I asked readers to report on the destructive reforms imposed in their state. No one has tried to collect this information or to pull it all together into a national picture.
Everyone seems to think that their own state is off on a binge of legislation that is anti-union, anti-teacher, and anti-public education.
From what I observe, this is a national “movement,” and it has two sources: 1) ALEC model legislation, which provides templates for conservative state legislators, on how to destroy unions, dismantle the teaching profession, and eliminate public education; and 2) Race to the Top, which promotes obsessive testing and evaluation as well as privately managed charter schools.
If the hammer blows came only from the right (ALEC), it would be bad enough. But when you add to them the harmful policies of Race to the Top, and the cozy relationship between Arne Duncan and the rightwing governors, it creates a terrible, almost desperate situation, because it means that both parties are allied in a campaign to private public education and to deprofessionalize it.
I got so many responses to my question–what is your state doing in the name of “reform”–that I can’t reproduce them all. But I will report on a few and invite readers to look at the comments following my post “Reformers vs. Democracy” and “Add Your State to My List.”
When you review the dozens of comments, which come from states across the nation–from Maine to Florida to California to Hawaii–it gives a devastating portrait of the effects of the “reforms.”
This is indeed a national movement. It is harmful to children, to teachers, and to education.
Diane
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Yes, it is truly frightening. How should we, teachers and parents, fight back? I tell everyone I know to read your blog but beyond that, I am at a loss. I’m constantly surprised to find out how uninformed people are. What do you advise?
If you are a teacher, reach out to parents. Inform them. If you are a parent, organize with other parents to support your public school.
Write letters to the editor, speak up. Do not be afraid.
Diane, thank you so much for doing this. Maybe out of this inquiry something positive will arise that will ignite America’s teachers, colleges of education, professors of education, and parents (and all concerned citizens) to start fighting back ASAP.
We certainly can’t count on the AFT, the NEA, or any of the professional organizations to stand with us or lead us. I’ve been fruitlessly looking for this kind of information for several years now. How widespread is the crisis? How concerted is the effort of ALEC and the corporate reformers? What methods are they employing to destroy the teaching profession and public education and how do we counter them?
You’d think this would be of paramount importance to these organizations that supposedly represent teachers and rely on their voluntary membership payments to exist but there is little information to be found. Try searching the websites of any of these groups and you will be hard pressed to find anything other than offerings to sell you programs that will “prepare” you for meeting the impossible requirements and talk of partnerships and dialog with our obvious enemies. Seems they have already given up and conceded the fight.
Where are the rallying cries? Where are the strong opposition statements? Where are the talking points and the suggestions for organizing pushback? Nowhere near these organizations that I can discover. Everything I know about the war on public education and teachers I’ve gleaned from you, Susan Ohanian, and few scattered education bloggers. Thank you for that!
I’m ready to fight. I’m ready to work hard and sacrifice to save my beloved profession and our precious children in our vital public schools. What do I do, how do I do it, and where do I do it? We can only do this if we unite and fight together. I’ve already started talking to parents. Even the kids understand that this is unfair and dangerous. My colleagues listen in disbelief and seem completely unaware and/or bewildered.
At this point I can only cry “help!” louder and hope that someone is listening. You are doing a great service in providing a place where I can connect to others to find something to answer my plea. Kudos to you!
Brian, it’s hard to keep up with all of the destructive measures to public education. I agree with you, “Kudos to Diane”, in all her efforts to keep us informed, make us think of questions to ask and constant encouragement to keep the wheels turning.
Diane,
Perhaps I am naive but all of this can not be just. Surely not all teachers across the nation are similarly guilty of the same infractions which require identical legislation limiting our activity and aspirations. As a profession, do we have any legal recourse? Surely states nationwide can not systematically strip a ‘specific’ group of people of their due process rights , their right to equitable fair professional wages and fair working conditions all because they have the same set of skills. How can this be legal? Can teachers file a huge class action suit claiming liable and defamation? Maybe this sounds silly, but the courts are there for our protection from threat, intimidation,discrimination and injust legislation. Teachers civil rights are being violated. I know this because it feels injust, I live in fear and my reputation is being publicly disgraced and devalued. As an American citizen, this feels worse than persecution. This is persistent harassment, intimidation and oppression of one specific group to which I belong; educators. I wonder how physicains would respond if they were targeted this way as a profession, or lawyers. or engineers, or scientists. I do not for a moment believe they would sit silently and let their professions be destroyed. The reformers have threatened my reputation, my emotional stability, my financial security, my livelihood, my future and my health, simply because I am …a teacher; and more so because I am an experienced teacher with many credentials; and most so because I am at the top of the payscale. As an adult, I have never been so frightened or alone in my life. And I have done nothing wrong. I have hurt no one, I have maligned no one. I have neither robbed nor disceived anyone. I have endangered no one. I have committed no fraud. I can no longer sit quietly and observe this viscious onslaught. I want to act. Can we as a collective group pursue litigation?
What can we do for relief?
I cannot believe that on this day Jill Biden dropped this email ti my inbox ” Today, I’m proud to invite you to join me as a member of Educators for Obama, a new group of supporters dedicated to re-electing the President, who was once a college professor himself.” The alternative to Obama is so much worse so I will vote. When corporations take over education, this is bad for America . The silence on this issue is deafening as both left and right take down education without any national politician crying foul. We can see the effects of privatization on energy, on road service or even school bussing. It is not that costs go up but job earnings and benefits go down as we march toward third world wages and the more inequity. We wont get more quality out of this move because the answer to these problems lies in the socioeconomic tragedies that plague children.
Elissa,
I got the same email. There is no way I am signing up or signing on. I want to write a letter to Michelle and Jill, but I responded to the email.
I doubt it will be read, but I was afraid to click on the link and have them think I support Obama, Arne Duncan and this lunacy.
This is what I sent:
I am sorry, but I cannot sign up as a member.
I voted for President Obama, but I do not support his education policies.
Arne Duncan cannot be trusted. He aligns himself with Michelle Rhee – a fraud and a liar.
The Race to the top initiative, the increase in standardized testing and test scores being tied to evaluations and many other components are forcing schools and teachers to compete against each other for funding. This is ruining our public schools where there is now little to no public input.
Read here for concerns by states: https://dianeravitch.net/2012/06/16/add-your-state-to-my-list/
There is little difference between a Republican and Democrat education plan for our country.
This is NOT happening at Sidwell Friends in D.C.
Diane,
It would be interesting to see how many got the same Obama/Education email. Here is the full text. I am baffled by two statements: get the respect we deserve and end teaching to the test. Really?
Linda —
I’ve been a teacher in public schools and community colleges for more than 30 years.
Being an educator is about more than teaching — it’s about instilling confidence. There is no better moment than when I see a student realize that she can do whatever she sets her mind to do. I’m sure you know that feeling, too.
President Obama knows what that’s like, too. He understands that improving the education system takes all of us, and that teachers are absolutely critical to those efforts. He listens when teachers explain the challenges they face in overcrowded and underfunded classrooms. And he knows that education is key to a healthy economy and a strong country. That’s why he’s working so hard to improve our schools.
You are receiving this email because you have told the campaign you also work in education.
Today, I’m proud to invite you to join me as a member of Educators for Obama, a new group of supporters dedicated to re-electing the President, who was once a college professor himself. Sign up and get connected with the Educators for Obama community today.
President Obama has made education a priority. He is giving states the flexibility they need to strengthen their schools and end the practice of teaching to the test. When states were cutting their budgets and laying off teachers, he took action to keep more than 400,000 educators in the classrooms where they were needed. He’s proposed competitive funding to make sure teachers and educators like us get the respect we deserve. And he’s made federal student loan payments more affordable by ensuring public school teachers who make their payments on time will have their remaining debt forgiven after 10 years.
Our students deserve a president who is committed to their education — and to the teachers who help them succeed.
As a member of Educators for Obama, you’ll be kept in the loop about important news and events. We’ll also provide you with the resources you need to organize your friends and colleagues in support of the President.
So join teachers, principals, educational professionals, and me, and stand with President Obama this November:
http://my.barackobama.com/Join-Educators-for-Obama
Thanks,
Jill
Jill,
There are two baffling claims here. One is about no more teaching to the test. Everything is Race to the Top requires that you teach to the test, in less you want to e fired. Have you heard the President speak out against states that are stripping teachers of seniority and tenure? I haven’t. No, he prefers that your longevity depend on put students’ scores. You better teach to the test.
Then there is that odd claim that teachers will get more respect if they compete with other teachers. Where did that come from? That’s GOP dogma.
Diane
Diane,
Quick clarification….the email was sent to me today and many other teachers and it was sent from Jill Biden to me (Linda).
Many points in the letter do not make sense to me.
Is Jill Biden that out of touch with the present policies being promoted and supportedy by Arne Duncan and President Obama?
How do we get the message to Jill Biden that her letter requesting teacher support makes little sense?
Linda
P.S. maybe this is a new post for tomorrow morning.