Comments on: New advocacy group with city roots enters state’s reform fray

By: Howard Eagle

Howard Eagle — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:14:00 +0000

Dear Mr. Murphy,

First, you got the title of our organization wrong. It’s Community Education Task Force. You can find more information about us at: http://communityeducationtaskforce.rocus.org.

Secondly, I could be mistaken, but I don’t believe that you are a Rochester School District (RCSD) “parent.” However, if you were, our interest and hope would be that you would join with us and “represent” yourself. “Elections” and “referendums” are not necessary in order for parents to represent ourselves and our children. We don’t need permission from anyone to do this.

The Task Force DOES represent many parents who have told us that they agree with our philosophy and direction, and have given us permission to represent them. We understand that we don’t represent all parents, and therefore have never made such a grandiose claim.

Also, please know that in addition to parents, the Task Force is composed of educators and other community members who have either joined us or support our work.

Now, to tell you the truth Don, since you are a long-time RCSD teacher and activist of sorts, and even if you weren’t — normally we would be happy to have your support. However, based on some of the comments that we’ve observed closely, which you have been making, especially about our youth on the Democrat and Chronicle blog and on Face book — we are really convinced that the time has come for you to seriously consider getting out of public education. Some of your comments are indicative of the very real possibility that you don’t really like children, and possibly hate certain ones. We would never make such a serious charge without backing it up. Some of the most despicable examples of comments referenced above can be accessed at the following link:
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/comments/article/20120112/NEWS01/120112032/200-join-fight-Liberty-Pole

As I’m sure you recall, you also recently posted comments on Face book regarding Kwanzaa, which demonstrated profound cultural ignorance and disrespect. In addition to my comments regarding the latter issue — the lack of respect on your part was pointed out on Face book by several RCSD teachers and other community members.

Don, I’m not one who is quick to offer advice to anyone, but in your case, I would say that you need to atone for serious missteps, and then come and join us in the process of building an authentic movement for widespread, permanent, fundamental change and improvement.

Sincerely,
Howard

By: Mrollingthunder

Mrollingthunder — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:34:00 +0000

So the “Community Task Force” represents parents, but “Rochester Parent” does not? I’m sorry, did I miss an election? No? A referendum? No? Oh, I get it, you get to decide who represents me as a parent!

By: Carrie Remis

Carrie Remis — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:49:00 +0000

If you’re interested in supporting Rochester parents, we are currently recruiting Parent Navigators. Case load is aprox. 5 parents (20 hours a month) with access to educator, legal and policy experts. Email me at carrie.remis@parentpowerproject.org for details.

By: Speakthetruth

Speakthetruth — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:10:00 +0000

Flerpi
You have been shown how inaccurate your
statements are on so many occasions.
Is it that your hidden agenda clouds your thinking?

Health care isn’t free but you know that
Retirees contribute but you know that.
Some retirees live one day and some live 30 years but you know that
Many teachers are parents also do they overlap?
You know that,you know everything I forgot

By: EFH

EFH — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:45:00 +0000

To call this Parent Power Project an “upstate parent group” is a distortion of reality.

Ms. Remis is a communications specialist, a web designer, and a one-woman show as far as I can tell. Where does this “group” exist? Online only, and in her imagination.

By: EFH

EFH — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:45:00 +0000

To call this Parent Power Project an “upstate parent group” is a distortion of reality.

Ms. Remis is a communications specialist, a web designer, and a one-woman show as far as I can tell. Where does this “group” exist? Online only, and in her imagination.

By: Howard Eagle

Howard Eagle — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:02:00 +0000

Carrie, as you know I am very proud of the fact that I spent 23 years laboring at the level where the rubber-hits-the-road, i.e. in classrooms within the same School District where I send my own children to school.

Your numbers are a little off, i.e., my 5th run for a seat on the Rochester Board of Education won’t be until 2013. As you also know, there has NOT been any local, school board candidate in the field since 2003 (the first time that I ran) whose as knowledgeable as I am about educational issues within the RCSD, or more committed than I am to improving public education. The latter fact is NOT based on rhetoric, but on a REAL RECORD of laboring constantly and consistently for over 30 years, in the process of fighting for educational change and improvement. Indeed, for the first time, the Rochester Teachers Association endorsed me in the 2011 school board race. Just like yourself, the RTA knew what my platform was and is, and has been consistently. So, i appreciate their support last year, and look forward to earning it again in 2013.

With regard to the remote possibility of the so-called parent trigger bill passing — I predict that you will meet the same fate that you and your big-business comrades met when you attempted to stuff mayoral control down the community’s collective throats. Again, we will continue to organize, and WILL defeat you and the multinational corporations — period!

By: Carrie Remis

Carrie Remis — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:51:00 +0000

Howard, you neglected to mention that you are also a retired teacher and former school board candidate endorsed by the teachers union. 5-time candidate.

The Parent Power Project serves low-income parents through capacity-building work throughout Monroe County, not just Rochester, and is not an organization of parents. Parents must be free- and reduced-lunch eligible to receive our services that include facilitated enrollment in school and tutoring programs, direct advocacy and academic coaching. We work though partner parent organizations who’ve asked for our support of Parent Trigger. We intend to provide implementation support and technical assistance to parents should the bill pass.

http://www.parentpowerproject.org

By: Los Flerpos

Los Flerpos — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:30:00 +0000

“Don’t you know that the best school communities are ones where there is parental, teacher and community involvement. That small class sizes improves learning is a no- brainer.”
I agree entirely. The problem is that meaningfully reducing class sizes requires a lot of money. And it’s very hard to find that money when you have a growing army of retirees draining $60,000 to $70,000 apiece out of budgets each year — and free healthcare — for 10, 20, and sometimes 30 years. If you don’t have a problem with that, then you just identified the limits of the overlap between the interests of parents and teachers.

By: Mark Friedman

Mark Friedman — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:40:00 +0000

@1c6fefb5d4e5b44034ae4c69410244b8:disqus
“Rochester Parent”: Being that this pseudonym is clearly Carrie Remis, let me debunk your statement, “Not sure how my moving out of a failing district and then devoting 7
years to helping families trapped in failing schools makes me a
conservative or a profiteer?” I’m not arguing that moving out of the district ALONE makes you these things. That white flight reality, together with your on-going advocacy and attraction to failed policies such as corporate-driven charter schools, standardized test-driven merit pay, weakening of due process tenure rights of teachers, class size reduction, and generally the rabid attacks you have shown for anything having to do with teachers unions and activists parents who have remained rooted in the community does in fact make you conservative in the political spectrum of education reform. Being that your positions have been consistently aligned with corporate profiteers who are working hard to privatize public education, this is where that term comes from. Before you argue that this is some myth cooked up by leftist activists who are controlled by teachers unions, answer this: Do you really expect predominantly working class people of color who make up the masses of parents in the City of Rochester as well as many other cities to believe that large, well-funded corporations such as the Gates Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation and others have poor black and brown peoples’ best interests at heart? Again this is what Howard Eagle and other parents have referenced when they talk about “pushing hidden agendas”. This agenda, to promote the ruling class elite’s control of public education as opposed to true democratic involvement of parents and community members (look up the history of democratic schooling and various forms of “community control” in schools for a reference point) is not in the best interest of the struggling masses.

Bee: You’re right the unproductive “teacher vs parent” antagonistic
dichotomy is really played out. If there’s going to be tension and even
conflict at times, let it be for something productive rather than
corporate education reform and privatization schemes. “Rochester parent”
does not in fact speak for Rochester parents nor does her hollow
punitive definition of “accountability” match what people are thirsty
for in our schools.

Of course, we’re educating, organizing and mobilizing increased sections of the grassroots community in Rochester and beyond to be cooperatively involved in the work of the Community Education Task Force. As Mr. Eagle referenced, as a teacher I can only explicitly speak on behalf of parents and anyone else who express their willingness for me to do so. There are sizable amounts of people who we’ve built relationships with who express support for the work we’re doing in the grassroots community of Rochester and beyond. This widening base of support is willing for us to do this on their behalf.

By: Los Flerpos

Los Flerpos — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:38:00 +0000

I’d be surprised if the answer’s no.

By: Howard Eagle

Howard Eagle — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0000

@ “Rochester parent” — First of all, if you have “moved out of a failing district,” i.e., out of the Rochester City School District (RCSD) — then you are NOT a “Rochester parent.” So stop frontin’. Secondly, it’s easy to TALK about “devoting 7 years to helping families trapped in failing schools,” but just because you say that, doesn’t necessarily make it so. People SAY lots of things, especially when they are pushing hidden agendas.

Instead of being a “Rochester parent,” you are (by your own admission) a “white soccer mom from the ‘burbs,” which is fine, but as I said — stop frontin’.

Of course, “every parent should have the same choice that [you] have had, and every child deserves the same opportunities [your] daughter has had,” but just because you state such rhetoric, it doesn’t change the reality that the overwhelming majority of RCSD parents, and urban parents in general, DON’T have the choices and opportunities that you and your daughter have, which is a main reason why people such as Mark Friedman and myself are working night and day to help organize the voiceless masses within the RCSD. Just because Mark is a teacher does not necessarily mean that he “cannot speak for parents.” If parents give him permission to speak for them, as many do, then he can — period. Now, tell us where your “authority” to speak for urban parents flows from.

You shouldn’t attempt to “guarantee” things that you obviously do not understand. I AM A PARENT OF TWO RCSD STUDENTS. Unlike your daughter, my children are not “tucked away.” Mark CAN speak for me, and you CANNOT. I DEFINITELY “oppose [so-called] Parent Trigger.” In fact, we will continue to work night and day to make sure that all RCSD parents, and the Rochester community in general understand what corporate-driven, so-called parent Trigger is really all about, i.e., part of the larger scheme of privatization of public education.

If you truly want to do something to help the children and families that are suffering the most within the RCSD — you should consider joining with us in our ongoing, well-known efforts to build a cooperative and collaborative MOVEMENT for fundamental educational change and improvement. Otherwise, you should just stay in the ‘burbs (specifically in Irondequoit), take care of your business, and leave us alone.

Howard J. Eagle
http://communityeducationtaskforce.rocus.org.

By: bee

bee — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 04:26:00 +0000

Rochester parent, class size reduction is important to parents AND teachers and teachers who are parents. You sound like it’s an “us versus them,” kind of thing. Don’t you know that the best school communities are ones where there is parental, teacher and community involvement. That small class sizes improves learning is a no- brainer. Individual attention is helps educators and students. Parents want accountability, but accountability as it is being promoted is nothing but high-stakes test scores, that certainly don’t really measure learning. Fortunately you don’t speak for all Rochester parents, and hopefully the Rochester teachers persevere in the very challenging job of educating the children despite dealing with a negative and demoralizing work environment. Parents and teachers want accountability, when all the factors are taken into account such as ELL , special education, home life, socioeconomic issues. There is no cut and dried method of evaluating and these factors need to be considered. We all need to be accountable, parents, teachers, students, government and citizens, but your idea of accountability sounds like you are out for blood.

By: Carrie Remis

Carrie Remis — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 04:08:00 +0000

@ Mark Friedman–Not sure how my moving out of a failing district and then devoting 7 years to helping families trapped in failing schools makes me a conservative or a profiteer? As uncomfortable as it is to hear from the white soccer mom from the ‘burbs: every parent should have the same choices that I have had and every child deserves the same opportunities my daughter has had. Parents are the only ones at the table without a conflict of interest. As a teacher Mark, you cannot speak for parents. And I guarantee that the parents who oppose Parent Trigger have their children tucked away in safe, selective and high-performing schools.

By: Guest

Guest — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:44:00 +0000

Leonie, you’re a “parent activist” — do you take money from the teachers unions?

By: Mark Friedman

Mark Friedman — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:25:00 +0000

nuff said: Yes, unfortunately some genuinely naive parents get exploited in this effort. Sadly, some other reactionary, right-wing parents actively and willingly participate in this corporate privatization game while attempting to camouflage themselves as legitimate grassroots parents often to the tune of big pay checks. Carrie Remis is one such example. Being a native of Rochester, I know this first hand (Ms. Remis actually moved to the suburbs but still operates out of the city of rochester). As a teacher and community organizer who interacts daily with grassroots parents who I have built relationships with, I’m aware of how disappointingly disingenuous this pattern has become. Every city has faux-parent organizations with a few deceitful leaders who are also sometimes parents. Unfortunately this has become part of the political landscape we have to deal with in the struggle for social justice in public education in the effort to create authentic meaningful alternatives for children.

By: Guest

Guest — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:14:00 +0000

This will work especially well in areas where parents don’t vote. By the way, the same parents who don’t vote are not involved with their children’s schooling. Luckily the wealthy in those areas will vote for them…….and the cycle continues.

By: Mark Friedman

Mark Friedman — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:13:00 +0000

Buffalo Parent: Like Leonie Haimson, I also would like to see the proposed legislation. The issue around the country, including of course California, has been that in proposed Parent Trigger legislation, the turnaround option that is readily pressured for in numerous ways is charter conversion. I haven’t seen any reason indicating the same forces that pressured for this turnaround option in California (the corporate-led charter lobby) are not in play here in NY State as part of the privatization profiteering frenzy.

By: Rochester parent

Rochester parent — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:13:00 +0000

Class size reduction is part of the teacher–not parent–agenda. In Rochester in the last 10 years, our teacher force has grown despite by almost 200 despite hemorrhaging 5,300 students. Parents want accountability.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:16:00 +0000

Buffalo parent: where is the language of the new bill? can you provide a link? And does it allow for reforms that parents actually want, like class size reduction?