Michael Winerip of the New York Times has long been an invaluable source of information and perspective about what is happening in education. For whatever reason, the New York Times decided to change his assignment. He no longer writes on education, but on the boomer generation. I ask you, which is more important to the health of our society?
Be that as it may, Winerip’s first boomer column is also about education. He previously wrote about Professor Barbara Madeloni at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, who led a protest against a Pearson-owned teacher evaluation system. Just weeks after his column appeared, Madeloni was informed that her contact would not be renewed. Now Winerip revisits the issue and hopefully the public discussion will persuade the University to revisits its decision to terminate her.
We are reminded, in this case, why tenure matters.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
“Tenure matters” important words….
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ALEC has taken over our country. Did anyone watch Moyers LPB special on how ALEC has bought and paid for our country. Corporate America now owns America.
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Are the students at Amherst protesting her firing?
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yes! you can read about our protest at our website http://www.cantbeneutral.org or check out our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/cantbeneutraleducation
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Yes, of course we are protesting! We are outraged and organized! We have written letters and petitions, held demonstrations and taken over a department faculty meeting. More to come! We will not remain silent while one of our wise and courageous professors is fired for speaking truth to power.
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An extraordinarily moving piece by Mr. Winerip! And brave actions on the part of Dr. Madeloni! Thanks, Diane, for sharing this.
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Mr. Winerip: Please keep managing to write about education within your new format. A perfect story would be to cover what has been happening in NYC to teachers who are boomers (they have been “excessed” in large numbers, and have been working as ATRs). An ATR has regularly been submitting posts to NYC Educator (the blog), and the stories are heartbreaking, fascinating and something we all need to read and to know about. ATR or whatever it will be called: coming soon to a city near you!
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Barbara is a contemporary hero! NewYork education professors are trying to push back against the governor, the commissioner, and the chancellor on this same issue: Pearson’s TPA is being implemented here and now.
Please read and consider offering support: https://sites.google.com/site/educatorsconcerned/home
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There’s a petition somewhere to show your support for the professor. I think maybe at Moveon. I know I signed it last month. Does anyone have the link?
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Brava Barbara and Bravo Michael Winerip! UMass should be ashamed of itself for such a cowardly, outrageous firing of Prof. Madeloni. For folks in amherst area, there is a teach-in Oct. 19 around these issues. And, I’m coming to Amherst Sat. Nov. 17 to do a critical teaching workshop followed by a talk on Paulo Freire, in support of Barbara and another of her fine projects, Education Radio. Come if you can and bring Barbara apples of appreciation for her wisdom and courage.
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Students, community members, and some faculty from Umass have created a group called Can’t Be Neutral that is working to both support Barbara and fight against the privatization of public universities. You can find out about our work at http://www.cantbeneutral.org
-dani
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Students, community members, and some umass faculty have been organizing to fight for both Barbara’s job and the end of privitization at our university. You can read more about our work at http://www.cantbeneutral.org
-dani
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