Archives for category: Bias
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Arthur Camins: School Choice is a Fraud, the Same Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

By dianeravitch
October 25, 2017 //
25

Arthur Camins retired recently as Director of the Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education at Stevens Institute of Technology. He has taught and been an administrator in New York City, Massachusetts, and Louisville, Kentucky. Unlike Betsy Dezvos and other ersatz “reformers,” he knows quite a lot about teaching and innovation.

In this post, he explains the fraud of school choice.

He writes:

“Segregation and the evil twins–racism and inequity– are the divide and conquer gifts that keep on giving­ to the rich and taking from everyone else. Over the decades, the wealthy and empowered have found ways to dress up their barely concealed essential messages: We deserve what we have. Inequality is the natural order of the world. Caring about others is for losers. Winners care about themselves. If you are unhappy with your station in life, blame yourself. Some of you would be better off if was it not for Them.

“The latest incarnation of message obfuscation is the vaguely democratic-sounding term, school choice. The push for expansion of charter schools- publicly funded, but privately controlled– and for vouchers to offset a portion of the tuition for private schools is the old wolf in new sheep’s clothing.

“Equity and universal high quality have never been the goals of school choice, the roots of which are resistance to desegregation. Its latest advocates do not suggest vouchers so that the poor can attend elite, expensive private schools. They do not demand adequate funding for all schools. They do not want to give students experience interacting with one another across class or race. They certainly do not want to end the defining characteristic of the status quo, rationing of quality by socioeconomic status.

“Their rhetoric notwithstanding, they have other goals: Undermine public sector unions to reduce their political power, as well as members’ pay and health and retirement benefits; Pander to subgroups to undermine political unity; Undercut the power of unified organizing by offering an escape hatch for the so-called “deserving poor.” Advance the advantages of privilege.

“Segregation is the simple enabling strategy. Contrary to popular mythology, post-Brown v. Board of education segregation was not so much the product of individual choices, but rather intentionally segregative transportation, zoning, housing and employment policies. Policy and preexisting bias were mutually reinforcing. Increased isolation was the inevitable result. People naturally trust folks they know and interact with regularly. Economic and racial isolation turns the distant “them” into an abstraction, easily stereotyped in the absence of countervailing evidence informed by direct contact and shared struggle. It is the empowered’s Tower of Babel tactic. Sow distrust and hatred, so that even when diverse citizens speak the same language, building for the common good becomes too challenging and threatening….

“Rather than addressing the structural causes of growing inequity, appeals to market-based education play on parents’ anxieties about their children losing out in the intense competition for well-paying jobs. Similarly, school choice rhetoric reinforces some parents’ bias that going to school with certain others will hurt their children. It encourages parents to take a belligerent, you can’t-make-me, stance…

“Coupled with the exaltation of selfishness, segregation is a time-tested way for the privileged to remain in control. School choice is the latest euphemism for leaving everyone to fend for themselves in a dystopian world of ruthless competition.

“When centrists Democrats adopt choice rhetoric, they abet conservative ideology. They enable labeling of legislative solutions to help people as being about Them, not us. If the last presidential election is any indication, Democratic politicians are reluctant to take on the rhetoric of choice and the segregation and inequity it supports. That will only change when voters demand that candidates adopt a different, explicitly pro-integration, stance.

“It is time to bring back the old labor slogan: An injury to one is an injury to all.”

Categories Betsy DeVos, Bias, Charter Schools, Inequity, Privatization, School Choice, Segregation, Vouchers

Linda Darling-Hammond: Keep the Dream Alive

By dianeravitch
September 7, 2017 //
9

Linda Datling-Hammond of Stanford University and the Learning Policy Institute, posted the following statement. She attacked many reseources for educators, but since I have to copy links manually, I am adding only one:

Keep the DREAM Alive
A message from Linda Darling-Hammond

On Tuesday, President Trump announced his plan to repeal the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Since it was implemented, the DACA program has ensured that nearly 800,000 children of immigrants—many of whom have no recollection of any country other than the U.S.—can safely attend school, earn degrees, and become contributing members of the country in which they were raised.

As educators and allies, we have dedicated our careers to creating safe, respectful, and welcoming spaces where children and youth are valued for who they are and supported to learn, grow, and bring their talents into the society. The repeal of DACA and the deportation of the children and young adults it protects is cruel and counterproductive: It flies in the face of country that is a nation of immigrants and where these “Dreamers” are working towards a better life each and every day.

And now Dreamers are being told to prepare for deportation, their futures frozen in an agonizing six-month stasis, facing the fear of leaving their home, their family and friends, and futures they have invested deeply in. Many are still school children, now living with the daily nightmare of being torn from their families and sent to a land they don’t know.

As educators and education advocates, we have an ever-increasing responsibility to protect our students, to be even more explicit in our belief in their potential, and to protect their right to learn and to become contributing members of society, just as generations of immigrants before them have done.

When our nation fails our children, our pathway is clear: We must double down on our collective work for equity, justice, and high-quality education and make sure that every student feels safe and empowered to learn, thrive, and realize their dreams.

We urge Congress to act quickly to integrate the protections of DACA into law.

Resource:

Southern Poverty Law Center:

https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/spring-2017/immigrant-and-refugee-children-a-guide-for-educators-and-school-support-staff?utm_source=LPI+Master+List&utm_campaign=9102525a7f-LPI_MC_DACA_20170907&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_7e60dfa1d8-9102525a7f-42294815

Categories Bias, Bigotry

Example: When the Incompetent Hire the Malevolent

By dianeravitch
August 31, 2017 //
18

Which is the incompetent? Which is the malevolent? Or are they both? Neither is qualified by experience or temperament for the jobs they hold. This story was posted on the Politico website:


The controversial attorney who runs the Education Department’s civil rights division cited her work attacking Bill and Hillary Clinton at the top of her resume when she applied to work for President Donald Trump, according to a copy of the document obtained by POLITICO.

Candice Jackson, who brought a group of women who had accused President Bill Clinton of sexual misconduct to a presidential debate last year between Trump and Hillary Clinton, listed that event as one of her “top five qualifications” for working in the administration.

At the Education Department, Jackson has taken a prominent role helping Education Secretary Betsy DeVos shape federal policy pertaining to protections for transgender students and the handling of campus sexual assault cases. She drew fire in June for telling The New York Times that 90 percent of campus sexual assault cases “fall into the category of ‘we were both drunk.'”

On her resume, Jackson noted that she had steadfastly attacked Hillary Clinton’s “lifelong corruption and hypocritical claim to defend women and children” in ads and videos and brought a “unique perspective due to also being a gay Republican.”

Jackson joined the Education Department in the spring.

POLITICO obtained the resume from American Oversight, a watchdog group that acquired it using a Freedom of Information Act request. It’s not clear whether the document was submitted directly to the Education Department or by another means, such as to the Trump transition team.

Melanie Sloan, senior adviser at American Oversight, said Jackson’s hiring is an example of Trump’s “clear pattern of filling important roles in his administration with ideologues and political hacks.

“Nowhere is this more evident than at the Department of Education, where Secretary DeVos — despite a total absence of experience in management or education policy — now oversees thousands of employees and over $60 billion in taxpayer money,” Sloan said.

When reached by telephone, Jackson referred questions to the Education Department’s press office, which did not respond to questions.

DeVos has previously defended Jackson as “a valuable part of the administration and an unwavering advocate for the civil rights of all students.”

Categories Accountability, Betsy DeVos, Bias, Bigotry, Character, Civil Rights

John Merrow: How Do We Learn to Hate? Reposted with New Link

By dianeravitch
August 31, 2017 //
68

Reposted: new link.

John Merrow recalls an anti-Semitic incident on the playing fields from his youth. He recently heard from the boys (men) involved and found that their views were unchanged, except that now the anti-Semite was now openly racist.

Remember the song in “South Pacific”? “You’ve got to be carefully taught” to hate. We aren’t born hating. At the time Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote that song, they were called Communists.

John’s post reminded me of an incident last week. I went to a splendid wine-tasting and dinner at Paumonok Vineyards on the North Fork of Long Island. I was sitting next to a very pleasant and intelligent young man. As we got into dinner, we inevitably reached the subject of politics, and he told me that he enthisuasically voted for Trump. He is certain that Democrats want socialism and the next step is Communism. I learned that he is the son of Italian immigrants and an engineer who went to a state university. He saw no contradiction in Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric or his contempt for public education. As we talked, he expressed resentment about the lazy people who were getting government benefits. Why should he be taxed to pay for them? The longer the conversation went on, the more I realized that he was expressing deepseated racism. When the subject turned to education, he made clear that in his view, teachers are ignorant, have an easy job, are overpaid, should not have unions or tenure or pensions. Nothing I said changed any of his beliefs. I wondered why he was so bitter. I never found out. He is a solid member of Trump’s base.

Categories Bias, Bigotry, Racism, Trump

“Then They Came for Me”: The Complicated Story of Pastor Martin Niemoller

By dianeravitch
August 27, 2017 //
9

We all know the words attributed to the German Protestant Pastor Martin Niemoller, who was sent to Dachau by the Nazis. They appear at the back of the paperback edition of “The Diary of Anne Frank”:

“First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out — because I was not a Jew 


Then they came for the communists and I did not speak out — because I was not a communist


Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist


Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.
— (Pastor Niemoeller, Victim of the Nazis in Germany)”

It turns out that the story is far more complicated than we knew (as reader GregB has written here on more than one occasion).

The Washington Post explains here that Pastror Niemoller was a Hitler supporter and an anti-Semite. He became concerned that the Nazis were trying to politicize and control the church. His critical views led to his arrest and assignment to Dachau.

After the war, he toured American cities, and he said the things for which he is now remembered, but not always in the same words or the same order.

Categories Bias, Bigotry

Trump’s Ban on Transgender Personnel in the Military

By dianeravitch
August 25, 2017 //
38

One day not long ago, Trump woke up and wondered what he could tweet that would distract attention from the Russia investigation. What red meat could he throw to his base? Aha, he thought, I will declare that no transgender person may serve in any capacity in the military. I will claim that I consulted with “my generals” and they agreed (although he had not consulted with anyone).

The military leaders were surprised but said they would make it happen.

Think of it. Trump got five draft deferments, one of them for sore feet. He never served. But he wants the military to fire transgender people who volunteered to serve in harm’s way.

Some unknown number of people in the Army, Navy, and Marines will be ousted, no matter how exemplary their service.

Why? They are the easiest people to attack. Their numbers are tiny. Who cares about them?

Trump won’t stop there. Who’s next? His base won’t be satisfied with just a few thousand transgender people? Will Muslims be next? Jews? Mexicans?

That is the way if the bully, the demagogue, the fascist. Start with the most disfavired group. Then pick off the others, one by one.

This is how it begins.

Do you care? He is betting that you don’t.

Categories Bias, Bigotry

Richard Escow Schools Louise Linton, Wife of Treasury Secretary Mnuchin

By dianeravitch
August 24, 2017 //
20

I read about the events discussed in this open letter to Louise Linton and decided that I would not comment on the blog about her condescending remarks, made on a public site. But a reader said I should post the letter, because of what it says about oligarchy and the condition of our society today.

The background: The glamorous Ms. Linton Mnuchin posted a photograph of herself and her (homely) husband getting off a U.S. government jet after a trip to Kentucky. Along with the photo, she posted a comment listing the super-expensive designer items on her body. Someone saw her comment and chastised her for bragging about her clothes and her wealth. Linton responded with a nasty put-down of her critic, who clearly was not as rich as Mrs. Mnuchin.

Richard Escow wrote an open letter to Louise Linton.

The letter includes all the details and begins like this:

“Dear Ms. Linton,

“This has undoubtedly been a difficult couple of days for you, both as a person and as the wife of the United States Treasury Secretary.

“Nobody enjoys the sudden onrush of hostile attention that comes when something they’ve said goes viral, and not in a good way. Your public record, and even your recent infamous post, suggests you want to be a good person – or, at the very least, that you’d like to be seen as one.

“That’s not how people are seeing you at the moment, and that has to be rough.

“Perhaps it would help if someone explained why you’ve received so much negative attention in the last 48 hours.

“Bubble Life

“Simply put: You live in a bubble. That’s not your fault. It’s just the way it is. According to the Internet – the same Internet that has turned on you with such ferocity – you were born into a wealthy Scottish family and educated at the prestigious St George’s School for Girls and Fettes College.

“Your family owns a real-life, honest to God castle, for God’s sake.

“A little self-awareness is therefore in order: Your experience is not like that of most people. Some people are born into privilege and make a dedicated effort to see life from other people’s point of view. That does not seem to have been the case with you.”

Categories Bias, Billionaires

Betsy DeVos Refuses to Name the Perpetrators of Evil

By dianeravitch
August 15, 2017 //
67

Andre Perry wrote in The Hechinger Report about Betsy DeVos’s refusal to name the perpetrators of the evil in Charlottesville. She tweeted twice to express her disapproval of what happened but tiptoed around the central and alarming fact that the city was invaded by a gang of neo-Nazis, KKK, and white supremacists, prepared to fight.

“DeVos wrote a two-tweet response to the violence that read, “I’m disgusted by the behavior and hate-filled rhetoric displayed near the University of Virginia in #Charlottesville (1/2). It is every American’s right to speak their mind, but there is no room for violence or hatred. (2/2).” Her generic and woefully insufficient statement effectively sanitized the hate that Nazis, Klan members and so called “alt-right” demonstrators put on full display as they shouted Nazi slogans such as “Sieg Heil” and waved Confederate flags, while carrying military gear. DeVos, the nation’s top teacher (clearly symbolic), failed the basic test of providing leadership to teachers, education officials, as well as counselors on how educate students out of bigotry, white supremacy and violence.”

Sad. Weak. Vacuous. Empty. Dispassionate. Disengaged.

Categories Betsy DeVos, Bias, Bigotry, Racism

Steven Singer: Learn about Education by Reading Teacher-Written Blogs, Not Corporate Media

By dianeravitch
July 19, 2017 //
18

Steven Singer says that anyone in search of understanding education today should turn to teacher-written blogs, not the corporate media. The teachers know what they are talking about. The corporate media, with a few exceptions, recycles the talking points of their corporate owners.

He begins by explaining that everyone has a perspective, even though they seem to be objective:

“Let’s get one thing straight right from the get go: I am biased.

“But so are you.

“So are the parents, students, principals and school directors. So are the policymakers, the corporate donors and professional journalists.

“Everyone involved in education policy is interested in one side or another of the debate. It’s just that some pretend to practice a kind of objectivity while others are open about their partiality.

“It’s unavoidable. I’m a public school teacher. Not merely someone who’s taught in a public school for a few years – I’m an educator with more than 15 years experience in the classroom. And I’m still there.

“I’m not a Teach for America recruit who committed myself to three years in front of children after a few weeks crash course. Where I am now was my goal in the first place. I’m not doing this to get the credentials for my real dream job, being an education policy advisor for a Congressperson or Senator. Nor do I plan to become a Superintendent, Principal or school administrator someday.

“All along, my goal was to have a classroom of my own where I could help children learn.

“Moreover, I’m a public school parent. My daughter goes to the same public school my wife and I both attended as children. We could have sent her to a charter or private school. But we made the conscious choice not to, and we’ve never regretted it.

“Our local district serves a mostly high poverty population. More than half of the students are minorities. The facilities aren’t as up to date as you’ll find in richer neighborhoods. Class sizes are too large. But we decided that being a part of the community school was important, and much of what my child has learned there simply isn’t taught at schools where everyone is the same.

“So when you read one of my blogs (even this one), it comes from a certain point of view. And I’m okay with that. You should be, too.

“However, when you read an article in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times or Pittsburgh Tribune Review, there is a presumption of detachment and neutrality. But it’s bogus.”

Categories Bias, Education Reform, Media

DeVos Invites Anti-LGBT Groups to Join Father’s Day Event in D.C.

By dianeravitch
June 16, 2017 //
13

The DeVos family foundations have long supported (even helped to found) anti-gay groups. Betsy DeVos’s mother was one of the major contributors to Prop 8 in California, which declared gay marriage illegal. Her family members are on the boards of Focus on the Family and Family Research Council. At her confirmation hearings, DeVos was asked about her connections to these anti-LGBT organizations, and of course she feigned innocence. When asked about her being listed as a member of the board of her mother’s foundation, which is rabidly anti-gay, she claimed she was not on the board. When asked why her name was listed as an officer of that board, she said it was a clerical error. The same clerical error occurred over fourteen years, even though the IRS returns were audited.

The National Parent Teacher Association withdrew from the conference.

A personal note: my younger son is gay. He and his husband are spectacular fathers. They have two beautiful sons. They would surely be unwelcome at this conference sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education.

Politico reported:

‘FATHERS AND FAMILY’ EVENT AT ED INCLUDES ANTI-GAY GROUPS: The Education Department is hosting a daylong conference today about engaging fathers in their children’s education and welfare that will include two conservative Christian groups that oppose LGBT rights, according to an agenda obtained by POLITICO. The Trump administration’s “Engaging Fathers and Families” conference will convene a range of education, community and faith-based organizations to discuss family engagement. Representatives from the Family Research Council and Focus on the Family are among the speakers listed for the event, which is being held ahead of Father’s Day on Sunday.

– During her confirmation hearing, DeVos sought to distance herself from Focus on the Family , a conservative Christian group that has pushed so-called “conversion therapy” for gay and lesbian individuals. The group also promotes creationism, school prayer and traditional gender roles. DeVos and her husband have given hundreds of thousands to the group, though they haven’t donated in more than a decade. DeVos said at the time that she’s never believed in “conversion therapy” and that her personal views shouldn’t be confused with those of her family members. DeVos claimed it was a “clerical error” that she was listed as an officer on her parents’ foundation, which has continued to donate to the group in recent years.

– The conference includes several more mainstream groups, including: The National Parent Teacher Association, the Baltimore-based Center for Urban Families, the National Child Research Center, as well as leaders from Washington D.C. and Prince George’s County public schools. “I’m looking forward to speaking about the importance of engaging fathers and father figures in the educational process,” Eric Snow, the executive director of WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students), said in an email. Several top Trump administration officials at the Education Department are slated to speak, including Acting Undersecretary James Manning and Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education Jason Botel.”

Categories Betsy DeVos, Bias, Bigotry
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