Joe Williams' Blog
What If The 'Have-A-Little-Want-More's' Want Better Public Schools?
Wouldn't Saul Alinsky suggest that is when the cover blows off this whole education reform thing? The 'Have's' don't care because their kids are in awesome/precious/high achieving private schools. The 'Have Nots' sometimes care, but we live in a world where the rest of us are (incredibly) relatively comfortable with the 'Have Nots' crappy education options, especially if it means keeping those kids out of our 'good' schools, i.e. "Keep those dirty NCLB kids out of my kid's wonderful public school!"
But what about when the middle- and upper-middle class decides that paying all these taxes for mediocre (at best) public schools for their kids is pure lunacy? What happens when the stroller set decides that they, too, are sick and tired of being sick and tired?
What happens when parents in comfortable pockets of cities like New York, and Boston, and Los Angeles, and Washington, etc. figure out that their kids aren't getting as good an education as the kids attending high-performing public charter schools in the ghetto?
Writing in today's Daily News, former TFA'er Siobhan Sheils takes up the issue:
Charter schools in wealthier neighborhoods make sense to just about everyone, except - you guessed it - the teachers unions. Sure, the United Federation of Teachers is technically on board with the movement - even founding two of its own charter schools.
But while it's virtually impossible at this point for unions to oppose successful charters in places like the South Bronx and Harlem, the politics of charters in richer, whiter neighborhoods can be far more complicated. Parents who are living comfortably aren't supposed to need an "out" from the existing system. But the numbers suggest they do.
Those of us who support good public schools should want them for everyone. Brooklyn Prospect and others that follow in its footsteps could mark a serious shift in the charter school movement. And it's happening not a moment too soon.
Someone should ask the elected officials in places like Park Slope what is stopping them from backing these kinds of quality public schools from sprouting there.
Posted by Joe Williams on November 5, 2007 9:48 AM
Bronx Teachers Go All Joe Torre On Bonus Plan
Teachers at PS 196 in the Bronx, before even finding out whether their school would be included in the schoolwide performance-based bonus plan announced a few weeks ago, voted to reject the approximately $3,000 in additional pay for teachers if the school's performance improves. The NY Post has the story here.
The sentiment, which other bloggers have compared to what Joe Torre went through when the Yankees offered him a contract extension built largely on performance incentives, is that teachers are already working their asses off and that dangling money in front of them isn't going to change things, that it is insulting, etc.
I get that. Honestly. I got it when Joe Torre decided to stick it to The Man, and I get what these teachers are saying about how they are already working hard.
But just remember that this whole discussion is taking place in an era of labor peace in NYC schools. When the UFT wants a contract, all you hear about is how good teachers are leaving because they can get a few bucks more elsewhere. Over and over. Why not show some love to the teachers who are on effective turn-around teams?
We're talking about $3,000. It isn't enough to really suggest that teachers in these schools are just doing it for the money. But why not recognize quality and achievement for once?
Posted by Joe Williams on November 5, 2007 9:29 AM
November 3, 2007
Did He Really Say That?
I'm actually assuming the reporter is paraphrasing in a way that is not fair, but who knows? The local Fox station in Washington has a web version of a story summarizing the latest battle over Chancellor Michelle Rhee's attempts to get legislative permission to actually supervise the educrats who work for her.
They have this paragraph included:
Washington Teachers' Union vice president Nathan Saunders says money should be used to serve children, not to fire administrators.
Come on! There's no way he said something that asinine!
Posted by Joe Williams on November 3, 2007 6:28 PM
November 1, 2007
NEA to Congress: Comply or Perish
The powerful National Education Association is giving members of Congress until the close of business on Nov. 16th to sign on as official co-sponsors of the union's favorite accountability-busting bills to amend the No Child Left Behind Act, according to letters sent yesterday to members of the House and Senate.
If they aren't listed as co-sponsors by the time Congressional staffers are on their second beer of the evening (official close of business?) it will adversely impact their rating on the NEA Report Card for the session. Getting placed on the NEA's "naughty congressman list" will obviously play a role determining future support from the union.
What ever happened to support for multiple measures? Isn't it cruel/unfair to hold a Legislator accountable for the results of a single test? Basing someone's job status on a test score? Shouldn't we allow for voting growth models, for Congressmen who aren't totally there yet but making praiseworthy progress? Holding non-English speaking electeds to the same standard? Etc.
You get what I mean.
Text of the bully-letter to Congress-folks after the jump.
Do you think the NEA lobbyists considered unleashing an even greater threat, like, "If you don't sign on as a co-sponsor, we're going to plant Reg Weaver out on your front lawn with his guitar to sing that solidarity forever song until you break down once and for all and sign!"??? Boom! Longest list of co-sponsors in American history, guaranteed!
UPDATE: The long list of NEA-endorsed NCLB-related bills (referred to in the letter on the jump) is here.
Continue reading "NEA to Congress: Comply or Perish"....
Posted by Joe Williams on November 1, 2007 2:21 PM
October 31, 2007
Belated Boston Beatitudes
I sent this email today to the folks who attended our recent Beantown Democrats for Education Reform Happy Hour:
OK, so I waited until after your beloved Bo Sox brought home the trophy before I sent out this thank you for joining us at our recent Boston area DFER Happy Hour. Your dedication to education reform/politics (on a rainy night when the Red Sox were playing and there was no parking near the bar) was inspiring!
I wanted to alert you in advance that Democrats for Education Reform will be one of the co-sponsors (along with the Massachusetts Charter Schools Association and the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools for a Boston panel discussion on Democrats and Charter Schools on Dec. 11. I'll get you the details as soon as I have them, but mark your celandars. (It will likely be in the morning.)
In the mean time, please make sure you sign our on-line petition so that we can show Democratic Party leaders that there are good Dems who care about quality schooling! You can sign the petition at http://www.dfer.org/petition/. Neighbors, spouses, colleagues, parents, lovers, etc. are encouraged to sign on as well!
Thanks!
Joe Williams
Democrats for Education Reform
Posted by Joe Williams on October 31, 2007 3:00 PM
California Charter Force
My friend Gary Larson emailed from California to report that the state set a record this year for the most new public charter schools to open. This fall, 103 charter schools were considered new charter schools, with 89 charter schools opening their doors for the first time. In addition, 14 new charter schools were considered by the California Department of Education new, since they were ‘re-designations’ of previously chartered schools under new state authorizing rules.
Man. Where I live it takes years to open that many charter schools. I have taken some heat on this blog for noting how uninspiring a couple of cute little charter schools can be when we're faced with such a massive systemic education problem.
California seems to get it, and they also get that without playing politics (hardball politics) you never, ever make a dent.
Note: Operators of cute little charter schools can complain about this post at joewilliams-at-dfer.org. Show me that you have enough fire in the belly to do it!
Posted by Joe Williams on October 31, 2007 1:43 PM
October 30, 2007
AFT John's Sage Advice
Over at the AFT blog, John (in the comments section) advises readers that while it is fine not to click on the links in his posts, "always -- always -- click on Michele's."
Very true.
Full disclosure: I always- always - click on Michele's links in her posts and I am never-ever disappointed.
Additional note: A friend who works at the AFT once remarked that whenever I have anything nice to say about the AFT, there is always a back-handed slap at the NEA. Please note that this post didn't have one until now. And you practically dared me to do it! But how is this: Notice how the AFT is capable of having a sense of humor? When is the last time you interacted with people from the NEA where you didn't walk away feeling utterly depressed? And no, this You Tube clip of Reg Weaver playing guitar doesn't count!!!!!
Posted by Joe Williams on October 30, 2007 4:47 PM
