Book Reviews: A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door

During the last four years, there have been many issues and concerns that have competed for the public’s attention: the Muslim ban, family separations, an impeachment, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, protests against police brutality and the recent election to name a few. Noted but perhaps less at the media forefront has been the implementation of specific policies both under Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and within individual states that aim to "re-envision" public education through a very conservative lens. In terms of public education, many of the conversations in recent years have focused on the school choice movement and the increasing use of standardized test scores to hold schools “accountable” and label them “good or bad.” The re-envisioning (or dismantling depending on your vantage point), however, which has really solidified in the last few years is unfortunately much broader than that. 

In A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door: The Dismantling of Public Education and the Future of the School, authors Jennifer Berkshire and Jack Schneider (hosts of the popular podcast Have You Heard) go beyond talking about the conservative agenda and public education solely in terms of privatization and standardized testing.  A Wolf explores other aspects of this agenda: vouchers, the rise of (pre-COVID) virtual schooling, the idea of “unbundling education," deregulation, limiting the role of organized labor, the use of ratings and advertising in public schools, and, at the heart of it all,  free market thinking. More than just positioning efforts to dismantle public education as only a conservative, Republican ideology, Berkshire and Schneider also acknowledge the ways in which Democratic lawmakers have also contributed to a climate in which some not only see education and the way it is currently delivered  as something that needs to radically change but also an sector to profit off of at times to the detriment of the most vulnerable student populations. 

Both in laying out the current state of public education and providing  key historical context, Berkshire and Schneider provide an extensive yet well laid out and easily understandable assessment of the issues at play in light of the substantial funding  and efforts being allocated toward a very specific re-envisioning of public schooling that relies less on the idea of public education as a public good meant to benefit the collective  and more so on individual needs that prioritize  choice, competition and cost cutting. A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door is a must read for anyone interested in the current state and future of public education in the United States. 

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If purchasing, please consider buying from your local independent bookseller.

Massachusetts Sees Decrease in Student Enrollment, Increase in Economically Disadvantaged Population

Earlier, I noted that the percentage of Economically Disadvantaged students in the Lynn Public School District increased 6.9 points from the 2019-20 school year to the 2020-21 school year. Economically disadvantaged is defined as student participation in one or more of the following state administered programs: 

• the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• the Transitional Assistance for Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC)
• the Department of Children and Families' (DCF) foster care program
• MassHealth (Medicaid)
  

Taking a look at the non-charter school districts in the state with the highest percentages of Economically Disadvantaged students this year, all of the top ten districts saw increases as well. 

	2019-20	2020-21	Difference
Springfield	77.6%	81.8%	4.2
Holyoke	78.1%	81.4%	3.3
Lawrence	70.7%	78.5%	7.8
Southbridge	71.6%	77.2%	5.6
New   Bedford	68.0%	74.0%	6.0
Fall River	70.0%	73.8%	3.8
Chelsea	63.9%	70.6%	6.7
North Adams	61.9%	66.6%	4.7
Fitchburg	61.9%	66.4%	4.5
Brockton	57.5%	65.5%	8.0

Statewide, the percentage of Economically Disadvantaged students increased from 32.8% last year to 36.6% this year. In terms of pure numbers, this equates to the 333,829 Economically Disadvantaged students this year versus 310,873 in 2019-20. 

Data taken from: www.doe.mass.edu

Massachusetts Sees a 4% Drop in Public School Enrollment

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education recently released updated public school enrollment figures for the 2020-21 school year. Amidst the pandemic and many districts moving to completely remote learning, the state reported a 4% decrease in student enrollment this year when compared to last year.

Specifically, at the lower grades the state reported at 30% decrease at the pre-kindergarten level, a 11.9% decrease at the kindergarten level and a 5.6% decrease at the first grade level. 

Similar to the Commonwealth as a whole, the Lynn Public School District saw a similar decrease at 3% compared to last school year.

While Lynn did see a slight increase in kindergarten students this year, the district also reported a 42% decrease in pre-kindergarten enrollment and a 11.5% decrease in first grade enrollment. 

Taking a look at the selected student populations at the state level, Massachusetts reported higher percentages of High Needs and Economically Disadvantaged students this year. 

	2019-20	2020-21	Difference
First Language not English	23.0%	23.4%	0.4
English Language Learner	10.8%	10.5%	-0.3
Students w/ Disabilities	18.4%	18.2%	-0.2
High Needs	48.7%	50.9%	2.2
Economically Disadvantaged	32.8%	36.6%	3.8

 

In Lynn, despite a decrease in overall student population, the district reported increases in all of the selected student populations. 

	2019-20	2020-21	Difference
First Language not English	58.7%	61.3%	2.6
English Language Learner	29.8%	31.5%	1.7
Students w/ Disabilities	16.9%	17.7%	0.8
High Needs	76.0%	79.5%	3.5
Economically Disadvantaged	58.2%	65.1%	6.9

In addition to concerns around online learning and whether, when and how to reopen school buildings, changes in student populations, particularly in districts like Lynn, as it relates to the number of students but also the types of students the district is tasked with education given current circumstances is should be given consideration. 

Data from: www.doe.mass.edu 

Lynn Early Voting Begins Saturday, October 17th

Early voting in the 2020 election will begin in Lynn on Saturday, October 17th at 8am and end on Friday, October 30th at 12:30pm. During the week, early voting hours will match normal City Hall business hours and on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) voting will take place between 8am and 2pm. 

Source: lynnma.gov

Lynn Planning Board to hold Public Hearing on Proposed Expansion of Central Business District

Next week, the Lynn Planning Board will hold a public hearing related to a proposed amendment to the Zoning Map to expand the Central Business District in the city. The Planning Board will meet at 3pm on Tuesday, September 22, 2020. See below for text related to the proposed amendment. 

______

CITY OF LYNN

Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday September 22, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. the Planning Board will hold a public hearing relative to a proposal to amend the Zoning Map of the City of Lynn to expand the Central Business District in the City of Lynn. The Lynn City Council of the City of Lynn will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 5:15 o’clock p.m. in Council Chambers, Lynn City Hall on the following:

The parcels identified below would be rezoned under the proposed Zoning Amendment.

IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF LYNN ZONE ORDINANCE AND MAP

SECTION 1:00   The Zone Map of the City of Lynn, as the same constitutes and is part of the Zone Ordinance of the City of Lynn, as heretofore amended, is further amended as follows. 

STREET ADDRESS	PARCEL ID	CURRENT ZONE	NEW ZONE
1 – 4 Brightwood Terrace	069-657-017	R5	CBD
43 – 45 Broad Street	082-599-022	R4	CBD
47 Broad Street	082-599-023	R4	CBD
55 Broad Street	082-599-024	R4	CBD
63 - 67 Broad Street	082-598-007	R5	CBD
71 Broad Street	082-598-008	R5	CBD
73 Broad Street	082-598-009	R5	CBD
75 ½ Broad Street	082-598-010	R5	CBD
77 Broad Street	082-598-012	R5	CBD
81 Broad Street	082-598-023	R5	CBD
81R Broad Street	082-598-024	R5	CBD
87 - 89 Broad Street	082-598-014-001	R5	CBD
87 – 89 Broad Street	082-598-014-002	R5	CBD
87 – 89 Broad Street	082-598-014-003	R5	CBD
87 - 89 Broad Street	082-598-014-004	R5	CBD
87 - 89 Broad Street	082-598-014-005	R5	CBD
97 Broad Street	082-598-015	R5	CBD
7 Brownville Avenue	083-716-031	BD	CBD
11 Brownville Avenue	083-716-018	BD	CBD
12 Brownville Avenue	083-707-052	BD	CBD
15 Brownville Avenue	083-716-024	R4	CBD
16 Brownville Avenue	083-707-051	R4	CBD
21 Brownville Avenue	083-716-023	R4	CBD
9 Cheever Place	083-661-019	R4	CBD
6 Dexter Street	082-599-001	R4	CBD
8 – 10 Dexter Street	082-599-031	R4	CBD
14 – 16 Dexter Street	082-599-030	R2	CBD
20 – 22 Dexter Street	082-599-029	R2	CBD
21 Dexter Street	082-599-006	R5	CBD
24 Dexter Street	082-599-028	R2	CBD
30 - 34 Dexter Street	082-599-027	R2	CBD
36 – 38 Dexter Street	082-599-026	R2	CBD
40 Dexter Street	082-599-025	R2	CBD
6 Essex Circle	083-716-013	BD	CBD
8 Essex Circle	083-716-012	BD	CBD
10 Essex Circle	083-716-011	R4	CBD
14 - 16 Essex Circle	083-716-026	R4	CBD
8 Essex Court	083-661-013	BD	CBD
9 Essex Court	083-663-046	R4	CBD
10 Essex Court	083-661-014	R4	CBD
14 Essex Court	083-661-011	R4	CBD
380 Essex Street	083-611-004	R4	CBD
382 Essex Street	083-611-003	R4	CBD
386 Essex Street	083-611-023	R4	CBD
399 Essex Street	083-716-015	BD	CBD
401 Essex Street	083-716-014	BD	CBD
407 Essex Street	083-707-053	BD	CBD
411 – 413 Essex St	083-707-054	BD	CBD
421 Essex Street	083-663-043	BD	CBD
435 Essex Street	083-663-044	R4	CBD
445 Essex Street	083-663-045	R4	CBD
447 – 449 Essex St	083-661-015	R4	CBD
451 Essex Street	083-661-016	R4	CBD
459 Essex Street	083-661-018	R4	CBD
465 Essex Street	083-661-021-001	R4	CBD
465 Essex Street	083-661-021-002	R4	CBD
465 Essex Street	083-661-021-003	R4	CBD
467 Essex Street	083-661-022	R4	CBD
471A – 471B Essex Street	083-611-025	R4	CBD
473 – 475 Essex St	083-611-024	R4	CBD
513 Essex Street	069-659-024	R2	CBD
517 Essex Street	069-659-025	R2	CBD
521 Essex Street	069-659-027	R2	CBD
525 Essex Street	069-659-028	R2	CBD
529 Essex Street	069-659-030-001	R2	CBD
531 Essex Street	069-659-030-002	R2	CBD
535 Essex Street	069-659-030-003	R2	CBD
537 Essex Street	069-659-030-004	R2	CBD
541 Essex Street	069-659-032	R2	CBD
545 – 547 Essex St	069-659-033	R2	CBD
551 Essex Street	069-658-016	R4	CBD
555 Essex Street	069-658-017	R4	CBD
597 Essex Street	069-642-022	BD	CBD
Farrar Street	081-590-030	R5	CBD
Farrar Street	082-592-002	CBD	CBD
Farrar Street	081-590-030-E	R5	CBD
10 Farrar Street	081-590-029	R5	CBD
23 Farrar Street	082-591-009	CBD	CBD
26 Farrar Street	081-590-018	R5	CBD
27 Farrar Street	082-591-010	CBD	CBD
34 – 36 Farrar Street	081-590-017	R5	CBD
6 Friend Street	082-599-003	R4	CBD
10 Friend Street	082-599-002	R4	CBD
37 Friend Street	082-615-031	CBD	CBD
37 Friend Street	082-615-031-E	CBD	CBD
48 Friend Street	082-598-003	CBD	CBD
52 Friend Street	082-598-002	CBD	CBD
55 – 59 Friend Street	082-615-034	CBD	CBD
1 Friend Terrace	082-598-004	CBD	CBD
4 Friend Terrace	082-598-005	R5	CBD
Gibson Place	082-615-022	R2	CBD
Green Street	082-615-042	LI	CBD
9 Green Street	082-615-019	BD	CBD
15 Green Street	082-615-020	R2	CBD
19 Green Street	082-615-023	R2	CBD
23 Green Street	082-615-041	R2	CBD
35 Green Street	082-615-040	R2	CBD
43 Green Street	082-615-039	R2	CBD
49 Green Street	082-615-029	R2	CBD
51 Green Street	082-615-027	R2	CBD
69 – 73 Green Street	082-599-004	R4	CBD
77 Green Street	082-599-005	R4	CBD
81 Green Street	082-599-006	R2	CBD
85 Green Street	082-599-007	R2	CBD
87 Green Street	082-599-008	R4	CBD
87 ½ Green Street	082-599-009	R2	CBD
89A Green Street	082-599-010	R2	CBD
91 Green Street	082-599-011	R2	CBD
93 – 95 Green Street	082-599-012	R2	CBD
101 – 103 Green St	082-599-013	R2	CBD
105 Green Street	082-599-014	R2	CBD
107 Green Street	082-599-015	R2	CBD
109 Green Street	082-599-016	R2	CBD
111 Green Street	082-599-017	R2	CBD
115 Green Street	082-599-019	R2	CBD
125 Green Street	082-599-021	R2	CBD
105 Green Street	082-599-014	R2	CBD
5 Greenwood Place	083-611-022	R4	CBD
12 Greenwood Place	083-611-009	R4	CBD
14 Greenwood Place	083-611-019	R4	CBD
15 Johnson Street	069-642-016	BD	CBD
19 Johnson Street	069-642-018	BD	CBD
21 Johnson Street	069-642-017	BD	CBD
23 Johnson Street	083-642-010	R5	CBD
25 Johnson Street	083-642-019	R5	CBD
27 Johnson Street	083-642-001	R5	CBD
10 Lawton Avenue	069-658-015	R4	CBD
14 Lawton Avenue	069-658-014	R4	CBD
18 – 20 Lawton Ave	069-658-013	R2	CBD
16 Lloyd Street	069-642-020	R5	CBD
18 Lloyd Street	069-642-003	R5	CBD
Joyce Street	083-611-001	R4	CBD
10 Joyce Street	083-611-021	R4	CBD
14 Joyce Street	083-611-020	R4	CBD
17 Joyce Street	083-611-039	CBD	CBD
18 – 22 Joyce Street	083-611-018	R4	CBD
21 Joyce Street	083-611-044	CBD	CBD
26 Joyce Street	083-611-017	R4	CBD
28 Joyce Street	083-611-016	CBD	CBD
42 Joyce Street	083-611-005-001	CBD	CBD
42 Joyce Street	083-611-005-002	CBD	CBD
42 Joyce Street	083-611-005-003	CBD	CBD
42 Joyce Street	083-611-005-004	CBD	CBD
42 Joyce Street	083-611-005-005	CBD	CBD
42 Joyce Street	083-611-005-006	CBD	CBD
42 Joyce Street	083-611-005-007	CBD	CBD
42 Joyce Street	083-611-005-008	CBD	CBD
16 Mount Hood Ter	069-659-022-001	R2	CBD
16 Mount Hood Ter	069-659-022-002	R2	CBD
16 Mount Hood Ter	069-659-022-003	R2	CBD
16 Mount Hood Ter	069-659-022-004	R2	CBD
16 Mount Hood Ter	069-659-022-005	R2	CBD
16 Mount Hood Ter	069-659-022-006	R2	CBD
16 Mount Hood Ter	069-659-022-007	R2	CBD
16 Mount Hood Ter	069-659-022-008	R2	CBD
6 Rockaway Street	083-663-042	BD	CBD
7 Rockaway Street	083-663-031	BD	CBD
10 Rockaway Street	083-663-041	R4	CBD
11 Rockaway Street	083-707-056	R4	CBD
16 Rockaway Street	083-663-040	R4	CBD
2 Rogers Avenue	069-657-016	R5	CBD
8 Rogers Avenue	069-657-015	R5	CBD
9 Rogers Avenue	069-658-018	R5	CBD
12 Rogers Avenue	069-657-014	R5	CBD
13 Rogers Avenue	069-658-019	R5	CBD
15 - 17 Rogers Ave	069-658-021	R5	CBD
16 Rogers Avenue	069-657-013	R5	CBD
20 Rogers Avenue	069-657-012	R2	CBD
Smith Street	082-615-044	R4	CBD
17 -19 Smith Street	082-614-006	CBD	CBD
34 Smith Street	082-615-006	R4	CBD
36 Smith Street	082-615-048	R4	CBD
38 Smith Street	082-615-047	R4	CBD
53 Smith Street	082-616-010	CBD	CBD
35 – 37 Suffolk Street	081-590-009	R5	CBD
45 – 47 Suffolk Street	081-590-012	R5	CBD
12 Rogers Avenue	069-657-014	R5	CBD
108 – 112 Union St	082-615-018	BD	CBD
114 Union Street	082-615-017	BD	CBD
115 Union Street	083-611-014	R4	CBD
116 – 122 Union St	082-615-016	BD	CBD
124 – 130 Union St	082-615-018	BD	CBD
138 – 140 Union St	082-615-046	BD	CBD
Washington Street	081-590-015	R5	CBD
204 – 216 Washington Street	069-657-032-001	R5	CBD
204 – 216 Washington Street	069-657-032-002	R5	CBD
204 – 216 Washington Street	069-657-032-003	R5	CBD
204 – 216 Washington Street	069-657-032-004	R5	CBD
204 – 216 Washington Street	069-657-032-005	R5	CBD
204 – 216 Washington Street	069-657-032-006	R5	CBD
204 – 216 Washington Street	069-657-032-007	R5	CBD
204 – 216 Washington Street 204 – 216 Washington Street	069-657-032-008   069-657-032-009	R5   R5	CBD   CBD
Washington Street	069-657-032-010	R5	CBD
204 – 216 Washington Street	069-657-032-011	R5	CBD
Washington Street	069-657-032-012	R5	CBD
204 – 216   Washington Street	069-657-032-013	R5	CBD
204-216 Washington Street	069-657-032-014	R5	CBD
204 – 216 Washington Street	069-657-032-015	R5	CBD
204 – 216 Washington Street	069-657-032-016	R5	CBD
Washington Street	069-657-032-017	R5	CBD
204 – 216 Washington Street	069-657-032-018	R5	CBD
204 – 216 Washington Street	069-657-032-019	R5	CBD
204 – 216 Washington Street	069-657-032-020	R5	CBD
Washington Street	069-657-032-021	R5	CBD
Washington Street	069-657-032-023	R5	CBD
204 – 216 Washington Street	069-657-032-024	R5	CBD
204 – 216 Washington Street	069-657-032-025	R5	CBD
Washington Street	069-657-032-026	R5	CBD
204 – 216 Washington Street	069-657-032-027	R5	CBD
204-216 Washington Street	069-657-032-028	R5	CBD
204 – 216 Washington Street	069-657-032-029	R5	CBD
Washington Street	069-657-032-033	R5	CBD
204 – 208 Washington Street	069-657-032-034	R5	CBD
204 – 216 Washington Street	069-657-032-035	R5	CBD
204 – 216 Washington Street	069-657-032-036	R5	CBD
209-211
Washington Street	069-642-021	R5	CBD
213 Washington St	069-642-007	R5	CBD
217 – 219 Washington Street	069-642-011	BD	CBD
224 Washington St	069-657-019	R5	CBD
228 - 244 Washington Street	069-657-018	R5	CBD
672-606 Washington Street	081-590-031	R5	CBD
9 West Green Street	083-611-005	R4	CBD
11 West Green Street	083-611-007	R4	CBD
13 West Green Street	083-611-008	R4	CBD
17 West Green Street	083-611-010	R4	CBD
21 West Green Street	083-611-011	R4	CBD
23 West Green Street	083-611-0012	R4	CBD
25 West Green Street	083-611-003	R4	CBD

***   The meeting will be closed to the general public due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The meeting will be televised live on the Lynn Community Television Government Channel (LCTV) and also streamed on the LCTV Facebook page. 

****Any individual interested in speaking for or against or regarding the petition should call (781) 586-6783 or (781) 586-6773 at the date and time of the public hearing.  All individuals will be permitted to speak via a speaker phone function.  In some instances, City Council will call back an individual wishing to speak to ensure an orderly meeting.  Individuals wishing to speak may provide their name and phone number to the Lynn City Council and will be called at the appropriate date and time to speak.  This information should be submitted to Terry Young via email: tyoung@lynnma.gov or telephone: (781) 586-6740.  The email or telephonic message requesting to speak must be received at least one hour prior to the scheduled meeting.  Persons who have not pre-registered may call in during the meeting at the above-listed telephone numbers. 

Any individual desiring to submit written materials either for or against the proposed special permit should submit the same via e-mail: tyoung@lynnma.gov or regular mail to Lynn City Council, c/o Terry Young, Lynn City Hall, Lynn, MA  01901.  Documents may also be submitted via the Lynn City Hall drop box located at the Johnson Street entrance with a deadline of one hour prior to the scheduled meeting.  The documentary submissions may be submitted via a zip drive or similar device compatible with a windows operating system.***

 

THE MEETING OF THE PLANNING BOARD WILL ALSO BE BROADCAST ON GOTO MEETING
Tue, Sep 22, 2020 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM (EDT)

Please join THE meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/753166901

You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (408) 650-3123
Access Code: 753-166-901

New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when THE meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/753166901****

 

Janet L. Rowe, City Clerk

Item: September 5 & 12, 2020