SHAME: Gala More Proof Success Charter and Wealthy Supporters Steal Space and Resources from Public School Kids

Do you think they could afford to get their own buildings? They'll step over the bodies of their former "scholars" who they've tossed back into public schools.

Scene Last Night: Loeb, Christie, Jones, Tepper, Singer

By Amanda Gordon - May 23, 2013 4:32 PM ET

Daniel S. Loeb put aside discussions with Sony Corp. (6758) last night to be the first honoree at the first gala for Success Academy Charter Schools.
With a “no counterparty left behind” philosophy, and feeling “a little bit like Don Fanucci” in “The Godfather,” as he put it, Loeb, the chief executive officer of Third Point LLC, rallied impressive support from the financial-services industry. David Einhorn, Paul Tudor Jones, Rich Handler and John Griffin were at his table; David Tepper, Paul Singer and Scott Bommer were at others, all decorated with “Success” pencils.

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John Vogelstein, managing director and senior adviser at Warburg Pincus LLC, and Daniel S. Loeb, CEO of Third Point LLC. Vogelstein gave Loeb one of his first jobs in finance. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

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Eva Moskowitz, Success Academy founder and CEO, David Saltzman, executive director of Robin Hood Foundation, and Campbell Brown, a journalist. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

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New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, right, arrives at the lectern to deliver the keynote speech, greeting Daniel S. Loeb, CEO of Third Point LLC. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

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David Einhorn, president of Greenlight Capital Inc. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

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A screen brings the classroom to the ballroom at the first fundraiser of the Success Academy Charter Schools. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

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Margaret Loeb and Merryl Tisch, chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

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Regina Scully, CEO of Artemis Rising Foundation, and John Scully, co-founder of SPO Partners & Co. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

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Richard Pzena, CEO, Pzena Investment Management Inc., David Tepper, CEO of Appaloosa Management LP, and Shahryar Mahbub, a managing director at Citigroup Inc. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

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John Petry, of Sessa Capital, a co-chairman of the Success Academy network board, and Karen Petry. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

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John Griffin, president and founder of Blue Ridge Capital LLC, Allison Mignone, and Roberto Mignone, portfolio manager at Bridger Management LLC. All three worked together when Griffin started Blue Ridge. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

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Shane Handler, a college student, and Rich Handler, chairman and CEO of Jefferies Group LLC. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

“Success is a completely disruptive business model,” Loeb said in the ballroom of the Mandarin Oriental. “Not only does your money go to changing kids’ lives, but if we really succeed, we’ll set a higher bar for all schools to meet.”
The Success model includes teachers whose intensity is a mix of Internet startup and trading desk, and a vast amount of training, maniacal attention to data and replicable processes, Loeb said.
“It’s the Google of charter schools. We’re growing faster, it’s logarithmic,” he added, saying that 11,500 students will be enrolled in two years, up from 7,000 in August.
Loeb and his wife, Margaret, have founded three Success schools in Brooklyn and he is a trustee of the Success Academy Network board. Initially sparked by a screening of the documentary “Waiting for ’Superman,’” Loeb has confidence in Eva Moskowitz, founder and CEO of Success Academy, whom he called a “kindred spirit, my long lost sister.”

Big Change

An activist like him, she joked that she liked his “fiery” comments before she knew he was known for them. “Dan has a unique way of urgently pressing for big change, but always thinking about our kids and how to support them,” said Moskowitz, onetime New York City council member.
Loeb, who sat next to former Florida governor Jeb Bush and Merryl Tisch, chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents, introduced the keynote speaker, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Education “is more important than any other domestic issue in our country we’re discussing today,” Christie said. “If we don’t get this right, we won’t have the next generation of entrepreneurs” creating “a middle class that’s the envy of the world.”

Besting Scarsdale

Success Academy opened its first school in Harlem seven years ago. In August it will have 23 elementary and middle schools in New York City, each located in unused spaces in public schools.
According to Success Academy, by their third year the schools operate solely with public funding for each pupil. In state tests, the schools have outperformed ones in Scarsdale, an affluent New York suburb.
The gala program began with students from the Tufts and MIT class of 2022 introducing themselves (they’re currently at Success Academy Harlem West). Loeb spoke of his favorite high-school teacher. “I still cherish her nickname for me,” -- Milo Minderbinder, from “Catch-22” -- “in honor of my capitalist interests even back then.”
At “recess,” waiters served salmon. Afterward guests convened outside the ballroom for milk and cookies.
The event raised $7 million including a $1 million gift from the Robin Hood Foundation and a Loeb-family contribution of $3 million. Most of the money will go toward startup costs of new schools in the network.
(Amanda Gordon is a writer and photographer for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. Any opinions expressed are her own.)
To contact the writer on this story: Amanda Gordon in New York at agordon01@bloomberg.net or on Twitter at @amandagordon.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.

More News:

Obama Cuts Drones But Can't Guarantee Safety of Karen Lewis

"We have Al Qaeda on the run but right now the biggest threat to our agenda is Karen Lewis and the Chicago Teachers Union," said an Obama spokesperson.

Karen Lewis seeking drone

"Our pal Rahm Emanuel has been forced to close 50 schools in retaliation for the strike led by Lewis and now suffers poll numbers so low they are getting close to the interest rate. He is actually being criticized for using money he saves by closing schools to put $100 million into building a new basketball arena where our president and Arne Duncan will be able to shoot hoops once their term in office is over. For that Rahm is being called the most loathsome politician in America? How dare they?"

"And some in the media have started ganging up on some of our allies like Michelle Rhee. And Arne Duncan's poor record in running the Chicago schools for so many years has been re-examined due to the work of Karen Lewis' union.

"And then to top it all our hand-picked crew to beat her in the election got only 20% of the vote despite being supported by our press pals at the Chicago Tribune, thus showing Chicago teachers will not go to the woodshed like the lambs being led by Randi Weingarten, our most important asset, who by the way we have supplied a military escort to protect, but let me point out that we are not using public money for Randi's escort since Bill Gates is paying."

"Getting Bin Laden was so much easier."

John Merrow's Growing Relentlessness on Rhee Cheating Scandal Sparks Rhee Scrutiny

John Merrow has been relentless in connecting the dots in the Michelle Rhee cheating scandal. Remember those glowing reports he did on PBS about Rhee (and Vallas in New Orleans?)

Don't underestimate how important the move of media people like Merrow away from supporting the deformers will prove to be.
Connect these dots to Walcott's almost hysterical response to the mayoral candidates.

I see on Dec. 31 Tweedies burning and shredding documents like they did in the US Saigon embassy on the day before the fall.

The New Republic, which I seem to remember being a cheerleader for ed deform (I may be wrong so check my work) has this:

How Michelle Rhee Misled Education Reform A memoir illustrates what's wrong with her brand of school

Surely one reason that the education-reform movement comports itself in this strident and limited manner is that it depends so heavily on the largesse of people who are used to getting their way and to whom the movement’s core arguments have a powerful face validity. Only a tiny percentage of American children attend the kind of expensive, non-sectarian private schools where many of the elite send their children. It is worth noting that these schools generally avoid giving their students the standardized achievement tests that state education departments require, making the results public, and paying teachers on the basis of the scores, and that they almost never claim to be creating hyper-competitive, commercial-skills-purveying environments for their students. Sidwell Friends, of presidential-daughter fame, says it offers “a rich and rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum designed to stimulate creative inquiry, intellectual achievement and independent thinking in a world increasingly without borders.” That doesn’t sound like it would cut much ice with Michelle Rhee.

The crew at The Chalkface had Merrow on:

If Michelle Rhee covers up cheating while Chancellor of DCPS does anyone in the mainstream media care? @the chalkface does! 
Listen here as we talk to John Merrow about the "Reign of Rhee."http://www.blogtalkradio.com/chalkface/2013/05/23/special-episode-of-at-the-chalk-face-w-john-merrow

John Merrow posted this on May 15, 2013 -- he hammers Rhee,making (partially) for the positive publicity

Friends,
Just how different are the situations in Atlanta and Washington, DC?  We know Atlanta is the poster child for cheating, of course.  How does DC stack up?  This post compares the two cities, beginning with the editorial pages of the local newspapers, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Washington Post, specifically their editorials about public education.

Here's the link: http://bit.ly/19tuyvX

Please post your thoughts on the blog. Write me to be removed from this list.

Thanks
John

John Merrow
Education Correspondent,
PBS NewsHour, and President,
Learning Matters, Inc. 

Jitu Weusi Passes

Jitu Weusi, whose given name was Les Campbell, was an activist and founder of the Coalition for Public Education. His early history as a community teacher and firebrand in Ocean Hill-Brownsville during the 1968 teacher strike made him a legendary figure, both praised and vilified, in UFT history. I had some brief contact with Jitu in the past few years and after initially approaching him with some trepidation -- I was open about supporting the UFT in the '68 strike -- I found him to be a gentle and inspiring man open to discussing the past and future. I liked him immediately and I wish I had spent more time with him but he seemed to be a very busy guy.

The '68 strike has been on my mind a lot lately -- with the argument about opposing mayoral control leading to the "then what?" question, the various versions of "community" control have bubbled back to the surface. When people scratch their heads about the UFT's adamant support for some version of  mayoral control, the simple answer is: 1968.

Jitu played no small role in those events.

I was hoping to do some historical perspective this summer with a group of teachers who opened up their schools during the strike, some of whom have a very interesting perspective. I don't know if I would have had the nerve to ask Jitu Weusi to take part and I doubt if he would have. There has been so much more to his life since then and he shouldn't be solely defined by those years. The announcement on the list serves came from his good friend Justin Wedes.

You can find out more about his life at ww.assatashakur.org/forum/shoulders-our-freedom-fighters/17691-baba-jitu-weusi.html

And here (UPDATED): http://forpubliced.blogspot.com/

Friends,

It is with a heavy heart that I share that the great and beloved Jitu Weusi has passed away.

http://www.brooklynron.com/2013/05/jituweusi.html

I was very close with Jitu and with his family, and my thoughts and prayers are with all of them now. Even in the last years of his life, Jitu stood up and spoke truth to power and he will be remembered always as a fierce education advocate and as a loving father and community leader.

--
Justin Wedes

Educator & Activist 

Co-principal, Paul Robeson Freedom School

Twitter: @FreedomSchoolBK

Facebook: facebook.com/Education4Liberation 

Web: http://paulrobesonfreedomschool.org/

Walcott Misuses Public Funds and Public Space For Political Ends and Must Be Held Accountable

Guest column By A. P. Salamander

If ever there’s been a moment revealing how grossly Mike Bloomberg has diminished and twisted the office of Chancellor of Education from an independent advocate of students to a highly paid political shill of the mayor, it was found in Chancellor Dennis Walcott’s transparent politicking of behalf on Bloomberg before an audience of principals at Brooklyn Tech High School this past Saturday, May 18. This is no small matter. For a public official to be publicly politicking in a public building to publicly paid civil servants under the pretense of a conference on public education is utterly immoral and cannot possibly be legal.

To give you some context, a teacher wearing an “Occupy the DOE “ button on his or her overcoat at school can be cited and written up for professional misconduct. 

Consider Walcott’s act in the context of the following rules from the Department of Education’s Chancellor’s Regulation D-130,
(http://docs.nycenet.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-86/D-130__1-15-04.pdf) which clearly states, “ School buildings are not public forums for purposes of community or political expression.”
And: “ Any officer or employee who violates the provisions of this regulation is subject to disciplinary action.” 

And: “ No rallies, forums, programs, etc. on behalf of, or for the benefit of any elected official, particular candidate, candidates, slate of candidates, or political organization/ committee may be held in a school building.”
And: “The use of any Department of Education school after school/business hours by any person, group, organization, committee, etc, on behalf of any elected official, candidate, candidates, slates of candidates or political /committee is prohibited.” 

Walcott either does not know the regulations he is meant to enforce or does know and does not believe he must adhere to them. Either way it is a horrific abuse of power and one for which Walcott should resign or be fired. 

Wolcott’s hyperbolic harangue against unnamed Democratic candidates who have rejected 12 years of Bloomberg education policies and were painted by Walcott as pawns of the teachers union, received wide media attention. Remarkably, neither the legality of Wolcott’s rant nor the waste of public funds was mentioned in any of the press coverage the event received.
Indeed, as reported in Saturday’s New York Times, Walcott even announced the “campaign” and the speech beforehand. 

“Dennis M. Walcott, the schools chancellor, is planning a campaign to remind voters of what he sees as the administration’s chief accomplishments, including rises in graduation rates and test scores. He will call on the candidates to put forth a compelling vision for city schools.

Mr. Walcott will begin his effort on Saturday, in a speech before nearly 2,000 school administrators. He will warn that the school system could fall into disarray if the policies endorsed by the Democratic candidates are put into effect.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/18/nyregion/schools-chancellor-to-strike-back-at-candidates-critical-of-mayors-policies

Walcott’s transgression can not be allowed to pass as nothing. Walcott must be held accountable for his actions. 

If you agree, call the Special Commissioner of Investigation at 212 510 1500 and demand an investigation. If enough of us do, we cannot be ignored. 

See article below.
New York Schools Chief Warns Against Changes

Democracy Prep at the Central Park Zoo to Honor Joel Klein: Why Should Charters Get One Dime of Public Money?

Do you have 50 grand to be a Dream sponsor?

Dear Friends, I hope that you will join me on Thursday evening at 6:30pm for A Night At The Zoo: Graduation Gala at the Central Park Zoo! We are honoring former New York City School Chancellor Joel Klein and our first graduating class of Democracy Prep seniors, all of whom have been accepted into four-year colleges and universities! Tickets can be purchased here for what promises to be an absolutely amazing night. Even if you are unable to attend, please consider making a donation or sponsoring a teacher to attend. A contribution of any size means a great deal to our scholars and will help support our alumni so that they can fullfill our Democracy Prep mission and succeed in the college of their choice and a life of active citizenship! I look forward to seeing you on Thursday! Seth Founder and Superintendent

Democracy Prep Public Schools 207 West 133rd Street New York, NY 10030 info@democracyprep.org

Video: Presidents of the Teachers Unions Exposed

Thanks to Angel Gonzalez for sending this exciting video. Until today it has been a while since I've spoken to Angel, one of our co-conspirators in the founding of GEM -- actually it was his energy and smarts and drive that got us off the ground. How nice to hear someone agree with me that our union leaders are on the other side and not to waste time trying to cajole them into doing the right thing, Here is a perfect example in a very well done video to the music of the Temptations' Ojays [Thanks Fred Smith] "Backstabber."





http://youtu.be/FwA04N2HsPw

E4E Free Lunch Turned Away After Agenda Disclosed

Some colleagues had sent out info about E4E to the staff listerv -- and then the administration said that after finding out more about E4E's agenda -- the luncheon is cancelled. We'll be having lunch together as a staff instead.  ..... A MORE teacher at the school

Along with this missive:

“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” 

 “Every battle is won before it’s ever fought.” 

 “Attack by Stratagem” 

 "The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.” 

― Sun Tzu

I forget which school but at one place they took the pizza and THEN asked them to leave.

Thursday: Advocates plan to protest $66 million tax break given to Hoboken publisher

Pearson proves it is gifted and talented at getting tax breaks.

 

By Charles Hack/The Jersey Journal 

HOBOKEN – Not everyone is happy about New Jersey's generous corporate tax breaks that helped lure publishing giant Pearson Education to Hoboken.

A coalition representing education, labor, and community advocates are planning to protest the state's $66 million tax credit subsidy to Pearson on Thursday, at the Hoboken Ferry Terminal, 1 Hudson St., beginning at 12:30 p.m. 

The protestors plan to brandish a large fake check made out to Pearson.
The state subsidy program provides subsidies to corporations to retain and attract jobs to New Jersey.

Pearson North America spokeswoman, Wendy Spiegel said in a statement.
Officials with the publishing company, which has pre-leased five stories of the 14-story building Waterfront Corporate Center III, at 221 River St., said at the groundbreaking in Dec. 2012 they plan to relocate 900 employees to Hoboken from Upper Saddle River and Old Tappan in 2014.

"The businesses of Pearson and the talented employees who work with us in the state of New Jersey have a decades-long history working in the state," Pearson North America spokeswoman, Wendy Spiegel, said in a statement. "We are committed to this state and, as we relocate our offices from Upper Saddle River to Hoboken, the number of New Jersey employees will remain constant with the move."

New Jersey Economic Development Authority President and Chief Operating Officer Tim Lizura said in December that Pearson would receive a state Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit of up to $66 million. In return, the company  must retain at least 700 jobs in northern New Jersey for at least 10 years and keep 1,700 people employed statewide in each of the 10 years.

Critics say that the tax credit programs has failed to bring the state’s unemployment rate in line with neighboring states and takes money away from investment in education and other social programs.

Speakers slated to speak at the protest will be Bill Holland, executive director, of New Jersey Working Families Alliance, Stan Karp, director of  Secondary Reform Project, Education Law Center, and Leonie Haimson, executive director, Class Size Matters.

Pearson Education publishes textbooks and produces a range of other educational materials for students and teachers.

Legislation designed simplify the state’s economic development tax incentives was approved by the Assembly yesterday.
 

Teachers College Protest Stories and Pics - Updated With Press Release

NYS BOARD OF REGENTS CHANCELLOR TISCH  ENCOUNTERS PROTEST AT TEACHERS COLLEGE CONVOCATION

WIDE SUPPORT FROM NY PARENTS AND EDUCATORS AROUND THE NATION

Contact:

Daiyu Suzuki (TC Doctoral Student in Curriculum & Teaching)  (646) 546-2513 or daiyu.suzuki@gmail.com 

On May 21, NYS Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch encountered a peaceful protest by the students and faculty of Teachers College during its graduation ceremony where she was the keynote speaker and was awarded a medal of honor for “Distinguished Service.” The fact that the decision was made by Teachers College President Susan Fuhrman without any internal selection committee manifested the erosion of shared governance that has been taking place under President Fuhrman’s leadership. In addition, many faculty members and students were enraged because this opportunity to speak at such a special moment revealed both the College’s implicit endorsement of the test-driven corporate reforms that Chancellor Tisch symbolizes as well as an assault on academic freedom and integrity that is taking place under the leadership of President Fuhrman, who sits on the Board of Directors of a multinational education giant, Pearson PLC. A group of graduating students, with the support of other students, created a flyer (attached) which had facts about Chancellor Tisch’s destructive education policies on one side and showed on the back a large sign that said “NOT A TEST SCORE,” a message against the testing regime she constructed in the state of NY.

With the help of some faculty members and few parent activists from Change the Stakes and Time Out From Testing, the students distributed the flyer widely to the faculty, graduates, and their guests as they entered the venue. During Chancellor Tisch’s speech, hundreds of students and over a half of the faculty held up the sign to express their disapprovals. One student later described, “It was a very profound experience to witness the sea of protest signs.”

-        A graduate said, “it was a significant moment to remember. Seeing students and faculty holding proudly the signs while Tisch was looking confused and distressed was very powerful.” She said, “I was siting in the back, so from my view I saw the majority of the Faculty holding the signs and a third of students facing Tisch with sign at high. She seemed emotionally affected. I would say she almost cried at the beginning.” She also described how brave professors who held up the signs behind the podium were loudly cheered by the graduates.

-        Another graduate reflects, “It was a great celebration of our beliefs.”

-        An MA graduate (Curriculum & Teaching) Robyn Fialkow reflects, “To see signs from across departments, from faculty members on stage, from guests in the audience; to hear people's words of support as we marched proudly out of the Cathedral; to sit in strong silence and in clear resolve among friends and colleagues united in a noble cause -- this is what I will remember of my graduation day.” 

-        The students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Teachers College are calling for a reexamination of the state of the College (http://education4.org/ under “Re-imagining TC”) in this 125^thanniversary of the institution. They intend to build on today’s successful protest against Chancellor Tisch and President Fuhrman’s unilateral decision to honor her.

-       In a statement released today, parents across New York State have come together to support the protest arising within the Teachers College community, joining a large group of TC faculty, staff, students and alumni objecting to TC President Susan Fuhrman’s decision to honor NY State Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch at the TC graduation ceremony on May 21. The parents announced their support for the TC protesters, saying that Tisch’s policies hurt children and damage all public schools, with ill effects falling most drastically on schools that serve middle-class and poor families.

-       As parents see their children experience the devastating effects of Tisch’s agenda, they are dismayed to find TC’s president praising Tisch’s policies. Fred Smith states at www.schoolbook.org, “Tisch has supported New York’s testing program as it became the black hole of education from the inception of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002. Children have been reduced to data points.”

-       It has been revealed that Fuhrman has strong ties to one of the largest corporations benefiting from Tisch’s policies, Pearson, as Fuhrman sits on the board of Pearson and through her Pearson stock holdings benefits personally from the Tisch policies. Jeanette Brunelle Deutermann spoke out against honoring Tisch. The protests “will send a strong message to all universities that whom they honor DOES matter.”

-       A large portion of TC’s community has courageously protested the honoring of Tisch, with statements signed by many TC alumni (petition organized by Carol Burris, ’03, Ed.D; Bill Ayers ’87, Ed.D; Sean Feeney, ’05, Ed.D) and public school teachers (Brian Jones, MORE, NYC; Karen Lewis, President of Chicago Teachers Union; Jesse Hagopian, Seattle Garfield High School). They are now joined by parent groups. Edith Baltazar supports the TC protests: “I am outraged. Why should Merryl Tisch receive an award for approving the high-stakes testing that creates a climate of fear in our schools and disrupts the real teaching of our children?”

-       Jeff Nichols states that “as parents, we call on the administration of Teachers College in general, and President Fuhrman in particular, to sever all ties with private corporations that have influence over education policy decisions. The administration of the College should take a leading role in rejecting discredited practices like high-stakes testing and untried, undemocratically instituted curricula like the Common Core. Teachers College should disassociate itself from figures like Chancellor Tisch who have participated in undermining the authority of teachers and parents over crucial educational decisions such as student assessment and design of curriculum.”

-       Parents applaud the TC community’s courage in protesting, pointing out that Fuhrman’s plan would make TC complicit with Tisch’s pro-corporate agenda and would constitute a violation of TC’s long tradition of supporting public schools as a force for equality and opportunity for all members of society.

-       Parents stand by the Teachers College protesters in saying NO to Tisch’s agenda and NO to TC honoring her at their graduation ceremony!

For more info, please visit our Facebook page

 Steven Dubin, Ed.D (Professor of Arts Administration) is also available for your questions. (917) 565-0757 or sd2188@tc.columbia.edu

###
MORE Below the break

VAM This: Is This a New Definition of an Effective Teacher - Throwing your body over kids during a tornado or in front of a bullet?

One can never say what you would do in situations like these and I cannot say for sure what I would do. I had a few minor incidents over my years of teaching where I hope I did the right thing. I think most teachers generally act in the interests of the safety of the kids in extreme conditions. It is an almost automatic act to put the kids in your charge ahead of yourself. But here is a scary thought: you take your kids on a trip and either due to your not being careful enough or due to one of your kids going off kilter (and maybe if a kid who was capable of going off should not have been on the trip) a kid falls on the tracks and a train is coming. What do you do? I'm really picturing this scene and right now I'm still standing on the edge of the platform reaching down and urging the child to grab my hands. But I haven't jumped on the tracks yet. The clock is ticking. How effective will I be deemed under the new definition of VAM?


Special to Ed Notes from Jim Callaghan 
 
Great to hear from Jim today, chief defender of teacher rights at the NY Teacher before Mulgrew fired him in the summer of 2010. Jim watching the actions of the teachers in Oklahoma expresses some outrage though he is a day behind on the NY Times editorials.

Once again, in Oklahoma, we see teachers putting the lives of their students first.

When will Mulgrew demand that his "close" friend Bermuda Mike apologize for calling teachers "radicals' last week? Maybe he could bring it up during the next plane ride to Bermuda.

When will Mulgrew manage a word of complaint when the N.Y. Times editorial writers- hiding behind the cloak of anonymity- calls on mayoral candidates to "get tough" on teachers?

When will Weingarten and Mulgrew beg forgiveness from the members for their Vichy collaboration with the likes of Tisch, Green Dot, Bill Gates, Klein, Walcott, Duncan, Bloomberg and dozens of others who seek to single out teachers for the ills of our society?

When will Mulgrew, a moral coward, do the right thing and resign his office and let someone who cares about the members take over?

What is your kid's life worth?

Noon Today: TEACHERS COLLEGE STUDENTS AND FACULTY TO PROTEST AWARD TO MERRYL TISCH, NYS BOARD OF REGENTS CHANCELLOR

We've been reporting on this for a week as various parents, faculty and student groups have petitions going. But today is the live protest by students, faculty and alumni of TC. The protest is as much against the actions of TC President Susan Fuhrman who is on the board of the Pearson test giant as it is against Tisch. TC students go there because many are progressive educators opposed to the high stakes testing regime while TC itself has blood on its hands in many ways. The alumni I know are outraged.

A group based at TC, Edu4, has a web site Edu4.

Check out this powerhouse School Book piece by Change the Stakes member Fred Smith on the exploding student, parent, alumni protest of the selection of Regent Merryl Tisch to be honored at tomorrow’s graduation. 





MEDIA ALERT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                  MAY 20, 2013

Press Contacts:
Daiyu Suzuki: (646) 546-2513, daiyu.suzuki@gmail.com
Sulafa Khalid-Musa: (917) 600-7607, smk2194@tc.columbia.edu

 TEACHERS COLLEGE STUDENTS AND FACULTY TO PROTEST

AWARD TO MERRYL TISCH,
NYS BOARD OF REGENTS CHANCELLOR

WHEN:             TUESDAY, MAY 21
TIME:               12:00 NOON
WHAT:              TEACHERS COLLEGE CONVOCATION
WHERE:           IN FRONT of CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE
                        112th ST. AND AMSTERDAM AVENUE, NYC



WHY: 

At tomorrow’s graduation ceremony Merryl Tisch, Chancellor of New York State Board of Regents, is to be a speaker and receive an award from Teachers College. Tisch is a driving force behind the state’s policies of high-stakes testing in the public schools and the promotion of charter schools. Critics of these policies include TC graduates and other students as well as members of TC faculty, staff, and alumni.

Many TC students and faculty members state that Chancellor Tisch’s policies hurt children and damage all public schools, and most drastically damage schools that serve middle-class and poor families. In contrast, there are no high-stakes tests in elite private schools, where Chancellor Tisch’s children studied and where she taught. TC community members also object to TC President Susan Fuhrman’s unilateral decision to honor Chancellor Tisch with an award at their graduation.

Students, including graduates coming out of the convocation, and a number of faculty members are prepared to be interviewed by the press. They will share their photos of the protest as well.

Change the Stakes High States Testing Updates - Field Tests, Merryl Tisch Outrage, and More!

Message from the most dynamic group in the battle against Ed Deform in NYC.

Thanks so much for continuing to share and support the petition to Give New York State Parents the Right to Opt Their Children Out of High Stakes Testing.  A few important updates:

1.      Say No to Field Testing – Check out the Change the Stakes fact sheet, listing of NYC field test schools and sample opt out letters.  Statewide resources also available on the NYStopTesting site. 

2.      Problems Opting Out in April? – If you opted your NYC child out of State testing in April and feel you experienced some form of punishment please email changethestakes@gmail.com.  We are collecting stories for a legal support group that may be interested in taking action.  (NYC only for this item, please). 

3.      Controversy Brews at Teachers College – Please check out this powerhouse School Book piece by Change the Stakes member Fred Smith on the exploding student, parent, alumni protest of the selection of Regent Merryl Tisch to be honored at tomorrow’s graduation.  More information (and details on tomorrow’s protest) available on the Edu4 website.

4.      The Fight for Student Data Privacy – Please stay plugged into NYCPublicSchoolParents to find out how you can join the fight against inBloom and protect students data. 

5.      Join Us in NYC on Friday May 31st – The next meeting of Change the Stake will be held at 5:30 PM in midtown Manhattan.  Details on changethestakes.org. 

Thanks for all of your efforts and please share this update with others.

Join us on Facebook and Twitter

Astounding NY Times Editorial Spells Doom for Ed Deform: Was Brent Staples Absent Today?

UPDATED WITH LEONIE's VIEWS:

...while charter schools can be a path to excellence, they can also cause problems. Shoehorning them into existing school buildings over local objections can alienate parents and reinforce among students a harmful sense of being separate and unequal. 

Mr. Bloomberg’s schools chancellor, Dennis Walcott, called the criticism an “unconscionable” assault on the Education Department... after 12 years, this mayor’s ideas are due for a counterargument. The critiques the candidates are offering hardly shock the conscience, and their complaints about the Bloomberg administration can be heard from teachers and parents in any school in the city. ... NY Times editorial

After 12 years of outright support of Bloomberg ed policies and for ed deform in general, along with some of the worst coverage of local and national education issues (other than when Anna Phillips was reporting for a year), this editorial is a sign that the increasing messages of outrage emerging from every area of the city are reaching their mark. Staples has been the most adamant supporter of deform and a union basher to boot. I hope he brings an absence note.

 The school system has indeed gone overboard in relying on standardized testing. Tests need to be a means to the end of better instruction, not the pedagogical obsession they have become. Yes, Mr. Bloomberg has shown disdain for consultation, as in his rush to close underperforming schools without the full and meaningful involvement of affected communities. The system needs to strengthen neighborhoods’ connection to schools and reconnect with parents who feel shut out. And while charter schools can be a path to excellence, they can also cause problems. Shoehorning them into existing school buildings over local objections can alienate parents and reinforce among students a harmful sense of being separate and unequal.

Wow! What a blow to the charter shills. Actually talking about strengthening the neighborhood schools and how charters helicoptored in help destroy that concept. Yes, choice = divisive = destructive.

It is important to note that when teachers or their union complains everyone shrugs. But when it is clear that the message is not coming from the union or their flunkies it begins to hit home. And for the social justice bashers, there is a lesson -- a union that only worries about bread and butter is going down the tubes.

Make sure to read the series of article at Perdido Street School on the end of ed deform. Here is a link to one:  Ed Deform House Of Cards Falling - Ed Deformers Whining About It

 and another… Quinn Vows To End City's Participation In Field Tests

Witness Chicago where the union is leading the national counterattack by making made social justice reachouts (without the rhetoric) a prime component (along with bread and butter.) Make no mistake -- it was the work of the CTU which is the only organization with the power and outreach to make these connections, this helped create a movement.

there can be truth in applause lines. Comptroller John Liu spoke for many at the forum when he told of his frustrating inability, as a parent, to give input to school officials. And William Thompson Jr., a former city comptroller, answered Mr. Walcott in a statement on Saturday by noting the incompleteness of educational gains: “For 12 years, the mayor has vilified teachers, shut out parents, turned classrooms into test prep centers and closed community schools. We have tried those policies, and our kids are still not receiving the education they deserve.” 

Liu I believe. Thompson whose main campaign supporter is Bloomberg neighbor Merry Tisch, queen of ed deform, I do not.

The Times still has to take a shot at local control.

When Mr. Bloomberg won direct control of public education in 2002, it was a historic and necessary victory, ending a system of local districts that was grossly dysfunctional and unaccountable. The candidates should not be allowed to downplay or deny how bad things were when nobody was in charge. 

In fact there were people in charge and every ill of that system has been exaggerated (and believe me I can list every single flaw -- but flaws that could have been fixed without mayoral dictatorship). This is another propaganda war that has to be fought.

The fact that not one mayoral candidate has the nerve to talk about taking a look at a more democratic system of running schools is problematic. Until we end mayoral control -- and the UFT takes a firm stand in calling for its end -- the downward spiral will continue.

Leonie commented at the listserve:

Everyone should read the lead editorial in today’s NY Times; I will post it below for those w/out access but please also click on this link, leave a comment, and send it to everyone you know via the NYT gadget so that it becomes the most emailed and read thing in today’s newspaper:

Education and New York City’s Mayoral Race - NYTimes.com http://shar.es/ZYwVf

This editorial represents a total sea change for the NYT whose editors (and publisher/owner, whose best friend is Bloomberg’s personal investment adviser) have defended the mayor’s education policies for the last 12 years.  This is also after a week where Walcott was allowed to vent, almost uncontested, in three articles on the NYT news pages against the Democratic candidates, who want to take schools in a different direction –with Walcott claiming that they were simply in the thrall of the UFT.

Here is the key sentence in the editorial today: “The critiques the candidates are offering hardly shock the conscience, and their complaints about the Bloomberg administration can be heard from teachers and parents in any school in the city.”

Wow.  Did someone on the editorial board actually talk to a public school parent for the first time?   Or does someone on the editorial board actually send his or her kid to a NYC public school?

Astounding change!    Before this, Brent Staples who usually writes their editorials on schools, either ignored what was happening in our schools, or supported the mayor’s policies, and followed the usual narrative that the only debate that existed was between  Bloomberg vs. the UFT, who were looking out for their interests.  Parents did not exist in this world view.

Today marks the day we finally live in a city where not all three daily’s editorial boards automatically defends Bloomberg on schools.  This is a MAJOR major blow to his legacy.

Here is the editorial in full below; the only major problem in it is that it takes the usual (false) position that pre-mayoral control the districts were hotbeds of dysfunction and corruption.

For good or for ill, the Community School Boards lost much of their power in 1996, six years before mayoral control was instituted.  Due to a major change in the governance law, they lost the ability to appoint a superintendent and hire teachers and other staff.  The legislation also gave the chancellor the ability to intervene when districts failed to meet performance goals, when school board members acted inappropriately and also required greater financial disclosure by community school board members.

Otherwise this editorial is stunning and could have written by people who were actually paying attention to the reality of our schools the past twelve years.  Only question I have is where were they before?

Meet The New York Times’s Editorial Board »

Whining Walcott in Blatant Misuse of Position Subjects 2000 Administrators to Political Harangue

Mr. Walcott’s speech seemed intended to be a rallying cry before a  friendly crowd, but the response was muted. While his calls for  preserving the authority of principals and eradicating nepotism were met  with applause, some principals seemed uninterested in his message... 
NY Times on Walcott speech at May 18 principal conference 

Many principals despise the Tweedies with a passion and are not unhappy to see them go. Do you think principals of NYC public schools are actually happy to see their space given away to charters which get favored treatment? Every principal I know speaks of Tweed with disdain so I am not surprised Walcott didn't receive a rousing response even from these hostages for the day. Word is that Bloomberg relaxed city gun laws to get them there.

Mr. DeVale, an opponent of mayoral control, said he thought Mr. Bloomberg and Mr. Walcott were too authoritarian in their approach. “I sat and listened to a political lecture from an administration I have no interest in,” Mr. DeVale, who is a union representative, said after the speech. ...
NY Times on Walcott speech at May 18 principal conference 

Renel Piton, the principal of Brooklyn Lab School, said he shared Mr. Walcott’s concern about the candidates for mayor and did not want them to “gut reform for the sake of gutting.” Still, he said he was surprised the chancellor chose to use a speech at an academic conference to weigh in on a political battle. “We need to focus on what’s going on in schools,” Mr. Piton said. “I don’t come on a Saturday to listen to their views on the candidates.” ...... NY Times on Walcott speech at May 18 principal conference 

What a load of BS ... the entire day had become a political indoctrination exercise not an educational nor learning event and I was there to learn.....an attendee

Whining Walcott used what was billed as an educational event to hector administrators of NYC schools, many of whom were forced to attend while others were offered a  summer compensation day in exchange for attendance, a blatant and possible illegal misuse of educational funds. (Imagine if a teacher called in parents and then used the occasion to proselytize for personal politics. Oh, they already do that at the Eva Moskowitz schools.)

The political agenda was primary as Walcott hosted what some say was an anti-UFT union bashing-Fest disguised as principal conference. There's some irony in that while most principals, especially Leadership Academy types, agree with the anti-union agenda, many principals also despise the Tweedies with a passion and are not unhappy to see them go. Do you think principals of NYC public schools are actually happy to see their space given away to charters which get favored treatment?

One attendee said:

The chancellor made a big political speech about why the next mayor can not be allowed to do anything against the reform agenda and how the UFT can not rule education and teachers should not be protected. Some of the newbie knuckleheads laughed, not realizing the very same system will be used to fire them.

The Times article reported:

Even the Department of Education’s chief academic officer, Shael Polakow-Suransky, waded into the political fray, urging principals to support efforts to overhaul the school system. Mr. Polakow-Suransky said he was so distraught by the attacks on the campaign trail that he called the chancellor of the Washington school system, Kaya Henderson, for advice.

The despicable Shael was so upset at attacks on Tweed policies by mayoral candidates that he asked for advice from DC Chancellor Kaya Henderson who was Michelle Rhee's assistant eraserhead and is now covering up the cheating scandal?  Kaya Henderson will send Shael an emergency supply of erasers. Or maybe a shredder to erase all the malfeasance and misfeasance that the new occupants at Tweed might discover.

Apparently Walcott brought in Mike Johnston, Colorado State Senator,  "another dirtbag to bring up Memphis spirituality and quotes the bible in rationalizing education reform," said one attendee. "He wrapped these policies around Martin Luther King and the bible story of the good Samaritan," outraging one principal who challenged Johnston by saying King was in Memphis to support union workers for a contract not education reform and Jesus was a carpenter so would be a union man.

Johnston also talked about firing the weakest teachers using basketball as an analogy.  One questioner reminded him that we can accurately assess how mny baskets players score while tests are always full of errors so we don't this need junk science..

A veteran principal said he has "fired teachers and doesn't need 10000 rubrics and data to get rid of bad teachers."

While Walcott tries to stave off total irrelevancy, what is going on is the fast and furious fall of ed deform. Think of the Mad Men opening of the guy falling out of a building. Ed deform is being dashed on the rocks below and they are getting very nervous.

So of course this is not just about NYC but team it with the Chicago union election where 80% of the teachers in an election where 60% voted for a militant anti ed deform leadership the signs are there. Front groups like e4e  and their supporters try to claim that teachers really support ed deform but are held back by their union. Chicago with a lot of younger teachers proves that wrong.

Leonie Haimson had some choice comments on Whining Walcott's speech:

So among the absurdities of Walcott’s speech is that schools will get their budgets on Friday Before the city budget is passed?

He claims that the candidates’ positions are geared towards “appeasing” the union, endless proposals that would benefit the teachers’ union, but not our students and these candidates would have us consign the students who attend them to an awful status quo, and send their students into the world without the benefit of a good education.

Right. No mention of how unpopular Bloomberg’s policies among voters, with only 22% trusting him more than the union to do right for the kids, compared to 69% trusting the union more.  Boy, that must gall him!  But he and Bloomberg deserve every ounce of disrespect and distrust they now receive, considering their lies, their distoritions, and the way they have run roughshod over parents and communities for the past 11 years.

“We cannot return to the days before college and career readiness was part of every lesson plan, every coaching session and every parent’s demand for their son or daughter. This is something no administration before us ever took on, and it’s a cornerstone of our reform policy.”
What? No previous administration ever cared about making kids prepared for college?  What incredible nerve.

Try telling the parent coordinators hired by you— with about $75 - $80 million in central funding—that we’re not serious about parent involvement.“ Sure, ask the parent coordinators or anyone who works in our schools and they will agree that the DOE isn’t serious about parent involvement!

Can’t wait for the NYT coverage of this, their article today (as well as a few days ago) transcribed  Walcott’s absurd claims without analyzing them was just retweeted by none other than Michelle Rhee.

80Michelle Rhee ‏@MichelleRhee 52m

W/ @MikeBloomberg, NYC has been a leader on #edreform. To turn back those reforms would be a mistake that hurts kids http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/18/nyregion/schools-chancellor-to-strike-back-at-candidates-critical-of-mayors-policies.html?ref=nyregion …

Well below the fold is the entire NY Times report WITHOUT much analysis. It's good that Hernandez spoke to some principals who are willing to speak out but there is much to dig out here given the fact the CSA has lined up with the UFT on many issues.

TIME CHANGE TO NOON Tuesday: Join us in support of Teachers College graduates who are protesting inside their graduation ceremony

Everyone is encouraged to come out to support this action, and if you live close to 112th and Amsterdam, please consider attending this rally.  If you cannot attend, please sign and share these petitions.

PARENTS/CITIZENS LETTER:

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/ny-state-parents-support-3

http://education4.org/re-imagining-tc/ny-state-parents-support-tc-protest/

TEACHER LETTER:  http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/teachers-college-take?source=c.fwd&r_by=7801280

REMINDER

PUBLIC SCHOOL PARENTS AND CONCERNED RESIDENTS--ACTION ALERT

Join us in support of Teachers College graduates who are protesting inside their graduation ceremony. 

Tisch, Chancellor of Board of Regents, who is the driving force behind high stakes tests in NY state, 

is scheduled to be a speaker and to receive a medal for distinguished service. She should not receive these honors.

Bring a sign expressing your complaint with Merryl Tisch--

Teachers College Convocation

Tuesday, May 21

St. John the Divine, 112th and Amsterdam

Manhattan, NYC

1 train to 110th St.

be there 12 noon

Stand with us! It will take an hour of your time.

• We are against Tisch's policy of high-stakes testing statewide

• They are demoralizing to public school students and teachers

• They are not imposed on private schools, which her children attended and where she taught

•  Tisch promotes the proliferation of charter schools instead of quality public schools

Press coverage ends, and ceremony begins, at 9:30.