Jersey Jazzman Jammin' All Week
Jazzman Extracurricular Activities
Let's get this out of the way:This brief about One Newark -- the controversial plan to restructure the Newark Public Schools -- is coauthored by me. I am one of the authors of the brief. And I'm not Bruce Baker.So there you have it. Frankly, I don't think it's a big deal... but it seems like some others do.I have not been "anonymous" for a good long while; I am pseudonymous. There is a d
JAN 22
Jersey City BOE To Citizens: STFU
Well, isn't this lovely:The Jersey City school board approved a measure this week that significantly curtails when residents can speak at board meetings, an action critics say is an effort to silence them.The changes force all speakers to notify school officials at least one day in advance if they want to make general comments or speak on a specific agenda item. Previously, notice was only require
Charter Schools Are NOT Public Schools: Snow Day Edition
UPDATE: Bob Braun, who is now the best journalist covering Newark, has much more. Read it all, but here's a taste:Newark public schools are open today despite some 12 inches of snow in some parts of the city. The city’s charter schools—whose leaders insist are just as public as conventional public schools—were closed. Apparently the safety of charter school children and teachers is more dear to th
JAN 20
The Newark 5 Are Not Alone: NJ's Reformy Bullying Epidemic
It's gratifying to see the Newark 5 story getting the coverage it's started to get. Five principals who spoke out against One Newark -- the plan by the Newark Public Schools to close some schools, turn others over to charter operators, and "renew" others -- were suspended Friday for the crime of exercising their First Amendment rights and demanding that Newark's disenfranchised citizens
JAN 19
Newark Charters: Let's Please Get the Facts Right
Laura Waters:Look to our charters. At KIPP's TEAM Academy Charter School in Newark students attend school from 7:30-4:00 Mondays through Fridays and also go to school two Saturdays a month. The school year begins in August and goes through June. TEAM's students regularly outperform peers at other area schools despite similar demographics. [emphasis mine]Facts:TEAM has a substantially higher female
JAN 17
Newark State Superintendent Cami Anderson: "First Amendment? What's That?"
I guess we now know why Chris Christie lauded Newark's state-appointed superintendent, Cami Anderson, at his distraction from Bridgegate State of the State address: they are kindred spirits. Both love to bully underlings, and neither brooks dissent:Councilman Baraka asks for immediate firing of Cami Anderson(For Release Wednesday, August 14, 2013)Councilman Ras Baraka Asks for Immediate Removal o