Extra! Mayor’s Miracle Management Team Creates 31-day April! Substance See Page 23 www.substancenews.com 12/06 Volume XXXII, No. 4, December 2006 $2.00 per copy Daley’s ‘Renaissance’ concentrates rival gangs, violently destabilizes neighborhood schools... Bloody days increase in Chicago’s general high schools By George N. Schmidt Despite intense efforts by pub- lic relations staff at the Chicago Board Destabilizing of Education and the some of the edi- tors at Chicago’s daily newspapers, in- Chicago’s creasing gang violence in Chicago’s gen- eral high schools couldn’t be completely remaining ignored during the opening months of the 2006-2007 school year. public But even the most attentive public citizen would have had difficulty schools. figuring out what was true from the con- flicting reports provided by public This month: schools officials, the Chicago Police De- Part One: Undermining partment, and the major media. By No- general high schools through vember 2006, the main story line, re- gang transfers via school peated by the school board’s public re- lations staff and repeated as news from closings. the front page of the Chicago Tribune, was that things were better as far as vio- January 2007: lence went in the city’s public schools. Part Two: Chaos and gangs “Student arrests drop” pro- in the largest neighborhood claimed a page one Tribune headline on November 14. The lengthy story left the elementary schools. impression that an alleged reduction in violence at Steinmetz High School (3030 February 2007: N. Mobile) was real and was the result Part Three: How the charter of new programs which focused on so- Many teachers, parents and community leaders are concerned that Chicago’s schools selectively enroll cial work rather than arrests of students Roberto Clemente High School, at 1147 N. Western Ave. (above), is the next tar- — even those who had committed vio- get of Mayor Daley’s school board’s plan for charter school expansion. Critics their students and kick out lent crimes in the school. charge that the Duncan administration has created a racial and gang security cri- their problems (then blame Less than two months earlier, sis at Clemente by funneling gang members from the Austin High School area into the public schools). Continued on Page Five Clemente since September 2004. Substance photo by George N. Schmidt. Duncan’s Continued privatization of public schools... Massive charter expansion huge By Lotty Blumenthal and George N. Schmidt SNAFU If each meeting of the Chicago Board of Education had it’s own theme song, the November 15, 2006, meeting’s wrecks song would have been “Hey Look Me over...” Although the Board has been carefully orchestrating the regular ap- pearance of teachers, students and par- retiree ents from its charter schools at every meeting, the November 15 meeting was a first. Not only did highly paid central security office administrators reserve seats for By George N. Schmidt the charter school people queuing up for the meeting,, but one $110,000-per-year Anyone who didn’t know the bureaucrat even served donuts to the dictionary definition of SNAFU should charter school people — but not to any- have been looking it up at the end of one else who arrived at 7:00 a.m. to sign November 2006, and the word should up to speak at the board’s monthly have been spray painted across the en- meeting. trance to the headquarters of the Chi- And while the increasingly as- cago Public Schools at 125 S. Clark St. sertive President of the Chicago Board The largest breach of personal of Education, Rufus Williams, criticized data security in the history of Chicago’s students and a former teacher from one Continued on Page Seventeen of Chicago’s top high schools for speak- ing out at the Board, he had nothing but In November 2006, what one observer called the “warm and Chicago’s schools CEO fuzzies” for every group that stood be- mailed the Social fore him to proclaim how great their schools were going to be —even though Security numbers and the schools did not exist except in the addresses of 1,739 imagination of Williams, his fellow retired teachers and Board members, and the ideologues administrators to who populate the growing bureaucracy addresses across the in the Board’s “Office of New Schools November 22, 2006. A tattered American flag flies over the University of Chicago Development.” charter school housed in what was once the Donoghue Elementary School on USA — and nobody was By the end of the board meet- Chicago’s South Side. The school dismissed students for the entire Thanksgiving fired for the mess! Continued on Page Twelve week, a sign on the door reported. Substance photo by George N. Schmidt. Page Two Substance December 2006 Editorials ™ The cruelty of Substance Duncan’s ‘data The newspaper of public education in Chicago driven’ special 5132 W. Berteau Ave. Chicago, IL 60641-1440 education Phone: 773-725-7502. FAX: 773 - 725 -7503. Email: Csubstance @ aol.com. Website: www.substancenews.com ‘bottom line’
Copyright © December 2006 All Rights Reserved More than a year ago, a small Substance™ (USPS # 016-073) is published team in the Chicago Board of monthly except July and August by Sub- Education’s budget office — led by stance, Inc. Editorial offices at 5132 W. Pedro Martinez and Tyra Newell — be- Berteau Ave., Chicago, IL 60641-1440. Ad- gan an attack on special education ser- dress all correspondence to Substance, 5132 W. Berteau Ave., Chicago, IL 60641-1440. Pe- vices for Chicago children using com- riodicals postage paid at Chicago, IL. POST- puters. Instead of asking what special MASTER: Send address changes to Sub- services the children needed, the bottom stance, 5132 W. Berteau, Chicago, IL 60641- line specialists in the Budget Office es- 1440. tablished a bunch of abstract matrices Editor-in-Chief George N. Schmidt —very much like the now-discr edited Deputy Editor Rosagitta Podrovsky Resistance Editor Susan Ohanian formulas used by Donald Rumsfeld in AssistantEditor Terry Czernik his management of the Pentagon — and Managing Editor Sharon Schmidt decreed that no child would be left be- Contributing Editor Grady C. Jordan hind when the abolition of services was Contributing Editor John M. DelVecchio complete. The project, as absurd as it was Reporters: Board of Education Lotty Blumenthal evil, pushed ahead, driven by comput- Local School Councils Joseph Guzman ers and accountants, with no regard for Elementary News Michael Brownstein children’s needs. Like so many of the High School News Jesse Sharkey, decisions made by the miracle manage- Jackson Potter ment team at CPS during the past de- Chicago City News Frank Coconate, Josephine Perry, Jim Vail cade, this was driven by ideology, not International News E. Wayne Ross by reason or a concern for children. National Resistance News Rich Gibson, Carol Last month, more examples Holst, Jim Horn, Juanita Doyon came to the public, even if they were Research Leo Gorenstein ignored by most of our colleagues in the Retiree and Pension News Marybeth Foley Al Korach press. In October, it became clear that Sports Dan Schmidt children at the Blair Early Childhood Union News Theresa D.Daniels, Center would die if there was a fire be- Allegra Podrovsky cause of the cuts in Child Welfare At- Web Wizards Bob Simpson, tendants at the school. Other schools Estelle Carol faced similar problems across the city, Cartoonist Sandra Gordon attorneys for the Chicago Board of Edu- Circulation & Advertising Larry J.MacDonald but as long as the media cover up con- Mayor Richard Daley and his miracle Special Assignments Dan Van Zile tinues, those problems don’t concern the management team have done miracu- cation and the Illinois State Board of Policies. Confidentiality. Substance maintains the data driven tyrants who run Chicago’s lous things for Chicago’s public schools. Education will again tell the judge the confidentiality of news sources. Confidential in- public schools. Although CPS bureaucrats lies they have been telling since last formation must be verifiable through additional summer, when the budget cuts were news sources or from public information. Basically, Arne Duncan and his have been caught red-handed trying to Mailing List. Substance does not share, sell, leak, mismanagement team are trying to take deprive children of services to which made and Chicago’s school board or market its mailing list to anyone of any entity. away human services and replace them they are entitled and replace those ser- claimed that special education children Policies Available. Copies of Substance policies had not been hurt. on news development, letters, confidentiality, re- with robots and medicines. In October, vices with untested and unproven production, and mailing list security are available staff at the Jahn school tried to take away chemicals (some of which have led to Added to the lies are the cruel- . Send SASA with $5.00 and ask for “The Substance the one-on-one aide who had helped a children’s suicides), the frenzy to drive ties at places like the Jahn school, where Manual of Style, Usage, and Muckraking.” the Valenzuela family was put through Free lance materials. Unsolicited free-lance edi- kindergarten child last year and replace down “personnel” costs and the wor- torial materials are subject to the editorial poli- the aide this year with a part-time ser- ship of the “bottom line” by both CPS what can only be described as a cies of Substance, Inc. Follow the style guidelines vice and medication. officials and the media who are sup- Kafkaesque nightmare in trying to de- outlined in “The New York Times Manual of Style fend the rights of a seven-year-old to an and Usage” and “A Manual of Style” (University The family, after a heroic posed to provide a check on such insani- of Chicago Press). Please do not embed special struggle that cost the mother her job ties means that instead of facts Chica- appropriate education, with human formatting in digital copy. because she had to tend to her special goans are given assertions of belief and supports, as opposed to the chemical Letters. Letters must be from regular Substance and spreadsheet fantasies that drive readers and signed by the writer. All letters will needs child, has filed a complaint with platitudes about fantasies. be published followed by the writer’s full name, the district court. In any other city in the When special education advo- Chicago’s “education” leadership at the location (generally, city) and Email address. Let- USA, this story would be page one cates return to federal court again on present time. ters are generally best at fewer than 600 words. Evil at the holiday season is as Art. Cartoons, photographs, and other graphical news, but in Chicago it is ignored be- December 8 (U.S. District Court, 219 S. material become the property of Substance, Inc. cause the dominant narrative is that Dearborn St., Judge Robert Gettleman), bad as any other time. unless otherwise noted. Subscriptions. Subscriptions available for $16.00 per year (10 issues). Mail check or money order to Substance, 5132 W. Berteau, Chicago, IL 60641. Demolishing public education in Detroit, See back page for coupon and details. School Sales. Teachers and others interested in participating in the Substance School Sales pro- Los Angeles, Philadelphia, New Orleans gram may purchase bundles of 10 or more copies files from Chicago and sold them as of the current issue for $1.00 per copy (prepaid). It was surreal the day after Elec- But Philadelphia is not alone in Substance Reporters Program. Substance trains tion Day to read the Chicago Tribune’s the corruption wrought by the “mayoral “news” back home. Detroit was fleeced. reporters to cover school news. Call for info. influential columnist John Kass try to control” model of corporate “school re- The same thing happened in Reproduction Rights. Substance is copyrighted Philadelphia, which is now learning the to prevent the commercial exploitation of the remind Chicago that if Paul Vallas had form.” material published in these pages. Copyright pro- won his bid for the governorship in In New York City, Cleveland, hard way that the “Chicago miracle” tection is not meant to bar the non-commercial 2002, the current waves of political cor- Detroit, Baltimore, and a number of was nonsense, built on corruption and use of Substance articles, art, and editorial mate- a pile of civic lies that would heap over rials. Please credit Substance, include subscription ruption in Chicago and Springfield smaller cities, the Business Roundtable, and website information, and send a copy to Sub- would not be lapping at every joined by Republican politicians and the Millennium Park bean. stance. Reprint permission rights for classroom taxpayer’s door. Clinton Democrats, has been pushing Other cities that are following use are routine. Questions? Contact the Editor by The surrealism came from the the mayoral dictatorships on cities the propaganda coming out of Chicago phone, fax, E-mail or in person. are also learning the hard way that Printed by union printing, Des Plaines fact that as Kass was writing, thousands whose public schools serve largely mi- Publishing, Des Plaines, Illinois of Philadelphia residents — including nority populations. Chicago’s claims are lies, propaganda Copyright © 2006 Substance, the mayor and a growing number of the After a series of propaganda for a corporate model of school gover- Inc. All Rights Reserved. city’s “school reform” commission articles in the Detroit Free Press, Detroit nance that has traditionally been called Publication date December 6, 2006 (which replaced the city’s school board adopted the “mayoral control” model dictatorship, or even fascism. Mailed by December 7, 2006 of “school reform” in 1999, after fierce The worst so far has happened Chicago Main Post Office Business Mail Entry and selected Vallas as “CEO” shortly resistance. Six years later, the plan was to New Orleans, where the public Periodicals Rate after he lost his Illinois bid — were learning just how corrupt and incom- dropped after it was proved to be a di- schools were abolished, replaced for the petent the Vallas administration had saster. But the reason that Detroit was most part with charters assisted by Chi- been in their city. sold a bill of goods in the first place was cago bureaucrats and corporate hacks. that reporters from Detroit recycled clip The danger grows. Substance December 2006 Page Three Resistance News Defend Democracy: A $71.40 plan to Stop NCLB… Let’s start a revolution that works for real people… By Susan Ohanian [Editor’s Note: The following speech was given on November 18, 2006, at the annual meeting of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) in Nashville. It is reprinted here as Susan’s monthly Resistance column for Substance and is being widely circulated elsewhere. Further information about the campaign can be gotten at www.susanohanian.org and at www.educatorroundtable.org., where inter- ested people can sign the petition to end No Child Left Behind.]
Federick Douglass told us that “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.” Even though it is difficult for us teach- ers, who come from a culture of people- pleasing and trying to be agreeable, a culture of conciliation and compromise, we must learn how to refuse. I came here wearing a T-shirt: “Defend Democracy: Stop NCLB Insan- ity.” But then a teacher handed me a shirt from the Northwest Inland Writ- ing Project. This shirt declares “Be a to the personal tragedies brought on This assault on kindergartners dibels/ node/86>, ed. Ken Goodman Malcontent.” I approve this message. I families by NCLB. isn’t just oppressive, it’s also wrong, re- The book costs $5.95, to cover wear the shirt with pride. I get a lot of mail from desper- vealing a whole lot of ignorance about printing and mailing. The special Con- They didn’t ride the bus in ate teachers, parents, grandparents. Lisa writing. And telling kindergartners that vention rate: $5.00. Montgomery, Alabama. We must not wrote me from Oregon, asking for ad- they’re failing, that they’re not good Let’s give Congressman George DIBEL, follow the script, or give the vice, and her story of the DIBELS op- enough, is part of the corporate plan to Miller something to think about. Let’s tests.* pression of her young son became the create a scared, compliant, obedient scare him into conversation. If every- We must stand up and say introduction to “Examining DIBELS: workforce for the Global Economy. Tell body would buy a copy and send it to “No!” Which amounts to saying “Yes!” What it is and What it does,” ed. by Ken kids that it’s a dog-eat-dog world out George Miller, he’d be forced to “no- for children. Goodman. there and that they don’t measure up. tice.” And I have a little plan for Sarah, a California first grade Tell them that often enough, and they’ll Rep. George Miller achieving this goal, a $71.40 plan to help teacher, is one of my most regular start to believe it. Pound that message 2205 Rayburn House Office Building teachers come together in a grassroots teacher correspondents, and I am so home and they’ll never know about Washington, D.C. 20515 movement of refusal. I never recom- moved by her fight to nurture her stu- education for the common good, edu- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D- mend that a lone teacher here or there dents that she has her own page now: cation for democracy. CA), the senior Democrat on the House refuse to give the test. I’m calling for a Sarah’s Page
Chicago Vocational H. S. AA 147 289 147 266 0 0% Tilden H. S. AA 156 256 138 179 -18 -12% Marshall H.S. 164 252 126 178 -38 -23% Clemente H. S. AA 36 80 119 206 83 231% Fenger H. S. AA 82 142 117 210 35 43% Morgan Park H. S. 78 125 108 211 30 38% Phillips H. S. 79 100 102 135 23 29% Julian H. S. AA 136 192 97 162 -39 -29% Bogan H. S. 62 90 93 198 31 50% Corliss H. S. 45 66 91 156 46 102% Manley H. S. 80 151 91 161 11 14% Farragut H. S. 96 172 85 128 -11 -11% Orr H.S. 61 85 85 114 24 39% South Shore H. S. 79 135 78 133 -1 -1% Bowen H. S. 100 151 76 138 -24 -24% Steinmetz H. S. 142 233 74 117 -68 -48% Senn H.S. AA 97 126 70 100 -27 -28% Wells H.S 67 115 69 114 2 3% Kennedy H. S. 33 70 63 111 30 91% Harper H. S. 59 77 62 90 3 5% Kelly H. S. 96 164 62 131 -34 -35% Schurz H. S. 60 177 62 177 2 3% Kelvyn Park 54 92 59 103 5 9% Clark College Prep H. S. 27 32 56 87 29 107% Collins H. S. 81 150 54 111 -27 -33% Taft H. S. 28 63 53 118 25 89% Hyde Park H. S. 86 170 48 87 -38 -44% Curie H. S. 59 133 48 129 -11 -19% Dunbar H. S. 71 157 48 104 -23 -32% Roosevelt H. S. 26 82 47 129 21 81% Robeson H. S. 53 87 46 77 -7 -13% Kenwood H. S. 47 69 46 58 -1 -2% Austin H.S. 86 129 46 79 -40 -47% Harlan H. S. 26 45 45 74 19 73% Crane H. S. 54 69 43 61 -11 -20% Von Steuben H. S. 36 71 41 79 5 14% Dyett H. S. 25 32 40 68 15 60% Juarez H. S. 49 110 38 81 -11 -22% Englewood H. S. AA 41 66 36 67 -5 -12% Mather H. S. 15 66 35 115 20 133% Las Casas 48 67 32 44 -16 -33% Sullivan H.S. 18 35 29 42 11 61% Washington H. S.. 47 97 27 46 -20 -43% Hirsch H. S. 18 26 27 45 9 50% Amundsen H. S. 29 88 27 101 -2 -7% Hubbard H. S. 36 56 26 51 -10 -28% Foreman H. S. 59 125 26 77 -33 -56% Douglass Jr. High 15 27 26 41 11 73% Gage Park H. S. 63 98 25 60 -38 -60% Lincoln Park H. S. 20 34 25 44 5 25% Lake View H. S. 10 14 22 57 12 120% Raby H. S. 7 8 21 35 14 200% North-Grand H.S. 5 11 19 42 14 280% Chicago Agricultural H. S.. 13 41 18 35 5 38% Notes: “AA” along with the name of a high school indicates the school contains an “Achievement Academy” for students who have not yet passed the 8th grade graduation test criteria but are 16 years of age or older. CPS does not keep anyone 16 years of age or older in elementary schools, but they are not considered full high school students. This chart is based on data supplied by Chicago Public Schools, Office of Communications, November 2006. School names have been rendered as “High School” except in the cases of Occupational high schools (which serve special education students) and selective enrollment College Prep high schools. Substance December 2006 Page Nine Suspensions in Chicago high schools 2004-2005 to 2005-2006 Suspensions for the most serious offenses under the ‘Student Code of Conduct’ (before 2006, the ‘Uniform Discipline Code’ (Groups IV, V, and VI) in Chicago public high schools from 2004-2005 school year to the 2005-2006 school year. Ranked by number of suspensions for offenses involving violence. Name of School 2004-2005 2005-2006 Change Change Suspensions for... Violence All Violence All (No.) (Percent) Richards H. S. 23 33 17 35 -6 -26% Hope College Prep H.S. 13 20 16 27 3 23% Calumet H. S. 29 46 13 20 -16 -55% King College Prep H. S. 5 10 13 22 8 160% Westinghouse H. S. AA 17 27 13 20 -4 -24% Payton College Prep H. S. 5 11 12 21 7 140% DuSable 33 53 12 21 -21 -64% Best Practices 6 12 11 17 5 83% Lane Tech Coll. Prep H. S 26 123 11 84 -15 -58% Little Village H.S. 0 0 10 25 10 100% Chicago Academy H.S. 5 8 10 17 5 100% Prosser H.S. 16 31 9 15 -7 -44% Carver Milit Acad H.S. 16 26 7 8 -9 -56% Northside Coll. Prep H. S. 1 2 6 7 5 500% Hancock H.S. 12 16 5 10 -7 -58% Big Picture /Williams H.S. 0 0 5 8 5 100% Brooks College Prep H. S. 2 5 4 9 2 100% Simeon H.S. 3 13 4 9 1 33% Big Picture /Chavez H.S. 3 6 4 5 1 33% Chicago Milit Acad H.S. 22 36 4 14 -18 -82% Jones College Prep H.S. 7 25 4 10 -3 -43% Phoenix Milit.Acad H.S. 22 32 4 12 -18 -82% Southside Occup. H.S. 2 4 3 5 1 50% Young College Prep H.S. 6 22 3 7 -3 -50% Lindblom Math-Sci. H. S. 0 0 2 4 2 100% Graham Training Center 0 0 2 2 2 100% Simpson Acad. H.S. 12 12 2 4 -10 -83% Spalding H.S. (Closed) 0 0 1 2 1 100% Northside Learning Center 3 4 1 1 -2 -67% Hope Middle H.S. 0 0 0 00 Lindblom Coll. Prep H. S. 3 3 0 1 -3 -100% Second Chance Alt. H.S. 2 2 0 0 -2 -100% York Alternative H.S. 0 0 0 00 Cregier Multiplex H.S. 0 0 0 00 Jefferson CTR/Factory 0 0 0 00 Jefferson IDOC/Healy No., 0 2 0 00 Near North H.S. (Closed) 0 0 0 00 DeVry University Aca. H.S. 0 0 0 00 Rickover Navy Acad. H.S. 0 0 0 00 Vaughn Occupational H.S. 8 10 0 0 -8 -100% Notes: “AA” along with the name of a high school indicates the school contains an “Achievement Academy” for students who have not yet passed the 8th grade graduation test criteria but are 16 years of age or older. CPS does not keep anyone 16 years of age or older in elementary schools, but they are not considered full high school students. This chart is based on data supplied by Chicago Public Schools, Office of Communications, November 2006. School names have been rendered as “High School” except in the cases of Occu- pational high schools (which serve special education students) and selective enrollment College Prep high schools. ‘Data Base’: a new service for Substance subscribers By George N. Schmidt ers, whose subscriptions and other sup- erations of the “Data Base” feature in consider other alternatives to this policy (Editor, Substance) port provide all revenues for Substance. each print edition. These charts and for our Data Base and other materials. With this issue of Substance, we If you are reading this article other materials will include data on the Information about subscrip- begin a new service available exclusive but the space above is blank, you are budget of the Chicago Board of Educa- tions to the print edition of Substance is to subscribers to our print editions. reading it in the Web edition of the De- tion, information regarding contractors available on Page Twenty-Four of this “Data Base” will be published cember 2006 Substance, and the chart and consultants working for the Chi- Substance. Information is also available in the print edition of Substance but will contained on these pages has been re- cago Board of Education, and data re- on line at www.substancenews.com. not be available on line in the Substance dacted. If you wish to receive a copy of garding salaries of present and former Substance will not be able to Web site until one year after its publica- the entire chart, please contact Sub- employees of the Chicago Board of Edu- continue publication until we are able tion in the print edition. Our general stance either by phone (773-725-7502) or cation. It is unlikely that our data base to significantly increase the number of policy is to provide the content of the at Csubstance @ aol.com. We will verify materials will provide information subscribers to our print edition. We most recent edition of Substance on line your subscription and provide you with about questions outside of the Chicago hope both our print subscribers and oth- by the 15th day of the month after the the Data Base for this month immedi- Public Schools during the 2006-2007 ers reading this understand and take the data of publication. This service, how- ately. school (and publication) year. necessary steps to keep the information ever, has caused considerable conster- During the coming months, As the publication of a print and analysis of Substance flowing. nation among our paid print subscrib- Substance will publish one or more it- and Web news service evolves, we will Page Ten Substance December 2006 Lincoln Park H.S. conflict continues... the principal — was that Eshoo also Students served as Chicago Teachers Union (CRU) delegate representing the school’s faculty and other union staff. continue Eshoo w–as also one of the top elected officials of the CTU, serving as one of support for six high school vice presidents who rep- resent the city’s 6,000 high school teach- librarian ers on the CTU executive board. In the interviews that follow, we By Joseph Guzman are using the first names of the four stu- It is always refreshing to see dents with whom we talked. young people take a stance against in- “She is willing to go out of her justice and bad role model examples. In way – above and beyond for every- the ongoing development of the Lincoln thing”, Michelle says. Despite the devo- Park High School saga, Substance has tion to the youth and school, the attack had the pleasure to discuss the problem upon Eshoo was because of her outspo- with four exceptionally intelligent and Above: Despite threats (including one student being removed from class by a kenness and support of teacher an stu- articulate students who agreed to an security guard), several Lincoln Park High School students (above) took their pro- dent rights, which had made her a clear extended interview. The students have test against the removal of librarian Bernice Eshoo to the November 15 Board of antagonist of the Principal. been part of the public political process Education meeting. Laura Saltzman (at microphone) told the Board that she had surrounding the decision by Lincoln been threatened by the school administration and that the administration had torn Strange email and Day of Dismissal Park Principal Bessie Karvelas to termi- down announcements concerning the meetings of the Lincoln Park Local School An email was circulated among nate school librarian Bernice Eshoo, a Council in October and November, as well as materials encouraging students to the staff regarding staff cuts, author 17-year Lincoln Park veteran who had attend the November 15 Board of Education meeting. Substance photo by George unknown, but it was suspected that also served as Chicago Teachers Union N. Schmidt. Principal Karvelas penned it, as similar delegate and one of two teacher repre- syntax and grammar were used. A few sentatives on the Lincoln Park LSC. dents over years. open teacher rep seat on the LSC. They days after the e-mail, an ordinary day Not only have Lincoln Park stu- “She kept the library open be- said it was uncertain which of the two in early October greeted Eshoo. She was dents attended meetings of the Local fore and after school, home schooled seats this pertained to, but feared it was in the library helping a student with a School Council in large numbers, but pregnant girls at the Cabrini Green the seat held by Bernie Eshoo. project during second period when one they have also attended Chicago Board housing projects. Eshoo took a number In her work with students and of the assistant principals (there are of Education meetings in October and of students down to New Orleans last for the school, the students reported, three A.P’s at Lincoln Park), entered the November 2006 to speak out against the summer to assist in the Hurricane Eshoo was also assistant coach to the library and was seen talking with Eshoo termination of Eshoo. Katrina recovery effort as part of Ser- softball team, worked with the gospel in plain sight. Eshoo was ordered to So far, most of the story about vice Learning,” they all added as ex- choir, and “has never missed a Lincoln leave her keys at the office immediately the Lincoln Park conflict has been from amples piled out. Park football or basketball game.” and to return to the library until the end the point of view of the adults. This is Bernice Eshoo (known as Eshoo ran the mandatory youth “Ser- of the period. Eshoo was observed part of the students’ story of the condi- “Bernie” to friends and colleagues) also vice Learning” program, in which ev- shaken and emotional after the blitz- tions at Lincoln Park. served as a teacher representative on the ery student must volunteer at least 40 krieg encounter. Students and staff ap- At the heart of the matter and Lincoln Park LSC for a number of years. hours of community service in order to proached her to find out what horrible what sparked the mass protest and in- The students told Substance that an an- graduate (more for the I.B students). thing happened. The assistant principal vestigation of the administration was nouncement at the school was heard What was less visible to the students — returned at the end of the period and the undignified and public dismissal of Thursday on November 30 about an and what got Eshoo into trouble with escorted her out of the building. 17-year veteran teacher librarian — Ms “They just let her sit there and Bernice Eshoo — by the Principal, Bessie cry in front of students and didn’t do Karvelas. After lengthy discussion Continued on Page Eleven throughout the community and at LSC meetings, it was clear that Karvelas’s decision to get rid of Eshoo was made under the pretense of staff cuts due to budget constraints in early October of 2006. Despite Karvelas’s denials that she had the discretionary power, this was confirmed at the November 15 Board of Education meeting by Don Pittman, CPS Chief High School Officer, who told students and reporters (including this reporter and the Chicago Tribune’s Tracey Dell’Angela) that the decision was made by Karvelas, not forced on the school by the Board of Education. At the time of the November 15, 2006, Board of Education meeting, Ms. Eshoo was still receiving her salary till the end of the school year, but she was no longer permitted to teach, work in the library, or do her numerous other Above: Retired high school administra- jobs at Lincoln Park. tor Edward Klunk (above, talking on the Since Eshoo had offered to do side with high schools chief Don Pittman her time as a “reserve teacher” in the at the November 15 Board of Education Lincoln Park library until the June re- meeting) now works as a consultant in tirement of the lone remaining librarian, the Board’s high schools office. Klunk students at the school found this absurd coached Karvelas on how to eliminate and wrong. They told Substance that Eshoo’s position. When Karvelas was they decided among themselves to ad- forced by a Freedom of Information dress this situation, especially given the (FOIA) request to provide e-mails and fact that the lone librarian left at Lincoln other documents showing the careful Park is retiring in June and Ms. Eshoo planning that went into the Eshoo purge, offered to work her “reserve teacher” the Board’s Law Department redacted days at Lincoln Park until then. most of the files [see story, Page Eigh- “Mrs. Eshoo is one of the best Above: An anonymous e-mail was sent to all staff at Chicago’s Lincoln Park High teen] before providing material to Sub- teachers, mentors, and friends that we School last month from someone who had the current e-mail addresses of the stance. Klunk, who is now drawing a students have there” Jeff Pickert, a se- staff. The document had the style of Principal Bessie Karvelas, according to a pension of more than $90,000 per year, nior at Lincoln Park, told Substance. number of staff. Karvelas denied she had produced the document, even though it is just one of many consultants who are Joanna Wolska, Michelle took direct aim at three teachers with whom Karvelas had had disagreements. The allowed by CEO Arne Duncan to exer- Gautier and Laura Saltzman, all seniors, discussion of the three teachers was also in a personal way, just as teachers had cise enormous administrative powers, concurred and added examples of why noted that Karvelas had previously tried to share personal gossip about a Local despite the fact that they are suppos- Eshoo has gained the respect — and, School Council member and others in what many considered an unprofessional edly no longer in office. Substance photo some would say, adoration — of stu- and an inappropriate way. by George N. Schmidt. Substance December 2006 Page Eleven
e-mails have also become an issue. Lincoln Park H.S. tyranny hit Soon after the Palmer/Karvelas Continued from Page Ten phone conversation, a startling, unex- pected and rude announcement was anything about it”, Michelle angrily heard crackling over the school inter- added. com during third period class. Standing The students wondered what policy is that unless a dire emergency is was happening and asked the teachers at hand, no announcements are to be during third period. It was then that the made during class periods, but saved mysterious email was discovered by the for homeroom/division periods. This students, after the fact about the staff day was to be different. cuts. They told Substance they felt shut “It seems like my grandmother out, violated and offended that a be- pushed the issue,” Michelle said. “and loved member of the Lincoln Park fam- after stating that it was not the ily was treated in this manner. They said principal’s responsibility to inform the that many teachers were understand- students, look who’s now on the inter- ably too scared to discuss it with any- com!” body, but just as many were upset and Above: Chicago Board of Education President Rufus Williams (above right, ges- According to the students, could not hide the fact. And as students turing) criticized the Lincoln Park High School students for leaving the school to Karvelas made a ten-minute announce- build up relationships with their teach- bring their protests to the Board of Education meeting. During the two hours prior ment, reading and responding to a stu- ers, what affects them affects the stu- to the presentation by Lincoln Park staff and students, Williams had listened to dent email in a mournful, saddened dents — and all education was put to a teachers, students and parents from more than a dozen Chicago charter schools voice. Paraphrasing what has now be- halt that day as a result of the event. without criticizing anyone for missing work or classes. The biases of the Board come a famous moment in recent Lin- president and Board members (including Clara Muñana, staring at the camera coln Park High School history, the stu- Little Whispers above left) against the public schools becomes more clear to observers of the dents told Substance that Karvelas an- Only those in the general li- Board meetings as the Board rushes to eliminate as many public schools as pos- nounced that she wanted to let the stu- brary area were witnesses to the inci- sible, replacing them with privatization plans usually involving charter schools or dents know what really happened be- dent, but word of the act quickly spread other unproven entities. The Lincoln Park High School controversy was reported cause she was getting a flood of emails. throughout the school. Michelle and to be of particular concern to the Board members because Lincoln Park is one of Karvelas said that the decision to let Laura heard about it in their psychol- the city’s top schools, having even been named by Newsweek magazine as one of Eshoo go was not personal, but in fact ogy class. Students were whispering the top 100 high schools in the United States. Substance photos on this page by was to prevent making mid-term pro- among each other, starting out quietly George Schmidt. gram changes from the budget cuts, and and slowly with only a select few, “Did that she had selected the least important you hear about Ms Eshoo? Did you see them person effecting the students. She also come militarized and a repressive cli- stands the security measures that the kick her out?” stated that Eshoo was not qualified to mate exists” school must implement, but seems like Michelle’s reaction was one of teach any other class. Rounding off the “We know that the principal all students are treated as bad apples shock and disbelief. It then involved the announcement, she also accused teach- had two teachers removed who had and creates a lot of unnecessary conflict. entire classroom, discussing the situa- ers of inciting gossip and rumors. spoken out against her and there were Others have told Substance that tion and all in joint disgust in how it was Jeff says he remembers the in- protests regarding her poor decision,” Karvelas’s administration has devoted handled. Laura and the others sharing tercom speech: “She said that she was Laura added. far too much time to bothering students this story with Substance never would saddened to know which teachers were The removal of Eshoo is one who disagree with the principal’s poli- have believed this. “If you asked any of spreading the lies,” in a veiled threat it that perplexes the students, since the cies and far too little time confronting a the 2,200 students at Lincoln Park which seemed. It affected her personally and other librarian, Mr. McDonald, has growing problems of gangs and vio- teacher would be cut, no one would she was hurt by this too, she concluded. made his retirement at the end of the lence in and around the school. have named Ms. Echoo,” she said. There are recordings of this announce- school year known, and his departure A recent decision that angered “She was the voice for us,” ment floating around, but Substance has will leave Lincoln Park without a librar- many was the diversion of funds from Michelle added. not gotten a copy of any of them yet. ian for next year. the drama department in their produc- Weeks before, the students told Jeff and Joanna were taking an All this has a negative effect tion of “Fiddler on the Roof”. Substance, Karvelas was seen repeat- exam in their Theory of Knowledge upon the student body. Jeff feels that the “The drama teacher put his edly screaming at Eshoo at random class when the intercom unexpectedly impact is a sour one. “We have noticed own money into the production and things in front of students and other blared. “Theory of knowledge is a very a climate of students being treated as if staging. They practiced for months,” teachers. in-depth I..B. Cognitive thinking class, we are not a vibrant part of the school, said Laura and Michelle. But the funds “It was common knowledge examining how you know what you that we don’t matter, and more like that were raised were given to the foot- that there was some tension between the know,” they explained. Karvelas’s an- wards or charges of the school”. ball team, according to the students. The two, way before the position was cut,” nouncement was ironically appropriate And Joanna feels more re- drama department is struggling with said Jeff. to the subject matter, but it disrupted stricted and suffocated. She under- funds and considering that a small fire Substance has learned that one of the most important times in the destroyed a lot of props and equipment, Eshoo, being the union rep, was too I.B. student calendars. The students tak- the drama students felt that 100 percent vocal in her criticisms of some of the ing the exam were getting increasingly of the funds raised by the drama depart- policies and practices that Karvelas was aggravated, torn between listening to ment should have gone to the drama de- bringing to the school. Among these, the principal’s soliloquy and working partment. Substance learned, was the fact that the exam. Jeff said he felt he was being Karvelas was allowing classes and pro- talked down to and told not to fill their An unusual announcement grams to become overcrowded, while heads with such things. Michelle told Substance that providing some staff with additional “I felt the tone she used was she discussed the situation with her overtime pay and reduced workloads. very condescending and constantly re- grandmother, Ms Joan Palmer, the same Eshoo was also well liked in the ferring to us as her children,” he said night Eshoo was dismissed, as she tells school — and many of the students felt irritably. her everything. She said that Ms Palmer that rubbed the Principal the wrong way Joanna was not aware what was and others felt that there had to be some- from Day One. going on and was trying to figure out thing sinister behind it. She called the All agreed, however, that the why this disruption of the exam. The principal’s office, but kept getting the basic problem was that Eshoo wouldn’t Theory of Knowledge class was given runaround. “She’s in a meeting, she’s ignore injustice. Michelle and Laura five more minutes to complete the exam, out of the office” etc…” agree that if something was apparently but it was hardly enough. “Students When asked what this was re- wrong, Eshoo would speak out about were making hand gestures of anguish,” garding, she told the office that her it, “Clearly [Karvelas] didn’t want any- say Jeff, “You can’t write and complete granddaughter deserved an explanation body up against her.” these really big tests and listen to this on what’s going on. Ms. Palmer kept It is felt that since Karvelas has stuff coming out of the intercom and do been principal, (about three years), that calling. She finally was successful in Above: Retired Lincoln Park High both well.” vindictive and petty power plays from reaching Karvelas around 9:00 a.m. and School teacher Jim Gibbons, above, Laura and Michelle were in the main office have become the norm. was told that is not her responsibility to continued to attempt to present his ar- psychology class when the announce- The students interviewed by Substance inform the students on what occurred, guments politely even after Board Presi- ment surprised them. They felt their day were at the school before Karvelas be- but the teacher’s responsibility to share dent Rufush Williams became rude and disrupted and in disbelief. “I felt she came principal, and faculty members the news. In contrast to the phone con- tried to claim that Gibbons’s information was trying to prove herself, what is she have confirmed this feeling. versation, however, Substance learned was “hearsay” at the same time the trying to do, why is she making a fool Michelle and Jeff said, “We that teachers were strictly told not to Board’s Law Department was denying out of herself?” says Michelle. “Why did have seen the change in the school since share anything with the students be- Substance access to the documents she feel she had to justify herself if we our freshman year, when we had an in- cause it was not their responsibility. But and e-mails showing the Karvelas and are not at her level like she told us?” terim principal. When Karvelas arrived, surprisingly, Karvelas apparently was staff the the Board’s high schools office “The administration is not well things started to change. It feels like this corresponding with some students, as had worked carefully to purge Eshoo liked at the school,” said Laura, even was the year that Karvelas has put down she told Palmer that she was letting from the school’s staff because she was among the double honor students, and her rules. It also seems like she has put some students know through e-mail. As an outspoken union delegate and ad- fewer like Karvelas for personal reasons. her foot down and the school has be- the situation has developed, Karvelas’s vocate for teacher and student rights. Continued on Page Eighteen Page Twelve Substance December 2006 Boardwatch Charter school orgy dominates November meeting of Chicago Board of Education
Tony Pajakowski told the Board that he was working Chicago International Charter School (CICS) received Despite major problems at the $21 million “Aspira to end the “culture of failure” at Calumet High School, an additional $2.7 million from the Chicago Board of Haugan” charter school on the northwest side, Aspira which is being turned over to Perspecives Charter Education to open another “campus” at the shuttered was granted an additional $5.4 million by the Novem- School, where Pajakowski works. The 2004 closing Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School on the ber 2006 Chicago Board of Education meeting. Above, of Calumet was offiicially because of safety concerns, northwest side. Beth Purvis, director, did not respond Mary Rawlins speaks while Jose Rodriguez and oth- not academic failure, despite Pajakowski’s slanders. to community opposition to the plan. ers look on.
Above: Part of the group that is receiving nearly $1 million to open the “Polaris” charter school in the Morse Elementary School building at 620 N. Sawyer Ave. In addition to the charter schools noted in the photographs on these pages, the Chicago Board of Education approved several others, either as new charter schools or as expanded “campuses” of exist- ing charter schools. The total amount approved for Confirming rumors that began when Arne Duncan announced he was closing Collins High School, staff of the expanding Chicago’s charters at the November 15 “North Lawndale College Preparatory Charter High School” were told they are receiving an additional $1.8 Board meetings was in excess of $30 million, although million plus the Collins building. Above, Charles Martin speaks while John Horan (left) looks on. Photos this charter schools are not itemized in the annual CPS page by George N. Schmidt, Substance. budget.
schools, bringing the number to more ing on the clock for those events. The of the city’s most prestigious public high Charter adulation than 60 despite the fact that state law presentations are then used to further schools. While Williams smiled, he told Continued from Page One says that Chicago is to have no more market the charter schools. At the same the students that they should have been than 30 charter schools. time, the Board President (both Michael in class, and tried to bait a retired Lin- ing, it was clear to informed observers Of the 61 people signed up for Scott and now Rufus Williams) issued coln Park teacher who joined the stu- that officials from one of the Board’s public participation at the November criticisms of students and teachers from dents in opposition to the termination most expensive administrative depart- meeting of the Chicago Board of Edu- the city’s remaining public schools of Lincoln Park librarian Bernice Eshoo. ments organized dozens of teachers, ad- cation, 46 were brought to the meeting when they attend the same meetings to Although the orgy of adulation ministrators, and students from the through the “New Schools” bureau- speak out on important matters. In De- for the charter schools and their gener- city’s growing number of charter cracy at Clark St. and spoke in favor of cember 2004, for example, hundreds of ally unfounded claims of “success” schools to attend the meeting and con- the charters. Without discussion or de- students from Senn High School walked (even from those schools that have vir- tinue the regular chorus of praise for the bate, the Board voted to approve more out and went to the Board meeting to tually no record — like many of the illegal expansion of charters in Chicago. than $30 million in additional charter protest the Board vote (which took place “campuses” of Chicago International — And while most of those who tried to schools (and so-called “campuses”) dur- that day) to place a “military academy” and from those whose years have been attend the monthly school board meet- ing the business portion of the meeting. inside Senn. The students were warned marked by controversy and failure — ing to speak out on the problems in the Many long-time Board observ- they might be arrested for “truancy” like the Aspira charter school at the shrinking number of public schools, ers have noted that in the past three when they showed up at 125 S. Clark “New Haugan”) both the CEO and the highly paid CPS bureaucrats reserved years, the Duncan administration has St., and as a result a large number left members of the Chicago Board of Edu- seats for the charter schools contingent routinely encouraged charter school without attending the Board meeting. cation show their ongoing opposition to and assisted them in other ways. operators to attend Board meetings and In November 2006, a combina- the city’s public schools and their will- To no one’s surprise, the Chi- promote their activities, even while tion of intimidation at Lincoln Park ingness to continue spending millions cago Board of Education, unanimously bringing students who are supposed to High School and criticism from Board of dollars on charters. and without debate, approved another be in class and teachers and adminis- President Rufus Williams chilled pro- radical expansion of the city’s charter trators who are supposed to be work- tests by students and teachers from one Substance December 2006 Page Thirteen Boardwatch October 25 Board of Education meeting By Lotty Blumenthal After the Chicago Board of questioned other problems in the Advisory Council asked the Board for a Education finished honoring many school. five-year lease for the Parent Resource people and students, the public partici- The principal then took the Service Center. The parent group has pation at the October 25, 2006, Chicago other librarian out of the library and into been “homeless” for more than five Board of Education meeting began with the closed attendance office, leaving years. They wanted a site with at least Jose Ocampo of Advanced Youth Lead- Eshoo alone in the library. Then, after five years of stability and restoration of ership Power (AYLP) criticizing the spe- the 20th day, she cut Eshoo’s position. $300,000 in operating funds. Currently, cial education cuts. Even though some One of the things that resulted they are without a budget. positions had been won back in some in a conflict between Eshoo and the Alice Hill-Richards gave a de- schools, IEP’s for individuals were not principal was that Eshoo reported un- tailed and accurate account of Federal being implemented. He talked of indi- balanced, overcrowded classes: two Funds distribution under NCLB. She vidual cases — such as male teachers teachers with class loads of more than gave the Board a packet with statistics having to take female students to the 140 were examples. and charts. She said, “Funds are miss- toilet — because the aides were laid off, Joanna Wolska, a Lincoln Park ing.” She asked for a timeline for resto- and students being strapped to seats student talked about the importance to ration of funds for parents. Lyvetter Irv- because of no attendant. Ocampo is in a her life of Ms Eshoo’s mentoring and ing also spoke of NCLB. She asked for wheelchair. abuses by the administration and library conference funding to be restored. Curtis Harris of AYLP talked of access. She spoke of the reaction of the Williams responded that the the laid off aides for students with au- Amisha Patel of SEIU Local 73 spoke student body, which was appalled at the budget department would meet with tism. The current services were inad- about the special education cuts. She unjust actions of the principal. She also them and that money isn’t missing, it’s equate for having any of the challenged is flanked by Jitu Brown (left) of KOCO said the principal told her and students just not where all can see it. Unfortu- students reach their potential for either and Frank Klein (right) of SEIU 73. Sub- the library was open when it was not. nately, no one laughed. Hill-Richards test scores or admittance to college, said stance photo by George Schmidt. She asked for the return of the librarian did say that federal mandates are for Harris, who has autism and is presently since there’s supposed to be one for each parental activities, not allocated to ad- a journalist. cases of injustice from the board, shows 500 students, and there are over 2,000 ministrative costs. He said, “That makes Amber Smock of Access Living all good, new teachers why they should students in the school. the money missing.” Williams urged a talked of the suffering caused to chal- not stay with CPS. If people are looking Jeffery Pickert, a Lincoln Park meeting. lenged students because of the lack of for a reason for teacher turnover, here’s student, also spoke on this topic. He said Maureen Savas, principal of school funding sources. Oddly, there one of the reasons. Eshoo represented the best of what Lin- Nightingale schoo,l said that the school seems to be no shortage in funding 45 Speaker number seven was coln Park is as well as a librarian, men- has been overcrowded for 19 years and to 60 charter schools where no cuts in Bernice (“Bernie”) Eshoo, a displaced tor, sponsor and friend. He said, “The taken many measures to deal with it. services seem to occur or in administra- teacher who had served as librarian at very best of what Lincoln Park is about With a charter and choice school, they tive perks like television and publicity Lincoln Park High School for more than is embodied in this woman.” He be- went off of controlled enrollment, only contracts. Renee Grant Mitchell ex- 16 years. She is displaced because her lieved the firing was political since the to have a boundary change increasing plained funding. Williams thanked her principal went out to get her. Eshoo was budget problem could be solved in other it size. After a September meeting on for coming. Smock, who is deaf, spoke both the CTU delegate and teacher rep- ways. Pickert said that economically boundaries, the LSC met with the de- to the Board half in American Sign Lan- resentative on the LSC. The principal disadvantaged students were most af- mographics department. Savas thanked guage and half voicing. had to make a budget cut of one faculty fected by this situation, since Eshoo is James Despenza of the demographics Christopher Persons of Senn member. The school’s population is well their mentor for research with comput- department for coming to an agreement High School spoke in opposition of the over 2,000. Lincoln Park High School ers. Pickert said that he has computers good for all. Paula Jeske of Casals also Rickover Naval Academy taking over a also has a high profile IB program in at his home. He said that for others the said that Despenza and his staff came wing at Senn High School. which the students need to do much loss of library time has caused their out to her school and alleviated all fears It is the wing with all science labs. The research. At the beginning of the 2006- classwork to be late or poor because of and problems with boundary changes 200 Naval Academy students have sci- 2007 school year, Eshoo was one of two the loss both the computer time and to everyone’s satisfaction and lauded ence in real labs with real experiments. librarians, a number far below the rec- help in the library since many Lincoln his efforts. The 1,500 regular students at Senn get a ommended number of librarians by fed- Park students have fewer resources at Mitch Hutton of Pritzker talked cart that rolls into a classroo). Persons eral education suggestions, State Board home. He also said that the fervor and of the need for correcting physical plant told of the Town Hall meeting of Sep- guidelines, professional organization energy of the students would continue damage that may be unsafe, and edu- tember 26, the majority of the commu- standards, or even past practices of the until resolved. cation being disrupted by classes hav- nity being against the military school’s Chicago Board of Education. Eshoo has Williams responded by saying ing split grade levels and overcrowded. presence. He asked Board President 17 years of service with a superior rat- that they’d all look into it, that the words Repairs and asbestos removal were hin- Rufus Williams to attend or send a des- ing. Many faculty and staff have less of student are important, and they dered by removal of an engineer for ignee to a October 10th meeting at 7:00 seniority. But the unprincipled princi- should return to school where he be- theft, the new good engineer who wrote p.m. Williams said he did not see the pal chose to eliminate her position. A lieved they lawfully belonged; however, up work orders unexplained removal, value of continuing open discussion and normal principal, not an “odd” one or if the students parents gave permission and apparently whoever was there now would not attend. Persons gave evi- evil one, would do what most do, for them to be there, it was lawful. was not following through on already dence of the majority of the ward of the choose the one with the lowest senior- Michelle Clyburn thanked the written work orders. Also buses were school being against it. Persons is run- ity in the largest department and make Board for her child’s wonderful charter late. Duncan had him meet with Chris ning for Alderman with the slogan other adjustments. The principal at Lin- school. in charge of physical plants and said “People for Persons” in the election on coln Park did not do that. According to Betty De’cou of Morgan Park he’d look into the bus and class situa- February 27, 2007. Anyone interested in student speakers, the library is now thanked Dr. Pittman for his personal tions. more information should call 773 250 closed either early or later in the day or help and counsel after her son was at- Amisha Patel of SEIU asked if 3225. open during a period in the day with a tacked first in November of 2005 and the Board members were bored, irri- library person who does not know how again in February of 2006. He is now in tated, annoyed by the constant barrage Security issues to aid students in the library. the U.S. Air Force and will graduate of parents, students, LSC members, Security issues were almost as In addition, the remaining li- from its training in November. Williams community members constantly talking important to the Board’s October meet- brarian is listed to retire in June. There’s thanked her and said he’d relay the of the problems caused by cutting spe- ing as the special education cuts. a national and state need for librarians. message to the missing Pittman. cial ed aids. She said that the suffering Terence Gadsden of Penn Elementary With a shortage, one would think the Danilyn Rutherford of Blair of the students as well as employees talked about police protection in the librarian would be one of the last people Early Childhood Center told of the hor- lives by this action would end if the cuts schools. Apparently, without warning, cut. The editor of this paper talked to rors created by the sustained budget were restored. the police who had been assigned to the the principal who could not explain her cuts of personnel from special education She then turned the micro- school and area were taken away. Prior “reasoning.” Mrs. Eshoo, in addition to at Blair where most students are listed phone to Rhonda Cross of Everett to police presence, there was much vio- her library duties, coached softball, as severe and profoundly challenged. School, whose daughter’s IEP was given lence. That abated with the advent of chaperoned events, never missed a bas- There are unsafe conditions to the Board. Cross talked of how her police. He cited incidents of crime near ketball game, did homebound for indis- during fire drills and on buses, IEP’s are daughter was doing well until her aide the school. He said he had left messages posed students including in the Cabrini not being enacted, 15 students have was cut. Now her daughter often was for his alderman, Andres Durbak (the Green area, and mentored students in been added the special ed school’s being attended by other students or was Board’s director of security and safety), other school groups academically. As population while cuts have remained. without an aid, causing her to fall be- and the local police commander. None part of the LSC that hired the principal, A petition has over 400 signatures and hind academically as well as physically of them returned a call to him or the all was well until Eshoo — doing her letters have been sent to the Law De- on school premises, become a discipline school. Duncan said he’d have his staff LSC and delegate job — spoke out about partment. Williams thanked her for problem, and have health issues. look into it and send him a reply. He the strange way the principal handled coming, said they were running more Renee Grant Mitchell came to added that Durbak was present and the budget, criticizing the expenditure fire drills, and looking into the situations the microphone to say that the day be- would talk to him. of funds for a new Assistant Principal brought to them. fore, an instructional aide had been The next issue, one of the great by closing the attendance office and Lydnice Morris of the Citywide Continued on Page Fourteen Page Fourteen Substance December 2006 Every day is Christmas in the Department of Daley… ‘Intergovernmental Affairs’ hand extended into CPS despite the pious Daley myths By Frank Coconate They should call it the “Depart- (don’t you love that title, when you child welfare attendants, and special ment of Daley” instead of the Chicago think about it) except Chicago Public education classroom assistants. More Park District, City of Chicago, Metro- Schools. than 700 of those people — some of the politan Water Reclamation District, De- Is it that CPS is the only clean lowest paid in the school system — lost partment of Aviation, and Chicago governmental agency in the Chicago their jobs at CPS because of the budget Board of Education. But it at least de- area — or that reporters and investiga- cuts. serves a closer look. tors have been covering up the patron- At the same time, a few people Two days before Thanksgiving, age hiring at CPS since Mayor Daley with interesting job titles kept their the headlines read: “Sorich gets 46 took over the schools in 1995? $100,000 a year jobs, while a few others months... Daley’s ex-patronage chief If you think there was a cover were hired (while the CWAs and SECAs refuses to apologize” and the story was up, stay in touch. were being fired) into very high paying that Sorich had received a sentence of Let’s take a few questions that jobs (at $70,000 an up)? three years and ten months in federal need to be answered about CPS before Over the next several issues of prison after being convicted in a hiring anyone but someone who still believes Substance, City Beat will be asking more scheme to make sure that the mayor’s in the tooth fairy can accept that “CPS questions and publishing the answers supporters got important jobs in city stayed clean” stuff. we get. And when people like the Board departments. In news reports, Sorich How many people called of Education’s “Chief of Staff” say the was described as “a top aide in Daley’s “Chief of Staff” did CPS have before answers to those questions are none of Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.” Mayor Daley took over the schools in our business, we’ll be publishing those One of the most interesting 1995? How many are there now (at sala- “None of your business letters” here as things about the recent revelations re- ries above $100,000 per year) and where well. garding all of the hiring scandals of the did they come from? The Christmas Holiday season Daley administration is that they in- If CPS is so clean, why does the is a time to believe in wonderful things, volve every governmental part of Chi- “Terry” Garate (above, at the June 20, current Chief of Staff, Hosannah it’s true. But anyone who believes that cago (and Cook County) government 2006, budget hearings at Lincoln Park Mahaley Johnson, deny Freedom of In- “Intergovernmental Affairs” stopped at except one: The Chicago Board of Edu- High School) ) didn’t get her $105,000 formation Act (FOIA) requests for the the doors of the city’s public schools cation. per year job at the top of the Board of work histories of the school system’s top when Richard M. Daley took over the According to the official version Education’s Office of Specialized Ser- executives? And while we’re at it, where school system probably also believes of reality, Sorich corrupted hiring at City vices by working as a child welfare at- did Hosannah work (while Sorich was that his children’s Christmas presents Hall, the Park District, and numerous tendant, special education teacher or in “Intergovernmental Affairs”) before were brought to the house on a sleigh other public agencies throughout Chi- case manager in Chicago’s public she came down the street to CPS head- pulled by a bunch of reindeer follow- cago and the Cook County suburbs. schools. Her City Hall experiences were quarters at 125 S. Clark St. ing one whose nose looked like an 11th Members of HDO (the Hispanic Demo- the only qualifications for the job of “Di- Everyone knows that CPS sup- Ward voter after finishing his election cratic Organization first exposed as a rector” in the CPS Office of Specialized posedly had to make big cuts in this day rounds at Schaller’s Pump. patronage center in new reports) were Services. Schmidt photo. year’s budget in order to balance that Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is among those who received highly paid budget. One large batch of those cuts about as real as the claim that Mayor (and not so highly paid) jobs and were Every part of government in came out of the special education people Daley’s patronage (er., “Intergovern- expected to work the precincts for Daley Chicago and Cook County came under making between $20,000 a year and mental”) army stopped before it got to and those Daley supported. Sorich’s “Intergovernmental Affairs” $35,000 a year, working as bus aides, the schoolhouse door.
cess. She spoke of the needs of children Kenwood-Oakland Community Orga- suspended, while none of the Crash October 25 and the longer school day allowing for nization (KOCO) was making his first Town gang members are suspended — a recess break. She spoke in favor of appearance to let the Board know that Continued from Page Thirteen even when an assistant principal and dodgeball. Williams said he too was in his group is monitoring the effects of other staff were witnesses and saw one hired. However, no one told Cross just favor of recess. school closings, especially in his area. incident. The administrator keeps sus- as Cross was not notified after 10 days Joyce Chapman LSC Chair of He said the displacement of students, pending the victims, Collins charged. that she had lost the aide. Then the aide Brooks Academy, thanked James staff and location has brought violence Collins named five people who who had been with Cross’ daughter for Deanes for past help. She then gave a to schools like Hyde Park and Dyett. wrote letters because of the same prob- the last four years came and told detailed account of how the Brooks LSC Receiving schools never receive re- lem. Andres Durbak, the Board’s secu- Duncan that since she was cut for followed the state law in filling a va- sources as books and teachers before the rity chief, said because of the letters po- “budget” reasons, four new people had cancy of principal for the school. She students. When a school is re-opened, lice were able to identify “Crash Town been hired in the last week. said that members of the LSC chose a children who live across the street can’t Members.” There were more unan- Cross asked if the aid would person with no high school experience go there because it is now a school to swered questions than answers after the follow her child since she is changing in July. Mr. Williams suggested in Sep- which one must apply, sending children presentation: The question is why are schools because of unsafe conditions for tember that the LSC go on a field trip of greater distances from their homes with these people who keep beating up oth- her child at Everett. Mitchell said yes. three top high schools. Chapman said no transportation provided. In fact, no ers still in school? Why are only victims, Duncan said if anyone’s IEP requires an such a field trip would violate the open one has no one monitoring any effects. or one side only, suspended? aide, an aide will be provided. meetings law. They again remained Bennett said they are. When the public participation Sylvester Hendricks asked for resolute in choosing the same person. Board member Norman Bobins portion of the meeting ended, the board a moment of silence for all recently de- The Board had not ratified this decision said he’d been a member for ten years called the regular Board Meeting to or- ceased, then brought a junior at Walter by October. and thought that low enrollment or poor der. The presentation was about math- Payton whose problem has not been re- Howard White of Curtis was performance were the reasons for clos- ematics programs in elementary schools solved from last month because, he said, very angry because the AIO for five ings. Bennett challenged Bobins on the involving teacher training and coordi- the principal at the school is not co years has given him trouble. The latest issue, but nothing was resolved at the nating with high school entrance for stu- perating. is that the previous principal has been meeting. dents. Then two Board policy changes A long conversation followed gone since June. The AIO said he had Sharon Adams told of LSC were read: one involved student privacy about the practical nursing program. the right to choose an interim. Law says problems at Arthur Ashe school. She and the other when incidents of tests Amy Zimmerman of Inter- only Duncan appoints an interim. A let- said there was wrongful electioneering scores being missing and needed for American Magnet Elementary School ter in writing should have been sent to at the last LSC election on the part of school entrance, then an average of two praised the Board for its new facility the LSC of any such appointment. Of one person; a gerrymandered hearing previous years’ tests would be used. after temporary schools. The Board got course, no such letter has arrived; but a was held with outproper testimony. The Then the Board went into closed session. $24 million for the old site, she said. person claiming to be the appointee has wrongful person was not removed as However, few of the repairs for the new and began changing all locks, making stated since she was secretary at a meet- site have been made — like the kitchen, derogatory remarks about the previous ing for which Adams used freedom of floors, playground and gym. There are principal with the AIO claiming that information to obtain the notes. She Got a juicy tip? meetings each week on the repairs but there is no vacancy in the job. The LSC asked for Rocks to meet with her and Substance is waiting to hear from not one person representing the parents, would like to begin a new principal ad- others to see to the removal of the you. Be sure you are ready to verify students, or LSC have been allowed to vertisement and search. Obviously, the wrongly elected person. your information. We have be there. The meetings of only adminis- last principal is gone, and anyone is in Paul Collins of Harper High protected confidential sources for trators bar them. Duncan had that job not chosen by the LSC, then School, a school victimized by “bound- 32 years, but you have to be able to Zimmerman talk to Chris Rule about re- there is indeed a vacancy. Williams and ary changes,” talked of safety. Collins is prove what you’re saying. We do pairs and representation. Eason-Watkins passed the buck to Board on the LSC. He said that a gang called not take anonymous phone calls Amy Lux of Coalition for Attorney Rocks, who said he’d respond “Crash Town” seems to have clout with either. Call 773-725-7502 or e-mail Children’s Health thanked Arne in writing to White after research. the administration since they keep beat- us at Csubstance @ aol.com. Duncan for his position in favor of re- Shannon Bennett of the ing up Collins’ two sons, who are then Substance December 2006 Page Fifteen Letters Alderman Senn students have contributed to the local community not ambitious? Has Mary Ann she ever recognized that? I wonder if her attitude would be any different if she Smith still showed up at just one of the countless events in which Senn students have vol- slandering unteered. Perhaps if she attended one of the projects when over 100 Senn stu- dents served at the Broadway Armory Senn Improvement Days, the Senn Play Lot November 18, 2006 Community Build, or the Osterman Finally, the truth about Senn Beach Clean-Ups, just to name a few. High School – and the 48th Ward’s Al- So I ask Alderman Smith –— derman, Mary Ann Smith why aren’t you singing our praises? The 48th Ward deserves the Why do you continue to speak nega- sity of Chicago’s charter school, which truth about Senn High School and if you tively about our students and staff? is taking over part of our building. The attended the Candidate’s Forum at St. When are you going to start showing Wadsworth U of C will not use some of them until a Gertrude’s Church on Saturday, Octo- support for Senn? Why is the glass per- year from now. ber 28, 2006, you certainly didn’t get that petually half-empty? Such pessimism under attack We were promised that a re- from Alderman Mary Ann Smith. When should not reside in our local political placement of one computer lab will be she stated that there was “no ambition” leaders. It is time for leadership in the by University built, and we were told would also get at Senn High School, I could not believe 48th ward that will show support for the 60 laptop computers, carts and chang- my ears. She was attacking the integrity local schools, not bash them in public of Chicago ers. This has not happened as of this of the dedicated people at the one pub- time and time again. writing. Everything started without the lic high school in her ward! And it was Respectfully submitted, and CPS ‘New Local School Council or community in- completely unfounded. As a long-time Sara Leven put. Many promise after the fact was faculty member at Senn High School, I Senn High School Schools’ office made — and these promise were later particularly took offense to the com- [email protected] broken. ments. October 31, 2006 We were told that our comput- No ambition she said? Did Senn To: George N. Schmidt ers should be put in storage in a CPS not show ambition when in 2002 the Editor Substance building or we should give those com- school was recognized as a National Thanks for your speedy reply puters to another school. Our computer Service Learning Leader School? It is, Is Americorps to my email. I really would like for you program served all of our student daily perhaps, forgivable that she did not at- to visit Wadsworth and see for yourself — Pk - the eighth grade. Every day, the tend the celebratory assembly to which subsidizing what is going on here. We have written U of C Police come to the campus park she was invited in recognition of this hundreds of letters and made many at our school and tell our students that accomplishment. But as a matter of Chicago phone calls in trying to attain a solution they have to go home. This in fact makes courtesy, a reply to the invitation would to our problems. out students feel that they have commit- have been nice. Other dignitaries, in- charter Our classrooms are too small; ted a crime. Our students only have cluding Senator Dick Durbin, Congress- we have lost almost our whole educa- about 20 minute to eat lunch, after they woman Jan Schakowsky, the United schools? tional program. Every year we have are seated from getting their lunch they States Secretary of Education, the Illinois progress and as of the last school year have only minutes before they have to Secretary of Education, and the Direc- November 15, 2006 came off of probation with high honors. leave the lunch room. tor of Learn and Serve America in Wash- Dear Substance: Yet we have lost three large Again, I am inviting you to visit ington, D.C., took the time to congratu- Keep up the good work. En- computer labs with 30 -32 computers in Wadsworth. late us. Even the President of the United closed is our renewal. each, science and math labs, reading and Thanks again. States wrote a letter of congratulations, I was just wondering. Are you math stations in each classroom, all of Darnell T. Glover, President but apparently the school’s very own and your readers aware that Americorps our large classrooms. How? The Univer- Wadsworth Elementary School LSC alderman hadn’t the time to do so. Is it people are being placed in charter not the responsibility of the Alderman schools as “tutors”? I don’t know the to show support for the schools in her arrangement, but it reeks of more of my district? I have heard Alderman Smith tax money going to charter schools. A time after time speak negatively, not daughter of a friends joined Americorps positively about the students, faculty, to help pay off her students loan and and staff at Senn High School. I believe has been placed in Noble Street Charter she not only owes a public apology to School. the school, but she needs to begin show- Bonita Lyles ing support instead of disgust. Chicago Let’s get back to ambition. Was [email protected] it not ambitious for Senn to apply for and receive acceptance as an Interna- tional Baccalaureate School? Was it not ambitious for Senn students and teach- How to publish your ers to work towards making it one of November 2006. Above (above and be- Corrections and the most successful IB programs in the letter in Substance low the Wadsworth letter). Parents and city of Chicago? I suppose in Alderman Regular readers who wish to teachers at Wadsworth Elementary clarifications Smith’s mind, this is not ambition. But publish letters in Substance are encour- School in Chicago warn that the Chi- Although we try to verify the how would she know any of this any- aged to do so. cago Board of Education’s Office of New accuracy of all information published as way? When was the last time she was Letters should be submitted by Schools Development is working with fact in these pages, like everyone in the even in the Senn High School building e-mail to Csubstance @aol.com and be the University of Chicago to force com- real world, we sometimes slip. Without walking around, visiting classrooms to as brief as necessary to cover the topic munity residents out of the school and an infallible miracle management team see the wonderful learning that is tak- chosen. to end the Local School Council. The to guide us, we err, then try to correct ing place in her ward? Not since I have All letters must be signed and photo at the top of the page shows our errors. been here, and that’s about ten years. are encouraged to include an e-mail or Wadsworth in early November 2006. If you think that an error has She did, I believe, make an appearance other address so that interested readers The photo below the letter shows the appeared in the news or analysis articles at the opening of the Rickover Naval can communicate. broken swings in the Wadsworth playlot. in Substance, please let us know pre- Academy, a school whose installation in Anyone who wishes to know The pattern of placing a charter school cisely and we will make a correction if Senn High School she approved despite how our Letters policies are imple- in one part of a regular public schools it is deemed warranted. overwhelming opposition to it in her mented can browse the letters available and then strangling the public schools We are aware that every issue very own community. on our website (www. substance from the inside of its own building be- of Substance contains typographical er- So, on what is Alderman Smith news.com) or e-mail the office for ex- came CPS policy three years ago un- rors and slips in proofreading that basing this “no ambition” claim? Noth- amples. der Arne Duncan and was first used on should have been caught. These are the ing; because in actuality, she has no idea Because of our limited budget, Chicago’s West Side. According to par- results of a newspaper that works on about the incredibly ambitious faculty we generally do not find the space to ents, it is now being used by the school difficult deadlines with an all-volunteer and staff and the hardworking students publish letters which come from those board’s $5 million “New Schools” office staff. We are well aware of typos and of Senn who extend their efforts well who are not regular readers. When we against schools on both the west and proofreading errors and do not need to beyond the opening and closing bells of are in doubt, we check with our sub- south sides. Substance photo by have those brought to our attention un- the school day. Were the (approxi- scriber list before making a decision. George N. Schmidt. less they make meaning unclear. mately) 100,000 hours of service that Letters. Csubstance @aol.com Corrections. Csubstance @aol.com Page Sixteen Substance December 2006 Mother threatened with arrest at Jahn school for defending rights of disabled seven-year-old son charged that schools are under pressure By George N. Schmidt Gettleman to deny a motion for an in- reduced. The complete motion filed on from Duncan’s budget office to change Lawyers representing the fam- junction barring the Chicago Board of behalf of the Valenzuela family appears IEPs and end the use of one-on-one ily of a disabled first grade child will be Education from carrying out $26.5 mil- on this page. Attorneys expect that it aides, even for the most disabled chil- in federal court at noon on Friday, De- lion in special education cuts, Board ex- will be a factor in the December 8 court dren. The Jahn school case is evidence cember 8, to argue that they should be ecutives and attorneys celebrated and hearings. Since June, CPS CEO Arne that those charges have merit and that allowed to intervene in the Corey H case told the press they had won a “victory”. Duncan has carefully crafted his words administrative sophistries are being on behalf of their client. Apparently, at the same time, regarding the special education cuts, challenged, even if it means that fami- After a controversial October 4 they issued orders to schools that spe- stating precisely that “No IEP” will be lies risk the loss of jobs defending their decision by U.S. District Judge Robert cial education services should be further violated. Students and teachers have children’s rights. Substance December 2006 Page Seventeen Subscripts Continued from Page Twenty-Three (some, in the traditions of Lorraine mayor had fired were alcoholics. Now world of anonymous acronyms. After “Raisin in the Sun” author Lorraine Hansberry) and what our readers think we learn that in Chicago, we’re paying that, we’ll discuss why SNAFU is now Hansberry and Chicago Teachers Union of the hypocrisy of those earning six fig- cops to hunt down truants. (Honest, Arne Duncan’s middle name (and what President Marilyn Stewart, is being con- ure salaries (despite their lack of teach- read on). Since dumping the truant of- the acronym means), and how staffing verted into a quasi-privatized charter ing experience) whose careers are built ficers, Daley has forced his supine Board an office like “New Schools Develop- school for guys. (Admissions require- on engineering such atrocities — while of Education (appointed by Daley) and ment” with arrogant $100,000-a-year ments; restrictions; but most impor- they parade some of their qualifications his craven Schools CEO (ditto) to pay FNGs is not a really cool way to make tantly, the big sign over the door, and as coming from their “feminist” stuff… Chicago cops to be truant officers — at schools better and will lead to more and not funny like in Peanuts: NO GIRLS a cost of more than $8 million per year more SNAFUs in the coming years — ALLOWED). Second, every media …Here is a story you can bet we’ll to the Board of Education (not the city even if our colleagues in the Chicago event about the conversion trashes never read in Chicago about Chicago budget, which is separate). Why aren’t media continue to play lapdog for the Englewood and praises the huckster and Chicago’s mayor. On November similar stories in Chicago’s daily news- Daley Miracle Show. But for this month, (and that’s the only word for Tim King, 17, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported: papers? In Philadelphia, reporters are let’s stick with “STM.” There is a group who’s now up and running with his “Big city mayors have a lot on their minds. still allowed by their editors, publish- in New York that’s been meeting Sun- Chicago guys’ school inside Lindblom) It’s a mark of the urgency with which he ers and owners to ask critical questions. days calling itself “STM.” That stands who’s replacing Englewood. Third, the views the truancy problem in the city that Sometimes a major story bubbles up for “Shit, tomorrow’s Monday.” Any Chicago Board of Education devoted its it apparently is near the fore of Mayor John through the cracks of “school reform” teacher in a hard core school can relate considerable propaganda resources to Street’s mind lately. On Wednesday, he com- when the answer reveals that more than to that. Once STM has been freed, we assuring that “Urban Prep” (King’s new mitted $3 million in city money to put 400 30,000 kids cut school. In Chicago, the might consider going on to FNG. school for guys, which currently has more Philadelphia truant officers (PTOs) on major newspapers get their “news” at Trouble is, in both Chicago and New about 100 students) skewered all the the streets to check on absent children in the editorial board briefings (often, com- York, that is more and more a phrase coverage and headlines during the Philadelphia schools. The mayor has brought plete with Power Point) from the describing CEOs, top “education” ex- opening of school, even going so far as up the subject of truancy in many of his mayor’s propagandists. So, for example, ecutives, principals, and “master teach- to putting Rufus Williams on stage for public appearances during the last month, the City Hall stories should all carry the ers”… Nowadays, the less you know the opening publicity stunt on behalf of often promising to announce a major tru- by-line “By Jacqueline Heard” (the and the less experience you have, the Urban Prep. Fourth (and finally, but not ancy initiative soon. Wednesday soon ar- mayor’s press secretary). The public better you are to be overpaid to “think last), the bureaucrats who approved Tim rived. Mayor Street repeatedly has said he education stories might as well all carry outside the box” and burst a few para- King’s thingy were led by a bunch of believes the city has a responsibility to edu- the by-line “By Peter Cunningham” (the digms — or at least make them “shift.” women (although not African American cate all of its children and, to the best of its $120,000 per year CPS consultant who They’re still FNGs in the real world, but ones) who apparently don’t see any ability, insure all children are in school dur- serves as chief of “Communications”). lately fantasy has been the rage in more problem in slandering and destroying ing regular school hours. That’s not happen- Why bother spending corporate dollars than baseball and football… the education of the majority of ing in Philadelphia, where it’s reported at (from Tribune Inc. or the Sun-Times Englewood’s current students (those least 32,000 children a day are absent from Group) when you can get the news pre- …Speaking of FNGs and other erotica young women still in the building) so school…” As Chicago’s underground packaged from the multi-million dollar and exotica, we wonder whether they can continue to push their “vision” historians know, Chicago Mayor Rich- spin factories operated by an for the George W. Bush will soon follow his on the world. At the least, Jeanne ard M. Daley got rid of all the city’s tru- city’s most powerful politician and his fellow REMF Donald Rumsfeld out of Nowaczewski ($105,000 a year) and ant officers (who are paid about the corporate handlers. Mayor Daley has their warrior costumes and back into Beatriz Rendon ($122,000 a year) should same as teachers) more than ten years more assistant and deputy press secre- civilian life. If it meant anything, the have their resumes shared with the ago as part of the first round of corpo- taries than Chicago has truant officers, November election meant that the Hal- world. This is 21st Century “teaching” rate “school reform”. To this day, Chi- and the CPS “Office of Communica- loween warriors had better find another — and feminism? Back before the Daley cago is the only major school district in tions” has a larger staff (and definitely cool way to put on costumes, because miracle stuff and the quickie Illinois without truant officers. Ten years better equipment) than some small el- real warriors are fed up with it. If any- charterizations under “Renaissance ago, when a Substance editor asked ementary schools in Chicago… thing, Virginia Senator-elect Webb was 2010”, this kind of stuff was called rac- former Chicago Schools CEO Paul too polite when he snubbed W’s brain- ist and sexist. We’re looking forward to Vallas whether he was going to restore …Now that a Princeton professor and less banter at a recent White House hearing more and more (and publish- the truant officers at a love-in for Vallas philosopher has made it OK to use the event. When the bad guys are using live ing more and more) about the destruc- sponsored by the Chicago Teachers word “bullshit” to describe bullshit, ammunition, it’s better to be real and not tion of Englewood, the courage of the Union ten years ago, Vallas stated (hon- we hope Chicago teachers will take the a phony. That’s right: cowards like young women who are completing their est: we couldn’t make up stuff like this) lead from our colleagues in New York Rumsfeld and Bush aren’t even REMFs. high school careers at Englewood that some of the truant officers the City and liberate “STM” from the At least REMFs were in a combat zone...
Social Security Paul Vallas, has ever done a comprehen- sive study of how much its printing Continued from Page One costs are and a comparison with the ac- A Grim Fairy Tale Continued from Page Twenty-Two public school system slowly became tual costs of printing when the Board “You know, we forgot one of the known to the public between Novem- had its own printing presses and em- three red pens, two rubber gloves, and best things they gave us all year,” said ber 25 and December 2. According to ployed skilled union printers and other a laaaminated plastic I.D. Ewenice. public school officials, a privatized related workers (graphics designers; On the twelfth day of Christmas my “What would that be?” printing contractor — repeatedly rec- computer typesetters and, apparently school board gave to me… Twelve bells “The Bored calendar.” ommended by Schools CEO Arne most importantly, proofreaders and su- a-ringing, eleven new consultants, ten “Why? What’s special about Duncan for multi-million dollar con- pervisors). old erasers, nine kinds of testing, eight that?” asked Scott. tracts — mailed a 125-page list of per- different textbooks, seven butter cook- “Did you look ahead to April?” sonal information about 1,739 retired Contrary to at least one press ies, six angry parents, five extra kids; “No. Why?” teachers and administrators to each of report and quote from CEO Arne four spelling words, three red pens, two Millicent and Ewenice were them as part of a mailing that was sup- Duncan, problems have arisen before rubber gloves, and a laaaminated plas- giggling. “In the Bored calendar, April posed to explain the retirees’ eligibility since the outsourcing of printing at CPS. tic I.D. has 31 days.” for COBRA medical benefits. Reflecting the general practice of the “Well,” they agreed. laughing, “So?” According to Board of Educa- Duncan administration, problems are “ that was fun.” “Oh. I see.” tion officials, the mailing was done by only noted if they result in potentially “Right. Except I couldn’t fit in “O.I.C.” All Printing and Graphics, a suburban adverse media coverage, especially dur- ‘obsolete maps’,” complained Millicent. Broadview corporation which also has ing the television news cycle. a large office on the third floor at CPS To date, other printing prob- in the press — involves the current CPS of many classrooms and most offices headquarters at 125 S. Clark St. All Print- lems that have resulted from mistakes “Calendar and Directory.” The annual throughout the city’s massive public ing and Graphics is one of several print- that were never tolerated under the “Calendar and Directory” is designed school system — and in many other city ing companies that has done printing former sysstem have simply been the and printed for CPS by “Chandler departments and other locations. for the city’s public school system since subject of expensive corrections (i.e., White Publishing,” a company other The Chicago Board of Educa- the Daley administration privatized the reprinting entire jobs after errors were than All Printing & Graphics. tion has routinely approved administra- school system’s printing and gave away discovered too late) and had been ig- In its current calendar, for the tion requests for multi-million dollar the system’s printing presses and sup- nored by the public. Most of the media 2006-2007 school year, Chicago’s public printing contracts without discussion or plies ten years ago. have ignored the problem since the school system has given the month of debate. Most of the members of the Chi- Although one press report Vallas administration gave away more April 31 days instead of the usual 30 cago Board of Education have copies of claimed that All Printing & Graphics than $1 million worth of Chicago Board days. Although the CPS Calendar and the unique 2006-2007 calendar, yet none handles “most of the district’s adminis- of Education printing presses and com- Directory contains the usual CPS “copy- has asked, at a public meeting, why trative printing,” a cursory review of puter graphics equipment a decade ago. right” bug, Substance has decided to Chicago has decided that April has 31 Board Reports and other records indi- There are other current prob- publish a copy of that unique page from days this year, while in the schools chil- cates that the Board’s printing work has lems with the Board’s privatizated the current calendar (on Page Twenty- dren are being taught the ditty “Thirty been done by a number of companies printing work. Three of this Substance). days have September, April, June, and over the past ten years. Additionally, One humorous problem that The special calendar, which is November...” The CPS mailing of 1,736 neither the Duncan administration nor has not been widely noted by the pub- distributed in all schools and through social security numbers is part of a its predecessor, the administration of lic — and which has not been reported the CPS headquarters, hangs on the wall larger management problem. Page Eighteen Substance December 2006
ally being recognized by the members the past issues, but now will investigate Lincoln Park H.S. and it seemed that they were paying the intimidation. He also relayed to the attention to what we were saying,” students that Karvelas told him that Continued from Page Eleven was obligated to sit as a teacher rep on Laura told Substance. While making teachers were encouraging them to pro- the council, considering Eshoo was no their presentation, people in the audi- test at the board meeting. “That is an “The announcement did not help the longer part of the staff at the school, ence were heard gasping in shock and outright lie!” said both Michelle and situation,” she said. The professionalism of the agreeing with the students. The board Laura. “He was pretty dismayed at Laura says this desperate at- council during this stressed meeting asked questions and told them that they that.” Pitman kept stating false facts to tempt was very unprofessional and was also questioned. As students were would look into it. A report on the meet- the students that day such as Eshoo al- quite disruptive. “She could have sitting quite close to the council, the ing is in the November issue of Sub- ready had a job, when only minutes ear- waited a few minutes more to make this comments among the parent represen- stance.] lier she told the students that she was announcement while we were all in di- tatives were easily heard. Harsh and Now that the board was aware on her way to an interview. Pitman told vision”. derisive comments were exchanged of the situation the students returned to them he was going to send in a team to Karvelas made it known that among the council members about the the November LSC meeting to see if any investigate, “But the damage has been she thought that the announcement was students that were speaki, especially thing had changed. Joanna said, “ I done, and a team won’t fix anything.” the end of the issue, and instructed from the LSC Chairwoman, who’s spoke at the last LSC meeting and now said Michelle. “But he promised me di- teachers to no longer talk about it. daughter was provided with additional this one. I wanted to know what’s up”. rectly that he would visit the school, sit reserved Homecoming tickets (five) The council responded that it was great down with me and the principal to in- Call to Action more than other students were allowed they were there and not to worry — vestigate.” According to the students who (two), according to the students. In an your voice will be heard. Laura added: As of press deadline, no action spoke with Substance, usually the gen- earlier time, Karvelas was overheard “It was a brush off.” It was non-produc- or contact has been initiated or ob- eral student population, the AP (Ad- telling the Chairwoman, “We’ll take care tive. Again, nothing came out of this served. vanced Placement), HH (Double Hon- of you — we got you covered.” meeting, but the students wanted to ors) and the IB (International Baccalau- Laura says that the student “keep the heat on them” and not let the Who will continue? reate) students do not interact much, but speakers were repeatedly asked to spell issue fade away. A harsh reality faces the vocal this situation brought together the their names and the Dean of the school Later, teachers were sent an seniors of Lincoln Park. They will soon young people of Lincoln Park. was observed writing them all down, anonymous letter referencing and play- leave the school for higher education Everybody was angry about the “The speakers are public record, but ing on the country song “Have you for- opportunities in about five months, and injustice, and the pitiful attempt in han- why is the Dean writing them down? gotten?” a song about 9/11. While not with them, the cause. But the group feels dling the growing unrest just helped Which was kinda scary!” she adds. Also, signed by Karvelas, “the diction, syn- that it has already died down and are coalesce the school. What was the course that when teachers were speaking, he tax is all reminiscent of her,” saidthe afraid that once they leave no one will of action to take? would write down their names too, one group. And the only person who refers carry on the vigilance. Joanna thinks it’s “The October 12th LSC meeting in particular had her name underlined to the students as children is the princi- dying down because they are not get- was coming up, “ said Joanna, and it four times! The students speaking with pal. In that same note were accusations ting a response. “I was hurt that I was was agreed that they should show up Substance for this article have not been of teachers encouraging the students to not given anything by the LSC and just in support of Ms Eshoo. Michelle de- the recipients of reprisal, but several protest and inciting violence. There pat on the head. I put a lot of emotion cided to put up around 100 flyers a teachers have been called to the main were no violent actions pertaining to into it.” Laura thought is that the LSC couple of days before the meeting to office to “chat with Karvelas.” The prin- this situation, and the students don’t does not know their authority. “They encourage the students to attend. Posted cipal believed that the issue was know what this was about. kept saying that they have the power to around the school before 3rd period, but “Dead”, and that the intercom an- Michelle says that nobody re- fire Karvelas, but in the next breath say- by 4th period - 80 percent of them were nouncement was the end of it. ally knew of this second CPS board ing that they do not have any power in torn down. She approached Karvelas At the LSC meeting the princi- meeting coming up. “We were not re- this matter.” Michelle is quite vocal about putting more up, but the princi- pal spoke for six minutes, (students ally sure if we should go again, but the about her departure from the scene. pal recommended the LSC bulletin oard were only offered two), on why she LSC meeting was useless. Two days “Once we leave it’s going to be the end for the flyer. In this low profile site, the could not remain and participate at this prior we put up more flyers to announce of this story. She will get away with students wouldn’t see them, “but other council meeting. “Basically what she the board meeting,” she said. “ I did not whatever she wants. Lincoln Park will notices such as homecoming events are said was the same thing she said on the ask permission to put them up this time, be going downhill. Karvelas will just everywhere” Michelle noted. Karvelas intercom,” the students told Substance. since I felt it was okay from the last wait us out.” asked what the notice was “trying to get Wearing an elaborate cape and using it time.” But the next day, she was pulled When asked to rate the Lincoln at.” Michelle told her that they were to for dramatic effect, flinging it over her out of hers econd period Arabic class by Park LSC, it was given a very low rat- invite the students regarding the issue shoulder, Karvelas looked like “a snow the freshman dean of students and a po- ing by the group, including a low score of Eshoo. She was then told to follow queen,” the students commented. [See lice officer. In the hallway, the officer for the student rep. Some think he is in- her into her office. Michelle told her that the October issue of Substance for the shaking her hand asked her if she was timidated, but he does not represent the it was okay and that the students could fashion statement]. “And at the end of responsible for the flyers. Responding student interests of the vocal. Jeff and address the issue at the LSC meeting, her speech, she takes off her glasses and yes, she was told that she could not and others feel that the concept of just one but she was “encouraged” to go into the her voice changes from harsh tones to required authorization. “I knew I wasn’t student rep is unjust for the whole Principals office anyway. softer ones,” Jeff added. She concluded: going to get it now,” she said, “so I let it population of the school, whereas the “It wasn’t too pretty.” says “And to my children — the students in be, shook his hand and that was it.” The teachers get two. Michelle. “She basically told me that I the audience — I’m so very proud of school administrators took down all the When asked what the resolu- was a little kid and that I really don’t you.” Avoiding questions from the au- flyers. tion or satisfaction would be from this understand what’s going on and that it dience, she failed to directly answer one, A day before the board meeting, situation, aside from the return of is at a much higher lever that I could and ducked under the “Bring Back Ms a memo was sent to all divisions warn- Eshoo, the answers shared a common comprehend.” Clearly nothing was go- Eshoo” banner on her way out. Prior to ing that any walkouts, class cuts or put- theme: ing to get accomplished here, she the LSC meeting 880 signatures were ting up unauthorized propaganda Laura born and bred in Chicago thought, and the LSC meeting would be gathered in support of Eshoo. Teachers would be a violation of certain sections and a news junkie spent her four years best place to voice the concern. Karvelas wanted to sign the petition, said Jeff, of the school code. Laura said, “Several at Lincoln Park in double honors/AP/ relented on approving posting of the fly- “But I suggested that they didn’t be- students were told by teachers that they IB. She wants to be a professor of social ers and suggested that the schools mar- cause these were going to the CPS ad- would be expelled or suspended if they science and perhaps a political aid, as quee would display the invite as well, ministration and to keep reprisals at did go to the meeting. This scared many she is very interested in politics. She but it was not observed to be so. But bay.” and kept them in school.” Michelle wants a review of Dr. Karvelas’s actions even the approved posters were seen When asked how they felt added: “Students have constantly and motives, addressing her poor ad- being torn down by administrators and about the LSC meeting, the students felt placed up flyers without authorization ministrative style. students. Regardless, approximately 200 that nothing came out of it. “They let and cut class all the time and have never Michelle works in a daycare students attended or tried to attend the the students have their rant, but did not been threatened with expulsion. We and was raised in Las Vegas and LSC meeting. act on it. They said they had no power, strongly believe in this, regardless of the thought that college was out of her Jeff remembers that the room they did not respond at all.” said Jeff. consequences, and we are going!” reach, but now is excited about a career was overflowing, “with teachers and When some in the audience said it’s a The students defiantly made in nursing and special ed/neo-natal. An students sitting on any available space shame that this is happening to Ms another presentation to the board on honors/double honors/IB student, she including the floor, and a line leading Eshoo, the LSC responded “Yeah, it’s a November 15, presenting the various doesn’t know what else can be done out the door!” But Laura wonders why shame, but we should definitely go to notes, letters and petitions to the mem- now. It has gone so far and what can they did not relocate the LSC meeting Springfield and beg for more money for bers and seeking resolution. When they they possibly get from it? She has been to a larger available room: “They must the budget.” The students feel that the brought up the teacher intimidation, the strongly affected by Lincoln Park High have broken several fire code regula- LSC had some control over the situation members perked up and asked the stu- School and wants incoming freshmen to tions keeping the room packed.” It and chose not to do anything, and the dents if they felt intimidated. They said experience the same, but she doesn’t wasn’t just Lincoln Park staff that was solution was not to be found there. So yes, and the expulsion letter was an ex- know if that is still possible with the eager to see and hear, but representa- they students decided to go to the ample. After the presentation, the stu- present administration and atmosphere tives from the teachers union, Payton Board. dents were encouraged to return to Dr. Karvelas has created. and Whitney Young high schools, par- school, but they all wanted to stay and Jeff has lived in Chicago all his ents and former Lincoln Park teachers Presenting to the Board of Ed listen to the response. They were beck- life. He desires to work in social justice were present. The four young adults, The students who took time oned to exit the room for a conference activism, He is interested in anthropol- (Michelle, Laura, Jeff and Joanna), relat- th from school on October 25 to make this outside by Dr. Don Pitman. He told ogy and working with Amnesty Inter- ing these inside details to Substance felt plea felt that the Board was more re- them that the situation was looked into national teaching in Oaxaca Mexico, and it was quite inappropriate, that Eshoo sponsive. “It was weird, we were actu- and that they could not do anything on Continued on Page Twenty Substance December 2006 Page Nineteen Rationing Education driven.” When I asked one teacher how Continued from Page Twenty-Four Dictators of corporate the school allocated additional services to students — for example, the reading class. Why? It’s data-driven. Yet this is specialist or after-school and Saturday what her colleagues have been doing, ‘accountability’ in the 2000s... tutoring — she provided the following and Marshall’s scores are up. The com- response: It’s all data-driven. . . . We do munity is proud, and the principal has projections — how many of them do been anointed one of the most promis- you think will pass, how many of them ing educational leaders in the state. At do you think will need more instruction, every faculty meeting, the principal pre- how many teachers do we have to work sents a “league table,” ranking teachers with, what time limit do we have. Based by the percentage of their students pass- on that, who are we going to work with? ing the latest benchmark test. And the It comes down to that. . . . We really teachers talk, as they always do. The worked with the bubble kids . . . that’s table makes perfect fodder for faculty the most realistic and time-efficient room gossip: “Did you see who was at thing we can think of. the bottom of the table this month?” In this conception of data- Mrs. Dewey has made compro- driven practice, the choice to privilege mises, both large and small, throughout one group of students over another is her career. Every educator who’s in it viewed as neutral and objective. The for the long haul must. But this institu- decision to distribute resources to those tionalized policy of educational triage On November 2, 2006, at Chicago’s Orr High School, Mayor Richard M. Daley most advantageous to the school’s pass weighs heavily and hurts more.(1). (above at podium) announced that Chicago had received a $27 million grant from rates is not understood as a moral or Should she focus only on Brittney, the U.S. Department of Education to begin merit pay programs for inner city teach- ethical decision. Instead, it is seen as a Julian, Shennell, Tiffany, George, and ers. At a time when CPS needed nearly $27 million to cover a budget “deficit” in sterile management imperative. Pro- Marlena — the so-called bubble kids — special education, federal officials ignored children’s needs and pushed merit pay. tected by its scientific underpinnings, to the exclusion of the other 17 students dividual child and introducing inter- which I have assigned the pseudonym the data-driven focus on the bubble kids in her class? Should Mrs. Dewey refuse ventions to remediate any learning dif- “Beck Elementary.” Educational triage is difficult for teachers to attack. In sum, to tutor Anthony, a persistent and ea- ficulties — is sensible and beyond ques- has become an increasingly widespread at Beck Elementary, the invocation of the ger little boy with no chance of passing tion. response to accountability systems and phrase “data-driven” obscures, neutral- the state test this year, so that she can But the Achilles’ heel of educa- has been documented in Texas, Califor- izes, and legitimates a system of re- spend time with students who have a tion policy has always been implemen- nia, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, source distribution that is designed to better shot at passing? What should she tation. When I listened closely to the and even England (8). By educational increase passing rates rather than to tell Celine, a precocious student, whose conversations that educators at Beck triage, I mean the process meet the needs of individual students. mother wants Mrs. Dewey to review her Elementary School had about “being through which teachers divide students The blunt vocabulary of triage entry for an essay contest? Celine will data-driven,” the slippage between into safe cases, cases suitable for treat- infiltrated every corner of Beck. The certainly pass the state test, so can Mrs. evaluating the individual needs of ev- ment, and hopeless cases and ration re- tenor of the phrases used to describe Dewey afford the time? What about the ery student and deciding which stu- sources to focus on those students most students — “the ones who could make five students who moved into the school dents to target to maximize school per- likely to improve a school’s test scores. it” and “hopeless cases” — speaks not in the middle of the year? Since they formance quickly became evident. As I The idea of triage, a practice usually re- only to the perceived urgency to im- don’t count toward Marshall’s scores, moved closer and closer to the class- stricted to the direst of circumstances, prove test scores but also to the destruc- should Mrs. Dewey worry about their room, the administrators’ ideal version like the battlefield or the emergency tive labeling of those children who find performance at all? dissipated and gave way to a triage- room, poignantly captures the dynam- themselves below the bubble. Driven by In her angrier moments, Mrs. based understanding of data-driven ics of many schools’ responses to NCLB. the pressure to increase the passing rate, Dewey pledges to ignore Marshall’s decision making. Teachers were most In the name of improving schools’ teachers turned their attention away approach and to teach as she always has, attuned to the chasm between adminis- scores, some students must inevitably from these students. As one teacher re- the best way she knows how. Yet, if she trators’ theoretical proclamations and be sacrificed. And the stakes are high — lated in an interview: I guess there’s does, Mrs. Dewey risks being de- how the same administrators expected for schools, which face serious sanctions supposed to be remediation for any- nounced as a traitor to the school’s ef- them to operate: teachers understood for failing to meet adequate yearly thing below 55%, but you have to fig- fort to increase scores — in short, a bad that the bottom line in this numbers progress targets; for students, who in- ure out who to focus on in class, and I teacher. Given 22 years of sacrifices for game was the percentage of students creasingly face retention if they do not definitely focus more attention on the her profession, it is this reality that who passed. Because of the unrelenting pass state tests; and for teachers, who bubble kids. If you look at her score stings the most. pressure to increase test scores, one are judged by the number of students [pointing to a student’s score on her Mulling over her choices, Mrs. mode of using data became dominant they ‘’save.” class test-score summary sheet], she’s Dewey shuts her classroom door and at Beck: the diversion of resources (e.g., Dilemma 1. Data can be used to got a 25%. What’s the point in trying to begins her class.(2). additional time in class; enrichment ses- improve student achievement, but they get her to grade level? It would take two sions wit! h the literacy teacher; and af- can also be used to target some students years to get her to pass to the test, so Unintended Consequences of Ac- ter-school, Saturday, and summer tutor- at the expense of others. Data-driven there’s really no hope for her. . . I feel countability Systems: Educational Tri- ing) to students on the threshold of pass- decision making has become something like we might as well focus on the ones age ing the test, the “bubble kids.” of a sacrosanct term in education policy that there’s hope for. Test-based accountability sys- All my questions about which circles. Who could be against it? The To say that hope is absent for a tems aim to direct the behavior of edu- students received extra help were met public face of data-driven decision mak- 10-year-old child is a particularly tell- cators toward the improvement of stu- with the deferent maxim, “It’s data- ing — identifying the needs of each in- ing comment on how dramatically the dent achievement. The No Child Left accountability system has altered the Behind (NCLB) Act codified account- The test doesn’t matter as long realm of imagined possibility in the ability as our national educational blue- classroom. Now, with an unforgiving print, requiring schools to increase test bottom line for which to strive, teach- scores incrementally so that all students as it ranks from ‘best’ to worst... ers can retain hope only for those per- are proficient in reading and math by tinue. The bottom 10 percent are forced By George N. Schmidt ceived as potential passers. To assert 2014. Yet, despite the stated intent of out, either directly or by subtle means. In a recent Business Week col- that students below the bubble are just NCLB to improve outcomes for all stu- When business leaders and umn, retired General Electric CEO Jack too low-performing to help establishes dents, particularly those who have been CEOs began organizing for “standards Welsh defended, again, his “20-70-10” that the only worthwhile improvement historically neglected, educators and and accountability” in public schools, system for evaluating employees. Un- in this brave new world is one that con- others may adopt a series of “gaming” what they meant was a variation on the der the system, management has to es- verts a nonpasser to a passer. practices in order to artificially inflate “20-70-10” system. There had to be win- tablish a matrix of ways to evaluate ev- The problem is that those stu- schools’ passing rates. Such practices ners and losers for the system to work. eryone in the workforce, then rank and dents who arrive at school as the most include giving students a special edu- That is why it is irrelevant what sort them from “best” to “worst.” Al- disadvantaged are often the lowest scor- cation classification to exclude them the test is, or even whether the test mea- though there is a great deal of talk about ing. And since the focus on the bubble from high-stakes tests, (3) retaining stu- sures anything meaningful about the teamwork in some industries, since the kids at Beck Elementary begins not in dents in grade to delay test-taking, (4) quality of schools, classrooms, and 1980s, the Jack Welch system has been the third grade — the first year that stu- diverting attention away from subjects children’s work. A test as bad as CASE, as pervasive as the notion that raw com- dents take state tests — but the moment not evaluated on high-stakes tests (5), as mediocre as the ISAT, or as techni- petition is best for everything, every- students enter kindergarten, they are teaching to the test (6), and cheating (7). cally decent as the Iowa Tests —all ar e where all the time. branded as “hopeless cases” from the In what follows, I discuss two the same. Why? Because they are there Under the “20-70-10” system, very first days of their schooling. of the dilemmas presented by a less- to give ratings, not to help schools im- the ranking is completed and then the An important shift occurs in a well-known gaming practice: educa- prove. winners, losers, and middle are identi- system focused on the percentage of stu- tional triage. The insights offered here Jack Welch is training principals fied in simple percentages. The “top” 20 dents above a particular threshold. derive from an ethnographic study of in New York in his version of manage- percent are rewarded greatly. The When a low-performing student enters an urban elementary school in Texas, to middle 70 percent are allowed to con- ment. It’s already in place here. Continued on Page Twenty Page Twenty Substance December 2006 Rationing Education
Continued from Page Nineteen definition is logical, for it attempts to be evaluated. Under Texas’ Footnotes: isolate the impact of schools on stu- NCLB implementation plan, subgroups 1. My use of the phrase “educational triage,” as well as the title of this article, draws on a teacher’s classroom, he or she is seen dents. Including students who have not must include at least 50 students and as a liability rather than as an opportu- attended the school for a reasonable the work of David Gillborn and Deborah make up at least 10% of all students — Youdell, Rationing Education: Policy, Prac- nity to promote individual student period of time might bias estimates of or include 200 or more students — to be tice, Reform, and Equity (Buckingham, U.K.: growth. As Michael Apple trenchantly the school’s quality and unfairly penal- evaluated. Under the state system, 82% Open University Press, 2000). wrote, the emphasis changes “from stu- ize schools serving more mobile stu- of Houston schools with African Ameri- 2. Like Ted Sizer’s Horace Smith, Mrs. Dewey is not one informant whom I encoun- dent needs to student performance, and dents. can test-takers disaggregate scores for from what the school does for the stu- However, if resources flow only tered during an ethnographic study of an African American students, while for urban elementary school in Texas. Instead, dent to what the student does for the toward those students who affect a the purposes of NCLB, only 66% do. she is a representative amalgam of the school.” (9). school’s outcomes, students who do not Though Texas does not include school’s teachers. My study included 71 in- Certainly one can imagine uses “count” may be denied access to scarce a special education subgroup in its state terviews — 34 with teachers and adminis- trators and 37 of data that could turn attention to the educational resources. I found that an- system, the impact of using the 50 and individual needs of each and every stu- other pithy term, “the accountables” — with students — in addition to 180 hours of 10% or greater than 200 definition rather participant-observation. Some of the find- dent. However, the current monolithic those students who count toward a than the lower threshold is significant. ings discussed here were initially reported discourse on data-driven decision mak- school’s scores — was incorporated into Shifting the definition upward reduces in Jennifer Booher-Jennings, “Below the ing begs for a discussion of unintended the lexicon of Beck educators. Teachers the percentage of Houston schools that Bubble: ‘Educational Triage’ and the Texas Accountability System,” American Educa- consequences. Data can be used to tar- engaged in a second kind of educational disaggregate scores for special educa- get some students at the expense of oth- triage by focusing resources on the tional Research Journal, vol. 42, 2005, pp. tion from 55% to 24%. Other states have 231-68. ers, and it is happening today. “accountables,” to the virtual exclusion similarly gamed the subgroup-size pro- 3. Julie B. Cullen and Randall Rebeck, “Tink- When we blindly defer to “the of students who “did not count.” In vision of the law. In 2005, the U.S. ering Towards Accolades: School Gaming data,” we abdicate responsibility for accountability’s ultimate contradiction, Department of Education al- Under a Performance Accountability Sys- tem,” Working Paper, University of Califor- tough decisions, all the while claiming the protean word “accountable” re- lowed Florida to change its minimum neutrality. But data are not actors and tained only a semblance of its intended nia, San Diego, 2006; David N. Figlio and subgroup size to 30 students who also Lawrence S. Getzler, “Accountability, Abil- cannot do anything by themselves. Data meaning — taking responsibility for make up 15% of test-takers. Because ity, and Disability: Gaming the System,” do not make decisions; people make each and every student. special education students rarely ac- Working Paper 9307, National Bureau of decisions that can be informed by data. How many students are af- count for more than 15% of a school’s Economic Research, 2002, www.nber.org/ papers/w9307; and Brian A. Jacob, “Ac- Decisions about resource allocation are fected by the mobility provisions of population, very few schools in Florida ethical decisions with which educators NCLB? Take the Houston Independent countability, Incentives, and Behavior: The will be required to disaggregate scores Impact of High-Stakes Testing in the Chicago and communities must grapple and for School District as an illustrative ex- for these students. Public Schools,” Working Paper 8968, Na- which they must ultimately take respon- ample. Serving 211,157 students, this There is an irreconcilable ten- tional Bureau of Economic Research, 2002, sibility. What we need above all is a sus- district is the largest in Texas and the sion between accurately measuring www.nber.org/papers/w8968. 4. Walt Haney, “The Myth of the Texas tained discussion among educators and seventh largest in the nation. The aver- school effects and forestalling the poten- the broader polity about the very real age Houston school excludes 8% of its Miracle in Education,” Education Policy tial negative consequences of excluding Analysis Archives, 2000, epaa.asu.edu/ tradeoffs involved in schools’ responses students from its “accountables.”10 Al- some students from accountability cal- epaa/v8n41; Linda M. McNeil, “Faking Eq- to accountability systems. If schools most one-third of Houston schools culations. If accuracy of measurement uity: High-Stakes Testing and the Education adopt the practices of educational tri- (31%) exclude more than 10% of their is privileged, some students will neces- of Latino Youth,” in Angela Valenzuela, ed., Leaving Children Behind: How “Texas- age in response to NCLB, the conse- students from scores used for account- sarily be excluded from accountability quence may be suboptimal outcomes for ability. By any measure, this is not an Style” Accountability Fails Latino Youth calculations. In order to best estimate (Albany, N.Y.: SUNY Press, 2005), pp. students “below the bubble,” as well as insignificant number of students. More- school effects, a school should not be 57-112. for their peers who are mid-level and over, because mobility is not uniformly responsible for students who attend it 5. Linda M. McNeil and Angela Valenzuela, high-achieving students. And all of distributed across the population, some for a short period of time. Similarly, “The Harmful Impact of TAAS Testing in Texas: Beneath the Accountability Rhetoric,” these unintended consequences can demographic groups have much higher small subgroups may yield statistically happen while official pass rates increase. numbers of mobile — and thus unac- in Gary Orfield and Mindy L. Kornhaber, unreliable estimates of the school’s effi- Raising Standards or Raising Barriers? In- countable — students. In Houston, an cacy with a particular group of students. equality and High-Stakes Testing in Public Dilemma 2. It is unfair to hold average of 16% of special education stu- Moreover, mainstream state tests may Education (New York: Century Foundation, schools accountable for new students or dents and 11% of African American stu- be inappropriate measures for some 2001), pp. 127-50. 6. Linda M. McNeil, Contradictions of School for subgroups that are too small to yield dents are not counted in schools’ scores English-language learners or special statistically reliable estimates of a because they have not been enrolled in Reform: The Educational Costs of Standard- education students. In other words, ized Testing (London: Routledge, 2000). school’s effectiveness; however, the con- a school for a full academic year. Ironi- there are valid reasons, from a measure- 7. Brian A. Jacob and Steven Levitt, “Rotten sequence of excluding some students cally, the very students NCLB was de- ment perspective, for excluding stu- Apples: An Investigation of the Prevalence may be to deny them access to scarce signed to target are often those least dents from schools’ scores. On the other and Predictors of Teacher Cheating,” Quar- educational resources. Educational tri- likely to be counted. hand, the consequence of excluding terly Journal of Economics, vol. 118, 2003, pp. age does not end with the diversion of A second way that students 843-77. these students may be to deny them ac- 8. Booher-Jennings, op. cit.; Gillborn and resources to the “bubble kids.” may “not count” stems from states’ defi- cess to scarce educational resources. Youdell, op. cit.; “Making AYP: Cause to Because of the fine print in nitions of the subgroup size required for Celebrate?,” Philadelphia Public School NCLB, all students are not equally valu- disaggregation. If states define sub- Better Choices? Notebook, Winter 2004, www.thenotebook. org/editions/2004/ winter/editorial.htm; able to a school’s test scores. Subgroups group size expediently, the scores of So Mrs. Dewey can choose to are not disaggregated if the number of various subgroups will continue to be Joel Rubin, “Are Schools Cheating Poor teach all of her students, regardless of Learners?,” Los Angeles Times, 28 Novem- test-takers does not meet a minimum buried in schoolwide averages. Again, their potential contribution to her ber 2004, p. B-1; Daniel White, Dara Wexler, size requirement, and students are not Texas is a good example of artful defi- school’s bottom line, or she can partici- and Juliette Heinz, “How Practitioners In- counted at all in a school’s scores if they nition of subgroup size. Under the Texas pate in educational triage. If she refuses terpret and Link Data to Instruction: Re- are not enrolled in a school for a full state accountability system, subgroups to focus her time and attention on those search Findings on New York City Schools’ academic year. For example, in Texas, must include at least 30 students and Implementation of the Grow Network,” pa- students most likely to raise the school’s per presented at the annual meeting of the the scores of students who arrive at the account for at least 10% of all students scores, she risks not only the school’s American Educational Research Association, school after the end of October do not — or include 50 or more students — to survival but her professional reputation San Diego, 2004; and Katie Weitz White and count toward schools’ scores. Such a as a good teacher and, potentially, her James Rosenbaum, “Inside the Black Box: So- job. ciological Mechanisms Affecting Profes- sional Deviance, Student Classification, and Mrs. Dewey should not be School Culture,” in Allan R. Sadovnik et al., Lincoln Park The LSC needs to be more sensitive and asked to make such choices, and it is eds., No Child Left Behind and the Reduc- Continued from Page Eighteen react to problems, and not ignore con- unconscionable to question her ethics tion of the Achievement Gap: Sociological has applied to a school in Palestine in cerns like they did during the past two when she does what she has little choice Perspectives on Federal Education Policy but to do. Systems of public policy can- (New York: Routledge, forthcoming). the West Bank. An AP/Double Honors/ meetings. 9. Michael W. Apple, Educating the “Right” IB student, he wants to let the adminis- Kudos to all the young activists not be designed solely for those with the Way: Markets, Standards, God, and Inequal- tration know of the teacher/student who see a wrong and try to right it - moral certitude to qualify them for ity (London: Routledge, 2001), p. 71. solidarity. Anytime teachers have a peacefully and intelligently. We thank sainthood. 10. Jennifer Booher-Jennings and Andrew A. problem, the students are there to sup- these four young people — Joanna, Jeff, Educators will respond to sys- Beveridge, “Who Counts for Accountability? temic incentives, and NCLB’s current High-Stakes Test Exemption in a Large Ur- port them and vice versa-to build Laura and Michelle — for their dili- ban School District,” in Sadovnik et al., op. bridges. He wants the administration to gence and appreciate their insights. incentives structurally induce behaviors cit. All analyses of Houston data mentioned treat students in a more dignified man- It’s a shame that injustices like that are inimical to broader notions of in this article derive from this paper. ner. this occur in our schools, but unfortu- equity and fairness. In many cases, these [JENNIFER BOOHER-JENNINGS is a doc- Joanna emigrated from Poland nately it’s a much too common practice perverse incentives turn educators’ at- toral candidate in the Department of Sociol- tention away from NCLB’s intended ogy at Columbia University, New York, N.Y. and is seeking a career as a speech pa- that goes unpunished and often re- She would like to thank Andy Beveridge, thologist. She volunteers at the Shriners warded. beneficiaries. Until these issues are ad- Jason Booher-Jennings, Herb Gans, Toni hospital for children and is an AP/ “They will give a Type 75 ad- dressed, we can expect to see educa- Molnar, and Uri Shwed for their helpful Double Honors/IB student. She wants ministrative certificate to anybody it tional triage practices flourish across the comments and suggestions.] the voice of the students recognized, in seems,” a teacher who asked to remain country. contrast to this recent sordid episode. anonymous told Substance. Substance December 2006 Page Twenty-One Surprise $73 million deficit explodes miracle manager myth... Vallas under fire in Philadelphia By George N. Schmidt laptop computers. The SRC is also de- Six months after he was forced manding all capital spending be ap- to fire former Chicago Chief of Staff proved by the district CFO (who is hired Cozette Buckney and get rid of other top by the SRC, not the CEO), and it is re- administrative staffers in Philadelphia, quiring monthly finance reports from where he has been serving as CEO of management five days before the the school system since 2002, Paul commission’s regular monthly meeting. Vallas, once Chicago’s schools CEO, saw “SRC Chair Jim Nevels intro- more of his carefully crafted public im- duced the resolution and offered an ex- age unravel during the weeks before planation. Board members then spoke Thanksgiving. in favor of the proposal and immedi- The fact that almost none of the ately voted 5-0 for it. Vallas scandals were reported in Chi- “The lack of discussion and the cago became more and more odd as No- fact the board was obviously prepared vember ended. In Philadelphia, Vallas to receive the resolution both point to was front page news on more days in the strong probability the resolution was November than any other individual for discussed in executive session prior to the corruption and incompetence of his the meeting. administration. “If such a discussion did take But in early November in Chi- place, it would be a violation of the State cago one of Chicago’s top corporate Sunshine Act and Open Meetings law. Above: Cozette Buckney (foreground) speaking at a meeting of the “Chicago School media pundits, the Chicago Tribune’s That law allows governing bodies to Reform Board of Trustees” in 1998. At the time, Buckney was a prominent mem- John Kass, used one of the city’s most discuss only specific real estate transac- ber of the “Vallas Management Team” serving as Chief Education Officer. In 2002, prominent media positions and news- tions and items dealing with specific she left Chicago and joined Vallas in Philadelphia. Buckney was forced to leave papers to tout Vallas as the solution to personnel matters in executive session. the Vallas administration in Philadelphia last summer after an investigation by the corruption in Illinois. Kass bemoaned Attorneys for the Pennsylvania News- Controller’s office revealed that she was drawing a salary from the Philadelphia the fact that Vallas was not celebrating paper Association agree courts have school district while simultaneously working for the St. Louis school district and an electoral victory with Kass the day held general directions such as cutting drawing her pension of $119,000 a year as a retired Chicago school administrator. after Election Day in Illinois at a time 188 administrative jobs would not be Recent scandals in Philadelphia have also called into question secret meetings when most political and civic leaders in enough to meet the personnel exclusion and illegal votes by Philadelphia’s “School Reform Commission,” a body similar to Philadelphia would have gladly clause of the Sunshine Law. Chicago’s appointed school board. Behind Buckney in the photo above is Tariq shipped Vallas back to Chicago. “The SRC’s new General Coun- Butt, a member of the Chicago school board for the past eight years. During that As Alan Bukovitz, controller of sel Sherry Swirtsky has ignored re- time, Butt has voted to approve more than 3,000 Board Reports without discus- Philadelphia, told Substance in early peated requests over the last month, in- sion. Substance photo by George N. Schmidt. November “A year ago, Paul Vallas was cluding a request placed Wednesday afternoon, to talk about the legality of toast of the town. Today he’s toast...” team, along with more than 20 students, “The question is: Does the pub- SRC’s executive session discussions Bukovitz has been investigating waste parents and citizens who showed up to lic testimony make a difference or is the under the Sunshine Act and Open Meet- and corruption in the Vallas administra- protest cuts. It was the second day of board ignoring the public by illegally ings Law. tion for more than a year and has un- commission hearings on the deficit.” holding private discussions and mak- “After making his announce- covered the scandals that led to Vallas has been running the ing decisions in executive session out of ment about the resolution, Nevels noted Buckney’s resignation and closer scru- Philadelphia schools for four-and-a-half the public view? It appears an impor- the school district had just provided the tiny of Vallas and his claims. years. Since the beginning of Novem- tant vote taken on a financial resolution SRC with a report detailing the impact Although the Philadelphia ber, the newspapers have been willing was only pro forma. The decision to cut of the CEO’s proposed budget cuts on scandals had been going on for some to hear more criticisms of Vallas than at 188 administrative jobs and change the the district.” time, most of them have only come to any time during his tenure in Philadel- nature of the CEO’s financial account- At the same time, the Philadel- light and received serious media atten- phia, and reporters and their editors are ability seemed to have already been phia Inquirer noted that Vallas and tion during the past month. In early finally showing skepticism about made before the board walked into the Philadelphia Mayor John Street were at November, Philadelphia woke up to Vallas’s abilities and policies. room. The vote was taken before any odds, with Vallas trying to deflect the learn that instead of financial stability, At the same time, Vallas has public comment. mayor’s criticism using glibness that Vallas had brought an unannounced fought back in the media by attacking “The SRC has held four meet- was no longer appreciated in Philadel- deficit of at least $70 million to a school the city’s mayor. According to a Novem- ings, including a rare evening meeting phia. system with a total budget of a little ber 10 Philadelphia Daily News story: Thursday, to take public testimony on “The outspoken schools CEO more than $2 billion. “The outspoken schools CEO and the the budget cuts proposed to balance the and the mayor have sparred over city On November 10, the Philadel- mayor have sparred over city funding budget. funding of the district and Street’s re- phia Inquirer reported as follows: of the district and Street’s refusal to sta- “The school district was sur- fusal to station police officers in “Three of five members of the tion police officers in schools. Vallas prised to discover last month that it ran schools,” the Inquirer reported on No- Philadelphia School Reform Commis- most recently quipped at a public forum a $23.3 million deficit in the 2005-2006 vember 19. “Vallas most recently sion [Philadelphia’s version of the “Chi- that he could get more money for the school year and is facing at least a $50 quipped at a public forum that he could cago School Reform Board of Trustees” school system as the sixth borough of million deficit this year. In addition, $50 get more money for the school system that was put into power in Chicago New York than he can from the city un- million budget reserves was emptied as the sixth borough of New York than when Mayor Daley took over Chicago’s der Street.” last year to cover deficits. he can from the city under Street. schools in 1995] yesterday blasted their By the week before Thanksgiv- District CEO Paul Vallas calls the $73.3 “Street, in an interview, called chief executive officer, Paul Vallas, say- ing, lengthy hearings on the proposed million “manageable,” pointing out it the comment ‘ridiculous,’ and said it ing they felt ‘betrayed’ and ‘disap- cuts were being held, with students and represents less than 3 percent of the shows in Vallas ‘a level of immaturity pointed’ in his handling of a deficit that parents telling the members of the district’s $2.1 billion budget. The cuts he and frustration. Now that he’s under a will force midyear School Reform Commission that they has proposed to the SRC will not affect lot of pressure, he’s starting to show a cuts in the school system. had already suffered enough from ear- teachers, programming or class size he little wear and tear.’” “‘I am disappointed with where lier cuts under Vallas. promised.” After nearly five years of play- we are and I lack a sense of confidence By November 17, the Philadel- While Chicago newspapers — ing a kind of journalism well known in and... faith in this management person’s phia Evening Bulletin was reporting a with the exception of Substance — have Chicago, reporters for the Philadelphia ability to move us forward with bal- challenge to secret meetings of generally ignored the routine violations newspapers have also begun to chal- anced books,’ Commissioner James Philadelphia’s school board, similar to of the Illinois Open Meetings Act and lenge Vallas’s “I’m really too busy to talk Gallagher said before an auditorium those that take place regularly in Chi- the Freedom of Information Act by the now because I have to rush off and save packed with students and citizens, in- cago and have since Vallas became CEO Chicago Board of Education and the someone…” routine. cluding Mayor Street. in Chicago in 1995. “School Reform Board of Trustees” that Nevertheless, in an ironic note “Gallagher’s comments fol- “School Reform Commission ran the schools during the first four indicating the problems with the under- lowed criticism from Street on Wednes- Chairman Jim Nevels Wednesday ex- years after Mayor Daley took over, news standing of the nation’s schools, in No- day on the surprise deficit and the Vallas ploded when The Evening Bulletin media in Pennsylvania are being more vember Harvard University gave Paul administration’s attempts to deal with questioned the legality of his board’s critical of the secret ways of “school re- Vallas and award as one of the best edu- it. Gallagher, president of Philadelphia decision-making process,” The Philadel- form” in Philadelphia now that Vallas’s University, called the Vallas team’s ex- cators in the USA. phia Evening Bulletin reported on No- wizardry with budgets has crashed. [Editor’s Note: Substance will con- planation of how the $73.3 million defi- vember 17. “Philadelphia’s School Re- The Philadelphia Evening Bul- tinue covering the Philadelphia story as it cit evolved a ‘financial charade.’ The form Commission has made a show of letin stated: “The resolution exerts SRC unfolds, and we hope that some of our staff deficit represents about 3.6 percent of taking public testimony as it moves to oversight of hiring criteria, use of over- will be able to go to Philadelphia within the next couple of months. A great deal of infor- the district’s $2.04 billion budget. Com- solve the deficit crisis that has hit the time, contract purchases in excess of missioners Martin Bednarek and Daniel mation about the Philadelphia scandals is school district with all the sudden fury $25,000 and normal office expenses - available on line at this time. Tips about the Whelan also took shots at the Vallas of a Kansas tornado. everything from cell phones to travel to Vallas years are also appreciated.] Page Twenty-Two Substance December 2006 A Grim Fairy Tale Baa Baa Humbug
By Sister Grim
Once upon a time it was De- “I heard that!!” she yelled back. Meanwhile, just as predicted, a “Ooh, ooh,” said Ewenice excit- cember in the city of Chicago, which “I’m supposed to be in charge major snowstorm descended upon the edly. “We have a song right here. It was still, saaaadly, located in the sorry, here,” he said to himself. city; it was thick, white and beautiful as might not be politically correct, but it’s scandal-ridden cheapskate state of Ill- “HA!!” she said from down the it coated the trees and the houses and always been one of my favorites. Shall A-Noise, as well as the county of Crook. hall. everything else. Unless you had to be we?” No “Oops” this time. It was a fascinating paradox, somewhere, in which case it was largely And so, once upon a time, they Each and every part of the lo- mused Teddy, that her hearing was so impassable, and impossible to travel. It actually had a good time singing. cal government was a textbook example acute, while she deafened everyone began on a Thursday afternoon, well of all the things that made the old days around her. before the nightly news programs. The Twelve Days of Christmas famous: vote fraud, nepotism, contract “So, where is everybody? We The membersheep of the corruption, crony and kelpto capitalism, have problems to solve. Like, for every CTEwe, along with hundreds of thou- On the first day of Christmas my school ghost payrollers, patronage, lies, lies, member who loses a job, we have to cal- sands of parents and children listened board gave to me more lies, and lots of broken promises. culate how much to raise the dues so expectantly for those magic words. You A laaaminated plastic I.D. Not to mention attacks on pension we can stay even—” know the ones: “Schools are closed.” But On the second day of Christmas my funds, unless, of course, it was for poli- “They are at the conference,” he it was in vain. Many private and paro- school board gave to me ticians. And that was just the tip of the said. chial schools were closed, as well as sev- Two rubber gloves and a laaaminated iceberg, so to speak. “And just what conference eral suburban schools. plastic I.D. Some things were just so per- would that be?” she said as she arrived Once upon a time, however, it On the third day of Christmas my school fect already that there was no need for at his doorway. was as though the Chicago public board gave to me change. Take, for example, the Big “The Hawaiian Hula Confer- schools had simply ceased to exist. Three red pens, two rubber gloves, and Baaad Bored of Education of Chicago, ence,” he blurted as he ducked for cover There was no announcement whatso- a laaaminated plastic I.D. where teachers were terminated, for fi- behind his desk. ever. Not that schools were closed. Not On the fourth day of Christmas my nancial considerations, on a fairly regu- “What did you say? Why that they would remain open. Nothing. school board gave to me lar basis. It wasn’t even newsworthy wasn’t I notified of this?” Nada. Nil. Four spelling words, three red pens, two anymore. No one cared, except maybe “They thought you were in “You know,” said Millicent rubber gloves, and a laaaminated plas- the poor downtrodden membersheep of Sssspringfield, working on our behalf— Militant to her friend Ewenice, who was tic I.D. the increasingly toothless CTEwe, ” still Toonice for her own good, “it almost On the fifth day of Christmas my school whose only concern was loss of dues “And they went to Hawaii makes me nostalgic for the good old board gave to me revenue. without me? When did they make the days, when we had Our Pal Paul.” Five extra kids; four spelling words, reservations?” “Paul?” asked Ewenice. three red pens, two rubber gloves, and Back at the opulent riverfront “It was a last-minute opportu- “Paul Vallas. Our previous a laaaminated plastic I.D. offices of the CTEwe, there had been nity,” he gulped. “They were invited.” leader. You can’t have forgotten him al- On the sixth day of Christmas my school considerable discussion of the appar- “By someone in Hawaii?” ready.” board gave to me Six angry parents, five ently haphazard closing of employee “Not exactly.” “Oh, right. Vallas. Didn’t he go extra kids; four spelling words, three red positions; no one was secure, except for “Well who, exactly? Tell me to Dallas?” pens, two rubber gloves, and a the consultants and consultantesses, now,” she demanded. “Very funny. He’s in Philadel- laaaminated plastic I.D. who displayed Dracula-like tendencies “I’m not at liberty to divulge phia now. But don’t you remember On the seventh day of Christmas my of the undead. that information at this time.” when he told us to take shovels and dig school board gave to me Seven butter And then, once upon a time, a “Tell me now, or go back to the out the schools? At least we knew they cookies, six angry parents, five extra secretary at the CTEwe office said “Oh classroom tomorrow.” would be open when we got there.” kids; four spelling words, three red oh”, pressing the silent alarm as she “Okay, okay. It was Arne.” “You’re right. You know, some pens, two rubber gloves, and a spoke. One of the security guards at the “Arne?” of our schools were closed. Some were laaaminated plastic I.D. heated garage level had notified a guard “When they got the predictions open. It was very confusing.” On the eighth day of Christmas my on the main floor of the Merchandise about the blizzard and all the cold “And terrible for all those little school board gave to me Eight different Maaart, where the world-famous weather, the members and administra- kids,” added Scott Skeptic, journalism textbooks, seven butter cookies, six an- CTEwe headquarters were located, that tors of the Big Baaad Bored of Educa- teacher-in-exile, as he joined his friends gry parents, five extra kids; four spell- Pammy Pretty, erstwhile CTEwe lobby- tion decided to go to the conference, for their weekly get-together. “This was ing words, three red pens, two rubber ist (and head triple-dipper) was on her because they found some leftover the most irresponsible behavior I’ve gloves, and a laaaminated plastic I.D. way up. money, and it was educational.” seen in a long time. Total disregard for On the ninth day of Christmas my Teddy, the Obsequious Toady, “And because it was in Ha- kids and employees. Where were they?” school board gave to me Nine kinds of had been pacing around his little cu- waii,” she added. “I heard they are out of town,” testing, eight different textbooks, seven bicle. He was the only member of the “And they had to leave right said Millicent, who had her sources. butter cookies, six angry parents, five leadersheep assigned to the Chicago away, in case the weather got worse and “And where was our esteemed extra kids; four spelling words, three red office; everyone else was at a hastily ar- they couldn’t fly out. And then Arne CTEwe?” pens, two rubber gloves, and a ranged educational conference. It was called and said they had accumulated “Well, I heard they were out of laaaminated plastic I.D. far, far away. In another state. enough first-class frequent flier miles to town, too.” On the tenth day of Christmas my “Where is everybody???” take the entire CTEwe leadersheep team “You don’t suppose they’re off school board gave to me Ten old eras- screeched Pammy as she stomped along along. Everyone said it would be a nice somewhere warm and sunny, together, ers, nine kinds of testing, eight differ- in her designer stilettos. “This snow is way to start our contraact negotiations,” plotting against us, do you?” joked ent textbooks, seven butter cookies, six terrible. My poor chauffeur was stuck he added helpfully. Ewenice. angry parents, five extra kids; four spell- driving for the last three hours.” “So tell me, Teddy, why are you Millicent and Scott exchanged ing words, three red pens, two rubber “From Sssspringfield?” ven- here?” knowing glances. gloves, and a laaaminated plastic I.D. tured Teddy. “They said I could be in charge. “Well, I think we should just On the eleventh day of Christmas my “ARE YOU NUTS??? Why I always wanted to be in charge,” he make the best of a baaad situation, and school board gave to me …Eleven new would I be in Sssspringfield?” she de- admitted sadly. get into the holiday spirit,” said Nancy consultants, ten old erasers, nine kinds manded, as he retreated back into his “I have to think about this,” Naive. of testing, eight different textbooks, office. said Pammy, as she whirled out of his “And what do you suggest?” seven butter cookies, six angry parents, “Because you’re the lobbyist, office. “Don’t bother me,” she added as asked Scott. five extra kids; four spelling words, and that’s where you belong,” he mut- she slammed the door. “We could start making deco- tered. rations, and sing some holiday songs.” Continued on Page Seventeen Substance December 2006 Page Twenty-Three Subscripts Thirty days have September, April, June, scabbed (i.e., crossed a union picket line)? cational leaders.” The ACE “educational Either Marilyn Stewart has already held leaders” program will yield either a and November... at least one beat down in the CTU of- “masters” in curriculum and instruction Except in Chicago, which has the fices — and against a colleague of hers or a master in “leadership.” In order to — or she is a liar and a hypocrite. Sub- get into the ACE program, you have to miracle of Mayor Daley’s school reform... scripts hears that one of Stewart’s ma- be a CPS teacher. You have to have a jor appointees to a $100,000-plus union recommendation from a CPS adminis- job scabbed while working at Kinzie trator. And you have to have a CPS Elementary School just about 20 years “mentor.” Don’t look for ACE in the ago. Subscripts also hears that Stewart phone book yet, because it isn’t there. hired the scab for a top union job any- The address given for the “American way. Most of the members of the Sub- College of Education” in the November stance staff were there on the picket lines 15, 2006, Board Report (06-1115-ED4) is in 1987. Jackie Vaughn was leading the 150 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 1275, Chi- Chicago Teachers Union back then, and cago, IL 60606. Now everyone who the lines were militant and strong. Af- knows Chicago knows that there are a ter 19 days, more than 95 percent of the lot of corporate offices and corporate people working for CPS were still strik- law firms on north and south Wacker ing, and the handful of scabs was obvi- Drive, but nobody knew until Novem- ous to everyone. There were very few ber that a major graduate program was scabs in 1987, our last strike. Every one also there, too! Silly us; we thought all had an obnoxious excuse for selling out the colleges and universities in the Loop other union members (“I need my were on the east side of downtown money…” was the usual excuse). The (DePaul; Columbia; Spertus; Robert teachers who scabbed were particularly Morris; Art Institute, to name a few of obnoxious because they always claimed the legitimate ones). It turns out that they didn’t have enough money, even ACE, a for-profit outfit, is the creation though people earning half their pay of former U.S. Secretary of Education were walking the picket lines. But that’s Rod Paige, former U.S. Department of not all: every scab in 1987 (and after Education “reading” guru Reid Lyon, every other strike) had a chance to go and a host of others. It has apparently before a union trial, pay a fine equal to been able to exist because it purchased, every dollar “earned” by crossing the via DePaul University and Barat College picket line, and reinstate into the union. in Lake Forest, the rights to the Barat In the case of Marilyn’s friends, how- College accreditation. Not Barat’s li- ever, we hear that never happened. For brary. Not Barat’s staff. Not even Barat’s all its tough talk, the Stewart adminis- real estate. Just the accreditation! (Ap- …Anyone who thinks the Duncanian that the Board of Education pays a non- tration has become the first in the his- parently, ACE students will get access phuqueups of November and Decem- union print and graphics outfit more tory of the Chicago Teachers Union to to a “virtual” library out of the deal; ber 2006 were “honest mistakes” several hundred thousand dollars a year hire a scab, then try to cover that fact where classes will be held is another should consider the document above. for this job. Or maybe, after the Lewis up, then try to claim it was all OK when story). Had there been any checks and As winter begins, the screwup list gets Carroll manner in which public busi- the story began coming out. Scabbing balances in Chicago’s Board of Educa- very very very long, and grows daily: ness is often conducted in this town, is a unique qualification to get a person tion, there might have been some dis- the Social Security security breach; the Arne Duncan can add a paragraph in a full-time union staff job. More than cussion on the Board and the public snow days horrors when power went his next State of the Schools speech. It 10,000 veteran teachers (who were might have been alerted to another $10 out across the North Side; the Holden can be about how Mayor Daley’s school working in 1987) who held those picket million of its dollars being spent. But school collapsing roof thingy; and the reforms included adding a year to the lines strong in 1987 were not offered there was none. The proposal to pay ongoing lies about special education year and a day to the month of April. that union job, including dozens of ACE more than $10 million over the staffing are just a few we know We don’t know if CPS will sue us for members of Stewart’s United Progres- next three years appeared on the agenda about… Only in a dictatorship like the another million dollars for “copyright sive Caucus. The next time Marilyn on Monday, November 13, and by sun- Daley “miracle” world Chicago lives in infringement” for publishing the above growls about “beat downs” and roars set on Wednesday, November 15, it had could something like the first 31-day April exact replication of one of their copy- about striking, someone should take a been approved in silence by the Board in the history of American public education righted materials, but we’ll risk it. Like closer look at what she and her col- of Education of the third largest school be formalized in an official document. That’s the CASE tests we published in these leagues do, not what they say. It’s hard system in the USA. And since Chicago’s right. The above “April” is part of the pages eight years ago next month, that to maintain a picket line without all that major media was rushing around cov- official CPS 2006-2007 Chicago Public thing above is an exact copy of a calen- silly macho bellowing. It’s impossible if ering a bit of Chicago Board of Educa- Schools Calendar and Directory. If dar published (in several hundred thou- you’ve already proven that scabbing is tion accounting fraud (the Board’s re- you’re quick about it, you might still be sand copies) and distributed by the viewed with tolerance by your actions, duction in arrests by reclassifying bat- able to get your hands on a couple of Board of Education of the City of Chi- not matter how many words you’ve tery and other crimes) and the Sun- them as collectables before they go to cago this school year… bellowed… Times doesn’t even send reporters to the shredder. From memory, we believe …There are few things more demean- school board meetings in Chicago any- …How many scabs have been hired to to fight back on the picket lines, where ing than being referred to as “left- more, that’s the story, for now… work for the CTU since August 2004? most of the real gains of the city’s teach- overs.” In the context of the Players For the past year, Chicago Teachers ers and other school workers had been Clubs at various executive departments …One of the most disgraceful things Union President Marilyn Stewart has won. At least, many said, we would go at CPS, this is made even worse because about the fawning media coverage been thumping her chest and pro- back to fighting, rather than surrender- some of the young and not-so-young (Defender, Sun-Times, Tribune) of claiming that the Chicago Teachers ing. The strike proved unnecessary (and Monica Lewinskies cast aside actually Chicago’s rush to establish a privatized Union, in its return to true labor mili- Stewart got her wish, since she had thought that we love that caused all the charterized all-guys school under Tim tancy, is asking everyone to get ready voted against it). Then the UPC organic lotions and stains. Sigh. Since King on the ruins of Englewood High for a BIG STRIKE. The United Progres- flummoxed its way back into power in the days of James Moffat, Chicago’s School is that nobody seems to care sive Caucus (UPC), Stewart’s political 2004 and began talking tough to prepare schools — and especially their executive about the girls and young women who party in the union, didn’t lead any members for a BIG STRIKE. So some ranks — have been examples of the tru- are being screwed by this duplicitous, strikes during between 1987 and its veteran union members were curious. isms about power corrupting and all racist, male supremacist charade. Here ouster from power in 2001 by Deborah Why would a group that sold out unionism that stuff. What gets us in the high is a quick historical review (for anyone Lynch’s ProActive Chicago Teachers for more than a decade under “school re- schools offices and in some of the offices who’s missed it). Englewood’s being caucus (PACT). During those long years, form” and mayoral control be talking so in the high schools is that some people closed and replaced by a charter school CTU lost power, members lost wages tough? Why would a group that cheered actually still believe it’s love… for guys called “Urban Prep”. As any- and benefits (and jobs), seniority was Tom Reece when he proclaimed an end one who has taken a close look knows, surrendered (under Tom Reece, by the to strikes (and that he would never go … The acronym is “ACE”. The ques- the majority of the remaining students UPC) and lots of other bad things hap- to jail for leading one) suddenly pirou- tion is whether Chicago is getting an at Englewood are females (also, we hear, pened. Not striking was definitely a bad ette in the other direction? Why would ace in the hole, the ace or the hole for the remaining teachers). The lives of idea. Things changed by 2003, when a group — the UPC — that sold out the $10 million it voted to spend on these young ladies have been partly ru- there was a strike vote for the first time thousands of the members of the other November 15. At its November 15 meet- ined by the destruction of Englewood in a decade. (By the way, Stewart and unions in CPS (engineers, custodians, ing, the Chicago Board of Education by the Duncan and Daley the UPC hardcore opposed that strike lunchroom workers, trades — to name approved, without debate or dissent (as administration’s charter schools jugger- vote…). When the members voted by a a few) to privatization schemes and the usual) a Board Report submitted by naut. To understand how this adds in- large margin to strike when Debbie Daley dictatorship suddenly discover its CEO Arne Duncan that will pay a thingy sults to multiple injuries, several points. Lynch brought in her contract proposal, old militancy? Or was it all just postur- called the “American College of Educa- First, Englewood High School, which there was a breath of relief. Members of ing, even the talk by Marilyn Stewart about tion” a total of more than $10 million served such famous Chicago women as over the next three years to train “edu- the Chicago Teachers Union were ready doing a ghetto “beat down” of anyone who Continued on Page Seventeen Page Twenty-Four Substance December 2006 AfterThoughts ‘Triage’ against the most needy children? Rationing Education in an Era of Accountability [The following article is reprinted with such silver-bullet approaches, have of- permission from the Phi Delta Kappan. ten flouted the administrative directives A willingness to spout oversimplified November 9, 2006. Phi Delta Kappan, and chosen instead to serve as the sole http://www. pdkintl.org/ kappan/ arbiters of their spreadsheet data and the mastery of k_v87/ k0606 boo.htm. Note that the classroom practice. mindless cliches are now the main teachers, schools and administrators But it is the newest of the new here are identified by pseudonyms and solutions that worries Mrs. Dewey most. qualifications to run urban schools... are composites, as the author’s notes The language of accountability is swift indicate. See the notes an bibliography and uncompromising: hold educators for additional studies on this process]. responsible for results. Identify those teachers who, as President Bush says, By Jennifer Booher-Jennings “won’t teach.” Fair enough, Mrs. Dewey Meet “Mrs. Dewey,” 46 years thinks. The consummate professional, old and a veteran fourth-grade teacher Mrs. Dewey always looks for the silver at Marshall Elementary School. Mrs. lining. Dewey entered the teaching profession Like other reforms, accountabil- in the wake of A Nation at Risk and has ity requires teachers to embrace a new weathered the storm ever since. For the strategy. Data-driven decision making, last 20 years, she has survived the con- a consultant told the faculty at a profes- tinuous succession of faddish programs sional development session, is the phi- that has characterized American educa- losophy Marshall teachers must adopt. tion reform. Year after year, administra- The theory is simple. Give students tors have asked Marshall teachers to al- regular benchmark assessments; use the ter their practice to conform to the lat- data to identify individual students’ est theory. Mrs. Dewey’s colleagues, weaknesses; provide targeted instruc- frustrated by the implementation of tion and support that addresses those
From the date in July 1995 when Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley (above right) was given control of the Chicago school system by a Republican legislature and governor, Chicago has led the nation in using over-simplified multiple-choice test scores as the measure of both student and school success. It wasn’t until 2001 with the passage of “No Child Left Behind” that the simplistic use of such question- able data took hold over the entire nation — city, suburb, and rural. The spread of test-based “reform” was based partly on unverified but constantly repeated claims of miraculous success from Chicago and Texas. In Chicago, under Daley’s impe- rial control, and in Texas, where George W. Bush had controlled the schools as governor before his 2000 election as President of the United States, corporate “school reform” based on test driven instruction had taken hold during the 1990s, accompanied by massive publicity campaigns and unverified claims of stunning success. As the article reprinted here demonstrates, the miracles claimed came at the expense of the poorest and most vulnerable children. Hundreds of thousands were simply triaged out of instruction in schools facing sanctions for marginal test scores. The trumpeting of Daley’s claims led to the adoption of the “mayoral con- trol” model in Detroit, Cleveland, New York City, Baltimore and Philadelphia. In Philadelphia, Paul Vallas, above right, was eventually made CEO of the public schools after his ouster as Chicago schools chief by Daley in June 2001. The above photo is from the press conference at which Daley accepted Vallas’s resig- nation. Substance photo by Sharon Schmidt.
areas. Mrs. Dewey remembers nodding them, “and divide your students into approvingly. After all, this approach — three groups. Color the ‘safe cases,’ or gathering textured information on each kids who will definitely pass, green. student to guide instructional activities Now, here’s the most important part: — was one she had been using for 22 identify the kids who are ‘suitable cases years. for treatment.’ Those are the ones who The consultant moved on. “Us- can pass with a little extra help. Color ing the data, you can identify and focus them yellow. Then, color the kids who on the kids who are close to passing. The have no chance of passing this year and bubble kids. And focus on the kids that the kids that don’t count — the ‘hope- count — the ones that show up at less cases’ — red. You should focus your Marshall after October won’t count to- attention on the yellow kids, the bubble ward the school’s test scores this year. kids. They’ll give you the biggest return Because you don’t have enough special on your investment.” education students to disaggregate As the bell tolls a final warning scores for that group, don’t worry about to the boisterous 9-year-olds bringing them either.” To make this concept tan- up the rear of her class line, Mrs. Dewey gible for teachers, the consultant stares blankly into the hallway. Never passed out markers in three colors: did she believe that the advice offered green, yellow, and red. Mrs. Dewey by that consultant would become heard someone mutter, “What is this? Marshall’s educational mantra. Focus The traffic light theory of education?” on the bubble kids. Tutor only these stu- “Take out your classes’ latest dents. Pay more attention to them in benchmark scores,” the consultant told December 2006. G. Schmidt, S. Ohanian, L. Blumenthal, J. Guzman, F. Coconate, R. Gibson Continued on Page Nineteen