Jersey Jazzman has dubbed John King, our new Secretary of Education, “the King of Suspensions.”
John King shaped the disciplinary policies at Roxbury Prep in Boston. It has the second highest suspension rate in the state of Massachusetts.
“This isn’t at all a surprise; as the Boston Globe reported in 2014, Roxbury Prep had previously held the top spot with a suspension rate in 2012-13 of nearly 60 percent.
“Later on, Roxbury moved under the umbrella of Uncommon Schools, a charter management organization with schools in New York and New Jersey as well as Massachusetts. John King, consequently, rose to become Managing Director for the entire Uncommon chain. Soon, the high suspension rates that were a hallmark of Roxbury Prep became common in all of Uncommon’s schools…..
“Uncommon Schools, the charter chain John King used to manage, has some of the highest student suspension rates compared to its neighboring schools in three different states.
“High suspension rates are not good for students. You know who says so? The very USDOE John King is now going to lead.”
JJ quotes at length from USDOE policy statements explaining why suspension is harmful to students.
The USDOE is opposed to suspensions.
JJ says, too bad there will be no hearings on King’s appointment because it would be interesting to learn whether King agrees with department policy on suspensions.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Distilled evil
Yes, “distilled evil,” manifested as social engineering based on humiliation, authoritarianism (which just happens to be directed at largely Black and minority populations) and learned helplessness.
Another gem from the Jazz master.
“The Charter Secret to Small Class Size”
To keep the classes small
You just suspend the chaff
You don’t suspend them all
Just quarter to a half
Suspension may not be good for students, but they are certainly a good way for charter schools to “encourage” parents of a child they’d prefer not to have to teach to find a better “fit”. It’s the miracle of “choice!” See, parents have other options when a charter school makes it clear their child is unwanted.
Two important points that often get lost when talking about suspensions: In some “good” charter schools, the suspensions are of KINDERGARTEN kids! I have seen schools that only serve K-3 grade with suspension rates of 20%. Most Americans imagine truculent teens suspended, but instead it is often a 6 year old who is struggling to learn.
So, I hope a reporter asks the DOE why charter schools with very high suspension rates of very young children are being rewarded by very large federal grants that the taxpayers are paying for. And hold John King, Arne Duncan, and the DOE to a tiny bit of the standards they keep saying schools are supposed to be held to. Saying suspension doesn’t work while REWARDING charter schools that frequently suspend 5 and 6 year old children? Especially when those children are far more likely to be at-risk? Shameful.
It’s because those that tout “choice” find it more convenient to put adult interests ahead of those of children.
Or as one of the official catchy slogans of the self-proclaimed “education reform” movement puts it: “It’s all about the kids!”
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Yes, making sure that large numbers of kids don’t get in the way of the ease and comfort and benefit of a few adults.
And when the parents and others object? Nothing has changed under the ‘kinder gentler’ turn the rheephormsters have claimed to adopt lately: those resisting creative disruption are “special interests” and “doing the bidding of teachers unions” and “putting adult interests ahead of those of the kids.”
Rheeally! In the most intensely and Johnsonally sort of ways too…
But not really. At least not on Planet Reality.
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I noticed that last month Secretary of Education recognized a “blue ribbon” charter school that suspended 20% of their kids! In elementary school! Talk about not living up to your own standards — I love how Duncan’s DOE pretended to be concerned about suspension rates while recognizing a charter school that suspended 5 and 6 year olds at very high rates.
Given that suspending young children has no effect on your ability to be highly rewarded by the US DOE, why does the US DOE even bother to oppose high suspension rates? I guess they figure giving lip service to suspensions being bad will have more effect than giving money to schools with high suspension rates! Or they don’t really care at all, and John King can happily continue their policies of rewarding charter schools that suspend lots of very young children.
I find it truly amazing that when charter schools were first imagined, they were supposed to served the most troubled students. They now have morphed into these semi-private academies that only serve the best & the brightest. Talk about bait & switch!!!
“don’t mess with a missionary man”
It is undoubtedly too late to do anything about King – or Duncan- but I would again urge the readers of this blog to contact, write the White House with your concerns. We can all write our opinions on this blog which is often “preaching to the choir”. Joining together in our own chorus of dissent to those in authority will be our best chance of even beginning to make a difference.
The Obama administration no longer has any reason to care what voters think – they now have to focus on securing a lucrative post-White House job. Contacting the White House is a wasted effort.
What just might still be effective is contacting candidates for elective office at the state, federal and local levels. I have emailed my state and federal representatives and senators, as well as all Democratic presidential candidates, to let them know that they will not get my vote without a very clear pro-public education platform, and I have let them know specifically what I count as “pro-public education”.
I would say the best way to deal with King and Duncan is with unrelenting ridicule. It’s poison to these people.
Bilgewater: your advice is well grounded—
“Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand.” Mark Twain.
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