Thanks to a reader who sent this story in his comment about an earlier post.
When students falsely accused a teacher in Portland, Oregon, of inappropriately touching them, the teacher decided not to remain silent. That was in 2000.
He sued the students and their families. He won a $70,000 judgment and apologies.
Of course, his reputation was dragged through the mud. And his life appeared to be ruined.
But he didn’t take it. He didn’t keep his mouth shut.
He fought back and won.
I have been thinking a lot about this question of why teachers have become targets of so much abuse.
In part, it is because the attackers proclaim how much they love teachers, how much they respect teachers, and don’t we all want “great” teachers? It is a deliberate, calculated ploy to mislead. And they use it to attack collective bargaining, seniority, tenure, experience, credentialing and the very profession of teaching.
The attackers know that teachers can’t fight back, won’t fight back, and are easy targets.
Teachers are law-abiding by definition; teachers tell children to behave, so they too “behave,” and let others smear them.
Learn from ACT-UP. Learn from Occupy Wall Street.
Don’t be silent. Silent=complicity.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
As more and more teachers become obsolete, maybe more will speak up. Speaking up is, in most cases, considered tattle taling or whining, neither of which is a career advancer. As more people have nothing to lose, like the teacher in Portland, OR,…we’ll see. A body can only take so much.
They will either speak up or retreat even more. I hope the choice will be to speak up.
I agree with speaking up but I can tell you that following in the footsteps of the OWS protesters is NOT the way to go. An angry mob will do the opposite of what you want. OWS protesters want to embrace BIGGER Govt. and their bullying tactics will turn the public against you.
This is a P.R. campaign not an Alinsky agenda. When you realize that, you may begin to turn public opinion around.
I sent a video of one teacher who has the courage to take what is going on in her district to the local community here; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF1XIdzLzzk&feature=player_embedded
She is educating her community each month on what is going on in her school. The parents are not turning away in disgust as they see an angry mob, instead they are listening. Her husband was recently elected to the School Board.
If you can sign your names to blogs, letters to the editor, etc. you should. You should do this in a professional and courteous way. People will listen.
The Gov. in Wisconsin was NOT recalled. That should tell you how well the mob scene worked up there.
People across the country watched and were disgusted by what they saw. Why? Because it appeared to be self-serving.
Alinsky tactics are bullying tactics. If you think that is going to work well, all I can do is watch as this ship sinks further into the sand.
You don’t suppose you’ve been snared by this?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-dreier/the-right-wing-resurrects_b_1663154.html
Consider Alinsky’s Rule #11 for Radicals. Consider OWS. Compare and contrast.
Alinsky had his own agendas, but that’s not relevant. His experience is instructive. OWS dismayed and disgusted some, galvanized and rallied others. But it generally awakened all. Anger is motivation. Channel it. Let’s keep our eyes open.