Jan 10, 2021Time to End Tax Breaks for Charter Schools and The Ultra-RichOriginally published on Diane Ravitch’s Blog Joe Biden’s nomination of Miguel Cardona for Secretary of Education was telling. It shows the incoming administration’s reticence to take a side in the ongoing battle over school choice and standardized testing. On the campaign trail, Biden drew cheers from teachers for his promise…Biden9 min readBiden9 min read
Dec 24, 2020Fallout From Racist Diatribe by NY Charter School Billionaire ContinuesOriginally published August 21, 2017 at Truth Against the Machine In August, we mentioned Dan Loeb, a Wall Street tycoon serving as Chairman of the Board at Success Academy Charter Schools, the biggest charter network in New York, whose students are 93% black and Latino. Last week, Loeb was lambasted…Education6 min readEducation6 min read
Jul 6, 2020Who Supports Trump’s Garden of Racism?Who Supports Trump’s Garden of Racism? I’m shocked anyone still publicly supports Trump after his most important advisor was confirmed to have been a white nationalist, and after Trump encouraged groping women, and after he botched the pandemic response, causing mass death and economic disaster. But maybe that’s the point? …Trump3 min readTrump3 min read
Mar 22, 2020The Ball is in Joe Biden’s CourtIf it seems Joe Biden has been quiet lately it’s likely because he is trying to negotiate an end to the primary with Bernie Sanders, who laid out his policy preferences publicly after his losses in Michigan and other key states. Before the last debate, Biden did agree to a…Bernie Sanders5 min readBernie Sanders5 min read
Mar 11, 2020ELECTIONEERING: Rachel Maddow blamed Bernie Sanders for anonymous online attacksI watch Rachel Maddow every night. I admire her 95% of the time, but at critical points in Democratic primaries I’ve been disappointed to see on-air electioneering. Maddow is one of the least anti-Bernie personalities on MSNBC, but that isn’t saying much for a network owned by mega-telecom Comcast, who…Bernie Sanders5 min readBernie Sanders5 min read
Sep 21, 20192020 STRATEGY: Bernie and Warren should form a ticket before the voting startsAre we thinking sufficiently ahead in our political strategy as the 2020 Democratic primary approaches? For months, the polling has steadily shown Joe Biden the front runner with Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren close behind, and everyone else off in the distance. Unless one candidate has a decisive surge, the…Bernie Sanders5 min readBernie Sanders5 min read
Feb 24, 2019The Madness of New York’s Teacher Evaluation ProgramA version of this article was originally published in CityLimits.org At the swearing-in for NY State Senator Jessica Ramos in Queens, I spoke to a few NY State Senators about a recently passed bill that allows school districts to uncouple state test scores from teacher evaluations. …Education9 min readEducation9 min read
Nov 16, 2017Dark Money & Common Core Sink Official in NY SuburbsOriginally published at Truth Against The Machine. A rising Republican star named Rob Astorino just blew his reelection in the New York suburbs, compromised by the presence of swampy dark money donors, including billionaire Robert Mercer who is now enmeshed in an ugly racism scandal. …Education5 min readEducation5 min read
Published in March For Public Education·Oct 28, 2017PRETZEL LOGIC: NY State Senator DeFrancisco on High Stakes Testing and Charter SchoolsA version of this post was originally published at Truth Against the Machine An impromptu parking lot interview reveals the thinking of Republican NY State Senator John DeFrancisco on a tricky issue — how can someone simultaneously question the validity of state tests and at the same time support expanding…Education6 min readEducation6 min read
Apr 18, 2017Rahm Emanuel administration suspends activist teacherA day before spring break, Chicago teacher Sarah Chambers was fired without being given an explanation. An email from the Chicago Board of Education said she was being suspended and due for a hearing without a date given. Sarah has spent all eight years of her special education teaching career…Chicago4 min readChicago4 min read
