Comments on: Student Thought: Mayoral control and the question for Albany http://insideschools.org/blog/2008/01/28/student-thought-mayoral-control-and-the-question-for-albany/ Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:40:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Rakisha http://insideschools.org/blog/2008/01/28/student-thought-mayoral-control-and-the-question-for-albany/#comment-8232 Rakisha Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:11:10 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2008/01/28/student-thought-mayoral-control-and-the-question-for-albany/#comment-8232 Very nice argument for mayoral control. Very swaying. How can we, the public, ensure that a mayor-controlled school system be used for good? Very nice argument for mayoral control. Very swaying. How can we, the public, ensure that a mayor-controlled school system be used for good?

]]> By: Philissa http://insideschools.org/blog/2008/01/28/student-thought-mayoral-control-and-the-question-for-albany/#comment-126 Philissa Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:52:00 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2008/01/28/student-thought-mayoral-control-and-the-question-for-albany/#comment-126 Interesting post, Seth, and I think you've hit on the key issue that will be difficult for lawmakers to deal with as they evaluate mayoral control in NYC: how to separate the idea of mayoral control from the reign of Bloomberg.<br/><br/>But what you say about checks and balances suggests that you do think mayoral control inherently creates opportunities for abuse. And putting checks and balances in place is tricky. Who should sit on the Chancellor Selection Board? How would they be appointed? Would the mayor fill the majority or even all of the seats on the board? If he didn't, would he truly have control?<br/><br/>I also agree that mayoral control allows one person to be held accountable for the success/failure of the schools. But I would question 1) why this is so important, when the schools themselves and the forces affecting them are so many and 2) whether this accountability is real. Certainly for Mayor Bloomberg being accountable has been a license to dismiss critics. Yes, that might not be the case under the next mayor -- but it might, and under the current system there wouldn't be anything to stop it. Interesting post, Seth, and I think you’ve hit on the key issue that will be difficult for lawmakers to deal with as they evaluate mayoral control in NYC: how to separate the idea of mayoral control from the reign of Bloomberg.

But what you say about checks and balances suggests that you do think mayoral control inherently creates opportunities for abuse. And putting checks and balances in place is tricky. Who should sit on the Chancellor Selection Board? How would they be appointed? Would the mayor fill the majority or even all of the seats on the board? If he didn’t, would he truly have control?

I also agree that mayoral control allows one person to be held accountable for the success/failure of the schools. But I would question 1) why this is so important, when the schools themselves and the forces affecting them are so many and 2) whether this accountability is real. Certainly for Mayor Bloomberg being accountable has been a license to dismiss critics. Yes, that might not be the case under the next mayor — but it might, and under the current system there wouldn’t be anything to stop it.

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