Schmidt and Klonsky

[Monty Neill <Mneillft@AOL.COM>]

Well, we may have a firestorm of personal/political issues arising here,
rooted (as far as I can tell) in further back political issues but continuing
till today.

I want to strongly ask that they and the rest of us not engage in battling
ancient history, and to keep disagreements civil (even if we don;t personally
like one another).

I am leaving for the Detroit conference and won't be checking email till next
Weds at the earliest, and then will probably have to simply skip many of the
hundreds that will await my return.

I do want to weigh in on a few things:

1) I don't always agree with George but believe he has made an important
contribution to the list and our struggles.

2) I don't think George should have referred to Mike's background as he did
as it does seem red-baiting.

3) My reading of Mike's post is he makes as clear as has George his personal
dislike. So be it, but let's keep to the issues of the day, please.

4) I saw Mike quoted as criticizing George and Substance printing of the CASE
tests -- perhaps this was a misquote, or Mike has changed his mind as he now
supports George against the attacks (Mike does say he disagrees with the
tactics, which perhaps will make him a minority on this list, I disagree with
Mike, but those tactics are a legitimate topic of debate).

4) I am pleased to see Mike speaking out against the testing in Chicago. The
issue has been raised (and not only by George) by advocates with whom I work
that most academics (such as but by not means only Mike) have not been
visible on this issue. In his work with Catalyst, I have not seen Mike as a
strong advocate on this issue, but that can and I hope will change. Perhaps
the academics in general are more visible and public and strong than I have
been informed. If not, I hope they will be -- and I would much prefer to
focus on the future.

Again, I hope we can continue our discussions and debates by focusing on the
present and the concrete issues of testing, schooling and equity. And I hope
I have not flamed any fires. Personal animosities, long negative histories,
etc. cannot be waved away -- but this issue brings together people with those
histories. We face it, for example, in our work in Boston. We need to do what
we can to get past it, because it can damage us, as it has in some ways in
Boston, I think.

Monty Neill

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