Steve Zimmer, the school board member who beat back a multi-million dollar campaign to defeat him just a few months ago, spoke to his fellow members of the Los Angeles school board at their meeting yesterday.
He talked about the importance of class size. He demolished the claim that teachers want to reduce class size for their own benefit. He explained patiently and eloquently why class size matters.
This is the full hearing.
To watch Steve Zimmer educate the public about class size, skip to:
05:36:50 – 05:42:50
He is simply wonderful.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
And please watch Cathy speaking on behalf of elementary libraries. Our libraries in Los Angeles, and California as a whole, are being destroyed.
So you don’t have to hunt through the 9-hour video
of the board meeting, here’s a YOUTUBE video
that someone did of Zimmer’s speech:
Eloquence is just luverly …
But it’s not going to stop a t$unami …
But did it do anything? I’ve not heard anything about the board voting to reduce class size. will this deform board even care. All they want to do is reward their buddies and purchase 30 mil in technology that will be obsolete as soon as we purchase this no bid contract with apple. We are not happy about this and we would prefer this money was used for class size reduction.I’m happy that someone on the board understands where the true focus should be.
The language of the motion is airtight… class size in LAUSD will soon be returning to the pre-recession levels of 2007-2008. With the addition of Monica Ratliff, the new board that takes office July 1st will be even more pro-lower-class size, so this victory should be both preserved and built upon.
Really, you people lack VISION. Class size doesn’t matter. Not at all. Let me explain.
All you have to do is to get your wind-up toys in office to grant you a charter to start a chain of schools. Your schools (we shall be using that term very loosely here) can consist of leased, converted former grocery store buildings with a hundred students (again, using the term very loosely) in each of several rooms with terminals along the walls. The “students” can spend every day doing online worksheets from some well-known (and well-connected, it goes without saying) providers of complete virtual curriculum systems. You know who they are. The “teacher” can consist of 1 person for every 100 “students” because all the “teacher” needs to know is how to help the “students” reboot their computers when these freeze up.
I know. That must sound pretty terrible to you.
Surely we can do better, you must be thinking, than a 100 to 1 “student”/”teacher” ratio.
Of course we can. The Office of Educational Technology of the Federal Department of Education is hard at work on biosensors of student affective responses to online instruction–retinal monitors, wristbands to measure galvanic skin response, posture sensing seats, and so on. These can be used to ascertain whether students are showing sufficient grit, perseverance, and tenacity (see http://www.ed.gov/edblogs/technology/research/) when doing their worksheets. If we simply modify these sensors so that these administer electric shocks and couple this technology with restraints similar to those found on electric chairs, one can achieve teacher/student (we’re using both terms loosely here) ratios asymptotically approaching 0:
1,000 to 1, 5,000 to 1, 10,000 to 1, who knows where this could go!
Of course, you will need guards for situations in which “students” break their restraints, but as privatization of prisons (that great American growth industry) has shown, guards can be hired for next to nothing if one doesn’t have to worry about their belonging to public employee unions or having criminal records. If having criminal records doesn’t matter for the charter operators, why should it matter for a lowly guard?
And I haven’t even begun to discuss the synergies–the economies of scale–to be realized by merging privatized prisons and private charter schools into single corporate entities.
If you need any other quick and easy answers to what appear to be troubling education issues, feel free to drop me a line (and make a contribution to my SuperPAC).
Sorry, a correction:
. . . one can achieve “student”/”teacher” (we’re using both terms loosely here) ratios asymptotically approaching 0:
Yikes! This was correct to begin with! : )
Reblogged this on 21st Century Theater.
Zimmer’s real Al Pacino-esque moment—I’m thinking of Pacino in SCENT OF A WOMAN and AND JUSTICE FOR ALL and other movies where he cuts loose with an monologue of outrage—is when he starts quoting the student-to-teacher ratios at the local charter schools… and one private school (“the elite of the elite… has a 12-to-1 ration. 12-to-1!”
Go to the video:
http://lausd.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?clip_id=58
Then jog to:
05:39:10
and watch until Zimmer hits his stride and lets it rip at:
05:40:10
With mounting irritation, Zimmer starts shouting—quoting and throwing the paper printouts from the charters websites wildly over his shoulder (where the charters’ websites’ main page touts and specifically cites their exact student-to-teacher ratios.)
This was breathtaking.
You can’t see this because of the camera angle, but Board Member Galatzan was visibly angry at this point.
A little subtext here.
Both Galatzan and Monica Garcia have strongly backed the private charters in general—and the ones mentioned by Zimmer in particular, while at the same time, lambasting teachers in the traditional public schools and those teachers’ union, UTLA for doing a lousy job, and “obstructing reform” and being “defenders of a failed status quo,” and on and on… (In the process, Galatzan and Garcia are parroting the talking points of the “reform” organizations who pumped millions into their campaigns… but that’s another story).
In 2009, Galatzan and Garcia also voted to raise class size in the traditional public schools—and saying nothing about the ratios at their beloved charter schools. While the state budget was a contributing factor to the vote, Galatzan and Garcia also cited in part the following reasons for raising the class size in the traditional public schools:
1) “Lowering class size is just about teachers
unions wanting more members and more dues,
and more power… with no proof that it helps kids.”
2) “Lowering class size is about advancing adult interests
at the expense of children’s interests.”
3) “Lowering class size is just so teachers, who have
it easy enough already, will have it even easier, with less
work required from less students.”
Zimmer makes brief reference to these objections…
” to those who think that (lowering) class size is solely
about jobs.. ”
For Galatzan and Garcia, they take a seemingly contradictory (hypocritical?) stance on this, as again, they bend over backwards supporting and praising the charter schools whose success is in part due to their low class size—the low class size the charters tout on their websites.
Anyway, back to the video.
Galatzan starts picking up the papers that Zimmer flings indiscriminately over his head and slapping them down angrily on the counter, and says to him, “Are you gonna clean this up?”
Not flinching a bit, Zimmer continues his laser-like focus, not even looking sideways at Galatzan as he snaps, “I’ll clean it up!” as if to say, “Don’t butt in.. I’m on a roll here.”
Again… a breathtaking performance.
Thanks for the video, Jack. Not as dramatic as you’d stated (don’t think he was either shouting OR throwing–just kinda tossed the papers over his shoulder–& don’t think he “snapped” at Galatzan–if you want shouting & paper throwing, view a video of the Illinois General Assembly Meeting from last May–a Rep. screaming about the House Speaker–which went viral)–but–in Zimmer’s eloquence–extremely effective, nonetheless–got the vote.
Oh, & I forgot–12-to-one ratio–in Chicago, that would be an…UNDERUTILIZED school! Shut it DOWN! (I know, I know–it’s private.But–still–smaller # than either U. of C. Lab or Sidwell Friends…)
You had it right the first time Steve, just the wrong example.
Teacher/ Student ratios asymptotically approaching zero.
1/1, 1/10, 1,100, 1/1000, 1/10,000, 10 ^0, 10 ^-1, 10 ^-2, 10 ^-3……….10 ^-10, heck of a profitable ratio.
Yup
I shouldn’t write these pieces late at night or post them without editing them first. Thanks, Michael!
How well I know the feeling. The keystrokes you can’t take back!
You must recognize the charters I described in my opening paragraph, Michael–they are all over Florida now. . . .
and their flowering is but another episode in the long, colorful, highly entertaining history of scams run by Florida grifters.
Seriously, though, Zimmer in this video reminds me of another quite inspiring moment several months ago when I heard you do a bit of raging of your own at a TED meetup in Channelside. Warm regards to you!
Zimmer was inspiring. Garcia attempting to pontificate after the question was called was just obscene arrogance. I’ve said this many times about Rhee; now I can add Garcia. Listening to her is fingernails across the chalkboard!
Zimmer is freaking awesome in this video. Bravo!
With respect for everyone else’s comments, if you want to hear heartfelt eloquence, skip to a bit past the 7:30:00 mark for comments from the audience.
Listen to the parents. If I remember correctly, there are seven parents followed by Warren Fletcher, head of UTLA, then a special speaking slot given to a Parent Revolution official.
I am sure that Parent Revolution won’t want to hear this, but the final most crushing blow to Parent Revolution was given by—their own representative. There isn’t a polite way to say this: he gave me the creeps.
But listen for yourselves.
Make up your own minds.
Correction: please excuse my error re the time frame.
Previous comments to other postings today on this blog make it clear that the relevant comments start roughly 7:10:00.
I know what you mean about the guy giving you the creeps. The video doesn’t show this, but the guy, a Parent Revolution Deputy named Gabe Rose, wore jeans that were torn in several places and needed a good washing to boot, as well as flip-flops (and no socks???!!!) on his feet.
People were a little bewildered by this choice of attire. Nodding towards Rose, I put my hand to my mouth and whispered to a friend of mine, “What’s up with the ripped jeans and the flip-flops?”
“He’s going for the tragically hip Gen-X look,” he whispered back, causing me to laugh, which I quickly suppressed, as the Board meetings require you to be silent.
Seriously, Gates, Broad, Walton, etc. are paying this guy a six-figure salary—in part NOT to look like a 1990’s slacker (i.e. Ethan Hawke from REALITY BITES… a great movie, BTW… check it out.)
“‘Get thee to a Brooks Brothers !!”
Sounds like tragically rip to me. But, seriously, Jack, that’s how far removed those folks are from us. In their (those paying this guy the 6-figure salary) grand scheme of things, they probably figured that this is what the real, 99% of us look like & would relate to (as in other parents attending), and thus would be more appealing, as opposed to a “suit.” In reality, this guy’s appearance, then, probably couldn’t have been any more insulting.
“They” are entirely out of touch with our very real world.
If you really want to see, in action, Board Member Tamar Galatzan’s (and also Board Member Monica Garcia’s) animus towards teachers’ unions, go to:
lausd.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?clip_id=58
BACKGROUND: the rules and etiquette at LAUSD board meetings has always been to allow the UTLA President to speak on an issue without a speaker card, after the 7 public commenters have finished. Well, this precedent was almost broken at this meeting… almost.
Keep that in mind when you watch this at:
07:30:00
UTLA President Warren Fletcher, always eloquent, knowlegable, and articulate, approaches the mic to talk and Galatzan tries to silence him, and move on to the next phase where Board Members then comment.
Galatzan, who has taken over as presiding chair, is stopped by Fletcher, who asks for his customary time to speak. Incredibly, Galatzan snaps at him, “You do not have a speaker card.” (Mind you, he represents over 35,000 teachers and other educators)
Fletcher: “Excuse me. May I – ”
Galatzan: “Hold on one second. Hold on one second. Seven speakers… you do not have a speaker card.”
Fletcher: “Excuse me. I – ”
Galatzan looks away dismissively from Fletcher, and addresses the other Board members.
Galatzan: (turns away) “Okay, umm, thank you. Questions and comments?”
People in the crowd start shouting objections to Galatzan, and Galatzan responds with condescension.
Galatzan: “I’m sorry. The rules is that we have seven speakers. We’ve heard seven speakers.”
—(fixing her eyes on Fletcher)
“Now, we’re done with Public Comment period. There’s now – ”
The crowd then erupts with shouts “Let him speak!!!”
Galatzan: “There’s now time for the Board Members to comment if they should desire. Do any of my colleagues on the board have any questions of comments on Number 45?”
More objections shouted from the crowd.
Veteran Board member Margueritte Lamotte then chimes in an exasperated tone.
LaMotte: “Can we have not ask for permission for the president to speak?”
The crowd grows louder.
Galatzan: (irritatated, but gives in) “Oh. Go ahead.”
The crowd applauds.
Fletcher: “Thank you, Madame Chair.”
He then proceeds to give Zimmer a run for his money in the speech-making department. Fletcher doesn’t attack Parent Revolution, or anyone from Parent Revolution personally. Wisely, he attacks the law itself, saying correctly that “it guarantees bad outcomes.. ”
Fletcher continues: ” … because this law is built on the premise is that the only way that a school can be improved is when one group of stakeholders starts blaming another group of stakeholders. It is a law based on the idea that we can improve schools by scapegoating… and it is a law that is based on the belief that the only way we can have progress in a school community is if we divide the school in to ‘us’ and ‘them.’ As a 29-year teacher in this district, I can tell you that the parents in this district are being presented with a cruel hoax by this law.
“It is a mechanism to turn ‘hope’ into ‘hate’, and that law is a legal framework to set people against each other. I, as President of UTLA, am proud to say that we reach out to parents, and we set up meetings with parents, and as soon as Parent Trigger is mentioned, suddenly UTLA cannot even get a Civic Center permit. Suddenly, UTLA runs into legal obstacle after legal obstacle. What we are doing is playing ‘adult conflict games,’ and we are fiddling while Rome burns!
“It is important that this school board, and the senior administration and the superintendent of this district obey the law, but it is also important that a framework is developed like in Mr. Zimmer’s motion that this law does not sow hatred, and does not debilitate school communities. To this point, the senior leadership of this district has been, I think, unready to take on the fact that we in Los Angeles bringing groups together, bringing parents, teachers and students and the community and everyone together, and end this sowing of hate!”
… and on he goes.
Watch and listen to Fletcher passionately and brilliantly lay out the truth about this situation, and you’ll see why the corporate-funded, pro-privatization Galatzan fought so hard to keep him speaking.
“You get to know the stories, the voices, the children.” Zimmer, in the video
It is clear that Zimmer has been in the classroom. He spoke of humanity.
I was there and the only person in the board room calling for the Parent Revolution person to speak not booing. He put his foot in his mouth and I knew he would as there was nothing else for them to do. He did it wonderfully. I independently videoed this. Warren Fletcher has finally started doing what UTLA should do. Do not forget Zimmer’s resolution on the Parent Trigger which includes education and verification of signatures so that they are legal.
In 2013-14 LAUSD has over $11,600/student. This is more than they have ever had before and next year it will go up much more. At the same time over 117,000 students did not come to school everyday and this cost the district over $1.3 billion in lost revenue as you are paid for those who actually come to school, ADA. It is much more important to get those lost students back into school than class size lowering. LAUSD is a RICO organized crime organization according to Federal Law. They should be prosecuted as such. Maybe with the change of the 4-3 vote and a new board president it will change. We will see as no one knows until the proof is in the pudding.