Bob Herbert and I talk about hot-button education issues; segregation, testing, charter schools, Betsy DeVos, teacher strikes and more!

Recently I had the pleasure of appearing on Bob Herbert's Op-Ed. TV show on CUNY-TV.  We spoke about segregation in our public schools, charter schools, testing, Betsy Devos' visit to NYC, class size, teacher strikes, how the Democratic party needs to reclaim the issue of equitable education, and more.

I'm so grateful to be able to discuss about these issues in depth rather than be limited to a soundbite in the mainstream media.  Bob used to have a regular column in the NY Times where he wrote incisively and passionately about many about these issues.  Sadly, the Times no longer has anyone on either the editorial staff or op-ed page who focuses on public education with a progressive point of view. Instead, too often we see pieces authored by charter school cheerleaders.  Please watch the segment below and let me know what you think!  thanks Leonie

Please join NPE in Raleigh to be inspired and learn so much!

In a few weeks, the Network for Public Education will hold our annual conference in Raleigh NC on
April 16-17. Among the keynote speakers will be Diane Ravitch, Rev. William Barber and author Bob Herbert, Jesse Hagopian, Karran Harper Royal and Dr. Phil Lanoue of Clarke County GA and National Superintendent of the Year.

I will be leading a workshop with the co-chair of our Parent Coalition for Student Privacy Rachael Stickland on the fight for student privacy post-inBloom, and another on "Personalized Learning", contrasting the research and reality of class size reduction vs. online instruction.  Joining me will be teacher/blogger extraordinaire Peter Greene and attorney and columnist Wendy Lecker.

Here is the full schedule of events; click the right hand arrow for Sat. and Sunday and this page to register and get info on how to reserve your hotel room etc. 

I am on the board of NPE, and I'm proud to say it has become the leading national organization of parents, teachers and advocates fighting the forces that undermine our public schools, including high-stakes testing, budget cuts and privatization. Each year the opportunity to meet with like-minded allies and share strategies and information is tremendously helpful and even inspirational.  This year promises to be our best yet.  Please join us if you can!

Leonie Haimson talking education reform on Bob Herbert's Op-Ed show

I was on Bob Herbert's Op-Ed show on CUNY-TV show last week; talking about corporate reform, charters, testing, the Common Core, school overcrowding, and what we should be doing as a city and a nation to ensure that students have a real opportunity to succeed.  As opposed to most TV shows where you have at most four minutes to make your point, we covered a lot of territory.  Take a look!