Did he change course because of publicity?
Just in:
BREAKING….
“It’s not true! It’s not true!”…
or so says Mayor Walsh in a press release from a half-hour agao:
Statement from Chief Communications Officer, Laura Oggeri
For Immediate Release
November 09, 2015
Released By:
Mayor’s Office
— For More Information Contact:
Mayor’s Press Office
617.635.4461
Below is a statement from Laura Oggeri, Chief Communications Officer for the City of Boston:
“The Mayor has never said, nor does he have a plan to close 36 schools. Mayor Walsh has proven his dedication to Boston Public Schools by, in the past year alone, providing unprecedented budgetary support, extending learning time for students, adding 200 pre-kindergarten seats to the district, and hiring a first-class Superintendent. The Mayor also launched a multi-year Educational and Facilities Master Plan this fall to guide smart investments in Boston’s schools with the goal of providing all students with a high-quality, 21st-century education.
The Esquire article is untrue and unsourced, and references meetings that the Mayor has never had. We are extremely disappointed at the spread of misinformation.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I think one should accept this, but of course time will tell.
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I am thrilled that Mayor Walsh disowned the plan to turn public schools over to the charter industry. Sunshine is the greatest disinfectant.
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Frankly, it’s rather disappointing to see a “story” like this flare up here without anyone performing the due diligence of rounding it out with some context.
For example, Walsh didn’t position himself as anti-charter in the election; his explicit position was that he would not open charters at the pace his opponent proposed to do so.
According to an Oct. 13 Boston Globe article, “Walsh laid out a plan that would expand charter schools at a slower pace than in Baker’s proposal. The Walsh proposal would allow the creation of charter school seats in the lowest-performing districts at a rate of half of 1 percent of the local school district budget each year for a decade.”
And he said, “I know many are calling for the cap to be raised even higher or removed completely,” Walsh said. “I am convinced that such dramatic changes would be reckless under the current funding mechanism and unwise under any circumstances.”
It seems there wasn’t anything revealed on this blog or in Esquire that contradicted this campaign statement.
The credulity that fuel these tidbits dismays me. The research skills needed to be an informed reader (considering and locating alternative points of view, evaluating bias, using a variety of primary sources) are easily learned and applied.
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It’s a variation of a theme that has been playing nationally for years.
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Tom, It is possible to open charter schools without closing public schools – if you have the money (which no municipality does.) According to the FOI docs posted, this “facitilities plan” includes a universal application system that sounds like Newark’s. Parents can apply to the their local public school and be refused and have their kids sent, against their wishes, to a charter school. That isn’t choice.
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My point is, as far as I’ve been able to determine, the mayor never made any kind of pledge or promise not to close public schools that he’s now being portrayed as breaking. He differentiated himself from his opponent by saying he’d open charters more slowly.
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BREAKING….
“Oh, yes, it IS true! It IS true!”
… or so says the the author of the ESQUIRE article.
ESQIURE Blogger Charles P. Pierce released a statement where stands by his story, insisting that the Mayor, thru his spokesperson, is deceitfully using semantics in the statement denying his and Public School Mama’s story:
In the past, the Mayor has confirmed, and in the statement, does not deny that there will be schools “consolidated”. Well, according to Pierce, that means the student bodies of different schools will be combined, and the schools merged, leaving some of those buildings “empty”. In the process, this will bring to an end the existence of some traditional public schools in Boston…. i.e. “close” them.
The newly “empty” buildings will actually be leased—as in occupied, and in use by charter companies. So technically, the Mayor can then argue that they will remain “open” as schools… privately-managed charter schools, that is. These “open” schools that will be new occupants of the buildings will be privatized “charter schools,” not traditional Boston Public Schools.
Unlike the public schools, these charters
— WILL NOT BE transparent to the public;
— WILL NOT BE accountable to the public via a democratically-elected school board;
and
— WILL NOT educate all the public, as they will have possess the Eva-Moskowitz-ish ability to exclude the most expensive, and most difficult-to-educate students — special ed., English Language Learners, homeless, foster care, behavior problem kids…. either at the front end, or pushing them out later on down the line.
Pierce claims that there are ten documents unearthed in the FOIA request confirming all of this, including one with “talking points” the Mayor and his people should use to verbally downplay, minimize, and conceal the actual amount of school privatization that the plan will truly put in to effect — in other, words… how to lie to citizens of Boston about what’s really going on.
Pierce ends he rebuttal with this bit of snark:
“Despite the claims of the Mayor’s office, (Pierce’s ESQUIRE) Blog post was neither untrue nor unsourced. However, the Blog is newly concerned by the reading comprehension levels of those entrusted with the education of Boston’s public school students.”
http://www.boston.com/news/education/2015/11/09/mayor-office-calls-esquire-article-his-charter-school-stance-untrue-and-unsourced/zK5t3yBZih31bvhPGstDIK/story.html?p1=story_hp
—————————–
CHARLES P. PIERECE:
“The Mayor ‘has never said, nor does he have a plan to close 36 schools.’ The Mayor HAS said that he plans to ‘consolidate’ schools.
“How can he consolidate schools if he does not close some?
“Oh, wait—if he leases some of the ‘consolidated’ school buildings to charter schools then the buildings will technically remain open. They just won’t be Boston Public Schools. Despite the expressed concerns of the Mayor’s office, the Blog post was sourced and linked to twelve relevant documents obtained in response to what Boston public school blogger Mary Lewis Pierce [no relation] described as a FOIA [Massachusetts Public Records Act] request.
“Among those records was an agenda for a meeting between the Boston Compact and Mayor Walsh and a Boston Compact talking points memo prepared for the Mayor in which the Mayor is scripted to announce and define Enroll Boston.
“Despite the claims of the Mayor’s office, the Blog post was neither untrue nor unsourced. However, the Blog is newly concerned by the reading comprehension levels of those entrusted with the education of Boston’s public school students.”
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I hope this isn’t one of those things where “The Mayor doesn’t have a plan to close 36 schools” (and it turns out that he has discussed closing 36 schools, but either doesn’t have specific plans to close them yet or only plans to close 20 or 30 of them).
I hope the follow up question is whether there have been discussions about closing dozens of public schools and if there have been discussions of opening dozens of charter schools in their place. I hope I am wrong, but there is something about the wording of that statement that feels disingenuous.
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OFF TOPIC:
I just saw the exclusive world premiere screening of the upcoming Michael Moore movie, WHERE DO WE INVADE NEXT? — the first and only screening to date at the AFI Fest in Los Angeles. Moore was supposed to have screened it at a festival in September, but withdrew as he needed to tinker with it some more.
It’s not a movie about the military. He “invades” countries for good ideas that other countries use, things that can then be “stolen” and taken back to use in the United States.
For ideas about education, he “invades” Finland for about 20 minutes of the film. It’s like a 20-minuted encapsulation of Ravitch’s book REIGN OF ERROR. While interviewing some high school kids, one of them reveals that he lived for a couple years in the United States, attending schools there. When asked what he disliked about education, he shot back, “Multiple choice tests!” Moore then asked if they had such tests in Finland, and the kids burst out laughing, with one of them saying, “I can’t believe (in the United States) you give tests like that.”
Moore baits some education officials, “You mean you don’t use tests to identify failing schools, then turn those schools into charter schools with private management?” The education break into wide smiles, and like the high school kids, shake their heads, and are incredulous that such a thing goes on in the U.S.A.
They then go into detail about what they actually do with education.
It’s good. Look forward to it.
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ON TOPIC:
Then what was the document of a “plan” that was unearthed in the FOIA request.
Was that a possible plan, a preliminary proposal?
What was it? Who made it? What validity does it have?
Also, Mayor Walsh is essentially saying, “I’m not closing 36 schools.”
Okay, cool. Great to hear it.
Somebody ask him, “Well then how many schools ARE you planning on closing?” 20? 15? 10?”
“Will those empty campuses then given to charter operators to use?
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I hope that if some readers miss reading the thread “”Ken Bernstein on the Democratic Debate (on Sat. Nov. 7, 2015)””, please open the link:
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/150e05d9592c4be3
or,
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/11/07/1446223/-So-I-listened-to-the-candidates-forum
Here is the most important idea that every Mayor should know by heart that:
[start quote]
It is why we should be focused on THE WHOLE CHILD, which include:
THE ARTS as a means of expression,
and the very real need for some physical outlet, which could be TRADITIONAL PHYSICAL EDUCATION, but could also be dance, or marching band.
It is one reason I see a real need for TEACHING MINDFULNESS, and perhaps things like YOGA and MEDITATION.
[end quote]
If any Governor or Mayor tries to ruin American Public Education, then (s)he SHALL face to Supreme Court for crime in harming young learners in K-12 and higher education.
Back2basic
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“First-class”?? We were promised World-class!
Plausible deniability much?
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I was at the meeting the mayor says didn’t happen and that was referenced in the blog post. Based on the meeting, and the released documents, I have to say that I am sorry I voted for Walsh.
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Former Obama Administration official pens another anti-public school screed. Blames the Obama Administration’s lousy record on public schools on…you guessed it! Public schools!
“Second, the parents of nearly 10 million children—17 percent of all kids—have left traditional public schools for private schools, charter schools or homeschooling. Is there a tipping point—25 percent, 40 percent, 50 percent—where enough parents and taxpayers bypass the system that they are less willing to pay for it? With voucher programs now in 13 states, and more expected each year, the trends are ominous.
It is, perhaps, not a coincidence that state funding for public education is also way down. As of last fall, 35 states were spending less on education than before the 2008 recession.”
http://educationpost.org/dont-stop-believing-restoring-the-publics-confidence-in-public-education/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Betcon&utm_content=TwBetconCatalystConfidencePc1
It’s interesting how out of touch they are. Actually, Ohio public schools did quite well in the last election. 85% of public school levies passed. Voters replaced the funding that ed reformers cut- they actually raised their own local taxes to support schools.
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Chiara,
They have been saying that “the train has left the station” for years. There is no train.
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Chiara
The percentage of children attending private schools has decreased from about 12% in 1999 to 10% in 2009. Before that private schools had about 11 to 12% for a long time. The percentage of children attending charter schools in now about 5%. The number of children home schooled is about constant at 3%. The only reduction of children attending public schools is by those who attend charters which in the last 15 years has reached about 5% of all K-12 population.
Even though private schools teach only about 10% of the kids, they have about a third as many physical schools. That means they are much smaller schools as compared to public schools.
It is wrong to state that 17% of children have left public schools, because about 13% to 15% have always been in private schools or were home schooled for a long time in the history of this country.
Misrepresentation of facts is the only true fact in this blog space.
Please note that the Government Center for Educational Statistics has all the data in tabulated form. It is available free to one and all.
Destruction of public education as espoused here on a daily basis is not a fact that can be supported by honest data. It is the same as “the sky is falling” by Chicken Little.
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Raj, I try to stick to facts. If you don’t like the blog, don’t read it. No one is forcing you to.
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AMEN, Diane. Yes, no one is forcing Raj to read your blog.
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Citations needed.
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Diane Ravitch said it better and more politely, but, Raj, go home. No one needs or wants your hate and lies here.
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Thanks, Raj. But he’s a political promoter- his job is marketing. Obviously his objective is to push the Obama Administration theme that public schools are failing.
It’s what he’s paid to do.
I read Texas public schools did quite well with local support in the last election also. I’ve been involved in school levy campaigns and it’s pretty amazing, because you are asking people to voluntarily raise their own taxes, by public referendum. That they DO is remarkable, particularly because so many of them have flat or falling incomes.
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Many many catholic schools in NJ have closed due to lack of interest or inability to pay the tuition. Many catholic schools were begging their students’ parents to support vouchers so they could stay in business. Based alone on that, I would say that attendance in “private” schools is down, unless we’re counting charters as private.
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Raj says “Misrepresentation of facts is the only true fact in this blog space.”
“Factual Irony”
The only fact in place
In Raj’s comment space
Is fact misrepresenting
In comments unrelenting
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The White House is holding a summit on how to “transform” US high schools tomorrow. I have the feeling that will involve a lot of “online learning”.
Anyone know which national ed reform lobbyists/tech titans are invited? I’d like to know what they’re planning for my son’s future high school without filing a FOIA request.
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I believe Laurene Jobs the widow is financing this. She inherited his billions.
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Just check to see who is talking
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Ah, a fine old tradition of the very pols that our current “reformers” promise to do better than – being open and community-centered vs. closed doors and secrets. I’d say a little too much light fell on a plan that depended on skullduggery that mirrors the best of Tammany politics. Plus, he is in this moment demonstrating his complete willingness to lie – yet another thing every reformer promises to prevent and then reverts to doing. Damn the light!
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Sounds like someone worked this up falsely for Esquire to get a commitment they wouldn’t be closed once the publicity hit. But Esquire must have asked his office? Who knows?
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No, Eugenia, Esquire read the post here. But I am convinced Walsh plans to close public schools and expand charters, working with Gates. Nothing false here.
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Chiara… And we wonder why a teen or an adult in a store or walking down the street and accidentally bumping into another teen or adult gets thrown to the ground and pummeled into a coma??? It seems like a story like this is in the news on a daily basis these days. On line learning will not help our youth to experience and learn about social skills needed IN THE REAL WORLD! But what is “really important” … that on line education will sure help Laurene Jobs to keep her bank account growing by leaps and bounds. Ughh!
Oh yes and then there is the recent publishing of dismal results of on line learning programs already in existence … if I read correctly, these programs were deemed useless.
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I’m still wondering if correction is over a different interpretation of the word “close” than than number 36 vs 10 or 20. Maybe no schools will close, but after summer break 36 will be “public schools” with charter management?
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As the Bee Gees said,
It’s only words and words are all I have to take your school away
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Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Education.
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The Google tells me that Walsh announced that he would be closing schools in late September:
So the issue isn’t whether Walsh intends to close schools. The issues are which, how many, and when.
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Yes, and he also said, “Some of the plan’s expense will be offset by “key funding partners.”
September 29th, Boston Globe.
I do not see under the radar moves or about-faces here.
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