Rick Hess has an admirable record of inviting people who represent different points of view to speak and answer their critics at the conservative American Enterprise Institute. Rick invited me to speak when my book The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education was published in 2010. I spoke, and then a panel of three people commented. One liked what I had to say, two disagreed. I responded. The auditorium was full, and a good time was had by all.
Rick recently invited Cami Anderson to speak about what she is doing in Newark, where she is the Superintendent, appointed by Governor Chris Christie. Newark has been under state control for nearly 20 years. Anderson is so controversial in Newark that she no longer attends meetings of the Board of Education, which is powerless. Newark has no democracy. Anderson has the power to do what she wants.
When Rick learned that a group of Newark students was coming to challenge Anderson, he was outraged that her freedom of speech might be abridged. He moved the meeting to a closed room.
Jersey Jazzman reports here on what happened, and includes a video of Anderson’s speech. She says that the number of critics in Newark are few in number. Jersey Jazzman disagrees. He points out that the mayoral election was a referendum on her plans. The following “few” are her critics, who did not have an opportunity to question Anderson at AEI:
Mayor Ras Baraka, who was elected in a race that became largely a referendum on Anderson.
His opponent, Shavar Jeffries, who lost because, even though he criticized Anderson, didn’t go as far as Baraka by calling for her removal.
The Newark City Council, which called for a moratorium on all of Anderson’s initiatives.
The Newark School Board, which, though powerless to remove her (we’ll get to that in a minute), voted “no confidence” in Anderson’s leadership and has tried to freeze her pay.
The students of Newark’s schools, who have walked out repeatedly to protest her actions.
Parents who have filed a civil rights lawsuit, alleging One Newark is “de facto racial segregation.” (It is.)
The teachers union, which claims Anderson has repeatedly refused to follow through on the provisions of the contract she negotiated.
77 of Newark’s religious leaders, who have said One Newark could be “catastrophic” and must not be implemented.
Anderson should have had the opportunity to confront some of her critics, perhaps Mayor Baraka and a representative of the students. She did not lose her freedom of speech. The people of Newark lost their democratic rights long ago. When will the people of Newark have the right to choose the school board that represents them and makes policies that reflect their wishes, as 95% of school districts in America do? That’s the debate that never happened.
– See more at: http://jerseyjazzman.blogspot.com/2014/11/reality-leaves-newark-and-invades-rick.html#sthash.0ZTlh7E1.dpuf
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I love how people think that “freedom of speech” somehow includes the “right” not to be criticized. This is what happens when you skip teaching things like civics in favor of math and reading test prep.
He has the general concept completely backward. Anderson is the state. “Freedom of speech” was meant to protect citizens against the efforts of state actors to stifle speech.
I realize he’s not relying on the First Amendment literally, but that is the general idea of free speech.in the political realm- It’s really not intended to protect state actors from the speech of their citizens or constituents.
Yes. . .and here’s one. Does a school have the “right” to post children’s confidential info (test scores, identifications in EC, etc) on their visible data wall?
Because it’s happening.
I agree with Chiara. The free speech thing is backwards there.
A lot in our society is backwards.
I will say, though, that with the suppression of African Americans still visible in the rear view mirror, is this how it felt to minorities fifty years ago? Not excusing anything, but just trying to put some perspective on it. Have we ever really gone about democracy the right way?
“America through the looking glass”
America through the looking glass
Where everything’s reversed
A classless society based on class
With freedom to be cursed
Suppression of African Americans still in the rear view mirror? Racism is alive and well. Check out Ferguson, Missouri and Neark, New Jersey for starters.
Not to mention the protests that take place against the One Newark Plan. I personally write letters to the governor, DOE, and the President about Cami’s destruction in Newark. My children school was taken over by KIPP/TEAM, over 300 kids had to find new schools to attend in this school alone. This school year has been a nightmare to say the least, I’m more happy when my kids have a day off than they are, sad!
“Fiefdom of Speech” (a la Rick Hess)
“Freedom of speech”
Demands that I
Prevent the reach
Of passersby
How much clearer could it be that the “education reform” establishment—in all its hues, colors, shapes, sizes and varieties—looks at “public discussion” as they do public education—
As a two-tiered system. For the select few, as they define them, a chance to have their voices heard. For everyone else, they’re disinvited.
It parallels their approach to education. For THEIR OWN CHILDREN, the advantaged few, genuine learning and teaching; for OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN, the vast majority, shut them out from almost all the opportunities available to really learn and teach and insist on “grit” and “determination” in accepting whatever crumbs and scraps are left over.
A simple reality: they are unable to defend what they say and what they do. Otherwise, they would welcome the sorts of discussion and debate they fear, shun and push away.
Reminiscent of a not-so-long-ago empire that disappeared. A new novel: Fifty Shades of Soviet Union Gray! Accompanied by a Potemkin Village Business Plan for $tudent $ucce$$ for any edupreneur willing to pursue that pot of gold at the end of “education reform.”
And the very best part of the “new civil rights movement of our time”?
It’s all for the kids!
Rheeally!
😒
and again. . .doesn’t this mirror what racism was/can be like in our country? Are we now feeling what American minorities have felt for years? (doesn’t make it any less wrong, but just noticing the parallels).
“Democracy by the numbers” (aka, The New (Common Core) Math)
A billion for us
And one for you
Don’t make a fuss
You got your due
Rick Hess has never been a friend of public education.
Sadly we don’t have to many friends of public education. Everyone wants their slice of the money pie! smh
I read that Anderson admitted that the public schools in Newark were likely to get a “concentrated” group of high-needs kids with the system she imposed.
While I think this is a refreshingly realistic take on what should have been obvious going in, because she’s changing A SYSTEM and not just opening charter schools, I wonder if there are any plans in the works to compensate the public schools that will be harmed to allow for their “safety net” role.
Now that she recognizes how systems work, what are the ed reform plans for the public schools?
Are public schools just a safety net for charter schools, or are they valuable and important in their own right?
You’ll all recall how ed reform was sold to voters: they promised to improve public schools. If they’re harming public schools. can we call them on that? What about the public schools in Newark? Were they even mentioned at AEI?
Not sure what planet Anderson is living on but we still have over 6000 kids not enrolled in school due to her plan. Anderson proposed a budget that gave the charter schools 181 million, tell me what do you think that will do to our public schools???
That’s a good one Chiara. Expensive special needs students, English Language Learners and children with garden variety behavior problems are housed in public schools in Newark.
Of course, because Cami Anderson is “fiercely focused” as we can see from her 11-13 and other videos.
“Freedom of the Hess”
Freedom of the Hess
Is freedom to impress
The think tank crowd
With none allowed
To challenge your address
1. Would Rick Hess consider 40 students & adults from Sidwell Friends or Delbarton (C Christie’s sons) School a “security breach”? AEI’s hospitality is remarkable.
2. The American Federation of School Administrators had a fine entry re Cami/AEI on their blog Nov 13.
3. Did CA and Newark Pub School associates take a Personal Day for AEI? Did AEI pay her an honorarium or provide other compensation?
Do you have a link for #2?
DS, I don’t know how to do those links (technodinosaur). Just google American Federation School Administrators. Found it by serendipity when I searched AEI cancel Cami Anderson. Their president, Diann Woodard, had supportive statement.
Also read Jersey Jazzman’s 11-13 post “Newark Deserves …” and Bob Braun’s Ledger 11-14 “Cami Anderson: A National Embarrassment.” BB: “If Cami gave a speech and no one was there to hear it, would it still be a pack of lies?”
The traditional district model has left Newark with a student population that is 8% white and 0.8% Asian. If Cami Anderson’s goal is to segregate Newark’s schools, she is about a quarter century late to the party.
The segregation Tim is based on financial need. Where are the neediest students? I have every confidence you can figure it out yourself.
I have a difficult time believing that the 16% of Newark Public Schools students who don’t qualify for a free or reduced-price lunch were distributed evenly throughout the district prior to One Newark.
You are correct. They are separated by residential patterns.
“The segregation Tim is based on financial need.”
I thought the allegation was that it was based on race.
FLERP!
The charter schools are taking kids who are less financially needy. One Newark is closing and renewing schools that are primarily black. Therefore, One Newark disprorortionately affects black children and teachers. As a result of the two trends, the renew schools are predominantly populated by children who are black and poor. They also have English Language Learners and Special Needs students with the more severe disabilities. I leave it to you to determine if the discrimination is economic, or racial, or both.
Newark is 11% white, its public schools are 8% white (although I’ve seen 5% cited in recent articles, like the New Yorker piece on what happened to Zuckerberg’s 100 million), and its teaching force is 57% white. Do you understand how using the word “segrgation” to describe the uneven placement of
(cont’d) about 6000 non-free lunch eligible kids in an already brutally segregated district might be seen as illogical and offensive?
Tim,
Uneven placement?
Illogical?
Offensive?
Come down to my school to get a first hand look at uneven, illogical and offensive.
Well, here is the canned response from Senator Menendez to my canned email protest that some of you may also have participated in. Hmmm, I believe I did add a few choice words of my own about what is occurring in Newark in particular…..but, here is the reply:
Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Your opinion is important to me, and I appreciate having the opportunity to respond to you on this critical matter.
I have long been an advocate of strong public schools, and I am committed to ensuring that any educational reforms carried out by the Department of Education keep this priority in mind. Like you, I strongly believe that a quality education is the birthright of all children, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, or socio-economic status. The best way to provide our children with this opportunity is to fully fund public education. While public charter schools have the potential to offer new and innovative methods of teaching, we must be certain that they complement traditional public schools and do not act as an impediment to the functioning of our public school system.
In addition, I believe that testing is just one part of measuring a student’s academic growth and achievement. While I don’t oppose testing overall and believe some tests can be useful, I am also aware that standardized tests offer only a limited window into a student’s overall performance and cognitive and emotional development. State-mandated standardized tests can be limiting for teachers as well, who may feel forced to “teach to the test” and miss other opportunities to help our children learn and grow.
As the first member of my family to attend college, I have deep appreciation for the benefits of a quality education. I wouldn’t have been able to go from the small tenement apartment I grew up in to the halls of the United States Senate if it weren’t for dedicated teachers who believed in my potential. The American Dream was made possible for me, and I will do all I can to ensure it is accessible to all Americans regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, or gender.
On this, as with any issue, there are many different views and I appreciate you taking the time to express your opinion. Please be assured that I will keep your views in mind as I continue to monitor policies that affect our education system.
Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. I invite you to visit my website (http://menendez.senate.gov) to learn more about how I am standing up for New Jersey families in the United States Senate.
This is great Donna! Menendez is on both sides of every issue!
Cami Anderson has a background with Teach for America, and was named by Chris Christie (no friend of educators) as superintendent of the Newark schools.
As Jersey Jazzman and Lyndsey Layton at The Washington Post both noted, a busload of Anderson critics arrived in DC to hear Anderson’s presentation at AEI because Anderson has steadfastly refused to attend board of education meetings in Newark.
Rick Hess was asked by Anderson to move the meeting, making it closed rather than open. At the opening of the taped Anderson monologue, Hess says the meeting was moved because “We don’t play that way.” Uh huh.
In her remarks, Anderson repeatedly talks about what “We” did in Newark, as if the community is behind her. It isn’t. At all.
Remarkably, Anderson basically admits that “magnet policies and charters” lead to inequity. And Hess says nothing about it.
Anderson, like many so-called “reformers” says that associating low academic performance with poverty is “ludicrous.” She says – in accurately – that there are schools all across the country that are working with kids struggling with poverty and “getting phenomenal results.” Hess doesn’t think to ask where these schools are. Instead, he lets Anderson ramble of about “excellence, efficiency and equity.”
Of course, Hess has said and written some truly dumb things. Like this:
“The absence of competition means that public schools, like other government agencies, typically are not subjected to this kind of discipline. No matter how inefficient, employees have little to fear. Subjecting school systems to real competition would indeed produce more effective schools –and other benefits as well. It would provide quality control beyond that afforded by standardized testing, empower entrepreneurial educators to offer alternatives to reigning orthodoxies, and permit good schools to multiply without waiting for permission from resistant district leaders.”
In other words, fear in the workplace is a “good” thing. It leads to “effectiveness.” It causes “quality control.”
Rick Hess. Cami Anderson.
Crusading for fear and “effectiveness.”