Rethinking Schools News

From: Rethinking Schools
Subject: Rethinking Schools on "Democracy Now!"

Dear Rethinking Schools friends,

Rethinking Schools editor Bob Peterson was on the TV-radio show "Democracy Now!" with Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez this morning. Bob was asked to speak about the Obama administration's education strategy, especially its approach to charter schools. As Bob points out in the interview, "we need to challenge the notion that charters are the engine of reform." Listen to or watch the segment at http://www.democracynow.org/2009/6/23/education_secretary_arne_duncan_pushes_to

Other recent Rethinking Schools-in-the-news items:

Peterson's work with a multiracial community-educator coalition to demand alternatives to biases in the Houghton-Mifflin textbooks is featured in Gloria Alter's Educational Leadership article, "Challenging the Textbook." The article also includes photos from former Rethinking Schools managing editor, Barbara Miner.

Stan Karp was recently interviewed by Janine Jackson on CounterSpin, a radio show that monitors the media and is syndicated on about 145 stations across the country. Karp discusses NCLB at http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3778.

In April, Rethinking Schools editor Larry Miller was elected to the School Board in Milwaukee, Wisc.

Our Spring 2009 editorial was adapted by Wayne Au, Bill Bigelow and David Levine and distributed by the Progressive Media Project as "Schools Are Not Businesses" to media outlets and newspapers around the world. It was published on sites ranging from commondreams.org to the Tallahassee Democrat to The Gulf Times in Qatar.

Linda Christensen is featured in the spring issue of Lewis and Clark College's "The Chronicle Magazine." Read "Word Warriors" at http://legacy.lclark.edu/dept/chron/wordwarriorssp09.html. And of course, check out Linda's fabulous new Rethinking Schools book, Teaching for Joy and Justice at www.rethinkingschools.org/publication/tfjj.

Bill Bigelow was quoted in a front page New York Times article ("A Cautionary Video About America's 'Stuff'"), about the inadequacies of textbook treatment of environmental issues. Bigelow is on the community board of "The Story of Stuff," www.storyofstuff.com, the student-friendly video that has been viewed on the web over 6 million times.

And in the no-publicity-is-bad-publicity category, this spring The Washington Times dubbed Rethinking Schools, "the nation's leading publication for social-justice educators." Finally, we're in agreement with The Washington Times.

Thanks for your support.

Michael Trokan
rsmike@sbcglobal.net
Rethinking Schools magazine
www.rethinkingschools.org

Workshop Series: American Volunteers in the Spanish Civil War

*JOIN US FOR TWO DAYS OF EXCITING GROUP STUDY*

APRIL 18 AND APRIL 25

9 AM – 3 PM

AT THE ALAMEDA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION


DID YOU KNOW…

§ The Spanish Civil War was the “first battle” of World War II, in which U.S. citizens faced choices that affected the course of events leading to the war and American involvement?

§ Volunteers supporting the Republic represented the first fully-integrated American military operation in terms of race, gender and sexual orientation, establishing a standard for diversity in government action not met again until long after?

§ The diaspora of one million Spanish citizen refugees forced from their country changed the face of the many places to which they fled, particularly to Mexico and, from there, to South, Central and North America?

§ Members of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade and others who helped Spanish refugees were among the first to suffer political persecution during the McCarthy era?

WE WILL MEET as a study group for two Saturdays to explore a rich range of primary sources – posters, poetry, postcards, paintings, photos, letters and more - and to develop lessons around such topics as:

§ The roles of women and people of color in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade and other volunteer corps

§ Participation of such notable artist activists as Pablo Neruda, Langston Hughes, Paul Robeson, Dorothy Parker, Lillian Hellman and Ernest Hemingway

§ The relationship of the Spanish Civil War to the advent of WWII and to global immigration patterns

§ Persecution of political dissenters during the McCarthy era


BENEFITS YOU WILL RECEIVE INCLUDE:

§ A stipend of $300
§ Breakfast and lunch on each workshop day
§ Teaching resources including books, videos and lesson plans

See attached flyer for details

To register: use the attached registration form

Contact: AVI BLACK, ACOE History-Social Science Coordinator

PH: 510-670-4239

E: ablack@acoe.org

Meet the Scholars 2009: Presidents in Times of Economic Challenge

From: Avi Black (ablack@acoe.org)

The Alameda County Office of Education, Words That Made America 2 and the Oakland Museum of California

PRESENT

Meet the Scholars

Join us for a series of collegial conversations between teachers and eminent historians around the theme:

Presidents in Times of Economic Challenge

How have national crises shaped the role of the American presidency over time?

How have American presidents dealt with challenges facing the nation?

How do past crises inform how we understand the role of the presidency today?

Session 3: April 3
Gerald Henig, Prof Emeritus of History, CSU-East Bay
Author of "A Nation Transfored: How the Civil War Changed America Forever"
Winner of CSU-East Bay Outstanding Professor Award

LINCOLN'S LEADERSHIP:
A BLUEPRINT FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

All pre-registrants get FREE admission to "First Friday" programming and guaranteed seating to this program.

*REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR THIS SESSION: APRIL 1*

Please see the attached flyer for details, and use the attached form to register.

Click here for more details on the entire “Meet the Scholars” series.

Meet the Scholars sessions are held at:

THE OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA
Lecture Hall
1000 Oak Street (at 10th Street)
Oakland, CA 94607

“First Fridays” from 5-7PM

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Avi Black, ACOE History-Social Science Coordinator
PH: 510-670-4239
FAX: 510-670-3239
Email: ablack@acoe.org

ORIAS-HUMANITIES WEST: Napoleon

From: Patricia Lundberg [mailto:patti@humanitieswest.org]


NAPOLEON: EUROPEAN CULTURE AT THE CROSSROADS
ORIAS Working Group at Humanities West
April 17-18, 2009

Join with colleagues and scholars at the Humanities West program to explore enduring legacies from the Napoleonic era through legendary personalities, flamboyant art and music, and legal innovations in defining citizenship.

WHERE: Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue at McAllister, Sf

WHEN: April 17-18, 2009

WHAT: Working Groups are established to nurture a professional community of K-12 and college educators with shared interests in international studies and world history The groups are free and open to all K-12 and community college educators and librarians.

*Working Group Moderators: Michele Delattre (ORIAS) and
Camille Mathieu (Art History, UCB).


PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE:

· Advance reading.
· Free ground floor tickets to Humanities West programs on Friday and Saturday ($100 regular price).
· Saturday lunch for break-out meeting.


OTHER BENEFITS FOR TEACHERS/STUDENTS:

· Reduced price balcony tickets for teachers not participating in the ORIAS working group can be purchased from www.cityboxoffice.com for $20/day plus $2.50 service charge per ticket. Direct link: http://www.cityboxoffice.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=1234&c=18&pg

· A limited number of scholarships for K-12 students available. (Regular discount $20/day) Contact Humanities West, info@humanitieswest.org or 415-391-9700 for further information.

· Stipends of $100 for teachers bringing students to the program. Contact Humanities West, info@humanitieswest.org or 415 391 9700 for further information.

· All teachers and students are invited to join the ORIAS working group lunch meeting. RSVP required – lunch supplied, space is limited. Contact Michele Delattre at orias@berkeley.edu / 510-643-0868

Patricia Lundberg, PhD
Executive Director, Humanities West
P O Box 546
San Francisco, CA 94104
Direct line: (415) 994 5929 (cell)
www.humanitieswest.org

ORIAS UPDATE 3-16-09

From: ORIAS [mailto:orias@berkeley.edu]

ORIAS EVENTS

1. European Union: A Teachers’ Institute at U. C. Berkeley – April 4
http://orias.berkeley.edu/2009/EUhome.htm
Two spaces left.

2. Russia And Her Neighbors • Institute of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies' Annual Teachers' Conference - April 25, 2009

Contact: Libby Coyne at ISEEES elizabeth.coyneberkeley.edu or (510) 643-5844

3. Visible Power: Art In National Life

2009 ORIAS Summer Teacher's World History Institute
July 27-31, 2009
Art production for public display has been a component of every historical era. The institute will explore unique evidence art supplies for teaching world history themes such as: Identity; Order and Systems; Peace and Conflict; Migration and Encounters; Chronologies/Change and Continuity.
http://orias.berkeley.edu/summer2009/Summer2009Home.htm


OTHER PUBLIC EVENTS ON CAMPUS

*Responding to a Resurgent Russia: Russian Policy and Responses from the EU and US
Conference/Symposium | April 2 | 9 a.m.-6 p.m. | International House,

Event Contact: Noga Wizansky nwizansk@berkeley.edu, 510-643-4558-4

*Film Series: Women’s Cinema from Tangiers to Tehran
March 1, 2009 - April 29, 2009 at the Pacific Film Archive

A celebration of women filmmakers from North Africa and the Middle East, as well as the diaspora in Europe, this series represents a remarkable geographic, cultural, and stylistic range. In documentaries, features, and experimental works, the directors depict urban attitudes and rural traditions, the dream of escape and the isolation of exile, and the comforts and entrapments of family.
PFA Theater: 2575 Bancroft Way @ Bowditch, Berkeley
Info: 510.642.1412 Advance Tickets: 510.642.5249

Please refer to the PFA website for program details and updates. http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/filmseries/womens_cinema_
tangiers_tehran


SCIENCE CONNECTIONS

History teachers can find exciting ways to think out of the box by collaborating with their colleagues in science departments and integrate science perspectives into the world history curriculum through global topics like population growth, climate change, environmental law, and energy politics.

· The law schools at UC Berkeley and UCLA have launched a new blog, Legal Planet, which provides insight and analysis on climate change, energy, and environmental law and policy. This collaborative blog draws upon the individual research strengths and vast expertise of the law schools' think tanks and legal scholars.
http://legalplanet.wordpress.com/

· Conference: Sustainable Professional Development for Global Systems Science in the 21st Century - July 13-15, 2009.

You are invited to attend the Global Systems Science (GSS) conference which will be held 2009 July 13-15 (3 days) at Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA.

This conference will combine elements of the Global System Science curriculum materials and the new GSS partner: the Global Science textbook authored by John Christensen and published by Kendall/Hunt. We'll share best techniques for using GSS and Global Science materials with high school classes as well as techniques for both in-person and remote-meeting professional development. The materials feature reading and investigations that can form an Earth Science course, Environmental Science course, Integrated Science course, or constitute valuable supplements to traditional Physics, Biology, and Chemistry courses. Preliminary agenda is on the GSS conference page:
http://lhs.berkeley.edu/gss/uptodate/con/


OFF CAMPUS Summer Travel:

· Global Alliance for Preserving the History of WW II in Asia
2009 Peace And Reconciliation Tour Of China - June 30 to July 15, 2009

The Global Alliance for Preserving the History of World War II in Asia (Global Alliance) is again pleased to announce, for the third year, that social science, history, and humanities teachers and educators are invited to apply for this opportunity to take part in a 16-day intensive summer study tour of China. The purpose of the study tour is to enhance knowledge and understanding of the cultural and historical background of China during the Asia-Pacific War from 1931-1945.

o For full details on fees, funding, and application see http://www.global-alliance.net
o Application deadline postmarked April 10, 2009.
Contact: Pete Stanek pete.stanek@global-alliance.net.


· Uganda - Teaching Global Issues: July 11 - 24, 2009

Do you teach about Global Issues? Have you dreamed of visiting Africa but wanted a more authentic experience than looking at it through the window of an air-conditioned bus? Do you want to connect, one-on-one, with people who are actively working to lift themselves out of poverty and ask them what their lives are like? Would you like to go on safari and then be able to talk to the locals about what the the park and wildlife conservation mean to them? Do you want to see what "Global Issues" look like in the lives of Ugandans?

For information on costs, itinerary, and program visit Conservation Concepts.
http://conservationconcepts.net/default.aspx


Michele Delattre
Office of Resources for International and Area Studies (ORIAS)
University of California Berkeley
2223 Fulton Street Rm 338 (MC2324)
Berkeley CA 94720-2324
510-643-0868
http://orias.berkeley.edu
orias@berkeley.edu

Teaching Tolerance: American Workers at the Crossroads

From: Teaching Tolerance <TeachingTolerance@newsletter.tolerance.org>

American Workers at the Crossroads

The economy is in crisis. When powerful people gather to debate bailouts and bankruptcies, labor unions are the sole voice for the concerns of the individual worker.

Congress is preparing to debate the Employee Free Choice Act, which could shape organized labor - and your students' lives - for years to come.

Why Unions Matter (Lesson for Grades 10-12)

Cesar Chavez, Farmworkers & the Union (Lesson for Grades 7-12)

Economic Injustice Affects Us All (Lesson for Grades 7-12)

Making Sense of EFCA (Lesson for Grades 10-12)

United We Stand (Lesson for Grades 3-6)

These lessons can be used in conjunction with Viva La Causa, our FREE teaching kit on Cesar Chavez and the California farmworkers' strike.

All Teaching Tolerance resources support MCREL national standards. For this mini-unit, we have also included standards for the eight states that observe Cesar Chavez Day (March 31).

Also Available From Teaching Tolerance
Rihanna & Chris Brown: Business as Usual?

A Nation of Cowards?

Seeking True Equality for Women's Sports

Forward This to Your Colleagues!
Did you receive this email from a colleague? Sign up for your own FREE e-newsletter subscription here.


Teaching Tolerance
c/o Southern Poverty Law Center
400 Washington Ave.
Montgomery, AL 36104

PeaceGAMES Training for Trainers - April 17

From: Maryam Roberts <mroberts@coloredgirls.org>

The PeaceGAMES Training for Trainers is a leadership training opportunity where we will focus on peace and militarism issues through a racial and gender justice lens.

April 17, 9:30-4:00
The Women of Color Resource Center
1611 Telegraph, Ave Suite 303, Oakland CA
Cost: $75-200 Sliding Scale (Scholarships Available)

Who is the training for? Educators, Organizers, Students, Youth leaders, Veterans, Peace Organizers, Anyone looking to deepen the links between race, gender, militarism and peace.

Come join us as we explore:
· PeaceGAMES curriculum exercises
· How to effectively facilitate conversations on race, gender, militarism and peace in your community or classroom
· How do peace, gender, race, militarism and social justice issues overlap?
· Leadership & community building among women of color

LGBTQ, working-class, and women of color strongly encouraged to apply.

For an application, please email mroberts@coloredgirls.org
Space limited! Apply soon!

Applications available online, or email to request one.


Maryam Roberts
Peace & Solidarity Program Director
Women of Color Resource Center
510-444-2700 x305

www.coloredgirls.org