Readers may also want to read this op-ed, co-authored by Malkin and Dr. Paul Bennett, that also appeared in the Herald on the same topic:

http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/43807-don’t-shutter-small-schools-open-them-community

The BLOB – Grinches Who Thought They Could Stop Reform from Coming

All the parents and teachers they wanted reform.
They looked for solutions to break from the norm.
They wanted things better, that’s why they were fighting,
To make sure their kids would learn reading and writing
And science and math and history too
For everyone’s children, not just a few.

But the BLOB and its grinches, they hated reform.
“Imagine,” they sniffed ” trying to break from the norm.”
Standards, and charters, and school choice and such
This ed-reform business is much, much too much.

Who are they, these people, this reform-minded crew
Who think they know better than us what to do?
We’ll fix them,
We’ll teach them,
We’ll show them who’s boss.

We’ll make doubly sure that they suffer a loss.
We’ll stop all their harping and carping and cries
We’ll tell all the people their numbers are lies.
We’ll say that they’re wrong And without hesitation,
We’ll say that they’re out
To destroy education.

Oh, we’ll offer solutions - the people will buy it,
All we will need say is, ” It won’t hurt to try it.”
Whole language, new math,
And lots of things pending
(Which, of course, will require more billions in spending.)

And for those who ask questions or say it’s a waste,
With great condescension, they’ll be put in their place.
We’ll stop the reformers, we’ll stop them, we will,
Because after all,
We’re the kings of the Hill.

So the BLOB and it’s grinches
Embarked on their task
To make sure that all things reform finished last.

But the parents and teachers and grandparents too,
Went on with their work, they knew what to do.

The BLOB might have money and power and might.
But that didn’t mean that they knew what was right.
And no matter the odds, or how long it might take,
The reformers were steadfast… a difference they’d make.

They wouldn’t be quiet
And they wouldn’t give in
And whenever they lost, they would just start again.
They offered suggestions and wrote legislation
And some ran for office, (to the BLOB’s consternation).

We’ll stop these reformers the BLOB-grinches blustered
And what we can’t stop we will just filibuster.
We’ll do all we can, oh we’ve got a few tricks,
After all it’s our business to play politics.
Against our opponents we’ll spend, spend galore.
And for those who are with us, we’ll spend even more.

And when it was over the BLOB danced with glee
Their efforts had let to a great victory.
They’d shown the reformers, and now they could say
“Just take your reforms, now take them away.”
But the parents and teachers and grandparents too,
Just smiled at the BLOB, because everyone knew:
That for all of its millions and for all of its might,
The BLOB had not managed to carry the fight.

No matter the money and time overspent
No matter how much their support they had lent
In state after state they had failed to defeat
The education reformers they said they would beat.
And when it was over the fact remained still,
That they couldn’t be really the King of the hill.
And for all of their ranting and raving and storm
They’ve really done nothing to stop ed-reform.

from Education Reform News, Dec 20, 2007*, http://edspresso.com/— anthem for all the families and activists out in Whoville fighting the good fight to make schools work better for all children.

BLOB:  either Big Learning Organization Bureaucracy or BLOated education Bureaucracies

* 4 years later, any progress?