Comments on: Robert Jackson takes a last, passionate stand on mayoral control http://gothamschools.org/2009/06/05/robert-jackson-takes-a-last-passionate-stand-on-mayoral-control/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rise & Shine: Meet the teachers who will earn $125,000 next year - Online Education in America http://gothamschools.org/2009/06/05/robert-jackson-takes-a-last-passionate-stand-on-mayoral-control/comment-page-1/#comment-133089 Rise & Shine: Meet the teachers who will earn $125,000 next year - Online Education in America Tue, 09 Jun 2009 02:27:01 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=15687#comment-133089 [...] control came under attack at a City Council hearing yesterday. (GothamSchools, Post, [...] [...] control came under attack at a City Council hearing yesterday. (GothamSchools, Post, [...]

]]> By: Ann Kjellberg http://gothamschools.org/2009/06/05/robert-jackson-takes-a-last-passionate-stand-on-mayoral-control/comment-page-1/#comment-130764 Ann Kjellberg Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:32:44 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=15687#comment-130764 It is amazing to me that of all the councilmembers, many of whom asked very damning questions of Klein and Walcott at the hearing, only Jackson has stood up to the mayor in a substantive way. Liu observed that national test scores are largely flat, Barron said NYC education has been turned into a test-taking mill, Recchia held up the Parent Commission recommendations and demanded to know why superintendants work outside their districts, yet none stands up to mayoral control, and only Jackson and Gerson have taken a stand against the mayor's appalling capital plan. No one tries to give a real explanation, in the face of all the evidence of failure, for his/her support. There is only one possible explanation: Bloomberg's checkbook. Obama can joke about it, but we have to live here. It is amazing to me that of all the councilmembers, many of whom asked very damning questions of Klein and Walcott at the hearing, only Jackson has stood up to the mayor in a substantive way. Liu observed that national test scores are largely flat, Barron said NYC education has been turned into a test-taking mill, Recchia held up the Parent Commission recommendations and demanded to know why superintendants work outside their districts, yet none stands up to mayoral control, and only Jackson and Gerson have taken a stand against the mayor’s appalling capital plan. No one tries to give a real explanation, in the face of all the evidence of failure, for his/her support. There is only one possible explanation: Bloomberg’s checkbook. Obama can joke about it, but we have to live here.

]]> By: Andy http://gothamschools.org/2009/06/05/robert-jackson-takes-a-last-passionate-stand-on-mayoral-control/comment-page-1/#comment-130418 Andy Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:47:55 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=15687#comment-130418 Note to other elected officials leadership is spelled 'JACKSON'. I cannot understand how any democratically elected official would vote to give the office of the mayor unchecked dictatorial power. I do not believe the President has such power. At the hearing, Joel Klein tried to equate his role to that of a US cabinet member but he left out a few details. The president does not appoint cabinet members, he only nominates candidates, and the Senate approves them. More importantly, the cabinet does not have dictatorial power; in fact, they have no power. The cabinet is an advisory board that is their sole role. If that is the role Joel Klein wants fine with me. Let us make Joel Klein an educational advisor to the mayor and get a democratically elected independent school board who will in turn appoint a chancellor to follow their policies. Note to other elected officials leadership is spelled ‘JACKSON’.
I cannot understand how any democratically elected official would vote to give the office of the mayor unchecked dictatorial power. I do not believe the President has such power.

At the hearing, Joel Klein tried to equate his role to that of a US cabinet member but he left out a few details. The president does not appoint cabinet members, he only nominates candidates, and the Senate approves them. More importantly, the cabinet does not have dictatorial power; in fact, they have no power. The cabinet is an advisory board that is their sole role.

If that is the role Joel Klein wants fine with me. Let us make Joel Klein an educational advisor to the mayor and get a democratically elected independent school board who will in turn appoint a chancellor to follow their policies.

]]> By: Michael M. http://gothamschools.org/2009/06/05/robert-jackson-takes-a-last-passionate-stand-on-mayoral-control/comment-page-1/#comment-130302 Michael M. Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:02:12 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=15687#comment-130302 Huzzahs to Council Member and Education Committee Chair Robert Jackson! Forget "dropping a dime." Per the New York Times back in March, the only way to get Klein's ear is to buy him a slice of pizza (if you change your name to Alan Alda), or, per New York Magazine (as covered by GS) also back in March -- at the beginning of this politically-motivated charm offensive -- be a cutie (Julia Stiles) and hype charter schools at high society events (despite being a GV PS3 alum). Given Chancellor Klein's well-documented disdain for parental input, I have a hard time understanding why the state's power-brokers think VOTERS (aka parents) should blindly entrust the current Mayor (or any future one) with what's best for their kids. I urge the City Council to add 40,000 MORE seats to the Capital Plan, and I urge the State Legislature to accept the well-developed proposals of the Parent Commission on School Governance by passing the "Education Through Partnership Act" (AB 8550 / SB 5739). Huzzahs to Council Member and Education Committee Chair Robert Jackson! Forget “dropping a dime.”

Per the New York Times back in March, the only way to get Klein’s ear is to buy him a slice of pizza (if you change your name to Alan Alda), or, per New York Magazine (as covered by GS) also back in March — at the beginning of this politically-motivated charm offensive — be a cutie (Julia Stiles) and hype charter schools at high society events (despite being a GV PS3 alum).

Given Chancellor Klein’s well-documented disdain for parental input, I have a hard time understanding why the state’s power-brokers think VOTERS (aka parents) should blindly entrust the current Mayor (or any future one) with what’s best for their kids.

I urge the City Council to add 40,000 MORE seats to the Capital Plan, and I urge the State Legislature to accept the well-developed proposals of the Parent Commission on School Governance by passing the “Education Through Partnership Act” (AB 8550 / SB 5739).

]]> By: F Harry Stow http://gothamschools.org/2009/06/05/robert-jackson-takes-a-last-passionate-stand-on-mayoral-control/comment-page-1/#comment-130264 F Harry Stow Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:50:30 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=15687#comment-130264 Congratualtions to Chairman Jackson. His response to Klein's comment "just pick up the phone and call me" was right on the mark. For seven years Klein has refused to respond to elected officials, reporters, advocates, parents and their requests for routine information. Such requests are often referred to a third level associate who in turn informs the person requesting information to file a Freedom of Information and those FOIL requests are then delayed and delayed by Klein's counsel Mr. Best. Yet, he can go before a City Council and not tell the truth. Bloomberg and Walcott support Klein because that it is the way they want it. It is not Mayoral Control it is Mayoral Dictatorship Congratualtions to Chairman Jackson. His response to Klein’s comment “just pick up the phone and call me” was right on the mark. For seven years Klein has refused to respond to elected officials, reporters, advocates, parents and their requests for routine information. Such requests are often referred to a third level associate who in turn informs the person requesting information to file a Freedom of Information and those FOIL requests are then delayed and delayed by Klein’s counsel Mr. Best. Yet, he can go before a City Council and not tell the truth. Bloomberg and Walcott support Klein because that it is the way they want it.

It is not Mayoral Control it is Mayoral Dictatorship

]]> By: Rise & Shine: Meet the teachers who will earn $125,000 next year - Online Education in America http://gothamschools.org/2009/06/05/robert-jackson-takes-a-last-passionate-stand-on-mayoral-control/comment-page-1/#comment-130185 Rise & Shine: Meet the teachers who will earn $125,000 next year - Online Education in America Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:24:15 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=15687#comment-130185 [...] control came under attack at a City Council hearing yesterday. (GothamSchools, Post, [...] [...] control came under attack at a City Council hearing yesterday. (GothamSchools, Post, [...]

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