[Editor’s note: Peter Goodman blogs at Ed in the Apple, where this post originally appeared.]
Although mayoral control does not sunset until June 30, 2009 it is looking increasing likely that the NYS legislature will be taking a careful look during this session.
The City Council, the Office of the Public Advocate, the Supervisor’s Union (CSA), the Teacher’s Union (UFT) and a range of other organizations are creating plans or carefully exploring modifications in the current law.
A number of universities and foundations have sponsored forums to explore mayoral control.
A threshold question: Is the current system of mayoral control flawed, or, is it the implementation by the current chancellor?
Diane Ravitch reminds us that from 1873 until 1969 all members of the Board of Education were appointed by the mayor: mayoral control.
The Decentralization Law of 1969 created Community School Boards and called for an elected Central Board of Education. The proposed election did not pass scrutiny under the Voting Rights Act, and, the law was amended: five members of the Board were appointed, one by each borough president and two were appointed by the mayor. Each of the chancellors, selected by the Board, ran into “trouble” with the mayor and left … I believe nine chancellors in 32 years!
Under the current reiteration the former Board of Education has been folded into the City as an agency: the Department of Education, the chancellor serves as a commissioner of a City agency.
The Board was replaced by the Public Education Panel, that serves at the discretion of the mayor. Community School Boards have been replaced by Community Engagement Councils, with no statutory roles.
A recent Atlantic Monthly (”First, Kill All the School Boards”) article pillories the school board system and Ken Wong in The Education Mayor points to the many advantages of mayoral control, citing many examples from Chicago, that has had a mayoral control system for many years.
Some argue that chancellors only served for a few years, until dumped, in effect, by the mayor, that constant change in focus is inimical to student progress, and, by giving a mayor total control brings both stability and responsibility to the school system. The “too many cooks” theory is that too many stakeholders result in paralysis, and an ineffective system.
Critics of the current system point to a “deaf” mayor and a chancellor who has no responsibility to the many stakeholders, who, in effect, rules rather than governs a school system. A complete absence of accountability. An arrogant leadership that does what it pleases, including, the misuse, actual falsification of data.
The harshest critics question the entire concept of a public school system lead by publicly elected officials. They proffer a wide range of choices: public schools run by educational management organizations, some not for profit, other for profits, charters and vouchers. The marketplace would determine success or failure of schools. The governmental authority will simply monitor, not run, schools.
To quote Thomas Wolf, “You Can’t Go Home Again,” recreating the hazy past is never possible … what kind of school system will provide the most effective education?
A vital question that is increasingly engaging the public agora.
4 Comments:
1 NYC Educator
· Mar 28, 2008 at 4:38 pm
When I hear the chancellor, on NPR, bitterly criticize the state for reductions in aid, but shrug off city reductions as just one of those things, I’m acutely aware that this chancellor is just one more arm of the administration, patently unable to speak up for the urgent needs of schoolchildren.
This notwithstanding, I remember the UFT bitterly complaining about Rudolph Giuliani. In fact, Randi Weingarten came to our school and spoke of him in a most uncomplimentary fashion. I voted for her that year, as I agreed with her every word.
I also remember hearing UFT reps complain of Mayor Koch, and I recall marching in a Labor Day parade where we all wore black T-shirts declaring “Shame on City Hall.”
Given our history, the “public agora” notwithstanding, I find it astounding that there is any question whatsoever about mayoral control. Like the guys I see on HBO’s John Adams, I
2 NYC Educator
· Mar 28, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Sorry–it seemed to enter my post automatically.
I’d opt for checks and balances.
Chicago’s mayoral control is not a slam dunk by any standard. New York’s is a disaster. Ignoring history, and hoping for the best from future mayors is a very, very bad idea.
3 phyllis c. murray
· Mar 29, 2008 at 1:07 pm
ENTER Parents and Teachers as Partners:EXIT Mayoral Control
It has been said that in unity there is strength. Today, more than ever, we see the need to enlist the support of parents as we work together to secure the best education and best educational environment possible for our students. We need the support of parents to stand in Albany, NY, in Washington, DC and in City Hall as we challenge legislators to make young people a top priority on legislative agendas.
Surely with a renewed pledge of solidarity, we will see a reinvestment of economic capital in education. We will see a revitalization of structured environments in school communities. We will see new programs which provide the skills and develop the competencies needed so that our students will become productive members of society.
An investment of economic capital would assure the development of new schools, state of the art libraries, supervised playgrounds and after school programs. These arenas are the safe havens for our youth. An increase in school funding would provide the enrichment afforded by the Arts. The Arts have proven time and time again to have a positive impact on education. New capital investments would seed programs of prevention and intervention for out at – risk students and increase guidance and counseling services to end a child’s cycle of failure and frustration. Failure and frustration unabated, far too often, translate into assaults, disruptions in classrooms and heightening violent Incident statistics.
Recently, parents and teachers were able to affect change in the early grade class – size reduction legislation. Certainly the means by which we reach our end: Creating a safe, healthy, and effective school environment for the students of New York City is through an ongoing commitment of parents/teacher Unity. Mayoral control is not the answer. With parents at our side, the best for New York City is yet to come.Because,
Teachers and Parents want what children need. Together we can have it all.
Phyllis C. Murray,
UFT Chapter Leader
P.S. 75X
4 rdthorsett
· Mar 29, 2008 at 11:50 pm
You need a system that actually allows for public accountability. In theory an elected mayor allows for accountability — if you’re unhappy enough with the way the mayor is handling the schools you vote him out of office.
But schools are different from many city functions in that they have a large impact on only a small fraction of the population. Not many people think primarily about school issues when they cast their vote for mayor, so in fact accountability is actually pretty weak.
Leave a Comment