A gifted Newark teacher asks: Why are we not good enough to educate our children? | Bob Braun's Ledger

A gifted Newark teacher asks: Why are we not good enough to educate our children? | Bob Braun's Ledger:

A gifted Newark teacher asks: Why are we not good enough to educate our children?

Jonathan Alston

EDITOR’S NOTE: I am proud to present this guest blog by Jonathan Alston, an English teacher and debate coach at Newark’s Science Park High School. Alston, born and raised in Newark and educated at Science and Yale, recently guided his debaters to a national championship. He has coached seven national debate champions.  Alston also is co-host of “All Politics Are Local,” the Hip-Hop Political Radio Show. He publishes the blog Newark Teacher where this essay first appeared. It was written before Lamont Thomas, Science Park’s principal, resigned. I must caution readers it contains offensive language that I would not use but, coming from the heart, mind and soul of a gifted African-American teacher and writer, it adds raw and essential truth and  power to his profound analysis of what is wrong with Newark–and New Jersey. And, yes, in fact, the State Board of Education has the legal power to remove Cami Anderson and restore local control of the schools.

By JONATHAN ALSTON

To the NJ State Board of Education: Remove Cami Anderson and Establish a System of Local Control – What is Going On in Newark is a Democracy Movement

“As Washington has increased its control over our students’ education, our children have fallen further and further behind their peers around the world. When Washington, DC took over Common Core in the Obama administration, it pulled education away from our neighborhoods. That is not what is best for the investment New Jersey is making in our children’s education. This should not come as a big surprise. Whenever this federal government has crowded out local control, things have only gotten worse.”
- NJ Governor Chris Christie, May 28, 2015, Burlington Community College”It’s really shocking to me that students walked out in a protest on a sunny Friday afternoon. When they start walking out on a rainy Tuesday, maybe I’ll take it more seriously. They can walk out and protest as much as they want…No, I’m not changing my opinion on this.”
- NJ Governor Chris Christie, May 29, 2015, when a reporter asked if his A gifted Newark teacher asks: Why are we not good enough to educate our children? | Bob Braun's Ledger: