Mr. de Blasio mayoral bid was rejected (for another candidate) by the NYC Teacher’s Union (UFT); he is now their fall back anti-Lhota candidate( http://gothamschools.org/2013/09/16/after-thompson-concedes-nomination-uft-to-back-de-blasio/ ). And clearly, he is not on the short, or long list of the corporate “new reform” right wing raiders; who would continue to make the NYC public schools safe for profiteers. The question of course is: what happens if he is successful in his campaign and becomes mayor? Rejection is not designed to make the rejected feel good; but this is a situation where rejection may be a blessing in the open. Mr. de Blasio should think hard about why the UFT preferred the very decent and nice Bill Thompson, over himself. And it has nothing to do with what I am sure is a decent and nice personality that seems to also dwell very bright in the heart of Mr. de Blasio. But it does have everything to do with the possibility that a mayor de Blasio may be tempted to give all children in NYC public schools a chance at what is apparently a quality education his children have enjoyed; as demonstrated by their intelligent, commanding and confident presence. Who will a mayor de Blasio fight for; the children or adults. When the choice being offered him, is between the “rubber room” and the cooperate board room; he should give some thought to a bold third way, that places the interest of children first, second and third. A path that champions knowledge and experience, but rejects the tyranny of tenure when it is used to defend mediocrity and incompetence. Don’t just close schools (custodian do that every night), because you don’t know how to improve them; rather open them up to new innovative possibilities that could serve as excellent vehicles for student academic empowerment. Maybe rejection ain’t so bad; if you have the courage to stay rejected.
Michael A. Johnson’s Education Notes
A Site for Educaring Leaders and Learners
