Education under siege

Are we under siege? State Education Commissioner John B. King suspended the SIG funds of a few public school districts in the state for failing to meet a December 31 deadline during Christmas and New Year's. King wanted a "rigorous, transparent teacher evaluation plan" that has left many scratching their heads since the state still has its own RFP out on what to do in this area.Yes, it's nice to tell districts to simply read the paperwork, but what is he really saying? If that isn't enough what about Gov. Como calling himself a lobbyist for children trying to link state education funding uto districts developing a teacher evaluation system? While Arne Dumbkin had threatened the loss of one billion in RTTT funding for New York. Is there any taxpayer funds left that's not dole out on a competitive basis? What use to be a right, a constitutional right for children has become a competitive game for a few philanthropist, hedge fund investors and equity firms. In the name of highly effective teachers, testing, teacher evaluation plans, merit pay, and competitive grants that use to be based on the poverty level of districts, New York State children are being denied their constitutional right to a basic education to prepare them for work or for higher education. And this is happening unfortunatelly after the Campaign for Fiscal Equity had to close its doors in june .