catalyst-chicago.org

A literacy consultant in the New York City public schools makes a persuavive case on how testing is hurting the teaching profession —by erasing inquiry, curiosity, study and thinking from the classroom experience for both teacher and student.

More than 700 laid-off tenured teachers cannot force Chicago public schools to adopt a formal rehiring procedure, the 7th Circuit ruled, adopting the recommendation of the Illinois Supreme Court, Courthouse News Service reports. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of the Chicago Board of Education in its appeal in Chicago Teachers Union v. The Board of Education of the City of Chicago. The ruling reversed the trial court’s decision that tenured teachers were entitled to recall rights in the event of an economic layoff.  The court also vacated the trial court’s injunction requiring the Board to promulgate recall rules.  The injunction had been stayed pending the outcome of the appeal, according to a CPS news release.

Two Chicago public schools — a neighborhood school and a charter — were among 78 across the country named Monday as the first nationally recognized “Green Ribbon Schools.’’ The U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools award recognizes the highest-performing green schools in the nation that have shown exemplary achievement in environmental impact, health and education. A Green Ribbon School encourages healthy living for all students, parents and staff through their own vision and plan. Waters Elementary in Lincoln Square features an ecology program that is integrated across all subjects as well as woven into the school’s daily routines.  The Academy for Global Citizenship Charter School in Garfield Ridge features a school-based greenhouse and garden. AGC students have access to organic breakfast, lunch and snacks, and participate in composting and recycling programs. Prairie Crossing Charter School in Grayslake also won a Green Ribbon. (press release)

Nobel Peace Laureates, from 2006 winner Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh to former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev, fanned across the city Monday morning to visit Chicago Public Schools. At Frederick Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center on the North Side, Gorbachev addressed a social studies class.  Also there were Mayor Rahm Emanuel and actor Sean Penn. The visits kicked off the 12th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates. The three-day summit started with conversations with students on the issues of peace and human rights around the world. (NYT)

IN THE STATE
In news of a nonacademic nature, the town of Cicero’s chief of rodent control — who is also a local high school board member — has been ordered suspended for three days without pay from his town job after a racist post appeared on his Facebook wall. The post was taken down last week after the Sun-Times reported on it and kicked up a controversy in Morton High School District 201 where Iniquez sits as a board member.

A Southtown Star editorial addresses fiscal challenges for Rich Township High School District 227, which recently announced that 48 teachers and 33 support staff will be laid off on top of previous cutbacks, including one fewer daily class period next school year.

IN THE NATION
Some supporters of the Common Core State Standards Initiative are quietly voicing concern that the standards will die the slow death of poor implementation in K-12 classrooms. (Education Week)Researchers say middle school algebra classes may do more harm than good for students already struggling with math. (Education Week)

North Carolina’s public school teachers would see employment tenure eliminated, but become eligible for performance bonuses under an education reform package rolled out Monday by Senate Republicans that also seeks to improve early reading skills. (Rocky Mount Telegram)

The Cincinnati Public Schools board of education has voted unanimously to cut 10 percent of its teaching staff to cover a $43 million budget deficit. (Education News)

A middle-school teacher from Burbank Unified School District (Calif.) was named 2012 National Teacher of the Year on Monday. Rebecca Mieliwocki, a seventh-grade English, will be recognized by President Barack Obama on Tuesday during a ceremony at the White House. As teacher of the year, Mieliwocki will serve as a national spokesperson for education for one year. (Los Angeles Times)