There appears to be some real confusion among what may be well-intentioned folks about what the NEA resolution on charter schools actually says about a moratorium. Here is the only mention of a moratorium in the document:
Nonetheless, I found this comment at a blog this morning, which claims that there is an NEA moratorium on charters in place:
Unless both the basic safeguards and process detailed above are met, no charter school should be authorized and NEA will support state and local moratoriums on further charter authorizations in the school district.As anyone can see, the National Education Association is NOT authorizing a moratorium in the event that all its fanciful desires are not met with regards to charter schools: the National Education Association is saying that it will support local and state affiliates that may choose to call for a moratorium. In other words, NEA plans to do nothing.
Nonetheless, I found this comment at a blog this morning, which claims that there is an NEA moratorium on charters in place:
The NEA resolution only calls for a “moratorium” on charter schools that don’t meet the standards they lay out, rather than a moratorium on all charter authorizations. . . .This is just plain wrong, and it perpetuates the kind of corrupt dissembling that NEA lawyers used for years and have now exported to the NAACP and other organizations that have opposed charter expansion in the past.
The only acceptable statement would proclaim;
ReplyDelete1) No new charter schools will be authorized.
2) All existing charter schools will be immediately closed.
3) Any remaining assets and funds will resort back to the local jurisdictions.
4) Charter operators engaged in fraudulent practices will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Any statements from NEA, AFT, NAACP that do not meet these requirements should be disregarded as propaganda tools designed to confuse the unitiated.
Abigail Shure
Check out:
ReplyDeleteNEA Issues Confusing Statement on Charter Schools
by Shawgi Tell / July 7th, 2017
http://dissidentvoice.org/2017/07/nea-issues-confusing-statement-on-charter-schools/
That's my comment you are mischaracterizing. It doesn't claim there is an NEA moratorium in place. It is argument AGAINST claims that the NEA resolution calls for a moratorium, and specifically points out that the NEA resolution DOES NOT call for one, and therefor doesn't support the NAACP resolution
ReplyDeleteI wrote:
"The NEA resolution only calls for a “moratorium” on charter schools that don’t meet the standards they lay out, rather than a moratorium on all charter authorizations. . . ."
See how the word "moratorium" is in quotes? Compare it to the actual NEA words:
"Unless both the basic safeguards and process detailed above are met, no charter school should be authorized ..."
That's what the NEA was calling a moratorium. The NEA only calls for a halt to certain charter schools.
Your accusation now is that "This is just plain wrong, and it perpetuates the kind of corrupt dissembling that NEA lawyers used for years and have now exported to the NAACP and other organizations that have opposed charter expansion in the past."
The courageous NAACP charter resolution of 2016 actually broke new ground - the organization HAD NOT opposed charter schools until then. I'm not concerned by your attacks on me, but am trying to answer the wave of attacks on the progressive forces within the NAACP.
This is the analysis I shared in FB discussion with you, and for which I was blocked:
The NAACP is an actual mass organization. The Representatives Assembly itself voted unanimously for a complete charter authorization moratorium, until ALL FOUR of their areas were addressed together, with legal protection for children of color. It isn't so easy for a charter-vested leadership to sweep that away, but some are trying. We need to compare the actual resolution, which is still in force, with the statement released last week.
October 15, 2016
"CINCINNATI – Members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Board of Directors ratified a resolution Saturday adopted by delegates at its 2016 107th National Convention calling for a moratorium on charter school expansion and for the strengthening of oversight in governance and practice.
"We are calling for a moratorium on the expansion of the charter schools at least until such time as:
(1) Charter schools are subject to the same transparency and accountability standards as public schools
(2) Public funds are not diverted to charter schools at the expense of the public school system
(3) Charter schools cease expelling students that public schools have a duty to educate and
(4) Charter schools cease to perpetuate de facto segregation of the highest performing children from those whose aspirations may be high but whose talents are not yet as obvious."
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/08/10/naacp-drafts-new-resolution-calling-moratorium-charter-schools/
Notice there are two demands -
1. A moratorium on expansion "at least until" all four areas are remedied.
2. Strengthening of oversight in governance and practice of existing charter schools.
The Task Force Report released last week distorts the resolution, and its preface collapses both strong demands to create one very weak betrayal.
This is its outright lie:
"In July 2016, during the 107th National Convention, delegates unanimously passed a Resolution calling for a moratorium on charter school expansion until there is accountability and transparency in their operations."
http://www.naacp.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Task_ForceReport_final2.pdf
Our support for the membership of the NAACP, and for those leaders who defend it, should be unwavering and respectful.
First, Mary, I don't know anything about blocking on Facebook. I did notice that there was one entire post w/comments that was taken down, but it was not mine.
ReplyDeleteSecond, NEA did not call for any semblance of a "moratorium" even in quotation marks. To pretend they did call for anything resembling a moratorium is entirely misleading.
Thirdly, I would like to support those elements of the NAACP who continue to support their weak moratorium that has been hijacked by Weingarten and the DNC elements, but no one has stepped forward in the NAACP or otherwise to say anything about preserving the moratorium that has been sidestepped the Board-backed Report on charters.
I do not support wishful thinking the ignores reality. That's our principal difference.
What is a moratorium on the expansion of charter schools? In Newark, for example, appromately one of every three students is slated to attend a charter school this year. Will existing charter schools be allowed to add grades and increase their enrollment? Will new charters be prevented from opening in the city? How will the devastating repercussions of charter schools on the two out of three students attending public schools be mitigated? The district will continue to be choked by the outlay of funding following the chosen charter school students. Calls for a moratorium on charter school expansion are nothing more than semantic foreplay.
ReplyDeleteAbigail Shure