Indiana is one of the states where the governor and the state commissioner of education seem determined to put public education out of business. They are implementing vouchers, expanding charters, and given the green light to for-profit online charter schools. They do not have a shred of evidence that any of this will improve the education of children in Indiana, but that doesn’t slow them down. They are in love with the ideology of choice and competition and the glories of the marketplace, and that’s the end of the discussion. Plenty of entrepreneurs will get rich off taxpayers’ dollars in Indiana.
Fortunately, there is strong resistance from parents and educators in Northeast Indiana. When I spoke in Indiana last fall, I met some of the parent leaders. They were in despair about the destructive policies being pushed through the legislature. I am glad to say that they organized and are speaking out. They can serve as a model for other concerned citizens.
They have drafted a statement in opposition to what Governor Mitch Daniels and State Superintendent Tony Bennett are doing. They not only oppose these harmful policies, but they offer a platform describing the positive steps that must be taken to save public education in the state of Indiana.
Congratulations to these courageous, thoughtful, and concerned citizens of Indiana!
I hope that others will take this statement of principles and adapt it to their own community and state. Help it go viral, as the Texas anti-high-stakes testing resolution has gone viral. Join with your friends and neighbors to awaken the American public to support good education policies that strengthen our public schools and our democracy.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Yes! I can tell that teachers were involved in this statement because it is positive and clear. Good for them and good luck in their fight, the kids and the institution of public schooling is worth it!
Thanks for the shout to our group, the Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education, Diane. You have been our inspiration! We hope that others will join us in our quest to bring back the joy of learning because as you have said, this is for kids and not for profit.
MatthewBrooks is one of the best parent organizers in the Idianapolis area. Check him out on unitedoptout.com.
Indiana rocks. Also know that Indiana has a strong group of parents who opt out of corporate education reform – they can be found here – https://www.facebook.com/groups/182929731801110/ . Matthew, lead parent organizer, can be contacted at OptOutIndiana@gmail.com. Also know that United Opt Out National is headed to Indianapolis this coming school year to learn from our friends and support them however we can. More information to follow at our website.
As an administrator in a small Louisiana school (90% poverty), I watch the political education deform agenda unfold in my state and I worry how this will affect a generation of students in my state. I feel helpless. Except that I work hard to make our school parent friendly and a place where parents will want too send their children because they know I want what’s best for them. I partner with parents and we work together for their child’s success. We have a high poverty, highly transient student population. It is not easy, but we work hard and constantly strive to do better. This deform environment will eventually probably be replaced by another when our governor moves on to greener pastures and takes his cronie education superintendent with him. Hopefully some of us will weather the storm and still be around to pick up the pieces when parents realize they have been duped.
Well said, Bridget. However, I don’t wish them on anyone else, either.
Hoosiers are all very lucky to have our friends to the North. Great work by these guys and an example to follow for concerned people everywhere. In Indiana, we have to stand up and fight to save our public education system and it is great to have these folks helping to lead the way.
The NEIFPE website is here: http://neifpe.blogspot.com/. Their fb page can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/NEIFPE
Hoosiers are also joining forces to have Indiana opt out of the common core standards. Teachers should be wary of where the blame will fall when student achievement does not blossom under the common core. Dr. Tony Bennett-R, Indiana’s Superintendent of Public Education, has his name staked on the success of these standards. If they fail, teachers heads will be the first to hit the guillotine. Why haven’t teachers spoken out against the hasty adoption of the common core. As Diane clearly states on her blog, NO ONE has done a trial of these standards. They are unproven and experimental. Many critics of their quality are being dismissed without a discussion. After the publishing and testing companies part with their millions, teachers will be left holding the bag. I wish teachers would unite with anti-common core groups on this issue and generate awareness.
That’s such an excellent point! Why have teachers fought back. I’m thinking especially of the mandate that no more than 50% of reading should be fiction in the early grades. Wouldn’t the professionals who actually teach children to read know what’s best for their students?!
I don’t know why this should be a national mandate.