<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; "><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font face="Arial" style="line-height: 1.22em; "><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">Dear Supporters of Public Education,</span></font></b></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><font face="Arial" style="line-height: 1.22em; "></font> </span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font face="Arial" style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">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. </span></font></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font face="Arial" style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">(</span></font><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/31/obamas-secretary-of-educa_n_139775.html" style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">http://www.huffingt</span></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><wbr style="line-height: 1.22em; ">onpost.com/</span></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><wbr style="line-height: 1.22em; ">2008/10/31/</span></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><wbr style="line-height: 1.22em; ">obamas-secretary</span></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><wbr style="line-height: 1.22em; ">-of-educa_</span></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><wbr style="line-height: 1.22em; ">n_139775.</span></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><wbr style="line-height: 1.22em; ">html</span></font></a><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"> <br style="line-height: 1.22em; "></span></font><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/04/AR2008110404573.html" style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">http://www.washingt</span></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><wbr style="line-height: 1.22em; ">onpost.com/</span></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><wbr style="line-height: 1.22em; ">wp-dyn/content/</span></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><wbr style="line-height: 1.22em; ">article/2008/</span></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><wbr style="line-height: 1.22em; ">11/04/AR20081104</span></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><wbr style="line-height: 1.22em; ">04573.html</span></font></a><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">).</span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"> </span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">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 </span></font><u style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">The Nation</span></font></u><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"> to write a communal letter and petition to the Obama Administration on why Klein is a mistake for this position. </span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"> </span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><strong style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font style="line-height: 1.22em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">This is where we need your help!</span></font></span></font><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"> </span></font></span></strong></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">Please </span></font><strong style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">submit</span></font></strong><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"> 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:</span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"> </span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font face="Times-Roman" style="line-height: 1.22em; "><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.22em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; "><font style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: 1.22em; "><em style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">-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.</span></font><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"> </span></font><span style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"> </span></font></span><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">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)</span></font></span><span style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">”</span></font></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">. Is this how we want federal education policy handled?- Bree Picower, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, New York University</span></font></span></em></font></font></p></font></div></font><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"> </span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><strong style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">Particular themes that you could write about:</span></font></strong></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><i><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">-issues of community voice and input</span></font></i></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><i><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">-corporate/private interest vs. public interest</span></font></i></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><i><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">-Issues of instruction and curriculum</span></font></i></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><i><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">-particular issues: high stakes testing, military recruitment, school safety policies, special ed, ELL...</span></font></i></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><i><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">-union representation/ treatment</span></font></i></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><i><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">-Issues around race, racism, and representation</span></font></i></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><i><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">-Issues of equity</span></font></i></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><i><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">-transparency and public decision making</span></font></i></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><i><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">-etc.</span></font></i></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"> </span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"> </span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><strong style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">Please send your submissions to The Nation ASAP at </span></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#3849FF"><font class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><a href="mailto:habiba@thenation.com">habiba@thenation.com</a></span></font></span><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"> and cc:</span></font><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"> <a href="mailto:info@nycore.org">info@nycore.org</a></span></font></span></font></font></font></strong></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><strong style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">Please also post your submission to the Education Section of Obama's Website at </span></font><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-weight: normal; white-space: pre; "><a href="http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/mypolicy" style="line-height: 1.22em; ">http://my.barackoba<wbr style="line-height: 1.22em; ">ma.com/page/<wbr style="line-height: 1.22em; ">s/mypolicy</a>.</span></font></strong></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"> </span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">This article is going online on Monday, so time is of the essence!</span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br></span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">Bree, NYCoRE/NYU</span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br></span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br></span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"> </span></font></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "> </div></div></span></body></html>