Kristen Buras recently published a book about the dissolution of public education in Néw Orleans and its replacement by privately managed charter schools, staffed largely by inexperienced Teach for America recruits after the abrupt dismissal of 7,500 veteran teachers. Her book is titled “Charter Schools, Race, and Urban Space: Where the Market Meets Grassroots Resistance.”
In the current issue of “The Progressive,” Buras explains what happened in Néw Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The story is different from what the major media say. It is important because so many public officials and civic leaders want to turn struggling districts into another Néw Orleans. Beware.
It begins like this:
“Within days of Hurricane Katrina, the conservative Heritage Foundation advocated the creation of a “Gulf Opportunity Zone,” including federal funds for charter schools and entrepreneurs. Slowly but surely, the narrative of disaster turned to one of opportunity, even triumph. We were told that families abandoned in the storm were finding new hope in transformation of the city’s public schools by charter school operators.
“Report after report praised New Orleans as a model for urban school districts across the nation. Charter school operators, most of them white, declared “school choice” to be the new civil rights movement.
“Now, almost a decade later, New Orleans is the nation’s first all-charter school district. Charter advocates describe the district’s achievements as nothing short of a miracle.
“The truth is quite different: Flooding New Orleans with charter schools has been disastrous.”
– See more at: http://www.progressive.org/news/2014/12/187949/charter-schools-flood-new-orleans#.dpuf
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Kristen Buras has written a wonderful article.
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Much respect for this professor. She is doing excellent work. The front page of the local Atlanta paper today has an article about how the GA governor is proposing legislation to begin an “opportunity” district for “failing” schools in our state. He got the idea from Jindal, they say. He also hangs out with our Broad-trained superintendent (Avossa) from Fulton County Schools so I am guessing they have discussed it. Deal appointed Avossa to his weather task force after the debacle last winter (which they both could have done a monumental amount to prevent). Hoping GA legislators have more sense than to vote for this constitutional amendment. It is amazing how they all work from the same dismal playbook.
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“The City Of New Orleans” (apologies to Steve Goodman, RIP)
Chartering in the City Of New Orleans
Recovery District, Charter Holy Grail
Fifty-eight schools and 33 thousand students
Superintendent; Fifty-eight principals
All along the dollar-bound odyssey – the charter pulls out the city key
And rolls along o’er teachers, staff, and parents
Closing schools where public rules, and PTA’s for neighborhoods
And the school yards of the rusted teacher mobile
Good morning, America, how are you?
Say, don’t you know me? I’m your private son
I’m the gravy-train they call the City Of New Orleans
I’ll be gone with five hundred thou, when the year is done
Playing test games with the teachers in the clubhouse
Opening tests – ain’t no one watching store
Pass the paper bag for school-assignments
Seal the deals in backrooms ‘hind the door
And the grads of online programs, and the grads of TFA
Start their miracle magic charters for a steal
Hedge-funds with their pockets deep, flocking to the charter beat
And the rhythm of the jails they’ll never feel
Good morning, America, how are you?
Say, don’t you know me? I’m your private son
I’m the gravy-train they call the City Of New Orleans
I’ll be gone with five hundred thou, when the year is done
Charter-time on the City Of New Orleans
Closing schools is easy as can be
Halfway done – we’ll be there by morning
Through the Mississippi darkness, rolling down to the sea
But, all the towns and people seem to fade into a bad dream
And the neighborhoods still ain’t heard the news
The CEO sings his songs again – the local folks will please refrain
This school got the disappearing neighborhood blues
Good night, America, how are ya?
Said, don’t you know me? I’m your private son
I’m the gravy-train they call the City Of New Orleans
I’ll be gone with five hundred thou, when the year is done
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make that “I’m the charter they call The City Of New Orleans”
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As always, thanks for entertaining us with your wit. Such a sad scenario in New Orleans that will be repeated across our nation. If they think the last 20 years has been a failure, I hate to see what the next 20 years will bring. What is being done to poor children of color in the name of reform is hard to fathom. Do we sit by idly, wringing our hands in disgust? How do we stop this train???
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I am not getting this from the article
“In late 2005, officials announced that all public school employees in Orleans Parish would be fired. That’s right—all! There was no due process, no consideration for veteran teachers’ hard work or lifetime of accrued benefits, much less the collective bargaining agreement of United Teachers of New Orleans. The state claimed there was a teacher shortage, and the Louisiana Department of Education advertised nationwide for positions in the Recovery School District.”
How is this possible to do without any lawsuits—in this country of lawsuits? I understand that big companies like GM can massfire people basically whenever they feel like it. But state employees? Aren’t there laws against this? How many teachers got fired?
In Memphis, the Achievement School District does the same thing as the RSD in New Orleans. Does it mean that there is no hope to stand up against this mass charterization?
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