Monday, November 5, 2012

Corporate Education "Reforms" in Minneapolis

The last PEJAM Forum on October 27th started with Glen Ford of the Black Agenda Report giving an analysis of the corporate attack on our public schools, and was followed by Michael Brunson, the Recording Secretary of the Chicago Teachers Union.  Michael described the organizing efforts and strike of the Chicago teachers and their push-back against the corporate (neo-liberal) "reforms."

Before the Q and A discussion, I provided a brief description of how the corporate reform agenda is being experience here in Minneapolis.  Here are my comments.


Lessons from Chicago: How Rank and File Teachers Defend Public Schools

Michael Brunson, the Recording Secretary of the Chicago Teachers Union, was also a speaker at the last PEJAM Forum that included Glen Ford.  In this part of the Forum, Michael spells out what the current struggle for public education is about and what is at stake.  He also explains how teachers in Chicago organized and pushed back.  This is a model for teachers across the country.


Friday, November 2, 2012

Following the Money

Last Saturday, PEJAM hosted a Forum with Glen Ford of the Black Agenda Report and Michael Brunson, the Recording Secretary of the Chicago Teachers Union.  The forum addressed the corporate assault on public education, and how the Chicago Teachers Union was able to fight back with an on-going community organizing effort and a strike.  One of the themes that came out of the forum was the growing effort of the corporate reformers to take direct control of leadership positions in local school districts.

Here in Minneapolis, our local TFA school board candidate, Josh Reimnitz, has raised a record-breaking $37,195! He is running to represent just District 4, and his revenue is substantially more than any city-wide candidate has raised. How does a 26 year old raise this much? He has contributions from almost every local corporate education reformer including people from Teach for America, McKinsey and Company, and Charter School Partners. Take a look at the full list. This is not what democracy should look like.

  1. Go to http://www16.co.hennepin.mn.us/cfrs/welcome.do
  2. Choose "candidate" and click "search"
  3. Click on "r" and then select "Reimnitz, Josh"
  4. Click "view details"
  5. Finally click "Pre-General Report 2012" 

Posted by: Rob Panning-Miller