tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post1274402598240176275..comments2024-03-24T11:39:28.574-04:00Comments on NYC Public School Parents: Why do the media nearly always frame education issues as the UFT vs. the Mayor; and Ben Chapman's responsePatrick Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10631038958645725010noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-38779279842544289192013-04-30T00:59:12.297-04:002013-04-30T00:59:12.297-04:00McLieberman & Benjamin, I was responding to Be...McLieberman & Benjamin, I was responding to Benjamin's assertion that most parent groups were "union-funded fronts." Of course, you don't need to be a public school parent to have interest in these issues (B was the one who brought this up with the snide "with children enrolled in the public schools.")<br /><br />Still, neither of you acknowledge my point (and, I think, Haimson's) that the alignment of positions may just be due to the fact that many parents believe their kids' teachers do have their children's best interests at heart and that, as I said before, a contented teacher makes for a happy classroom.<br /><br />kk, parentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-6014180970939382642013-04-29T15:46:43.769-04:002013-04-29T15:46:43.769-04:00I don't recall having children in public schoo...I don't recall having children in public school as a requirement when I was asked to cast votes on the state education budget. Being and representing taxpayers (public and private school parents included), informed my decision-making. In my comment, I was pointing out a correlation between CSM (not the universe of city parents)and UFT positions on the same issues. The media wasn't biased so long as it unquestioningly quoted Ms. Haimson. Now that they are hesitant to print her every utterance, they are cast as ignorant. Draw your own conclusions.MA_Benjaminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04712902059787517266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-27054708513217079692013-04-29T15:21:05.836-04:002013-04-29T15:21:05.836-04:00MA_Benjamin didn't say Leonie was on the payro...MA_Benjamin didn't say Leonie was on the payroll. Unlike Nyer's for Great Public Schools etc but that there is no daylight between them and that is relevant. If one is for smaller class sizes, how can there be no discussion of pension costs and other union taboos that make it more expensive to higher teachers? Even if that isn't right answer, if every point you make supports UFT and they do fund a good portion of "parent groups", its tough to whine about how your independence isn't taken seriously.McLiebermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02488193640345383123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-65125299696869296242013-04-29T11:22:57.814-04:002013-04-29T11:22:57.814-04:00Oops! Forgot to include the link about the ParentV...Oops! Forgot to include the link about the ParentVoicesNY Parents Forum for Mayoral Candidates.<br /><br />http://www.parentvoicesny.org/?page_id=1228<br /><br />THursday May 2 @PS 29 in Brooklyn fr 5:30-7.<br /><br />Submit questions in advance to questions@parentvoicesny.orgkk, parentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-89812892953918900912013-04-29T11:18:48.667-04:002013-04-29T11:18:48.667-04:00@MA_Benjamin. I would like to offer myself as a di...@MA_Benjamin. I would like to offer myself as a direct contradiction to your comment. I am a member of ParentVoicesNY. Not only are we not funded by the union, we are not funded period. Every single one of us has children in the public schools. We were one of the major organizers of last year's boycott and rally against the field tests. We had some great materials for that campaign: writing, graphic design, and video were done in kind by parent members (and children). We printed posters by each member throwing in what he or she could (usually about $20 bucks).<br /><br />This Thursday May 2, we are sponsoring a *parents* forum with some of the mayoral candidates. (Details here: ) The UFT was not consulted because while many of our concerns do overlap--in my view, my child is best off when her teacher is happy--they are not entirely coincident.<br /><br />By the way, who are you? Are you a public school parent? Or have you been one? I would say that Leonie is a fair representative, having been one for more than a decade. In fact, though I currently have kids in the system, she has more experience as a public school parent than me (7 years so far) and many other of my fellow parents and so is an arguably better observer of trends.kk, parentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-17762590210657409452013-04-28T17:19:32.682-04:002013-04-28T17:19:32.682-04:00Michael: do you deny that class size reduction is...Michael: do you deny that class size reduction is the top priority of parents according to the DOE's own surveys? Do you believe they simply care about this issue because they are puppets of the union? And your comment about the DN reporter who now works for the UFT is bizarre. Lots of reporters go back and forth between news outlets and PR for organizations. For example, did you know that Barbara Martinez, formerly a reporter at the WSJ is now working for a charter chain? Does that mean that the reporting of the WSJ is simply an echo chamber of the charter industry? <br />In any case, thank you for writing in. Your comments exemplify the sort of simplistic and erroneous thinking that I was writing about; the paranoid fantasy that everyone who agrees with the union on any issue must be their clone.<br />Leonie Haimsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17317355552298136811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-37226716753039908562013-04-28T15:29:11.878-04:002013-04-28T15:29:11.878-04:00And one more salient point. Class Size Matters is ...And one more salient point. Class Size Matters is an independent organization. It is not funded by the union. Diane Ravitchnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-20152489097377097152013-04-28T15:27:44.436-04:002013-04-28T15:27:44.436-04:00The last comment made the snide observation that &...The last comment made the snide observation that "many of your positions parallel those of the union," and I assume he refers to Leonie Haimson. I object to this comment, as he is really saying that parents and the union are the same. Does the union want smaller classes? Yes. Do parents want smaller classes? Yes. Does the union want to reduce reliance on high-stakes exams? Yes. Do parents want the same? Yes. <br />Does this concurrence mean that the UFT and parents are the same? No. Does it mean that the views of parents are always the same as the union? No. Does it mean that the media should quote the UFT and ignore parent voices? No.Diane Ravitchnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-40742448270910754522013-04-28T14:43:16.315-04:002013-04-28T14:43:16.315-04:00Reporters seem to have no trouble finding you and ...Reporters seem to have no trouble finding you and quoting you. Many of your positions however, parallel those of the UFT. And as I've written, some so-called "parents" groups are union-funded fronts. Other than Mona Davids' NYC Parents Union, it's hard for the daily ed beat reporters to find more truly independent parents voices (with children enrolled in public schools).<br /><br />What we really need is more diversity in the media, so reporters can bring added perspectives,experiences and new voices to the ed reform debate.<br /><br />Lastly, one of Ben's colleagues was so good at her ed beat writing that she won a job as a UFT spokesperson. Is that the problem you are really referring to in your post?MA_Benjaminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04712902059787517266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-63790164903287582172013-04-28T06:07:07.940-04:002013-04-28T06:07:07.940-04:00I think Ben's account says it all. He didn'...I think Ben's account says it all. He didn't point to the media's portrayal of the bias, but to what they honestly see as people's interest in the bias. Is that denial? Willful neglect? A profession trying to keep their finger on the pulse of their customers? Whichever way you answer, THAT'S the problem: The conclusion (or assumption) from the media -that people are more interested in that narrative because it makes sense to them is the problem.<br />This of course -maddeningly- brings the conversation right back to where it began. <br /><br />My two cents.NYCDOEnutshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10692665524124012171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-51917009530600086952013-04-27T23:07:50.356-04:002013-04-27T23:07:50.356-04:00Read this humorous but accurate piece on this beha...Read this humorous but accurate piece on this behaviour of the media:<br />http://harpers.org/archive/1982/08/the-tedium-twins/<br /><br />robert macneil (voice over): A Galilean preacher claims he is the Redeemer and says the poor are blessed. Should he be crucified?<br /><br />(Titles)<br /><br />macneil: Good evening. The Roman procurator in Jerusalem is trying to decide whether a man regarded by many as a saint should be put to death. Pontius Pilate is being urged by civil libertarians to intervene in what is seen here in Rome as being basically a local dispute. Tonight, the crucifixion debate. Jim?<br />........<br />lehrer: Now for a view from Mr. Simon, otherwise known as Peter. He is a supporter of Christ and has been standing by in a Jerusalem studio. Robin?<br /><br />macneil: Mr. Simon Peter, why do you support Christ?<br /><br />simon peter: He is the Son of God and presages the Second Coming. If I may, I would like to read some relevant passages from the prophet Isaiah.<br /><br />macneil: Thank you, but I’m afraid we’ll have to break in there. We’ve run out of time. Good night, Jim.PhillipMarlowenoreply@blogger.com