Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Pols' pet Charter Schools get lots of $$$


From the Daily News:

Three politically connected charter schools are expected to receive millions in city money for new buildings, an Education Department plan shows.

In the city's capital plan, two charter schools with ties to Mayor Bloomberg - Brooklyn's PAVE Academy and Harlem Promise Academy - are slated to receive a total of $72 million for new buildings, about a third of the city money available for charter construction.

Peninsula Preparatory Academy in Queens, which state Senate President Malcolm Smith helped found, will also receive funds, though an exact amount has not been settled on.

Critics say with limited resources for school construction, the city should build public schools where they're most needed - not where elected officials have pet schools.

27 comments:

Liquid Roof said...

One thing that is really need in these days is the character education. Thanks buddy for sharing the post with us.

Georges said...

This hodgepodge Charter Schools and funding per POl's interest is counter-intuitive to insuring every educational dollar is being spent on the student. It appears connected interests are siphoning off percentages of big $$ as their cut for work (not rendered) this Charter Schools program is just another way to blow money into the wind!

Anonymous said...

Spin it however you want. The fact is these schools are great for the kids.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

What's so great about a business person running a school?
And what's so great about all the teachers being under age 25 with no one to mentor them?

You have no idea what you're talking about.

What you don't realize is that these charter schools are cherry-picking their students. And everyone knows whenever you're able to pick and choose your student population, your school will improve. Duh.

ELL and Special Ed. kids are scadattled to the nearest large public school. Watch the class sizes explode. The same public school where they have taken away resources. In about a year or two, they deem the school as failing. Slated for closure. Sound familiar?

There IS a method to the madness.

georgetheatheist said...

Psst, Prima_____. Overthere. See it? There's an empty spot on a lifeboat. Grab it quick before it goes.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Don't worry george. I've already got one foot into the lifeboat.
You don't need to worry about me.

Time will tell when the rest of me gets in..

Klink Cannoli said...

Eh, well stop sittin' on it then. You think that pension is going to be there after your 20?

Come over to this side of the pool. The water is nice and warm. ;@)

Anonymous said...

Sometimes I like to fantasize someone will save me from this hell. I don't swim very well.


Klink, would you save me?

Klink Cannoli said...

As an ethical capitalist pig, I'd teach you how to swim.

NYC Educator said...

You don't need a lifeboat. All you need is the population charters have--100% children of parents proactive enough to be active in their children's education. You might also benefit from Geoff Canada's option--dumping an entire grade when it failed to meet his standards. Another effective measure is to interview kids and quietly counsel those who won't make you look good to go elsewhere, or to require hours of parent participation. If none of the above work out, you can always toss out individual kids and not count them in your stats. That seems to work well for KIPP, at least.

Oh, and continue providing primo locations and extra money for charters while utterly ignoring neighborhood schools--another innovative policy of Mayor Bloomberg.

Smoke and mirrors is what it is.

Anonymous said...

Klink:
How can one be ethical and a pig at the same time?

NYC Educator:
It's funny how they'll boast about all the successes of their charter school. Never, ever do they mention the thousands of other students, students in dire need of help, that got screwed because their parents couldn't give a damn or they were unfortunate enough to have learning disabilities.

NYC Educator said...

Actually, despite their enormous advantages, successes of charters are mixed. Personally, I'm certain if I were to run a school with smaller classes, selective enrollment, and the best of facilities I could make it an enormous success. The only remarkable thing is how many actually do not.

But don't expect to read about them, or studies that contradict the myth of charters, in the tabloids.

Anonymous said...

NYC Educator:

Diane Ravtich's book is available starting today on amazon.com.

"The Death and Life of the Great American School System"

It's a must-have for teachers and parents of NYC schools.

NYC Educator said...

I've read it, and there will be a review of it today at Gotham Schools. Everyone should read it.

Klink Cannoli said...

primadonna wrote:
How can one be ethical and a pig at the same time?
===========================
My English teacher taught us the use of irony. ;>/
And that social pest, Clemens, was a such bad example.

Klink Cannoli said...

This video is a bit subtle in its social commentary, but I think you'll get it, primadonna.
Cheers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbcvhVA66lw

Anonymous said...

Klink:

Very entertaining. But what does it have to do with anything?

Please don't tell me you reside in the twilight zone with georgetheaethist.

Klink Cannoli said...

primadonna wrote:
"Very entertaining."
===================

And that's all, really. Lighten up. It's hump day. Ma va fan culo needs to be said sometimes.
Remember my bitter plate comment.

George and I share some common principles, from what I can gather. I would think my general comments on this blog are pretty clear. If you're still scratchin' your head, you may need to listen more carefully.

Anonymous said...

Klink:

I usually don't talk like that in case you haven't noticed.

And when it comes to NYC schools, it's very hard to "lighten up". If you're going to post a funny video, why can't it be something like this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB5TuyIkRg4

Klink Cannoli said...

What's the matter? You don't understand the Calabrese and Sicilian dialects? The video you linked to has more foul language in it than the one I linked.

Try not to get twisted. George and I are actually trying to help you. Can't you see that?

Anonymous said...

Klink:

Just 'cause I really don't use foul language often doesn't mean I object to hearing it.

What I meant before was your video was kinda goofy. Entertaining, but goofy.

Mine was better. :-P


Oh and the only helping going on here is me helping you guys see what a giant pile of crap the schools have turned into.

Anonymous said...

RE:P/Donna....why don't you organize a teachers union to oppose the left wing social engineers that you support with your dues, the U.F.T.

now is the time. many patriots in the U.S.A have begun to speak out.
very little response from n.y.c.

Anonymous said...

Why don't I organize...

because I really don't want to end up six feet under after all the aggravation gives me a heart attack.

H.G.K. said...

Klink:

It's

"va' a fa 'n culo"

Anonymous said...
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