What a whirlwind couple of days it has been!

Tonight, I had the pleasure to listen to Diane Ravitch speak at my alma mater Purchase College and yesterday I got to read this written by Juan Gonzalez and see how Governor Andy really operates.

Really, is anyone surprised?

This man has accepted, taken, pocketed, call it what you wish, $4.8 million from hedge fund managers as they lobby Governor Andy to see it there way and raise the cap on charter schools in New York State.

Remember last year when Cuomo threw DeBlasio under the bus in regards to limiting Success Academy's co-locations? It just so happens that a pal of Eva's,  the Chairman of the Board of Success Academy, Daniel Loeb, has "given $62,000 to Cuomo." ***COUGH COUGH*** Something smells fishy here. ***COUGH COUGH***

Would it not behoove our better judgement to believe that the same hedge fund managers that Juan Gonzalez mentioned in in column have also deeply--as well as softly--whispered in Governor Andy's ear to change tenure to five years, base 50% of evals on tests, incorporate the stupid 35% eval on an outside entity, and all the other craziness Governor Andy has proposed?

How can we as teachers compete against Governor Andy and $4.8 million?

That's what we thought at an emergency meeting of The Crack Team which was convened last night at the Candlelight Inn in the Edgemont section of Greenburgh. 

We put our heads together. We had to come up with a way to grab Governor Andy's attention and be assured he gives us what we want in the same method the hedgies have co-opted him. But, and we all agreed, $4.8 million is somewhat out of the reach of ordinary teachers.

So we had to improvise, adapt, and overcome.

We came up with some great ideas. For instance a great idea was sending a Hickory Farms gift basket to the Executive Mansion. Or perhaps a Vermont Teddy Bear, or a dozen red roses (We nixed that, we thought he might get the wrong idea), some Omaha Steaks, or some nice jewelry from Kay.

But when it came down to following through we just couldn't Yes, Govcrnor Andy would be appreciative of such gifts, but they are just gifts. As we collectively rubbed our chins we had to think what is it that would get all the teachers of New York State into his office.

We figured it out. Cold. Hard. Cash. In small bills equaling $4.8 million.

Yes, that is what it will take, we believe, for Governor Andy to leave the Dark Side and do what the teachers and families of New York State want.

So The Crack Team has set up a Go FundMe page and between today and March 30 we hope to raise $4.8 million for Governor Andy's PACs. If we do not raise the money it will be returned or if the giver wishes, donated to charity.

Donations are to be only $1. We want to ensure all New Yorkers to contribute.

Let's do this for Andy. He needs us more than ever. 

So today is the day all the votes for the new contract must be in. The ballots have been checked, the envelopes licked and sealed, and the UFT telling us the sky will fall if we don't ratify this contract.

Yes, we'll have to get to the back of the line if we fail to ratify this contract. Well, if it means getting behind the NYPD's Sergeants Benevolent Association (Which is claiming the city has a $4.1 billion surplus!) then we here at SBSB are all for being at the end of the line. Seems the SBA has some guts.

But there is another reality that just might be plausible enough if the contract does not get ratified.

Is it possible that if the contract does not get ratified that Governor Andy swoops in and saves the day with the money to pay the retro immediately (or at least a big chunk of it) and to give us that 8% raise now instead of five years from now?

If you think about it this might not seem to far fetched.

Andy has aspirations on becoming president in 2016. For that too happen he needs two things (among many others but most importantly) to get the nomination. One, Hilary mustn't run, and secondly, he needs some sort of a mandate. Pundits have said if he gets 55% or less of the vote this year his dreams are done.

Western New York and Long Island are up in arms about what Andy has done for education and add
to that the economy of upstate and we can see Andy not doing well there. Astorino has been elected twice in Westchester County and that just might take the county off the chart for Andy. Andy will need Albany County and the Five Boroughs which have always gone Democrat, but Queens and Staten Island can be wild cards. Andy can't just win, he needs to win big.

Now we all can't vote for Rob Astorino  and hold our nose for he will be Andy lite. Expect the number of charters to get bigger in the state and for unions to be more under the gun. Plus, and as much as Astorino claims he his against Common Core and high stakes testing, I am sure that ALEC will be leading him around by the nose.

This is why Andy was involved in getting the TWU the sweetheart new contract. He needs those union votes. He needs their phone banks. He needs the goodwill.

And where is there a lot of good will to be had, or at least in Andy's mind? Teachers of NYC and the money we are owed. Now, I am not saying it will work, but Andy is low enough and self absorbed enough to do it, especially when he sees a threat to his coronation.

There are alternatives. Howie Hawkins is running as the Green Party candidate and he has named Brian Jones as his Lt Governor. But that just might not make Andy scared enough.

The Daily News is reporting that the Working Families Party has asked Diane Ravitch to be their nominee. Now this can make things quite interesting.

I believe that a Diane Ravitch candidacy is quite viable. She can win, but at the very least throw a monkey wrench into Andy's plans.  Imagine the major p3wnage Diane can inflict upon Andy in a debate. Think about it, can Diane have Andy move back, or at least introduce him to the politics of honor that his father embraced?

The vote is to be counted next Tuesday, June 3. Let's see what Andy does if the vote goes against the UFT.

What happened if NBC's Miseducation Nation put on a show and only mindless sycophants showed? Oh wait. It happened. This past Sunday. That's who Miseducation Nations plays to. Those that are uninformed and don't wish to learn the truth.

The guess of The Crack Team here at SBSB why anyone would go to Miseducation Nation is to curry
favor with upper echelon types and to show that, "Hey, look at me and how hip and down with it I am." Now I know OTHERS went to see Miseducation Nation live this past Sunday, but I believe those others were led astray and have the smarts enough to see through the facade of what Miseducation Nation truly is.

What exactly is Miseducation Nation? It's about education of course. It's about everybody other than educators sharing with us how education should be in this country whilst perpetuating the myth that there is some kind of "education crisis" in this country. Sadly, those that frequent such events aren't aware of The Shock Doctrine for reasons such as, the book is too big, there are no pictures in the book, or just ignorance. But, if one were to actually read the book, one would come away with the truth of what has been foisted upon the American public.

Because what one sees at Miseducation Nation is nothing more than pure unadulterated self serving propaganda. Propaganda? Where have we seen leaders of a country misleading mainly ignorant, sycophantic people in the past?? Hmmmmmm, let's see (As chins are rubbed and flashback mode is enabled);



Oh, those pesky Commies!! And oh those pesky Teachers!!

Just as in the 1950's and the Red Scare that never existed, the 2000's have had to deal with the "Education Scare" that never has nor will exist. But like those that hunted non existent (WAIT!!! Is a hyphen supposed to be there? I know someone that has OCD issues with hyphens) Commies, what we are seeing is people hunting a non existent education crisis, with teachers as the fall guys.

But of course, Miseducation Nation will never let that be known. The teets of Bill and Melinda Gates, the Walton Family, Broad Foundation are being suckled by what were once responsible journalists like Brian Williams, and to a lesser extent (being a respected journalist) Matt Lauer. Suffice it to say, The Crack Team has more journalistic integrity than NBC. That's pretty sad.

Why did not one person at Miseducation Nation comment on the omission of Diane Ravitch being on any of the panels? Why not let her voice be heard? Oh, I know why. Because her ideas are contrary to the garbled spew coming out from the New York Public Library on Sunday. I also tend to believe that if Diane ever was allowed on a panel at Miseducation Nation the p3wnage that she will inflict will be of such a massive scale the Red Cross would have to be called in.

Hey, but those that believe in Miseducation Nation, don't listen to me. Show you are truly interested in the truth and not NBC's reality.  Buy Diane's new book, "Reign of Error," in which I reviewed here. Time to open the eyes and see what is really happening.

Remember, this is not an attack, just opinion and not against all in the audience this past Sunday. Usually at events like this there is just one person that goes overboard in the sycophanticity and tends to make it all about themselves (Like Delma in North Dallas Forty during the reading of Coach Johnson's poem).  Though one would wonder, how or by whom, the ducats were gotten.

Oops, almost forgot. #whatittakesNBC #whatittakesNBC #whatittakesNBC #whatittakesNBC

Oh, and by the way, this is when one only should brag about having awesome seats.

Even though this is addressed to the parents of Harrison, NY and NYC, it is for all the parents of New York State and the USA.

Lexington and Concord. The first battle in the American Revolution in 1775, almost 240 years ago.

The Journal News. Saturday, September 28, 2013, the first battle in the Revolution to Take Control
Back of Our Children's Education. All led by a humble reporter, Gary Stern.

I predicted this revolution back in June of last year.

I walked into Vassi's Deli on Underhill Ave in West Harrison this morning to get my breakfast and coffee. My son just had a hitting lesson and we were looking forward to spending some time together. I grabbed my copy of the Journal News and on the front page saw the headline. "Critics: Test Scores Failing, Not Students," by Gary Stern.

What a joy it was to read an honest and thought provoking education article by a reporter that has not been tainted by the poison of Uncle Mike Bloomberg;

Is it possible that 56 percent of sixth-graders in Bedford are not proficient in math? How about 70 percent of eighth-graders in Dobbs Ferry? Or 75 percent of seventh-graders in Nyack? 

Could 50 percent of seventh-graders in Irvington not be meeting expectations in English/language arts? What about 58 percent of eighth-graders in Ramapo Central? Or 80 percent of sixth-graders in Port Chester?

 
This, parents of Harrison is our reality. Not just yours, but mine, your neighbor's, your friend's, and your enemy's. Wake up, this is what has become of education in New York State thanks to the millions our elected officials in Albany have collected from such organizations as DFER and Students (oops!) MichelleRheeFirst.

My son got 2's on both ELA and Math. This after receiving 3's in ELA and 4's in Math from grades 3-5. Some putz who decides what goes on the tests, how to score it, how to take it is telling me my son is not proficient in Math or ELA?

At this past Thursday's parent-teacher meetings I handed out hundreds of fliers sharing with parents of Harrison the dangers and evils of the Common Core Standards from a fantastic organization, Stop Common Core in New York State. I could not believe how, UNINFORMED the parents of Harrison NY are. One parent actually believed that Bill Gates is a great person!

But then again, Governor Andy, Uncle Mike, NYSED, and John King (No link to who John King is. You have a child in school, then you should know. GOOGLE HIM!) all want you uninformed. They want ignorance, they want compliance, they want servitude. This is what is happening in NYC right now and across all urban school districts nation wide. You probably heard about it in passing, saying to yourself, "Well, why should I care, it doesn't effect me or my children."

But guess what? NOW IT DOES!!! It's time to wake up and see the corporate and Federal takeover of education is now in your backyard.

Bill Gates, the Lord and Savior who blessed us with the Common Core, let's see what he said the other day; 

“It would be great if our education stuff worked, but that we won’t know for probably a decade.”

What you talking about, Willis, I mean Bill?

He does not know if it will work? Bill Gates feels it is OK to experiment on THE CHILDREN OF HARRISON? Why didn't Bill test it out on his kids?

Know that teacher you love at your child's school? Well, thanks to Bill Gates and Governor Andy, 40% of their evaluation is based on assessment (TESTS)! Two years without growth, that teacher is rated ineffective and you can say goodbye.  Opt your child out of the NYS tests! You can and it is time!

Parents of Harrison, did you know that EngageNY (No link to EngageNY. You have a child in school, then you should know. GOOGLE IT!), a subsidiary of NYSED is not only in control of your child's school data, but personal information as well and plans on selling it to InBloom (No link to EngageNY. You have a child in school, then you should know. GOOGLE IT!)? What you don't know this? Well, you need to now.

Fight back. You are your child's best advocate for his or her education. Not a politician, not someone who works on Wall Street, not a hedge fund hack, YOU ARE.

And while you are at it, by Diane Ravitch's new book, "Reign of Error," and see how education is being taken over in this country by those who only wish to enrich their wallets.

And please sign this petition  to Assemblyman Al Graf.

I leave you with a clip of George Carlin's take on education today.

What a day yesterday was! The new phone books arrived, I, with other education bloggers, got to engage in a video conference with Diane Ravitch, and I found out that not only had Whitney Tilson finally make some sense, but he confirmed that he is in education for the moolah and lying hypocrite as well.


So Whitney, in a obvious display making up for some Freudian shortcoming shows just how smart
and investor he thinks he is. Remember, this is the guy who shorted Netflix.

I know the company and the space well (K12’s primary business is running online charter schools in 33 states and DC), and it’s a VERY high conviction short (meaning the funds I manage will profit if the stock price declines). I think that the company has run amok in many, many ways, inappropriately targeting the most at-risk students, with dismal academic results, off-the-charts student turnover, coming under increasing scrutiny. K12 reminds me of the subprime mortgage lenders and for-profit colleges when they were flying high – and the ending will be similar I believe.

Funny how this email was sent by Whitney at 9:32 PM, many hours after the official release of Diane's book. My bet is, and I doubt I am incorrect or Whitney can be that smart, is that Whitney read what Diane wrote in "Reign of Error" about K12 and decided to short K12 based on Diane's unveiling of their incompetency. We here salute Diane and her stock portfolio acumen.

Whitney goes on in a blabbering manner; K12's aggressive student recruitment has led to dismal academic results by students and sky-high dropout rates, in some cases more than 50% annually;

I wouldn't be short K12 if it were carefully targeting students who were likely to benefit from its schools – typically those who have a high degree of self-motivation and strong parental commitment

But K12 is instead doing the opposite; numerous former employees say that K12 accepts any student and actually targets at-risk students, who are least likely to succeed at an online school

But K12 is instead doing the opposite; numerous former employees say that K12 accepts any student and actually targets at-risk students, who are least likely to succeed at an online school

One former employee said: "K12's recruitment of inner-city and at-risk "last resort" students had another benefit – these students used up less of K12's educational and teaching resources while permitting K12 to collect full funding from the states."

Hmm, this sounds so familiar. This might not have been Diane's exact words about K12, but what Whitney has written is pretty much the gist from "Reign of Error." Plagiarism, Whitney? Copyright infringement? For shame

The Crack Team has commanded me to suggest Diane put a call into my brother in law who is a crack Copyright and Trade Dress attorney. He is a fine attorney, but he is suspended from the bar and hiding out in Thailand due to back child support and  teaching English. 

In fact The Crack Team believes that Diane has action for a lawsuit against Whitney for publishing an excerpt of  "Reign of Error" with out hers or Salon's permission. That excerpt does not fall under Fair Use.

More spewing from Big Head; There have been so many regulatory issues and accusations of malfeasance that I'm convinced the problems are endemic. Enrollment violations, uncertified teachers, conflicted relationships with nonprofit charter holders.

Gosh, diddly darn Whitless, you have just about described 90% of charters including your favorite run by the Sith Lord, Eva.

I have been looking for years and have not found a single K12 school that is free of scandal and posting even decent (much less good) academic results.

Guess who been saying that for years Whitless? Guess. That echo Whitney hears in his head are all the education bloggers and real teachers throughout the country.

 States (and the IRS) are waking up to what K12 is doing and the company is coming under increased scrutiny, which is beginning to impair K12's growth – and I believe this trend will accelerate

Oh please send the IRS into Success, Bronx Classical Charter, KIPP, Whitney Tilson's hedge fund, his palatial 5th Ave home. It is time to see the truth. Time the IRS goes after the charters instead of Mike Tyson or Jerry Koosman.

Face it Whitney, the jigg is up. It's time to find another toy in your Hamptons sandbox to play with. You have been exposed.

Whitney just exposed himself in that he is all about the money, has no loyalty, and really does not want those with learning issues anywhere near KIPP, Success, him, or anywhere lest he gets a case of hedge fund managers remorse.

For those who are not aware, Whitney has written some pretty mean and misogynistic stuff about Diane. He even created a website for the sole purpose of attacking her. Last night, I wanted to tease Diane that Whitney is her nemesis, her super villain. Then I thought better. Whitney does not have the brains or the class to be in the same league as Lex Luthor, or Bane, or Scarecrow, or Dr Octopus. He's just a street level stick up man, if that. Yeah, or a thug.

There was one particular point, the chapters about charter and the e-learning, in reading Diane Ravitch's new book, "Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America's Public Schools," in which it all seemed so familiar.  Like something out of a Mel Brooks movie. I pondered.

Yes, I seemed to satired the charter movement in this post about 3 1/2 years ago. But due to what I
learned by reading "Reign of Error," the satire might need updating;

Max Bialystock: Don't you see, darling Bloom, glorious Bloom? It's so simple. STEP ONE: We found the worst charter school ever , a surefire flop. STEP TWO: I raise a million bucks. Lots of little old ladies, NYCDOE, hedge fund managers, foundations created by billionaires, lawyers,Wall Street, presidents, mayors . STEP THREE: You go back to work on the books, two of them - one for the government, one for us. You can do it, Bloom; you're a wizard! STEP FOUR: We open a charter in the South Bronx. STEP FIVE, We act like we care, like we really believe the crap we're laying on the public And before you can say STEP SIX we kick all the kids who are not doing well and keeping up !!! STEP SEVEN: We take our million bucks and fly to *Rio!*

I wish this deform movement were a Mel Brooks comedy, but it is turning into a Shakespearean tragedy and right now the only ones ahead are the money people.

I'm now more scared than ever for the children, the families, the communities, and the real educators of this country. I thought I had a pretty good handle on what has been done to destroy education in this country. My knowledge just scratched the surface before reading "Reign of Error."

Diane is methodical and relentless in the first part of the book. Like a conductor leading an orchestra she begins to introducing to the layperson who and what are behind this so called reform, or rather, deform movement. So many of the players, so many of their games. So many of the worst of the worst. We learn how this corrupt web of education deform has all the players; the politicians, the hedge fund managers, the charters, the Rhees, the educational companies all in cahoots with one another all looking out for each others interests and all feigning interest in what really matters, the children.

She takes the lay person through the fabrications of the deformers by the hand, step by step as if even someone like myself is hearing this for the first times. Her crescendo is building. At this point she is no longer just conducting in front of the orchestra, but rather now from the the mountain top telling the country to open their eyes, look around and see what has become of education in this country and that something must be done, but it is not hopeless. That we all can fight back, we must fight back and not only save our schools, but to save our communities, ourselves, and most importantly, our children.

Diane comes up with solutions, not catch phrases, or talking points as her critics do when criticizing her, but solutions that are common sense, that won't break banks, that is except the Wall Street firms and hedge fund managers. One can only wish, no?

Common sense like what we know as teachers and parents that actually works. Class size, true early learning for children, services for the most needy and desperate of children, their families and the communities.

But it is time for the country to listen to Diane and take ownership and control of education away from those who only wish to subvert it for their own money making ways.

I predict, in fact I know, that Diane will go down in history as have Jacob Riis for "How The Other Half Lives," and Upton Sinclair for "The Jungle."

I was going to end this by insisting parents or would be parents to buy "Reign of Error." No, I can;t do that. If you care about the future of America, the future of the millions of young minds out there desperately seeking someone to lead them out of the wasteland of what the deformers had wrought us, you must buy this book.

Diane has shared her knowledge with is, it is up to us to deliver what she has bestowed to the masses.

You don't get to meet a lot of really good people in this "business" of education. The type of people where you know they will have your back, be honest with you, and hope for the best. Two of these people are David Greene and Diane Ravitch.

The first time I met Dave, I got an instant respect for him when he put me in my place for generalizing TFA teachers. I was like, "Wow, this guy says what is own his mind!" But it was not only that, it was the encyclopedic knowledge he has of education and the history of education in his extraordinary mind that he possesses that is so amazing and unique. But, more importantly, he is what my people call a mensch.

Diane Ravitch, I have met once. But it is always been a kick and an honor when she retweets something I had shared on Twitter or when last month she linked to what I had written on these pages twice.

Last month, Dave in his blog, DCG Mentoring wrote about a teacher named Paul. Diane Ravitch, in turn last week linked and shared the story as well.

I am Paul.

From the words of David Greene; 

For those who don't Twitter, I suggest you do. You can follow me on Twitter, @sobronxschool. Diane Ravitch also tweets and she tweeted some very interesting tweets about charter schools today. I think she was in a stream of consciousness moment.

She tweeted......

the new CREDO study re NYC charters is interesting. Half the charters get better math scores, but only 29% get better reading scores.

Check out here what Norm Scott at ednotesonline has to say about this CREDO thing. Unfortunately some now in the media are taking it as gospel. I have not kept too up on it and do not think it is right to comment on something when I do not have all the factual information available to me. But, just want to know this. How much higher are the better math scores, and 29% better in reading, especially when you have smaller class sizes and better resoruces ain't something to write home about.

What the study does not note is that NYC charters get more funding because of hedge fund managers than regular public schools

Of course. I don't trust these hedge fund managers. They are shaky human beings to begin with, and IMHO putting the money into charters to satisfy their white liberal guilt for they think they know more then people of color. Anyway, where do these people send there kids to school? Not to the charters.

And they have smaller proportions of special education and limited English speaking students than regular public schools.

What is the percentage? Many people don't know that special ed. students take the same state tests that general ed. students do. Yes, they get more time, etc... but I just never understood how if they are considered behind, why they take the tests at their chronological grade. Curious.

In NYC, charters have many advantages over regular public schools; why are so many of them so poor performing?

Good question. Whitney Tilson care to answer?

If only half the NYC charters produce math gains, and only 29% produce reading gains, why haven't any of them been shuttered?

Good question. Whitney Tilson care to answer?

Why does NYC public school leadership boast about the gains in the schools they DON"T control?

Because they want to destroy the system. Plain and simple as that.

I have a feeling that Catherine Bellinger will give me, and perhaps all of mankind plenty of material for sometime in regards to her rantings on Whitney "The Rest Stop on I-684 Southbound in Bedford Is My Favorite" Tilson, and her own Students for Education Reform blog. Catherine, you have turned into a wonderful lackey, disciple, votary, loyalist, 'ho, cultist of Whitney. I swear he must be rubbing one out thinking how he has been able to con you.

Tell the world Catherine, your qualifications to comment on anything about urban education. You have obviously lived in a gilded cage your entire life. Sitting high and looking down from that perch of yours in Fairfax County, and Princeton you see what you want to see, and see what you are told to see, but you have no life experience to put it in the proper perspective.

Have you ever been in a real inner city for any amount of time? Have you commiserated with anyone from such neighborhoods? I doubt it. You in Princeton? Go live in Camden for a while. See how you like it and see then how it affects you.

Which brings us to your rip job of Diane Ravitch. Nice mea culpa you left in the comments the other day. Too little, too late. You don't mean it, you only said it because you got caught with your knickers down. But who am I to decide? Let's let the world decide, mm'kay?

Ms Ravitch wrote:

In the past few days, Chancellor Joel Klein has announced that he is closing nearly two dozen public schools. Some of these schools are the anchor in their communities; some have long histories as gateways for immigrant children....most could have been improved by a thoughtful plan of action, including smaller classes, better supervision, and the kinds of resources that hedge-fund managers pour into "their" charter schools.

And now your blabbering reply, which shall be dissected.

Oh Diane...have you visited Paul Robeson High School, one of the schools that Klein announced he is going to shut down?

Why are you choosing Paul Robeson High School for? Ms Ravitch, and I suggest you use this term instead of Diane, never mentioned Robeson. But......

My Breakout trip (the same group that visited you in New York) conducted college awareness workshops there for a week.

Wow!! You were there for a whole week and you were able to give your "expert" opinion already! Golly!

First of all, Robeson certainly was not the "anchor" in its community, the Bed-Stuy neighborhood in Brooklyn

And you know this for sure because.....? Please state the facts and investigation method you had used.

or if it was, it was merely an anchor of failure.

Nice one, so Whitneyesque. Thought of that one yourself?

It wasn't RESOURCES that Robeson needed, with its 40% graduation rate and only a little more than half of the students stating that they were inspired to learn.

Yes, 40% graduation rate does suck. I concede you that point. And not having the pleasure of visiting Robeson I can't and won't comment on why there is a 40% graduation rate other than to say there are so many many variables that to paint with a broad brush as you do is just wrong. But as far as resources did you look at the school budget? Did you examine all supplies? Did you delve below the surface? The students that claim they have not been inspired to learn, do you have anecdotal proof of their reasons?

The participants on my trip cited a terrible school environment, a culture of apathy and incompetence,

Who are these participants? How did they measure, compare and contrast their findings?

and students who wanted to go to college but had never been informed that they needed to take certain classes or certain exams.

And whose fault is this? Who is supposed to inform these students? The guidance department, administration, teachers? Do you have proof that these students were reliable, were speaking the truth?

Even their "honors" students had never heard of SAT II subject tests.

Seems that SAT II exams have not been called that since 2005. They are now SAT Subject Tests and the subjects are in very narrow fields. But again, please cite evidence.

This school didn't need more money.

How the heck do you know this? Have you seen the budget for Robeson?

It needed serious restructuring, and I'm confident that closing Robeson and opening new schools and giving students new opportunities will be beneficial to student achievement.

What is your training and/or background to make such a statement? This is a very pretentious comment on your part, one you make without having all the facts.

It needed to follow the "habits of high performing urban schools" listed in Sweating the Small Stuff (attached).

I have already discredited this. No more need to comment.

That couldn't happen with the same staff, unfortunately.

I shall repeat myself. What is your training and/or background to make such a statement? This is a very pretentious comment on your part, one you make without having all the facts.

Ravitch complains that closing schools "disrupts" students--true, but this is a case when you have to choose the hard right over the easy wrong.

I shall repeat myself. What is your training and/or background to make such a statement? This is a very pretentious comment on your part, one you make without having all the facts.

It might be hard to send all those students elsewhere,

It's wrong, it is unethical.

but otherwise you are just letting a culture of apathy and low expectations persist.

The culture and apathy coming from whom? Show evidence.

Catherine, it is time to break anchor from what you think you know.

Yeah I admit it I have. But not in the sort of rest stop rest room tapping on the stall next to you sort of why. More thinking along the line how Whitney Tilson is the embodiment of the Hitlerjugend, or Hitler Youth.

Just reading the ignorance, self-righteousness, and the hate in his blog, I see the comparisons between the Hitlerjugend and Whitney and his ilk.

As the Hitlerjugend were basically mindless drones, clueless and indoctrinated into the ways of the Third Reich, so has Whitney been into the ways the the DOE.

Just reading what this Turd Blossom has written lately, especially about Diane Ravitch, who has a resume second to none in the world of education, you can see how entitled, as were the Hitler Youth were, that Whitney thinks he is.

Just like the rallies the Hitler Youth had in Nuremberg, Whitney rallies all to his palatial, hidden away from reality palace on 5th Ave where all hail Whitney and his self-endorsed greatness.

The Aryans thought they knew better than everyone else, Whitney there is no difference with you.