education

School Only Works if Students Consent

For the second straight day, students have walked out of classes in Camden high schools. That protest is quickly shifting from the warm and fuzzy of political action by youth, to something much more powerful and poignant. The Camden School District, like any institution, can only function with the consent of its members. It appears to … Continue reading School Only Works if Students Consent…

Posted by Stephen Danley in Camden, education.

Community Voice: Charter School Closed Based on One Year of Test Scores

This is a guest post from Randy Ribay who describes himself as “a Camden resident who teaches in Philly and serves as the Vice President on the Board of Trustees for City Invincible Charter School.” The story broke yesterday that City Invincible Charter School will be closed: I’m on the Board of Trustees for City … Continue reading Community Voice: Charter School Closed Based on One Year of Test Scores…

Posted by Stephen Danley in Camden, Community Voice, education, Guest Post.

“I represent all the families of Camden,” says state-appointed superintendent

It was five hours into a Camden Board of Ed meeting filled with protest and high emotions when Keith Benson Sr. asked Superintendent Paymon Rouhanifard who, exactly, he represented. Paymon’s response was telling: “I’m here representing the people of Camden.” Sadly, that statement is false. In reality, Paymon is the figurehead of the least democratic … Continue reading “I represent all the families of Camden,” says state-appointed superintendent…

Posted by Stephen Danley in Camden, education, Local Knowledge.

Guest Post: Save Our Schools NJ

The following is bumped from the comments section. Thanks for contributing! It doesn’t get much more cynical and dishonest than this! Days after the Christie Administration’s Camden superintendent lamented that he was forced to lay off hundreds of teachers due to budget shortfalls, he approved two new Renaissance charter schools, to open in Camden next … Continue reading Guest Post: Save Our Schools NJ…

Posted by Stephen Danley in Camden, Community Voice.

Calling for Good Policy

One of the most frustrating aspects of the state-controlled Camden School District is its insistence on pushing policies that are being rejected by other urban communities. You would think that as elections in DC, New York, and now Newark show rejection by the very people that reforms claim to help, that the movement would slow … Continue reading Calling for Good Policy…

Posted by Stephen Danley in Camden, Local Knowledge.