A Modest Proposal

Posted on May 22, 2013 by edushyster2012

A Call to Create “Charter” Police and Fire Stations, brought to you by Democrats for Public Safety Reform (DFPSR)

By Colum Whyte
The status quo is not working. “Something” has to be done. Generous direct “donations” from the Waltons and Kochs, as well as strong support from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) have helped “Citizens First” realize our goals. Truly, public safety is a civil right; we shall overcome. Citizens First proposes a national movement to ensure that no citizen ever have to rely on union-stifled police officers or firefighter again. For too long the patrolman and firefighters unions have stifled innovation in our neediest municipalities. We need reform. Continue reading →

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In Chicago, Rahm’s Reform Vision in Deep Dish

Posted on May 22, 2013 by edushyster2012

The final “vote” on which Chicago Public Schools to shutter may be a done deal, but the implications of the largest single school closure in US history will be felt well beyond the Windy City. Mayor Emanuel, who has long tethered his political fortunes to hedge-funded education reform, now has poll numbers hovering near the bottom of Lake Michigan. Meanwhile, the Chicago media has suddenly awakened and is practicing, once again, the long-lost art of journalism. And Chicago charter school fever is beginning to look an awful lot like old-fashioned Illinois-style “pay to play” corruption. In other words, on this bad news bears day, my outlook is decidedly wine-box-half-full… Continue reading →

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The Buck Starts Here

Posted on May 19, 2013 by edushyster2012

A Utah charter school is growing the next generation of capitalists

Like you I was forced to learn many things at school that I have absolutely no use for in the 21st century—like speling. And I literaly cannot count the number of times that I have not had to use math. That’s why I was so excited to learn about a boldly innovative new school in Utah which is teaching kids to be makers, not takers. Students as young as kindergarten are learning to become the bosses of tomorrow today by mastering business skills and practices including sales, marketing—even PowerPoint. They can even get a jump on the exciting world of work that lies ahead by working in the school store. Continue reading →

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It’s About the Kids

Posted on May 14, 2013 by edushyster2012

When a major Wall Street investor and the CEO of a fast growing chain of charter schools get together for a chat, what do you suppose they talk about? Well that’s obvious. They talk about the kids of course, and their shared dream of *crushing* the achievement gap in order to put those kids on a path leading straight to 21st century skills and success. In fact, when an executive from Prudential Financial and the CEO of the UNO Charter Schools in Chicago conversated this spring, the kids were topic #1. Let’s listen in, shall we? Continue reading →

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“Don’t Believe the Hype”

Posted on May 13, 2013 by edushyster2012

A young MBA student tells her classmates that “education reform” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Many of my classmates in business school assume that education reform is a good thing. Accountability! Improvement! Closing the Achievement gap! Usually they know some Teach for America alums (who are now lawyers), or they’ve watched “Waiting for Superman.” They’ve heard of charter schools (which of course they didn’t attend), and being business-minded, they assume that privately-run schools will somehow be better. Because many of my classmates will go on to be business leaders, decision makers, employers and parents, I think it’s important that they understand what education reform is really about. Here’s what I tell them: Continue reading →

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EduShyster

Keeping an eye on the corporate education agenda, in Massachusetts and beyond

A Modest Proposal

In Chicago, Rahm’s Reform Vision in Deep Dish

The Buck Starts Here

It’s About the Kids

“Don’t Believe the Hype”