If you have been following these posts for the past few days, you will recall that New Jersey Acting Commissioner Chris Cerf claimed that legendary union leader Al Shanker would be on his side, supporting more of the (non-union) charters that Cerf wants to open all over New Jersey.
I wrote a post pointing out that Al Shanker was an original proponent of charters but turned against them in 1993 when he realized that they would become the leading edge of privatization.
I then got a tongue-lashing by someone from New Jersey for daring to say that Al Shanker would not be on board with Chris Cerf and his boss Governor Chris Christie in their campaign to turn more public schools over to entrepreneurs.
And then, blogger Mother Crusader discovered that Al Shanker’s widow, Edie Shanker, had already spoken up and reminded the world that Al would not have supported the “reform” movement.
But best of all, I just read in Jersey Jazzman’s piece that Al’s daughter Jennie Shanker posted the following comment on the article challenging my views:
As his daughter, I treasure the testimony of individuals who knew my father and his work. Lately, it has been, frankly, dreadful to find his name associated with school “reform” that undermines public education. Without exception, these articles offer a few short quotes in evidence, always inappropriately pulled out of the context of his true mission and life’s work.
I can tell you, absolutely and unequivocally, if my father was with us today he would be fighting side by side with Diane Ravitch to preserve and improve public education. The Washington Post re-published an excellent post from Ravitch’s blog this week which very clearly articulats the differences between his vision of charter reform and the for-profit version championed by Chris Cerf and others in New Jersey.
Would he have told that NJ parent to send their child to public schools? Absolutely. As mentioned in the Post article, NJ public schools are among the highest performing in the nation.
Your appreciation for my father’s work and vision was lovely to read. But your stance on this issue is diametrically opposed to his values and intent, and you are dead wrong to shame Diane Ravitch for her position. Indeed, if you consider your thinking to be in line with my father’s, I recommend that you champion her work, as my family does. If anyone can speak for my father in this day and age, the person who should be most trusted is Dr. Ravitch.
It’s unfortunate that many people who read your article will not see this comment. I would like to respectfully request that you reconsider further publicizing your characterizatio n of my father’s position on this topic. From what is in evidence in this article, despite your love for the man, you are in no position to speak for him. -Jennie Shanker
LOVE IT!
And now Jennie we shall all wait for an apology. Should we start a countdown?
Diane, every teacher I know values your work on behalf of us and education. I thank God for you everyday when I read your blog, it gives me hope that things may improve through the very fact that you articulate the problems. Your voice is consoling to so many of us.
What I find ironic and depressing is that we know longer have the likes of Al Shanker to fight for us, but in fact, our own unions seem to side with the corporate reformers on so many issues.
Thank you! We have a mass base of popular support. The critics don’t.
Candace: I am confident that the union I represent does not side with corporate reformers. In my state, this edreform tsunami has actually produced a rise of unionism and become a coalescing force in many of our locals and certainly at the state level. Nothing unites like adversity.
maybe this tsunami will revive activism.
Which state? It’s not the case here in New York.
“I am confident that the union I represent does not side with corporate reformers”.
In another post you stated that your union had agreed to an evaluation system that included using student test scores to evaluate the teachers. Sorry, but that is siding with the corporate educational deformers.