Who's who in the attack on Oakland schools

The shit list

by another teacher Saturday, May. 14, 2005 at 9:06 PM








The democratic party politicians are the people that brought in Randy Ward to attack Oakland schools and the teachers.

THE SHIT LIST
1. Jerry Brown-- The invisible mayor of Oakland-- totally AWOL on the current public school crisis. While raising private corporate money for his two charter schools he does nothing for the other 99% of Oakland students. Brown, our local philosopher king, then pompously claims to be fighting mediocrity and low-expectations in urban schools. Question remains: Where's Jerry?

2.Don Perata- 2nd most powerful pol in CA also involved in bringing in Ward. Perata is also currently being investigated by the FBI for corruption charges. Lately he is feeling the pressure from teacher's unions as he proposed to raise taxes for California public schools.

3. Sheila Jordan-- Alameda County superintendent of schools. Ward was her bright idea. At recent town hall meeting she was booed loudly by parents, teachers, and school union employess. She was too nervous to string a complete sentence together.

4. Jack O'Connell the elected Superintendent of CA schools. Ward's direct boss. Could fire Ward tomorrow. Claimed at recent meeting that Ward improved Compton public schools. Recent East Bay Express exposed this lie-- in fact there was no improvement in Compton schools in Ward's ten year reign there. Also 50% of Compton's teacher quit under Ward. O'Connell once proposed in CA legislation to ban teacher's strikes.

5. Oakland School Board and Oakland City Council-- the wimpy criticisms of Ward from these two bodies shows the bankruptcy of the local East Bay ruling class party-- the democrats.

6. CTA-- Calfornia Teacher's Association. Teachers statewide union send in "organizers" who collect six figures and tell teaches to accept Ward's concessionary contract. Part of California's ruling class.

7. Eli Broad-- billionaire. Set up school (along with other silicon valley rich guys) to train superintendents to implement right-wing privatization of public schools. Ward is graduate. Happening nationally,

8.Rusalynn Ali-- Director of Education West a "nonprofit." Eli Broad graduate. She is another sellout to watch out for. Non profit parasites who seek to cash in on Bush's No Child Left Behind. Friend of Wards.

9. Alan Kern-- Former Director of Oakland Adult school. Ward's good cop in the attack on Adult School teachers. Jumped ship for Southern California when it looked like Ward was going to fire him, too.