This video, made by the Badass Teachers Association, is part of a series that will dissect the corporate reform effort to privatize American public education. This one describes the work of the Broad-trained superintendents. They are like educational kudzu; once one is installed, they soon surround themselves with other Broadies, as they are known. Some states, like New Jersey and Louisiana, swarm with Broadies. But they are not invincible; some communities, like Sumter, South Carolina; Rockford, Illinois, and Wake County, North Carolina, have gotten rid of them.
The unaccredited Broad Superintendents Academy imbues would-be urban superintendents with a market-reform philosophy. They leave their few weeks of “training” with a determination to close public schools and turn the kids and public property over to private corporations to open deregulated charters.
Part of the reason the Wake County (NC) sup. was fired (without causes so he received about $250,000 salary on his way out the door) was because of the major mess of the buses. In an attempt to save $, over 40 buses were eliminated. Students were dropped off hours after school ended, kids sat in the aisles of buses, buses arrived well after school started, etc. He is now the Head of Transportation for the the State of NC, an appointment he received from the governor.
SICK. EN. ING.
Off-topic, but it’s all related – Detroit is funding a hockey arena for the Redwings: http://www.thenation.com/blog/175467/vultures-and-red-wings-billionaire-gets-new-sports-arena-bankrupt-detroit
I’m tempted to say “unbelievable”, but nothing these bloodsuckers do is beyond belief these days.
Do you know how we can find out if our local super is a Broadie?
Here they are: The Broad alumni:
http://www.broadcenter.org/network/profiles/category/alumni
Thank you again for your support Dr. Ravitch. Today we will be going after the Walton Foundation for funding agenda’s that seek to privatize education. We will have another episode for them. Here is our episode on Rhee!
We have an AMAZING video crew! Thanks again for your support!
American Association of School Administraors has a new certification program
http://www.aasa.org/superintendent-certification.aspx
They are touting the mentors they have lined up for the first cohort group.
In addition to Dr. Domenech, scheduled mentors and speakers include Dr. William R. Hite, Jr., Superintendent, School District of Philadelphia, Dr. John Deasy, Superintendent, Los Angeles Unified School District, and Dr. Terry Grier, Superintendent, Houston Independent School District.
Our suburban Superintendent has been chosen for the cohort. Big city reforms coming to a suburb near you.
The hostile takeover of urban public schools was just the opening front, since the systems are large and the diversion of public money to so-called reform privateers less apparent; the suburban districts are next, most likely inner ring ones that are rapidly becoming poorer and facing problems traditionally associated with the cities.
Suburbs are in the cross hairs for a reason – Education reform in our country is more about restructuring the finances of schools to ensure access and educational equity nationally. The data collection will enable to policies to be conceived of and put into effect:
Affordable Care Act is to health as Common Core is to education.
As long as by “equity” you mean the profits for Wall Street private equity firms (equityforeducation.wordpress.com/2013/05/30/following-the-money-in-education), you are right.
Otherwise, the statement is preposterous.
I don’t understand why you say preposterous. Did you look at that report?
“There is no constitutional barrier to a greater federal role in financing K-12 education. It is, rather, a question of our nation’s civic and political will; the modest federal contribution that today amounts to approximately 10 percent of national K-12 spending is a matter of custom, not a mandate. The federal government must take bold action”
Your point and mine go hand in hand. If lower performing districts do not have the necessary “access” or funding to purchase what higher performing district have (which clearly is why they succeed – i.e. computers, broadband, textbooks, materials, supplies) the data will point to a need for a restructuring of how funding sources get to those areas. Funding will need to be found to pay for the MOOCs mentioned in your link. YES, it is all big business, another excuse to extract money in any way possible under the pretense of providing a better education and greater educational “equity” a la federal invasion.
Higher taxes on our phone bills to pay for the broadband access to those districts where there is not enough money, decrease in govt. dollars to higher performing schools will equal higher local taxes to cover the bills, higher federal income taxes to raise funds to re-distribute to other munipalities, and in the end, it all equals profits for the Wall street firms and corporations who benefit from Ed. Reform.
kidmade: sounds like a “club” in who is being touted as mentors. Both Deasy and Hite were from the “Prince Georges County Public Schools” Club”!
Really wish our Superintendent would have found a better “club” to join.
I like the video very much. But, for the record, it’s pronounced: “Brode.”
As in “Toad?”
Yes. As in toad.
Dear BAT,
Please take the following comment as constructive criticism, as I am grateful for your existence, and your work.
While I am aligned with you in opposing the agenda of Broad and his minions, I am confused by your mini documentary. In my opinion, it had more the effect of preaching to the converted, rather than informing those who need to know.
While it is well made, It is not always clear to me what I am listening to or who to attribute it to. Since I am both a public school teacher, and a regular (compulsive) reader of Diane’s blog I know about the Broadies, and from that point of view found your film clever and amusing. However from the perspective of someone who knows little or nothing about Eli Broad and the other billionaires dismantling public education I wonder how informative this short documentary is.