[RSCT] Help stop the de-KLEIN of public education! Tell your story!

[bree]

Dear Supporters of Public Education,

Many of you have by now heard the rumor that NYC School Chancellor  
Joel Klein is being considered as Obama's pick for Secretary of  
Education.
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/31/obamas-secretary-of-educa_n_139775.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/04/AR2008110404573.html) 
.

As people committed to public education, this strikes a hard and fast  
blow in the euphoria that we have felt since Tuesday.  But it's not  
too late to make our voices heard once again.  Let's build on the  
sense of representation and democracy we have just experienced to send  
a clear message to the Obama Administration to STOP THE DE-KLEIN of  
PUBLIC EDUCATION.  Community organizations across the New York City  
and country are teaming up with The Nation to write a communal letter  
and petition to the Obama Administration on why Klein is a mistake for  
this position.

This is where we need your help!
Please submit to the Nation a bullet point of a few sentences of why  
you think Klein's appointment would be a mistake.  This should be  
based on your experience in education as a student, teacher, parent,  
organizer, etc.  If appropriate, include relevant data or citations.  
Also include your name and affiliation/role.  Here is an example:

-Rather than take the advice of educational experts, Chancellor Klein  
repeatedly championed and implemented policies that support corporate  
interests and Mayor Bloomberg.  For example, in 2004, Bloomberg and  
Klein ignored the input of parents, teachers and educational experts  
in their attempt to push through a high stakes third grade testing  
policy.  Despite testimonials from educational experts and community  
members against this plan, Bloomberg fired and replaced members of  
their advisory panel that were not going to vote to pass their bill.   
"Although Mr. Klein said they had resigned, the three panel members  
said in interviews that they had been tersely dismissed and had  
intended to vote against the mayor's plan (New York Times, 2004)”. Is  
this how we want federal education policy handled?- Bree Picower,  
Ph.D., Assistant Professor, New York University


Particular themes that you could write about:
-issues of community voice and input
-corporate/private interest vs. public interest
-Issues of instruction and curriculum
-particular issues: high stakes testing, military recruitment, school  
safety policies, special ed, ELL...
-union representation/ treatment
-Issues around race, racism, and representation
-Issues of equity
-transparency and public decision making
-etc.


Please send your submissions to The Nation ASAP at  
habiba at thenation.com and cc: info at nycore.org
Please also post your submission to the Education Section of Obama's  
Website at http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/mypolicy.

This article is going online on Monday, so time is of the essence!

Bree, NYCoRE/NYU



  
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