Archives for category: Privatization
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Is Tom Luna the Worst State Superintendent? CORRECTION!

By dianeravitch
October 23, 2012 //
37

If we had a race for the worst state superintendent in the nation, there would be many contenders. One thinks immediately, for example, of Tony Bennett in Indiana or John White in Louisiana.

By worst, I mean someone who has done his best to destroy public education–which is a sacred trust in the hands of the chief state school officer–and to demoralize the teachers who do the daily work of teaching the kids.

One of the top contenders for that odious distinction is Tom Luna of Idaho. Idaho is a small state and it doesn’t usually get a lot of national attention, but Luna has thrust it into the forefront of the national movement to privatize public education.

He was elected with the help of contributions from technology companies. A brilliant investigative report in the Idaho-Stateman last year documented how he raised campaign contributions from the education technology industry and became their darling.

Not being an original thinker, he called his program “Students Come First,” like Joel Klein’s “Children First” and Michelle Rhee’s “Students First.”

Despite a shrinking budget, he bought a laptop for every student and mandated that every student had to take two online courses in order to graduate. A token of appreciation to all those corporations that helped pay for Mr. Luna’s election.

He led a campaign to eliminate collective bargaining and often refers to union members as “thugs.” His reforms, known as the Luna laws, impose merit pay, which has never worked anywhere. He does whatever he can think of to demoralize the teachers of Idaho.

Is he the worst in the nation? There are many other contenders. It’s a close call.

His proposals are up for a vote this year. We will see if the people of Idaho are ready to outsource their children and public schools to for-profit corporations.

[CORRECTION: LUNA IS NOT UP FOR RE-ELECTION UNTIL 2014; HIS PROPOSALS–KNOWN AS THE “STUDENTS COME FIRST” LAWS or PROPS 1, 2, 3–ARE ON THE BALLOT NOVEMBER 6].

A reader in Idaho sent the following information:

An interesting development in Idaho politics is that not a single Democrat supports the “Students Come First” bills, or Props 1,2,3 as they are now commonly referred to, but nearly every Republican does support them, even though many Republican voters don’t. A recent poll was taken that shows props 1,2,3 losing support among voters, the real question is whether that will lead to more Democratic legislators (85/105 Idaho legislators are Republicans). Another interesting development is that the “Vote yes” folks only raised less than half of what the “Vote no” folks did ($500,000 vs $1.3 million), and I’m not really sure why. I think part of it might be that the state is trying to pay very little for the laptops (I think we’re looking for laptops and maintenance for $309/unit) and no company has taken that, and I also think the state is trying to pay half the normal rate for online courses, so for-profit education has held off on contributions.

Categories Accountability, Administrators, superintendents, For-Profit, Idaho, Privatization, Teachers and Teaching, Technology, Computers

In Pennsylvania, A Significant Victory for Public Education

By dianeravitch
October 22, 2012 //
2

Pennsylvania legislators were moving to adopt a “charter reform” bill that would have benefited charters mightily.

In response to the loud outcry from supporters of public education, some Republican legislators switched sides at the last minute and the bill died.

There are indeed serious injustices that need to be corrected–like the outrageous over-funding of cyber charters–which cost taxpayers about $1 million a day.

This post explains why the bill failed and why it deserved to fail.

The bill will be back, and so will the supporters of public education.

Keep your eye on Pennsylvania.

Categories Charter Schools, Corporate Reformers, Education Reform, For-Profit, Pennsylvania, Privatization

Thomas Friedman Needs Your Help

By dianeravitch
October 21, 2012 //
25

I am assuming Thomas Friedman knows a lot about foreign affairs, which is what he mostly writes about. He certainly knows very little about America’s public schools. I wonder when was the last time he stepped into a school or talked to a real teacher. My guess: it has been many years. Maybe he went to a public school.

His article in Sunday’s New York Times demonstrates that he is not only out of touch, but woefully misinformed. Everything he knows about Race to the Top he learned not by any research or school visits or investigative reporting, but by talking to Arne Duncan.

Guess what? Arne Duncan thinks Race to the Top is a huge success. He says so. It must be so. It will make the entire population college-ready. Everyone will go to college, get a good job, poverty will end, and we will outcompete every other nation in the world.

If you believe that, I have a bridge I’d like to sell you. It’s not too far from where I live, and it is regularly sold to the gullible.

Of course, Friedman also really admires No Child Left Behind too, even though it wasn’t perfect. and he sees the close connection between NCLB and RTTT. Where do you begin with a man who opines but knows so little?

Please, someone, bombard Mr. Thomas Friedman with the nearly 400 letters from parents, teachers, administrators, and students about the massive disaster called Race to the Top.

Ask him where we are racing. Ask him who will get to the top. Ask him why we ditched equality of educational opportunity.

Categories NCLB (No Child Left Behind), Privatization, Race to the Top, Teacher Evaluations, Testing

Indiana Voters Can Defeat Privatization Movement

By dianeravitch
October 21, 2012 //
5

The big corporate money is flowing into Indiana to re-elect privatizer Tony Bennett as its champion.

But fortunately the voters have a chance to throw him out and elect Glenda Ritz, an educator who wants to improve public education.

Please read this post from a Hoosier.

I commend to you the anonymous comment by a man who served as a teacher and principal for many years in the state. He understands what is happening, as Bennett systematically gives away public schools to private interests.

“At no time in the one-hundred-and-twenty-one years that my grandfather, my father, my kids and I have been teaching in Indiana public schools has education faced a bigger crisis. We are on the verge of losing local control of our schools to the corporate, for profit, privatization movement. This movement has started in parts of Indiana already as State School Superintendent Tony Bennett has sold off inner-city schools to private, profit making companies and charter schools. Studies show that these schools either fail or do no better than public schools, even though they are often given more money, more staff and more resources. What this does is take money away from public schools and gives it to private, profit-making schools. This year Fort Wayne Public Schools lost 2.6 million dollars that was given to private schools in their district. This sets up public schools to fail, which some feel is the purpose anyway (the more public schools that “”fail” the more private, for profit schools we can create.)
Why is he doing this? Follow the money. Check out the big donors to Tony Bennett’s campaign. It is pouring in from out-of-state, from big corporations and testing services that stand to make a profit from privatizing Indiana’s schools. If Tony wins re-election, they stand to make a nice profit. Tony Bennett doesn’t want to answer public concerns about this. He stays out of the public eye, failing to show up over four times in my town when asked to attend a forum. He even delivered his annual State of Education speech to a hand-picked, private audience so he wouldn’t face any embarrassing questions.
How is he setting up schools to “fail” so he can take them over? By spending millions of dollars on testing programs (pleasing his donors) that don’t begin to assess what all schools really do. He repeats the dubious message that schools are “failing” until it becomes his and his followers reality, neglecting to praise schools for their many successes (when we were in high school, the graduation rate in the U.S. was 50%: now it is 85% and climbing; actually higher when you factor in those who go back and get a G.E.D.) He is setting up a grade system for schools, publicly calling them out as F, D, C, B, or A schools, based on what kids did on a test. Does anybody not know how that will come out? Indianapolis Public Schools will largely “fail.” Carmel will be “A+, and he will award them and turn IPS over to private, corporate schools which will do no better and maybe worse.
What is the elephant in the room? What Bennett and his friends don’t want to admit is what hundreds of studies have shown: that the number one predictor of lower functioning schools is their level of poverty. This is obvious to any teacher who has taught in the inner city. I personally have visited over 130 schools in Indiana and several out of state, and have served on and chaired North Central Association (the nation’s major school accreditation agency) evaluations of over 25 inner city, rural, and surburban schools, from Lake Michigan to the Ohio River . I have great respect for the teachers in the inner city schools. No one works harder under adverse conditions than they do. To let Tony Bennett label them failures is beyond reason and shows how great his disconnect is from the reality of what schools really do. Heard enough? Then hear this: after he labels them failures, he plans to get rid of them!
What can we do about this? We need to let everybody who cares about the future of education know what is going on. Feel free to share his and talk about it before the election. I have grave doubts that the schools we knew and benefited from will be available to kids in the future if we don’t speak up and become active.”

Categories For-Profit, Indiana, On-Line Education, Parent trigger, Privatization

Students Say: Vote NO on Charter Amendment in Georgia: CORRECTION!

By dianeravitch
October 20, 2012 //
6

Listen to the students.

On this link there is a terrific video by two Georgia students who explain why voters should turn down a constitutional amendment on charter schools.

Georgia has over 130 charter schools.

The charter schools do not outperform the public schools.

Some local school boards have turned down new charters.

So the Governor has put an amendment to the Constitution on the ballot allowing him to create a commission to override local control. This idea comes from the corporate-controlled reactionary organization ALEC.

The state superintendent John Barge, WHO WAS ELECTED, NOT appointed by Governor Deal AS I ORIGINALLY WROTE, opposes the amendment.

So do PTAs and the NAACP and local school boards.

The amendment would set up a costly new bureaucracy.

It will cost $430 million.

It would undermine local control.

It would take money away from public schools.

It would give more money to charter schools than public schools receive.

Categories Charter Schools, Corporate Reformers, Privatization, Students

Who Supports Tony Bennett in Indiana?

By dianeravitch
October 19, 2012 //
2

This blog lists the websites and bloggers in Indiana who oppose state superintendent Tony Bennett. That’s easy. It includes every parent group in the state and everyone concerned about the future of education.

Which leaves the important question: Who supports Bennett? Well, big corporations. Advocates of privatization. People who hate unions. Groups that want to strip teachers of their profession and turn them into at-will employees like the greeters at Costco. The fake group called “Stand for Children,” also known as Stand on Children. Wall Street hedge fund managers. Online corporations hoping to make lots of money by recruiting students to homeschool while the corporation profits.

This election will be a referendum on whether Indiana wants to give away public education to private interests. It will happen unless the public wakes up and says no to privatization, yes to the common good.

Categories Corporate Reformers, Education Industry, For-Profit, Indiana, Privatization, Stand for Children

The Most Important Voice in State Education Policy

By dianeravitch
October 19, 2012 //
3

The most important voice in state education policy today is the American Legislative Exchange Council, known as ALEC.

ALEC has 2,000 state legislators as members, and dozens of corporate sponsors, including the biggest names in business.

Here is an excellent summary of ALEC’s legislative priorities.

ALEC writes model legislation. Its members carry it home and introduce it as their own in their states.

ALEC promotes charters and vouchers.

ALEC likes the parent trigger.

ALEC likes it when the governor can create a commission to approve charters over the opposition of local school boards.

ALEC favors unregulated, for-profit online schooling.

ALEC wants to eliminate collective bargaining.

ALEC doesn’t think teachers need any certification or credential.

ALEC opposes teacher tenure.

ALEC likes evaluating teachers by test scores.

You should learn about ALEC. Read up on it. It is the most influential voice in the nation on education policy.

Categories ALEC, Charter Schools, Corporate Reformers, Education Industry, Education Reform, For-Profit, On-Line Education, Parent trigger, Privatization, Teacher Evaluations, Teacher Tenure, Testing, Unions, US Education

Crucial Referendum in Georgia

By dianeravitch
October 18, 2012 //
1

In November, voters in Georgia will vote on an important referendum to amend their state constitution.

The goal of the amendment is to allow the government to appoint a commission that can impose charter schools in districts over the objection of local school boards. More than 90% of the money to support the referendum is pouring into Georgia from out of state contributors.

This proposal comes from ALEC, which is so eager to push privatization that it is ready to abandon local control. This is a clear sign that the ALEC agenda is a radical agenda, not a conservative one.

Conservatives are lining up to support local control, including John Barge, the State Superintendent of Education.

Categories ALEC, Charter Schools, Corporate Reformers, Education Reform, For-Profit, Georgia, Privatization

How to Spot Propaganda

By dianeravitch
October 17, 2012 //
7

A reader sent us a useful description of propaganda techniques:

“How to Identify Propaganda Techniques”

(So many parallels to the “reform agenda”.)

1
Look for the use of “glittering” generalities in the form of catchphrases, sweeping and vague statements. Slogans using positive and uplifting concepts such as love, honor, family, peace and freedom are often the tools used by propagandists because they appeal to the masses .

2
Watch for the use of symbols that are attached to authority or things most people respect. The Nazi swastika is an example of a symbol used to elicit an emotional response from the public such as, intimidation or fear. A respectful symbol, such as the American flag is used during the Pledge of Allegiance to unify people’s patriotism, reinforce their belief in God and loyalty to the country. This is the transference technique used to appeal to people’s emotions and get them on the propagandists’ bandwagon.

3
Be alert to name-calling. Propagandists will often make negative statements against groups or institutions they are attempting to denounce rather than positively tout the merits of their own proposals and concepts.

4
Be leery of testimonials by those who might garner respect from the public. Testimonials may be presented by a person who really doesn’t have the authority to gauge the value of the product or concept being presented, but is respected in the community. The “expert” may also have a vested interest in backing the propagandists’ agenda.

5
Be on the lookout for “plain folks.” Propagandists will often use spokesmen who claim to be from humble beginnings to gain the respect and trust of the crowd.

6
Watch for suggestions that if you’re not on board with the concept or product being hyped, you will be left out. Propagandists try to get followers on the “bandwagon” to avoid feelings of isolation and loneliness.

7
Be alert to strong, one-sided facts that support the propagandists’ case. “Card-stacking” is the most difficult propaganda technique to identify, GMU points out. The propagandists will stack the cards in their favor, only using facts and arguments that support their agenda, ignoring evidence that contradicts or invalidates their point of view.

How to Identify Propaganda Techniques | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_10061890_identify-propaganda-techniques.html#ixzz27d7iJU8k

Categories ALEC, Bush, Jeb, Corporate Reformers, Education Industry, Education Reform, For-Profit, Privatization

If You Have Friends in Washington State…

By dianeravitch
October 16, 2012 //
8

If you have friends in Washington State, call them and tell them to vote no on 1240.

Friends don’t let friends fall for propaganda campaigns funded by billionaires.

Friends don’t let friends be fooled into voting to privatize public education.

Friends don’t let friends give their public schools away to Wall Street and entrepreneurs.

Tell them what is at stake.

A reader writes with an update:

Right now the charter school polling in WA is showing 49% for, 30% against, and 21% undecided. Unfortunately our state union is focusing on the governor’s race rather than 1240, even though the outcome of 1240 will have more impact on public ed than the outcome of the governor’s race (legislature is a Dem majority and pretty likely to stay that way, so even if the gov is a GOP, he’s not going to get much done), so not much is being done against 1240 from a state union perspective. The group that has come out against charters is this one: http://peopleforourpublicschools.org/index.html

The charter school supporters try to play up the failing schools meme, even though WA continues to have among the highest SAT score rates in the country – and the percentage of minority populations taking the SAT is continually increasing – and too many people don’t check the facts. 1240 is particularly scary because it includes the parent trigger and unelected oversight boards. Here’s hoping the 21% undecided vote no and we can vote down charters for the 4th time – and maybe then Stand For Children, DFER and all those other fake education advocacy groups who really just want to make $$ off privatization will leave us alone and we can focus on solving the problems in our existing PUBLIC schools rather than adding publicly-funded private charters to the mix.

Categories Charter Schools, Education Industry, Privatization, Washington State
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