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What Mayor Bloomberg Wants More Than Anything in the Schools

By dianeravitch
March 1, 2013 //
76

Mayor Bloomberg believes that having a high-quality teacher is crucial, and most people would agree with him.

Mayor Bloomberg also thinks that class size is unimportant, and most parents and teachers would disagree with him.

In the past, he said that he would be happy if he could double the class size and double teachers’ salaries, thus guaranteeing a “great” teacher in every classroom.

But here is the unknown: Would a teacher who is “effective” with a class of 24 be equally effective with a class of 48?

On his weekly radio show, he said today:

“I got in trouble every time I say this. But I would do anything to have better quality teachers, even if it meant bigger class size, even if it meant them standing rather than sitting. That’s what really makes a difference. That human being that looks the student in the eye, adjusts the curriculum based on instinct what’s in the child’s interest.”

So, his ideal would be a classroom so crowded that the children were standing because there were not enough chairs for them. And somehow, the teacher–with 48 or 60 or 70 or 80 children in her class–would be able to look every student in the eye and adjust the curriculum based on her instinct about what was in that child’s interest.

There is a disconnect here. The mayor, who is now spending big money to spread his educational vision to Los Angeles and Louisiana, does not seem to understand that having a super-large class makes it impossible for the teacher to look each student in the eye–even when they are standing, not sitting–and know what is in the student’s best interest. What he wants to happen is more likely to happen in a classroom with 20 or fewer students, not in an overcrowded classroom.

If only he had some experienced educators who were advising him!

Categories Bloomberg, Michael, Education Reform, Los Angeles

Corporate Bloc Collects $3 Million to Buy L.A. School Board

By dianeravitch
February 27, 2013 //
14

Corporate reformers are taking no chances.

They have raised more than $3 million to make sure that they control the Los Angeles school board.

The school board president Monica Garcia will have $1 million, more or less, to fight off education activist Robert Skeels, who has raised $20,000, more or less.

Inexperienced Kate Anderson, the corporate favorite, will have $1 million, more or less, to battle incumbent Steve Zimmer, an experienced teacher. Zimmer will be outspent many times over.

The money continues to pour in from out of state donors, zeal Street, equity investors, and others who think it would be fun to buy a school board of a major city.

Meanwhile, back in New York City, Mayor Bloomberg has announced the closing of another 26 years. This, after 11 years of mayoral control with no dissent permitted. The closing schools are, as usual, disproportionately black, Hispanic, poor, and enrolling large numbers of students with disabilities. Too bad he can’t run for a fourth and fifth and sixth term so he can finish the job of reforming the city’s schools.

Mayor Bloomberg wants Los Angeles to follow his lead. He has contributed $1 million to the corporate campaign fund.

Categories Bloomberg, Michael, Charter Schools, Corporate Reformers, Los Angeles

Pity Our Pitiful, Worried Billionaires

By dianeravitch
February 25, 2013 //
11

Remember reading about how the billionaires have tossed nearly $3 million in campaign funds to elect their slate in the Los Angeles school board race?

Monica Garcia, their favorite incumbent, will be able to fend off the terrifying challenge from Robert Skeels, who has intimidated her with a bankroll of $17,000. By now, he may have raised $18,000. That’s the kind of funding that frightens the 1%.

Kate Anderson, their other favorite, is not well versed in education issues according to the LA Times, but it is awfully important to oust incumbent Steve Zimmer, who is generally recognized–even by the LA Times–as thoughtful, independent, and an experienced teacher. But–good grief–he must be defeated because he was endorsed by UTLA, which makes him anathema to the billionaires and the LA Times. He is independent even from the UTLA, and he was TFA, but no way will Eli Broad and Michael Bloomberg tolerate a board member who has the nerve to be thoughtful and independent.

But pity the poor billionaires. They have to raise millions for their slate because otherwise they might be overpowered by the mighty and scary UTLA. And after all, what do teachers know about education?

Read Anthony Cody’s brilliant column here. He says, “Yes, Virginia, there really is a Bilionaire boys’ club.”

Categories Bloomberg, Michael, Broad Foundation, Los Angeles

Los Angeles United Way Allies with Corporate Reform

By dianeravitch
February 21, 2013 //
16

United Way of Los Angeles strongly supports the demolition of public education. (A reader pointed out that this stance is not typical of other United Way organizations. This post is about the United Way of Los Angeles.)

In 2011, United Way-L.A. partnered with the National Council on Teacher Quality (see Mercedes Schneider’s series about NCTQ, whose board includes reform luminaries such as Michelle Rhee and Wendy Kopp) to produce a report calling for tougher teacher evaluations based on test scores. Who knew that United Way was expert on the subject of education? Wonder how they reacted to the suicide of Rigoberto Ruelas?

Here is a conference the United Way is sponsoring, right before the Los Angeles school board election, featuring mayors best known for closing public schools, battling the teachers’ union, and giving public money to private entrepreneurs without accountability. You will hear no complaints at this event about how billionaires corrupt democracy by buying state and local school boards.

If you want to know how to reform the nation’s schools, why not ask the mayors of some of the lowest performing districts in the nation? Newark has been under state control since 1995. Chicago has had mayoral control since 1995. Los Angeles is not likely to learn much from either of them.

Mayors Cory Booker, Rahm Emanuel and Antonio Villaraigosa Headline United
Way of Greater Los Angeles’ Education Summit Market Watch
2/19/13

LOS ANGELES, PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Three of the country’s leading
“Education Mayors,” Cory Booker (Newark), Rahm Emanuel (Chicago), and
Antonio Villaraigosa (L.A.), will gather for the first time to discuss the
challenges of urban education reform at the United Way of Greater Los
Angeles 2013 Education Summit on February 27th from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the
Los Angeles Convention Center. Through frank conversation among some of
education’s most progressive, if controversial figures, the Summit will
address the greatest obstacles to improving our schools, particularly those
that have chronically struggled. All 1,200 seats are sold out.

The Summit will honor Mayor Villaraigosa for championing education reform.
Looking ahead to the future of L.A. education, the event will feature a
panel discussion with the five top mayoral candidates to share their visions
for improving our schools. Eric Garcetti (invited), Wendy Greuel, Kevin
James, Jan Perry and Emanuel Pleitez will debate pressing education issues,
including teacher evaluations, school choice, budget cuts, the relationship
between the District and UTLA, and parents’ roles in schools.

“Given that we’re heading into a local election March 5th, it’s important to
hear from our potential leaders about their plans for addressing the immense
challenges facing our schools,” says Elise Buik, President and CEO of United
Way of Greater Los Angeles.

“This Summit is an opportunity for everyone who cares deeply about education
in L.A. to learn from one another, and to confront the complex issues that
demand our attention,” says LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy, one of the
event’s featured speakers. Other speakers include philanthropist Eli Broad
and school board president Monica Garcia.

The Summit will also include two breakout sessions with key education,
business and community leaders about improving education in high-poverty
areas. One session will focus on how businesses can impact struggling
schools. The other session, whose panelists include UTLA President Warren
Fletcher, will investigate how innovative practices can strengthen teaching.
This is the second Education Summit that United Way of Greater Los Angeles
has held at the Convention Center. The first was in 2011 and featured
keynote speaker U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. United Way has positioned itself as a
leader in the fight to improve education for all of L.A. County students.

Categories Charter Schools, Closing schools, Emanuel, Rahm, Los Angeles, New Jersey

Is This What Democracy Looks Like?

By dianeravitch
February 20, 2013 //
29

In Los Angeles, Robert Skeels is running against Monica Garcia, the school board president.

Garcia and two other candidates (including Kate Anderson, who is opposing Steve Zimmer), have received $1 million from NYC mayor Bloomberg, $1.5 million from Eli Broad and friends, and $250,000 from Michelle Rhee’s group.

Here is what Skeels says, responding to another reader, as he watches the massive campaign fund grow:

“…the ratio of plutocrat to union spending in this race is in orders of magnitude. All bidders indeed. My campaign has raised $17,245.22 with just contributions from working class families and community members of $25—$50. One big check from AALA of $500. UTLA hasn’t even sent me their promised $300 check yet. But these billionaires are giving my opponent millions upon millions to offset some phantasmagorical union advantage? You’re more than a liar Mr. U., you’re a shill for power and privilege. Essentially, just a single donor to the CSR corporate slush fund has more say over the election than all the families in my district. That’s some kind of democracy.”

Categories Bloomberg, Michael, Broad Foundation, Corporate Reformers, Los Angeles

Los Angeles School Board Race: Follow the Money

By dianeravitch
February 19, 2013 //
13

This just arrived in my email box:

LAUSD: Follow The Money by Joseph K

Mensaje se repite en Español)
I have to do this my way. You tell me what you know, and I’ll confirm. I’ll keep you in the right direction if I can, but that’s all. Just… follow the money.

-Deep Throat, “All the President’s Men” (1976) 

If you want to know the direction LAUSD School Board President Monica Garcia and new candidate Kate Anderson want to take the Los Angeles School District after the upcoming election, then follow the money. In this case following the money isn’t difficult because there is just so damn much of it. Start with an astounding quarter of a million dollars by Eli Broad, Superintendent Deasy’s mentor and puppet master, and another quarter million by fellow billionaire, Latino media magnate A. Jerrold Perenchio, formerly of Univision. Together they pushed “their” Coalition for School Reform’s coffers to $1.5 million. Then Mayor Villaraigosa who, along with Broad, was instrumental in bringing Deasy to LAUSD, called in the really big gun by brokering a deal with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who contributed an additional million dollars for the Coalition -money education historian Diane Ravitch called “repugnant and an affront to democracy.”

What qualifies Bloomberg to buy a Board of Education three thousand miles distant? In New York with the help of the Gates Foundation, he closed more than 150 “failing schools” replacing them with smaller schools and charter schools. Sixty percent of these “new and improved” smaller elementary and middle schools now have lower passing rates than the schools they replaced. Just 38% of the students at elementary and middle schools created by the Bloomberg administration passed the reading exams, compared with 47% of students citywide. Former NYC School Chancellor Joel Klein, who raised proficiency rates by dramatically lowering expectations, pitched in another $25,000.
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bloomberg-new-schools-failed-thousands-city-students-article-1.1119406#ixzz2LC0W0ylq 

Bloomberg’s schools share this attribute with Villaraigosa’s Partnership for Los Angeles Schools (PLAS), which have been a dismal failure. Roosevelt High School was divided into seven small schools in the name of “improvement” in 2007. Only one of the seven principals had previous experience as a principal. In 2009, Roosevelt teachers gave Villaraigosa and PLAS an “F” because they saw no improvement. Now in 2013, many school and community members are in open revolt. Enrollment has plummeted. The LA Weekly, citing API scores, noted that Roosevelt made Compton Unified look like the “district of the freaking month.” 

Mayor Villaraigosa called Bloomberg, “the most important voice in education reform today” – education deform is more like it. The Coalition for School Reform may as well be in Deasy’s pocketbook. Megan Chernin is a major backer and the former head of charter operator LA’s Promise as is Steven Prough, the current head, who contributed $10,000 personally. How good is L.A.’s Promise in keeping its promises? In 2010, 91% of West Adams Prep students were not proficient in English and 82% were not proficient in math. Manuel Arts, which L.A.’s Promise had also “promised” to turn into a Garden of Eden had astoundingly high non-proficiency rates of 97% and 90% respectively in 2010. Their achievement rates seem inversely proportional to the glossiness of their marketing brochures.

Jaimie Alter Lynton donated $100,000 to the Coalition. She, like Chernin, is on the board of Deasy’s fundraising nonprofit group. Lynton also launched L.A. School Report which is basically dedicated to extolling and promoting Deasy and electing both Anderson and Garcia while simultaneously denouncing the teachers’ union as the protector of pedophiles. 

Kate Anderson has called Deasy “the best superintendent this district has had in decades” and wants to make all schools as “great” as New West Charter School. New West is 62% white and Asian, 24% Latino, and 12% Black. Only 11% of its students are on free or reduced lunches. It boasts not a single English Language learner in the entire school. Special education statistics are unavailable for some mysterious reason. Let’s make all schools just like New West Charter School. 

You want to know about Garcia and Anderson? Just follow the money. 

Joseph K. is a 27-year veteran of LAUSD, a former mentor teacher twice named a Johns Hopkins University Teaching Fellow. He teaches the old-fashioned way – by ignoring standardized test scores. Instead of teaching bubbling, he tries to instill a love of knowledge and learning in his students and for this reason will probably be allowed to continue teaching for fifteen more minutes.

If you or someone you know has been targeted and are in the process of being dismissed and need legal defense, get in touch: 
 
 
En Español
 
Tengo que hacer esto a mi manera. Tú me dices lo que sabes, y yo voy a confirmar. Te voy a mantener en la dirección correcta si puedo, pero eso es todo. Sólo … seguir el dinero.
-Deep Throat, “Todos los hombres del presidente” (1976)
Si desea conocer la dirección de la Junta Escolar de LAUSD Mónica García, y el presidente nuevo candidato Kate Anderson quiere tomar el Los Angeles Distrito Escolar después de las próximas elecciones, a continuación, seguir el dinero. En este caso, después de que el dinero no es difícil porque no es tan condenadamente mucho. Comience con un sorprendente cuarto de millón de dólares por Eli Broad, mentor Superintendente Deasy y titiritero, y otro cuarto de millón por el multimillonario hombre, magnate de los medios latinos A. Jerrold Perenchio, antes de Univision. Juntos empujaron “su” Coalición para las arcas de reforma escolar a $ 1,5 millones. A continuación, el alcalde Villaraigosa, quien junto con Broad, fue instrumental en traer a Deasy LAUSD, llamado en la pistola muy grande por negociar un acuerdo con New York el alcalde Michael Bloomberg, quien contribuyó con un adicional de millón de dólares por la Coalición de dinero educación Diane Ravitch historiador llamó a esto “repugnante y una afrenta a la democracia”.
¿Qué califica Bloomberg para comprar una Board of Education tres mil millas distante? En Nueva York, con la ayuda de la Fundación Gates, cerró más de 150 “escuelas fracasadas” sustituyéndolas por las escuelas más pequeñas y las escuelas charter. El sesenta por ciento de estos “nuevos y mejorados” más pequeñas escuelas primarias y secundarias ahora tienen menores tasas de aprobación que las escuelas a las que sustituyen. Sólo el 38% de los estudiantes de las escuelas primarias e intermedias creadas por la administración Bloomberg aprobó los exámenes de lectura, en comparación con el 47% de los estudiantes de toda la ciudad. El ex NYC Escuela canciller Joel Klein, que elevó las tasas de aptitud por bajar drásticamente las expectativas, lanzó otros $ 25.000.
Escuelas de Bloomberg comparten este atributo con la Asociación de Villaraigosa de Los Angeles Schools (PLAS), que han sido un fracaso total. Roosevelt High School fue dividido en siete escuelas pequeñas en el nombre de la “mejora” en 2007. Sólo uno de los siete directores tenían experiencia previa como directora. En 2009, los maestros de Roosevelt dio Villaraigosa y PLAS una “F” porque veían ninguna mejora. Ahora, en 2013, muchos miembros de la escuela y de la comunidad están en rebelión abierta. La inscripción ha caído en picado. LA Weekly, citando resultados del API, señaló que Roosevelt hizo Compton aspecto unificado como el “distrito del mes maldito.”
Alcalde Villaraigosa llamó Bloomberg, “la voz más importante en la reforma de la educación de hoy” – deformar la educación es más parecido. La Coalición para la Reforma Escolar puede también ser en cartera Deasy. Megan Chernin es un importante patrocinador y el ex jefe de la Promesa carta operador de Los Angeles como es Steven Prough, el actual jefe, quien contribuyó con $ 10.000 personalmente. ¿Qué tan buena es la promesa de Los Ángeles en mantener sus promesas? En 2010, el 91% de los estudiantes de West Adams Prep no eran competentes en Inglés y el 82% no eran competentes en matemáticas. Manuel Artes, que Promise Los Ángeles también había “prometido” para convertirse en un Jardín del Edén tenía asombrosamente altos de competencia no las tasas de 97% y 90% respectivamente en 2010. Sus tasas de rendimiento parecen inversamente proporcional al brillo de folletos de marketing.
Jaimie Alter Lynton donó 100.000 dólares a la Coalición. Ella, al igual Chernin, está en la junta de recaudación de fondos sin fines de lucro grupo Deasy. Lynton también lanzó Reporte de LA Escuela, que es básicamente dedicado a exaltar y promover Deasy y elegir a Anderson y García y al mismo tiempo denunciar el sindicato de maestros como el protector de los pedófilos.
Kate Anderson ha llamado Deasy “el mejor superintendente de este distrito ha tenido en las últimas décadas” y quiere que todas las escuelas como “grande” como Escuela Nueva Carta de Occidente. New West es el 62% de blancos y asiáticos, latinos 24% y el 12% Negro. Sólo el 11% de sus estudiantes son de almuerzos gratis oa precio reducido. No cuenta con un solo estudiante de Inglés en toda la escuela. Estadísticas de educación especial no están disponibles, por alguna razón misteriosa. Vamos a hacer todas las escuelas al igual que la Escuela Nueva Carta de Occidente.
¿Quieres saber acerca de García y Anderson? Sólo tienes que seguir el dinero.
Joseph K. es un veterano de 27 años de LAUSD, un maestro mentor ex dos veces nombrado Johns Hopkins University Teaching Fellow. Él enseña la manera pasada de moda – haciendo caso omiso de las puntuaciones de las pruebas estandarizadas. En lugar de enseñar burbujeante, trata de inculcar un amor por el conocimiento y el aprendizaje en sus estudiantes y por esta razón probablemente se le permitirá continuar enseñando durante quince minutos más.
Si usted o alguien que usted conoce ha sido blanco de ataques y están en proceso de ser despedido y la necesidad de defensa legal, póngase en contacto:
Categories Charter Schools, Corporate Reformers, Education Industry, Los Angeles, Privatization

Incoherent L.A. Times Editorial Okays Sale of School Board

By dianeravitch
February 17, 2013 //
12

If you can make sense of this editorial in the Los Angeles Times, you are a whole lot smarter than me. It speaks disparagingly of the board president, then endorses her.

It chastises the school board for failing to exercise oversight of the city’s booming charter sector, but then rejects Steve Zimmer, the only school board member who had the courage to propose responsible supervision of the charter sector. The Times is flabbergasted that Zimmer called for a moratorium on new charters until the board developed a policy for determining whether they were meeting their obligations to students and the public. L.A. already has more charters than any other city in the nation, so it would hardly have been a burden to delay adding more until the board figured out how to manage its portfolio.

The Times cares not a whit that Eli Broad, Michael Bloomberg, and their allies came up with $2.5 million to choose the next board. In their eyes, it’s okay for big money to overwhelm the political process. They worry not at all about the corruption of democracy.

They pay lip service to “reform.” But what do they mean by “reform.” More private entrepreneurs taking public dollars without supervision? More deregulation of the monied interests? More teachers fired because they teach students with disabilities or English language learners? More destabilization?

In 2010, the L.A. Times covered itself with shame when it concocted its own value-added methodology, rated thousands of teachers, and then published their names. The president of Math for America,, John Ewing, described this farce as “mathematical intimidation,” in an article in the journal of the American Mathematical Society.

The paper’s present indifference to the corporate purchase of the local school board multiplies its shame.

Categories Bloomberg, Michael, Broad Foundation, Charter Schools, Corporate Reformers, Los Angeles

When Big Money Started in L.A. School Board Races

By dianeravitch
February 15, 2013 //
11

This interesting article traces the rise of big spending in Los Angeles school board races.

In 1978, a candidate was elected after spending only $56,000.

This year’s election will break all records.

The big spending began with Mayor Richard Riordan, who decided he needed to shake things up.

He and his fellow zillionaire Eli Broad won control of the board in 1999, promising to guarantee quality education for every child.

And now Eli Broad, Michael Bloomberg and other super-rich are pouring over $2.5 million into the school board races.

To what end?

Is it about power? control?

Do they think they know how to produce a great education for every child? Where have they done it?

Certainly not in New York City, where Michael Bloomberg has exercised autocratic control for more than a decade.

In the latest poll, only 18% of New York City voters want the next mayor to control the schools.

Some affirmation.

Where are Eli Broad’s success stories?

If these guys don’t know how to improve schools, why do they keep meddling?

Categories Accountability, Bloomberg, Michael, Broad Foundation, Los Angeles

L.A. School Board Candidate Speaks Out

By dianeravitch
February 14, 2013 //
9

Robert Skeels is a pro-public school candidate in Los Angeles. He has raised $15,000. He will not get anything from Eli Broad or Michael Bloomberg.

He comments:

The LA Times asked me for a quote on Bloomberg’s $1 Million CSR donation. Here’s my response: “As a community candidate who has raised over $15,000 through myriad small contributions from local parents, community members, and classroom teachers, I find it dismaying that a single out-of-state billionaire has a greater voice in our school board election than all the working families of District 2. Where were these millions of dollars when the incumbent callously cut early childhood education, adult education, and K-12 arts last year?”

Categories Bloomberg, Michael, Broad Foundation, Charter Schools, Childhood, Pre-K, K, Los Angeles

School Board Races in Los Angeles Heat Up with Big Bucks

By dianeravitch
February 14, 2013 //
14

Here is a good overview of the political situation in Los Angeles by Howard Blume of the LA Times. Two billionaires have assembled a campaign chest of $2.5 million to make sure that Superintendent John Deasey has a board that supports his agenda.

Los Angeles has more charter schools than any city in America, and more are on the way.

Mayor Bloomberg’s contribution of $1 million to the pro-Deasey forces is called “a game-changer.”

Steve Zimmer, the prime target of the corporatists, says that he hopes to have a chance to sit down and talk with Mayor Bloomberg.

He thinks the mayor might change his mind.

New Yorkers would advise him not to hold his breath while waiting for that meeting.

Lest we forget, there is a larger question that deserves attention: Is it appropriate for someone who has been fortunate enough to amass $20 billion to use that money to overwhelm the democratic process?

 

Categories Bloomberg, Michael, Los Angeles
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