Tuesday, February 17, 2015

CHARTERSCHOOL WARS: LEARNING FROM THE CORPORATE TAKEOVER OF NEW ORLEANS SCHOOLS

A Perfect Storm: The Takeover of New Orleans Public Schools


A Perfect Storm: The Takeover of New Orleans Public Schools


A Perfect Storm: The Takeover of New Orleans Public Schools is the first in series of short videos, that reveals the real story behind the creation of the nation's first all charter school district. 

For the past seven years, state education officials and corporate school reformers have touted the dramatic turnaround of New Orleans public schools. National media outlets have published numerous articles and TV news stories of the miracle in New Orleans citing unprecedented academic achievement where parents finally had School Choice. However, according to the Louisiana Department of Education, more than 80% of the Recovery School District schools in New Orleans are performing below the state average.

This first 5 minute video focuses on the illegal takeover and the academic failure of The Recovery School District.

The first Perfect Storm video focuses on the illegal takeover and the academic failure of the Recovery School District. Part 2 explores the reality of an all charter district where parents no longer have neighborhood schools.

The film features interviews with leaders in the New Orleans education community who were faced with the daunting task of reopening schools immediately following Hurricane Katrina.

We are looking to fund more short videos, followed by an hour long documentary which will chronologically tell the story from 2005 - 2015 and will end at the tenth anniversary of the storm.

Directed by
Phoebe Ferguson
Dr. Raynard Sanders

Produced by
Phoebe Ferguson
Dr. Raynard Sanders

Cinematography by
Phoebe Ferguson
Tobias Arturi
Lily Keber

Editor
Tobias Arturi

Graphic Designers
Noël Anderson
Tobias Arturi

Production Assistants
Kelsey Noble
Kendrick Royal
Researchers
Charles Hatfield
Barbara Ferguson
Karran Harper Royal
Kari Harden
Adrienne Dixon
Kristen Buras
Raynard Sanders

Interviews

In order of appearance
Louella Givens
Rev. Torin Sanders
Dr. Barbara Ferguson
Karran Harper Royal

2 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for sharing this very important documentation of how our public schools are being destroyed. I reside in Philadelphia Pa. and there are several of us documenting the mass destruction going here. I posted this documentary and will contiue to post, hopeing that people wake up and stop attacking the most vulnerable in our society and international communities!! Will there be a tour and panel discussion of the film?

    ReplyDelete
  2. It really seems like it is not going to end. I am so tired of hearing about the situation with public and charter schools. Instead of focusing on teaching kids to write custom research essay papers or whatever else is needed for their successful education, we are going through these debates over and over again. It has to stop. I believe that charter schools aren’t any useful. We need to focus our attention on public schools. It is time to increase their efficiency as they have a really high potential.

    ReplyDelete