Michael Klonsky
Encyclopedia
Michael Klonsky is an American
educator, author, and political activist. He is known for his work with the Students for a Democratic Society
, the New Communist Movement
, and, later, the small schools movement
.
, a World War II veteran who fought as a volunteer against the Nationalists
during the Spanish Civil War
, had been arrested and convicted of "conspiring to advocate Marxist views" Smith Act
during the McCarthy period. The Supreme Court later overturned the case.
In the late 1960s Michael Klonsky became the national secretary of the Students for a Democratic Society
, which he joined as a student at San Fernando Valley State College (now California State University, Northridge). He was one of five S.D.S. members arrested on May 12, 1969, when prank phone calls sent police and firefighters to the S.D.S. offices in Chicago.
In the 1970s he became a leader of the New Communist Movement
which broke away from the older Communist Party USA
and its allegiance to the Soviet Union. He headed the Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist)
, in which role he was one of the U.S. political activists who visited the People's Republic of China
. Klonsky later became critical of Marxist dogma but stayed active in civil rights, anti-war and educational reform politics.
which has done much to transform the face of secondary school education in the United State. His early research http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED386517&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED386517 on issues of school size and its impact on student achievement, school violence, and dropout rates, helped pave the way towards the development of thousands of new small and charter schools across the country.
Klonsky is now a retired professor of education after teaching at several universities, including the University of Illinois, Chicago and the Fischler School of Education at Nova Southeastern University
. His academic work focused on small school size as a solution to the problems of inner city schools. He is now the director of the Small Schools Workshop
, a school outreach program associated with UIC.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator, author, and political activist. He is known for his work with the Students for a Democratic Society
Students for a Democratic Society (1960 organization)
Students for a Democratic Society was a student activist movement in the United States that was one of the main iconic representations of the country's New Left. The organization developed and expanded rapidly in the mid-1960s before dissolving at its last convention in 1969...
, the New Communist Movement
New Communist Movement
The New Communist Movement ' was a Marxist-Leninist political movement of the 1970s and 1980s in the United States. The term refers to a specific trend in the U.S. New Left which sought inspiration in the experience of the Russian Revolution of 1917, the Chinese Revolution, and the Cuban...
, and, later, the small schools movement
Small schools movement
The small schools movement, also known as the Small Schools Initiative, in the United States of America holds that many high schools are too large and should be reorganized into smaller, autonomous schools of no more than 400 students, and optimally under 200. Many private schools of under 200...
.
Political activism
Klonsky's father, Robert KlonskyRobert Klonsky
Robert Klonsky was a member of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, which fought on the side of the Spanish Republicans in the Spanish Civil War, a prelude to World War II.-Biography:...
, a World War II veteran who fought as a volunteer against the Nationalists
National Faction (Spanish Civil War)
The National faction also known as Nationalists or Nationals , was a major faction in the Spanish Civil War of 1936 to 1939. It was composed of a variety of political groups opposed to the Second Spanish Republic, including the Falange, the CEDA, and two rival monarchist claimants: the Alfonsists...
during the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, had been arrested and convicted of "conspiring to advocate Marxist views" Smith Act
Smith Act
The Alien Registration Act or Smith Act of 1940 is a United States federal statute that set criminal penalties for advocating the overthrow of the U.S...
during the McCarthy period. The Supreme Court later overturned the case.
In the late 1960s Michael Klonsky became the national secretary of the Students for a Democratic Society
Students for a Democratic Society (1960 organization)
Students for a Democratic Society was a student activist movement in the United States that was one of the main iconic representations of the country's New Left. The organization developed and expanded rapidly in the mid-1960s before dissolving at its last convention in 1969...
, which he joined as a student at San Fernando Valley State College (now California State University, Northridge). He was one of five S.D.S. members arrested on May 12, 1969, when prank phone calls sent police and firefighters to the S.D.S. offices in Chicago.
In the 1970s he became a leader of the New Communist Movement
New Communist Movement
The New Communist Movement ' was a Marxist-Leninist political movement of the 1970s and 1980s in the United States. The term refers to a specific trend in the U.S. New Left which sought inspiration in the experience of the Russian Revolution of 1917, the Chinese Revolution, and the Cuban...
which broke away from the older Communist Party USA
Communist Party USA
The Communist Party USA is a Marxist political party in the United States, established in 1919. It has a long, complex history that is closely related to the histories of similar communist parties worldwide and the U.S. labor movement....
and its allegiance to the Soviet Union. He headed the Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist)
Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist) (USA)
The Communist Party was a Maoist political party in the United States.- History :The Communist Party 's predecessor organization, the October League , was founded in 1971 by several local groups, many of which had grown out of the radical student organization Students for a Democratic Society when...
, in which role he was one of the U.S. political activists who visited the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. Klonsky later became critical of Marxist dogma but stayed active in civil rights, anti-war and educational reform politics.
Education research
Klonsky became one of the leaders of the modern small schools movementSmall schools movement
The small schools movement, also known as the Small Schools Initiative, in the United States of America holds that many high schools are too large and should be reorganized into smaller, autonomous schools of no more than 400 students, and optimally under 200. Many private schools of under 200...
which has done much to transform the face of secondary school education in the United State. His early research http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED386517&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED386517 on issues of school size and its impact on student achievement, school violence, and dropout rates, helped pave the way towards the development of thousands of new small and charter schools across the country.
Klonsky is now a retired professor of education after teaching at several universities, including the University of Illinois, Chicago and the Fischler School of Education at Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University, commonly referred to as NSU or Nova, is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian, research university located in Broward County, Florida, with its main campus in the town of Davie...
. His academic work focused on small school size as a solution to the problems of inner city schools. He is now the director of the Small Schools Workshop
Small Schools Workshop
Founded in Chicago in 1991, the Small Schools Workshop has become a premier resource for small schools creation, design and restructuring. The Workshop provides schools and school districts with an experienced team of school design coaches and teacher professional development experts that can guide...
, a school outreach program associated with UIC.