Julie Vassilatos explains what the Dyett hunger strike is about and why the 12 protestors are not giving up.
She also shows who stood with the superintendent of schools (not the Dyett 12) and who is funding them. Follow the money. Would you be surprised to learn that the people at Claypool’s side took money from the notorious Stand for Children, from Hedge funders at Democrats for Education Reform, and from the billionaire Eli Broad, who wants to privatize public schools?
“We are in every neighborhood in Chicago. We are many, and we stand with the Fight for Dyett because we believe in democracy, neighborhoods, public schools, and local community. We are of every color and every demographic. We are everywhere.
“There are, certainly, some who do not stand with the Fight for Dyett.
“They also do not stand for democratic schools, local autonomy, or elected school boards.
“They also do not oppose privatization, test-and-punish curricula, school closings, community disinvestment, unprofessional teaching staff, or manipulations and machinations of powers outside of the community upon the community and against its will.
“And these people were standing with Forrest Claypool on Thursday afternoon at the press conference where CPS declared that they had resolved the Dyett crisis.”
“Oh–you say–but–but those people at that press conference, they were–weren’t they?–black–all of them. They were black community leaders. Weren’t they? Isn’t that what the newspapers said? They would know all about the fight facing Dyett, and all public schools everywhere–right?
“Oh, they do.
“But all those people standing up there–like props–all of them have fought against their own communities, and with good reason.
“They receive large amounts of money from the very sources of the destruction of our public schools.
“Today we’ll just take the politicians that flanked Forrest.
“State Representative Christian Mitchell. He has received $127,000 from Stand for Children and $34,000 from Democrats for Education Reform (DFER), both of which are organizations dedicated to forwarding the purposes of corporate education control. He has received $12,800 from Noble Network Board Member David Weinberg (who in turn has given $10,500 to DFER, $10,000 to Stand for Children, and $10,000 to Stand for Children PAC), and $10,000 from Eli Broad, two prominent, and spectacularly wealthy, generals in the corporate ed control army.
“Just saying.
“Will Burns, who continues to insist he is and always has been for Dyett, has managed to stand in the way of the community’s every move to keep its school. Burns has received $1690 from DFER, $2,500 from the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, $7,900 from Noble Network Board member John Rowe (who has in turn given $10K to Stand for Children), $21,500 from Noble Network Board member Weinberg, and more than $51,000 from Rahm’s campaign. In addition, in May he was given the plum of chairing the Education Committee with its budget of more than $200K. Furthermore, while he has received no money from Stand for Children himself, oddly enough he has contributed over $17K to them. He’s received small campaign donations from for CPS Board of Ed members David Vitale and Andrea Zopp as well, which seems to me personally inappropriate, although it is surely legal.”
Which side are you on?
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Excellent “follow the money” report.
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Yes, Laura, indeed.
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This comment is about Rudy Schellekens. I cannot find his name on any database of teachers in NYS. He is taking up a LOT of space here disrupting meaningful conversations.
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All too true. And Andrea Zopp is a real piece of work–on the CPS Board at the time of the illegal, no-bid SUPES contract (as well as the hiring of Barbara Byrd-Bennett & the school closings & other enormous nonsense, which has led to the killing off of schools such as Dyett) which she rubber-stamped–has the nerve to run for U.S. Congress. Additionally, she’s whining & moaning about support the DNC is giving her opponent, Tammy Duckworth, an honored veteran and experienced, respected office holder, their support.
And, as this is being typed, CPS is attempting to destroy at least two more high schools.
Whereas the north side of the city fought back a charter high school, the perps have moved into the southwest side to push the plan (this time, the excuse is, “Kelly High School is overcrowded!”).* Of course, that community, as well, is pushing back…hard.
Hopefully, they’ll do so with support from their congressman, state rep. & state senator.
(On the north side, a letter spearheaded by U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky–and signed by state officials–pushed the right over the edge to victory.)
The attempts to destroy real public schools continues at a rapid pace in Chicago.
That’s why the Dyett 12 must continue, and I applaud and support their commitment to their children. (&, BTW, {sarcasm alert}you can see how much Arne Duncan has helped.)
*CPS–if not other states’, reformers public school destroying entities–seems to have given up the “failing schools” mantra, as based on standardized test scores (formerly ISATs, now CCRAP–because we’re all hip to how lousy the tests are–you know, Pear$on made, w/no quality control, & scored by mostly underqualified people), & now the excuse is either “under enrollment” or “overcrowded.”
I rename irony to be the devil’s weapon!
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Karen Lewis calls “Stand for Children” “Stand ON children” – wish I could find the clip of her doing it on public TV. These people with the mayor are puppets.
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Here is the background on how Dyett got to where it is today, make sure to read the links as well. http://chicagoreporter.com/dyett-hunger-strike-highlights-cps-broken-promises/
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Here are some compelling statements of support for both the hunger strikers and their plan for a world class school from a wide array of sources including the business community. http://www.teachersforjustice.org/p/global-solidarity-support-for-dyett.html?m=1
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