Katie Pernu, thanks for reading and commenting! Actual veteran educators know this man's contribution to education is dubious at best, dangerous at worst, and just as you said, like a cancer.
Yup. Cherie, I'm aware of what Vallas says, and what is said about him, and that he has chased misfortune and catastrophe all over the world to implement his style of reform. I'm also aware that his style of reform leaves in its wake a large amount of destruction of its own, though it does bring profit to privatizing corporations and venture capitalists. In Chile, the post-Vallas, highly privatized system has become steeply demographically stratified and fails to prepare students, and its inequities have been protested by students for years now. Haiti? Well, Vallas may be a globally recognized expert but he didn't really fix anything there. As for the US, he left New Orleans 100% privatized and it's now a district that can't accommodate special needs children. Philly was left in a financial mess. And the reason that he was able to spend all the money to build all the new schools in CPS is that he deferred the pensions, which turned out to be an enormous financial disaster for CPS many years down the line.
I just think you have to listen not to what someone says, but look at what he did. His talking points are great--I love to hear someone talking about what I can see with my own eyes in CPS. But I know his solutions won't work, because they never have, anywhere. I wrote a little about this in my previous post to this one. "Education reform" is by now the failed status quo, pursued by US cities for 30 years. We're not fixed.
Cherie, I can tell you're a thoughtful person who's widely read. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you keep reading and learning. Can you let me know if you find an article by someone who was a teacher in a district where Vallas worked who likes what he did? I'd love to find such a piece.
Hi Cherie, thanks for reading and commenting! I so appreciate interacting with readers. You are linking the very article I linked! I think the entire short and futile stint there is super awkward for Vallas, from his appointment by Rauner to his ignominious departure, critiqued by the folks who were there before he got there, and remained after he left (as is so often the case with his critics). For a white politician to be accused by black leaders of currying favor with black voters by means of political appointments is quintessentially Chicago, but it is always deeply awkward. Vallas, of course, as he has done after every departure under less than ideal terms (that is to say, every departure), merely turns around and says anyone criticizing him is "politically motivated." As if he is beyond reproach, untouchable by any critique. To wit:
“I find it unfortunate that he would attempt to use Chicago State University as a platform to run for the mayor of the city of Chicago,” Gowen said. “It is not the role of Mr. Vallas to try to use Chicago State University to try to bolster his bona fides to the black community.”
“I, for one, felt that we have got less than effective use out of that office and the person who occupied it,” said the board’s chairman, Marshall Hatch. “I think we’re doing a good thing to eliminate that office and move forward.”
Vallas, who did not attend the meeting, said in a statement that he could not comment on his dealings with the university but said he thought recent attacks on the purpose of his job at Chicago State were politically motivated. Vallas also said he resigned his position to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest.
Thank you for your powerful words!
This “education platform” is like a spreading cancer.
Education must include each and every child, each and every community, or it is worthless and mean spirited.
Katie Pernu, thanks for reading and commenting! Actual veteran educators know this man's contribution to education is dubious at best, dangerous at worst, and just as you said, like a cancer.
Keep up the good work!
Have you read this?
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED570668.pdf
Yup. Cherie, I'm aware of what Vallas says, and what is said about him, and that he has chased misfortune and catastrophe all over the world to implement his style of reform. I'm also aware that his style of reform leaves in its wake a large amount of destruction of its own, though it does bring profit to privatizing corporations and venture capitalists. In Chile, the post-Vallas, highly privatized system has become steeply demographically stratified and fails to prepare students, and its inequities have been protested by students for years now. Haiti? Well, Vallas may be a globally recognized expert but he didn't really fix anything there. As for the US, he left New Orleans 100% privatized and it's now a district that can't accommodate special needs children. Philly was left in a financial mess. And the reason that he was able to spend all the money to build all the new schools in CPS is that he deferred the pensions, which turned out to be an enormous financial disaster for CPS many years down the line.
I just think you have to listen not to what someone says, but look at what he did. His talking points are great--I love to hear someone talking about what I can see with my own eyes in CPS. But I know his solutions won't work, because they never have, anywhere. I wrote a little about this in my previous post to this one. "Education reform" is by now the failed status quo, pursued by US cities for 30 years. We're not fixed.
A great person to read about this is New Orleans educator and analyst Mercedes Schneider. A starting point: https://deutsch29.wordpress.com/2023/01/31/paul-vallas-as-chicagos-next-mayor-talk-about-a-terrible-mistake/
Cherie, I can tell you're a thoughtful person who's widely read. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you keep reading and learning. Can you let me know if you find an article by someone who was a teacher in a district where Vallas worked who likes what he did? I'd love to find such a piece.
Why awkward?
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-paul-vallas-leaves-chicago-state-20180128-story.html
Hi Cherie, thanks for reading and commenting! I so appreciate interacting with readers. You are linking the very article I linked! I think the entire short and futile stint there is super awkward for Vallas, from his appointment by Rauner to his ignominious departure, critiqued by the folks who were there before he got there, and remained after he left (as is so often the case with his critics). For a white politician to be accused by black leaders of currying favor with black voters by means of political appointments is quintessentially Chicago, but it is always deeply awkward. Vallas, of course, as he has done after every departure under less than ideal terms (that is to say, every departure), merely turns around and says anyone criticizing him is "politically motivated." As if he is beyond reproach, untouchable by any critique. To wit:
“I find it unfortunate that he would attempt to use Chicago State University as a platform to run for the mayor of the city of Chicago,” Gowen said. “It is not the role of Mr. Vallas to try to use Chicago State University to try to bolster his bona fides to the black community.”
“I, for one, felt that we have got less than effective use out of that office and the person who occupied it,” said the board’s chairman, Marshall Hatch. “I think we’re doing a good thing to eliminate that office and move forward.”
Vallas, who did not attend the meeting, said in a statement that he could not comment on his dealings with the university but said he thought recent attacks on the purpose of his job at Chicago State were politically motivated. Vallas also said he resigned his position to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest.