And until recently, if we just withdrew our kids and taught them at home, Delaine Eastin (head of the California DOE from 1995 to 2003, I think) claimed that we were criminals.
Hmm ... withdraw and do it yourself and some people think you're a criminal. Stay and get a critical mass of parents to try and fix the school and you're part of a lynch mob.
I'm pretty sure that withdrawing for a private school is bad, too, in some way.
It's almost as if they want us to keep sending our kids, but want to be able to do whatever they want without any accountability.
Actually, it sounds to me like a lynch mob might just be in order in this instance. Hittelman's characterization of parents who seek to control the education of their children -- indeed, of taxpayers who seek to control the operation of the schools that they fund -- is disgraceful. Hittelman is the best argument for de-recognizing public employee unions (and in particular teachers unions) that this teacher has ever seen.
Since this a threat to a very comfortable status quo I don't see why anyone would be surprised at such intemperate language. As everyone involved in the on-going debate about the future of education in America knows, it gets worse then this.
However, if you're a "glass is half full" kind of guy such as myself that sort of language indicates fear and anger which indicates all is not well in monopoly-land.
And until recently, if we just withdrew our kids and taught them at home, Delaine Eastin (head of the California DOE from 1995 to 2003, I think) claimed that we were criminals.
ReplyDeleteHmm ... withdraw and do it yourself and some people think you're a criminal. Stay and get a critical mass of parents to try and fix the school and you're part of a lynch mob.
I'm pretty sure that withdrawing for a private school is bad, too, in some way.
It's almost as if they want us to keep sending our kids, but want to be able to do whatever they want without any accountability.
-Mark Roulo
Actually, it sounds to me like a lynch mob might just be in order in this instance. Hittelman's characterization of parents who seek to control the education of their children -- indeed, of taxpayers who seek to control the operation of the schools that they fund -- is disgraceful. Hittelman is the best argument for de-recognizing public employee unions (and in particular teachers unions) that this teacher has ever seen.
ReplyDeleteThis guy must have been a lot of fun as a kid. I can just imagine the inventive arguments he had on the playground. :)
ReplyDeleteSince this a threat to a very comfortable status quo I don't see why anyone would be surprised at such intemperate language. As everyone involved in the on-going debate about the future of education in America knows, it gets worse then this.
ReplyDeleteHowever, if you're a "glass is half full" kind of guy such as myself that sort of language indicates fear and anger which indicates all is not well in monopoly-land.