As LA superintendent Deasy prepared to step down last week, many Los Angeles parents and teachers cheered, despite his recently negotiated salary ( and likely hefty severance package to go with it). His often repeated claims that “quality public education is a civil right” notwithstanding, Deasy’s conspicuous penchant funneling public monies into Big Business underscores the recent trend for many in public education selling out to corporate profit scams rather than prioritizing the students they were hired to help. Having previously worked for predatory educational companies, his primary tactics since inception three years ago have too often involved pumping taxpayer dollars into massive corporate bank accounts. Scandals have abounded, related to the LAUSD lining the pockets of companies like Pearson and Apple.
Who can imagine in good conscience investing billions of dollars into an “iPad for every student” when underpaid, overworked teachers are daily dealing with 35 to 40 students in overcrowded classrooms with insufficient facilities and basics like enough books? As he is ousted, ironically while in South Korea purportedly researching what their educational system has ben getting so right, what remains to be seen is how the unholy alliance between technology and its educational puppet master, Corporate Greed, will be allowed to impact the current generation of public school students in LA.
As a public school mom living in the area, I will be watching while humming “holding out for a hero”. What David will grab a slingshot and aim it at slaying the giants currently threatening our educational systems? The millions of students living in one of the largest, most recognized school districts in the country deserve better than being sold out while their teachers suffer disrespect and unfair work conditions teaching to tests in a race to nowhere.
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