A Parent Activist Saw the Anti-Union Movie
Leonie Haimson, public school parent and founder of Class Size Matters, saw the anti-union movie “Won’t Back Down.” She saw it so you don’t have to. Here she tells you the details of the movie and describes a panel discussion that follows.
Leonie has been fighting for better public schools for years. She believes that parents and teachers should work together. Not to seize control of their school, but to press for smaller classes and an experienced staff. She knows what does not work: privatization and high stakes testing.
Leonie has been fighting for better public schools for years. She believes that parents and teachers should work together. Not to seize control of their school, but to press for smaller classes and an experienced staff. She knows what does not work: privatization and high stakes testing.
My Trip to Chattanooga
I had a great visit to Chattanooga and met many dedicated, civic-minded people. I was invited to visit by the Benwood Foundation, which has done an amazing job helping local public schools and supporting environmental improvement.
Chattanooga is a beautiful city of about 170,000 people. It has a lovely, historic central city. Everything is within walking distance or a short ride.
First, I met the local editorial board and had a spirited conversation with them. They literally had a columnist on
Chattanooga is a beautiful city of about 170,000 people. It has a lovely, historic central city. Everything is within walking distance or a short ride.
First, I met the local editorial board and had a spirited conversation with them. They literally had a columnist on
The Not-So-Hidden Crisis
While the billionaires and multi-millionaires wring their hands over the public schools and promise to end poverty by testing kids and their teachers, there is a back story.
The back story is that income inequality is growing worse in America. And nowhere is it more blatant and more outrageous than in New York City, the very epicenter of faux education reform.
While the mayor and his three chancellors have expanded the number of charter schools, increased testing and demanded value-added assessment of teachers and waged war against tenure and seniority, the income gap between the rich and poor has become a wide chasm.
An article in the New York Times today says that the poverty rate is at its highest point in a decade.
And get this:
“Median income for the lowest fifth was $8,844, down $463 from 2010. For the highest, it was $223,285, up
The back story is that income inequality is growing worse in America. And nowhere is it more blatant and more outrageous than in New York City, the very epicenter of faux education reform.
While the mayor and his three chancellors have expanded the number of charter schools, increased testing and demanded value-added assessment of teachers and waged war against tenure and seniority, the income gap between the rich and poor has become a wide chasm.
An article in the New York Times today says that the poverty rate is at its highest point in a decade.
And get this:
“Median income for the lowest fifth was $8,844, down $463 from 2010. For the highest, it was $223,285, up