Re: J.Kozol's manifesto

[Harold Berlak <hberlak@yahoo.com>]

The jury is out   You've  got to be more than a little bit wary of a  
movement that is built around a cultural icon largely composed of  
(genuinely) liberal or progressive (mostly white) democrats who like  
Kozol support deseg, civil rights and liberties. but do not make  
connections between what going on in schools (and universities)  to  
the obscene concentration of wealth and power in the US, and  
increasing domination of the political process and social policy  
generally by corporate capital.

Enter coalition with eyes wide open. For  all who are concerned about  
testing abuse on children and teachers, and returning some sanity to  
nationlal and state educational policies. we  must put aside  
important differences if we want to curb the worst abuses in NCLB  
(and state assessment policies).  For example. The feds are in the  
process of attacking the Nebraska model  --which has its problems but  
relatively speaking is a breath of fresh air.  Supporting  federal  
legislation that would affirm Nebraska (and other states) departure  
from the NCLB straightjacket is a battle that probably could be won.   
(CDE  and CA State Board could no longer hold to excuse that they are  
only following federal mandates)