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Here Comes the Train!
by Todd Alan Price
With the Milwaukee Public Schools takeover looming, here's a quick test:
Does mayoral takeover really improve student achievement, as proponents claim?
How does local democracy fare?
What was Secretary of Education Arne Duncan doing in Milwaukee, last June 4th?
Answers: No. Poorly. and Playing let's make a deal.
Consider New York City and Bloomberg's mayoral takeover. Legend has it that, since then, test scores have risen, yet critics from left to right argue in politics as in life, looks and statistics can be deceiving. Both Gerald Bracey and Diane Ravitch adamantly oppose mayoral takeovers. Yet Al Sharpton and Newt Gingrich celebrate mayoral takeover.
Is anyone keeping score?
I decided to interview a Milwaukee resident to get another opinion. Ursula, an Alverno College, political science major, attended the Creative Arts Elementary School, Roosevelt Middle, the Milwaukee Theatre of the Arts High School, and resides on the South Side:
"My dad is a public school teacher, my mom works at a community based Milwaukee healthcare facility. I've spent my entire life in Milwaukee. . ."
To her, mayoral takeover is less than meets the eye
"I'm spending time working with NYC national youth organizations. Bloomberg's takeover is recognized by the media as a success; yet if you talk with a lot of New Yorkers, most will say 'its not working', parents do not have access. ELL Students have classes in staircases, there's overcrowding. Parents ask . . . 'how do we hold this system accountable'? Due to mayoral takeover, parents have lost control over education. There is no way to make up for an elected school board. . ."
Parents in NYC boroughs must, if they have a concern, travel far outside their neighborhood to engage city officials. Gone are local school councils, newly constituted Educational Management Organizations take their place. And the result?
"Disenfranchisement. Parents are drifting away, not able to be involved in their child's education; there's no accountability. Lack of democracy in an appointed board can only create a parallel system of separation of parents from their children's education."
These families already reside in "areas that are historically disenfranchised."
Concerned citizens, like Ursula, are pushing back.
"There are no organizers in this process, just community members who are highly invested in the community."
Contrary to the reactionary media and pandering of state politicians who, while blaming MPS, fail once again to fix school funding, Ursula sticks up for her community:
"What we in Milwaukee want is better funding for our schools. We have a diverse and excellent group of people on our school board, academically and in life. The problems in MPS are broader, it's due to social conditions, but the major problem is the consistent defunding of our district."
In a letter provided by MPS President Michael Bonds, the Mayor made him an offer, to sit on the newly constituted board.
IF the current board is so incompetent, Ursula wondered,
"Why would the mayor offer a new position to the sitting president?"
Good question.
— Todd Alan Price
Garvey Blog
2009-08-21
http://www.fightingbob.com/weblog.cfm?postID=3077#letters
INDEX OF OUTRAGES
Pages: 380
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