Brad Lander: NYC Schools: Democratic Public Education, or Corporate Widget-Maker?

Brad Lander: NYC Schools: Democratic Public Education, or Corporate Widget-Maker?

Brad Lander

Member, NY City Council

Posted: November 11, 2010 03:23 PM

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NYC Schools: Democratic Public Education, or Corporate Widget-Maker?

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Read More: Cathie Black , Joel Klein , Michael Bloomberg , New York City Department Of Education , New York State Board Of Regents , Public Schools , Schools Chancellor Waiver , New York News

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Mike Bloomberg's nomination of Cathie Black as schools chancellor is not only a bad personnel move. It is a symbol of a critical choice we are facing: Are our public schools a place to educate well-rounded citizens for the New York City of tomorrow? Or are they the junior academy of corporate America, oriented around test-taking and the bottom line?

The selection of Ms. Black is, of course, a bad personnel move. I'd like to feel inspired by her substantial business success in the male-dominated world of publishing. But she's totally unqualified for this job, with no background in education, no track record of public service, and no commitment to public education (she herself went to parochial schools, and she sends her children to a private boarding school).

Mayor Bloomberg's secret "selection process" -- in which he apparently considered no other candidates, and never conducted a public search -- itself reeks of contempt for democracy. We

This Week In Education: Thompson: An Education Plan for a Novice NYC Chancellor

This Week In Education: Thompson: An Education Plan for a Novice NYC Chancellor

Thompson: An Education Plan for a Novice NYC Chancellor

by john thompson

In the Huffington Post, John Merrow asked for a plan to help Catherine Black, a 66 year old public education novice, to "transform the city's schools into 21st Century institutions, places where students learn to ask questions, not simply regurgitate answers." Step #1 is to keep hiring non-educators as chancellor. Then, after non-stop test prep fails, New York City's leader can continue to proclaim in good conscience that transformational

Queens Teacher: Eva Moskowitz Says UFT Prevents Schools from Being Great

Queens Teacher: Eva Moskowitz Says UFT Prevents Schools from Being Great

Eva Moskowitz Says UFT Prevents Schools from Being Great

by Queens Teacher

Eva Moskowitz was asked, "What should Cathie Black do when she becomes NYC's schools chancellor?"


Her response:

Eva Moskowitz, founder and CEO, Success Charter Network:

"Give great principals and talented teachers the freedom to run

NYC Public School Parents: Please sign the NYC Kids PAC petition on Cathie Black

NYC Public School Parents: Please sign the NYC Kids PAC petition on Cathie Black

Please sign the NYC Kids PAC petition on Cathie Black

by Leonie Haimson

Wow! It sure has been an interesting couple of days. Lots of news and commentary on Klein's resignation and the Mayor's appointment of Cathie Black to replace him. On the disappointing Klein legacy, I was quoted inthe AP, the Times, NY1, am NY, Education Week,NBC News, and elsewhere.

I was personally attacked by the NY Post, and by Joel Klein on NY1 last night. When confronted with my quote from the Times, Klein called me a "propagandist" with an "agenda" (see video clip, starting at 2:30 minutes in.) Yes, I do have an agenda: for smaller classes and better schools for our kids.

There has also been much controversy and criticism of the mayor's appointment of Cathie Black, a publishing executive to succeed Klein. See the front page of the Daily News (below), this Times story and and thesearticles on our blog. Parents and elected officials alike have pointed out that Ms. Black sent her own children to private schools and has no education background, except for serving on the advisory board of a charter school.

Given her lack of education experience and qualifications, Ms. Black needs a waiver from the State Commissioner to be appointed chancellor.

Please sign the NYC Kids PAC petition, to urge the Commissioner to deny her a waiver. As soon as you sign it, the petition automatically sends an email in your name to the Commissioner Steiner, to the Board of Regents, and your state legislators,. Even if you have signed other petitions, please sign this one now, since it has an immediate impact.

The mayor would never dare appoint a magazine executive to head the police or fire departments. Leading the largest school system in the country needs just as much expertise, if not more. Only an educator is likely to recognize the necessary elements of a quality education, and how to work effectively with parents, teachers, and members of the community to create them. No matter what skills Ms. Black may have as a corporate manager, she simply has no idea what our children really need to succeed. We have had nine long years of a non-educator; it is time for a change.

Please also forward the petition link to your friends, and post it on your Facebook page. Here's hoping for better days!

Shanker Blog » GDP: Government, Democracy, Prosperity

Shanker Blog » GDP: Government, Democracy, Prosperity

GDP: Government, Democracy, Prosperity

by Randall Garton

Public spending has been under relentless attack in the U.S. since before President Ronald Reagan first took office. The notion that “shrinking government” grows the economy, builds character and may even save our immortal souls is now one of the verities of our political discourse: public=bad; private=good. Indeed, it was the central belief uniting Tea Party members during this year’s campaign. Research and experience don’t support this conviction, but here we are.

The massive government spending that was deployed to push the economy back from the brink of depression has aggravated the always inflamed passions on this issue. With red lights flashing and sirens wailing, anti-spending Tea Party-backed politicians are now riding to Washington to slay – or at least rein in – the beast of

Bowles and Simpson Go Education Snipping

Bowles and Simpson Go Education Snipping

by FORREST HINTON on NOVEMBER 11, 2010

in UNCATEGORIZED

Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson, co-chairs of President Obama’s fiscal commission, have released a first-draft proposal of their recommendations for bringing the federal deficit under control in the decades to come. Here are the three (or four) recommendations that could have the greatest impact on K-12 and higher education (I’ve pulled these from a draft document published by reporters at Talking Points Memo):

1. Save $1.8 billion by eliminating the Office of Safe & Drug Free Schools.According the co-chairs, “…the results hoped for in creation of the Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools have not been demonstrated.” They also note that children are more likely to experience violence outside of schools and that drug use is higher in other places.

2. Eliminate all earmarks. According to the co-chairs, “There have been significant strides in bringing the system of earmarking under control and into the sunlight. In FY2010, Congress approved more than 9,000 earmarks costing taxpayers at least $16 billion. Earmarks are not competitively bid and are not subject to accountability metrics.”

3. Eliminate administrative fees paid to schools for student aid programs.According to the co-chairs, colleges participating in campus-based aid programs, like Federal Work Study, as well as colleges whose students receive funding from

The Original Inhabitants of Crazy Town | Intercepts

The Original Inhabitants of Crazy Town | Intercepts

The Original Inhabitants of Crazy Town

by Mike Antonucci

It’s with some amusement that I read the overheated debate about abolishing the U.S. Department of Education. For one thing, there is a vast difference between those who want to eliminate the federal role in education, and those who want to return ED to its former home in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. But since neither of those things is going to happen, I guess it doesn’t matter if they are lumped together.

On the other hand, there are those who think getting rid of ED would “destroy public education as we know it,” and that those abolitionists are “strange bedfellows in Crazy Town.” This attitude only demonstrates the hopelessness of the task. If talk of eliminating or downgrading a Cabinet department is beyond the pale, maybe the Postmaster General should should be returned to his spot.

Since the argument is academic, I thought I would engage in some academics. I dug up Public Law 96-88, theDepartment of Education Organization Act of 1979. This is the federal statute that created the U.S. Department

Country Joe McDonald - "Feel Like I'm Fixing To Die"

Schools Matter: Ren2010: a Model of Parent/Teacher/Public Involvement?

Schools Matter: Ren2010: a Model of Parent/Teacher/Public Involvement?

Ren2010: a Model of Parent/Teacher/Public Involvement?

by Kenneth Libby

DFER's Joe Williams opines on the appointment of Black in the NY Post:

New York City's public schools are dramatically better today than they were eight years ago, in large part thanks to the tireless work of Chancellor Joel Klein. But there's still a long way to go, and the city needs its next chancellor, Cathie Black, to chart a clear path forward, and quickly.

If Black wants to finish what Chancellor Klein started, she must work to make parents, teachers and the public feel invested in the process.

Chicago's Renaissance 2010 plan is an excellent example of this: It let the city's leaders explain to

NYC Public School Parents: Out of Mike’s League

NYC Public School Parents: Out of Mike’s League

Out of Mike’s League

November 11, 2010 (GBN News): The abrupt resignation of NY City Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, and Mayor Bloomberg’s surprise choice of his successor, Cathleen Black, has led to rampant speculation as to the real story behind these moves. But GBN News has learned that the reason for the change was actually quite simple, and it came down to money.

“The Mayor was never really comfortable with the Chancellor”, a source close to the Mayor told GBN News, on condition of anonymity. “To put it very plainly, Joel wasn’t rich enough. There’s a qualitative difference between the very wealthy and the merely well off. Joel just wasn’t in the same class.”

“Mike feels that the most important quality in a Chancellor is empathy,” the official went on to say. “He wanted someone who can relate to him, who knows what it’s like to be in the trenches. A person who understands the tough decisions parents have to make, like, ‘Do we send the kids to a prestigious boarding school, or to that exclusive private school in town?’ Joel never had to make a choice like that – for someone of his limited means, it was private school or nothing.”

Cal State University Faculty Statement on “Fees” Vs. “Tuition” | California Progress Report

Cal State University Faculty Statement on “Fees” Vs. “Tuition” | California Progress Report

Cal State University Faculty Statement on “Fees” Vs. “Tuition”

by christine

By Lillian Taiz
California Faculty Association

Words matter. Everyone knows it's true, even though some would deny it.

That is why a little item on the agenda at the California State University Trustees meeting this week jumped out at those of us who believe that our state university is an investment in the future by making sure higher education is available to every Californian who can benefit from it.

That agenda item notified the Trustees and the public that the CSU Chancellor plans to issue an executive order that student "fees" charged to attend the CSU henceforth shall be known as "tuition."

read more

Legislative Analyst Office Report Projects State Budget Deficit Next Year at $25.4 Billion

by christine

By Mary Omoto
California Disability Community Action Network

The Legislature’s chief budget analyst – the non-partisan Legislative Analyst Office (LAO), released a report yesterday that projects that California’s budget deficit will swell to $25.4 billion by the end of the 2011-2012 State Budget year that will likely mean more sweeping spending cuts to major state programs next year. It will also likely mean a special session of the Legislature early next year to take steps to confront the crisis.

The Legislative Analyst, in its report said that “…we estimate that the Legislature and the new Governor will have to address a budget problem of $25 billion between now and the time that they agree to a 2011–12 state budget plan” and projects on-going budget deficits for the State of at least $20 billion through 2016 unless “corrective” action is taken by the Governor and Legislature.

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Gang Injunctions: An Important Tool Protecting Our Communities

by christine

By Assemblymember Mike Davis

Gang activity and violence is a major problem plaguing our communities. On a daily basis young men are gunned downed or stabbed by dueling gangs. Innocent bystanders are also often caught in this crossfire. It is not uncommon to hear of children, even infants, being fatally struck by stray bullets from the guns of gang members.

According to a 2009 report by the Violence Policy Center, 32.7 percent of homicides in California are gang related. Furthermore, the largest percentage of male homicide victims (37.5 percent) are victims of gang-related homicides.

Gangs typically take over neighborhoods exerting power and control over several blocks of a city. Within their “territory,” gang members extort from businesses (for “protection”), steal cars, deal drugs, and run prostitution schemes. Make no mistake, residents live under the authority of these gangs. Crimes occur within eye sight but individuals are intimidated and scared into remaining silent.

read more