[ProgressiveEd] Draft of Letter to Chancellor Klein

[Carol Barton]

Good, but don't cede the curriculum issue before we hear from them on
waivers-- ie: change line: "We feel we'll be able to use your curriculm
initiatives to extend the work we're doing..."
Carol Barton
-----Original Message-----
From: progressiveed-admin@altschools.org
[mailto:progressiveed-admin@altschools.org]On Behalf Of BYMJSK4@aol.com
Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2003 3:13 PM
To: ProgressiveEd@altschools.org
Subject: [ProgressiveEd] Draft of Letter to Chancellor Klein
Dear folks,
Here's a draft of a letter.  Please make suggestions and comments.  Thanks.
Bruce
                                    March 26, 2003
Dear Chancellor Klein:
Over the past two weeks, we've received a great deal of reassurance from you
that you are aware of our schools and that you support our efforts to create
small learning communities in which children can grow through their
interests
and activities.  Who are we?  We're PENNY, an organization of parents and
educators in small, progressive elementary, middle, and high schools in New
York City.  Our schools are working successfully with very diverse
populations; we blend special education and general education students,
often
in creative inclusion arrangements.  Our priority is to support every
student
in the particular way each child learns.
We applaud your efforts to address the wide-ranging problems of the New York
City public school system.  It is gratifying for us that you have agreed to
meet with representatives of our organization.  We hope to map out a series
of schools networks that can help to improve schools that are both in and
out
of our organization.  We will explain ways in which the work done in our
schools exceeds the mandated curriculum.  We will share ways we know our
students and build curriculum from that knowledge.
So, why are we demonstrating?  We're demonstrating our support for our
schools.  We want it to be clear that our communities support the careful
ways we work with children, and we want it to be known that our children are
thinking and solving problems.  They're creating and planning.  We don't
want
to sacrifice any of this to rote instruction or imposed curriculum.
What does PENNY want?  oWe want our schools to be recognized as schools.
(Many are officially programs or academies.)  oWe want to be placed in
networks of like-minded schools with instructional superintendents who will
support our educational decisions and ways of working.  And owe want
permission to make decisions about the curricula we will develop in our
classrooms.  With your support, we feel we'll be able to use your curriculum
initiatives to extend the work we're doing.  And we'll be able to deepen
already existing relationships with teaching colleges for staff development.
We look forward to work with you in your efforts.
Sincerely,
PENNY
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