REAL Teacher Educators (Morna McDermott and Denisha Jones) respond to Dan Willingham's claim that “The problem in American education is not dumb teachers. The problem is dumb teacher training." This quote appeared in The Fordham Institue's blog written by Robert Pondiscio--Reforming Ed Schools from Within.…

First Randi Weingarten and the AFT endorsed Hillary Clinton over the objection of its members and now its seems as if Lily Eskelsen García and the NEA may do the same. WHY?Oleh Busted Pencils

Last week Valerie Strauss featured a letter from over 30 principals from Southern Wisconsin to governor Scott Walker. In the letter the principals put forth the argument that funding of public schools in WI must be restored and that if the governor truly believed in "small government" he would return control of public schools back to locally electe…

In this special episode Jed and Tim talk to two Milwaukee Punks that have launched the Unintimidated movement. DJ Hostettler and Tony Weber, co-coordinators of Unintimidated: Wisconsin Musicians Against Scott Walker. Also check out the blog site http://www.unintimidatedscottwalker.org/Oleh Busted Pencils

What if your mission was to "envision a Wisconsin where postsecondary education moves forward through an open exchange of ideas, the careful consideration of research, and a strong focus on the public good?" However what if you actually tried realizing that mission during the last 4 months of Republican sponsored carpet bombing targeting the concre…

In this episode Jed and Tim drink coffee at Michelangelo's and talk to the editor and chief of The Progressive—Ruth Conniff—about ESEA reauthorization. Look here, here, here, and here. Also in Trending News "Unintimidated" punk rock style. Test and Punish Democrats And as always we end with our Tool of the Week—you won't believe who it is this week…

1400 positions will be cut from Chicago Public Schools at the start of next school year. Mayor Rahm Emanuel says it won't be that bad and besides if the teachers want to receive a pension then he has no other choices. Well Chicago principal Troy LaReviere disagrees. In fact he lays out an assortment of "could haves" that Mayor Emanuel should have d…

BustED Pencils will be podcasting live from Michelangelo's Coffee Shop downtown Madison on State Street. In this episode Jed and Tim talk "trending news" in education. Trending News Is your high school in need of remediation? Minority Teacher Education SNAFU. Rahm-the hatchetman-Emanuel Our feature will be a discussion with teachers. Therefore if y…

BustED Pencils begins its weekly broadcast live from Michelangelo's coffee house. The People's Press Conference On Tuesday, June 30, public education supporters from throughout the state will unite in Madison for a press conference at 11:00 am in the Senate Parlor, followed by a reception to show appreciation for legislators who signed on to LRB-23…

One of the most egregious attacks is coming from state Rep. Mary Czaja with support from Gov. Walker, who snuck into the pending budget, legislation that would allow anyone whom a school administrator deems worthy to become a teacher with no requirement for any training, practice, or even a college degree. UW-Madison Briana Schwabanbauer, president…

Why do they call Dr. Jesse Turner "The Walking Man?" Well maybe it's because in a few days Jesse will begin his 400 mile walk to DC in protest of the standardized, inhumane, corporate, and destructive takeover of public education. Why? Because teachers and children are more than test scores!Oleh Busted Pencils

GRUMPy member Marj Passman will join BustED Pencils to discuss their latest opinion piece and talk about why ALL citizens must engage the Wisconsin attack on democracy. Plus Trending News and of course the BustED Pencils "tool of the week."Oleh Busted Pencils

What a week for public education in WIsconsin! We'll be checking in with BustED Pencil's Milwaukee activist coorespondent Angela Walker for the latest in grassroots resistance. Also, trending news to start the show and don't forget to stay around for the end of the show as we reveal the BustED Pencil "Tool of the Week."…

Listen Sunday as Jed and Tim bust pencils with Justin Oakley (Just Let me Teach). And as always BustED Pencils covers "Trending News" and reveals our education reformer "Tool of the Week."Oleh Busted Pencils

Last week Rep. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield) and Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) decided that their vast experience as suburban Wisconsin legislators qualififed them to introduce a bill that would literally take away Milwaukee Public Schools from the people of Milwaukee. Yes, they proposed a "public school take over bill." These bills have been…

BustED Pencils radio welcomes Dr. Christopher Tienken. Is he an Education Policy Analyst or Dark Purveyor of Statistical Black Magic? Tune in as we discuss his latest blog post "Predictable Results" and reveal the secret behind the back door practice of predicting standardized test scores.Oleh Busted Pencils

Don't miss this special episode of BustED Pencils as Jed and Tim talk to Seattle teacher and activist, Jesse Hagopian. The question: Does the Black Lives Matter movement and Opt Out movement belong together? We will talk to Jesse about the current accountability movement and its historical connections to the practice of eugenics driven standardized…

In this episode of BustED Pencils, Jed and Tim wil talk to Courtney Smith, President of Douglas County Federation (of teachers and classified employees) and go over the results of a climate survey that was just completed by the employees of the Douglas County School District. Sneak Peek: 90% of respondents lack confidence in superintendent Elizabet…

Jed and Tim talk to NPE's Anthony Cody about the Network for Public Education's conference in Chicago this weekend. See http://www.networkforpubliceducation.org/Oleh Busted Pencils

Tim will talk to United Opt Out's Peggy Robertson and ask her the hard questions: 1) Where does UUO's vast financial resources come from? 2) When it comes to the bottom line—children—why does UOO find it acceptable to "compromise?" 3) What's it like to be an organization built on egos?Oleh Busted Pencils

In this Epsode of the BustED Pencils podcast, Jed and Tim will be talking to Florida State Senate candidate Rick Roach. You might be thinking, "hey I know that name, isn't he the school board member that had some problems taking the FCAT?" http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/revealed-school-board-member-who-took-standardized-test/…

Two weeks ago Sydney Smoot spoke some serious truth to power. http://elitedaily.com/news/world/girl-destroys-standardized-testing-video/983957/ . During this episode of BustED Pencils Jed and Tim get a chance to hear directly from Sydney. What motivates a fourth grader to stand up when so many cower under their bed sheets?…

BustED Pencils hosts Jed and Tim talk to Chicago principal Troy LaRaviere about the difference between being a school leader and simply a policy compliance officer. We will also dive into the opt out movement and ask Troy to speak about his letter to Barbara Byrd-Bennett, CEO of Chicago Public Schools. See letter here http://troylaraviere.net/2015/…

Literally join Jed and Tim at 5:00 pm live from Next Door Brewing Company as we talk public school activism with parents, teachers, and citizens prior to Too much sugar? Too much TV? Too much testing? We want YOU to come and talk to US. Madison public school activists will hold a panel discussion at 5:30 at Next Door Brewing Compnay on 2439 Atwood …

After a stimulating conversation with Bob Braun last night about his breaking news story that proved that Pearson was spying on New Jersey students wilth the collaboration of the New Jersey Department of Education,, Jed and Tim continue the Pearson Spygate conversation with Living in Dialogue creator and blogger Anthony Cody. As detailed here http:…

BustED Pencils talks to verteran journalist Bob Braun about Pearson and the fact that they use social media to spy on students.Oleh Busted Pencils

Jed and Tim look at the top stories in education news and offer analysis, insight, and levity. 1) Kansas stops the spread of ography by silencing teachers. 2) "Get your millions back New Jersey." 3) Walker and Wisconsin rural schools to innovate during budget crisis: One room schools?Oleh Busted Pencils

Opt Out is not an anti-testing movement. It is a deliberate action! It is a movement to restore the civic mission of American public schools—providing a foundational education for all children in critical participatory democracy. It is a deliberate act of conscience— an act of civil disobedience that targets the coveted data produced by high stakes…