Mike Feinberg is visiting New Zealand to talk about KIPP, and some of the New Zealanders are none too happy about it.
From the attached article, it is clear that they are not thrilled with the “no excuses” doctrine. As one writer says, “If you wouldn’t do this to your own child, why would you do it to other people’s children.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
“If you wouldn’t do this to your own child, why would you do it to other people’s children” is the $64,000 question. Those in the “reform” movement have their kids in schools with low class numbers, rich opportunities in the arts, and abundant resources. I’d have unfathomable respect if Rhee or Obama or Emanuel stepped forward and said, “My kids get a great education.Let’s make sure ALL schools in our nation give all children these same conditions.” But, that would mean making education a truly equitable priority and putting our money where our mouth is. Bravo to the people of New Zealand for seeing this farce for what it really is and not being blinded by the smoke and mirrors.
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What’s surprising to me is how many people defend Rhee, Obama, Emanuel, etc. on that point. The logic goes something like, well, their kids are ready for that kind of an education because their parents are invested in education and have prepared them for it. Poor, inner city kids who have never even seen a book have to start somewhere and learn something, so skills/knowledge drilling is the best they can do.
In fact, it’s just the opposite. Precisely because poor/inner city kids have had less educational exposure and readiness at home, they need a broader, richer and more free curriculum to get them engaged in the first place. Drilling skills/knowledge is useless if you don’t have a basis upon which to integrate it into your existing experience and understanding. Learning that Tokyo is the capital of Japan means nothing if you don’t have a conception of what a country is because you’ve never even been out of your own neighborhood.
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How pathetic these greedy money-hungry reformers are. They are not satisfied with just American markets. Now they search for
foreign markets to sell their propaganda…places like New Zealand to make even more profit for themselves and their investors.
Children’s welfare is the last thing on their agenda…making profit is first….
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My sentiments exactly!
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It is amazing that the press in New Zealand is so much more aware of what a philanthrocapitalist is! Our press is lagging behind, maybe there needs to be media reform.
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These new reformers are in no way philanthrocapitalists….Michelle Rhee, Murdock, Gates, Koch, Eli Broad, Bloomberg Chris Chjristie, Jed Bush, need I go on?
Look up the word which is a combination of capitalism and philanthropy and no way do these mentioned above “reformers” fit the definition:
Meaning:
Characterized by or springing from love of mankind; actuated by a desire to do good to one’s fellows.
Synonyms Benevolent, humane.
Michelle Rhee…a lover of mankind? a desire to do good to one’s fellow man? Or maybe you thhnk these words
describe Bloomberg–Joel Klein– Koch Brothers–Jeb Bush– Sam Walton– You’ve got to be kidding, right?
They are nothing more than money-hungry greedy profit making free enterprise capitalists who believe in the
philosophy: “Money begets money.”
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Look who paid Feinberg’s way to NZ. None other than conservative hedge-funder Julian Robertson, one of Romney’s biggest backers. He founded now-defunct Tiger Management hedge fund which was mired in scandal. Now helps run Restore Our Future, a Super PAC supporting Mitt Romney campaign.
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And owns some charters too, like the one crammed into PS 15 in Red Hook, Brooklyn, over opposition from parents and teachers and community
Diane
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