William Cala, superintendent of schools in Fairport, Néw York, wrote a scathing critique of Governor Cuomo’s plan to increase charter schools, fund “tax credits” for private and religious schools (vouchers), and increase the importance of test scores in teacher evaluations.
This is what he wrote:
Dr. Bill Cala
Superintendent, Fairport Central School District
Good Morning!
This week’s State of the State address by Governor Cuomo was what most of us expected. It was an all-out assault on public education, teachers, children, families and local control. It appears that breaking teachers is his solution to poverty, income inequality and inadequate school funding.
As we have experienced on a first-hand basis over the past few years, the APPR system is indeed a fatally flawed proxy for genuine evaluation done at the local level. The governor’s solution is to up the ante by increasing the tenure period to 5 years and making state test scores 50% of a teacher’s evaluation. Given the already bogus cut score setting process for the state exams, we are assured of a whole new wave of unreliable ratings designed to crush teachers, close schools and open the door to his other “reforms,” such as lifting the cap on charter schools and creating a tax credit for private schools and charters and increasing the amount the state gives charters per pupil. This last item of increasing charter aid is especially interesting as there are no strings attached. The regular public schools will only get an increase in aid if the legislature approves all of his draconian measures mentioned above. Two major studies have demonstrated with great clarity that charters perform worse than public schools and only 17% of charters perform equal or better to publics (CREDO 2013). Apparently, that’s fine….they get increases in spite of their failing performance.
Let’s be clear that the governor’s agenda has nothing to do with what is good for kids. Far from it. It is what is good for his financial supporters: the corporations who are making billions of dollars on the tests, the texts, the technology, the corporate professional development and the data collection, retrieval and distribution.
As this country gets poorer and poorer and the few get richer and richer the pride of our nation, its public schools, are being disassembled while Bill Gates, The Walton’s, The Koch Brothers, Eli Broad and other scavengers are feasting at the table of greed.
While the situation may seem hopeless, I believe parents are able to bring this tyranny to a screeching halt. Assessments should be used only for the benefit of students…..nothing else. Last year over 60,000 parents in New York refused the 3-8 tests. This year it is expect that number will triple. The refusal movement will indeed collapse the evaluation system and the governor’s plan to dismantle public education.
Parents will play a critical role. What role will we play? How will we speak out? This is our profession. These are our children. This is our responsibility.
Action and activism takes courage. Last week I spoke of my hero Rosa Parks. Let her courage and actions inspire us. I will close with the wisdom and inspiration of Frederick Douglass.
Where justice is denied; where poverty is enforced; where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress,; rob and degrade them; neither persons nor property will be safe.
Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground.
Time to start plowing.
Peace,
Bill
Check the link…doesn’t seem to work
get “file not found” From: Diane Ravitch’s blog To: depoesmith@yahoo.ca Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2015 1:02 PM Subject: [New post] Superintendent Blasts Cuomo Plan #yiv5402868326 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv5402868326 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv5402868326 a.yiv5402868326primaryactionlink:link, #yiv5402868326 a.yiv5402868326primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv5402868326 a.yiv5402868326primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv5402868326 a.yiv5402868326primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv5402868326 WordPress.com | dianeravitch posted: “William Cala, superintendent of schools in Fairport, Néw York, write a scathing critique of Governor Cuomo’s plan to increase charter schools, fund “tax credits” for private and religious schools (vouchers), and increase the importance of test scores in t” | |
Sound like many of the same policies in the ESEA reauthorization.
I can’t access the link, either, but where is Mulgrew’s voice on this? Randy’s? The silence is deafening!!!
^^^O^^^, what Shelley said!
No link.
Vouchers are another tool in the plan to undo public schools. It will allow the money to flow more easily to private entities, like as Laura mentions, the gaming of of the reauthorization of ESEA funding.
Great job by my friend. In addition, he is doing great things in Rochester NY area with a school truly designed to respect the intelligence and abilities of all children
Bad link. Ed
Ed, the link is no longer needed. I posted the entire letter from Bill Cala blasting Gov. Cuomo.
can’t get the link. It says:
File not found.
The link was removed. I am trying to get the full letter and will post it when I do.
Here is a reference to the Bill Cala commentary I cited. This author uses the same link, which still doesn’t work, but at least he copied part of Cala’s remarks:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/01/26/1360344/-Cuomo-War-on-Public-Education
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=707717992675109&id=583768315070078&ref=bookmark
You can access the text of the letter here!
BRAVO, Dr. Cala.
You are a hero and a role model.
What baffles me is the no response to the methodology of blackmailing the public with their own tax dollars. How is it possible that we can pay taxes for infrastructure support and then be told that we have to compete to get access to them (RTTT) or have them punitively held back (The Cuomo Plan). I simply don’t get why that isn’t a law suit.
Congratulations on speaking truth to power. Hope that Dr. Cala has distributed this message widely within NY. It is troubling how deferential NY State media outlets have been to our megalomaniac governor. I used to say Cuomo had no agenda on public education–I now recognize he is intent upon destroying education. We need a huge opt out push the next two month and a grass roots advocacy campaign that overwhelms legislators expressing the discontent of parents, educators and students.
Memphis Louie,
The only thing that will slow down Cuomo and others who want to destroy public education is a massive opt out from state testing. Send them a message they can understand and can’t ignore.
Diane,
On any test I ever took I was prone to choose “All of the above” if it was one of the options. I am working hard to publicize/promote opt out. It is one of the ways parents can express their discontent. Letters, emails, and phone messages (directed to legislators (not our long ago sold out governor) also have an impact!
Thanks for your leadership and support!
ML
Pret Bahara might slow him down.
The money quote:
“Let’s be clear that the governor’s agenda has nothing to do with what is good for kids.”
This is a wonderful letter. I hope other school administrators will follow suit.
Why isn’t nysut pushing back? Where are the print / tv ads ?
What are they waiting for? Please share your thoughts on this.
They are building forums with local assemblymen and having local meetings all around state to have them understand what is at stake and how this will effect the education system. Superintendents, principals and teachers will be speaking. I know there is one planned on March 12th in Corning.
Cuomo represents the billionaires and hedge fund managers that financially support him. He has clearly violated the ethics that should be demonstrated by someone in th position of governor of New York. It is time that the other 99%, otherwise known as “the people and citizens”, press to have him investigated for his crimes and corruptions perpetrated against the people of our great state…I would support the actions of the legal team that investigates Andrew Cuomo and either a) forces him to resign, or b) has him removed from office by arrest, as was Sheldon Silver.
I like Bill Cala. But I’m getting “File Not Found.”
The letter supposedly linked to DOES NOT OPEN, gives a “File not found” error.
COULD NOT ACCESS THE FILE (LETTER) COULD YOU TRY TO LINK IT AGAIN.
Thanks,
Sid Glassner
Sid, there is no link. I have the entire letter in the post.
Great letter! Reminds me of our now retired Super who will be sorely missed!