This is a comment signed Concerned Charter Teacher:
“Ms. Ravitch,
I work at Success Academy and thought you might be interested in the following. Just heard that we are planning a pro-charter parent march on October 8th. Our schools are being closed for the morning. Teachers, parents, students, and central office staff are being required to join the march. Other charter schools are joining as well. Several emails from senior leadership make it clear that the event is not optional. It seems very unethical that adults and children are being forced into this political statement, but I don’t know what, if anything, can be done.”
This is evidence that Success Academy charter schools are not public schools. Any principal or superintendent of a public school who used students and parents to engage in political activities, with or without their consent, would be fired.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Naturally, I’m shocked and stunned that Eva Moskowitz would tolerate this loss of valuable instructional time.
Yes, she’ll just have to compel everyone to make up the test prep on Saturdays.
Oh, wait: there already are classes on Saturdays at Eva’s sweatshops.
Well, a Sunday it is, then, and a throwback to a simpler time, when non-union employers with impunity would tell their employees, “If you don’t come in Sunday, don’t come in Monday.”
This is a tactic used by oppressive rulers and it is, at the very least, a shameful waste of precious instructional time. Parents, students, and staff need to stand up and say, “NO!”
This smacks of North Korea. I envision rooftop videographers documenting who is there and who is not. Very scary.
North Korea? You’re psychotic. It’s a charter school, which by definition means everyone is there voluntarily. It’s the public schools and unions that are fascist. Parents, students, and teachers choose to associate with the charter school because they’re fed up with the garbage they get from the public option.
Parents, kids and teachers are forced to march during school hours? They have no choice and they lose instructional time. Sure…it’s voluntary according to their dear leader, Empress Eva.
Green Snapper, your comment is way out of line. This story is about everyone being forced to participate in a march. This is, by definition, fascist. Since when does anything like this take place in a traditional public school? I suggest you take your extreme views elsewhere.
It is the same sleazy tactic of forcing staff members to go door to door to advertise for your charter and try to drum up business. No surprise. Why should anyone listen to these people? How many public school backers have been listened to by the mayor?
This is a week before the PEP vote on many damaging and unfair SucAcademy co-locations and expansions and is clearly meant to impress people with Eva’s political power and reach.
SEE? This is what happens when we have corruption by government ala corporations. Follow the $$$$$.
where?
Can this anonymous person post the email? Maybe w names redacted?
Terry Grier, Superintendent of Houston Public Schools in Texas, is an Eva supporter, and charter school advocate! Watch for him to do something equally RHEEDICULOUS to support his failed Apollo 20 School Initiative.
Argh. We KNOW Terry Grier from the early 90s. He was bad news then in Akron, OH. A slick, BTO who used school districts as stepping stones to eventual wealth. I see that he has crept into a bigger position. Of course. What a shame that people such as he get ahead in the world, let alone in the world of education.
Calling all of our charter cheerleaders!
Great opportunity to blog, tweet, call, write op eds, etc. ( not just tut tut on this thread ).
Please use your influence and connections in the charter world to publicly and forcefully denounce this use of instructional time, and the apparent forced participation of teachers, staff and parents.
Unless, of course, this is OK in your opinion.
Ang: you are quite right to point out that silence is compliance.
But don’t hold your breath waiting. This falls into the same category as: there are differences between public schools and charter schools when it comes to workers rights, students rights, and parents rights, but never forget—
Charter schools are public schools too! Just like them! No difference!
Rheeally!
🙂
Where’s Joe Nathan now?
What a grand parade. They will be sure to carry college banners, while wearing matching shirts (except for the ostracized non-performers being dragged behind in their white shirts ala Apartheid First here) with finger snapping, hand clapping, slogan chanting all while marching and SLANTing in perfect unison.
Eva will sit atop a float decorated with dollar bill flowers and a gold whip in hand bellowing:
Onward SCHOLARS!
The Tournament of the Charter Chain Parade.
See here: Insert Eva’s face at 00:42:
Linda,
Wonderful image.
I imagine Joe is desperately trying to come up with something along the lines of, “While some charters engage in coercing political activity from students, parents and employees during school hours, some public districts …”
Oh, never mind… it might just be too embarrassing for damage control, even from him.
Yes, yes….find a story about a public school that is horrible and then link an article written by Joe about all the wonderful things he does or he recognizes. Ever count the I’s, me’s or my’s in his post? I lose track all the time.
Eva: “Don’t cry for me Chatermania”
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZziK9yqgV5c&feature=fvwrel
In California, we have a state labor relations board to which an employee could make a complaint. Does New York have something similar? Nonemployees–Parents and students–need to talk to a first amendment/civil rights lawyer. I’m sure once the lawyer sees what deep pockets the charters have, they’d be even more interested in the suit. Act quickly and the lawyer can file an injunction to prevent the demand for anyone to participate in the demonstration.
“Publicly-funded schools” is really more accurate. I don’t know why the crazed insistence that they two systems are the same. They’re obviously not.
Lawyers for charter schools don’t show any reluctance to rely on specificity in language when they’re opposing employee rights, due process rights for students or financial disclosure. They draw a distinction between “public” and “publicly-funded” I don’t know why the public who are paying for this can’t can’t handle the same distinction that judges are dealing with.
“Public” and “publicly-funded”. This isn’t difficult.
I have high expectations for the public. They’ll get it 🙂
Wondering if the Post and Daily News will write an editorial blasting charters for giving kids a day off as they do when public schools are closed for staff development??? Of course not!!
The fact that Diane is receiving information from insiders that reveals the repulsive practices of the so-called reformers is proof that their years of getting a free ride on the backs of taxpayers, teachers and public schools is coming to an end.
Hopefully, there will also soon be revelations from moles in the UFT and AFT about how our mis-leadership has sold teachers out.
Michael Fiorillo: IMHO, this posting and the comments it has elicited highlight a stark difference between supporters of public education and the leading charterites/privatizers and their edubully spokespersons—
We welcome scrutiny; they don’t.
If anyone doubts that, please refer to school gal’s comment above: “Wondering if the Post and Daily News will write an editorial blasting charters for giving kids a day off as they do when public schools are closed for staff development??? Of course not!!”
Don’t be surprised when, sooner or later, someone from the ‘whine patrol’ will assert on this blog that this is all a bunch of “ad hominem” attacks.
Followed in due course by the same litany of miracle stories (e.g., continuous years of 100% graduation rates or raising children’s test scores from the 13th percentile to the 90th in two years). Asking them politely to quit repeating the same Drivel Driven Debate Malarkey will only get you the standard Marxist retort:
“If you’ve heard this story before, don’t stop me, because I’d like to hear it again.”
You guessed it. Groucho.
🙂
Yes, we’re the “haters.”
There’s yet another standard practice of the narcissists and sociopaths who seem to be disproportionately represented among the so-called reformers: when you defend yourself against their lies, aggression and amorality, they bellow about how they’re the one’s being victimized.
KTA & Michael,
Exactly!
Michael is right. This chapter is closing but it could be a dangerous conclusion because these folks are not going to fold their wallets and slip softly into the night.
Employees will be trashed, fired, terrorized, placed on “no-hire” lists and so on.
They need to get prepared and know their legal rights as the unraveling proceeds to its ghastly conclusion.
I witnessed the same thing in New Haven CT when our lame governor held a town hall meeting with commissioner Stefan Pryor. The folks from Achievement First, the charter group founded by – surprise! – Stefan Pryor outfittef their kids and parents in matching shirts and coached them in how to respond to speakers. Using your 6 year-olds as propoganda pawns is despicable. If public school teachers had done that, I’m sure we would have been ripped in the press. These people are sorely lacking in moral integrity.
AF recently paraded the children into a Hartford BOE meeting (late into a school night) where their approval for another school was on the agenda. The kids chanted and cheered. Students simultaneously snapped their fingers every time the CEO, Dacia Toll, spoke. It was a distraction to those trying to hear the questions and answers. It was reported to be very cultish and creepy. Imagine if unionized teachers orchestrated such an event.
..Making a child’s continued school enrollment contingent upon parent participation in mandatory political rallies…
Manipulation of the masses. Gadaffi use to do a similar thing to force parents to participate in state sponsored huge televised rallies supporting his regime. He’d order parents to participate and hold their children hostage at gun point in school, as collateral. Pointing to the huge, hysterical cheering crowds, he’d brag to the world how much his people loved him. Truth was, those attendees were crazy with fear. When the rally was over, the children would return home to the ‘participating’ parents and could continue going to school. But for the ‘non participating’ parents, well, they could arrange to visit their children in prison…if they were lucky enough to ever again see them at all.
(Didn’t the US participate in the NATO bombing of this brutal dictator to bring down his inhumane regime???) Hmmm.
Unless this school is entirely financed privately this is illegal. A lawsuit needs to be filed. If optional, on private time, no problem. Not when public funds are involved. The problem is this is a lawless society and mostly only those with a lot of political connections and money do what they want to with impunity. Where is the ACLU, NAACP, Urban League et al? All major organizations who say they are for you. Of course, look at their funders, end of message. There really needs to be a lawsuit to set case law on this activity.
I cannot wait until people are able to read my chapter on Eva Moskowitz and her Success Academy schools. My book on who’s who in ed reform is now with my publisher.
I have read on here that Ms Madow’s conspicuous silence on these issues is due to a friendship with Ms Moskowitz. Is this true?
Chuck, I have no info on Moskowitz and Maddow. I do discuss behind-the-scenes Moskowitz correspondence.
Chuck,
I have also heard that rumor.
Would be interested in any background for it, or if it is just the ” reason” one of ” our liberal stars, from the one true channel”, stays away from education issues.
Interesting either way.
I too find Maddow’s silence on education issues quite puzzling. It’s such a target rich environment for her, so much low hanging fruit.
Too early to pre-order? Ideas for a title? I can’t wait…just finished Diane’s book, but will read a second time soon.
Hi, Linda. Too soon to preorder. Title purposely kept under wraps for now. 🙂
I will happily buy your book.
So happy to hear you have a book coming out! Congratulations? I will definitely order it. Keep us all posted. 🙂
deutsch29: I look forward to its publication.
Thank you for not following Mark Twain’s advice:
“Never pick a fight with people who buy ink by the barrel.”
And instead opting for counsel by Frederick Douglass:
“The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppose.”
Patience is sometimes overrated.
🙂
Thank you, KrazyTA. It is not in the amount of ink so much as it is in the skill of using the ink one has. 🙂
Wow, congratulations on your upcoming book!
Another must read for me.
On a lighter note, you and Diane and several others from around here are taking up a huge portion of my reading , thinking time. And I need to re read several Gould and Darwin books before I begun the evolution unit.
You all are killing me!
😉
Hi, Ang. I think the earliest my book would hit the shelves is March. May is more realistic, though I am speculating.
You have time to write lessons. 🙂
Can’t wait to read about it.
When I worked for KIPP they did in fact make the entire staff go door to door in very dangerous neighborhoods to “recruit” parents for the school. This was not optional. No wonder they have such a high teacher turnover rate.
I have a revealing chapter on KIPP, as well.
I met a KIPP teacher who was speaking at a Literacy Conference. I won’t say his name because he has posted here at times. I found him intimidating and controlling … to experienced teachers. I found his ideas to be a mix. But, his condescending manner was very off-putting. I could never work with or for a person such as he.
The local media needs to hear about this transgression. North Korean tactics by an American franchise (charter) school. Wonder what the take on this would be in Glenn Beckistan. Getting the extremists on the right aware of and screaming bloody murder about this would be priceless.
Oh no, they’ll spin it into a “freedom” march.
LOL, Freedom from freedom?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/09/22/transcript-obamas-tough-speech-at-congressional-black-caucus-gala/
This is interesting. It’s the transcript of Obama’s speech at the congressional black caucus event.
He mentions education, but only preschool and college.
I wonder if Democrats are starting to realize that adopting Jeb Bush’s and Milton Friedman’s education approach might be politically perilous for them.
“I wonder if Democrats are starting to realize that adopting Jeb Bush’s and Milton Friedman’s education approach might be politically perilous for them.”
Let’s hope so.
I think they’ve picked up on it after several defeats of reformers.
While this is clearly moral failing of Ms Moskowitz, it is also the logical result of the erosion of a commitment to public institutions in service of market ideology. When market share is the incentive, this is what you get.
The last time I was at a PEP meeting, there were dozens of security guards. I guess they felt threatened by the common masses of public school supporters. If the next PEP meeting will be the last, I wonder if any of Bloomberg’s PEP people might actually vote against his dictates. I think it would be wonderful if a large crowd of public school supporters can come and speak their minds, hopefully impede a few of Bloombergs last salt in the wound maneuvers particularly as pertaining to the insidious charter schools.
I have a friend whose daughter teaches in a charter school in New York. She has been told on a few different occasions that “I can fire you” by her administrator. The administrator goes as far as putting empty boxes on teachers’ desks as a “joke.” I don’t find this amusing. This is why I like my union. I hate to see workers treated this way.
I do not think we will get a morning off for a pro-public education march. I would love to be in one though!
Several years ago my husband taught at a charter school. He caught a student, who he had taught for three weeks, downloading porn on a school computer. Further research found that the student had been doing this for about six months. My husband reported it, and the charter school fired him. No protections. A right to work (right to get fired) state.
How difficult is it to differentiate between a charter than is publicly financed with the money returning to the public coffers and a charter that uses public funds to make a CEO become wealthy? It is really all about where the money goes … Does it provide direct educational opportunities and experiences and pay teachers to assist students to love learning, others and self? Or does it provide limited opportunities for students and pay teachers to follow their edicts and send the bulk of the tuition to the CEO and board of investors? There is a difference.
Ravitch quotes a single anonymous source claiming that Success Academy is closing school for a day and requiring teachers, parents, students, and central office staff to attend a pro-charter school rally. I’m not sure which is more disheartening: the dozens of respondents who are willing to accept this claim as gospel truth or Ravitch recklessly advertising it as “evidence” that Success Academy charter schools are not public schools (“Any principal or superintendent of a public school who used students and parents to engage in political activities, with or without their consent, would be fired.”).
Here’s my question for Ravitch: if it is discovered that your source is incorrect, and that Success Academy is not forcing teachers, students, etc. to attend this event (assuming it is even happening), will you acknowledge that it is destructive and irresponsible for a high profile public figure like yourself to disseminate a report that sways opinions on a crucial education issue without checking its veracity?
Or maybe the plans are changing due to the exposure?
Or it will suddenly become “voluntary”?
You’re concerned with reports swaying opinions?
Then you must be very concerned with all the false reports about our teachers, students and schools throughout our country.
Read Reign of Error to learn more.
Linda: do we need more evidence that this blog, and the comments on it, are having an effect?
🙂
Keep posting. They can run but they can’t hide.
🙂
Ravitch has always issued corrections when she has found herself to be wrong and has done so on far more trivial items than this. Before all that, the nature and anonymous source of this post were disclosed up front. There’s no deception here and many more than yourself are waiting for additional information.
Perhaps you are a tad nervous?
Let’s not kid ourselves here….if it were a public school no one would be fired. It would take three years of “due process” to make that a reality
Since this is a charter school and people can be fired at will for any reason, valid or not and since this has been reported as an edict from the leadership of that school will they be firing themselves? There will be no due process or anything else pertaining to this unless the leaker is found and fired for telling the inconvenient truth of how students are being used as political pawns.
Our public school district doesn’t allow supporting candidates or even school levies on the school grounds, including signs and bumper stickers (for local people).
We had “work to rule” days one year when they were giving us a bad time. We showed up and waited to go in the building at 8:10 and left at 3:40.
They never demanded us to take any kind of group action.
However, we were NOT permitted to make any comments to parents about anything that was wrong within the system or even discussing unfunded mandates (which are many in Ohio). Parents would say what they thought, and we’d just give them a nod and say we can’t comment. The tough part is: If you live in the same subdivisions as parents, you have to keep your mouths shut. Our principal was quite adamant about it.
I don’t know that anyone would get fired, but they’d be made to pay in other ways. So many people have resigned or retired in the last 5 years. The staff is very young.
This year the testing has begun, on computers, for Kindergarten students, who can’t find the letters on the keyboard. How anyone thinks anything such as this is a valid determination of students’ abilities when computer skills (lack of) has such a big impact.
And of course it is on OCT 8th, a Tuesday and just happens to be the final day of Education Nation, NBC’s PropFest. Nice . . . these people are nothing if not subtle
“You don’t need the teachers union,” says the Charter Troll King. “Trust me.” lol!
Someone should contact the Daily News. It would be great tp have reporter there to get comments from the protesters.
I agree wholeheartedly–the teacher absolutely needs to share the emails with someone like Juan Gonzalez or Beth Fertig. I would also suspect someone at the Success network’s authorizer, the SUNY Charter Schools Institute, would be interested in seeing the emails, and would protect the teacher’s anonymity.
Tim,
I protect the anonymity of everyone who writes to me, either online here or elsewhere. I hope the teacher communicates with Juan or Beth, as you suggest.
The same thing happened in Chicago at the end of last school year during the ‘pro-charter-rally’ (officially) sponsored by Charter Parents United (http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/chicago-schools-teacher-rally–206672701.html). Teachers at many of the schools represented were told participation was mandatory and they needed to recruit at least four parents from their advisory classes, since this was meant to appear as a parent-led rally. To incentivize this political action at some schools, teachers were told that the number of parents they recruited beyond four would boost their numbers for report card pickup attendance, a percentage that translates directly into bonuses for teachers. Students who brought parents were given service hours, which they need to be promoted to the next grade (interestingly, students who showed up themselves out of ‘commitment to the cause,’ without an adult resembling a parent, weren’t given service hours). One of the battle cries of the rally was ‘Charter Schools ARE Public Schools” and this was sold to parents as a cry for equal funding for THEIR children…something few people, uninformed of the underlying situation of schools in Chicago, could really argue against. Pretty unabashedly manipulative, huh?
I’ve received Eva’s crazy email with the typical 3rd world country dictator’s technique of building visible but artificial support for her own agenda. Here it is:
Dear Parents,
Your child’s education is threatened. Our very existence is threatened. Opponents want to take away our funding and our facilities. These attacks are a real danger — we cannot stand idly by.
This is an outrage: There are hundreds of empty classrooms all across New York City, and more than 1,000 district schools share space without a complaint. Yet our opponents want to penalize our success — and are proposing legislation to do so.
These issues are tremendously important. If we lose ground – literally, if we lose access to public space – we cannot fulfill our commitment to you and your scholar. Which is why you – you and your scholar, your friends and relatives – must join us on Tuesday, October 8 to march with other charter parents across the Brooklyn Bridge.
What: Parent March across the Brooklyn Bridge in support of charter schools and parent choice!
When: Tuesday, October 8, 7:30am-11:00am. Buses will pick you and your scholar up from school at morning arrival, and you will be dropped off at Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn. We will delay the start of school until after the march.
Where: The march will start in Cadman Plaza, go across the Brooklyn Bridge, and end in City Hall Park (Downtown Manhattan). All families will then take a subway back to school after the march to drop off scholars for the rest of the school day.
Don’t let opponents of ed reform steal your children’s future. This is about your child, your choice. Your voice must be heard. We must show public officials that parents will fight for the right to choose excellent schools.
Warmly,
Eva
___
Eva Moskowitz
Founder and CEO
Success Academy Charter Schools
You must not be a parent of a NYC school aged child!
Parent March Info Meeting this Wednesday – Hosted by Eva Moskowitz
Dear SAUW parents,
Thank you so much for all your support and enthusiasm for the hard, hard (and joyous!) work our faculty does with your children each and every day. Now I need your support.
I want to ask each of you to attend a meeting with our founder, Eva Moskowitz, whom I’ve asked to explain the importance of our march over the Brooklyn Bridge on October 8.
Our school would not exist without Eva’s courage and perseverance. Since some misinformation has circulated and there are concerns, I asked Eva to change her schedule and come to speak to us Wednesday morning (Sept. 25), which she graciously agreed to do. We will begin at 7:50am in the SAUW auditorium. Please join me at this important meeting.
Warmly,
Ms. Roby
Can we come too?
Of course Linda! All you need is a picture ID, enter through the door close to Amsterdam (where you will sign up, show your pic ID and maybe asked to go through a metal detector). It takes just a couple of minutes. It’s a public building!
Another hour, another email from gracious Eva:
Dear Parents,
I know that your choice to send your child to Success Academy involved only one consideration – the best possible education for your child.
I ask you to reflect on the choice you made, what it has meant to you, and especially what it means for your child’s future. If you haven’t seen the documentary The Lottery, I urge you to watch it. (And if you have already seen it, watch it again – it’s worth it!) It’s free online via Hulu: http://www.hulu.com/watch/215007 or on Netflix. It will remind you of how hard we have fought to get to where we are today. Many of you fought side-by-side with me for educational excellence for your child, and now, because of what is at stake, I am asking you to join me again, this time to defend the hard-won education that is your child’s right to have.
What exactly is at stake? Space and equitable funding. We have always believed that your children are entitled to be educated in public school buildings, as are other public school children in the city. There is space – our schools co-locate only in severely underutilized public school buildings. There are many of them (currently over 170 in NYC), and we need them because we receive no funding for facilities. Without space and equitable funding, the education Success Academy offers your child will either cease to be possible or will be severely diminished. We will not be able to grow into the older elementary grades at some schools or into middle school grades. The truly magical high school we are currently designing will not be possible.
Marching for parent choice on October 8 is of critical importance to the existence and quality of your child’s education. I also believe that there is an important lesson for our scholars here. They will see democracy in action and learn how to take a stand for what is important, what is rightfully theirs.
For too long, a profound educational poverty has been the norm across America. No more, and not for our children. This is the civil rights issue of our time, and now is the time to take a stand and be heard. The sight of thousands of parents and scholars marching side-by-side across the Brooklyn Bridge will send a strong message to legislators deciding our future. It will also send a strong message to your children about the power of taking action together.
We are changing the educational history of our country, and Success Academy parents have from the beginning led that fight. And, of course, we could not do otherwise – this fight is about the best possible education for your child. I look forward to marching with you on October 8.
Warmly,
Eva
Eva Moskowitz
Founder and CEO
Success Academy Charter Schools
Where’s Andrew Ratner now? Assuming that it is EVEN happening?
I think it’s happening Andrew…call Eva to double check.
See his question from last night:
Here’s my question for Ravitch: if it is discovered that your source is incorrect, and that Success Academy is not forcing teachers, students, etc. to attend this event (assuming it is even happening), will you acknowledge that it is destructive and irresponsible for a high profile public figure like yourself to disseminate a report that sways opinions on a crucial education issue without checking its veracity?
They never forced the parents! These are our children and if we should march we will. By the busses full!
This Andrew Ratner?
Ratner, A. R. and Shiels, S. (2008) Thinking and Writing Benchmark Administration and Norming Guide. Prepared for KIPP Foundation.
Ratner, A. R. and Shiels, S. (2007) Thinking and Writing Benchmark Data Summary. Prepared for KIPP Foundation.
Ratner, A. R. (2007) The KIPP Writing and Thinking Benchmark Assessments. Prepared for the KIPP foundation.
http://www.ccny.cuny.edu/profiles/Andrew-Ratner.cfm
Yes, that one. Is this your idea of “outing” me. It’s interesting that you chose to only cut and paste my work related to KIPP. I suppose you wouldn’t want anyone to know that I have worked in, researched and written about many types of schools including charters as it would undermine your silly attempt to represent me as a shill for KIPP or charter schools. If you truly want to understanding where I’m coming from, you will also notice that the work I did with KIPP teachers and school leaders focused on promoting independence in thinking and writing. I doubt that you’re interested in hearing this as it would threaten your world view of all charter networks being skill and drill factories obsessed with testing, etc.
Quick, grab a lawyer and sue! Being forced to join a political party or action in order to keep your job is clearly illegal, unconstitutional, and a few other things I could name. Sue, sue, sue!
Andrew is right here. I see nothing in the letter suggesting that students and teachers are required to attend the rally. Until I know this is the case, I see no reason why I should have any more issue with Eva Moskowitz rallying her supporters to her cause than Diane Ravitch using this blog to push for her agenda. I just hope that those who attend the rally AND those who fall in line behind Ravitch make these choices based on a reasoned and evidence-based assessment of the many and complex variables that impact educational policy rather than gross generalizations, innuendo, pettiness.
Diane’s not taking kids out of school to march for a charter chain. Eva is and I’m sure it’s “voluntary” for staff and students. Just like test prep is optional. Evidence based? Wow…you’ve got the reformer edubabble down. May I suggest a great book. Reign of Error…get one soon.
Her agenda is our agenda: parents, students and the real educators of the USA, not politicians, billionaires, hedgeucators, charter frauds, celebrities, teach for a while newbies and policy wonks
Wouldn’t the many charters that don’t employ Eva’s dirty methods to get additional space benefit from separating themselves from her polarizing figure? Bill de Blasio’s anger against charters seems to have its origins in Eva Moskowitz’ maneuverings. Who can blame him? Is it fair to assume that this march will only represent Success Academy?
Just listen to yourself, Linda. Do you really think it advances our thinking on these matters to reduce the educational landscape to two irreconcilable, monolithic camps (“real” teachers vs the rest)? Actually , I don’t really give a shit if you listen to yourself. I just hope Diane Ravitch is reading your comments and it gives her some indication of how her populist critique only serves to keep us moving sideways (at best). How many babies will be thrown out with the bathwater if the best response we have to the more obvious shortcoming of the current reform cycle is to blow it up and start at zero.
Andrew, I think you’re harsh and I thank you not to curse on my blog. The sooner the reformers understand the complexities of teaching and learning, the sooner they stop boasting about their miracles (which disappear under scrutiny), the sooner they make common cause with people who work in schools, and the sooner they oust he profiteers from their ranks, that’s when the conflicts will subside.
Read your original post defending the so-called optional, it’s not happening march and apply the same standards to yourself. Pot calling kettle. See you at the parade.
“There is no way in hell that Eva Moskowitz should get free rent, okay?” de Blasio said at a mayoral forum in June. “They should have to pay rent.”
Moskowitz has also been criticized for paying herself an outsized salary. The most recent tax filings for Success Network show she earns at least $475,000 — about twice the salary of city Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/election/charters-send-kids-march-blaz-plan-article-1.1465408#ixzz2folN4TAk
Interesting article indeed. While I don’t read in these E-mails that people are being forced to march, who will mind the scholars who choose not to march if the school is closed the morning of the march? Also, who is paying for the buses – are they allowed to use school buses to transport students and parents to a political rally? I guess charters can do what they please with their resources, but I know a bunch of people would have a fit if a public school district had a field trip to a political rally.
I am also a parent of a child at Success…this email is Real and participation is MANDATORY. As Eva said in her advocacy meeting the only excuse paretns have for not attending protests or rally’s is if someone(that someone being a woman because men are not excused) is within two hours of giving birth. She also noted that there would be at least 10 “events” a year and we are all required to attend. What is insane to me is that they argue the importance of classroom time so much so that they do not consider a Doctor’s appointment during school hours an excused absence but she sees it necessary to close schools down for several hours to protest. These children (most of them being kindergartners and 1st graders) should not be made to march any bridge they are children not pawns. Needless to say We will not be participating I to believe in standing up for my beliefs.
Wow, I think that is great. I wonder if you will be counseled out or intimidated for not following Eva’s orders. Who does she think she is? I guess not having Bloomberg is going to be a challenge for this Empress.
“participation is MANDATORY. As Eva said in her advocacy meeting the only excuse parents have for not attending protests or rally’s is if someone(that someone being a woman because men are not excused) is within two hours of giving birth.” doesn’t this violate freedom of expression?
“doesn’t this violate freedom of expression?”
The first amendment protects individuals from government action, not the action of private entities. And charter schools have a long history of insisting that they’re government entities when it’s convenient to be and insisting they’re private when it’s not.
Why don’t you just leave success if you disagree with it so much? Right, because it’s the best educational option for your child. How sad that you would have parents fight for you to get your school open but refuse to pay it forward.
Nicole – I am also a parent with a child in Success Academy – while the email is real in no way is it MANDATORY. Strongly encouraged yes. I sat in on a parent meeting yesterday and heard Eva outline how important it is to show our support on Oct 8th. My 1st grader and I will be attending but not because we HAVE TO GO OR ELSE!
Eva made it clear that she would like everyone’s support this time – not just the normal 10% of parents that volunteer anyway.
I don’t understand how you can “believe in standing up for my beliefs” and send your child to a SA at the same time.
So much hate for someone who is at least trying to something about the messed up schools in NYC
I am a mother with a child at Success Academy as well. I DO NOT feel “FORCED” to attend this march at all. I am curious why you choose to bash the very school your child attends? What would you do if that school were to be closed? Are you not happy with the education your child is receiving? I am just curious.
It’s pretty clear that she didn’t sign up for her child to be Eva’s political pawn when she opted for that school. She’s now more aware of how the network operates and isn’t brainwashed about it. For example, the fact that a parent is sending his/her child to Upper West Success Academy doesn’t imply that he/she supported the failed attempt to kick out IDP, Innovation Diploma Plus, to make more room for Upper West Success Academy. You can remain a decent human being (which does imply not being 100% in agreement with Eva’s space-grabbing ways) even though you opted for that school.
Andrew, I wouldn’t blend KIPP with Eva’s Success Academy. I haven’t read a single article on KIPP using questionable methods to get more space or kick other schools which are co-located out. KIPP isn’t planning on opening +70 schools within the next few years either.
Will KIPP join Eva’s march?
I am a parent and this is what I got. I haven’t confirmed what this, but I heard that even if the parent does not attend. The school will make scholars to the march.
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Parent March: On October 8 (Tuesday) every Success Academy leader, teacher, and staff member will participate in a march across the Brooklyn Bridge in support of our schools and other charter schools. Parents and students are strongly encouraged to participate in this march with us. Here are the details:
What: Parent March across the Brooklyn Bridge in support of charter schools and parent choice!
When: Tuesday, October 8, 7:30am-11:00am. Buses will pick up parents, scholars, and teachers from school at morning arrival, and you will be dropped off at Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn. We will delay the start of school until after the march. The school day is likely to begin at 12pm.
Where: The march will start in Cadman Plaza, go across the Brooklyn Bridge, and end in City Hall Park (Downtown Manhattan). All families will then take a subway back to school after the march to drop off scholars for the rest of the school day.
While participation is not mandatory, we cannot get our message across without all of your voices being heard!
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I love the SA my child attends and I believe in the SA model but I think Eva is being too over zealous in her attempt to monopolize the charter school system in NYC, The negative press that SA is getting is all self inflicted. She does not get it. She ruining it for ALL charter schools in NYC.
The children and the hardworking staff at these schools the one who will pay the price. She is well off and her kids are grown. I feel so confused. In my heart I feel like I made the best decison for my child nased on the choice made available to me but the antics has to stop. At first I was going march but I have changed my mind. She started this mess, she needs to clean it up.
Note to all after the abundance of over-reaction here (as is the norm on this blog)…..
(1) The Rally was NOT attended by just Success Academy Parents, Teachers and Children. Many Charter Schools were in attendance today.
(2) The Rally was NOT mandatory. As parents we had a choice and that was well respected and received (at least from a Success Academy perspective).
(3) The Rally was an opportunity for parents to voice their concerns over educational inequalities and advocate for choice over the status quo. Why anyone would pick this apart and question motives (there is only one and that is excellent education for our children) is deflating.
Were the students pulled from school missing classes? Did they lose instructional time? Was it optional for the students?
They did lose 4 hours and 15 mins of instructional time that they normally get on a Tuesday morning. I myself am not too worried about losing 4 hours of instructional time as with the school my daughter attends (SA) they receive more quality time in the classroom than most schools . They started school on August 22nd, so I guess we can call it a wash if you want to compare value (or time in this instance) against “traditional” public schools as most of you like to do on this blog.
I can say that I do feel the rally provided a positive experience for my child as it sent a strong message in taking action for what you believe in and willing to challenge the status quo.
Don’t assume the start dates and hours of what you call traditional schools. We also started on August 22nd.
Glad your kid missed school so Eva can rake in very close to a half a million a year and skip rent, audits and all the other requirements enforced on the REAL public schools.
MARCH for Eva’s wallet…great cause!
By the way, check in with SA’s PR staff…they should know by now that the status quo rant is actually getting stale.
Test prep is the status quo…just ask your kid in June.