In this timesunion.com article, TU Editorial Board suggests that Cuomo’s approach to school funding, withholding the numbers or “runs” until he gets significant reform concessions from educators, could do more harm than good. Blame for the current situation, though, seems focused on what is being called the “education establishment” (also commonly referred to as the “status quo”).

Cuomo’s efforts to get his way with demands and threats is described as “negotiating”.

Educators, schools, communities, families, students…all knowing the growing challenges faced as a result of growing inequities in wealth and opportunities? Well now, their patience in waiting for some honest and progressive policy-making is being called “resistance”.

Let’s be clear.

Change has not been resisted by the “establishment”, scapegoating has. So yes: the governor’s calls for changes might meet resistance, but that’s because he cautiously frames his “calls” in a way that denies any responsibility for what is being done to communities, families, children and schools in an economy where so few enjoy wealth you can’t imagine- while so many see the “American Dream” rising farther away and out of reach. Given honest discussions about what market based policies have done to drive inequity in resources and opportunities, and the obstacles presented to educators knowing the bar has been raised, a collaborative approach to preparing capable young citizens might be realized. But the governor is the consummate campaigner with his eyes on the future, and when it takes hundreds of thousands of teachers to raise the money he can get from a short list of school reformers-the needs of the many get crushed by the desires of the few.