One of the NY plaintiffs is Jada Williams of Rochester, the author of a seventh-grade essay complaining about ineffective teachers. It is nice to know that the testimony of a seventh-grader holds so much weight. One wonders how much of the world this seventh-grader has seen. One wonders how much she understands about cuts in school budgets, over-sized classes, the social and emotional issues facing some of her peers, any learning disabilities, language deficiencies, etc.
In the words of Jada's Mom, "When a child is educationally neglected, that's a criminal act." I agree, only the entire framework of the debate needs to be redefined.
I must state the obvious, even if it spoils the day for union-busting millionaires who hope to cheapen labor and simultaneously profit through the privatization of public education:
When classrooms are OVERCROWDED, children are being denied their Constitutional right to a basic "sound education."
When some children are banished to TRAILERS to learn and others are squeezed to the limit by CHARTER-SCHOOL CO-LOCATION, children are being denied their Constitutional right to a basic "sound education."
When classrooms are UNDERFUNDED, children are being denied their Constitutional right to a basic "sound education."
When children are either excluded from or kicked out of publicly-funded CHARTER SCHOOLS, children are being denied their Constitutional right to a basic "sound education."
When KIPP students are sentenced to padded cells, children are being denied their Constitutional right to a basic "sound education."
When experienced teachers trying to educate children living in POVERTY are blamed for their low test scores and summarily fired, children are being denied their Constitutional right to a basic "sound education."
When CHARTER SCHOOLS increase SEGREGATION, children are being denied their Constitutional right to a basic "sound education."
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