The moderate extremism of relinquishment

Neerav Kingsland / May 15, 2013

Relinquishment is based on three principles: (1) educators should operate schools, (2) families should choose amongst these schools, and (3) government should hold schools accountable for performance and equity.

Outside of these three principles, I hold few ironclad beliefs on education. Yet in conversation, I find that others attribute principles to Relinquishment that I don’t hold. This probably stems from a lack of clear communication on my part, so let me provide additional clarity:

Relinquishment is not anti-union

Relinquishment is a reaction against management, not labor. Admittedly, I disagree with certain policies put forth by unions and their members, but individuals should possess the right to collectively bargain with their employers. Relinquishment only posits that the government should not be a party to the bargain; rather, the bargaining parties should be union and school operator. From here, results will dictate the future of unions. If unionized schools thrive, unions themselves will also thrive. I do understand that, from an organizing standpoint, unionizing decentralized charter schools will be more difficult than signing a singular collective bargaining contract with the district—but I do not believe this issue should trump the more salient issue of academic performance.

Relinquishment assumes equity in access is not the natural state of school systems

People concerned about ensuring that all public school students have equitable access to great schools often suggest that the best solution is to (1) force all kids into one system and (2) have that one operator allocate students

» Continued

The moderate extremism of relinquishment

First Bell 5-15-13

yes Pamela Tatz / May 15, 2013

A first look at today's most important education news:

As a result of budget cuts, NAEP will scale back its social-studies exam, offering it to only eighth graders for the time being. (Curriculum Matters and Politics K–12)

City councilmembers in Takoma Park, MD, have lowered the voting age to sixteen for city elections; the law takes effect in fifty days. (Associated Press)

Chicago is set to try a program that blends math tutoring with an anti-violence counseling intervention. (Curriculum Matters)

A new report argues that when their third grader cheats on a test, parents should not overreact; first and second graders are typically taught to work together, and the new focus on independent learning can be confusing. (Wall Street Journal)

Federal data find that states’ teacher exams are too easy to pass. (Education Week)

A report finds that the youngest English-language learners benefit most from dual-language instruction. (Learning the Language)

Yesterday in San Francisco, six current and former school district employees were charged with embezzling $15 million in grant money from the district. (Huffington Post)

» Continued

First Bell 5-15-13

First Bell 5-14-13

yes Pamela Tatz / May 14, 2013

A first look at today's most important education news:

In surprisingly scathing language, NYC schools chancellor Dennis Walcott said he was “appalled” by the remarks of five Democratic mayoral candidates at a UFT-run forum on Saturday. (New York Times and Wall Street Journal)

Sol Stern and Joel Klein have coauthored a Wall Street Journal op-ed urging conservatives to participate in the Common Core conversation constructively.

Florida, already friendly towards virtual education, is on the verge of welcoming further online providers and encouraging K–12 MOOCs. (Digital Education)

As the Head Start program starts to feel the squeeze of sequestration, local Head Start agencies are considering where to make cuts. (Education Week)

Amidst budget issues, the Buena Vista school district in Michigan has closed for the year—about a month early. (Huffington Post)

With several states on the fence about Common Core, Politics K–12 considers whether doing so would affect a state’s Race to the Top funding.

The number of unaccompanied minors caught illegally crossing into the U.S. has tripled. (Learning the Language)

The ringleader in the Memphis teachers’ cheating circus was sentenced to seven years in

» Continued

First Bell 5-14-13

First Bell 5-13-13

yes Pamela Tatz / May 13, 2013

A first look at today's most important education news:

Pearson is under fire, yet again, for errors in scoring NYC’s gifted-and-talented exams, this time for miscalculating students’ ages and affecting 300 students; the city is considering terminating its contract with the company. (Wall Street Journal and New York Times)

Opposition against required Algebra 2 has cropped up in Michigan. (Curriculum Matters)

With an eye towards the American university system, an increasing number of wealthy Chinese families are sending their children to private New York City high schools. (New York Times)

At a recent UFT-run panel, six of NYC’s mayoral candidates took turns praising the Mr. Mulgrew and blasting charter schools in an effort to win the union’s support. (Wall Street Journal and New York Times)

Mexican teachers-in-training in Nahuatzen are holding five policemen hostage as part of ongoing strife over President Pena Nieto’s education reforms; the tension continues. (Wall Street Journal)

» Continued

First Bell 5-13-13