Cloaking Inequity

• FaceBook Friend: Clearly, there is vast disagreement in our community about this. I have worked closely with the Eli Broad Foundation and Bill Gates Foundation and led efforts for educational justice in low-income communities of color in Los Angeles to make sure that our kids have a fighting chance. As a Latina who survived public schools in LA, I know first hand how the policies and the key stakeholders have put their interests before the interests of our children and our families. We can’t be blinded by this type of rhetoric and assume that the systems that allow our kids to fail for GENERATIONS, the same systems that blame our kids and their parents- are going to be the same systems that are going to fight for educational equity and reform. Those systems need to be challenged and held accountable. When people who have the means do it, it becomes a corporate take-over. If I had the money they do, I would do the same damn thing. We must hold all of these systems accountable. And I know that there are 18 high schools in Los Angeles, funded by these funders, that I helped open that are proving that children of color, who live in poverty, are NOT the problem with public schools. This rhetoric has to be checked… and is checked by hundreds of children who I have seen graduate prepared for college, from East LA, Watts, South Central and other Black and Brown communities because Eli Broad and BIll Gates shared our vision of educational justice for all. And the parents spoke… they have enrolled in the better public school choice. And I would do the same damn thing, again and again.

 Julian Vasquez Heilig Speaking of status quo in school reform… Check out:

Ed Policy Unchained: Django, House Negros, and School Reformers

Julian Vasquez Heilig Also, here is more on Broad:

The Broad Foundation and Broadies: Kings of “Disruptive” and “Unreasonable” Trickle-Down Reform

Julian Vasquez Heilig Neoliberals don’t share my vision for school reform.

• Facebook Friend: I know Broad. For me its not theoretical, its practical. And I have seen his investments in our communities- I HAVE HELPED SHAPE THOSE investments. I don’t care what others define his as.. neoliberal, liberal, republican, democrat, post… whatever. Are kids in Watts learning and being prepared for college? Is there a college-prep curriculum policy in LAUSD now- even though UTLA opposed providing college access to all students? Yes Is there an elevated Discussion about school reform in LA because of the resources they have invested? Yes. Its practical for me. Its not theoretical. Public School Choice is incredibly important for poor people. Middle Class and Upper class families have choice: its called Private schools.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHEoAII9304

Dr. Howard Fuller – Black Alliance for Educational Options

Julian Vasquez Heilig False consciousness. We just fundamentally disagree that a corporate takeover of education is appropriate or efficacious.

• Facebook Friend: Okay. lol

 Julian Vasquez Heilig For more information on billionaires’ intent listen to this radio piece:

Have you heard?: Jeff Santos & Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig on Revolution Radio Network

• Facebook Friend: I don’t see this as a corporate takeover. Its stakeholders who are not bought and paid for by traditional educational stakeholders- influencing change, increasing accountability and transparency, using their money to support parent choice for poor and middle income families, and its about creating competition.

Julian Vasquez Heilig You may not see it as a corporate takeover, but you need to pay more attention to what ALEC, Broad, Bradley and the other billionaires are actually after. Chile is a prime example of how a market functions. There is plenty of information out there. Broaden your perspective. I am aware of your arguments. In fact, they are on TV almost everyday. I am suggesting that you to check out the counter-narrative.

• Facebook Friend: Hundreds of students who I have worked with and are now in college would very easily articulate what the schools have meant in practical terms for their lives. The educational establishment disregards these investments and relegates them as “corporate” This rhetoric has gone unchecked by our community for far too long.

 Julian Vasquez Heilig The issue is the many not the few. Check out Cloaking Inequity’s discussions about market-based reforms. Please be aware of the data and research that controvert the billionaires’ approach. Now its up to you to be curious. Will you take the red pill or blue pill?

You can’t talk about solving the [education] problem of [students of color] without talking about billions of dollars. You can’t talk about ending the slums without first saying profit must be taken out of slums. You’re really tampering and getting on dangerous ground because you are messing with folk then. You are messing with captains of industry…. Now this means that we are treading in difficult water, because it really means that we are saying that something is wrong… There must be a better distribution of wealth [for schools]