Jonathan Kozol wrote an article in the Boston Globe explaining why voters should reject Question 2, the referendum on adding a dozen new charters every year until the end of time.
Slice it any way you want. Argue, as we must, that every family ought to have the right to make whatever choice they like in the interests of their child, no matter what damage it may do to other people’s children. As an individual decision, it’s absolutely human; but setting up this kind of competition, in which parents with the greatest social capital are encouraged to abandon their most vulnerable neighbors, is rotten social policy. What this represents is a state-supported shriveling of civic virtue, a narrowing of moral obligation to the smallest possible parameters. It isn’t good for Massachusetts, and it’s not good for democracy.
This commonwealth has been an exemplar of democratic public education ever since the incubation of the common school idea at the midpoint of the 19th century. For all its imperfections and constant need of diligent repair, it remains a vision worth preserving. The privatizing forces from outside of this state have wisely recognized the powerful symbolic victory they’d gain by turning Massachusetts against its own historic legacy. I urge my friends not to let this happen. Vote “no” on Question 2.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
My very first hero, J Kozol, gets it right AGAIN. VOTE NO ON 2!
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The comments are really disparaging, not just of Kozal, but also public schools. Teacher unions the real punching bag. Here is one with layers of grievances against public schools.
“Public Schools and the students they serve have become the victims of the teachers unions, a predominantly liberal social agenda, the politicization of culture, and a malignant anti-religious agenda that allows the practice of eastern meditation but not the singing of Christmas carols.”
Not one of the comments spoke of the frauds in charter schools.
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The paid trolls are out in force everywhere. The same firm that Swift-boated John Kerry during his presidential run has been hired by the billionaires’ money to muddy the waters and confuse the voters.Their tactic is lies presented in the media and social networks.
We fight back with grassroots – phone banks, canvassing and stand outs and hope to win.
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Kozal knows and his explanation is clear and concise.
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Oh, My! Kozol may not have been my inspiration for jumping from biochem labs and university classrooms into teaching at the secondary level, but he certainly hardened my resolve. He also informed (maybe resonated with) my opinion that the greatest good we, as teachers, could accomplish was to make our students ‘crap detectors’ [Teaching as a Subversive Activity]. What a great man, and it’s good to know that he’s still active.
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