Quality Public Education for All New Jersey Students

 

2-26-18 Education in the News

Star Ledger--Why some of N.J.'s top schools sank so low in the state's new rankings

The score was nothing short of stunning for an affluent community such as Westfield, with its pricey school taxes and impressive SAT scores. 

On a scale of 0-100, Westfield Senior High School scored a 63.1 in a new school rating system released by the state last month, placing it in the 66th percentile.

That's worse than 120 other New Jersey high schools, according to an NJ Advance Media analysis of the results. 

"(The score makes it) appear that something is wrong," said Paul Pineiro, the district's assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and programs. "And that's just not the case."

http://www.nj.com/education/2018/02/how_parcc_opt_outs_sunk_high_schools_in_new_state.html#incart_most_shared-education

Adam Clark| Updated Feb 25, 4:15 PM; Posted Feb 25, 6:15 AM

 

Star Ledger--I'm a N.J. school teacher: Arming us is a grotesque idea. Here's a better option | Opinion

For many teachers, the existence of classroom guns would feel anathema to why we chose this work.

Teaching is a calling that goes well beyond math and reading -- we work to grow a society that values inquiry, constructive critical thinking, and the belief that we can always be better. Parents give us their children for eight hours a day and trust us -- not only to educate, but to feed, comfort, and nurture.

http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2018/02/im_a_nj_school_teacher_arming_us_is_a_grotesque_idea_heres_a_better_option_opinion.html#incart_river_index

 Ronen Kauffman| Star-Ledger Guest Columnist| Updated 6:39 AM; Posted 6:38 AM

 

Star Ledger--WATCH: Parkland students rally in N.J. alongside Menendez for gun control reform

They've taken buses to their state capitol, flights to meet with the president and now they've come to New Jersey.

Student survivors of the mass shooting at a Parkland, Florida, high school brought their message of gun control to the Temple B'nai Abraham in Livingston on Sunday. 

"This is an issue of lives," said David Hogg, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who has become a high-profile voice for survivors of the attack. "This is a non-partisan issue that we need to work together to solve," 

http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2018/02/parkland_students_rally_in_nj_alongside_menendez_for_gun_control_reform.html#incart_river_index

Sara Jerde| Updated Feb 25, 11:11 PM; Posted Feb 25, 8:27 PM

 

Associated Press (via Press of Atlantic City)--Murphy promises gun control, but for now reviews policies

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is vowing to sign gun control bills as part of a campaign promise and in response to the fatal Florida school shooting.

But for now, he is pledging a policy review and interstate cooperation over firearms.

The timing for when the Democrat might act on any bills is unclear. The Legislature has introduced at least two dozen measures related to firearms. Many are aimed at controlling the use of guns, though some would expand rights.

Murphy hasn't specified which bills he wants enacted first, and none of the proposals has made its way to his desk yet.

Second Amendment rights advocates call Murphy's agenda a futile attempt at stopping criminal behavior by limiting the rights of law-abiding citizens.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/ap/new_jersey/murphy-promises-gun-control-but-for-now-reviews-policies/article_1d0d11e6-72d7-5849-a49d-c8939fd256da.html

MICHAEL CATALINI Associated Press| Feb 24, 2018

 

Asbury Park Press-- NJ school funding: Is Asbury Park’s school chief Lamont Repollet the best pick to lead NJ?

TRENTON - New Jersey's education commissioner oversees distribution of more than $9 billion in annual school funding and learning for some 1.37 million students.

To handle the job, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy turned to the leader of one of the state's costliest school districts and also one of its worse-performing.

Former Republican Gov. Chris Christie repeatedly highlighted Asbury Park's dubious distinctions during his failed, years-long bid to change the state's school funding formula, making the case that more taxpayer money isn't the answer for under-performing schools.

Expect a cadre of state lawmakers to make the same argument – and press for answers – when nominee Lamont Repollet appears before them at his confirmation hearing on a date still to be determined.

https://www.app.com/story/news/politics/new-jersey/phil-murphy/2018/02/26/nj-school-funding-asbury-park-lamont-repollet-education-commissioner/363889002/

Bob Jordan| Published 5:00 a.m. ET Feb. 26, 2018

 

Education Week—Op-Ed--It's Not Just About Guns. Male Aggression Is a Serious Problem

How we teach masculinity needs to change

Last week when I spoke to the students in my classroom about the mass killing at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, I started to cry. I didn’t want them to feel hopeless. Yet, as I stood in front of a mix of 16-year-old boys and girls in my American Literature class and tried to support them in the face of another slaughtering of innocent people, I couldn’t help but cry.

My tears freaked some students out. Some giggled nervously. Others stared wide-eyed. A few looked away as though they were witnessing something embarrassing. I told them it was OK. What’s happening hurts, and it is OK to show how much it hurts. We talked about the inhumanity we see around us and then moved on to the day’s reading.

I think more men need to do the same.

https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/02/22/its-not-just-about-guns-male-aggression.html

Patrick O'Connor February 22, 2018