Big Education Ape by Coopmike48

TAKE BACK THE SENATE!

Amid all the focus on the presidential race it’s also important to keep in mind Democrats have a fighting chance to take back the Senate in November. There are at least 12 races in play. Win five, and Democrats are in control regardless of the outcome of the presidential election.

Many of of the Democrats on the ballot this year are progressives who have been fighting to raise the minimum wage, expand Social Security, provide paid sick leave and paid parental leave. Many are women and people of color who will make the Senate look more like the rest of America.

Win five of these races and we’d have a chance for a Supreme Court that would prioritize the rights and needs of average Americans rather than big corporations and overturn Citizens United!

Win five of these races and we’d put Senate oversight of the government back into the hands of people who care that government actually works.

We’d strengthen the ranks of progressives like Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Jeff Merkley, Sherrod Brown, and others – who we are counting on in the fight to get big money out of politics, reduce income and wealth inequality, confront devastating climate change, and push a progressive foreign policy.

A Democratic Senate would also give us a line of defense, a countervailing power in budget showdowns, foreign policy lock downs, and threatened government shutdowns.

If Hillary Clinton becomes president, a Democratic Senate will help push her positive agenda, and hold her accountable if she veers away from it. If Donald Trump becomes president – well, let’s just say we’ll need a Democratic Senate more than ever.

Diane Ravitch via Valerie Strauss, “Time for Congress to Investigate Bill Gates’ Role in Common Core”, Washington Post, June 2014

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/06/09/ravitch-time-for-congress-to-investigate-bill-gates-role-in-common-core/ Lyndsey Layton, “How Bill Gates Pulled Off the Swift Common Core Revolution”, Washington Post, June 2014

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-bill-gates-pulled-off-the-swift-common-core-revolution/2014/06/07/a830e32e-ec34-11e3-9f5c-9075d5508f0a_story.html Sarah Darer Littman, “A Window Into the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Dystopia”, CT News Junkie, June 2013

http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/a_window_into_the_bill_and_melinda_gates_foundation_dystopia/#.UbwIGekKDW4.facebook Anthony Cody, “Bill Gates, On the Record”, Education Week, Feb. 2014

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2014/02/bill_gates_on_the_record.html P.L. Thomas, “The (Lingering) Bill Gates Problem in School Reform”, The Becoming Radical, May 2013 

https://radicalscholarship.wordpress.com/2013/05/10/the-lingering-bill-gates-problem-in-school-reform/ Valerie Strauss, “Bill Gates: ‘It Would Be Great if Our Education Stuff Worked, But…”, Washington Post, Sept. 2013 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/09/27/bill-gates-it-would-be-great-if-our-education-stuff-worked-but/ Mercedes Schneider, “Video: Bill Gates, Expert On All That Matters”, deutsch29, Dec. 2014

https://deutsch29.wordpress.com/2014/12/21/video-bill-gates-expert-on-all-that-matters/ David  Morris, “What’s Good for Bill Gates Turns Out to Be Bad for Public Schools”, On the Commons", Nov. 2013

http://www.commondreams.org/views/2013/11/30/whats-good-bill-gates-turns-out-be-bad-public-schools Anthony Cody, “Dystopia: A Possible Future of Teacher Evaluation”, Education Week, May 2013

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2013/05/dystopia_a_possible_future_of_.html

Mercedes Schneider, “Gates Is At It Again: The Common Core Centered 'Collaborative for Student Success”, deutsch29, Nov. 2014

https://deutsch29.wordpress.com/2014/11/12/gates-is-at-it-again-the-common-core-centered-collaborative-for-student-success/ Lance Fialkoff, “Caution Homo Sapiens Sapiens”, Aug. 2010 http://musicalmediaforeducation.tumblr.com/post/949083859/caution-homo-sapiens-sapiens

SOLIDARITY STATEMENT WITH STRIKING SEATTLE EDUCATORS

We, the undersigned stand in solidarity with 5,000 striking members of Seattle Education Association (SEA). These brave educators are taking this action in the face of growing privatization, increased standardized testing, and persistent inequality in public schooling. The educators’ demands would improve public schooling for everyone. They are demanding competitive pay, fair evaluations, less standardized testing, and end to systematic racial discrimination in student disciplinary actions. The union also represents school counselors and psychologists, and demands that their caseloads be capped, so that they can give students the individual attention they deserve. SEA is bargaining for quality education for their students, but in more than 20 meetings with the district prior to the strike vote, all of these demands were rejected.

The members of SEA are fighting for the schools Seattle’s children deserve. In doing so, they are standing up for the kind of schooling all of our children deserve. We, the undersigned, urge the Seattle Public Schools administration to grant the union’s demands immediately.

Signed*

Julia Aguirre University of Washington, Tacoma

Lauren Anderson Connecticut College

Sam Anderson Coalition for Public Education, New York City

Subini Annamma University of Kansas

John C. Antush Movement of Rank and File Educators / United Federation of Teachers

Michael Apple University of Wisconsin

Chloe Asselin Graduate Center, The City University of New York

Wayne Au University of Washington, Bothell Rethinking Schools

Naomi Baden Racine Education Association Racine Educational Assistants Association

Lauren Baker Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association

Megan Bang University of Washington, Seattle

Johanna Barnhart Graduate Center, The City University of New York

Megan Behrent New York City College of Technology, The City University of New York

Tithi Bhattacharya Purdue University

Dan Berger University of Washington, Bothell

Bill Bigelow Rethinking Schools

Dana Blanchard Berkeley Federation of Teachers

Michele Bollinger Washington Teachers Union

Joyce Bos Wisconsin Education Association Council

Stephen Brier Graduate Center, The City University of New York

Sunshine Campbell Evergreen State College

Anthony Cappetta Chicago Teachers Union

Nancy Carlsson-Paige Lesley University

S. Charusheela University of Washington, Bothell

Jondou Chase Chen University of Washington, Seattle

Laura Chrisman University of Washington, Seattle

Anthony Cody Network for Public Education

Dafney Blanca Dabach University of Washington, Seattle

Lars Dahlström Umea University, Sweden

Karam Dana University of Washington, Bothell

Thomas S. Davis Ohio State University

Josh Diem University of Miami

Beth Dimino Port Jefferson Station Teachers Association

Michael J. Dumas University of California, Berkeley

Alyssa Hadley Dunn Michigan State University

Gretchen Dziadosz Michigan Education Association

Jennifer Engleman St. Joseph, MI

Sarah Erickson National Board Certified Teacher

Michelle Fine Graduate Center, The City University of New York Montclair Cares About Schools

Tommy Flanigan San Diego Unified School District

John Gallagher Fremont Unified Teachers Association

Lily Eskelsen Garcia National Education Association

Ofelia Garcia Graduate Center, The City University of New York

Benjamin Gardner University of Washington, Bothell

Kim Golding Parents and Friends for Tacoma Public Schools

Kiersten Greene State University of New York,New Paltz

Craig Greer Australian Education Union

Rico Gutstein University of Illinois at Chicago Teachers for Social Justice

Helen Gym Parents United for Public Education

Leonie Haimson Class Size Matters

Nini Hayes Marist College

Julian Vasquez Heilig California State University, Sacramento

Sarah Hesson Rhode Island College

Jim Horn Cambridge College

Barbara Hubert Graduate Center, The City University of New York

Carly Huelsenbeck Graduate Center, The City University of New York

Laura Humpf Seattle, WA

Arlene Inouye United Teachers of Los Angeles

Pranav Jani Ohio State University

Brian Jones Graduate Center, The City University of New York

Stan Karp Rethinking Schools

Joyce E. King Georgia State University

Chris Knaus University of Washington, Tacoma

Herb Kohl Milwaukee, WI

Ron Krabill University of Washington, Bothell

Larry Kuehn British Columbia Teachers’ Federation

Deepa Kumar Rutgers American Association of University Professors Rutgers University

Kevin Kumashiro University of San Francisco

Scott Kurashige University of Washington, Bothell

Jia Lee Movement of Rank and File Educators / United Federation of Teachers Change the Stakes, New York City

Kari Lerum University of Washington, Bothell

Diane Levin Wheelock College Defending the Early Years

Karen GJ Lewis National Board Certified Teacher

Tom Lewis University of Iowa

Pauline Lipman University of Illinois at Chicago

Kathleen Lyons National Education Association

Elliott Magers Racine Education Association Racine Educational Assistants Association

Bogdana Manole University of Washington, Bothell

John A. Matthews Madison Teachers Inc.

Morna McDermott McNulty Towson University

Allison McSurely National Education Association

Nicholas Michelli Graduate Center, The City University of New York

Amy Mizialko Milwaukee Teachers Education Association

Megan Moskop Movement of Rank and File Educators / United Federation of Teachers

Michael Moss Central Consolidated Education Association, New Mexico

Suhanthie Motha University of Washington, Seattle

Bill V. Mullen Purdue University

Jed Murr University of Washington, Bothell

Mark Naison Fordham University

Jason Naranjo University of Washington, Bothell

Jeff Nichols Queens College Graduate Center, The City University of New York

Sonia Nieto University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Kathleen M. Nolan Princeton University

Walter Parker University of Washington, Seattle

Bob Peterson Rethinking Schools Milwaukee Teachers Education Association

Anthony G. Picciano Graduate Center, The City University of New York

Bree Picower Montclair State University

Nagesh Rao Colgate University

Diane Ravitch New York University

Victoria Restler Graduate Center, The City University of New York

Kirstin Roberts Chicago Teachers Union

Onnie Rogers University of Washington, Seattle

Theresa Ronquillo University of Washington Seattle

David Russitano United Educators of San Francisco

Adam Sanchez Zinn Education Project Rethinking Schools

Nancy Schniedewind State University of New York, New Paltz

Fred Seiden Half Hollow Hills Active Retired Teachers

George Sheridan National Education Association

Mira Shimabukuro University of Washington, Bothell

Janelle Silva University of Washington, Bothell

Ruth Powers Silverberg College of Staten Island, The City University of New York

Alan Singer Hofstra University

Christine Sleeter California State University, Monterey Bay

David Stovall University of Illinois, Chicago

Jessica Stubbs University of Southern Mississippi

Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor Princeton University

Amoshaun Toft University of Washington, Bothell

Carrie Tzou University of Washington, Bothell

Angela Valenzuela Department of Educational Administration, Education Policy and Planning, University of Texas at Austin

Jon Van Camp Prince George’s County Educators’ Association

Jane VanGalen University of Washington, Bothell

Manka Varghese University of Washington, Seattle

José Luis Vilson New York, NY

Andrew Waity Madison Teachers Inc.

Camille Walsh University of Washington, Bothell

Matthew Weinstein University of Washington, Tacoma

Nancy Welch University of Vermont

Elizabeth West University of Washington, Seattle

Earl H. Wiman National Education Association

Ken Zeichner University of Washington, Seattle

*Affiliations listed for identification purposes only.

To add your name, write to Brian Jones or Wayne Au. 

I gave this talk last week to a symposium of first year K-12 teachers in Providence, Rhode Island.

Good morning.

Thank you for inviting me to return and speak to you and with you again.

Congratulations — your school year is almost done. You will never have another first year as a teacher, so savor the flavor! When you’re ready, crack open a document on your computer and take a moment to reflect on your first year. Decades from now your impressions and thoughts from your first year may surprise you.

As you may recall, last time I spoke about the great struggle we are living through, where the future of public education — and indeed, the public nature of it — is at stake.

I spoke about the danger of privatization and warned that a crucial strategy of the privatizers is to target teachers and drive a wedge between you and the communities you serve.

I emphasized that solidarity and anti-racism are essential in the struggle to save our schools, to save the public nature of public education, and to defend the teaching profession.

Today I want to speak briefly about two things: the particular and peculiar nature of teaching as a job and the challenges that nature poses; and some historical examples that illustrate the pitfalls and possibilities for genuine solidarity between teachers, parents, and students.

(via Support Open Road Learning Community for Teens | Education on GOOD)

Open Road Learning Community for Teens is trying to remedy a very basic problem in education: our system of schooling are not design to reach all kids. Open Road works from the premise that the greatest learning happens when young people’s autonomy and desire to excel at something they feel is worthwhile is supported by strong relationships based in mutual respect and trust. Need support to grow and support more low-income students.

It’s official! On Saturday, Howie Hawkins was nominated to be the Green Party’s candidate for Governor of New York, and I was nominated to be their candidate for Lieutenant Governor. Together we plan to take on Andrew “Governor 1%” Cuomo and his priorities.

Howie Hawkins is proposing a Green New Deal for New York State, which includes raising the minimum wage to $15/hour and indexing it to inflation, single-payer health care, and building New York’s renewable energy infrastructure. Of course, I will speak out far and wide about the need to stop the privatization of our schools, the need to promote desegregation and equity in school funding, and to stop using high stakes standardized tests to measure teaching and learning. We need to end the war on drugs, move to a treatment model for people who suffer from addictions, legalize marijuana, and ban “the box” on job, school, and housing applications, and make NY a sanctuary state for immigrants… and more! Read Howie Hawkins’ full platform here.

In order to promote these politics far and wide, we are going to need your help. You can start by making a donation to this campaign — large or small, we need them all! 

This will be a grassroots effort, relying on ordinary people to make it work. If you can, please sign up to work with us on the Hawkins/Jones campaign!

<5 links>

Peter Buffett, “The Charitable Industrial Complex”, NY Times, July 2013

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/27/opinion/the-charitable-industrial-complex.html?_r=0

Joanne Barkan, “How to Criticize ‘Big Philanthropy’ Effectively”, Dissent, April 2014

Photo: entrance, 18th Ave. School, Newark, NJ

LINKS:

Ruth Coniff, “Scathing Report Finds School Privatization Hurts Poor Kids”, The Progressive, April 25, 2014 https://www.commondreams.org/view/2014/04/25-2

What does the Supreme Court’s “McCutcheon” decision this week have to do with today’s jobs report, showing 192,000 new jobs for March?