Did you hear about last Monday's "National Day of Action to Reclaim the Promise of Public Education?"
Maybe not. Despite a media blitz from the American Federation of
Teachers and the National Education Association, despite allocations of
$1.2 million of teachers' union dues, despite organized protests in 90
cities across the country, this event had little impact.
For New Jersey, the more meaningful signal was sent by the AFT's
decision to hold its "Day of Action" in Newark. (Pennsylvanians headed
over to Gov. Corbett's Philly office on Broad Street.)
Newark, after all, is the heart of N.J. education reform territory
and boasts the state's most progressive teacher contract (signed last
year with great acclaim), an extensive and successful cadre of charter
schools that educates one in four public school students, and a
superintendent whose latest initiative embraces parental empowerment
through a universal enrollment plan. Some of that progress is at stake
as Newark residents get ready to pick a replacement for Senator Cory
Booker.
Read the rest here.