The people of harlem are trying to get their kids a better education, but cannot possibly compete with behind-the-scene deals between Moskowitz and the Chancellor to invade public school buildings.

Charter schools are not public schools. They are publicly funded and privately managed, accepting far lower numbers of special ed students and English language learners, and “counseling out” students who bring down their stats.

If you’re happy with the education your child is getting at HSA, fine, but don’t delude yourself into thinking that it’s not coming at the expense of other children in Harlem.

It’s one thing for charter parents to say to public school parents, “I’ve got mine, you get yours.” It’s quite another to say, “To get mine, I’ll take yours.”

As I contemplate the beginning of my second career, I would love to work in researching and creating presentations of this material. I have been an active member of our school improvement team, presented at state and national conferences and currently serve as English Department Chair. If you are aware of any opportunities where I can be or service or use, please contact me. I have listed my school e mail above (bgutman@clarenceville.k12.mi.us) or my home e mail (teachins@aol.com)

I just have to ask. What makes a good blogger? I am teaching my next months lesson on the subject and I would like to use you as a resource.

Cheers.

You are a lousy blogger, but given your interest in the topic I can honestly believe that you are a great parent, who would never let your kids get less education than they deserve. But we all need that opportunity for our kids. Parents want their kids in schools that put them first and fight hard to keep them there. Eva, for any abrasiveness, does this well and fights for those kids. She can be abrasive on my behalf anytime.

Can I finally say that this is great fun. This site is too often an echo chamber for like-minded people who never have to respond to views different than their own. Let’s have a real debate, not just spout out clever nicknames.

Leap to conclusions much?

Because — in your world view — ONLY a rubber room teacher who deserved to be fired would question anything to do with charters, Eva Moskowitz, Joel Klein, etc., etc., etc.

Anyone who would pose as someone who would reject mediocrity and failure should be at the front of the line calling for, at a minimum, accountability all the way up the public education food chain to the Chancellor’s Office as well as Gracie Mansion. They’re still there, and that WITHOUT tenure. Sheesh.

P.S. The only skin in this game that I have are my two kids, and my tax dollars. Et tu?

Michael M: You likely have such a quick response rate because you have plenty of time in your rubber room. So enjoy your day of wasting time and money on me. You are clearly a product or disciple of a system which rewards mediocrity and tolerates outright failure. Eva can actually have the judgment to hire someone, realize they are a poor fit, and then let them go. (You may need to read that sentence again due to the crushing logic within) And guess what you local supermarket does this and so does the company that delivers your paper but somehow the public schools cannot do the same??

Why even waste the electrons?

Of course Eva Moskowitz should be paid more than Warren Buffet. He doesn’t love my kids like she does.

Factual actual high turnover? Alleged dead weight? Didn’t she just HIRE most of those teachers before burning them out?

Sheesh.

How was the former Principal of PS 87 “dead weight”? Are not any red flags waving when you see a successful Principal leave after less than 6 months. As for the first comment, I cannot disagree

Michael Fiorillo – (1) Why exactly is turnover a bad thing? Eva gets rid of the dead weight that the some schools let sit in classrooms hurting kids for year and years. Not everyone can work for Eva and she admits that. But if you were a kid in a classroom or parent at home and the teacher was lousy, what’s better high turnover or law performance. (2) And what exactly were these “political motivations” on Klein’s part, hmmm? Can Eva fire him? She is not even in elected office. Please explain.

Mary – No matter what you think the Chancellor would think, those who yell loudest on behalf of their students get what they need. Fact. That is good to hear what your principal is doing, but why does that mean Eva cannot do the same. Everyone criticizes Eva for making such a stink, but I do not see any of her parents complaining when she pushes on Klein to get what her kids need.

Would you want your children in a school with such high administrative and teacher turnover? Don’t you think there might even be an inkling that, given such turnover, HSA’s claims might deserve closer scrutiny?

Additionally, these emails begin at a time when HSA essentially had no track record whatsoever, strongly suggesting that political motivations were at work.