Dr. Keith Benson of the Camden (NJ) Education Association. In this essay, he analyzes the rise of Black leaders who represent the privatization movement and compares them to those who continue for a just and equitable public school system.
Whic side are you on?
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Today, media informed us about the Alfred Street Baptist Church which paid off the student loans of a group of young people who attend HBCU’s. ABC’s morning show reported about the gift which was a sacrifice made collectively by the congregants. One of the students used his interview opportunity to thank the public school and public college that educated him.
If instead of commandeering higher ed, so that he could control it, Bill Gates had spent the same sum in other ways, America would have more hope and prosperity.
Gates used his money to get HBCU’s to collaborate on curriculum and delivery, and of course, at the core of the Gates’ Frontier Set, to collect endless data.
We all know how the prosperity “blessed” Baptists of the Billy Graham ilk use their influence- to elect men like themselves i.e. Donald Trump.
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The Pastor there, Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley has an excellent reputation as a church leader and stalwart for social-justice causes. I have a lot of respect for the work he is doing in the Alexandria community – thus I’m not surprised at all by the good works you’ve referenced above.
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Keith,
Thank you for writing your paper. I have forwarded it to many people who I think can gain insight from your views.
I sent a donation to Alfred St. Baptist Church. I wrote it was sent to thank them and was in honor of you.
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Wow! Ms. Linda, thank you so much! That’s truly amazing! 🙂 this really made my day! 😀
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Public schools represent investment in all students. Integrated public schools get better results for minority students than most corporate charters. Dr. Benson makes a good case for minorities to be suspicious of any movement led by white hedge fund managers. What gives them the moral authority to know what is best for black students? Poor black students have been targeted by privatizers, and the privatized schools often represent more education that is separate and unequal treatment. “Reformers” always act as though teachers are an important asset in education. Yet, many of the privatized charters hire novice associates with little training and expertise. This is another example for more separate and unequal treatment for minority students.
In Florida Gov. DeSantis has proposed expanding “Opportunity Scholarships.” He claims there is a waiting list of 14,000 students. He also claims that more students that receive these scholarships go to college than public schools. I could not find any information that supports this statement. To me these low paying vouchers are another example of separate and unequal treatment intended for mostly minority students. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/school-zone/os-ne-desantis-school-vouchers-scholarships-20190215-story.html
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“As long as the students are getting an education – what difference does it make what kind of school it is.”
Time and again we hear this argument from leaders of all races in urban settings. Facing years of needed turnaround, why not “invest” (time and money) in a new school without the remnants of poor quality?
Start-up schools. Pop-up schools. Quick fix schools. Immediate return on investment.
Hire well-intended unskilled teachers to follow scripts. Hire disciplinarians. Live be zero-tolerance policies to kick out the non-compliant. Counsel out those with disabilities and language barriers before enrolling. A quick fix destined to fail.
I get it. Win the battle – don’t care about the war (to retain democracy and voice).
Sustained change in urban settings has not been successful. The shiny new charter down the street is successful – for a few minutes. And, these corporate folks are never going to get behind behind funding and advocacy for public schools. (NRA? Yes. Public Schools? nah.) So – the white corporate leaders recruit … And history repeats itself.
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What good is a shiny new school with a colonialist mentality and group of amateurs making decisions? Public schools belong to the public. If the school is not meeting needs, you can change it. Taxpayers have a right to know what is going on in the public school. Change is possible when stakeholders work together.
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AMEN.
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Just WOW! He lays it all out plain and simple. The term “Black mascots” should hurt them all if they have a conscience.
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Benson tells those serving corporate interests to “be real” with themselves.
Cory Booker, Howard Fuller and Hakeem Jeffries are responsible for the Michigan charter school churn that the Detroit News described as “brutal on Black families”. Also responsible are, Chester Finn’s Fordham, Jeb Bush’s Excellence in Education, and the Center for American Progress i.e. the Bill Gates oligarchy. The staff of those outfits put lipstick on pigs. But, it’s become abundantly clear to everyone that its foolish to think they care about lifting up anyone other than themselves.
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Excellent analysis. The “leaders” who allowed Christie to install corporate reform in Camden are complicit in his disenfranchisement of the community.
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A school in Florida is in the news because a student wouldn’t stand for the pledge of allegiance, similar to Kaepernick.
The bio of the school’s academic dean indicates he never saw a new idea that he didn’t want foisted on students, “We wouldn’t know if we didn’t try.” The school’s principal was awarded “Innovative Principal of the Year” by the Florida Council of Instructional Technology Leaders.
The top staff of the school are linked through academic degrees to NOVA’s school of education where the Gates Foundation funded the “going deeply digital …low threshold feedback…makerspace….” conference this month. Paint me surprised.
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Kaepernick is a hero to many of us.
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