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Monday, October 19, 2015

Eva Moskowitz Demands Apology by PBS and John Merrow | Diane Ravitch's blog

Eva Moskowitz Demands Apology by PBS and John Merrow | Diane Ravitch's blog:

Eva Moskowitz Demands Apology by PBS and John Merrow




I just saw this press release:
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, OCTOBER 19, 2015**
Contact:
Ann Powell, 646-894-6407
Ann.Powell@successacademies.org

EVA MOSKOWITZ DEMANDS APOLOGY FROM PBS NEWSHOUR FOR INACCURATE REPORTING
Veteran Reporter John Merrow Violates Journalism Ethics with Biased Report,
Denies Success Academy Fair Response to Allegations

New York, NY — Today, Eva Moskowitz, Success Academy CEO, released a copy of a letter sent via email to Judy Woodruff of PBS NewsHour, demanding a correction and apology for inaccurate and biased reporting by John Merrow in his segment, “Is Kindergarten Too Young to Suspend a Student.” The letter, sent on Friday, October 16, details Merrow’s willful disregard for journalistic ethics and refusal to allow Success Academy to respond to false allegations of a former parent and student, who represent that the student was suspended for not tucking in his shirt and wearing red shoes and “losing his temper.” Later in the report, Merrow alleges that Success Academy students were suspended for getting up to “go look at the bulletin board.”
The letter to Woodruff includes email exchanges between Moskowitz and Merrow, wherein she asserts her right to hear and rebut the parent’s allegations against Success Academy. Merrow refuses, responding that he “would not air unsubstantiated allegations” and “her role is limited and should not be cause for concern on your part,” an overt lie in view of the finished segment.
Merrow further misrepresents Success Academy as having high attrition rates when in fact the popular charter school network does a far better job of retaining students than the city’s district schools.
Full letter is posted here: http://bit.ly/1ODDmJ4