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© 2010 Columbia University Democrats
Columbia University President Lee Bollinger: Reform Kaplan Or Quit Its Board!
This month, the CU Dems will be tackling Guns! In addition to the recent devastation at the hands of this weapon, there are numerous other tragedies that never see the light of 5 O’Clock news….but it can be prevented! If you are interested in tackling this issue with us, join us each Wednesday at 9pm in Satow! We look forward to working with you!
This event was forwarded by a Dems Alum. Sounds like a really interesting event – definitely attend if you’re around!
Dissent magazine and The Nation present:
Private Money / Public Education
Or, Can a Publishing Executive Run A School System?
Wednesday, January 12, 2011 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, NYU, 20 Cooper Square, 7th Floor Located at E. 5th St. and Bowery: 4/6 trains at Astor Pl., N/R at 8th St., B/D/F/M at Broadway-Lafayette
Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, NYU, 20 Cooper Square, 7th Floor Located at E. 5th St. and Bowery: 4/6 trains at Astor Pl., N/R at 8th St., B/D/F/M at Broadway-Lafayette
This event is free and open to the public.
“School reform” has called to mind dedicated parents, passionate teachers, and community members devoted to the political fight for school funding and support. But is this still so? At the helm of the new movement in K-12 school reform stand philanthropic billionaires and their political allies, backed by foundations with a market-based approach to reform. Choice, competition, and experimentation are the name of the new game. The traditional role of teachers’ unions has been called into question.
Now, Mayor Bloomberg has selected publishing executive Cathie Black as New York City Schools Chancellor. Controversial reformer Michelle Rhee is stepping down in Washington D.C. And the fight over the future of school reform is far from over. What will be the role of private money in public schools?
Joanne Barkan, writing in Dissent, has argued that not only do these philanthropies usurp democratic power, but that they are in the thrall of an educational ideology impervious to critical evaluation.
Dana Goldstein, in The Nation, has explored how education reform is marketed to the public with such success that Democrats and Republicans unite in support of aggressive reformers like Michelle Rhee.
James Merriman is one of New York’s leading experts in charter schools, and the current CEO of the New York City Charter School Center. He has worked for the Walton Family Foundation in charter school development.
Pedro Noguera is the Peter L. Agnew Professor of Education at New York University, where his scholarship focuses on the ways in which schools are influenced by social and economic conditions in the urban environment. He was a classroom teacher in public schools in Providence, RI and Oakland, CA and has published widely on urban school reform.
This event is co-sponsored by the Cultural Reporting and Criticism program, NYU.
Come join the CU Dems this Wednesday as we discuss public school education in New York City. Not only will this be an excellent follow up to our last weeks meeting regarding education, we will also hear from a number of student service groups about how we can get involved and help NOW!
See you then!
This year, almost 70 members of the CU Dems trekked over to Bucks County, PA to fight for the Democratic Party. Campaigning for Patrick Murphy manifested itself in incredible ways. From knocking on doors for dozens of hours, posting signs EVERYWHERE, and some (not-so) friendly conversations with the natives, for five days, our passion for politics was more than renewed. While Murphy did not win, this trip still only rejuvenated our passion for this politics, but more importantly, our hope for America!
