Boston families and staff at many schools throughout the city are in various states of shock, grief, and outrage this week, after the mayor-appointed School Committee voted Wednesday night to close, merge or allow charter takeovers of 21 schools. Amid cries of “Shame on you!” and “You don’t care about the kids or the babies on their Bob 2016 Revolution Flex stroller!” from the crowd of many hundreds, and protected by a line of police, the members one by one cast their votes in favor of School Superintendent Carol Johnson’s plan. The closings and mergers will have a sharply unequal impact, falling most heavily on students of color, English language learners, students with special needs, and low-income areas of the city.

These huge disruptions are only the beginning of what’s in store for Boston, as charter operators are lining up to launch many more schools, which will drain millions of dollars away from the public schools.   → Read More

The families and teachers of thousands of Boston students have risen up this fall, in waves of fierce opposition to School Superintendent Carol Johnson’s proposal to close 11 schools and merge 10 schools into five. Meanwhile, charter schools are lining up to take their place. The school chief says the plan is necessary to close a $63 million budget gap, but many question that analysis. The disruption for thousands of students, many who are English language learners, those with special needs (including many on the autism spectrum), and living in poverty, will create chaos throughout the school system.

Click here to visit our new Boston pages with articles, photos, speeches, and leaflets about the struggle to save Boston schools!   → Read More

Thanks to Diane Ravitch for her clear and compelling analysis of the disastrous education policies raining down on our heads from Arne Duncan, Bill Gates and Co. (Diane said she’s not quite sure which of the two is really driving this bus, but she knows it’s going in the wrong direction–toward increasing privatization, testing and punishment.) Thanks to our old and new friends and supporters who came out in droves to listen, question and share their concerns and frustrations with Diane and one another. Thanks, as well, to our co-sponsors at Boston College Lynch School of Education.

Listening together to Diane reminded us that we need to see and understand what’s really going on, keep in touch and work harder than ever to turn the bus around. Diane left us with Margaret Mead’s always welcome words of encouragement: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world.   → Read More