Dear Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Black

Thank you for declaring schools open today. I am a little confused how you can declare a snow emergency and ask people to stay off the roads, but then on the other hand expect us to get our little money makers I mean children off to school. Here in Northeast Queens our main streets have been plowed but our side streets are a mess. I walked my child to school in the street. People have not gotten there lazy asses I mean tired over worked bodies up to shovel the sidewalks yet.
I think that you should check the attendance stats today and see how many children are absent due to snow related conditions. I am sure my child will receive an above standard education today sitting in the auditorium due to how many teachers live in Long Island. By the way my local Catholic school is closed, so are the private and catholic High Schools. I would not have minded having to miss a day of work to take care of my child after all that is what I do.
You really should not judge the city as a whole. Just because Manhattan is beautiful it does not mean the forgotten I mean outer boroughs receive the same type of attention. Sometimes I think despite everything you do, you really do not have any common sense.
Sincerely,
your overtaxed neighbor in Queens

Big Surprise

Cathie Black was just granted her waiver. Color me surprised. Nice how it was done at the last possible moment, the end of the business day. Democracy has just died in this great city. Well it has been dead but now it is blatant. I have nothing more to say right now.

Oprah Endorses Cathie Black

We can now rest easy another non educator endorses Cathie Black
It seems our schools are only as good as the endorsements they get.
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/education/2010/11/18/2010-11-18_bloomberg_gets_endorsements_from_oprah_other_heavyweights_to_bolster_case_for_ca.html

Bloomberg-isms

Remember when Bush was President, and he spoke without a teleprompter or off the cuff, he would make statements that just did not make sense? They were called Bushisms. I decided to start one for Bloomberg..
His response for a non public search for Chancellor was done in a way that tells us to go jump of a bridge, preferably the Jersey side of the George Washington.
"To go through a lengthy process in the middle of a school year is just not something in our "kids" best interest.
Really Mike what is? Reforms changing mid stream. No money for run any other program than Math and English. How is that a well rounded education for the kids (who by the way are baby goats) best interest
"Besides he said, nobody would apply if the process were too public because its too embarrassing to them if they don't get selected?"
Really Mike to embarrassing? For goodness sakes we are talking about education not dodge ball.
I might if I was the last child called, but I am an adult and have faced disappointment before.
I am sure your Goldman Sachs Hedge Fund managers have, plenty of times.
By the way if you are a Hedge Fund manager why would you want to leave your cushy job? Too much money, Deepdale Country Club to boring for you? Need a new challenge? Took a bet on how long it would take you to screw up the Public Education System?

Joel Klein sure has some chutzpa

I just finished watching Joel Klein's interview on NY1 Inside City Hall. When the question posed to him about Leonie Haimson's comment re: his legacy. He could only call her a propagandist, and having her own agenda. This makes me ill. Klein is the King of propaganda. Playing a shell game with data, making the so called agenda based people sue him on NYS Education Law violations., and then rewriting law at his own pleasure. . Stating that schools have wait lists because our schools are good. Joel it really is not that our schools are good it IS that we don't have a choice, no matter how much you say we do. Fix all our schools don't just concentrate on charters. I have news for you Superman is fictional. If there really was a superman my Principal would not have to take out a loan from the DOE to float our school because our budget was drastically cut. We don't have an arts program in our school, but I forget only test prep matters. Some parents might not understand how much education has changed since you and Bloomie have hijacked our system, ummm I mean have been in power.
My oldest children learned to write script, to appreciate literature, Knew how to identify a country, state, mountain (you get it) on a map, American History, NY State History, and then Latin American when they left elementary school. My youngest has not learned any of this.
He did learn that the EClass and the ELA, and the Math Tests are all important. In the first grade he stressed that he believed he might have got more answers wrong then he should have and might score low. Nice real nice.
I also have some news for you, my child and his 5th grade peers can't multiply. I have been teaching him and yes parents should help, but so can you by knowing what truly comprises of a well rounded education ( I think you might have a clue, your child was taught in a private school after all) Not just what is on the damn test type of education. It is not about the test.
A one size fits all doesn't work in clothing and it sure as hell does not fit an individuals mindset. We are individuals, we process information differently as well. I am a visual person, so to call us propagandists because we think outside the box, when we and not you are the stakeholders is just plain wrong. Just like you can't have a carpenter build a house without tools, you can not ask a teacher to do their job without the same.
When you leave this position in December, and why exactly are you leaving? Please have a meaningful discussion with the parents, teachers, and Principals and leave your judgment at the door

Knowledge is power

OFIA sent emails to CEC's reminding them that their meetings are public and can be recorded and/or videotaped at any particular moment. I guess the same goes for you Joel?

OFEA, OFIA

The DOE has decided to change the name of OFEA, to OFIA. Always changing things up aren't you Joel? This Chancellor, I think suffers from schizophrenia. Districts to no Districts, regions to no regions, but back to Districts, with no power.
Test scores equal grade of schools, schools do well, change method of testing grades. Schools suffer, announce closings.
Get your media mogul friends (Bloomberg) to FOIL teacher data. Show results, added value, no account for data errors with the scores and particular teachers. We just won't tell the parents, they need to shut up anyway.

Is it just me

or does Joel Klein resemble Nosferatu more or more each day as how he describes how our schools will have no money next year. That is okay folks, don't get to alarmed not like we need to teach anything pertaining to a true education, just what is on the grand ole test, and we do hope you fail and your school gets a terrible grade, we have a nice charter school applicant that would love to take over your school.

Finally

Finally I can breath a sigh of relief. I am happy for wee one. He has finally got it. Last night while sitting on the couch he decided to give himself long division, fractions and to write the multiplication tables all on his own. He told me math is like a game. I always thought it was.
It only took to the end of April but I guess his adjustment period is up.
He definitely has more confidence, and that is all I ever wanted for him. The child that had a thirst for knowledge.
The school has done everything they could to help him, with resource room and extended day.
He tells me cute stories about resource room, which makes me happy.
He is also ready to take on the upcoming tests and no longer doubts his promotion.
Now if we can only work on his big mouth, wonder where he gets that from?