Two months into the school year, the head of the Recovery School District abruptly fired the principal of Walter L. Cohen High School as well as several teachers and announced that he was turning the school over to a charter operator called the Future Is Now.
Students reacted angrily and protested the disruption in their school. They issued their own demands, which included the funds to repair the building, reinstatement of the fired staff and a full report from the charter about its record, its test scores, suspensions, police reports, graduation rates, attrition rate and other data about its performance.
The Future Is Now is a charter chain led by Steve Barr (formerly of Green Dot in California) and real estate developer Gideon Stein of New York City, who has been associated with Eva Moskowitz’s Success Academy schools.
The following exchange of letters between Tracie Washington, a prominent civil rights attorney in New Orleans, and Gideon Stein, shows the heat of the controversy. In New Orleans, the wishes of parents, students, and communities count for nothing. All decisions are made elsewhere.
From: “Tracie Washington”
Date: Oct 9, 2012 6:02 PM
Subject: RE: Walter L. Cohen High School
To: “Gideon Stein”
Cc: “Vaughn R Fauria” , , , , , , , , “Mary Joseph” , “Judith Browne-Dianis” , “Tracie Washington”
Gideon:
The problem is the presumptions made that started this web of deception and mess. That web continues, even today with Recovery School District (RSD) and FINS-Nola backdating a contract (it’s a public record folks; that’s a big ‘no,no’). Apologizing to me means little. You and your Board and the RSD did something that really is unforgiveable. You entered a community and said “I know what’s better for you and your children. I will not consult with you, but instead take over your community.” I’m saddened not because you did this. You are not a member of my community. But Black folk in this community did it to other Black folk. And yesterday, when these students were exercising civil disobedience the likes of which I had not seen from our young folk, RSD threatened them with the declaration of truancy, which is criminalization in our community.
On Sunday, the students told our community they felt like slaves. SLAVES. It’s 2012. FINS-Nola and RSD made a group of Black children feel like slaves. We have Congo Square. I guess we should have simply sent the kids there on Friday.
I don’t know how you resolve the lies told to take away the rights of these parents and students. You all have been paid. So it’s all better because now you say you’re sorry? Really.
You get to fly out of here. So it’s up to Black women to clean up this mess? My grandmother worked for $3/day and carfare so that I would not have to clean up behind white folk. Not today. This is your mess Gideon. Stick around!
I’m just sick!
Tracie L. Washington, Esq.
President & CEO
Louisiana Justice Institute
Every day without fail — Make Justice Happen
1631 Elysian Fields Avenue | New Orleans, Louisiana 70117
p 504.872.9134 | f 504.872.9878 | c 504.390.4642
Admitted to Practice in Texas and Louisiana
tracie@LouisianaJusticeInstitute.org | tlwesq@cox.net
http://www.LouisianaJusticeInstitute.org
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Learn about LJI’s Project Transparency: http://www.NolaPublicRecords.org
From: Gideon Stein [mailto:gstein@finschools.org]
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 5:42 PM
To: Tracie Washington
Cc: Vaughn R Fauria
Subject: Re: Walter L. Cohen High School
Tracie,
I’m replying to you and Vaughn and bcc’ing the rest of the FINNOLA board and other people cc’d on your email. First, let me state that FINNOLA is very sorry for any disruption and hurt caused to the Cohen community. As with John McDonogh, FINNOLA recognizes the important history of New Orleans schools and the unique identity that students, alumni, parents and the community all share with respect to their schools. FINNOLA is committed to working with all stake holders at Cohen to hear concerns and ensure that community interests are considered along with our commitment to providing the best possible education for children.
I spent time at Walter L. Cohen today and can report that the protests are over, the kids are back in class and we are working with the RSD and NOCP to address many of the issues raised by the Cohen students.
Sincerely,
Gideon
—
Gideon Stein
President
Future Is Now Schools
646.373.3888
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Reblogged this on Crazycrawfish's Blog and commented:
Apparently John White does think he knows what’s best for children, at least if the parents and children are poor and black.
Maybe it’s just white parents that know better than him?
If this Gideon guy’s not even smart enough to know the definition of bcc (hint, you don’t announce your bcc’s as that sort of defeats the purpose), how can he be smart enough to run a school?
And that’s the least of the problems with this guy.
Thanks for the lesson on blind copying and your faith in my intelligence. 🙂
I specifically stated that I was bcc’ing the board so that Ms. Washington and Ms. Fauria would know that I was including the board in my response, but that they wouldn’t have to be included in any replies to my response. Using bcc in this way is actually a pretty common email technique.
Your intelligence – not to mention your empathy – speaks for inself.
I did not realize that being a real estate developer makes one an expert in education.
I don’t think that Barr, et al would have gone into a middle class to upper middle class white neighborhood in New Orleans and said that they were going to take over the school.
It is colonialism of the worst kind.
Among the many things charter schools are – vehicles for union busting, profiteering, behavioral training of the Worthy Poor, etc. – they are also a real estate play, signified here by developer Gideon Stein’s apparent foray into New Orleans.
Having been a major player in the gentrification of Harlem, in conjunction with Eva Moskowitz, he apparently now sees investment opportunities in New Orleans.
Arne Duncan misspoke: rather than Katrina being the best thing that ever happened to the New Orleans schools, it was the best thing that ever happened to neoliberal privateers.
For the record, I own no real estate in New Orleans, nor do I have any intention of owning or investing in any real estate in New Orleans.
I am not paid by Future Is Now – New Orleans and Future Is Now does not charge a management fee for John McDonogh, Walter Cohen or any other school or entity in New Orleans or elsewhere.
Trouble at two in New Orleans.
http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2012/10/recovery_school_district_faces.html
So, we in New Orleans are to believe your motives are completely altruistic and we shouldn’t have any concerns about neoliberal shenanigans here?
We are in the midst of a huge educational fraud with the poor children of color as the victims of these educational grifters. One can only hope that the involved parents and their organizations catch on as soon as possible. If they don’t, their children will soon be confined to storefront academies with low-paid and poorly educated teachers.
You know it. The latest thing in Jindal’s new law was that “teachers” at the charters do not have to have a college education. How else would they get people who would work in the classrooms for little over minimum wage. In some places even paraprofessionals have to have some college. He tucked that into a portion of the law that was unrelated so that it would not be noticed in his plan to destroy the public schools. Then the Education Committee of the state Legislature only had a few days to read through the bill since he pushed it in first.
It is time for everyone who lacks actual educational credentials and experience to close their word-holes and get out of the way of the actual professionals. Do they interfere with their plumbers, doctors, engineers, auto mechanics, etc. when those professionals are working?
That is the ONLY way the schools will improve. No other profession is run by non-professionals. I have asked before, would you take your child to a plumber to have a heart condition fixed? Plumbers plumb. Teachers teach. They also teach plumbers.
What about the $800,000 Future Is Now received in i3 grants to take-over schools in New Orleans? Sounds like real estate to me!
Glad to see the kids standing up for themselves. The good thing about Hurricane Katrina was that the children found out there were other schools and children like them who had nice buildings, equipment and classrooms. A little girl who stayed near me in a FEMA trailer was amazed that her new school had a playground with swings! They returned to New Orleans wanting something better, but they want it to be uniquely theirs.
What has happened is that the younger generation does not have the “plantation mentality” of the adults where they passively accept whatever junk the politicians feed them. This group of high school kids was in elementary school during Katrina and they learned advocacy while they were evacuated. They had to in order to survive as strangers in a strange land where people were afraid of them and blamed them for everything from increased crime to rents rising and the streets needing to be repaved. Even in other towns in Louisiana politicians were concerned that they carried diseases and that the New Orleans kids were all gang bangers. And if you think about it, some the high schoolers from 2005 now have children in elementary school. But the schools still have not been returned to the Board. The RSD still has not been dissolved or held accountable, and the charters are still picking out the easiest children.
Now my question is what do people from New York know about New Orleans children???? What experience equivocates with the losses these kids suffered from Hurricane Katrina? Southern children are not the same as kids from the crowded and cold northern cities. New Orleans children are even more unique than most. I found that out quickly teaching in New Orleans before Katrina. Yes, they have the same need for a quality education, but why must it be delivered by a bunch of people with strange accents and vocabularies who don’t pray in school? (Although organized prayer was kicked out of schools years ago, God was not. My friend from Massachusetts was shocked when teachers and students gathered in the halls for prayer on testing days in New Orleans.)
I can see where they might feel like slaves, being treated like they are stupid children with stupid parents who don’t know which teachers and administrators are good and who cares about them. New Orleans children are virtually indestructible, but these outsiders are apparently treating them as less than humans. Even special needs children, including those who are mentally retarded, are included in their IEP meetings from the age of 14 and allowed to have input into their educational programs. That is federal law.
Schools need to be run locally by local professional educators, not by outside for-profits and certainly not by administrators who are not teachers and Teach for America’s from who knows where. The lives of southern children are based on relationships and their teachers are like second mothers to many of them. Some teachers, before the corporatization taught their mothers and others are alumni themselves.. It is part of being a southerner and a good thing.
As I read these responses, it seems like people’s hearts are in the right place. But because they display a lack of temperance for what they criticize, their credibility is being easily overlooked. I mean, who spends time on a post about education (the stuff of true equality) discussing the proper use of a blind carbon copy? Even if Gideon had used it improperly, why does it matter? In order to be heard and taken seriously, we can’t be petty or un-cleverly sarcastic. I mean, why grasp at straws when the topic is filled to the brim? In fact, the cup definitely runneth over. As for you, Gideon, “Thanks for the lesson on blind copying and your faith in my intelligence.” Is that the best you’ve got? If you are going to expend energy trying to insult someone for implying that you are lacking in intelligence, make sure the reply is just that—intelligent. I’m disappointed. That was a prime opportunity for you to show that you are as lofty and important as you try to act. Maybe next time. 🙂
Moving on.
People! It’s useless to attack Gideon’s intelligence. Nothing is black and white. You have the right intentions, but your own credibility lies in having the insight and ability to give credit where it is due. Hitler. He brutally, systematically, and (although he tried to destroy the evidence) publicly murdered millions of people (not just Jews). HOWEVER, no one could ever say he was an ineffective leader. Jeffrey Dahmer. He was a certified genius. Considered handsome by many, and was as charming as they came. Unfortunately, when lonely, he enjoyed the occasional sautéed person of color (possibly with fava beans and a nice chianti?). The people running this organization aren’t necessarily lacking in intelligence (Except the principal/CAO. Poor guy isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed). But I doubt they go home and eat people (again, not including their school leader in this observation. That dude is…special.). They are so far removed from everything that they say and do ridiculous things. Their only context stems from their pre-conceived notions, the media, the many angry (and sometimes ignorant) people they meet, and their beady-eyed little jackal of a school leader. Yes, jackal—the doglike opportunistic omnivore that is classified simultaneously as a predator and a scavenger. They hunt in pairs until one feels threatened. The threatened one chases off its perceived rival(s), then pisses and craps on everything it can to feel in control of a specific area. In a sense—smelling himself.
But I digress.
The external (NY) leaders of the school just don’t know what’s going on. They are not educators, but because they have high-powered (high-paying) jobs, they think they are better (know more) than teachers about everything (including education). They forget that everything they know, they learned from teachers! They think that because someone decided to TEACH, that they can’t DO. This would be pure comedy if the kids weren’t suffering because of this asinine mentality. They come in and make decisions about the school (the curriculum, the schedule, what color to paint the walls, etc.) but have NO clue what it means to shape minds and change trajectories (especially in a place where educational corruption is standard). People like them say naïve things like, “It’s not like I’m a teacher who only works 180 days a year.” But it can’t be a teacher who sets them straight because they aren’t respected enough to be heard. It’s interesting that the people who have the most say in educational matters don’t have children who are affected by it.
Once again, I say, “hmmm…”
People are always so surprised when the kids get upset for being screwed daily. Just like us, they are humans. Real life people…with eyes, ears, brains, emotions, and FUTURES. Of course they want better for themselves and are going to speak up. And that’s exactly what they need over there—a little brouhaha. Not from the kids, though, because that’s already happening (bless their sweet but defiant little hearts!). They are begging for structure, but poor tiny jackal man has no faith that the kids can behave. He (and others who work outside of the classroom) claims the kids are “different” there than at other more successful OPEN ENROLLMENT charters. To quote Shakespeare, “Words, words, words.” Or better yet, excuses, excuses, excuses. The same kids are shuffling around the same schools. Just ask them about their histories. They have been at Sojourner Truth, Carver, Clark, Sci Academy, KIPP, King, Lake Area…yada yada. It doesn’t matter that many of them have hard lives, or children, or whatever. They are kids. And when we lead, they will follow. Plain and simple. It takes time, trust, patience, and consistency (not of which Jackal Man possess)…but they WILL follow. When kids feel unsafe (because they have to make the school culture by themselves), they freak out and get all “Lord of the Flies.” Don’t blame children for not knowing how to act when Wee Little Jackal Man doesn’t have sense enough to provide “standardized” replacement behaviors. Don’t get upset with teachers for struggling in the classroom when he won’t (possibly because he can’t) provide the tools they need to be effective (i.e., meaningful PD, respect, the power to teach discipline). How are first-year (or twentieth-year) teachers supposed to be effective when their self-obsessed leader thinks everything is about him? How can kids learn if he is bursting into their classes with cameras in their faces giving high fives and yelling questions about football when they are trying to get their lesson? What message does that send about what and who is important in a school? How can he yell and curse a heavily educated, hard working adults to “use techniques” to connect with children, then refuse to teach them any of these elusive “techniques”? And when they ask learning questions, he tells them that they “think too much.” Aren’t teachers paid to think “too much”?
The term principal originally meant, “principal teacher” or “head teacher.” But the diminutive jackal is a terrible teacher, and an even worse leader. Good teacher rule number one is never get upset at your students for not knowing something you have not explicitly taught them. And if someone can only lead by bullying, he (you, Mr. Marvin) should take a step back and think about what he is missing in his own life and intellect.
But back to the wonderful whistle blowing that is constantly ignored.
People tell NY about the abuse and doo-doo show that happens there, but since they are not here, they have to believe the leader they have in the city. Unfortunately, Mr. Midlife Crisis (aka Little Jackal Man & Mr. Marvin) is prone to sharing his own version of the world’s happenings. He is in over his head because he did not realize how unique New Orleans was. And this is okay! The initial shock is expected—even when more experienced people constantly tell you what to expect here, you think they are exaggerating…until you get here. What’s NOT okay is that he’s afraid that people will realize he is extremely fallible, so he fronts—hard. And since infallibility is impossible for us mere mortals, a person must lie to keep it (or the illusion of it). He does butt-covering things like holding board meetings during the day so teachers can’t attend, then tells the board that they don’t need to talk to teachers because he knows everything. He shoots down the ideas of other people, then uses them as his own in public settings (another example of the aforementioned pissing and crapping). As for kids, he curses at them, tackles them during altercations, and tells people who lament the need for behavior intervention that they are “expecting too much.” Suffice it to say, the teachers are working their behinds off, but the kids can’t learn when their teachers’ hands are tied.
“They” say the oldest profession in the world is prostitution. Well, with this organization, it seems like the teachers are being pimped daily. Mr. Midlife Crisis is more worried about his image to the outside world, than with actual results. Corporate (NY) are up there in their little platinum bubbles impressing people with their altruism at dinner parties…Yes! I have a school in New Orleans. Aren’t I the best thing since the chargeable vibrator? I get to check the “philanthropy” box on LinkedIn, and take teachers out to fancy dinners to say “thank you.”
Get a clue! Nothing says “thank you” to an educator like a whiteboard and a projector. Can a brother get some post-its? How about a second copy machine since the tiny number of admin he bogarting the one in the main office because they don’t like lines–and clearly need copy machines more than teachers.
Here is why the school is failing miserably:
1. Little Jackal Man
2. Little Jackal Man & his minions
3. The disconnect between the school and the money
4. Little Jackal Man & his perceived substance abuse issues
5. The fact that corporate isn’t doing anything to check or balance Little Jackal Man
What the school needs:
1. To focus on the needs of the CHILDREN (yes, remember them?)
2. A positive discipline system
3. The message that teachers are the end all be all
4. Teacher recognition
5. A revamping of the mindsets of the administrators and support staff (realizing that they are there to serve the teachers…not the other way around. The teachers are the most important because they work directly with the children)
6. A lesson on the difference between a turnaround and a hostile takeover. (more on that another time)
7. A fancy staff retreat with a turnaround consultant (that is NOT the poor crazy pants Jackal Man…a REAL turnaround consultant…preferably someone who has read a book about education in the last decade). He needs to sits his paranoid and self-important self down and learn a thing or fifty and stop acting like he’s Mr. Miyagi’s big brother.
8. A school culture overhaul (AFTER the retreat). This should be teacher-designed.
9. A shrink that follows The Jackal around telling him when he’s being ridonk.
10. A REAL and PUBLIC apology from corporate and the principal for failing the kids, the teachers, and the community (and a real request for help to fix it TOGETHER).
There’s more, but this post is too long already. I wanted to post my favorite quotes from The Jackal, but they are too funny. It may take your attention from the point of this piece. Also, the fact that Oprah is making a documentary (I’d wager another “Left Behind” from the types of stuff they like filming) is a giant problem. It may be a documentary, but our media culture cries for sensationalism.
The only way to change the things that are happening at that school (outside of finding better leadership), is to expose it in its raw and uncut form. If Little Jackal Man and the people in New York knew for sure that every little racist, classist, sexist, ageist, illegal, inappropriate, disrespectful, and dangerous thing that happens was going to be blasted for the whole world to see, then things would be different. Their only power is that they work hard to control what the public sees and hears. Unfortunately for them, this is a small city with an even smaller educational community. So I’ll just say it: FIN! Take care! Your horns are showing. They just slipped from under your Brooks Brothers golf hat, and the community sees them.
Let’s see how long it takes for them to infringe on the teachers’ first amendment rights to keep things hush hush. Will they have to sign a muzzle order disguised under the term “confidentiality agreement”? Or will they do it jackal style and use threats and psychological and professional warfare?
Follow my blog at http://nolaeducationonblast.blogspot.com to find out!