Archives for the year of: 2015
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Boston: Esquire Writer Stands by Story about Mayor Walsh

By dianeravitch
November 10, 2015 //
6

Esquire blogger Charles P. Pierce stands by his charge that Boston Mayor Marty Walsh had pulled a “full Scott Walker,” doing what he never acknowledged as a candidate.

The Mayor’s statement said, “The Mayor ‘has never said, nor does he have a plan to close 36 schools.’ The Mayor HAS said that he plans to ‘consolidate’ schools.”

Pierce responded:

“How can he consolidate schools if he does not close some?

“Oh, wait—if he leases some of the ‘consolidated’ school buildings to charter schools then the buildings will technically remain open. They just won’t be Boston Public Schools. Despite the expressed concerns of the Mayor’s office, the Blog post was sourced and linked to twelve relevant documents obtained in response to what Boston public school blogger Mary Lewis Pierce [no relation] described as a FOIA [Massachusetts Public Records Act] request.

“Among those records was an agenda for a meeting between the Boston Compact and Mayor Walsh and a Boston Compact talking points memo prepared for the Mayor in which the Mayor is scripted to announce and define Enroll Boston.

“Despite the claims of the Mayor’s office, the Blog post was neither untrue nor unsourced. However, the Blog is newly concerned by the reading comprehension levels of those entrusted with the education of Boston’s public school students.”

Categories Boston, Charter Schools, Closing schools, Education Reform

Pelto Vs. Sowell: Should Schools Exclude Disruptive Students?

By dianeravitch
November 10, 2015 //
118

Here is a debate that is germane to our times.

Recently a video was widely distributed showing a police officer in South Carolina dragging a student out of her chair when she refused to obey orders. This incident, so vividly portrayed, generated much discussion about whether the police officer acted appropriately and whether schools should be patrolled by police.

Then came the heated discussion about suspending kindergarten children for breaking rules. This occurred after John Merrow interviewed charter founder Eva Moskowitz on PBS, and she defended the practice.

Now comes conservative economist Thomas Sowell, who argues in his syndicated column that schools are correct to use whatever discipline is needed to enable other children to learn.

Sowell writes:

“If the critics are right, and getting rid of the influence of uncooperative or disruptive students contributes to better educational results, then the answer is not to prevent charter schools from expelling such students, but to allow other public schools to remove such students, when other students can benefit from getting a better education without them around.

“This is especially important in low-income schools, where education is for many their only chance for a better life.”

Jonathan Pelto takes the opposite view. He argues that it is immoral and unethical for charters to “dump” students who might lower the school’s test scores.

Pelto writes:

“The undeniable truth is that while gobbling up massive amounts of scarce public funds, the vast majority of Charter Schools refuse to accept their fair share of students who need special education services and children who aren’t proficient in the English Language (So-called ELL students.)

“And when “the unwanted” do get into Charter Schools, the companies running the schools use immoral and unethical tactics to push out students that don’t fit their corporate profile.

“No real public school could ever engage in the abusive and unfair dumping practices that have become the norm in the Charter School Industry.

“In Connecticut, a leading example of a push-out strategy was the one utilized by the Achievement First Inc. Charter School chain. (See The “Shocking Numbers Of Kindergarten, First Grade Suspensions” at Achievement First Schools.)”

If charters continue to dump or exclude the students they don’t want, then they should be forbidden from comparing their scores to those of public schools that accept the students they reject.

Categories Charter Schools, Discipline and Suspensions, Education Reform

Reader: Yes, Walsh Will Close Schools

By dianeravitch
November 10, 2015 //
9

Reader FLERP answers the question of whether Mayor Walsh of Bostin will close public schools:

“Google tells me that Walsh announced that he would be closing schools in late September:

“Walsh acknowledged that it would be necessary to close some schools to “unlock more resources for every student. Access and equity is at the forefront of our concerns.”

“Walsh said nothing is decided, but he expects some schools will merge under the plan.

“It’s going to be controversial in some ways, but it’s going to be the right thing to do to make sure that our young people get the best education, in the best buildings, with the best principals and the best teachers in this city,” he said.

“So the issue isn’t whether Walsh intends to close schools. The issues are which, how many, and when.”

Categories Boston, Charter Schools, Closing schools

EduShyster Interviews Ted Dintersmith on “Most Likely to Succeed”

By dianeravitch
November 10, 2015 //
14

Ted Dintersmith is a most unusual venture capitalist. He recently co-authored a book with Harvard professor Tony Wagner called “Most Likely to Succeed,” and also produced a documentary of the same name that is critical of rote learning, standardized testing, and no-excuses charter schools.

In this post, EduShyster interviews Ted Dintersmith, and he will surprise you with his candor. He has taken the documentary on the road, to show parents and students the value of project-based learning.

EduShyster asks Dintersmith whether there is any hope, and he tells her to look at any kindergarten and think about ways to capture the spirit and motivation you see there. (That is, unless it is a kindergarten that is subject to standardized testing.)

He answers:

When people say *is there any hope?* I say walk with me through kindergartens all over your state. Look at the the characteristics of every five year old. If we just didn’t screw that up there is every reason to be optimistic. If we could take those characteristics and develop them and make them more powerful through education, there’d be all sorts of reasons for optimism. What kids tell me in state after state—and I’ve now been in 25 out of 50 states with this film—is that when they have the chance to experience project-based learning, they thrive and blossom and develop confidence.

Dintersmith is a huge supporter of projects driven by students’ passions as opposed to adults compelling students to do what they expect of them. This is good news! A venture capitalist who has seen the light.

I am currently reading the book and enjoying it.

Categories Charter Schools, Corporate Reform, Hope, Standardized Testing

Tim Slekar Calls on Wisconsin Parents to Opt Out of Civics Test for Graduation

By dianeravitch
November 10, 2015 //
20

Tim Slekar, dean of education at Edgewood College in Wisconsin, was outraged when he learned that the legislature passed a bill requiring all students to pass a civics test if they wanted to graduate from high school. His son will opt out of this test, and he urges other parents to do the same.

He writes:

Quick Fact. In the Spring, Representative James “Jimmy Boy” Edming slipped into the Wisconsin budget (without debate or public commentary) a provision that requires all students attending public schools to pass a Civics test in order to graduate from High School. According to Representative Edming it seemed like a”good idea” and would “help instill the responsibilities of citizenship.”

It’s now November and as a parent of a 10th-grade Wisconsin public school student I recently received a letter from my son’s school informing us that “successful completion of this exam will be required for graduation.”

Oh well what are you going to do?

I don’t know about all of you but as a social studies scholar and advocate for participatory citizenship I plan on challenging this disaster of a “good idea.”

Isn’t it amazing how legislators are so cavalier about writing laws telling schools and teachers how to do their job?

Here are Tim’s reasons for objecting to the mandated test as a graduation requirement:

 

It’s an exit exam for graduation and will have a detrimental influence on the graduation rate in Wisconsin.
He is already required to pass a civics course during his time in high school and I have faith in his teacher. She is best qualified and in the best position to assess my son’s knowledge of civics.
The civics test mandated is culturally insensitive and discriminatory.
This test actually diminishes civic participation.
This test will use valuable instruction time pushing a false patriotism at the expense of engaging experiences that motivate our students to become active citizens and critical “consumers” of political rhetoric.
It’s time to stop the mind numbing, skill and drill ethos that is destroying the potential of our children who overwhelmingly understand that the test and punish culture sucks the life out of their one chance to be educated.

Tim is willing to compromise. He will endorse the test requirement if the legislators who mandated it and other elected officials in the state also take it and publish their scores.

The people and the children of the state of Wisconsin have a right to know if their elected leaders are proficient in their knowledge of American Civics. And I do not want any excuses like “I already graduated from high school.” Too bad. If all of our children have to prove their civic competency by taking a high stakes test then so do our elected representatives.

I want to see Governor Scott Walker’s scores!

Categories Testing, Wisconsin

Mayor Walsh Says He will not Close  Public Schools

By dianeravitch
November 9, 2015 //
35

Did he change course because of publicity?

Just in: 
BREAKING…. 

“It’s not true! It’s not true!”…

or so says Mayor Walsh in a press release from a half-hour agao:

Statement from Chief Communications Officer, Laura Oggeri

For Immediate Release

November 09, 2015

Released By:

Mayor’s Office

 — For More Information Contact:

Mayor’s Press Office

617.635.4461

Below is a statement from Laura Oggeri, Chief Communications Officer for the City of Boston:

“The Mayor has never said, nor does he have a plan to close 36 schools. Mayor Walsh has proven his dedication to Boston Public Schools by, in the past year alone, providing unprecedented budgetary support, extending learning time for students, adding 200 pre-kindergarten seats to the district, and hiring a first-class Superintendent. The Mayor also launched a multi-year Educational and Facilities Master Plan this fall to guide smart investments in Boston’s schools with the goal of providing all students with a high-quality, 21st-century education.  

The Esquire article is untrue and unsourced, and references meetings that the Mayor has never had. We are extremely disappointed at the spread of misinformation.”

Categories Education Reform

I Am Speaking in Omaha Thursday

By dianeravitch
November 9, 2015 //
9

If you live near Omaha, come say hello on Thursday evening.
My visit is sponsored by the Metropolitan Omaha Educational Consortium. 
Thursday, November 12, 2015 7:00 p.m. event CenturyLink Center, Omaha, Nebraska
Nebraska is an amazing state. No Race to the Top. No Common Core. No charters. No VAM. 
I’m looking forward to learning more while there. 

 

Categories Education Reform

Correction about Mayor Walsh by a Boston Voter

By dianeravitch
November 9, 2015 //
12

A reader named Lisa sent this comment, who is upset that Mayor Marty Walsh intends to close 1/4 of all public schools in Boston and replace them with charters. I said in an earlier post that he pulled the wool over voters’ eyes by pretending to be a supporter of public schools, unlike his pro-charter opponent. Will the birthplace of public education join the rush to privatize its schools?

 

Lisa writes:

 

Walsh didn’t pull the wool, he outright lied. He told me, to my face, that Boston was not going to be another Chicago or Philadelphia. He bald face lied.

Categories Boston, Charter Schools

Charles P. Pierce: Boston Mayor Walsh Pulls a “Full Scott Walker”

By dianeravitch
November 9, 2015 //
18

Charles P. Pierce is spot-on whenever he writes about the covert effort by billionaires, hedge funders, and rightwing ideologues to privatize the nation’ s public schools, starting in big cities, where they claim to be “saving poor children from bad public schools.”

 

Today he nails the secret, dirty deal that Mayor Marty Walsh has forged with the billionaires, turning over one-quarter of Boston’s public schools to privatization. Having campaigned against a for-charter candidate in the election in 2013, Walsh is now performing what Pierce aptly describes as a “Full Scott Walker,” that is, pulling a fast one once you’re elected that you never made a part of your campaign.

 

As Pierce writes, explaining the “Full Scott Walker”:

 

It’s not breaking a campaign promise. It’s breaking a campaign presumption, which is supposed to make a difference. Anyway, Walsh beat John Connolly at least partly by accusing Connolly, who is an open ally of the education “reform” grifters, of trying to destroy the public school system in the city where public schools were invented in this county. Now, it appears that Mayor Walsh has broken up with Candidate Walsh. He’s cut a deal with some of the most odious practitioners of the school “reform” grift, including the Walton Family of Wingnuts, and he did so under the radar. His goal, a “facilities plan,” is to close 36 public schools in order to make way for charters—and, it seems, for the city’s parochial schools.

 

People of Boston, wake up! The future of public education was the big issue in the campaign of 2013. You rejected John Connolly because he wanted more charters. And Marty Walsh is carrying out Connolly’s campaign pledge. Only you can stop him from privatizing public education in the place where it was born.

 

*Thanks to reader Chiara for referring to this great post.

Categories Boston, Charter Schools

Jeannie Kaplan: How Big Money Bought Total Control of the Denver School Board

By dianeravitch
November 9, 2015 //
4

Jeannie Kaplan, who served two terms on the Denver school board, describes here how the usual monied privatizers managed to win every seat on the Denver school board at the same time that “reformers” went down to defeat in nearby Jeffco and Dougco.

The money rolled in from Democrats for Education Reform (DFER)–the hedge funders–and other national reform groups to keep the privatization agenda in control, with not a single dissenter. Some of it is “dark money,” the kind that is hard to trace or not revealed until the election is closed.

Jeannie writes:

“Reformers” in Denver are claiming victory, and to some extent they should. They have been successful in buying a 7-0 school board. Following is the story of how the last seat was purchased on November 3 and how the big money was able to hold on to the two “reform” seats up for re-election.

“Should you not wish to read all of my analysis here are the headlines:

“District 1: The incumbent was going be difficult to beat, for while voting for all things “reform,” she has managed to keep most of “reform” out of her mostly affluent, mostly white district.

“District 5: There was no way “reformers” were going to lose this seat. This was the only remaining obstacle to a unanimous board, the only thing standing between public dialogue and silent acquiescence to all staff proposals.

“At large: Had the election been held on Friday, October 28, 2015, the challenger, Robert Speth, parent not politician, would have defeated Board President Allegra “Happy” Haynes.”

Read on.

Categories Corporate Reformers, Denver, Testing
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