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      Progressive Philadelphia mayoral candidate Helen Gym met with local educators at a campaign event on May 15, 2023, the day before the city's Democratic primary.

      Billionaire Spent Over $1 Million Trying to Defeat Public School Champion in Philly Mayoral Race

      Helen Gym's campaign manager has said charter school advocate Jeffrey Yass is "bankrolling a false smear campaign against the only candidate in the race with a real vision to invest in Philly's public schools."

      Jessica Corbett
      May 16, 2023

      Jeffrey Yass—Pennsylvania's richest man, a registered libertarian, and a charter school advocate—has given over $1 million to a group trying to convince Philadelphians not to vote for progressive mayoral candidate Helen Gym, a former teacher and public school supporter, in Tuesday's Democratic primary.

      Gym is one of nine candidates appearing on the Democratic ballot, though based on polling she is considered a top contender alongside two fellow former Philadelphia City Council members—Allan Domb and Cherelle Parker—as well as Jeff Brown, a supermarket chain founder, and Rebecca Rhynhart, Philly's ex-comptroller.

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      philadelphia mayoral election
      Chicago mayoral candidate Paul Vallas speaks during a meeting with supporters

      Ahead of Chicago Runoff, New Ad Spotlights 'Trail of Destruction' Left by Paul Vallas

      "We've literally seen this man destroy public education, sadly for Black and Brown children," said one parent.

      Jake Johnson
      Apr 02, 2023

      With Chicago's closely watched mayoral runoff just two days away, the campaign of progressive Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson debuted an ad on Sunday featuring expert and parent testimony on conservative candidate Paul Vallas' education record, including his stints managing school districts in Chicago, Philadelphia, and New Orleans.

      The picture they painted was not flattering. One New Orleans parent, identified as Kevin G., said that "Paul Vallas has left a trail of destruction, everywhere he goes."

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      paul vallas
      Students Protest School Closings At Chicago Public Schools Headquarters in 2013

      Why America Demonizes its Public-School Teachers

      Teachers alone are expected to overcome the effects of poverty, segregation, and racism upon students who live within the demoralized world of the inner cities.

      Frank Breslin
      Feb 26, 2023

      Evaluating teachers on their students’ performance is an issue that has elicited much comment over more than a decade. In essence, this view assumes that if students aren’t learning, the fault lies squarely with their teachers alone. While the logic of this view seems compelling at first, a moment’s reflection shows that it ignores several factors over which teachers have no control, factors that have an enormous influence on students’ ability or willingness to learn, or if they are able and willing, a multiplicity of distractions get in the way.

      These factors include: the home life of children; the poverty and segregation of the inner cities; America’s Gospel of Instant Gratification; commercial TV; school sports; the restlessness of American society itself; its ingrained anti-intellectualism and ambivalence toward knowledge; youth’s distrust of the adult world and the school; youth culture and its rejection of tradition; technology’s negative impact on learning; Facebook; the eclipse of reading; youth’s literal-mindedness; its lack of intellectual curiosity; its inability to ask significant questions; and its disinclination to develop a critical mind.

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