Comments on: Oregonian endorses Gonzalez http://ppsequity.org/2008/08/25/oregonian-endorses-gonzalez/ Covering the beat of Portland Public Schools Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:00:36 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Steve Buel http://ppsequity.org/2008/08/25/oregonian-endorses-gonzalez/comment-page-1/#comment-7247 Steve Buel Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:32:30 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=144#comment-7247 It is interesting to note that every member of the school board, including Dan Ryan, ran on a "strengthening neighborhood schools" platform. And they did strengthen THEIR supporters' neighborhood schools. So it wasn't a lie, right? It is interesting to note that every member of the school board, including Dan Ryan, ran on a “strengthening neighborhood schools” platform. And they did strengthen THEIR supporters’ neighborhood schools. So it wasn’t a lie, right?

]]> By: Terry http://ppsequity.org/2008/08/25/oregonian-endorses-gonzalez/comment-page-1/#comment-7234 Terry Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:10:03 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=144#comment-7234 One of the "leading educational reformers" mentioned in Anne's Wiretap link is Adrian Fenty, the Mayor of Washington D.C. who took control of the city's schools and hired Michelle Rhee as district chancellor. As I've written <a href="http://joesschool.blogs.com/olsononline/2008/07/pps-board-isnt-all-bad-it-didnt-hire-michelle-rhee.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>, Rhee is anti-union and pro-charter school, and totally consumed with closing the "achievement gap." Another is John King, founder of a pro-charter school organization called "Uncommon Schools." King has set out to challenge and undermine Horace Mann's "common school" ideal, a pillar of American democracy. These are the so-called "respected" reformers who seek to influence "Democratic" Party policy. The irony apparently eludes them. I'm writing a post on this outrageous assault on democracy right now. One of the “leading educational reformers” mentioned in Anne’s Wiretap link is Adrian Fenty, the Mayor of Washington D.C. who took control of the city’s schools and hired Michelle Rhee as district chancellor. As I’ve written here, Rhee is anti-union and pro-charter school, and totally consumed with closing the “achievement gap.”

Another is John King, founder of a pro-charter school organization called “Uncommon Schools.” King has set out to challenge and undermine Horace Mann’s “common school” ideal, a pillar of American democracy.

These are the so-called “respected” reformers who seek to influence “Democratic” Party policy. The irony apparently eludes them.

I’m writing a post on this outrageous assault on democracy right now.

]]> By: anon http://ppsequity.org/2008/08/25/oregonian-endorses-gonzalez/comment-page-1/#comment-7216 anon Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:29:18 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=144#comment-7216 Anne T, I think the only way to take this issue back is to take it to the courts. Racism, classism, and individualism are too pervasive right now to get a large enough movement of Portlanders to support changes that would reverse segregationist policies and give all kids access to a quality education. And the power brokers will always be able to find at least one Latino proponent of school choice or African American charter school supporter to help deflect criticism of school segregation and privatization policies. What is happening in Portland Public Schools is immoral and illegal but without a court ruling there is not enough public or political will to stop it. Figuring out how to "define the argument" to change public opinion just isn't going to do it. Anne T,
I think the only way to take this issue back is to take it to the courts. Racism, classism, and individualism are too pervasive right now to get a large enough movement of Portlanders to support changes that would reverse segregationist policies and give all kids access to a quality education. And the power brokers will always be able to find at least one Latino proponent of school choice or African American charter school supporter to help deflect criticism of school segregation and privatization policies. What is happening in Portland Public Schools is immoral and illegal but without a court ruling there is not enough public or political will to stop it. Figuring out how to “define the argument” to change public opinion just isn’t going to do it.

]]> By: Anne T. http://ppsequity.org/2008/08/25/oregonian-endorses-gonzalez/comment-page-1/#comment-7151 Anne T. Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:30:10 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=144#comment-7151 In her last public speech before she died, Coretta Scott King spoke out against privatization of schools. But her words have been lost in the big lies of NCLB. Now charters, union-busting, and school choice are seen as the solution to the achievement gap. How do those who understand that the undermining of public education is not the road to educational equity define the argument? We have a long way to go. I just read this story on WireTap, a "progressive" on line magazine produced by youth. It promotes attacking teacher's rights as the way to improve education. http://www.wiretapmag.org/blogs/education/43708 Would love to hear from readers of this blog, how we take this issue back. In her last public speech before she died, Coretta Scott King spoke out against privatization of schools. But her words have been lost in the big lies of NCLB. Now charters, union-busting, and school choice are seen as the solution to the achievement gap.
How do those who understand that the undermining of public education is not the road to educational equity define the argument? We have a long way to go. I just read this story on WireTap, a “progressive” on line magazine produced by youth. It promotes attacking teacher’s rights as the way to improve education.
http://www.wiretapmag.org/blogs/education/43708
Would love to hear from readers of this blog, how we take this issue back.

]]> By: Terry http://ppsequity.org/2008/08/25/oregonian-endorses-gonzalez/comment-page-1/#comment-7142 Terry Tue, 26 Aug 2008 02:24:54 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=144#comment-7142 I like that slogan, Joe Hill -- restore neighborhood schools. That's what this is all about, isn't it? All students, especially at the elementary level, should be able to walk to their neighborhood schools. That's the way it was once upon a time when I was in school. What happened? The "market" insinuated itself into education. The notion of community and the common good took a back seat to "every family for itself", and tough luck to those kids without supportive or even halfway functional families. I like that slogan, Joe Hill — restore neighborhood schools. That’s what this is all about, isn’t it?

All students, especially at the elementary level, should be able to walk to their neighborhood schools. That’s the way it was once upon a time when I was in school.

What happened? The “market” insinuated itself into education. The notion of community and the common good took a back seat to “every family for itself”, and tough luck to those kids without supportive or even halfway functional families.

]]> By: joe hill http://ppsequity.org/2008/08/25/oregonian-endorses-gonzalez/comment-page-1/#comment-7133 joe hill Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:19:43 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=144#comment-7133 It's clear that the fix is in here - it's been clear since the beginning. But that makes it very important to take this seat and the other two seats in the next election. We need to field a slate of candidates who can run on the message you've articulated above - no more disinvestment in Portland's poorer neighborhood schools. Or simply: restore neighborhood schools. It’s clear that the fix is in here – it’s been clear since the beginning. But that makes it very important to take this seat and the other two seats in the next election. We need to field a slate of candidates who can run on the message you’ve articulated above – no more disinvestment in Portland’s poorer neighborhood schools. Or simply: restore neighborhood schools.

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