Deven Black

I'm a highly curious middle school teacher-librarian for the NYC Department of Education. My other major pleasure is being a husband and the father of a teenager. I've done lots of other things (news reporter, restaurant manager, food writer, etc.) that will show up in my writing from time-to-time. I have strong opinions but I try to keep an open mind. I'm always ready to learn something new.

Deven Black has written 6 posts for Cooperative Catalyst

Keeping My Students Safe Isn’t Easy

Posted by Deven Black ⋅ December 19, 2012 ⋅ 3 Comments

I want to keep my students safe, I really do, but it really is impossible. When it comes to student and staff safety, there are so many things wrong with the way my school is built and run that I don’t know where to begin. Our principal reminded the staff again this week that only the front … Continue reading →

What Would Gandhi Do?

Posted by Deven Black ⋅ April 17, 2012 ⋅ 7 Comments

In its infinite wisdom, the New York State Education Department has increased the length of the state ELA and math tests by 50% this year. Now three days each instead of two. They say that the increase is due to a need to field test questions for future exams based on the Common Core standards. In … Continue reading →

I’m Tired of Talking About Education

Posted by Deven Black ⋅ December 28, 2011 ⋅ 15 Comments

Actually, I’m not. I’m going to spend the rest of this essay talking about it. I am very tired of talking about school, especially with people who think we are talking about education. Education and school is not the same thing and I can prove it. School takes place for six, seven or ten hours … Continue reading →

We Need to Teach So that Kids Will Care

Posted by Deven Black ⋅ November 14, 2011 ⋅ 3 Comments

Someone I respect says we shouldn’t teach kids stuff they don’t care about. It sounds appealing. On some level this seems to make sense. It is also patently absurd. We have to teach kids things they don’t care about for all kinds of reasons. The first reason is because we don’t have to teach them … Continue reading →

Why President Obama Must Remove Arne Duncan As Secretary of Education if He Hopes to Win Re-Election

Posted by Deven Black ⋅ June 9, 2011 ⋅ 7 Comments

The following is a guest post by Professor Mark Naison. Mark Naison is a Professor of African-American Studies and History at Fordham University and Director of Fordham’s Urban Studies Program. He is the author of three books and over 100 articles on African-American History, urban history, and the history of sports. His most recent book … Continue reading →

Is it Ever About the Students?

Posted by Deven Black ⋅ June 4, 2011 ⋅ 12 Comments

Is it ever about the students? No matter where I turn I hear teachers, principals, superintendents, mayors, governors, education secretaries, regents, newspapers, tv networks, radio stations and the President saying it is all about the students – every lesson, every decision every policy is about doing what is best for the students. Really? Let’s start … Continue reading →