Assaulting the Walls of Ed Deform, NYSUT June 8 "One Voice" Critiqued

"One voice" is more about drowning out  the people's voice with a droll compliant whimper in true Weingartian style.... This is not a social justice rally.  This is a 'let's make believe we care' rally. It's play acting by the AFT/NYSUT/UFT gang.  We can play along, relieved that at least they are doing something, but their "something" is really business as usual.  --- Sean Ahern (see below for full text).

NYSUT Press release: Rally in Albany June 8.

Members of the more than one dozen organizations will join other parents, teachers and educators in speaking out against the state’s over-emphasis on standardized testing and misuse of test data to improperly label students and teachers. Rally-goers will call for a moratorium on the use of standardized tests in high-stakes decisions for students and teachers until the State Education Department and Regents properly implement the state’s new Common Core learning standards.

Well we know all about NYSUT/AFT/UFT and their role as enablers. When the water is at the top of the wall they decide to stick their finger in the dyke.

I know many people opposed to the testing regime who are going. And people in MORE are working on organizing. The UFT has buses available.

I am on the fence -- for a number of reasons from inconvenience to doubts about jumping on a NYSUT/UFT managed event -- the very people who enabled and even helped nurture the testing movement in the first place under the "we teachers have to show our willingness to be held accountable". Which reminds me of an old joke.
 
Lone Ranger: Tonto, we are surrounded by Indians.
Tonto: What to you mean "we," white man.

Yeah. The AFT/UFT leaders are certainly willing to have teachers be accountable while they are accountable for nothing.

Sean Crowley in Buffalo who does the B-LoEdScene blog also has some doubts about the rally. He sent some of his tweets:

NYSUT takes half a mill and AFT takes 4.4 mill from Bill Gates. Is anyone still wondering why reachers are getting bent over? (https://twitter.com/rastamick/status/333712627345797121)

Thinking a big sign at the NYSUT rally: GIVE BILL GATES HIS MONEY BACK! (https://twitter.com/rastamick/status/334041383037960192)

Here's one to show on the busride to Albany for the June 8th rally. Ianuzzi has to go. youtube.com/watch?v=FwA04N…  (https://twitter.com/rastamick/status/336221653098983427)

There has been some great back and forth on the listserves. Our own Sean - Ahern - does a hard-hitting piece, followed with a comment from Change the Stakes parent activist Jane Maisel.

Sean Ahern

"One voice" is more about drowning out  the people's voice with a droll compliant whimper in true Weingartian style.

NYSUT/UFT says the tax cap issue is about the democratic principle of majority rule. What about democracy and majority rule for NYC parents and educators?  Funny how mayoral dictatorship in NYC, the polar opposite of democracy, is not even mentioned by this "one voice."  

What a pathetic farce for Weingarten to  demand that we should be better prepared to enforce this new sorting system.  The common core is more aptly  described by Susan Ohanian as the "common bore."  It fits Emerson's description:  "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.  With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do...Speak what you think to-day in words as hard as cannon-balls, and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said today."  But in 21st century America the common core is far worse than a "foolish consistency." "One voice" and  common core have a totalitarian stench.    

As PSC President Barbara Bowen put it plainly, "Capitalism gets the education system it wants."  Education does not reduce inequality, it reproduces it and the common bore promise to do so with greater efficiency and oversight.  The problems with "common core" go far deeper than the lack of teacher preparedness.  This is all standard Weingarten triangulation crap.  

Mandatory grade retention, school closings, charter push-ins, the disappearing of Black and Latino educators,  the exclusion of parent and educator voice, the push out of youth on to the streets and on to prison, no raises for public sector workers, the use of high stakes tests to sort by race and class, reducing the teaching staff step by step to at will employees,  all of this and more would have had push back from community controlled school boards in NYC.  Yet mayoral control,  which eliminated whatever was left of democracy in NYC schools, was enacted with the support of NYSUT/UFT, the 'one voicers." 

On these matters The "One Voice" of AFT/NYSUT/UFT is silent. For UFT members facing their fifth year without a contractual raise we cannot build a working class movement in NYC to fight for decent contracts by skirting the deeply white supremacist character of the corporate education reform.  Silence doesn't build solidarity.

This is not a social justice rally.  This is a 'let's make believe we care' rally. It's play acting by the AFT/NYSUT/UFT gang.  We can play along, relieved that at least they are doing something, but their "something" is really business as usual.  

In my opinion "One voice" means no voice.

Peace,

Sean Ahern  

Jane Maisel

Hi Sean,

Thanks for your excellent response to the call for the NYSUT rally in Albany. I would only want to go if we could surprise NYSUT by  doing a counter demonstration--a sea of red MORE t-shirts. We could take UFT's buses up there, though we might need to take an ambulance going home. This is not coalition building, this is reducing the discussion to meaningless Randi slogans, which I do not wish to support. 

Jane was urged by others on the listserve to go to Albany and march under banners saying what needs to be said. I'm waiting to see if something from MORE and other groups get something going. Otherwise I'm staying home.

NYSUT Release

The assessment reform movement continues to gather steam

Attack, attack, attack ed deform and the deformers. We are on the offensive. High stakes testing is the wedge of ed deform so every little bit to undermine and discredit HST wears away the cover. The list below show signs that media coverage is growing.

From Monte Neill at Fair Test:

This week's stories highlight high-stakes testing protests -- and victories -- in more than a dozen states with additional resistance activities planned for the end of the 2012-2013 school year.
Remember that previous editions of these updates are available at: http://fairtest.org/news

South Carolina Exit Exam Could be History
    http://www.thestate.com/2013/05/15/2773149/sc-high-school-graduation-exit.html

Florida Test-Based Teacher Evaluation Lawsuit May Impact Other States
    http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/Florida-Teacher-Lawsuit-Could-Spread-to-Other-States.html

Seattle Teachers, Students Celebrate Historic Victory Against Standardized Tests
    http://www.democracynow.org/2013/5/20/seattle_teachers_students_win_historic_victory
School Testing Fails the Test
    http://www.yakimaherald.com/opinion/saturdaysoapbox/1136335-14/saturday-soapbox-school-testing-fails-test

Texas Senate Passes Bill Reducing Testing in Lower Grades
    http://www.texastribune.org/2013/05/21/lege-clears-bill-reducing-testing-lower-grades/

Why I Opted Out of Standardized Tests -- by FairTest Board member Nikhil Goyal
    http://www.forbes.com/sites/nikhilgoyal/2013/05/22/opting-out-of-teacher-evaluation-tests/

Am I Part of the Problem or the Solution, featuring FairTest Board member Deborah Meier
    http://dianeravitch.net/2013/05/18/deborah-meier-am-i-part-of-the-problem-or-the-solution/

Chicago Parents Say "No" to Excessive Standardized Testing
    http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=221572

GAO Finds 40 States Probed Cheating Allegations
    http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2013/05/40_states_probed_alleged_cheating_on_tests_federal_report_finds.html
see FairTest Survey on Confirmed Cases of Cheating
    http://www.fairtest.org/2013-Cheating-Report-PressRelease

Providence Student Union Challenges Ed. Commission to Debate Grad Test Requirement
    http://www.providencestudentunion.org/2013/05/20/students-invite-commissioner-to-debate-necap-graduation-requirement/

New Jersey Activists to Protest Tax Breaks for Pearson Testing Company
    http://njeducationnews.wordpress.com/2013/05/16/may-23-pearson-protest/
Take the Pearson Test to See Whether You Also Qualify for Millions in Tax Breaks
    http://njeducationnews.wordpress.com/2013/05/21/take-the-pearson-test-see-if-you-qualify-for-millions-in-tax-breaks-too/

Upcoming New York State Rally Against High-Stakes Tests and For Better Educational Practices
   http://shar.es/Zs6H2

Parents Take Stand Against Standardized Test
    http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/local/parents-take-stand-against-standardized-tests

Schools Add to Test Load Just to Assess Questions
    http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/20/education/to-sharpen-student-testing-another-round-of-tests.html
Teachers Union Opposes Over-Testing Students
     http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/22/opinion/testing-students-again-the-teachers-union-view.html?_r=0

Principals Launch Campaign Against High-Stakes, Common Core Tests
    http://andreagabor.com/2013/05/15/round-two-new-york-city-principals-mount-a-campaign-against-unfair-testing/
Principals Pledge Not to Use Test Scores to Screen Students
    http://www.alternet.org/education/new-york-city-principals-we-wont-use-test-scores-screen-students

Why Our New Educator Evaluation System is Unethical
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/05/20/principal-why-our-new-educator-evaluation-system-is-unethical/

Testing Companies Are Clear Winners in High-Stakes Exams Debate
     http://blog.syracuse.com/opinion/2013/05/clear_winners_in_school_testin.html

Columbia Teachers Graduates Protest Award to Leading Promoter of High-Stakes Exams
     http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/05/21/quiet-protest-staged-at-teachers-college-graduation/

How to Avoid Nevada's Testing Train Wreck
    http://www.rgj.com/article/20130519/OPED04/305190071/How-avoid-state-s-testing-train-wreck

Forum Takes on Standardized Testing
    http://thenotebook.org/blog/135987/forum-takes-standardized-testing

Testing Policies Becomes Local School Board Election Issue
    http://www.lohud.com/article/20130516/NEWS/305160076/Ossining-school-board-candidates-disagree-over-testing-system

Fallout from Computer Testing Glitch Continues
    http://newsok.com/fallout-of-oklahoma-school-testing-glitch-continues/article/3826097

Oklahoma Investigates Field Test Opt-Out Campaign
    http://www.tulsaworld.com/article.aspx/Jenks_schools_scrutinized_by_state_education_department/20130519_11_a1_theokl857604?subj=1

A Family Decides to Opt Out
    http://bluehatmovement.wordpress.com/2013/05/14/opting-out-updated/

Campaign for Artful Resistance -- a creative initiative from Save Our Schools
    http://saveourschoolsmarch.org/get-involved/the-campaign-for-artful-resistance-2/

Authentic Assessments Must Be Included in Teachers' Tool Box -- by Oregon's chief state education officer
   http://pamplinmedia.com/pt/10-opinion/152550-new-way-needed-to-gauge-student-progress

Spinning Around Again on Education Testing Carousel
    http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20130519-OPINION-305190331

Student Test Scores Are Faulty Measure of Teacher Effectiveness
    http://blog.nj.com/njv_guest_blog/2013/05/student_test_scores_are_faulty.html

What if Finland's Great Teachers Taught in the U.S.?
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/05/15/what-if-finlands-great-teachers-taught-in-u-s-schools-not-what-you-think/

How Michelle Rhee Misled Education Reform
    http://www.newrepublic.com/article/113096/how-michelle-rhee-misled-education-reform#

Education Reform in the New Jim Crow Era
    http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/16406-education-reform-in-the-new-jim-crow-era

Teachers Call Social and Emotional Learning "The Missing Piece" in Schools
    http://casel.org/themissingpiece/

Change the Purpose of Education
    http://www.standard.net/stories/2013/05/15/change-purpose-education

UPDATE: Weiner Agrees as Quinn Drops Out of GPS Debate

Quinn is sinking so fast she better not move those deck chairs.

UPDATE: Anthony Weiner has agreed to participate, making this his first appearance at a mayoral debate, and Christine Quinn has dropped out of the debate, after agreeing to participate

New Yorkers for Great Public Schools to Host:

First Actual Mayoral Debate on Education

*Update: Christine Quinn Drops Out; Her Campaign Says it Does Not Want to do a Debate on Education*

NYU Kimmel Center, 60 Washington Square South

Tuesday, May 28 3:30 to 5:00 PM

Mayoral Candidates will arrive at 3:45 PM;

Debate will start at 4 PM and end at 5 PM 

WHO: Democratic Mayoral candidates Bill de Blasio, Bill Thompson, John Liu, and Sal Albanese. 

Please note: We are still in active discussions with Anthony Weiner about his participation, and Christine Quinn has dropped out of the debate, after agreeing to participate. Her campaign said it does not want to do a debate.

WHAT: New Yorkers for Great Public Schools (NY-GPS), a citywide coalition representing thousands of parents, students, teachers, and community leaders, will host the first major education debate among Democratic mayoral candidates. Parent leader Zakiyah Ansari will moderate the debate, and a panel of parents and students will ask the questions.

The debate format will be as follows: an opening crossfire round, a lightning round, a final round of questions, including an instant rebuttal where mayoral candidates can rebut the statement of an opponent, and brief closing statements. Throughout, mayoral candidates will engage each other on hot-button education issues and stake out clear positions that will shape the Democratic primary. In Speaker Quinn's absence, other candidates will still be afforded the opportunity to rebut her public positions on key questions. This is a major news event not to be missed.

WHERE: NYU Kimmel Center, 60 Washington Square South, NYC

WHEN: Tuesday, May 28 3:30 to 5:00 PM

Dear Mr. Condon: On May 18, 2013, Dennis M. Walcott crossed the line

Hi Norm,
My mother (a NYC resident) will be going to the post office this week to mail her letter (pasted below). Although she will include her name and address on the letter I redacted both in this email.
.......Elementary school teacher in the Bronx

It's great to see entire families involved in battling the ed deformers:

Mr. Richard J. Condon

Special Commissioner of Investigation

80 Maiden Lane - 20th floor

New York, NY 10038


Dear Mr. Condon:

On May 18, 2013, Dennis M. Walcott crossed the line. He used the authority of his office as the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education to provide a venue on public property paid for with public funds to express his personal political opinion to a captive audience of school principals attending an education conference in Brooklyn. He used an educational forum to push a political agenda. Mr. Walcott’s opinion was no mere slip of the tongue and clearly violated the very rules he is obligated to obey. Rules, I might add, that were established by his office (Chancellor’s Regulation D-130).

I am not sure how your office works. Is my letter considered an official complaint or is there some form that requires my completion? Therefore, if my letter is sufficient to file a complaint, then please consider it as such. If not, please provide me with any further instructions needed to make my complaint official.

My concern in this matter is really quite simple. Chancellor Walcott abused his power and violated a Department of Education Regulation that states, “Any officer or employee who violates the provisions of this regulation is subject to disciplinary action.” In keeping with your authority to investigate such misconduct I must ask, what is your office doing about it?

Thank you for your efforts on behalf of our New York City School District. I expect to hear from you within a reasonable period of time.

Yours sincerely,

 Here is the D-130 reg copied from a previous post on ed notes by A.P. Salamander, my favorite amphibian:

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.” 

“ 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.” 

Read my original post from last week which also appeared as my column in The Wave: Whining Walcott in Blatant Misuse of Position

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

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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.

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