Leonie Haimson is a true school reformer, unlike the hedge funders, tycoons, and entrepreneurs who have falsely claimed that title. She is a dedicated education activist who has led the fight over many years for fully funded public schools and student privacy.
In this video, she talks with veteran journalist Bob Herbert about the mistakes of those in power who rely on standardized testing as the sole definition of success, about segregation, about the damage wrought by charter schools, and about the changes that will benefit all students.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Thank you for sharing this. Kas Winters
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Leonie is a battle axe!
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In NYC, we say Leonie is Da Bomb
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Her words are sharp. Her principles carry great weight. Her ability to combat billionaire money is explosive. I learn from her as I do from Diane.
I watched. I listened. I took notes.
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As always, I thank her for her apparently indefatigable efforts on behalf of public school children.
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No logic or reason seems can derail the privatization train even though they are harming public school students and increasing segregation. Evidence is being ignored, and too many decisions about school are being made on the basis of politics, not what makes sense.
I was fortunate enough to work in an integrated district that expected all students to do their best, and the district provided ESL teachers with smaller classes so we could make a bigger impact. Lots of our former ELLs are in the middle class because the district had the wisdom to limit class size for these very needy students. Leonie Haimson is absolutely correct that class size does make a big difference, particularly for the neediest most vulnerable students.
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Correction: seems to derail
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Class size matters. So does the overall schedule for teachers. A former student of mine, an elementary art teacher, has a class roster of about 400 students, all in grade four. At least she has an art room with some storage for supplies and multiple years worth of really wonderful teaching materials beyond those supplies. Special education students are in her classes as are many students who are learning English. This person is a BAT and super savvy about policy and political threats to the independent judgment of teachers.
Middle school assignments can be just as bizarre. IN a recent case, an administrator wanted to add recess to a schedule. He planned to find time by cutting art, music, physical education, and health to 30-minute classes. Fortunately, an experienced teacher was able to open up mental space for the administrator to think of a better plan and to consult with the teachers before setting the plan in motion. The teachers were not opposed to recess.
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A long week but I took the time to watch the video and I’m glad I did. It’s so nice to listen to two intelligent people talking sense about a subject that REALLY matters: our kids.
Just a few comments that stuck out for me: the idea that charter movement is “Inherently destabilizing”. That’s an idea that could apply to so much of what Trump is doing, too.
Also, Leonie’s use of the phrase “so-called free market capitalism”. Yeah, how free and what sort of market is the capitalism we dealing with.
And, boy, is Leonie correct…..public education SHOULD be a big issue for Democrats running for election. It’s a home run. Why are more Democrats running on it?
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correction: why AREN’T more running. And, Bob Herbert, great job, too. Thank you BOTH.
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CASH through chaos: a special game for those who set up a deregulated and apparently endless “changing of the status quo…”
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Good phrase…cash through chaos
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