Something about the commentary surrounding Joel Klein's chancellorship of NYC schools struck me as closer to a memorial than a "thank you for the hard work" type of message anyone could expect, especially the overblown claims of dramatic improvements in achievement during the Klein Era. Folks, Klein is quite alive, so you don't need to adopt the "speak no ill of the dead" ethic. In the past day I'd been half-tempted to write a Mad Libs-style generic description of a big-city superintendent who supposedly brings miracles, leaves for a new job, and only later are the shortcomings of the supposed miracle revealed. (Whether you'd insert the particulars of Rod Paige's reign in Houston, Klein's in New York City, or others would be your choice.) A more sober description and perspective is offered by Diane Ravitch in the New York Review of Books, and that'll suffice for now.
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Sherman,
I am outraged by this appointment. The policies implemented by Bloomberg and Klein have been incredibly damaging to children. My eighth grader has spent his entire education with Klein and Kaplan and Everyday Mathematics. I think middle school teachers are just discovering that there is a good percentage of middle school students that perform well on the tests but cannot borrow, carry, multiply three digit numbers, etc. which leads to wonder if there is more bad to news to come. My eleventh grader has been largely exempt from a test prep based education as he attended a “gifted” middle school and is now at a “selective” high school where the administrators do not need to play ball with the chancellor.
My assemblywoman, who is a former public school teacher, is disgusted and is trying to do what she can in terms of the waiver that Cathie Black will need. My state senator carries water for Bloomberg; he had the opportunity to oppose Klein’s continued employment when the mayoral control law was set to sunset but chose to support Klein and Bloomberg despite knowing this continued path was damaging to his constituents’ children. He has been suspiciously silent on Klein’s resignation.
Another odd thing I have noticed during my second high school admissions process is that schools seem to be “sorting” children into categories such as who is most likely to attend college (2 or 4 year) and who plans to go to work. It is very subtle. Perhaps I need to remove my tinfoil hat… Remember – school choice doesn’t mean you select the school. They school selects your child.
Cynthia
While Ravitch is a bit too polite to state this, I of course, have no qualms since I’m a graduate of the Rosanne Barr School of Charm (*GRIN!*).
Quite simply: If Cathie Black is qualified to run the NYC public schools, then my cat Gilda is as well. Let’s make the comparisons: Neither Gilda or Ms. Black have spent more than a fleeting moment in a school–much less worked in a public school or public school district. Neither has taken any of the licensure examinations that are expect for NYS leaders of public schools. Similarly, neither has taken the advanced graduate study to lead a public school district.
I’m being unduly harsh, of course, but this is the last in a series of dubious appointments by various NYC mayors. Why do some pols believe that educational leaders don’t have to know a damn thing about the core technologies of public schools? Learning and Teaching???
At least Gilda has the good sense to flee when she knows she’s completely “out of field.” I’m not as hopeful for Ms. Black.