Dear Rahm Emanuel,
Brizard's vote of no confidence in Rochester should give us pause. Yes, this was a vote delivered by the teachers' union, an institution which many have blamed for most of the problems in our schools, but it was also the vote from the TEACHERS, Brizard's subordinates. Think about it: if you were considering a candidate for a job and you found out that most of the people who work for the applicant think he's doing a bad job, would it make you hesitant to hire him? Mr. Emanuel, being a "breath of fresh air," as you put it, is not enough to give someone the job to head CPS. Keep Terry Mazany on! He's doing a great job!!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Schakowsky: Depleted Uranium, Iraq
Dear Representative Schakowsky,
I am writing to express concern about a little discussed consequence of our war in Iraq, namely, the proliferation of spent munitions containing depleted uranium. It is hard to determine what effect such a massive introduction of nuclear waste has had on the people who live there but we can point to some chilling statistics as evidence that this very dangerous element is making a mess of people’s lives. In Fallujah, it is reported that a staggering 25% of babies are being born with serious physical birth deformities. The pictures are at once grotesque and heartbreaking. Cancer, according to some reports, has risen to epidemic levels.
We promised that we would end our occupation of Iraq responsibly. But I don’t think we can do that unless we take responsibility for these less visible victims of that war. I have included a link to a BBC story on the subject for your consideration: http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8548000/8548926.stm
I would like to know your thoughts on these spent munitions, what we can do to help alleviate the suffering they seemed to have caused and how we can work to remove uranium from our weapons stockpiles. Because I believe our military engagements have much to do with these tragic health crises I am deeply ashamed to think that for years to come Afghan and now Libyan mothers will be giving birth to severely deformed babies. The thought alone leaves a pit in my stomach.
I send warm greetings for Passover and the hope that the holiday has been one you have spent with your family and loved ones.
-HW
I am writing to express concern about a little discussed consequence of our war in Iraq, namely, the proliferation of spent munitions containing depleted uranium. It is hard to determine what effect such a massive introduction of nuclear waste has had on the people who live there but we can point to some chilling statistics as evidence that this very dangerous element is making a mess of people’s lives. In Fallujah, it is reported that a staggering 25% of babies are being born with serious physical birth deformities. The pictures are at once grotesque and heartbreaking. Cancer, according to some reports, has risen to epidemic levels.
We promised that we would end our occupation of Iraq responsibly. But I don’t think we can do that unless we take responsibility for these less visible victims of that war. I have included a link to a BBC story on the subject for your consideration: http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8548000/8548926.stm
I would like to know your thoughts on these spent munitions, what we can do to help alleviate the suffering they seemed to have caused and how we can work to remove uranium from our weapons stockpiles. Because I believe our military engagements have much to do with these tragic health crises I am deeply ashamed to think that for years to come Afghan and now Libyan mothers will be giving birth to severely deformed babies. The thought alone leaves a pit in my stomach.
I send warm greetings for Passover and the hope that the holiday has been one you have spent with your family and loved ones.
-HW
Kirk: Jean-Claude Brizard appointment to Head CPS
Dear Senator Kirk,
I heard on the news this morning that you were pleased to hear Rahm Emanuel’s choice Jean-Claude Brizard to head up Chicago Public Schools. You made what I would take to be an off-handed comment to the effect that a vote of “no confidence” from the Rochester teachers’ union, with whom Mr. Brizard currently works, must mean he’s doing something right. I was disappointed in this comment. To be sure the problems plaguing our public schools are complex and nuanced. While I don’t always agree with the tact taken by teachers’ unions, neither do I believe that they the villains popular opinion would make them out to be.
I was pleased to see that the Illinois teachers unions have recently been in talks with the Illinois State legislature and these factions were able to arrive at some mutually agreeable terms for school reform. Such deliberate processes should be part of the method by which school reform should occur. To be sure teachers’ unions need to be taken to task for the manner in which they have conducted themselves with respect to education. But there are many players within education policy meriting such scrutiny who currently receive almost none (e.g. philanthropic organizations). Simply demonizing teachers’ unions, on the other hand, will solve nothing.
Thank you for your service to the people of Illinois,
-HW
I heard on the news this morning that you were pleased to hear Rahm Emanuel’s choice Jean-Claude Brizard to head up Chicago Public Schools. You made what I would take to be an off-handed comment to the effect that a vote of “no confidence” from the Rochester teachers’ union, with whom Mr. Brizard currently works, must mean he’s doing something right. I was disappointed in this comment. To be sure the problems plaguing our public schools are complex and nuanced. While I don’t always agree with the tact taken by teachers’ unions, neither do I believe that they the villains popular opinion would make them out to be.
I was pleased to see that the Illinois teachers unions have recently been in talks with the Illinois State legislature and these factions were able to arrive at some mutually agreeable terms for school reform. Such deliberate processes should be part of the method by which school reform should occur. To be sure teachers’ unions need to be taken to task for the manner in which they have conducted themselves with respect to education. But there are many players within education policy meriting such scrutiny who currently receive almost none (e.g. philanthropic organizations). Simply demonizing teachers’ unions, on the other hand, will solve nothing.
Thank you for your service to the people of Illinois,
-HW
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Linda Lutton WBEZ, Digital Learning School, Quest
Dear Linda Lutton,
I listened this morning to your story “Digital World Re-Shapes Learning.” I was left with more questions than answers. What is it mean for “learning to change dramatically?” Who are the “many” who say that literacy is “shifting” –and what does this mean? What is the new image of literacy that these school reformers envision? Where is the data that says this type of learning is good for students? Is there anyone who thinks that what Quest is doing is a bad idea? What are the counter-arguments? What should we make of the fact that MacArthur Foundation is sinking $85 million dollars into this kind of ‘digital learning?’ Where does MacArthur get its money? Generally speaking, I think more attention needs to be paid to the role philanthropic institutions play in shaping our society and I wish your story had asked more critical questions of Quest. I found this article on the topic of philanthropic involvement fascinating: http://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/?article=3781
Thanks, as always, for your hard work. Chicago is lucky to have you looking out for us.
Best regards,
-HW
I listened this morning to your story “Digital World Re-Shapes Learning.” I was left with more questions than answers. What is it mean for “learning to change dramatically?” Who are the “many” who say that literacy is “shifting” –and what does this mean? What is the new image of literacy that these school reformers envision? Where is the data that says this type of learning is good for students? Is there anyone who thinks that what Quest is doing is a bad idea? What are the counter-arguments? What should we make of the fact that MacArthur Foundation is sinking $85 million dollars into this kind of ‘digital learning?’ Where does MacArthur get its money? Generally speaking, I think more attention needs to be paid to the role philanthropic institutions play in shaping our society and I wish your story had asked more critical questions of Quest. I found this article on the topic of philanthropic involvement fascinating: http://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/?article=3781
Thanks, as always, for your hard work. Chicago is lucky to have you looking out for us.
Best regards,
-HW
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