More On Education Secy Duncan - Not Looking Good for IDEA

[Guest guest]

From an education blog - Duncan not looking good:http://schoolsmatter.blogspot.com/2008/12/arne-duncan-darling-of-disruptors-and_17.htmlArne Duncan: The Darling of the Disruptors and Preserver of the Status QuoThis morning the Washington Post is trying on another false dichotomy in its editorial to turn the debate over K-12 education into another mindless meme that will function to distill a complex discussion into a single drop of meaninglessness. Now we have the "disruptors and the incrementalists" to replace the "reformers and unions," respectively.In case you have forgotten who is on which side, the disruptors are the guys who created NCLB as the ultimate improvised explosive device that would be used to blow up, i. e,. "disrupt" public education--at least that part of public education in urban areas for now, where the percieved urgency for social control and a population suited to mindless labor helped form a bipartisan coalition aimed at replacing city schools with small manageable work camps based on stringent behavior modification, scripted instruction, and cognitive decapitation. It had bipartisan support, even in its creation: Sandy Kress (D) and Margaret Spellings ®.The other side, the incrementalists, is comprised of everyone else, anyone, in fact, who may stand in the way of the agenda of the "disruptors" to blow up public education, starting, as noted, with the cities. Now because the President of the AFT, Randi Weingarten, has prostituted the principles of the union for her own advancement and for a few dollars for members who can grind out higher test scores, and in so doing has had sweet things to say about Arne "No Bid" Duncan, Mr. Duncan is now presented by the corporate media as the neutral candidate, the peacemaker, who can work both sides of the false dichotomy.Now as Myles Horton reminded us years ago, neutrality is a just a code word for the existing system, and Mr. Obama's appeal yesterday to not let ideology get in the way of progress is the perfect example of a mealy-mouthed capitulation to the past eight years of "reformers," "disruptors," or whatever you will call the all-out assault on the public space, on pedagogical reason, and on the ethical practice of schooling. Arne Duncan represents the same crap you can't believe, rather than the change we are supposed to believe in.From Schmidt, editor of Substance:Read on at the link. Briefly, here are some of the major policy actions Arne Duncan has led since he was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Chicago Public Schools in July 2001 by MWhat will be Obama's policy on IDEA? More Bush?We are going to have to raise our voices with Obama?http://airamerica.com/blog/2008/dec/17/greg-palast-obama-slam-duncans-educationGreg Palast: Obama Slam-Duncans EducationBy Greg PalastHey, you Liberal Democrats. You may have won the election, but you're getting CREAMED in the transition.Today, President-elect Barack Obama stuck it to you. He's chosen Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education.Who? Duncan is most decidedly not an educator. He's a lawyer. But Duncan has this extraordinary qualification: He's Obama's pick-up basketball buddy from Hyde Park.I can't make this up.Not that Duncan hasn't mucked about in the educational system. Chicago Boss Richie Daley put this guy in charge of the horror show called Chicago Public Schools where Duncan turned a bad system into a REALLY bad system.And Obama knows it. Indeed, although he plays roundball with Duncan (who was captain of the Harvard basketball team), State Senator Obama was one of the only local Chicago officials who refused to send his kids to Duncan's public schools. (The Obamas sent Sasha and Malia to the Laboratory School, where Duncan's methods are derided as dangerously ludicrous.)So, if The One won't trust his kids to Duncan, why is he handing Duncan ours?The answer: Duncan is supported by a coterie of teacher-union hating Republicans. The vocal cheerleader for the Duncan appointment was , the New York Times columnist; the REPUBLICAN columnist.Hey, didn't those guys LOSE?The problem with Duncan is not party affiliation. The problem is education philosophy. And Duncan is a Bush baby through and through, a card-carrying supporter of the program best called, "No Child's Behind Left."At the heart of the program is testing. And more testing. Testing instead of teaching. When tests go badly, the solution is to push the low-test-score kids to drop out of school. If triage isn't enough, then attack their teachers.Here's how Duncan operates this Bush program in Chicago at High in the Lawndale ghetto. Teachers there work with kids from homeless shelters from an economically devastated neighborhood. Believe it or not, the kids don't get high test scores. So Chicago fired the teachers, every one of them. Then they brought in new teachers and fired THEM too when, surprise!, test scores still didn't rise.The reward for a teacher volunteering for a tough neighborhood is to get harassed, blamed and fired. Now THAT'S a brilliant program, Mr. Duncan. But Duncan's own failures have not gotten HIM fired. As long as his 20-foot jumpshot holds, he's Mr. Secretary.In no other cabinet department is the lack of expertise, lack of accomplishment, lack of a degree in the field found acceptable but in Education.But what horrifies me more than Duncan's lack of credentials is Obama's kowtowing to the right-wing clique crusading against the teachers' union and progressive education. The ill philosophy behind the Bush-brand education theories Duncan promotes, "Teach-to-the- Test," forces teachers to limit classroom time to pounding in rote low- end skills, easily measured on standardized tests. The transparent purpose is to create a future class of worker-drones. Add in some computer training and - voila! - millions of lower-income kids are trained on the cheap to function, not think.Analytical thinking skills, creative skills, questioning skills are left exclusively to privileged little Bushes at Andover Academy or privileged little Obamas at the Laboratory School.For the rest of America's children, instead of hope, we'll have hoops.

[Guest guest]

-snip-

that part of public education in urban areas for now, where the

> percieved urgency for social control and a population suited to

> mindless labor helped form a bipartisan coalition aimed at replacing

> city schools with small manageable work camps based on stringent

> behavior modification, scripted instruction, and cognitive

> decapitation.

Huh? This guy's commentary is too dripping with invective for much

clarity. I know he is hugely disappointed, but I'm not sure why.

And I thought the teachers unions were the epitome of status quo

mongering, except for salary and bennies.

If Obama is sticking it to the teacher's unions with Duncan, maybe

it's because they were the top supporters of Hillary Clinton? Does the

DOE really make much of a difference, anyway? Liberal Democrats have

dangerously high levels of expectation. . .tic tic tic.

Lenny

tion.

[Guest guest]

Another blog with comments. District 299:The ChicagoSchoolsBlog

Duncan Pros and Cons

Here is a running list of some of the main strengths and weakness of Arne Duncan from his seven years as head of the Chicago public schools:

Strengths: â–ª Lasted seven years -- a lot longer than many predicted. â–ª State test scores have increased every year Duncan has been in office, according to the board of education. â–ª Duncan has by all accounts improved tremendously as a public speaker. â–ª Sends his daughter to a local public school. â–ª Strong supporter of community schools. â–ª Early critic of NCLB testing, tutoring, and transfer requirements â–ª Chicago participates in Roland Fryer "learn to earn" program. â–ª Tall, skinny, and with a funny name -- just like his soon-to-be-boss! â–ª Has more gray in his hair than it seems from this AP pic.

Weaknesses: â–ª Chicago has never been a finalist for the Broad education prize for urban school reform. â–ª Chicago 's NAEP scores lag many other big city districts, according to TUDA. â–ª F ailed to win substantial concessions from the Chicago Teachers Union in the last contract. â–ª Failed to expand the highly restrictive charter school cap for Chicago (30) . â–ª Renaissance 2010 disrupted the education of thousands of students in the early years esp. â–ª Duncan 's reform efforts have failed to attract (or retain) white and middle-class families. â–ª Criticized by Blagojevich for only having offered free school bus rides in exchange for the Senate seat.

What am I missing?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There's about 40 comments on this piece - one of them reads:

By: Activist10

Duncan Pros and Cons

He has fundamentally failed to serve students with disabilities and support special education teacher development. OSS is a laughingstock. You'll get your IEP changed only if you can afford a damn good special ed lawyer.

> > > What will be Obama's policy on IDEA? More Bush?> >> > We are going to have to raise our voices with Obama?> >> > http://airamerica.com/blog/2008/dec/17/greg-palast-obama-slam-duncans-education> > Greg Palast: Obama Slam-Duncans Education> > By Greg Palast> >> > Hey, you Liberal Democrats. You may have won the election, but you're> > getting CREAMED in the transition.> >> > Today, President-elect Barack Obama stuck it to you. He's chosen Arne> > Duncan as Secretary of Education.> >> > Who? Duncan is most decidedly not an educator. He's a lawyer. But> > Duncan has this extraordinary qualification: He's Obama's pick-up> > basketball buddy from Hyde Park.> >> > I can't make this up.> >> > Not that Duncan hasn't mucked about in the educational system. Chicago> > Boss Richie Daley put this guy in charge of the horror show called> > Chicago Public Schools where Duncan turned a bad system into a REALLY> > bad system.> >> > And Obama knows it. Indeed, although he plays roundball with Duncan> > (who was captain of the Harvard basketball team), State Senator Obama> > was one of the only local Chicago officials who refused to send his> > kids to Duncan's public schools. (The Obamas sent Sasha and Malia to> > the Laboratory School, where Duncan's methods are derided as> > dangerously ludicrous.)> >> > So, if The One won't trust his kids to Duncan, why is he handing> > Duncan ours?> >> > The answer: Duncan is supported by a coterie of teacher-union hating> > Republicans. The vocal cheerleader for the Duncan appointment was> > , the New York Times columnist; the REPUBLICAN columnist.> >> > Hey, didn't those guys LOSE?> >> > The problem with Duncan is not party affiliation. The problem is> > education philosophy. And Duncan is a Bush baby through and through, a> > card-carrying supporter of the program best called, "No Child's Behind> > Left."> >> > At the heart of the program is testing. And more testing. Testing> > instead of teaching. When tests go badly, the solution is to push the> > low-test-score kids to drop out of school. If triage isn't enough,> > then attack their teachers.> >> > Here's how Duncan operates this Bush program in Chicago at > > High in the Lawndale ghetto. Teachers there work with kids from> > homeless shelters from an economically devastated neighborhood.> > Believe it or not, the kids don't get high test scores. So Chicago> > fired the teachers, every one of them. Then they brought in new> > teachers and fired THEM too when, surprise!, test scores still didn't> > rise.> >> > The reward for a teacher volunteering for a tough neighborhood is to> > get harassed, blamed and fired. Now THAT'S a brilliant program, Mr.> > Duncan. But Duncan's own failures have not gotten HIM fired. As long> > as his 20-foot jumpshot holds, he's Mr. Secretary.> >> > In no other cabinet department is the lack of expertise, lack of> > accomplishment, lack of a degree in the field found acceptable but in> > Education.> >> > But what horrifies me more than Duncan's lack of credentials is> > Obama's kowtowing to the right-wing clique crusading against the> > teachers' union and progressive education. The ill philosophy behind> > the Bush-brand education theories Duncan promotes, "Teach-to-the-> > Test," forces teachers to limit classroom time to pounding in rote > > low-> > end skills, easily measured on standardized tests. The transparent> > purpose is to create a future class of worker-drones. Add in some> > computer training and - voila! - millions of lower-income kids are> > trained on the cheap to function, not think.> >> > Analytical thinking skills, creative skills, questioning skills are> > left exclusively to privileged little Bushes at Andover> > Academy or privileged little Obamas at the Laboratory School.> >> > For the rest of America's children, instead of hope, we'll have hoops.> >> >> >>

[Guest guest]

More from the same blog in a comment:

You're right and you're wrong, but at least you're adding a footnote

to the indictment against Arne Duncan (and the list of reasons why he

should be laughed off the list of people under consideration for

Secretary of Education). Duncan has been a major supporter of

increased racial segregation and massive violations of the IDEA.

Read on...

Kugler's posting of the most recent Corey H decision (not reported,

by the way, in any of the Chicago media, including Catalyst) should

add another reminder as to why Arne Duncan should not be on Barack

Obama's list of people for U.S. Secretary of Education. Duncan now

has the most consistent (and expensive) record of violating the

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of any school

chief in the United States of America at any time in history. As we

depicted in the cartoon (showing Arne and Mayor Daley pushing people

in wheelchairs off a cliff in order to solve a non-existent

budget " deficit " ) three years ago (after Duncan cut special education

staff at CPS behind claims of a phony budget " deficit " ), Duncan has

been abusing cripples, not just warehousing or ignoring them. And

every time the case goes to court, the cynical policies and practices

of the Duncan administration go on display.

Any one of those charges about CPS practices regarding special

education could wind up as both a grievance and a message to the

Corey H monitor. But somebody has to be willing to detail them and

not hide from the issue. In real time and in real courts, " Annie

Sullivan " has to have a real name and address before she can take the

witness stand. So anonymous and blogging aren't going to solve one

problems, either for disabled children or the teachers who are being

forced to lie, cheat and steal from those disabled children by CPS.

You've got to take a stand, just as the historical " Annie Sullivan "

and her client did.

We'll publish anything that comes out from a real person, as we've

once again proved with our December story about the predations of

principal Kennedy Kartheiser of Chicago's Coonley (some of

which involves significant violations of the IDEA as well as age

discrimination and the usual bureaucratic stupidities).

Corey H is only as strong as the people who bring evidence from

within CPS to show that the violations of the IDEA continue.

CPS spent more than a half million dollars on lawyers (the outside

firm of Dykema Gosset plus their own lawyers) trying to get out from

under Corey H over the past 18 months and, as Kugler's posting of the

court decision shows, failed until at least September 2010.

However, the fact that nobody has brought these things out clearly at

Board meetings (not only IDEA violations, which parents often bring

to the Board, but also the obscene costs of sustaining litigation to

allow CPS unlimited ability to violate the IDEA and the rights of

disabled children) shows that many many teachers are going to have to

rethink where and when they can continue to hang their consciences at

the school house door while these things are taking place within

their schools.

The vicious (and ageist) attacks on special education teachers are

not just happening at Coonley, as you know.

So when do people come out of the closet and document reality?

The Duncan administration has been spending millions of dollars to

continue violating the IDEA.

One of the reasons Arne Duncan shouldn't even be considered for U.S.

Secretary of Education is his completely ugly (and expensive) record

in violation of the rights of the " least of our brethren " -- and the

IDEA -- since he took over CPS in July 2001. There is probably not a

record in the USA comparable to Duncan's seven-year policy level

violations of the IDEA.

But Arne Duncan gets away with violating the rights of crippled

children in part because teachers don't bring the facts out in

public, through the grievance procedure (grievances on " policies and

practices " -- article 3; and federal law violations article 2) and

also through public forums (from publication in Substance to speaking

out at CPS meetings).

> >

> > > What will be Obama's policy on IDEA? More Bush?

> > >

> > > We are going to have to raise our voices with Obama?

> > >

> > >

> http://airamerica.com/blog/2008/dec/17/greg-palast-obama-slam-

duncans-ed\

> ucation

> > > Greg Palast: Obama Slam-Duncans Education

> > > By Greg Palast

> > >

> > > Hey, you Liberal Democrats. You may have won the election, but

> you're

> > > getting CREAMED in the transition.

> > >

> > > Today, President-elect Barack Obama stuck it to you. He's chosen

> Arne

> > > Duncan as Secretary of Education.

> > >

> > > Who? Duncan is most decidedly not an educator. He's a lawyer.

But

> > > Duncan has this extraordinary qualification: He's Obama's pick-

up

> > > basketball buddy from Hyde Park.

> > >

> > > I can't make this up.

> > >

> > > Not that Duncan hasn't mucked about in the educational system.

> Chicago

> > > Boss Richie Daley put this guy in charge of the horror show

called

> > > Chicago Public Schools where Duncan turned a bad system into a

> REALLY

> > > bad system.

> > >

> > > And Obama knows it. Indeed, although he plays roundball with

Duncan

> > > (who was captain of the Harvard basketball team), State Senator

> Obama

> > > was one of the only local Chicago officials who refused to send

his

> > > kids to Duncan's public schools. (The Obamas sent Sasha and

Malia to

> > > the Laboratory School, where Duncan's methods are derided as

> > > dangerously ludicrous.)

> > >

> > > So, if The One won't trust his kids to Duncan, why is he handing

> > > Duncan ours?

> > >

> > > The answer: Duncan is supported by a coterie of teacher-union

hating

> > > Republicans. The vocal cheerleader for the Duncan appointment

was

> > > , the New York Times columnist; the REPUBLICAN

> columnist.

> > >

> > > Hey, didn't those guys LOSE?

> > >

> > > The problem with Duncan is not party affiliation. The problem is

> > > education philosophy. And Duncan is a Bush baby through and

through,

> a

> > > card-carrying supporter of the program best called, " No Child's

> Behind

> > > Left. "

> > >

> > > At the heart of the program is testing. And more testing.

Testing

> > > instead of teaching. When tests go badly, the solution is to

push

> the

> > > low-test-score kids to drop out of school. If triage isn't

enough,

> > > then attack their teachers.

> > >

> > > Here's how Duncan operates this Bush program in Chicago at

> > > High in the Lawndale ghetto. Teachers there work with kids from

> > > homeless shelters from an economically devastated neighborhood.

> > > Believe it or not, the kids don't get high test scores. So

Chicago

> > > fired the teachers, every one of them. Then they brought in new

> > > teachers and fired THEM too when, surprise!, test scores still

> didn't

> > > rise.

> > >

> > > The reward for a teacher volunteering for a tough neighborhood

is to

> > > get harassed, blamed and fired. Now THAT'S a brilliant program,

Mr.

> > > Duncan. But Duncan's own failures have not gotten HIM fired. As

long

> > > as his 20-foot jumpshot holds, he's Mr. Secretary.

> > >

> > > In no other cabinet department is the lack of expertise, lack of

> > > accomplishment, lack of a degree in the field found acceptable

but

> in

> > > Education.

> > >

> > > But what horrifies me more than Duncan's lack of credentials is

> > > Obama's kowtowing to the right-wing clique crusading against the

> > > teachers' union and progressive education. The ill philosophy

behind

> > > the Bush-brand education theories Duncan promotes, " Teach-to-

the-

> > > Test, " forces teachers to limit classroom time to pounding in

rote

> > > low-

> > > end skills, easily measured on standardized tests. The

transparent

> > > purpose is to create a future class of worker-drones. Add in

some

> > > computer training and - voila! - millions of lower-income kids

are

> > > trained on the cheap to function, not think.

> > >

> > > Analytical thinking skills, creative skills, questioning skills

are

> > > left exclusively to privileged little Bushes at Andover

> > > Academy or privileged little Obamas at the Laboratory School.

> > >

> > > For the rest of America's children, instead of hope, we'll have

> hoops.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>