Public school teachers, parents and students are in a tough position here. While De Blasio has not been as strong as people hoped - no surprise to many readers of this blog, I imagine - he nevertheless is making some efforts to right the grotesque inequities caused by charter schools, and can safely assumed to be under tremendous pressure by the local Overclass to allow privatization to continue.
Unless we get out into the streets to show that there is a large constituency willing to fight for the public schools, De Blasio will either give in completely or be destroyed. In either case, that could lead to the endgame coming upon us very soon.
Whatever his temporizing and shortcomings, we probably have no choice but to (critically) support him, get active and loud, and show that there is widespread opposition to the takeover of the schools.
I agree completely - sure it would have been nice to see de Blasio cancel all eight of Eva's charters and give the space to traditional public schools, but you can see from the uproar over de Blasio's cancellation of three schools why that wasn't going to happen.
As Michael notes, the corporate forces have mustered a heavy assault against the moderately progressive policies de Blasio has taken on charters and if those of us who support traditional public schools don't get vocal about supporting him on this, we're going to see, as Michael puts it, "De Blasio will either give in completely or be destroyed."
Let me go on record saying, I support de Blasio on this issue, the so-called "war on charters" is a phonied up meme that came out of Eva Moskowitz's public relations office (as I wrote last night), and we need to hit the media over and over for acting as stenographers rather than journalists in covering this story.
Start with WNBC 4 - give them a call and let them know how you are permanently shutting the channel off over their stenography on the Eva issue.
Patrick Walsh also blogged about the chop job they do on his interview with them over the charter co-location issue.
Here's the number:
866-639-7244
It is time to start talking boycott of the media outlets that carry water for the pro-privatization movement.
NBC and Comcast have carried water for the corporate education reform movement for years now, most notably with their Education Nation pro-privatization propaganda fest (literally subsidized by the for profit University of Phoenix) and it is high time they pay an economic and political price for this.
Turn off NBC, cancel any business you do with Comcast and let them know this again and again and again.
I just called NBC to let them know.
You should do it too.
Blog it, tweet it, get the story out there - public school teachers have had ENOUGH of the pro-privatization propaganda spewing from NBC and are taking the action to shut the network OFF.
If Eva Moskowitz can get loud and shrill, so we can - WE SUPPORT BILL DE BLASIO ON THE CHARTER SCHOOL ISSUE.
I saw two commercials last night. I am calling NBC now,
ReplyDeleteGive them a call, write an email and let them know you're calling their sponsors too.
DeleteCalled. Let's get a list together of other venues to contact.
DeleteI can't locate it but was told there was a caricature of DeB on the front page of one of the ny rags (either the post or the daily news). This showed him punching a kid in the head and said that he is bulling charter school children by displacing them.
Pretty sure that was the cover story at the Post - http://nypost.com/2014/02/27/de-blasio-administration-halts-expansion-of-success-academy-charter-schools/
DeleteI will watch tonight and start compiling a list of sponsors. If we work together, we can launch a massive cost free campaign.
ReplyDeleteSounds good. It's important that NBC management hear from some of us, at the very least. Otherwise they won't think twice about carrying Eva's water. They may not anyway, but at least we'll take the actions.
DeleteHe is right. I think it is important to stand with De Blasio on this one. Although I do not believe he went far enough, look at the attack he is recieving from the little progress he made. If we don't stand with him now, pretty soon he will cave completely or get completely destroyed by our awful media.
ReplyDeleteI agree. And it's important to take actions with this - calling and writing and tweeting how slanted that NBC report was is a good start.
DeleteThe other ridiculous bit of spin that Success and the media are way out in front with is that the two elementary schools and the middle school now must be closed / not opened in light of this decision.
ReplyDeleteThe SUNY Charter School Institute application/business plan demands that granted charters be opened, period, whether the school/network has to pay for rent or get free space. Anyone who can't fulfill that promise if they have to pay for space should not be granted a charter, and if these schools close/do not open, it is 100% on Success, not the DOE or de Blasio.
The NY Post has a number of articles and opinion pieces on the mayor's so-called war on charters. After 2 of them, there is room for comments. I am a retired assistant p. who is fed up with the Post's handling of the subject. I wrote a comment that said Bloomberg's staff made serious errors in assigning elementary school children to a school that houses high school students. They made the mistake because they had no idea what it is like in a public high school. The mayor was simply correcting serious errors of judgment made by inexperienced Bloomberg staffers. I also said that Moskowitz should join with the group of charters that plan to work with the mayor and chancellor for the sake of all NYC students. HOWEVER, more people should leave comments. They may not show mine, or yours, but it at least shows the Post that there are people who support the mayor.
ReplyDeleteI just saw a charter school commercial on ABC.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you RBE.
ReplyDeleteI also think, even though his critcs are saying it is not enough...sometimes when you are about to approach enemy war lines, its best to keep your enemies close and kill them with kindness.
I think more is coming, but they are starting slowly. They have a big political corporation machine to fight against.
Ads are on CBS too.
ReplyDeleteI just emailed my State assemblyman, senator and Shelly Silver to tell them I support De Blasio's stand on charters. It only took a few minutes and I think everybody should do it to counteract the show Eva and her allies are going to put on in Albany.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the way we are stuck supporting Ianuzzi mostly because he is not Mulgrew's puppet...
ReplyDelete