As previously reported on this blog by an anonymous teacher at Eva Moskowitz’s Success Academy charter chain, parents, teachers, students, and staff have been directed to participate in a march across the Brooklyn Bridge on October 8 to protest any slowdown in allocation of public space to charter schools or any effort to charge the charters rent for public space. Some readers doubted the authenticity of this claim, but in fact it is true, as reported by website Gotham Schools.
Another reader of the blog sent this comment about why she will not march, nor will her children. She writes:
I am also a parent of a child at Success…this email is Real and participation is MANDATORY. As Eva said in her advocacy meeting the only excuse parents have for not attending protests or rallies is if someone (that someone being a woman because men are not excused) is within two hours of giving birth. She also noted that there would be at least 10 “events” a year and we are all required to attend. What is insane to me is that they argue the importance of classroom time so much so that they do not consider a Doctor’s appointment during school hours an excused absence but she sees it necessary to close schools down for several hours to protest. These children (most of them being kindergartners and 1st graders) should not be made to march any bridge they are children not pawns. Needless to say, we will not be participating. I believe in standing up for my beliefs.
The point is a political show of force to impress the mayoral candidates, especially the Democratic candidate Bill de Blasio, who has publicly said that he will impose a moratorium on co-locations and would charge rent instead of giving away free space.
On this website, we have occasionally debated whether charter schools are public schools. This mandated march–the schools will be closed so that everyone will participate–would be illegal if the Success Academy charters were public schools.
By the way, Eva Moskowitz (a lawyer and former member of the City Council) is now paid $475,000 a year for managing schools enrolling fewer than 5,000 students, about double the salary of the schools’ chancellor who allegedly oversees the education of 1.1 million students.
This is the letter sent to parents. They are asked to support “choice,” but they are not allowed a “choice” about whether to march in support of the charter chain.
Dear Parents,
Your child’s education is threatened. Our very existence is threatened. Opponents want to take away our funding and our facilities. These attacks are a real danger — we cannot stand idly by.
This is an outrage: There are hundreds of empty classrooms all across New York City, and more than 1,000 district schools share space without a complaint. Yet our opponents want to penalize our success — and are proposing legislation to do so.
These issues are tremendously important. If we lose ground – literally, if we lose access to public space – we cannot fulfill our commitment to you and your scholar.
Which is why you – you and your scholar, your friends and relatives – must join us on Tuesday, October 8 to march with other charter parents across the Brooklyn Bridge.
What: Parent March across the Brooklyn Bridge in support of charter schools and parent choice!
When: Tuesday, October 8, 7:30am-11:00am. Buses will pick you and your scholar up from school at morning arrival, and you will be dropped off at Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn. We will delay the start of school until after the march.
Where: The march will start in Cadman Plaza, go across the Brooklyn Bridge, and end in City Hall Park (Downtown Manhattan). All families will then take a subway back to school after the march to drop off scholars for the rest of the school day.
Don’t let opponents of ed reform steal your children’s future. This is about your child, your choice. Your voice must be heard. We must show public officials that parents will fight for the right to choose excellent schools.
Warmly,
Eva
___
Eva Moskowitz
Founder and CEO
Success Academy Charter Schools
Subsequently, the
A mandatory march for choice. that makes my day.
Page McCullough: your comment is dynamite!
But, but, but, charter schools are public schools too…
It’s just that they just don’t have the same student or parent or workers rights. You know, one can compel participation in political activities and the other can’t.
But, but, but, charter schools are public schools too…
“A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true.” [Demosthenes]
🙂
Totally illegal. A good way to take her down is with a lawsuit. I am sure she is personally liable. Wouldn’t that be fun? How is she paid that much? This is why they are crazy and with the Parent Trigger we suggest to parents that they make up their own structure they run without outside influence like charters or any other thing like that. When you do that and the parents and their assistants run the school all the money goes to education not profits or high salaries like hers. Take her down and all like her. They are the weight dragging us down. Let’s see if she can get a real job.
So, Success Academy parent, what’s your next move? Are you staying at Success Academy, enriching Eva’s coffers, now that you see who she is and what she’s really all about?
You mean a woman who is passionate about education and is instilling the spirit of activism and protest in the students – a spirit which sadly seems completely forgotten in America?
She works tirelessly to develop and maintain the school where my child goes. I am very impressed with the curriculum and the academic rigor and passion for education reminds me of my boarding school.
So next move – fight to keep Success Academy going.
Craig,
Don’t forget the $500,000 a year salary.
Where is the legal agreement with the parents which specifically states that this is a mandatory requirement? This is a contractual property rights issue along with a civil and human rights issue. Get the ACLU. They should jump on this and if they do not slime them.
I think it’s an American disgrace that someone like you should even have to post about someone at the level of Moscowitz. (But thank you for doing so.) If I could be at the proposed march I’d have at least one banner with her salary on it. Her contempt for students and families and her cynicism disgust me.
OMG…is this called fascism?
I totally get the idea behind referring to students as “scholars” – and I do it myself when I’m talking to them, especially when talking about certain habits and dispositions I’m trying to help them develop. But referring to “your scholars” repeatedly when you’re addressing parents about their children seems a little… impersonal? Cold? Requiring children to leave a “public” school to participate in political theater is of course the greater offense here.
“By the way, Eva Moskowitz (a lawyer and former member of the City Council) is now paid $475,000 a year for managing schools enrolling fewer than 5,000 students, about double the salary of the schools’ chancellor who allegedly oversees the education of 1.1 million students.”
That’s the rub on the “non-profit” argument. “Non-profit” doesn’t mean anything beyond the strict legal definition and tax status. It’s one of the things that bothers me about reformers.
“Non-profit” isn’t a sufficient answer to the question of whether adults at the exec level are benefitting disproportionally from these publicly-funded schools, as compared to public schools, and that’s setting aside the numerous reports of lucrative real estate deals and various sub-contracts.
I notice there seems to be some confusion in Ohio between “non-profit” and “public”.
What’s worse, media promotes this confusion. The NYTimes is one of the main offenders. A blanket dismissive defense of “they’re non-profits!” simply isn’t a sufficient response. The NYTimes lawyers would never accept that. Why should the public?
Yeah, I think I remember reading that the NFL is a non profit, too.
She was rather crafty in making the “mandatory” part verbal and not in the written letter.
Also, isn’t this kind of negotiation exactly she herself is being paid to do? Teachers and students belong in the classroom and she belongs in meeting rooms working these kinds of arrangements out. If she can’t do this without disrupting the school day than methinks she needs to be held accountable and the charter should hire someone who can keep educational politics away from students’ experiences.
I liken these charter schools to a private party put on by some rich people (in this case, hedge fund billionaires). If you aren’t a one percenter, attendance at such a party is a chance of a lifetime. Eva has tremendous leverage over these people.
No, I wouldn’t expect these parents to do anything but fall in line exactly as Eva tells them to. This won’t be the end, either. Eva’s getting a taste of absolute power over the lives of a large group of people. Everything we know about human nature says she’s going to get addicted and eventually OD.
Reblogged this on Crazy Crawfish's Blog and commented:
In case you were wondering folks, charter schools like this chain are free to engage in real totalitarianism, what many folks see as communism. Get used to it. Charter schools are not public schools except when it comes to siphoning off public funding. Obey or no school for you. Success Academy = School Nazi. Seinfeld would be proud.
No really, are they legally allowed to close a school during regular school/work hours and require attendance at a non-curricular event taking place instead?
Crawfish this is not uncommon for charters. I’ve worked in a charter. I’ve sat through times where the CEO came to the school for a special school function. I swear I felt like I had just sat through a Fidel Castro rally or a Kim Jong Il rally after the function. I couldn’t help think it was very anti-American in nature. Just plain bizarre.
“Our very existence is threatened. ”
Says it all right there, doesn’t it?
Pretty much the beginning of every fascist tirade isn’t it!
And does dear Eva shed one tear for those who were employed in those schools that she now occupies for basically nothing.
“. . . we cannot fulfill our commitment to you and your scholar.”
“scholar”-ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!
Of course she wants to confuse the second meaning with the first, eh!
1. a. A learned person. b. A specialist in a given branch of knowledge: a classical scholar. 2. One who attends school or studies with a teacher
Although I might question if her workers are really teachers.
We are all teachers. Certified…. And this one has two masters.
“Warmly,”
Off course when one is so handsomely paid it’s easy to be warm.
Kind of reminds me of the old 60’s sobriquet: Poverty Pimp (s). They didn’t die. They just emerged with a new call and cause and skin color.
Incredible how greed affects the mind.
Has Eva considered the possibility that a child or children could be injured during the compulsory march? What about liability? Why choose the “Success” charter chain with an autocrat in control? This stunt sounds like a political commercial orchestrated by a narcissist. Eva’s ambitious nature sets off sirens about the inexplicable methods she uses to exploit children. Ethical educators would NEVER create a wacky mandatory student march for the cameras and media in the name of “choice.” Parents, keep your children home for safety reasons. Do not allow children to be used for Eva’s financial and selfish interests. If Eva follows through and gives unexcused absences, call Eva’s mentor, Mayor Bloomberg and register complaints.
What if you showed up the mandatory protest with signs saying “Make charters pay rent – stop the co-location” or “Make every single public school exceptional?” Would that count as “participation?”
It’s staggering that children’s medical appointments rank below Potemkin protests to her.
The parent who wrote in should contact the NYCLU, quickly if possible, re the compulsory demonstration, especially at a quasi-public school: http://www.nyclu.org/regions/new-york-city/assistance They might be able to help.
“Parents, keep your children home for safety reasons.” To me is disturbing that buses are provided to attend, but to return the kids to their schools. All the kids will take the subway back instead. These are big classes of 30 with 2 teachers each. Doesn’t seem safe. Eva takes for granted that all the parents who work downtown/midtown will go back uptown to the schools with their kids on the subway and then back downtown to their jobs?
If I assigned my classes to get elected delegates at a party caucus and attend a convention, or if I assigned my classes to protest on any topic, I’d lose my job in the public schools.
I think this march goes beyond the boundaries of what is allowable in for-profit or non-profit organizations that are not 501(c)(4).
Anyone else got an idea if requiring parents to march in a political rally is legal?
Someone with a legal background…please answer this question. Thanks.
With a legal background in charter school political participation issues. A legal background in airports and Constitution and land use law won’t put the answer on the tip of your tongue.
Is her name Evita?
(Eva’s salary is threatened)
Your scholars?! They are children and I find that a little creepy. Period.
Creepy I what sense? they are scholars, by definition. Look it up and educate yourself.
In what sense is a first grade student a “scholar”?
You must be confused. Regarding children as scholars emphasizes the fact that all children can be scholars, can excel, can be “an intelligent and a well-educated person.” Setting that foundation from the start ingrains the very notation of these possibilities. It’s why the names of every single classroom is named after the teacher’s Alma Mater, why the rigor bar is set high, etc. It is unnerving that people would be against a great education. Put Eva aside, put the nonsense aside. It is not about me, or you, or the UFT. It should ONLY be about the future of these children whose parents cannot afford New Canaan Country School or the Dalton School. Rent? Pay rent? If charters are forced to pay rent, those children will miss out on daily science, field studies, chess, art, theater… Those very same programs offered at the most prestigious schools within NYC and across the nation. Why should those in Westchester have greater opportunities than those living in shelters in the South Bronx? Schools are failing rapidly and instead of us working together to make a change, we are fighting, drawing lines, and battling in front of our children for political votes.
In the best traditions of May Day parade in the former Soviet Union. Brezhnev would have been proud. Too bad my tax dollars go to support this circus while depriving neighborhood schools of funds.
nyc charter schools are by LAW public schools. they are run by 501 c(3) organizations. HAS ANYONE CALLED THE IRS OR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ABOUT THIS MARCH? IT IS ILLEGAL
Success School parent here. Was at that meeting with Eva. There are so many hyperbolic statements made in this blog and fallacies about the purpose of the march. The march is in no way mandatory. Any parent who’s child is at the school and wants that child to continue at that school would be wise to show their support for charters. She has never mandated anyone to march. She’s asking that people stand up for their school. As she noted, given our extended day and extended school year, by 8 grade, our kids will have received and extra 2.7 years of education. What is 4 hours to help ensure the continuance of this school system. Honestly, people. Please know the facts before you continue this smear campaign. It’s kind of gross.
What’s gross is that you are uninformed and listening to Eva’s for-profit propaganda. Please think about how your child is used as a political and financial pawn.
Parents will be wise to stay home and not participate in the march across the bridge. According to Eva’s message, parents and children are pressured directly by Eva to participate in political campaigns since they can’t stand idly by.
http://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Charitable-Organizations/The-Restriction-of-Political-Campaign-Intervention-by-Section-501(c)(3)-Tax-Exempt-Organizations
The Restriction of Political Campaign Intervention by Section 501©(3) Tax-Exempt Organizations
“Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501©(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office.”
March or no march. Why bash Eva Moskowitz for providing quality education? Two of her schools made top 25 of best schools in the entire New York State exams. She is just trying to stand behind what has worked for so many students in New York City. Bill de Blasio threatens her efforts, so why shouldn’t she rally her troops, the benefactors?
I stand behind public schools, but there is so much waste and the system needs to have a better way of eliminating bad teachers that suppose to teach our children, ending up costing the future of our kids. Hence, I also believe in the right Charter Schools who shows their fruits and efforts through an excellent turn out of students who attends them. Let SA march for their cause.
I am a new Success Academy parent in Cobble Hill. Our child is in 1st grade here, he was in K at ps261 and it was a zoo. We are so happy with how much better SACH has been for us. Our child has responded in kind as well, from hating school and being bullied in an environment that I would compare to a zoo to a nurturing competitive classroom where he is pushed to excel and does.
We are very politically motivated to take part in this march and our child is as well. Nothing could be more educational for a child then using their Constitutional First Amendment rights in the form of protest. This is as good a lesson as our child will ever learn. If our school is shut down because the teachers union and power holders can not accept change, our child will also learn a valuable lesson on crony capitalism, nepotism and how change is difficult to make when the engrained power set has control of a system.
Actually, it is probably illegal for a public school to close down to engage the children in political activities. But that Success Academy is not a public school.
Diane, have you ever been to a Success Charter School? If not, I’d strongly urge you to do so. You’ll quickly see that adult behavior, curriculum and expectations are what set these schools apart from the pack. True professionalism and excellence – nothing else is acceptable.
I find this conversation remarkable. Everyone calling Eva out on closing for half a day, yet if a city’s worth of teachers were to strike most of you would defend them in a heartbeat.
And btw, Eva is not “taking space” from kids. You all act like charter kids are born in test tubes and simply adding on to already burdened schools. It’s simple math – as charter enrollment increases, district school enrollment decreases.
Illegal?? This is absurd. Schools take kids on field trips all the time.
Eva can’t win. She stays open when it snows a few inches and people accuse her of not allowing kids to enjoy a snow day. Success Charters are open in Late August – the daily schedule and yearly calendar go much longer than most schools. Half a day to remind the future mayor how organized and passionate they are – I think it’s worth it.
If the posters on here are so worried about kids being deprived of a good education, then please stop blaming one of the very few people and organizations providing a high quality education in high need neighborhoods.
If a public school principal closed his or school so the students, parents, and staff could march in a political protest, the principal would be fired. Period. This action demonstrates that the Success Academy charters are not public schools.
Oh but public school teachers can shut schools for weeks if not months when they decide to strike………legally. But thats ok it seems. Students learning and exercising their 1st amendment rights is bad, but allowing legal hostage holding of childrens educations via strikes is just fine…. Double Standard.
When was the last public school strike?
It’s illegal for teachers to strike in Texas, our second largest state. I believe California outlaws it, too.
In how many of our 50 states is it legal for teachers to strike? How many of those states have teacher unions (also outlawed effectively in Texas, for example)? In how many of those states have strikes occurred in the past decade? Past 20 years?
MS, when was the last time you volunteered to spend a day helping out in a public school?
Okay. When was the last time you drove through a school zone?
SA did not close on the day of the rally, they opened at noon. Given they run anywhere from 4 to 8 hours longer per week then zoned schools, the 4 hour field trip hardly effected their time in class.
Lets think about this closer as well. Allowing a student to exercise their 1st Amendment rights is something inherently special and a great blessing of the American Experiment. We should be very proud that our kids have the right to fight for their education and express their feelings against a government that is unfairly subjugating them to different standards then their peers. We call this discrimination. The march was something of beauty and more educational to the scholars then any action they would have done in school that morning.
Also, we are parents of a SA scholar and there was no mandatory attendance. We are parents and attended yet know of dozens in our school who did not, nor were they punished or reprimanded in any way.
It’s funny that we have a lot of ignorant ppl in the world. The problem with the world today is everyone is so busy and worrying about someone else’s pockets. Like mind your mind damn business and step your game up to make more money. I a success parent am so glad that there is someone who fights for her students like she does. How many pitiful lazy ignorant public school staff members, principals, and parent don’t stick up for their own? Why are so many people intimidated by charter schools for one especially when this particular school is out performing several public and even other charter schools? People come up with so many damn lies about charters schools taking away from other public schools that share the same building, etc like REALLY?!?! Parents/adults who were born with a brain and can actually use it with some common sense should all be for children getting a great education may it be public, charter, private, home schooling, boarding school whatever. It sounds like bill de blasio and that cream of wheat chick name farina are clueless psychos. This so called parent who posted this blog is a straight sell out. Like how you going to post something like this?! Hopefully your child gets a great education too….somewhere else! Give your child’s seat to another SCHOLAR who would appreciate the education success has to offer. You’re complaining about a dr’s note versus fighting for an education? Silly rabbit tricks are for kids! I CHOSE to NOT put my child in a public school because I myself grew up in the public school system and many of the children were/are rowdy, rude, disrespectful, want to run the classrooms, teachers didn’t care about the students all they cared about was getting paid, etc. I did not want my child in that environment. Once again it was MY CHOICE as a parent to NOT put MY CHILD in public school. Charter schools are public schools indeed!!! My tax dollars pay for public buildings public school students share with or without charter school students in them. Who the hell do people think they are for going against and forcing parents/guardians to choose otherwise. Sounds like to me mayor Bill de blasio/ and cream of wheat and this sell out parent are modern day massas! Brought to you by a Success Academy parent who is FOR children getting an education and FOR charter schools EVERYWHERE!