4-5-14 Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Schooling in the Ownership Society All Week

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog:
Schooling in the Ownership Society

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk 

Schooling in the Ownership Society

My memo to Sheldon Adelson

The wing-nut billionaire is in the market for a few good Republican pols. I guess his stable is running low on horses. He's got a few old nags but no winners in his gold-plated paddock. So when they read his want ads, GOPers sprinted as fast as their hooves would carry them, out to Vegas to kiss Adelson's ass ring.On the outside is Romney running neck and neck with Jeb Bush. Chris Christie is whee

1 by Mike Klonsky / 1d hide  //  save

MAR 27

Next frontier for the charter school hustlers, 'Inner Ring' Suburbs

For those of you who aren't fluent in post-racial-era reform/speak, inner-ring is code for black and Latino suburbs. As the inner cities become whitenized, with hundreds of thousands of African-Americans being pushed out because of lack of jobs, limited access to social services, and unaffordable housing costs, these suburban districts are growing rapidly and are now being targeted for takeover by

2 by Mike Klonsky / 8d 

MAR 26

The sun continues to shine on Florida's charter school hustlers

Attention charter operators and ed profiteers. Florida is the place if you like warm weather and easy money in real estate. I got to see how the charter game is played in the Sunshine State during my days at USF when Jeb Bush was the guv. Now, under Rick Scott and his ed adviser Michelle Rhee (not to mention disgraced former ed commissioner Tony Bennett), the state has opened up even wider for cha

9 by Mike Klonsky / 10d 

Hang tough Gresham!

A SmallTalk Salute goes out to Principal Diedrus Brown, Ald. Brookins and the Walter Gresham Elementary School community for having the courage to resist Byrd-Bennett's move to hand their school over to the private management company,  AUSL.They're standing on solid ground when they say the resource-starved schools has been making steady progress. In 2004, when Brown became principal,  34.7 percen

by Mike Klonsky / 22h 

The kids are alright

Sam Spitz met Teddy Williams at a barber shop, and they documented their story in a film, "The Greens."I couldn't be prouder of my friend Sam Spitz, a budding young film maker with a good camera eye and a strong social conscience. With film-making activist parents like Jeff and Jennifer Amdur Spitz, neither is any surprise. Sam's first independent, no-budget film, The Greens, is starting

2 by Mike Klonsky / 1d 

APR 02

Door cracks open to stripping Rahm of mayoral control of the schools

DID YOU HEAR THAT... The House opened the door ever so slightly Tuesday to stripping Mayor Rahm Emanuel and any of his successors of the sole authority to appoint the Chicago public school system's board of education.  By a 108-5 margin, the House approved legislation sponsored by Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, to create a task force to study whether the board should be appointed, elected or mixed

2 by Mike Klonsky / 2d 

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The HideoutWe stopped by one of my favorite watering holes, The Hideout, last night to hear the great Ben Joravsky and Mick Dumpke do their political schtick. But ducked out when it looked like it was being turned into the Dick Mell Show. All the repartee with that smirking racist machine bastard was making me nauseous. When he started blaming last month's low-voter turnout on bloggers and tweete

3 by Mike Klonsky / 3d 

Rahm's allies duck out on his pension raid

Fred Klonsky artThe word on Clout Street is that Rahm's own allies and machine pals are distancing themselves from the mayor's pension-busting plan. The latest to duck out of the pension raiding party seems to be Ald. Patrick O’Connor who is usually Rahm's ramrod in the City Council. O'Connor basically admitted yesterday, that Rahm's proposed pension cuts and property-tax increases won't produce t

4 by Mike Klonsky / 3d 

A look at who's being left behind in the 'Race for Results'

An important new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation highlights the widening gap in opportunity between white and children of color. The report, called "Race for Results," created a new index that uses 12 educational, health, and economic factors to rank how children from major racial and ethnic groups fare in every state.The report points out that last year, for the first time, mo

9 by Mike Klonsky / 3d 

APR 01

From Stacey Gates at the CTU: We must protect our pensions

Dear Mike,In carefully examining the pension "deal" put forth recently by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, we have found that the plan does not, in any way, solve Chicago's pension problem. As we have said many times before, over and over and over again: This is a revenue problem.Our members are rightfully enraged, as the cuts that the mayor is proposing are just more of the same—more of the same bur

5 by Mike Klonsky / 3d 

Byrd-Bennett on school closings: Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies

HERE'S A FOLLOW-UP on Friday's post: Mass school closings 'great success', declares Byrd-Bennett. Catalyst reporters Sarah Karp and Melissa Sanchez do a credible job showing that Byrd-Bennett's receiving-school success claims don't match her spin.In every area, students from closed schools lag way behind and have made less progress than other students throughout the city. The on-track rate for stu

1 by Mike Klonsky / 4d 

MAR 31

Weekend Quotables

SAY JAY!...Travis concedes but the coalition that came close to electing her, meets and agrees to continue working together for honest and accountable elected leadership.Jay Travis"I could not be more proud of our campaign. I am writing to let you know that I am officially conceding... I look forward to continuing to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you in our fight to grow the economy for eve

1 by Mike Klonsky / 5d 

MAR 29

Rep. Grijalva, first to support NPE's call for congressional hearings on testing misuse

Rep. GrijalvaArizona Democrat-Rep. Raúl Grijalva became the first to support the Network for Public Education’s call for congressional hearings into the “misuse and abuse of standardized tests.”  Grijalva, a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, says:"The need for an impartial and transparent hearing on mandatory testing and privatization efforts directed at public edu

17 by Mike Klonsky / 7d 

4-5-14 Wait What? All Week

Wait What?:

  Wait What? All Week

Sarah Darer Littman’s MUST READ – “A Discouraging Day for Democracy and Education.”

In her latest CT News Junkie column, Sarah Darer Littman confronts those that are celebrating their latest efforts to buy up the public policy making process at the federal and state level. In Washington it was the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision in the McCutcheon v. FEC case that removes the limit on the amount of […] The post Sarah Darer Littman’s MUST READ – “A Discouraging Day for Democracy and E

by jonpelto / 2min 

State Board of Education is tone-deaf to needs of the children

Wendy Lecker, fellow public school advocates and columnist has done it again! In here latest MUST READ column published in this weekend’s Stamford Advocate and other Hearst media outlets, Wendy shines the light of truth on the Malloy administration’s unrelenting effort to undermine and privatize Connecticut public education system. Day after day, week after week, […] The post State Board of Educat

by jonpelto / 49min 

YESTERDAY

A picture IS worth a thousand words…

LOL…. This Friday afternoon political cartoon/picture comes courtesy of Sarah Darer Littman and is entitled, THE WIZARD OF OZ, CT Edreform edition:   The post A picture IS worth a thousand words… appeared first on Wait What?.

5 by jonpelto / 21h 

Opt out movement grows amid Common Core testing disasters

Commissioner Stefan Pryor’s PR operation says the implementation of the Common Core Smarter Balanced Testing Assessment Test of a Test is going well. When Governor Malloy’s State Board of Education met this week they had time to adopt a resolution re-committing Connecticut to “immediately implementing” the Common Core but didn’t even both to discuss the […] The post Opt out movement grows amid Com

13 by jonpelto / 23h 

“Corporate tables available” — a sign of the times

Today’s CTMirror.org features an article entitled, “Corporate tables available for “Small State, Big Debate.” As CT Mirror advertises it upcoming conference – “Small State, Big Debate:  Inequality” – the headline isn’t “Tables available” or “Packages available” but “Corporate” tables are available. According to the story, Corporate tables are available for The Connecticut Mirror’s first signature

3 by jonpelto / 1d 

APR 03

Malloy’s new charter schools – 1st up the Booker T. Washington Charter School in New Haven

Time to review the facts surrounding Malloy’s new charter schools… Number #1: The Booker T. Washington Charter School. The Booker T. Washington School may very well be Connecticut’s first foray into using public funds to pay for what appears to be a religiously connected school.  (We’ll pretend for a moment that such a move is […] The post Malloy’s new charter schools – 1st up the Booker T. Washin

14 by jonpelto / 1d 

A very bad day for public education in Connecticut

Yesterday was a dark day for public education in Connecticut. Before voting to give away $80 to $100 million in taxpayer funds over the next five years to private companies that want to open four new charter schools in Connecticut, Governor Malloy’s State Board of Education voted unanimously to re-commit our state, our public schools […] The post A very bad day for public education in Connecticut

500+ by jonpelto / 2d 

APR 02

Malloy goes all in with charters!

Today will go down in history as the day Dannel “Dan” Malloy decided to fully align himself with the corporate education reform industry and sell out Connecticut’s public schools once and for all. Moments ago, Malloy’s State Board of Education approved four new charter schools at a time when Malloy has left Connecticut’s public schools […] The post Malloy goes all in with charters! appeared first

79 by jonpelto / 2d 

Malloy sells out Public Education

Led by Governor Malloy’s Commissioner of Education, in a stunning commitment to Malloy’s privatization agenda, the State Board of Education just approved two new charter schools. Jumoke Academy’s Booker T. Washington Academy (New Haven), And Newark’s Great Oaks Charter School (Bridgeport). The Board is now considering a motion to approve two more charter schools, Steve […] The post Malloy sells ou

10 by jonpelto / 2d 

Merging Church and State – The Booker T. Washington Charter School

Governor Malloy’s State Board of Education is expected to approve the New Haven charter school application proposed by Jumoke/FUSE Inc. at its meeting today. The cost to Connecticut taxpayers over the first five years of the school exceeds $27 million. In addition, the taxpayers of New Haven will continue to pay for the transportation costs […] The post Merging Church and State – The Booker T. Was

8 by jonpelto / 3d 

Malloy’s plan to privatize public education charges forward today

(aka) Is Newark’s Great Oaks Charter School coming to Bridgeport? At today’s State Board of Education meeting, Governor Dannel “Dan” Malloy’s appointees will vote to re-commit Connecticut to the Common Core and then vote to divert scarce public funds to new charter schools in Connecticut. As previously reported, new charter school applications up for a […] The post Malloy’s plan to privatize publi

22 by jonpelto / 3d 

APR 01

Malloy administration lines up votes to re-endorse the Common Core

Sometimes it is hard to know what to say… Maybe Dannel “Dan” Malloy is simply on a mission to alienate as many parents, teachers and public school advocates as possible before he faces the electorate this coming November. Or maybe the pay-off in campaign contributions is so great that it is worth selling ones soul […] The post Malloy administration lines up votes to re-endorse the Common Core appe

100+ by jonpelto / 3d 

Friends in high places = lots of money!

Listen carefully and you may hear that sound of charter school management company executives rubbing their hands together in anticipation of tomorrow’s Connecticut State Board of Education meeting. With this year’s gubernatorial election six months away, some might think Governor Malloy would back off  his corporate education reform industry agenda in an effort to convince […] The post Friends in

18 by jonpelto / 3d 

Bronx charter school company sees goldmine in Connecticut

When the State Board of Education meets tomorrow to approve Commissioner Stefan Pryor’s plan to open new charter schools in Connecticut one of the most incredible proposals is the one submitted by the Bronx Charter School for Excellence. About a week ago, fellow pro-public education advocate columnist Wendy Lecker laid out the facts about Bronx Charter School […] The post Bronx charter school comp

21 by jonpelto / 4d 

MAR 31

Key Bridgeport activist in battle to stop education reform industry leaves Working Families Party

Maria Pereira, the former Bridgeport Board of Education member who fought Paul Vallas and his corporate education reform initiatives, helped lead the effort to strike down the Malloy administration’s illegal takeover of the Bridgeport Schools System, played a pivotal role in defeating Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch’s failed initiative to do away with an elected board […] The post Key Bridgeport activ

18 by jonpelto / 4d 

Will State Board of Education over look conflicts of interest to approve more charter schools

While Governor Dannel “Dan” Malloy’s budget fails to properly fund public schools in Connecticut it does provide for an increase in the number of privately run charter schools. This Wednesday, April 2, 2014, the Connecticut State Board of Education will meet to consider applications for new charter schools in Connecticut. The list of applicants include, […] The post Will State Board of Education o

17 by jonpelto / 4d 

MAR 30

A MUST WATCH Video of public school students, teacher and administrators fighting back

“No Mo Cuomo Music Video – New York Middletown High School” In response to Coumo’s decision to fund charter schools while failing to provide money to public schools. Swap Malloy for Coumo and you have the same thing in here in Connecticut! Watch these amazing students, teachers and administrators fight back! CLICK Here: http://youtu.be/7CKOJ6PzgCII  or here: No Mo […] The post A MUST WATCH Video o

2 by jonpelto / 5d 

MAR 29

Malloy’s proposed budget underfunds public magnet schools while increasing money for charter schools

Although many parents, teachers and public school advocates already know that Governor Dannel “Dan” Malloy is the most anti-teacher, anti-public education Democratic Governor in the nation, Malloy’s proposed budget drives the message home in a very big way. Last month Malloy proposed a new budget plan for the fiscal year that starts on July 1, […] The post Malloy’s proposed budget underfunds publi

41 by jonpelto / 6d hide  //  save

Diane Ravitch on Bill Moyers Show

As Diane Ravitch explains on her blog, “Bill Moyers is one of my heroes. He is one of the few people in the media who is as concerned about the privatization and monetization of the public sector as I am. He has a long memory, and he has not forgotten that a good society needs […] The post Diane Ravitch on Bill Moyers Show appeared first on Wait What?.

19 by jonpelto / 6d 

An Open Letter to Parents from a Connecticut Parent

An open letter to parents, Over the next few weeks, children will spend countless hours taking new tests that have no meaning.  As a parent, I’ve decided that my sixth grade daughter will not be one of them. The new test, called the SBAC in some states and PARCC in others, goes hand-in-hand with the […] The post An Open Letter to Parents from a Connecticut Parent appeared first on Wait What?.

200+ by jonpelto / 7d