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Isn’t the “why” the $22 billion question? I mean, if we knew the “why” with certainty, we wouldn’t have a phenomenally pitiful national education picture. People with money and choices like Cathie Black would put their kids in public schools without blinking an eyelash.

All we have is competing theories…and very few people who seem willing to listen to the “other side” of a bunch of what are really at their heart false debates.

Kitchen Sink:

The closing schools are at the bottom, the lowest 2, 3 and 4% of all NYC schools, they present an opportunity, a laboratory, other schools in their peer group are succeeding, a close look at these schools may assist in intervening earlier to avoid the annual school closing dance … DOE should ask some repectable research institution to take a close look.

KS – What pitiful national education picture?  My nieces go to Horace Greeley High School, public school, in Chappaqua – one in 10th grade and one in 9th.  They are receiving a first rate education, as good as any private school in NYC.  My nephew who went to private school in Lubbock, Texas is now a junior at Georgia Tech studying civil engineering, and landed a prestigious internship this year.  My other nephew also graduated from Lubbock High and just completed college – Texas Tech and is opening up his own business.  Let’s see, my niece, who went to public school in Houston, went on to graduate from Texas A&M and works in the oil industry in Houston.  She just gave her parents and her husband’s parents a two-week all expenses paid vacation to Shanghai, China with money she got from her end-of-year bonus. Where exactly is this great crises?  All of my nieces and nephews went to public school and are doing very well.  My own children are in public school in NYC and thriving.  Again, where is the big crisis? 

If the 11 public schools are phased out, then the network leaders, who are supposed to provide support, should be fired.

3 of the schools were opened under Bloomberg asnew schools to replace old ones hmm interesting cycle.

Ah, the usual ed deformer “no excuses” argument from new status quoer Kitchen Sink who had loads of excuses for running out of the public school system after 4 years of teaching at 2 schools because he couldn’t or wouldn’t fight against the abuses he saw.

From a teacher who saw abuses but remained in one school for 27 years in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city to fight for public school kids against the then status quo. And currently fighting the new SQ’s like KS who are out to undermine the very idea of a public school system in this nation.

Contrary to the Sternberg’s claims, the DOE made no efforts to save these schools; in fact, their refusal to systematically reduce class size doomed them and many others to failure. see my blog posting on the NYC parent blog at http://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2010/12/doe-set-closing-schools-up-for-failure.html

This is ridiculous, I go to one of those schools no one comes in to support us. The people at the DOE need to open their eyes and see the blastfamy that is happening. Our school deserves support not closure.

Kitchen Sink, People like Cathie Black would never put their kids in public schools, no matter how good they are. You see, she is from a better class of people, so they deserve a better class of school. Also, in private boarding schools you can escape your responsibility (and to my mind, the joy) as a parent and have someone else raise your kids while you sail around the world, ski in Aspen, etc. I’m sure if you discussed this with our good friend Smellington you would understand. On your other points: Is there any place on Earth where the achievement gap you refer to is larger than NYC, especially since the advent of Bloomberg and Klein? Charter Schools serve a much less diverse and special needs population – could that be a contributing factor? Socio-economics has a lot more to do with pupil performance. Lax discipline at home and in school, a permissive culture of child entitlement, single parent homes, crime, lack of positive role models, homelessness, having parents that both must work in order to survive, no one to help with homework, constant moving from apartment to apartment, lack of money to provide experiences like summer camp, arts, dance, athletics, lack of a tax levy to draw on to decrease class size and increase pupil teacher ratios, handicapped by not being a native English speaker, getting inadequate medical care because mom has to take you to the clinic for everything…. Clearly all of these are the teachers’ fault, because they don’t care and just make excuses.

Well guess what its not about the kids it is about pushing a political agenda of gentrication. Just like many condos and coop’s are being built while the homeless have been increasing. The city is more segregated then ever whatever happened to “separate but equal is inherently unequal”. The gap between rich and poor is increasing and the rich or moderately rich need a free place to send their kids to school. The greed of these people is outrageous and they do not care who they have to lie to or hurt is not their kids in the system yet. Destroying the kids and their future secures the upper classes control while creating a new field that they cab exploit workers under. The media is in the elitist pockets so are many politicians and possibly some union officials selling thmselves out.

I used to live in a country called America. It was a country I loved and honored. It paid its workers wages envied around the world. It made sure these workers, thanks to labor unions and champions of the working class in the Democratic Party and the press, had health benefits and pensions. It offered good, public education. It honored basic democratic values and held in regard the rule of law, and respect for human rights. It had a press that was diverse and independent and gave a voice to all segments of society. The country I live in today uses the same civic, patriotic, and historical language to describe itself, the same symbols and iconography, the same national myths, but only the shell remains. The America we now celebrate is an illusion. The words “consent of the governed” have become an empty phrase. Corporate power is holding us hostage. Where is our union “leader?”

“Where is our union “leader?”

Ask Peter and watch him defend the UFT’s mealy mouthed position on Black.

M&M is a nice combo. The questionable thing was when they traveled in a package on Bloomy’s private jet to Albany and DC…. Hum, they do seem to have a chummy relationship…

BUT, getting back to argument, it is difficult to be oblivious to all the dead printed presidents being thrown around, thus there is bound to be some sort of corruption involved, especially for those who negotiate “behind doors.”

The only ‘network’ that I need is not even being provided to teachers…talking about technology in the 21st century and we being expected to use technology. The Network comprised of humans in the DoE is composed with a bunch of cannotwaittogetthehelloutofteaching type of administrators.

the networks are a joke.i have not seen them yet at our school. we have been switched twice already.and from what i understand,the doe is eliminating two more networks,so we will only have 4 citywide.less support,more money for the powers that be.

Walmart America here we come. Where are the union leadership?

Sounds like the 1960′s all over again.Same issues: overcrowding, poor test scores, get rid of the teachers, principals…..When you close so many schools over a decade, even ones you open in place of the failing ones, when does it dawn on the public to get rid of the DOE leadership.