Profiteering in the Schools
A friend shared an invitation that came to his email.
The for-profit sector is not only lurking, it is invading.
Just think: while teachers and principals work 11hours a day, taking home salaries that barely cover the mortgage and living expenses, while an equity investor will make millions from their labor.
Save the date! On January 15, there will be an exciting seminar on how to make a profit by investing in
The for-profit sector is not only lurking, it is invading.
Just think: while teachers and principals work 11hours a day, taking home salaries that barely cover the mortgage and living expenses, while an equity investor will make millions from their labor.
Save the date! On January 15, there will be an exciting seminar on how to make a profit by investing in
A Plague of Junk Food in the Schools
Marc Epstein, a veteran New York City teacher, describes a common phenomenon: the proliferation of junk food, which contributes to child obesity.
He recalls his own student days, when teachers absolutely prohibited chewing gum and snacks in the classroom.
In today’s schools, junk food is everywhere.
It’s bad for students, bad for discipline, and indicative of a society that refuses to set appropriate limits, allowing children to engage in harmful behaviors.
What the Best and Wisest Parent Wants for His Child…
He recalls his own student days, when teachers absolutely prohibited chewing gum and snacks in the classroom.
In today’s schools, junk food is everywhere.
It’s bad for students, bad for discipline, and indicative of a society that refuses to set appropriate limits, allowing children to engage in harmful behaviors.
What the Best and Wisest Parent Wants for His Child…
John Dewey said it more than a century ago, and it is still true: What the best and wisest parent wants for his child is what we should want for all the children of the community. Anything less is unlovely and, unchecked, destroys our democracy. (Forgive the paraphrase, but that is close to exactly right from memory.)
Here Leonie Haimson, New York City’s leading parent advocate, gives the same advice to President Obama. She calls on him to get rid of the test-driven policies of Race to the Top, which are ruining the public schools, and stop the privatizing.
What a terrible legacy is would be for President Obama if he left the presidency four years from now with a
Here Leonie Haimson, New York City’s leading parent advocate, gives the same advice to President Obama. She calls on him to get rid of the test-driven policies of Race to the Top, which are ruining the public schools, and stop the privatizing.
What a terrible legacy is would be for President Obama if he left the presidency four years from now with a
Please Sign to Oppose Suspension of Democracy in Michigan
From a reader in Michigan:
A Message to all Supporters of Democracy
The people of 77 the 83 counties in Michigan voted successfully to repeal Michigan’s Emergency Manager Law. Governor Rick Snyder and the extremist-controlled Michigan legislature are now attempting to circumvent the will of the people by passing new legislation that is every bit as unconstitutional, anti-democratic and vile as the law the people have just rejected. The proposed bill, HB 6004 “Educational Achievement Authority”, violates our State Constitution and will substitute unelected bureaucrats with dictatorial powers for local, duly elected representatives of the people. Tell Governor Snyder and the Michigan Legislature to vote no on any legislation
A Message to all Supporters of Democracy
The people of 77 the 83 counties in Michigan voted successfully to repeal Michigan’s Emergency Manager Law. Governor Rick Snyder and the extremist-controlled Michigan legislature are now attempting to circumvent the will of the people by passing new legislation that is every bit as unconstitutional, anti-democratic and vile as the law the people have just rejected. The proposed bill, HB 6004 “Educational Achievement Authority”, violates our State Constitution and will substitute unelected bureaucrats with dictatorial powers for local, duly elected representatives of the people. Tell Governor Snyder and the Michigan Legislature to vote no on any legislation
Why They Can’t Find Skilled Workers
Pease read Paul Krugman on the Fake Skills Shortage.
Every time you hear Arne Duncan or someone from the US Chamber of Commerce or the Business Roundtable complain that they can’t find skilled workers, think of this article and remember. The big corporations outsource jobs to where the wages are lowest. They send the jobs to countries where workers get half or less than American workers. They don’t send them to other countries because skills elsewhere are higher and more plentiful, but because wages are less. It’s all about cost-cutting and profit.
Every time you hear Arne Duncan or someone from the US Chamber of Commerce or the Business Roundtable complain that they can’t find skilled workers, think of this article and remember. The big corporations outsource jobs to where the wages are lowest. They send the jobs to countries where workers get half or less than American workers. They don’t send them to other countries because skills elsewhere are higher and more plentiful, but because wages are less. It’s all about cost-cutting and profit.
When David Crushed Goliath
Here is one very impressive piece of news from the elections.
In Santa Clara County, school board member Anna Song ran for re-election and was opposed by a massive amount of money from charter supporters.
Song had dared to vote against a proposal to authorize 20 new Rocketship charters in her district.
She was one of two board members who voted in opposition a year ago.
Maybe she thought it would be tantamount to privatizing a large part of the public school system.
Rocketship supporters
In Santa Clara County, school board member Anna Song ran for re-election and was opposed by a massive amount of money from charter supporters.
Song had dared to vote against a proposal to authorize 20 new Rocketship charters in her district.
She was one of two board members who voted in opposition a year ago.
Maybe she thought it would be tantamount to privatizing a large part of the public school system.
Rocketship supporters
MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 11-24-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Walmart and the School Reform Movement by dianerav EduShyster celebrated Black Friday not by shopping but by thinking about ways that Walmart could really make a difference in the lives of children. For example, it could provide their parents a living wage and decent benefits or allow them to join a union. Instead, the Walton family is a big funder of charters and vouchers and other aspects of the conservative reform movement to privatize public education and break teachers unions so that teachers can be tre... more »