Blake got scared and ran away. The Education 4 Excellence member in my opinion, just couldn't take the heat. I was looking forward to it being that Blake was to be the first E4E jugend to appear. But late Monday evening, just a little over twenty four hours before showtime I received this email from Blake.

From Blake Unger Dvorchik to South Bronx School date Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 8:34 PM subject Re: Data Specialists mailed-by gmail.com signed-by gmail.com Dear BT, I apologize but I have decided to cancel our interview. Sincerely, Blake Unger Dvorchik

OK, so I responded back inquiring as to why is was canceling and received this response.

from Blake Unger Dvorchik
to So BronxSchool
date Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 9:23 PM
subject Re: Data Specialists
mailed-by gmail.com
signed-by gmail.com

While I agree with a number of your points of view I find your personal attacks on people whom I respect offensive. It's completely legitimate to disagree with with their intent, but not to libel them in public.
I wish you the best of luck in pursuing areas where the interests of teachers and students meet.

Unfortunately, I feel that I need to also inform you that attempts to reach people in my private life, obtain private information about me, or post disparaging information about me will be viewed as harassment and libel, and dealt with accordingly.

Respectfully,
Blake Unger Dvorchik

Firstly, Blake does not know the definition of libel. Blake, and others like him are, as defined by the 1964 Supreme Court decision in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan,

"a limited purpose public figure, meaning those who have "thrust themselves to the forefront of particular public controversies in order to influence the resolution of the issues involved."

So Blake, by publishing your writings, in fact on a government website, not only are you acting as an agent of the United States government, but you have become a public figure open to disparagement. Sorry dude.

So onto why I am writing this today, and why I wanted Blake to appear on my radio program.

Two weeks ago Blake wrote this on Ed.gov, a United States government website. Blake was so proud of how he was able to use the math standards and reward and track the students progress over time.

As we complete each test, students record their mastery of each standard on the tracker. The data is displayed in a student-friendly manner: students scoring under 80% get a blue star for the performance indicator, students scoring 80%-89% get a silver star, and students scoring 90%+ get a gold star. The color coding is based on the idea of “blue ribbon, silver medal, gold medal.”

That's super. But where are the tests? What is on the tests? Are are the tests devised? How are the tests graded? Are these tests differentiated? Are the students all at the same level? You mention that you are a CTT teacher for 8th grade. What is the ratio of general ed. students to special ed. students in your class? It is supposed to be 60-40, but we know the DOE has a hard time following education law.

At the beginning of last year, I found that my students had no knowledge of the curriculum, possessed little understanding of how they learned, had no way to monitor their own progress or assess their own proficiency, and were generally disengaged in their own learning. This strategy helped them make significant strides in all of those areas.

Again, how did they assess their proficiency? In which way were they disengaged? Did this help them learn, or are they becoming rote learners? Did this help them in the standardized tests? You show zero evidence and empty anecdotes. The proof is in the pudding? Where then is the pudding?

The tracking system helps students because, once they are aware of their learning deficits, they can self-remediate at a station that I set up using targeted resources linked to each of the standards.

What kind of station? A carving station, an omelet station? What resources? Again, this is empty and bereft of any clear cut evidence. As far as I am concerned it is all gibberish.

Last year their progress was amazing, with student mastery going up an average of 6.8% from their original tests to their cumulative tests after remediation.

It went up 6.8% from what? Why do you consistently fail to show any evidence? One thing I have a concern with Blake is that you are the one not only giving the tests, but rating them as well to show data that the students are improving. I am not saying they are not, but how can we be sure that you are doing it in a clear, concise, objective manner. Again, this not only benefits the students, but you as well.

One problem I have with this is that the students data, an individual students data is there for the entire class to see. How does this make the lowest performer feel? Can this damage that students psyche? Do other students make fun of this student, tease this student? Does not the lowest, and in fact all the students, have a right to privacy. Have the parents of the students agreed to this?

This seems to be in violation of Chancellor's Regulation, A-820, Confidentiality and Release of Student Records; Records Retention. I suggest as one UFT colleague to another that you familiarize yourself with this regulation post haste. I think Blake that while you are on the Ed.gov website you also take time to read FERPA. Perhaps it might do you some good. You wouldn't want to get in dutch with Arne.

You know Blake, there is no need to disparage you at all. You are doing a wonderful job doing it to yourself.

Is The Messiah Coming?

The Chabad Lubavitch group is a Hasidim sect. They have headquarters in Crown Heights. They and most other Hasidim are awaiting the messiah. At one time, Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, claimed to be the messiah. Or was it his followers. I don't know.

But what if one of these followers is a wolf in sheep's clothing? Someone who thinks he is the messiah? One who is not a true Lubavitcher, but one who is possibly one by reason of convenience?

Perhaps a person lied about his Intelligence? Or embellished tales of this Intelligence?

Perhaps a person who exaggerated their role in fixing Sheol, in fact ruled over Sheol for several years. Perhaps this person is truly Baal Davar.

Are the employees of this person forced to speak in tongues against their will? Have these employees been forced to be in unsafe situations?

Time will tell if this is a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Next South Bronx School Internet Radio Cast

The guest for Tuesday night, January 4, 2011 will be Blake Unger Dvorchik.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bronx-teacher/2011/01/05/the-mind-of-a-bronx-teacher

Blake teaches at Bronx Mathematics Preparatory School. Blake is a 3rd year teacher in the south-east Bronx, and the Data Specialist for our school. Blake is one of the members of the VIVA project and recently went to Washington to present our recommendations to Secretary Duncan ( http://vivausa.vivateachers.org/Uploads/media/101217_VIVA%20National%20Task%20Force%20Report-Final.pdf ).

He is also part of the NYC based group Educators for Excellence where they're working on recommendations for teacher evaluation.

Blake also wrote this memorable blog post, http://www.ed.gov/blog/2010/12/training-the-next-generation-of-data-specialists/ for the US Department of Education

As always, the call in # 917 932 8721