Toxic asset is a popular term for certain financial assets whose value has fallen significantly and for which there is no longer a functioning market, so that such assets cannot be sold at a price satisfactory to the holder. The term became common during the Late-2000s financial crisis, in which they continue to play a major role.
In August, I met with a fellow public-school-privatization critic and was told that in a meeting with a charter school employee, my [actual] name was mentioned and I was labelled as somewhat dangerous-scandalous and a person no one should ever talk to, listen to, or read. I wish I could say it was a surprise but it wasn’t. Since 2006, once or twice a year, someone associated with TfA, KIPP, or other entities in the school privatization movement has dropped by to post an insult, a you-are-so-wrong or unfair! comment. None of them have stopped me, and none of them have disputed facts presented. The complaints are about my unfairness, my “tone,” my “blindness” to the “successes.” Basically, I’m not on their team and that’s unfair and shortsighted and “ignorant.” Three sentences lead from that to you-just-don’t-care-if-black-children-learn because black children, being a monolith, only learn one way and need one kind of schooling that is categorically different than what happens in schools that are not predominately black or brown. [Some kids get critical thinking and field trips while others get test prep, test prep, and more test prep.]
I’ve been semi-out for years and knew that when I accepted the Ashley, I’d never get a job in this town again. And that has proven true…. More at The G Bitch Spot
If you ever want to check out opportunities at CPS, I have some contacts. A creative writing program in a social justice school with a well-entrenched union to support it might be pretty popular among students.
Sounds cold but I’ll think on it. Glad to know I might be of value somewhere.