[regional_school] Re: Update
- From: "Hursh, David" <dhursh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <regional_school@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2010 08:42:54 -0500
Thank you Bill for your courage. As I think you know, I agree with your
analysis and gave my critique on the Bob Smith Show at the end of December
(which I think is still available on the WXXI website). My book, High Stakes
Testing and the Decline of Teaching and Learning, also has a chapter
critiquing mayoral control in Chicago and a few pages critiquing NYC's
mayoral control. If there is anything I can do to assist in the fight,
please let me know.
Thanks, too, to Shawgi for an excellent analysis of the issue from the
perspective of what best furthers democracy.
David Hursh, University of Rochester
On 1/15/10 8:15 AM, "Brad Cherin" <bcher14620@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi Bill,
>
> I am going through the process to discern the value of mayoral control.
>
> In what ways is an elected school board versus an elected mayor more or less a
> democracy? I could make the argument that in a crisis type situation
> leadership with one head is more effective than leadership with 7 heads.
>
> I would appreciate your thoughts.
>
> Brad Cherin
>
> --- On Thu, 1/14/10, William Cala <wcala9@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> From: William Cala <wcala9@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Subject: [regional_school] Update
>> To: "regional" <regional_school@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Date: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 8:07 PM
>> #yiv1543396136 p
>> {margin:0;}We are nearly
>> complete with the first phase of planning for the Regional
>> School. I have one last meeting with one of the
>> planning teams next week. After that I will be
>> planning a general meeting to discuss our progress. It
>> is my intent to have committee chairs update us on the fine
>> work that has been done by all Curriculum, Advisory, Social
>> Justice and Discipline committees.
>>
>> There are a number of areas that will now need to be
>> addressed: teacher selection, union representation,
>> governance, transportation and others. We will
>> aggressively tackle these areas this winter.
>>
>> On a related topic, I have been following the issue of
>> mayoral control with great attention and serious
>> concern. The Regional Academy is a school built on the
>> pillars of social justice, civil rights and participatory
>> democracy. Mayoral control is the antithisis of these
>> important principles. Over the past year I have
>> reached out to the mayor without response. This past
>> week I have sought advice from friends whose
>> opinions and guidance I respect. I have written a
>> substantial essay on this topic and I have been debating
>> whether or not to make it public. My major conceern is
>> that the legislation for the Regional School would be
>> stalled or killed as a result of speaking in opposition to
>> mayoral control (The same bill drafters of the Regional
>> Academy appear to be the principal parties who will draft
>> the bill for mayoral control).
>>
>> The speed at which the movement for mayoral control
>> appears to be heading toward Albany has created an urgency
>> to respond. After much soul-searching and careful
>> thought I do not feel that I can permit this assault on
>> democracy without putting up a fight.
>>
>> We are creating a school whose major role is to produce
>> good citizens who will forward not thwart democracy.
>> To remain silent is not an option for me. Silence is
>> democracy's most strident enemy. As a result, this
>> evening I have decided to fight. I have sent my essay
>> to City Newspaper. You can read it at:
>> http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/news/articles/2010/01/COMMENTARY-Mayora
>> l-control-doesnt-work-and-is-wrong/
>>
>>
>> I will also be on Bob Smith's 1370 Connection on
>> January 29th @ 1 p.m. and will be speaking before City
>> Council on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m.
>>
>> If you agree that the urban poor of the City of
>> Rochester should not be disenfranchised by losing the right
>> to vote for school board members (as it is city residents
>> cannot vote for their budget, a right suburban residents
>> enjoy) I ask that you speak out and let your voices be
>> heard.
>>
>> Another excellent analysis of the mayoral control crisis
>> in Rochester is at: http://www.smugtownbeacon.com/news.php?viewStory=430
>>
>> Thanks for understanding.
>>
>> Bill
>
>
>
>
--
David Hursh, PhD
Associate Professor
Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development
Dewey Hall
P.O. Box 270425
University of Rochester
Rochester, NY 14627-0425
Phone: 585.275.3947
Fax: 585.473.7598
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