Today, my third grade son is supposed to take the Common Core high-stakes test, "Smarter Balanced," at his school here in Seattle. He decided, however, that he would rather do a research project about a leader who has helped to make the world better. So my wife and I are writing the opt out letter …
In the spirit of May Day, International Workers Day, the unionized educators of Puerto Rico went out on strike against mass school closures, layoffs, and the school privatization. These members of the Teachers Federation of Puerto Rico were joined by students and community members, as a sea of tens of thousands of people wearing red …
Thousands of teachers have been striking and protesting for school funding around the U.S.—from West Virginia to Oklahoma to Kentucky and Arizona and beyond. But many people are unaware of the ongoing struggles of the Puerto Rican educators. At the end of last week, police pepper sprayed members of the Puerto Rican teachers union (FMPR) …
My friend Gillian Russom teaches high school in the L.A. public schools. She is also a union activist in the United Teachers of Los Angeles, a fierce advocate for social justice, and an outspoken opponent of high stakes testing. Gillian recently wrote this short post about the out-of-control testing happening at her school and I …
Continue reading More Teaching, Less Testing!
I recently went to Santa Fe, New Mexico to join best selling author Diane Ravitch in dialogue about the struggle for public education for the Lannan Foundation’s “In Pursuit of Cultural Freedom” forum. Below are the videos of my introduction to Diane, her speech focusing on the struggle against high-stakes testing, and our dialogue about …
Continue reading In Pursuit of Cultural Freedom: Diane Ravitch with Jesse Hagopian
I AM AN EDUCATOR 
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