[ProgressiveEd] Report on Friday's NYS Senate Majority Task
Force 4/4 Pub...
Linda Levy
[email protected]
Mon, 07 Apr 2003 20:17:19 -0400
> This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand
this format, some or all of this message may not be legible.
--B_3132591440_1172781
Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"
Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable
I=B9m afraid I haven=B9t seen the evidence for Klein=B9s =B3flexibility and
thoughtfulness=B2 that Shael cites. What I have seen is lip-service to what
the Chancellor thinks the progressive schools want to hear, and blind
commitment to judging all schools by their test scores. My opinion is base=
d
not only on the actions he has taken publicly, but also on the opinions he
has expressed to me and others in our school (East Village Community School=
)
in e-mails and face-to-face conversations.
While I recognize the failure of the old system, I cannot say that the
=B3reforms=B2 have been positive for our school. The truth is, we did
successfully fight the old bureaucracy =8B EVCS has been pursuing its
progressive objectives for 12 years. In September, we will be required to
adopt a standard curriculum, something we were never required to do under
the community school board. I=B9m not sure how this provides us with an
=B3opportunity to expand and deepen our work=B2.
Klein has admitted that he is trying to devise a system that will meet the
requirements of the Bush administration=B9s =B3No Child Left Behind.=B2
Regardless of whether or not he does this willingly, I think Victor=B9s point
about the Republican influence on our system is well-taken.
Or perhaps Klein believes that his goal should be to become =B3active
partners=B2 with an Administration that he feels has =B3shown flexibiity and
thoughtfulness=B2? (sorry)
Linda
On 4/7/03 4:00 PM, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Dear Colleagues:
>=20
> I want to publicly express my concern and dismay over the positions
> articulated by the speakers at the NYS Senate Majority Task force meeting=
.
>=20
> As the Principal of a small progressive high school in the Bronx, I would
> argue that Klein's re-organization and reform proposals represent the fir=
st
> attempt in thirty years to change the focus in New York's education burea=
cracy
> from political patronage and monitoring of schools to a system that focus=
ses
> on instruction and has the capacity to support teaching and learning.
>=20
> Progressive small schools have fought this bureaucracy tooth and nail for
> years to carve out spaces where we could do meaningful work with kids in =
spite
> of the larger system's goals and requirements. I believe Klein's plan
> represents an opportunity to expand and deepen our work. Our goal should=
not
> be to throw up road blocks to protect bureaucratic structures that never =
had
> the capacity to serve kids or support teachers. Our goal should be to be=
come
> active partners in this process and help the larger community of educator=
s
> understand the depth and value of our work.
>=20
> Klein and his team have made mistakes but they have also shown a flexibil=
ity
> and thoughtfulness that makes me believe we can work with them.
>=20
> Respectfully,
>=20
> Shael Suransky
> Principal, Bronx International High School
--B_3132591440_1172781
Content-type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>Re: [ProgressiveEd] Report on Friday's NYS Senate Majority Task Forc=
e 4/4 Pub...</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<FONT FACE=3D"Verdana">I’m afraid I haven’t seen the evidence for=
Klein’s “flexibility and thoughtfulness” that Shael cites=
. What I have seen is lip-service to what the Chancellor thinks the pr=
ogressive schools want to hear, and blind commitment to judging all schools =
by their test scores. My opinion is based not only on the actions he h=
as taken publicly, but also on the opinions he has expressed to me and other=
s in our school (East Village Community School) in e-mails and face-to-face =
conversations.<BR>
<BR>
While I recognize the failure of the old system, I cannot say that the R=
20;reforms” have been positive for our school. The truth is, we =
did successfully fight the old bureaucracy — EVCS has been pursuing it=
s progressive objectives for 12 years. In September, we will be requir=
ed to adopt a standard curriculum, something we were never required to do un=
der the community school board. I’m not sure how this provides u=
s with an “opportunity to expand and deepen our work”.<BR>
<BR>
Klein has admitted that he is trying to devise a system that will meet the =
requirements of the Bush administration’s “No Child Left Behind.=
” Regardless of whether or not he does this willingly, I think V=
ictor’s point about the Republican influence on our system is well-tak=
en.<BR>
<BR>
Or perhaps Klein believes that his goal should be to become “active p=
artners” with an Administration that he feels has “shown flexibi=
ity and thoughtfulness”? (sorry)<BR>
<BR>
Linda<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
On 4/7/03 4:00 PM, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote:=
<BR>
<BR>
</FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT SIZE=3D"2"><FONT FACE=3D"Arial"><TT>Dear Colleagues:<B=
R>
<BR>
I want to publicly express my concern and dismay over the positions articul=
ated by the speakers at the NYS Senate Majority Task force meeting. <B=
R>
<BR>
As the Principal of a small progressive high school in the Bronx, I would a=
rgue that Klein's re-organization and reform proposals represent the first a=
ttempt in thirty years to change the focus in New York's education bureacrac=
y from political patronage and monitoring of schools to a system that focuss=
es on instruction and has the capacity to support teaching and learning. &nb=
sp;<BR>
<BR>
Progressive small schools have fought this bureaucracy tooth and nail for y=
ears to carve out spaces where we could do meaningful work with kids in spit=
e of the larger system's goals and requirements. I believe Klein's pla=
n represents an opportunity to expand and deepen our work. Our goal sh=
ould not be to throw up road blocks to protect bureaucratic structures that =
never had the capacity to serve kids or support teachers. Our goal sho=
uld be to become active partners in this process and help the larger communi=
ty of educators understand the depth and value of our work. <BR>
<BR>
Klein and his team have made mistakes but they have also shown a flexibilit=
y and thoughtfulness that makes me believe we can work with them. <BR>
<BR>
Respectfully,<BR>
<BR>
Shael Suransky<BR>
Principal, Bronx International High School<BR>
</TT></FONT></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE=3D"Verdana"><BR>
</FONT>
</BODY>
</HTML>
--B_3132591440_1172781--