No Child Left Behind: intended to destroy schools, not fix them?

Caroline Grannan spares no privatizers with her No Child Left Behind: intended to destroy schools, not fix them?. She might be the only progressive writing for a major paper about education today.

Is Green Dot's Ben Austin projecting when he discusses pedophiles?

Once again, highly paid Green Dot/Parent Revolution (née LAPU) executive Ben Austin is trying to perpetuate outrageous lies, vicious rumors, and unproven allegations about the hardworking teachers of UTLA. Witness his latest disgusting outburst at the July 1, 2009 LAUSD board meeting:

"We can't take it anymore," declared Ben Austin, executive director of Parent Revolution, "when we read in the L.A. Times about child molesters -- child molesters! -- being put back in the classroom to teach our kids." [1]

Proof forthcoming Ben Austin? Again, aside from unproven allegations mentioned a while back in an LA Times piece, there isn't anything other than Green Dot's Ben Austin repeating the accusations time and time again.

One explanation is the Beverly Hills Barrister is borrowing a play from reactionaries even further to the right than he is. That play is to repeat a falsehood for so long that it begins to resonate with people, despite the fact it is an all out lie (like those used to start the Iraq occupation). The other is that Mr. Ben Austin of Parent Counter Revolution may be projecting (in the Freudian sense) when he prattles endlessly about child molesters. One thing is for sure, since the Stanford University's Center for Research on Education Outcomes report on charters came out, Steve Barr, Marco Petruzzi, Ben Austin, Yolie Flores Aguilar, and Monica Garcia have had to work overtime justifying their CHARTER CASH COWS.

Not surprisingly, only business magazines use terms like "parent advocate" when discussing Ben Austin. If Austin or any of his rich boys network were really parent advocates, then where were they when the community was engaged in struggle against the budget cuts? Green Dot's Ben Austin was almost certainly lounging at home in his gated Beverly Hills community while we supported the parent campers at John Liechty Middle School and Miguel Contreras Learning Complex. While LAPU's Ben Austin enjoyed lavish luncheons with ever the opportunist Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, we supported the hunger strikers and parents in front of Cortines office. While Ben Austin was endorsing fat checks from William Gates and Eli Broad, we were raising funds for Aurora Ponce. A "parent advocate" and "revolutionary" indeed. If there is a more disingenuous person in Los Angeles than Mr. Austin, I'd love to know.

[1] http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-charter2-2009jul02,0,3724026.story

Important news and events for immigrant rights activists 26-June-09

EVENTS

OVERHILL FARMS’ WORKERS LAUNCH CONSUMER CAMPAIGN - Tuesdays
http://www.immigrationcoalition.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76:overhill-farms-unfair-and-racist&catid=39:events

Immigrant Rights Protest at Feinstein's Office - Sunday, June 28, 2009 @ noon
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=47024239998

In Defense of Alex Sanchez - Sunday, June 28, 2009 @ 6:00pm
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=101245082516

Overhill Farms' Workers File Class-Action Lawsuit: Call For Nat'l Boycott - Wednesday, July 1, 2009 @ 4:00pm
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=114361471560

Int'l Synchronized Action for Seafood Maquila Workers Wednesday, July 8, 2009 @ noon
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=219263655528

Also see SUIRSJ page and events for Immigrant RIghts Activism
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=72415272964

NEWS

Notice how they are attacking people like Nativo and Alex. In both situations, the charges are ridiculous.

CISPES letter of solidarity with Alex Sanchez and Homies Unidos
http://www.cispes.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=594&Itemid=32

Veteran Latino-rights advocate charged with voter fraud
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/06/veteran-latinorights-advocate-charged-with-voter-fraud.html

Valedictorian says Accelerated School barred her from making speech
http://www.latimes.com/news/education/la-me-valedictorian25-2009jun25,0,7536793.story?track=rss

Principal Jeanette Stevens at John H. Liechty Middle School Fax (213) 484-2700

June 23, 2009

Principal Jeanette Stevens
John H. Liechty Middle School
650 South Union Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90017

Principal Jeanette Stevens:

My wife and I are outraged by your wrongheaded punishment of students that showed both the courage and principle to protest a school board member whose actions are nothing short of reprehensible. Your punishment of these brave students is a tacit endorsement of LAUSD Board President Garcia's unconscionable budget slashing.

Ms. Garcia has done nothing to warrant these students' respect. Aside from enthusiastically voting for the crippling RIF notices to your hard hard working teachers, Ms. Garcia has guaranteed hyper-inflated class sizes for next year. Instead of weekly lunches with reactionary neo-liberal privatizers Steve Barr and Ben Austin, Ms. Garcia should be fulfilling her promises to the working class parents and students of District 2. LAUSD had a chance to do the right thing and stand with the community and UTLA in fighting these draconian budget cuts. Instead Ms. Garcia's betrayal of her constituents, and more importantly, of these students is nothing short of astonishing. Sadly LAUSD Board President Garcia has sold out the children of color and poverty in our community.

Principal Stevens, we really hope you change your position on punishing these brave students. If any apology is owed, it is that LAUSD owes an apology to these students.


Sincerely

RD Skeels and YJ Lee
Barrio Echo Parque residents for 14 years

Charter Schools Fall Short of Public Schools Overall

Charter Schools Fall Short of Public Schools Overall

LAPU's Ben Austin Creating Hysteria Again

Hired gun Ben Austin is out creating straw men again. In his latest diatribe against our hard working teachers [1], he mocks LAUSD and UTLA by insinuating that they somehow harbor "child molester teachers." These vile and unsubstantiated statements are used to segue into his pitch for his Corporate Revolution er, Parent Counterrevolution. In Ben Austin's fantasy world, Green Dot, unlike any other private corporation on earth, will somehow be accountable to our communities. That's why they pay him top dollar, to attempt and provide a liberal veneer to a reactionary organization.

Since Green Dot's, I mean, LAPU's, I mean the Parent Counterrevolution's well paid staffers delete uncomplimentary comments on their astroturf blog in a timely fashion, I thought it fair to reproduce my response to Mr. Austin's disgusting piece.

Given that "child molester teachers" would be in prison if such accusations were true, Mr. Austin's rhetorical gimmickry here is proof of his mastery of the his barrister craft. What Mr. Austin really wants here is for the district to fire teachers for unproven allegations. Given his penchant for union busting, this isn't any surprise.

Your "Billionaires' Revolution," so named because your sponsors Eli Broad and William Gates are hardly advocates of progressive education or social equality, is no revolution at all. It is merely a continuation of the reactionary neo-liberal privatization of public services.

Mr. Austin if you were really an advocate for parents and students, then where were you when our communities were making a stand against Cortines' vicious budget cuts? I didn't see you at any of the rallies, camp-outs, protests, or marches. You must have been at your Beverly Hills bungalow, counting your ill earned gains (our tax dollars), that Mr. Barr pays you.

Revolutionary indeed!

[1] http://www.parentrevolution.org/index.php/blog/entry/news_flash/
intentionally not linked to prevent their site from increasing rankings

Principal Withholds Diplomas from Graduates After Silent Protest

Board Member Garcia has done nothing to warrant these students' respect. Aside from voting for the crippling RIF notices to hard working teachers, Ms. Garcia has guaranteed hyper-inflated class sizes for next year. Instead of weekly lunches with reactionary neo-liberal privatizers Steve Barr and Ben Austin, Ms. Garcia should be fulfilling her promises to the working class parents and students of District 2. LAUSD had a chance to do the right thing and stand with the community and UTLA in fighting these draconian budget cuts. Instead Ms. Garcia's betrayal of her constituents, and more importantly, of these students is nothing short of astonishing. We promise the effort to recall her and replace her with a board member who won't sell out the children of color and poverty is going to be underway in our district.

Principal Withholds Diplomas from Graduates After Silent Protest

AlterNet: 'English-Only' Supporters Hold Conference, Can't Spell 'Conference'

The only thing more disgusting than Obama citing the need to "learn English" as part of his so called comprehensive immigration reform, is these filthy white supremacists suggesting Obama is wont to implement "institutional bilingualism."

With the extreme reactionary right staking out this position, it's no wonder Obama could present his own right wing agenda at the Esperanza National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and have it received as being "progressive." We really have our work cut out for us in this atmosphere.

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/140814/priceless:_'english-only'_supporters_hold_conference,_can't_spell_'conference'/

PR: Overhill Farms’ Workers Launch Consumer Campaign Against Panda Express

HERMANDAD MEXICANA LATINOAMERICANA
HERMANDAD GENERAL DE TRABAJADORES UNION INTERNACIONAL

PRESS RELEASE
June 11, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Person:  Nativo V. Lopez                                 
(714) 423-4800

OVERHILL FARMS’ WORKERS LAUNCH CONSUMER CAMPAIGN
PANDA EXPRESS IS THE FIRST TARGET

What:  Protest by workers of Overhill Farms

Where:  PANDA EXPRESS food outlet on the corner of Alameda and Florence in the city of Huntington Park

When:  Thursday, June 11, 2009

Time:  4:30 p.m.

Terminated workers of the Overhill Farms company announce their consumer education campaign in response to the racist and discriminatory abuse and mass firings by company President Jim Rudis.

PANDA EXPRESS is the first target of the consumer education campaign.  Panda Express is a major purchaser of pre-packaged food product manufactured by Overhill Farms.  Others include Jenny Craig, El Pollo Loco, Jack-in-the-Box, Costco, American Airlines, Northwest Airlines, and other companies.

“We will call on these companies to communicate with Overhill Farms management to cease its discriminatory treatment of its employees and return the terminated workers to their jobs.  Consumers of product from these companies have the right to know the truth about Overhill Farms.  And, we intend to make sure they know,” stated Teresa  Cortez, leader of the Worker’s Council of Overhill Farms.

Most of the dismissed workers have been with the company between five and twenty years, and those with the greatest seniority are women.  Overhill Farms is the powerhouse publicly-traded multi-million dollar food processing and pre-packaged food manufacturing and distribution company of southern California – thanks to its immigrant work-force.

Important notes and events for immigrant rights activists

Here are some important events for immigrant rights activists, including vibrant struggles in labor and eduction which directly effect immigrants. SCIC continues work on their "Legalize America Campaign," and need help with their petitions. Also, keep an eye on SUIRSJ for an upcoming protest at representative Pelosi's office.

OVERHILL FARMS’ WORKERS LAUNCH CONSUMER CAMPAIGN - Tuesday, June 9, 2009 @ 1:00pm
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=91727919140

March For Our Children's Future - Tuesday, June 9, 2009 @ 3:00pm
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=88018109658

Campouts Week 2 - Monday, June 8, 2009 @ 6:00pm until June 12
locations listed on event page
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=200999010721

SCIC Planning Meeting - Thursday, June 11, 2009
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=88079887103

Pride on the Picket Line - Saturday, June 20, 2009 @ 11:45am
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=91224371843

Also see SUIRSJ page and events for Immigrant RIghts Activism
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=72415272964

Spend the federal stimulus money on smaller classes

Spend the federal stimulus money on smaller classes

Support Los Angeles Parents, Students, and Teachers Against the Cuts

Please go and support the brave parents and teachers holding a camp out and hunger strike in the heart of one of Los Angeles' more economically depressed areas. Tonight is the last night of the camp-out in front of John Liechty Middle School, so it would really boost the spirits of those who have been there since Monday to see you.

For more details, see LAhungry4ED website.

On Thursday the camp-out moves to the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex. Teachers from Gratts Elementary and Miguel Contreras will celebrate our schools and community. Starting with with a pot-luck dinner the campout will continue through Friday night. Several of those on hunger strike will be there during various times over the two days.

Flyer for Miguel Contreras Event. For more details, see LAhungry4ED website.

For working people this is all our struggle, and it effects our communities. It's outrageous that in the richest nation on earth we can't maintain reasonable class sizes. These brave parents and teachers serving children of color and economically disadvantaged children deserve better than RIF notices. LAUSD children had nothing to do with mortgage backed securities, collateral debt obligations, credit default swaps, and all the other speculative gambling the finance capitalists used to bet all our futures on. The bottom fifth of California income earners pay 11.7%, while the top one percent only pay 7.1%. If we were to raise the top quintile to pay the same as the bottom quintile, there WOULD BE NO BUDGET CRISIS!

FB group hijacked - The Friends of Gustavo Gutierrez

The Friends of Gustavo Gutierrez has been changed to a group calling for the beatification of Marcel Lefebvre. Lefebvre was a reactionary right winger who vehemently opposed Vatican II and would have despised the good Father Gustavo Gutierrez for his struggles for peace, justice, and most of all the poor.

Most of us have withdrawn our membership from the group as a result. You might want to as well.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2224780757

Green Dot's Locke charter: Reality bites, and the press starts to get it

In Green Dot's Locke charter: Reality bites, and the press starts to get it Caroline Grannan looks at how the rosy relationship between neoliberal charter operator Green Dot and the media is starting to crack a little now that the figures from the hostile Locke take-over are now known. Steve Barr, Marco Petruzzi, and Ben Austin were boasting before the take over of Locke, that they would turn the school around in a matter of months. However, when they are given similar conditions to LAUSD without the ability to skim and cherry pick students they haven't produced 800 APIs, even with the millions from Broad and Gates. Instead of handing more money to these six figure salary types, we should be working to keep our schools public. It's time to support our students, parents, and UTLA instead of funneling our hard earned tax dollars into Steve Barr's lavish Silver Lake home.

Taking Back Our Schools - Potluck/Rally - Monday, June 1, 2009 @ 6:00pm

Taking Back Our Schools - Potluck/Rally - Monday, June 1, 2009 @ 6:00pm

http:​/​/​www.​facebook.​com/​event.​php?​eid=​87183968465

Hungry For A Better Education
Monday, June 1, 2009 from 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Leichty Middle School
650 S. Union, Los Angeles, CA 90017 Map: http://bit.ly/Cvl6r
hungerstrike@riseup.net

Description
Family Dinner - Join us for a potluck-style dinner in front of Leichty Middle School. Some hunger strikers will be breaking their fasts while others will begin theirs. Sign up to bring a dish by contacting Julie Van Winkle

There will be spoken word poetry (we're expecting Mark Gonzales!), a kids' craft table, traditional dances by the Danzantes, and a food drive - bring non-perishable food to donate to the local food bank!

CAMP OUT!
We are not ready to have our students placed in ridiculously large classes and see teachers who have worked so hard be laid off or sent to other schools. To sympolize our refusal to abandon our schools, we will be camping out in front of the school after the event ends. Tents, toilet facilities and security will be provided. Please consider signing up for the community camp-out.

An article honestly assessing Green Dot on the LA Times?

Looks like Broad's and Gates' millions combined with Barr's idiotic idea to apply failed "free market principles" to pedagogy have so far resulted in an epic fail! This is perhaps the first honest article the Los Angeles Times has ever done on the neoliberal Green Dot organization. It could have to do with writer, close friend of Ben Austin, and Green Dot cheerleader, Howard Blume being on vacation. Regardless, all their lies are meeting the exposure of reality. Remember, this is the model Arne Duncan, the frighteningly unqualified Secretary of Education will try to force upon all of us.

So far, not a single student at Locke 1 has tested as proficient on the school's benchmark exams in algebra. Locke 2 is in similar straits. Students disappeared during the school year; new students with their own difficulties signed up. These are the same intractable problems Locke suffered from as an L.A. Unified school.

The other thing is the article spells out, in no uncertain terms, what we have described as "cherry picking." While reactionary Steve Barr has denied his neoliberal charters skim the cream of the crop, in practice, this is exactly what they do.

Previous Green Dot charters, opened as alternatives to failing public schools, attracted motivated families that came from far-flung communities to place their children on waiting lists. As a result, enrollment was predictable and stable.

Another thing is Steve Barr, Marco Petruzzi, and Ben Austin were saying before the take over of Locke, that they would turn the school around in a matter of months. While the unqualified barons of private education make their six digit salaries, lets see how their prognostications have turned out:

Plastered on the pale-blue portables in a corner of the Locke campus are cheery motivational signs bearing the number 652. "Operation Proficient: 652," one reads. "652. We are on our way," another cheers. The number is the Academic Performance Index score -- the state's key accountability measure -- that the school hopes to reach. It's a long way from the 800 that represents a successful school, but it's an almost unimaginable leap from Locke's pre-charter score of 515, which placed it at rock bottom.

Regardless of what happens in the future, the Locke experience demonstratively proves UTLA's point. Smaller class sizes, parent involvement, and more money spent per class room changes everything. While neoliberal Green Dot is able to tap the vast fortunes of predatory monopoly capitalists like William Gates, and neoliberal billionaires like Eli Broad for now, what will happen after privatization of all our schools? Doubtful that the Wall-Mart model of education would attract any more right wing donations after that.

We need to fight to keep the public in public schools. We need to fight these massively funded, racist, right wing institutions that would ossify the segregation of our schools. We need to organize our communities and support UTLA against the onslaught of those that would turn the honorable profession of teaching into a minimum wage job. La lucha Sigue!

Where change begins at L.A.'s Locke High School

L.A. Teachers on Hunger Strike - KTLA

Big March on Feinstein's Office, June 3, 2009

Press release from the Hunger Strike and Teach-In for the Kids of LAUSD: Hungry for a Better Education

HUNGRY FOR A BETTER EDUCATION

Media Contacts:

Fast Participant (Español) – Jose Lara
(714) 864-0543

Fast Participant – Sean Leys
(323) 490-2412

Teacher Organizer – Kelly Flores
(323) 286-5244


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Teachers, Parents, and Community Members Announce Hunger Strike and Teach-In for the Kids of LAUSD: Hungry for a Better Education

Los Angeles, California – Nearly a dozen individuals, including LAUSD teachers, concerned community, and a single father will undergo a full-fledged, water-only fast beginning the evening of Wednesday, May 27th, 2009.

The objective of these actions is to call attention to School Board Members Garcia, Flores, and Vladovic’s plan to put nearly a half billion dollars of federal stimulus money into a savings account while raising class sizes and laying off some of the district’s best, most exciting, vibrant new teachers. Our demand is for a new LAUSD budget that defends students’ classrooms.

LAUSD has received nearly a billion dollars in federal stimulus money. President Obama has repeatedly announced that the purpose and top priority for this money should be to keep jobs and to inject the money as quickly as possible into the economy; however, Board Members Garcia, Flores, and Vladovic have voted to approve a budget that does just the opposite. Their budget calls for saving half of the money and laying off 2,500 desperately needed teachers, the future of the profession. Worse still, their plan calls for raising class size – the single biggest factor in determining students’ success.

Hunger strikers are willing to continue the fast until all demands are met. Such drastic cuts call for drastic actions.

Demands

1) Protect out students’ education by NOT increasing class size
2) Protect the future of education in LAUSD by NOT laying off our new teachers


Fasters’ Itinerary

Wednesday-Friday: Following the press conference, fasters will be working in their communities building support. Teachers will be at their schools teaching. They may be contacted individually.
Saturday: Hungry for Education Teach-in and Speak Out. Fasters will be available at this event.
Sunday and afterwards: Fasters will begin an encampment and be available for interviews. 5:00pm, Location TBA.

Locations
Press Conference
May 27th, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Gratts Elementary School
309 Lucas Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90017

Hungry for Education Teach-in
May 30st, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Centro Cultural Francisco Villa
2100 Maple Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90011

Fasters (Partial list):

Sean Leys
Teacher at Lincoln High School, fast organizer, English only
(323) 490-2412

Jose Lara
Single father of child at First Street Elementary School, teacher at Santee High School, fast organizer, English and Español
(714) 864-0543

Brenda Barragan
Pink Slipped Teacher at Santee High School, English and Español
(323) 533-8976

Elizabeth Juarez
Third grade teacher at Hooper Avenue Elementary, English and Español
(818) 239-9395

Alexia Lewis
Substitute teacher at Lincoln High School, artist, civil rights activist, English only
(323) 369-5109

Gladys Mazariego-Hamdi
Math and special education teacher at West Adams Preparatory High School, English and Español
(818) 568-8004

Martin Terrones
Filmmaker, community activist, founder / executive director of Chicano/Latino Artists for Social Equality (CLASE), English and Español
(310) 591-7560

CCCOP's latest on LAPD's murder of Susie Pena

The latest from the community watch group:

OBAMA-HOLDER: STOP THE KILLER COP AWARDS!  NO TROPHYS FOR KILLING BABY SUSIE!
The Coalition for Community Control Over the Police will picket outside the LAPD awards ceremony 10:30am Thursday, May 28 at the Kodak Theater, where the LAPD’s highest honor will be given to 10 of the SWAT stormtroopers who killed 18 month old baby Susie Pena in Watts in 2005.  The Medal of Valor, approved by Mayor Villaraigosa’s appointed Police Commission, is "awarded to officers who distinguish themselves by conspicuous bravery or heroism above and beyond..."
Chief Bratton has orchestrated the rewards for killing baby Susie in line with his official denial that his death squad killed her.  He recently postponed Lorena Lopez’ (Susie’s mother) lawsuit while he shops for a new coroner to re-write the autopsy, to exonerate his force from the infant’s death, and remove himself from liability as he seeks a third term.
The Coalition for Community Control Over the Police calls on Attorney General Eric Holder and President Obama’s Justice Department to fully enforce the federal Consent Decree, to follow through on its lawsuit against the LAPD for refusing to break its “pattern and practice” of civil rights violations, and for the implementation of an all-elected, all-civilian police control board with full authority over the department.

Is the on-air-bully projecting?

"Rush Limbaugh's race to the bottom" in Salon. There's a rumor he was telling the truth regarding his OxyContin fueled trip to the Dominican Republic. The story goes: the boxes of Viagra weren't for him, they were for friends he planned to meet, only the vial of amyl nitrate was Mr. Limbaugh's.