Mercedes Schneider is a native of Louisiana and she has lived through its recent history. She understands the state and city’s long, deeply ingrained racism. In this post, where she reviews Douglas Harris’s recent book Charter School City, she points out that he is oblivious to that history and context. He describes the state takeover (by affluent white elites) of the district as “reform.” He is focused on test scores and other data. She refuses to connect today’s disempowerment of the city’s black community from the long history of white power, exercised by those who see no need to engage the community in discussions about their children.
It’s an excellent read.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Mercedes deserves combat commendation for reading this book so that we didn’t have to. It’s such a sordid story that’s made so much worse for the plantation mentality implemented by uptown elites it has resurrected. And that concluding line is one I’ll have to adapt in the future, “…the best off-base book that I have read to date…”
And who knew such a progressive voice could come outta da Parish! 😇
well said: THANK YOU Mercedes
Schneider has a far more nuanced understanding of racism in New Orleans than anyone in the privatization camp. She understands the community from being a part of it. As a researcher she also sees beyond the superficial test scores. She knows that the city has long suffered from systemic racism and that privatization is an continuation of this same malady.
ARIP)
Charter in the City Of New Orleans
Recovery District, charter Holy Grail
Fifty-eight schools and 33 thousand students
Superintendent; Fifty-eight principals
All along the dollar-bound odyssey – the charter pulls out a city key
And rolls along o’er teachers, staff, and parents
Closing schools where public rules, and PTA’s for neighborhoods
And the school yards of the rusted teacher mobile
Good morning, America, how are you?
Say, don’t you know me? I’m your charter son
I’m the charter called the City Of New Orleans
I’ll be gone with a hundred mil when the year is done
Playing card games with the CEO’s in the charters
Million a point – ain’t no one watching store
Pass the paper bag with school-assignments
Seal the deals in backrooms ‘hind the door
And the grads of online programs, and the grads of TFA
Start their magic miracle charters for a steal
Hedge-funds with their pockets deep, flocking to the charter beat
And the rhythm of the jails they’ll never feel
Good morning, America, how are you?
Say, don’t you know me? I’m your charter son
I’m the charter called the City Of New Orleans
I’ll be gone with a hundred mil, when the year is done
Charters in the City Of New Orleans
Closing schools is easy as can be
Halfway done – we’ll be there by morning
Through Louisiana darkness, rolling down to the sea
And all the towns and people seem to fade into a charter dream
And the students still ain’t heard the news
The CEO sings his songs again – the local folks will please refrain
This place got the disappearing public-school blues
Good night, America, how are ya?
Said, don’t you know me? I’m your charter son
I’m the charter called the City Of New Orleans
I’ll be gone with a hundred mil when the year is done
“The City of New Orleans” (Apologies to Steve Goodman, RIP)
My favorite song about New Orleans is Randy Newman’s autobiographical New Orleans Wins the War. After repeating listenings of the verse below, I knew it was time for me to get out too:
Daddy said, “We gotta get this boy out of this place
Bound to sap his strength
People have fun here, think that they should
But nobody from here ever come to no good
They’re gonna pickle him in brandy and tell him he’s saved
Then throw fireworks all ’round his grave”
It’s not surprising that a report burnishing privatization would come out of Tulane.
It was a public university until the largest New Orleans benefactor of the Confederacy
gave the school money and it became Paul Tulane University. The Tulane ERA Center
got money as a start-up from John Arnold and then, money from Betsy DeVos’ ed dept.