In this perceptive essay, California teacher David B. Cohen has some interesting observations about Mayor Villaraigosa and Superintendent John Deasey.
The mayor has no regrets about asking billionaires Michael Bloomberg and Rupert Murdoch to pour vast sums of money into the school board race. He says that “we” (himself and the billionaires) have to stop letting them (the people who teach in the public schools of Los Angeles) from having so much influence.
“We”–meaning the mayor and a handful of super-rich people who poured $4-5 million into a local school board race. “We” –meaning people who do not live in Los Angeles. “We”–meaning people who do not have children in the public schools of Los Angeles. “We”–meaning corporate elites that control vast amounts of wealth and know nothing about educating anyone else’s children.
“They”–meaning the people who work in the system, teach the children, dry their tears, teach them to tie their shoelaces, see them every single day.
And John Deasey says he is delighted that people like Bloomberg, Murdoch, and Klein are prepared to “invest” in the public schools of Los Angeles. Maybe I am dense, but I have trouble seeing a political contribution to three candidates in a school board race as an “investment” in the schools. If they really want to “invest” in the schools, why doesn’t Dr. Deasey invite them to buy school supplies, build health clinics, reduce class sizes, or do something that benefits children, real students?
Diane Ravitch's blog 
This is so true. I know many Los Angeles teachers and not a one has gotten anything for the students. These teachers are still buying their own basic classroom supplies.
These grifters are investing for themselves and hopefully the public will realize it before more of school tax money finds its way into private pockets. And all this is happening in schools for poor children. Has anyone noticed that not a word about “reform” is coming from Beverly Hills or Scarsdale? Oh, no, those people are perfectly happy with their public schools and want to be first in line (again) when the next teacher shortage hits.
Thanks for sharing the blog post, Diane.
Great article by Mr. Cohen except for the notes at the bottom. How can it be in one of the notes he states that it basically does not matter who wins the runoff race still at LAUSD? Zimmer was a part of the bad 4-3 vote at the board. We do not know what he will do now. Will he break out after they tried to destroy him or will he continue on the same path. The only way to guarantee this election to change LAUSD is for the union candidate to win in the coming runoff so how can this not matter? Either bought and sold or stupid take your choice. In my experience bought and sold is the answer constantly especially at LAUSD.