Today Diane Ravitch’s new book Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America’s Public Schools becomes available to the general public. Ravitch uses the book to explore the various “reform” issues that public schools in America have been forced to deal with. She uses data to explain the destructive nature of such reforms and then poses real solutions to the problems with our schools.
Below is a list of some of the many reviews available…
Last week PJSTA President Beth Dimino and I had the opportunity to attend the first stop on Ravitch’s book tour in Manhattan. Ed Notes Online’s Norm Scott recorded the session.
In the coming days the PJSTA will be announcing the book group that we will be hosting to discuss Ravitch’s book. Anyone is welcome to attend: Teachers, administrators, parents, high school students, or people from outside our community. Flyers will be distributed with information. Additionally a blog post with details will be forthcoming.
Last week, on the first day of school, Senator Flanagan, no friend of education, and NYSED Commissioner John King, who should be fired, visited Hauppauge Middle School and Pines Elementary School together. The purpose of their visit was to see how well their plans to destroy public education are progressing “observe classes and facilities and talk with students and faculty.”
“I was impressed with the school, where you have an energetic, committed principal [and] teachers who are clearly committed to kids’ success,” King said following his visit to Hauppauge Middle School.
I wonder how many of those teachers who were “energetic” and “committed” got “ineffective” growth scores according to King’s plan? Even the most “energetic” and “committed” can be rated “ineffective” under King’s plan, given the fact that figuring out a growth score is akin to playing “Pin the Tale on the Donkey”.
King, a former history teacher himself, said he was thrilled to see such an engaging experience in which one of the two teachers was dressed in historical attire while discussing public policy issues with his students.
While I am sure it was a great lesson, I wish the teacher was empowered enough to facilitate a lesson where the students could ask the Commissioner and Senator why they were selling their education to the highest bidder. It’s irritating to see teachers putting on a dog and pony show for these phonies rather than standing up for their profession and using the opportunity to explain to King and Flanagan how destructive their policies are to students and teachers. I can’t understand how any public school in New York State makes itself a welcoming place for John King.
“That’s exactly what Common Core is looking for us to do,” Fletcher said. “To pull experiences together instead of learning in little chunks. It’s really looking for bigger ideas and asking kids to make connections to other things.”
It’s also bothersome when you see administrators who simply act as a shill for people like King, who are seeking to destroy their profession. It would be refreshing if more administrators were as courageous as superintendent Joe Rella and principal Carol Burris.
“It was great to hear their excitement about school,” King said. “They were excited about school, about specific classes, about technology class. … That’s always nice to see, when kids are really engaged with school. I could also see how the enrichment activities matter a lot to them, whether the thing they’re most excited about is sports … or music. We’ve got to make sure we protect those things in all of our schools.”
It’s comical to believe that King would make this statement when his unfunded mandate policies are forcing districts to gut these very programs.
Remember, today is the first of Flanagan’s four “public” hearings throughout the State. He has an “invite only” list of people who will be allowed to speak at these meetings. If you want your voice to be heard, be sure to submit your written testimony. Otherwise, Flanagan and the people who agree with him will be the only opinions heard. In the coming months, we will provide you with other opportunities to let Senator Flanagan hear your voice.
The New York Post made me smile this morning (didn’t think I’d ever utter those words together) with this article, claiming that if elected mayor Bill de Blasio is going to be a problem for our God awful governor. Particularly appealing is the supposed stance de Blasio will take against charter schools. Color me skeptical, given the fact that every politician of prominence tends to cave to school deformers like Cuomo. Still it’s nice to dream.
Our friends at the MORE Caucus have begun to circulate a petition calling for a moratorium on the new teacher evaluation system in New York City. The PJSTA stands in solidarity with our brothers and sisters from MORE and opposes any teacher evaluation system based upon standardized test scores. Please take a moment to sign their petition. To read a bit about their evaluation system click here.
Just a reminder that every PJSTA member should be writing their letters to Senator John Flanagan. To recap, Flanagan, whose top campaign contributor last year was Michelle Rhee‘s Students Last First with a contribution of $10,300, is the head of the New York State Senate’s Education Committee. He is holding hearings around the state to inform his committee about how the education “reforms” are working. You know, the ones based on junk science? The ones that are leading Governor Cuomo to put schools on death row? Those “reforms”. The hearings are by “invite only”. Guess who isn’t invited? That’s right, real teachers. However, we can submit written testimony. Any written testimony must become part of the permanent record and all members of the committee will receive copies of it. Therefore we can make our voices heard in that manner. It is important that we all participate in this action and encourage our friends to do the same. To download a form letter for submission visit Students, Not Scores! After you finish your letter please give it to a building rep.
Finally, at a recent Rhee town hall event a student had this to say…
Today Diane Ravitch’s new book Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America’s Public Schools becomes available to the general public. Ravitch uses the book to explore the various “reform” issues that public schools in America have been forced to deal with. She uses data to explain the destructive nature of such reforms and then poses real solutions to the problems with our schools.
The Offical Website of the PJSTA 
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