“Our rulers don’t just want exclusive control over the governance and finances of our schools, they want to control both what is taught and by whom.” — Robert D. Skeels
On the average week I answer a few inquiries regarding various education issues. This week I received two that I felt deserved publishing. The first was addressed to a group of us on facebook, the second was a private email. In both cases the identity of others is removed in order to protect them.
Question One
Anyone ever hear of blended schools network or global personalized academics?
They are for-profit firms, both held by Sibling Group Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: SIBE). The former is associated with Gooru, a 501c3 funded by right-wing donors including the Gates and Hewlett Foundations. The latter is Florida based and apparently has worked with privately managed charters associated with Jeb Bush and Joe Biden's brother. They "empower" students by profiting off of them staring mindlessly at computer screens.
Question Two
Robert-
A [reporter] from LA School Report contacted [redacted] today. I told her I've heard that LA School Report is very bad - biased..possibly part of corporate ed reform agenda.
More than one person has told me this about LA School Report.
What are your thoughts?
The LA School Report blog (LASR) is owned and operated by Jamie Alter-Lynton, sister of corporate reform cheerleader Jonathan Alter (cf. his attacks on Professor Ravitch), and wife of elitist Sony CEO Michael Lynton.
Alter-Lynton is a wealthy reactionary who sits as a board member on former Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Superintendent John Deasy’s LA Fund slush 501c3, and a number of other neoliberal corporate education reform outfits. They used their insider status with Deasy to know when to sell off all of their Pearson PLC stock before it took a big hit when the FBI investigation of LAUSD was announced.
Husband of John Deasy confidant, Jamie Alter Lynton, cashed in big on Pearson PLC's LAUSD iPad Deal
They are virulently anti-labor, hate the public commons, and are against elected school boards. She's sort of a West Coast Campbell Brown, except she was doing this first. The Sony leaks reveal they are connected to all of the worst neoliberal corporate education reformers in the country. She funded the right-wing Coalition for School Reform SuperPAC to the tune of $100,000 once, and continues to support charter industry profiteers taking over our public school boards.
I could go on and on, but nothing sums these wealthy, white hypocrites up like this:
How the Rich Get Into Ivies: Behind the Scenes of Elite Admissions
Let me know if you need any more on them.
It's interesting that you use "attacks on Professor Ravitch" to label "reformers" Jonathan Alter and his sister. Is that even a reason to "prove" someone's pro-corporate reform credentials?
ReplyDeleteYou might check out these "attacks on Professor Ravitch" as well.
http://www.schoolsmatter.info/2015/08/my-honest-thoughts-on-ravitch.html
Thank you for bring attention to my post. It is much need of wider circulation.
Deleteyw...I was just curious about the inconsistency on the blog. On the one hand you blast Ravitch (sometimes fairly), yet your blog-mate uses blasting her as a reason to prove someone else's "reforminess."
ReplyDeleteWell, unlike the echo chamber that Ravitch, Cody, and Pelto police at "Basecamp," people who blog here are not required to be vetted through the echo chamber before they can post something.
ReplyDeleteFor the record I support Professor Diane Ravitch, Anthony Cody, Jonathan Pelto, AND Professor Jim Horn in our collective struggles against Neoliberal Corporate Education Reform and its attendant school privatization project. Given the nearly insurmountable power of the plutocratic forces we face, I don't believe we have the luxury to eschew a united front.
ReplyDelete