Steven Singer writes:
CORRECTION:
In the first draft of my article, I called Sonya Mehta a “Charter School Lobbyist” in the title. On further examination of the facts, I realize this is unfair. She was a charter school TEACHER. I apologize to Ms. Mehta and truly regret any harm I have done her. I have changed the title to better reflect the facts. However, be advised that the text of the article, itself, has remained almost completely unchanged. Everything in the article is true to the best of my knowledge and backed up with sources that the reader can see by following the links in the text. My concern remains centered on Warren and what exactly her intentions are via education policy.
Mehta isn’t a lobbyist, but she literally is a poster child for Go Public Schools Oakland. Is she being completely honest when she says she only had a tenuous connection to this toxic organization?
I think it is important to keep the focus on Warren. The important question is whether she will release a statement expressing her views about K-12 education. Does she support the NAACP call for a moratorium on new charters? Will she demand the elimination of the $440 million Federal Charter Schools Program, aka DeVos Slush Fund? Where does she stand on federal testing mandate?
Do we have that information on Harris and Sanford? Has it been demanded of them?
Do we have that information on Harris and Sanders?
Hopefully, I was allowed to correct the spelling on Bernie Sanders’ name. A May 23 article in the New York Times….was all over the map about the three progressives and charter schools. Bernie was praised for knowing more now than he did in 2016, There seems to be division within the NAACP—-in California—-about the exact position on charters. Harris was praised for prosecuting and winning a large settlement—the 168 million dollar amount is disputed—a for-profit charter chain k12 inc. I am intensely opposed to charter expansion and I think limiting opposition to for profit charters does not go far enough. I have seen lots of dangers in chain operations…other than bothering to teach children they are well organized in their efforts. Singer is a great writer………and there are things to worry about regarding Harris and testing……..but picking on the three most progressive candidates for potus who are generally raising a lot of noise the media has not been willing to pay attention to regarding education……might not be a good thing to be doing overall. There is such a thing as gray area—
Three of many California chapters of the NAACP dissented. The state NAACP agreed with national NAACP about need for a moratorium. That’s no “split.” The national decision is the position of the NAACP, supporting a moratorium on new charters.
While I also consider charters a major issue, to me if you’re bad on testing, you’re bad on education policy. Of course, I don’t know of any candidates — from either party — who are good on testing. Sanders shows some promise there but should be further along, imo.