Mike Klonsky documents the disastrous history of school reform in Chicago. It started when Secretary of Education Bill Bennett came to town and said Chicago’s schools were the worst in the nation. One reform followed another: Paul Vallas, Arne Duncan, Rahm Emanuel….and a legacy of failure.
Rahm closed more public schools than any public official in history (not counting Hurricane Katrina). he loves to turn neighborhood high schools into selective-admission schools. This promotes gentrification and disperses the neighborhood kids. His current plan is to do this to Hancock High School:
“It’s Rahm’s fascination with selective-enrollment schools as a driver of neighborhood gentrification. In this case it’s his plan to turn around Hancock High School on Southwest Side, which now is home to mostly poor Hispanic students, by getting rid of all the teachers and students and calling it a selective-enrollment school. The school will no longer guarantee any of its seats to neighborhood children, about 95% of whom are Hispanic and 97% low-income, according to CPS.”
Yes, this will “turnaround” Hancock by getting rid of the students.
And what happens to the “least of these”?
Exactly. What does happen? But don’t you see DEMOCRATS leading this push to discard them? Talk about hypocrisy. At least Republicans walk their talk. Cut taxes. We’ll save our own kids. Devil take the rest.
Yes, Harlan, both parties have let us down.
In today’s US, Richard Nixon would be considered a flaming liberal.
There is no longer a party representing the common folk.
Instead of grit we should be teaching students about integrity – a character trait missing amongst our political leadership.
Diane – On another topic, have you seen this video news report on the 25-year Arizona teacher who was fired for stepping in to stop racist bullying of a 4th grader? Have a look: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/10/arizona-teacher-fired-after-25-years-for-defending-student-from-racist-bullying/.
OMG!
Never mind the parents of the bullies defend and condone the behavior of their own kid.
But after 25 years, she did get due process – another veteran teacher due to be processed out of the system.
This does not surprise me in the least –neither the student bullying nor the actions of the board in dismissing her with total disregard of her protection of the student
I lived and taught in AZ for two years and will say that without a doubt, it is the most racist place I have ever lived.
I experienced it first hand, not exactly racism, but something similar. A (white) student in one of my classes drew a picture of me with a swastika on it and when I showed it to the VP, he didn’t do a thing about it.
Many (but obviously not all) WASP’s in AZ believe they own the place, which, of course is the ultimate irony.
Rahm-bo!
Here’s another Klonsky brother piece (Fred this time) with some good news: http://preaprez.wordpress.com/2014/10/03/rahm-facing-election-defeat-runs-away-from-charter-schools-no-new-ones-in-2015/
The good news isn’t that Rahm is promising no new charters because I know better than to trust any promise of his (besides, I’m hoping he won’t be in a position to be deciding about charters in 2015) – he’s always got his rich charter investor friends’ backs. The good news is that even a hard-core rephormer like Rahm is recognizing that charters are toxic. Which means that the tide is turning – people are wising up and speaking out, and even a willfully deaf politician like Rahm is getting the message.
“The Student-Picker’s Song”
(also known as “The public school turn-around song”)
Close down turn around
Pick a body-a students,
Close down turn around pick a body-a day.
Close down turn around
Pick a body-a students,
Close down turn around pick a body-a day.
E-manny pick a body-a students,
E-manny pick a body-a day,
E-manny pick a body-a students,
E-manny pick a body-a day,
It seems the best strategy for raising test scores is to get rid of low-scoring students. Voilà!
File it in the history books, the great Chicago charter school debacle of 2014.
I cross-posted to the Klonsky article
http://www.opednews.com/Quicklink/Mike-Klonsky-s-SmallTalk-B-in-Best_Web_OpEds-Education_FAILURE_LIES_School-Reform-141003-691.html#comment514460
with this comment:
What happens in Chicago matters. Look at how it was done in NYC,the larger district in the 15,880. See how it is ongoing in the 2nd largest city LA whose demise is chronicled at Perdaily.com
https://vimeo.com/4199476
When the public wakes up from ISIS & Ebola, and endless fascination with celebs and sports stars, the INSTITUTION of public education will be gone.
Take an interest…follow the war on public education and tell others.
My links here at OPED follow the disaster as they sell Magic Elixirs,
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Magic-Elixir-No-Evidence-by-Susan-Lee-Schwartz-130312-433.html
which Bamboozle the people.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/BAMBOOZLE-THEM-where-tea-by-Susan-Lee-Schwartz-110524-511.html
Submitted on Friday, Oct 3, 2014 at 11:41:07 AM
Doesn’t sound like the fired teacher who was trying to stop kids from bullying got a fair deal. Is their audio or video recording of what happened. Did the board interview the victim? Was it only the bullies who were questioned? Did the parents witness incident or just take information their children gave them? Sheez ! Scary! So Paula Dean is crucified for admitting she used the ” N” word 20 plus years ago but kids can say it with additional vulgar slanders and not be corrected. I feel sad for this teacher. She was trying to stop the kid from further humiliation. I just don’t get it. I have taught for 22 years and I am shocked by this! I would hire a lawyer and enjoy working for another school district after I won a settlement for the firing and defamation of characters. Sounds like from her supporters, character and experience many school districts would love to have her. Sad day for the teaching profession.
Oops should of proof read. happened? defamation of character. Typing to fast and with a bit of anger to hear about this.