Politico reports on a panel discussion that takes place today. As you will see from the line-up, there are no high-level representatives of public schools. Only charter schools count, and public schools are supposed to learn from them.
NO CANDIDATE LEFT BEHIND: Last week, Hillary Clinton earned boos from some NEA delegates when she suggested that traditional schools and charter schools should share ideas to figure out what works. [http://politico.pro/29w3C8C ] Today, on Capitol Hill, a panel will be addressing this very issue during a discussion on “efforts to foster collaboration,” which was announced by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. Panelists include Naomi Rubin DeVeaux, the deputy director of the D.C. Public Charter School Board, Chris Pencikowski, head of Lee Montessori, Cassandra Pinkney, founder of Eagle Academy, and Kaila Ramsey, a teacher at H.D. Cooke Elementary. The moderator is Nancy Waymack of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The event starts at 2 p.m. in Cannon House Office Building, room 121.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
There is a reason that no public schools are represented. Would the Nazis have invited the Allied Forces to a strategy meeting? These groups are not looking to “foster collaboration.” They are looking to launch a sneak attack with their “third way.” They want to infiltrate and blur the lines between public and private and commingle resources. There is no “sharing” with the privatization crowd. They want to dominate and crush public schools and teachers. This meeting is not about a peace offering or truce.
Great comment retired one….
How can there be collaboration when charter schools are designed to compete with real public schools and put them out of business? How can there be collaboration when charter schools are separate school districts unto themselves which do not have to answer to the duly elected school boards or the district superintendents? How can there be cooperation when charter cheerleaders are constantly sliming and demeaning the district schools? How do you cooperate with someone who’s punching you in the face?
H.D Cooke is a DC public school.
Is Ms. Ramsey, a spokesperson for a representative group, with credentials similar, in scope, to what we would speculate a “deputy director” to have? By whom, was she selected?
I don’t know Ms. Ramsey, but the description states she is a teacher at Cooke. As a teacher in DC, I know that Cooke is a public school. I’m not defending the sentiments of the panel, I’m just stating this for the record.
Having one public school teacher to represent the overwhelming majority of children in the nation seems unbalanced.
SPJ,
Ms. Ramsay teaches in a public school, but do you think the panel is balanced when the others are bigwigs in Charterland and public schools are represented by one teacher? For whom can she speak? She is not even principal.
Ramsey is a former “corps” member, i.e., TFA
How did they manage to find a TFAer still around since, wow, 2012. Hot damn, four years of teaching. Must be a true public school veteran teacher, eh?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaila-ramsey-33a9a911b
OF course, “collaborate” means the charter industry wants to prempt discussion about the boo’s Hillary received at the NEA convention, silence unions, in addition to having a clear mission to demolish public education.
This is the same junk talk that we see in the Education Post and the TeachStrong “coalition.” These are not friends of public education.
Americans can thank “progressive” senators like Sherrod Brown and Cory Booker, who charitably-speaking, live in the halcyon land of charter schools. If either would open a city newspaper, like the Dayton Daily News, they would learn that Ohio taxpayers have once again been sued by a charter school. Apparently, Ohio’s charter schools, by contract, are paid to offer a service, not deliver one. And, the verifier is an employee of the school. So, the same Ohio Supreme Court that gave taxpayer-bought assets to charter school operators, will now give those same operators, more tax dollars for a service, that doesn’t require any proof of use?
Was the public school representative, that is identified, a member of TFA? Is she a graduate of George Mason University? Did she receive an Education Innovation Fellowship? If so, is the Fellowship’s source of funding, one of the ubiquitous Gates-funded (direct or indirect) groups?
Just another point to make. Did Diane Ravitch invite any one from a charter school to NPE convention this year? Any teacher? Any administrator, any supporter?
What is good for the goose is ….. ……. ….. …….
Why not just finish the sentence rather than type all those periods?
The NPE conference is open to the public. There is no screening of who gets in. One of the presentations this year was, in fact, a discussion between Jennifer Berkshire (a/k/a EduShyster) and Peter Cunningham.
You might want to check your facts before you blurt next time.
Raj,
This blog must be very bad for your blood pressure! Be careful!
I don’t invite anyone to the NPE conference. The information about it is shared on blogs. Anyone who wants to come can buy a ticket. Even you can come next year!
Now calm down.
In a prior post, Raj mentioned his parents who were teachers in India. The recent statement of a Facebook board member, praising India’s colonial government system and, the inferred disdain that Silicon Valley moguls have for those who are not among the richest 0.1%, should unite people, to honor Gandhi’s sacrifices. In a world view, Gandhi’s work, in behalf of democratic gains, shouldn’t be thrown under the bus, nor relegated to the back of the bus, in service to plutocrats, whether the wealth is from discount retailing, hedge funds, the tech industry, or British-based testing firms.
This man is suffering from allergy called ‘anti-public school teacher’ syndrome.
What is good for the sick is … “stay away from the post you don’t like.”
We are not responsible for whatever garbage he brings.
Diane Ravitch,
In the conferences, they have panel discussions and there are invited speakers. I believe the panel members are selected by NPE to lead the discussions. My question is did you invite anyone from the charter schools as a speaker or a panel member? Please enlighten me instead of chastising me.
I know every one can sign up and pay the dues and attend the conference. That is just freedom of expression.
Did the National Charter Schools Conference invite any of the main public school advocates to their conference?
http://conference.publiccharters.org/2016/program/program_search.php
There’s one presenter from an organization called “Our Piece of the Pie”, and another one called “Velvet Chainsaw Consulting”.
The people of the United States made great sacrifices for democracy. When a panel is given space to have an announced meeting on Capitol Hill, when a major media outlet describes the meeting, as “fostering collaboration” and identifies no sponsor, then, the process that is followed by both the attendees and the speakers should reflect democratic values.
She surely did. The conference never rejects anyone based on her/his position on education. It’s not “White Only,” “Japanese Only,” or Indians Only” kind of establishments.
Ken Watanabe and Diane Ravitch,
I know Diane does not reject any one attending the conference, which will be against the law of the land. My question still is did she invite anyone from charter schools to be on the panels?
I know you cannot reject anyone from attending the conference using any number of things, like race, gender, color or ethnicity, religion etc Anyone can attend but they can be silenced. If they are invited to be on a panel you are acknowledging that you value their views and they will be heard.
Diane, thanks for the invitation to attend the next conference. I know if I attend, you guys will have me tarred and feathered. Thanks in advance.
The idea of a blog is to listen to one and all without prejudice. I do not see it here. My comments or questions are always polite and sincere. But as soon as I make a comment, the subject changes to an attack on me.
This site does not provide a place to politely state ones opinions, state clearly the facts that are misstated, etc. Any such attempts on my part are misinterpreted and attack dogs are set free.
Diane, my blood pressure is not your concern and is not the topic of this conversation. The topic is did you invite anyone from opposite camp to speak or be a panel member at the NPE conference. If you did not then you have no right to question some one else for not inviting public school representatives of high enough status to attend their conference.
I still do not have your answer. I am going to assume that you did not and will never invite the opposing viewpoint?
Diane Ravitch, you are the only one that can answer this question and set the record right.
Waiting eagerly for your reply.
Peter Cunningham was invited to the last NPE conference to debate Jennifer Berkshire.
Raj, you don’t understand that NPE is an organization whose purpose is to stop privatization and high-stakes testing, and to promote equitable resources for all schools and better working conditions for teachers. We have a strong point of view supporting public schools and their teachers. What sense would it make to invite people to our conference who have opposite points of view? Hundreds of people come from across the country to meet their allies, not to hear from those who advocate privatization and high-stakes testing.
I have never been invited to speak to a meeting of DFER, Education Reform Now, Stand on Children, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, ALEC, or any other organization seeking to dismantle public education. Why not? Can you answer that question?
As for my blog, I have the right to say whatever I want. I don’t need your permission or approval.
You are equating this blog with NPE conference. The former is her personal property while the latter is not. Your accusation doesn’t fly since you deliberately overlook the difference between the two. Regarding the viewpoint, you may have a point, but it’s totally up to her judgment. It’s so easy for someone like you to overlook the fact that many of those reformers viewpoints wont pass test because of unscientific, fallacious attributes. Posts about Peter Cunningham and Rick Hess are very few exceptions that deserve merit for posting viewpoints from the other isle. You should be able to find them if you are regular reader of this blog– not a wandering lone bullet. It is still your job to find the posts that satisfy your ego among those you don’t like. Any blog owner will listen to you and give you an answer you want, no matter how long it may take, as long as your question is genuine, and made in good faith. if you still have a beef about it, then you should stop bother reading and commenting.
Diane,
Thanks for the reply. My question rose because your complaint that they did not invite a rep from public school side. Well it goes both ways. That is my point. But I do understand your position just like I understand the opposition.
But I do not like comments about my blood pressure and other statements. My questions are polite and to the point. I expect you to be far better than that. Just like you I am highly educated and almost as old as you are and my scientific background lets me understand the issues clearly. I do understand the public school part but I also understand the need for change or improvements that are needed.
Overall I demand respect. You may and have the right to question my viewpoint but do not have the right to belittle me. Just like your statement, you do not need to read my comments and I do not have to agree with you.
Okay, Where are the recognized leaders in traditional Public Education? No one who represents the NEA, the AFT, The National Association of Public School Boards, or the national superintendent or principals organization. I sure the outcome will be that Charters are the best thing since cut bread! Not the huge give-away to the wealthy members of the Radical Republican Political Elite that they are.
Did members of the Aspen Institute’s “Senior Congressional Education Staff Network”, funded by the Gates Foundation, attend the panel discussion? Until a few weeks ago, David Koch was in the photo array of Aspen Institute board members.
Did anyone expect different ? Besides Diane this blog is bad for every bodies blood pressure. The education wars are just one battle in an on going war against American Democracy and the middle class. . The education wars are just a high definition picture of the neo-liber assault and right now we are at Dunkirk. Some American labor leaders might as well be Chamberlain.
Well stated Joel, in fact, there are no ships coming for us, we will have to swim, regroup, and fight locally. Labor will have to rebuild from the bottom locals up, the nationals need to go away. Notice, no one cares about labor endorsements anymore. American workers will learn about strength in numbers once again the hard way.
“Some American labor leaders might as well be Chamberlain.”
As Norm Scott of Ednotes has suggested for years, perhaps the better analogy is not to Chamberlain, but to Vichy France.
I’m not familiar with much but the broadest outlines of what the NEA has done in era of so-called reform, but Randi Weingarten is a very intelligent and strategic-minded person, not an easily-duped ingenue, a la Chamberlain. She is active collaborator (a term she herself has used to describe her assent to the viciously destructive actions of the Bloomberg administration in NYC) with the invaders, colonizers and looters of reform.
I’m amazed public schools were even mentioned in DC. We should be grateful ed reform leaders allowed any discussion of the unfashionable “government” schools at all.
Public education is mentioned by privateers the same way Dracula notices his victims before he bleeds them dry.
Let’s be specific about what collaboration means to charter cheerleaders. (No offense to the sport of cheerleading.) To charter hucksters collaboration does not mean sharing ideas. They have no worthy ideas to share. To them, collaboration means letting them take whatever funds, space, land, and materials they desire. They are like early colonists who want the natives to share their food and land before the big waves of cannons and muskets arrive. That’s not sharing.
Why is this taking place in the House of Representatives, the US Congress?
Are any of our Congressional Representatives taking part in this meeting? If so, we should let them know what bullshit it is?
To the House Education Committee? Then we should write them about it, and demand they have a meeting with public school teachers and parents, and advocates such as Diane Ravitch.
Share what exactly? Their methods are well known and mostly impractical or illegal for public schools. Charter teachers posses no special secrets or skills worth discussing.
The Charter Elixir:
Restricted pedagogy: test prep and scripted lessons
Restricted “curriculum”: Common Core math and ELA
Restricted student demographic: compliant with engaged parents
Restricted means of “measuring” academic success: test scores
Restricted dress code: uniforms and backpacks
Restricted behaviors: No excuses discipline; mouth bubbles, eye tracking
Restricted opportunities: limited electives, little free-time, or play
NO THANKS.
You should put it on a billboard.
Add these to the billboard;
Restricted public input: No elected school board or meetings
Restricted financial reporting: No transparency
Restricted racial composition: Highly segregated
Restricted services: Forsake the cognitively impaired and ELLs
Borderline oppressive.
Publicly funded, private charter schools: The 21st century plantation model of schooling.
And they call this school “choice”????????
Just a curiosity about school domain names. Public schools use a .gov. or, a state reference like .oh.us. The charter schools use .org or .com?
Universities, both private and public, use .edu.
My public school district (upstate NY) now uses “.com”
Worth the public demanding a change?