A reader writes about the new pro-privatization movie “Won’t Back Down.” This is a movie celebrating the ALEC-inspired “parent trigger,” encouraging the public to think that parents should seize control of their public school, fire the staff, and hand the school over to a charter corporation. The film is produced by Walden Media, the same company that produced “Waiting for Superman.” It is owned by billionaire Philip Anschutz.
I’ve started a #BoycottWontBackDown campaign on twitter… blog about it and share it on Facebook as well. Tell the public WHY we should boycott this movie. This company should not make even more profit on the vilification of teachers and public schools.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I’ll probably watch it just to see what the hype is about. You know there will be media hype. I’ll watch it…
…when it arrives at my public library.
Don’t think I could even do that, I really don’t have that much self loathing in me. And I already know how the story ends!
And I’m not even clairvoyant.
Parents Across America give Wont Back Down a thumbs down
sorry, wrong link
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/story/2012-08-04/schools-parent-takeover/56762688/1
http://parentsacrossamerica.org/2012/06/parents-give-wont-back-down-movie-trailer-a-thumbs-down/
This is the correct link. Sorry for the errors
I am a parent of children in public schools which means I have stake in the education reform process, I only ask ONE thing of those who SAY they want whats best for ALL children and are reading this blog!
How about THINKING for yourselves as EDUCATORS!!!
Watch the movie and then form an opinion. Only then will you will fully understand that the movie actually depicts a BEST PRACTICE for improving schools for Americas children. The movie’s “parent empowerment act” also known as a “trigger” forces Parenst & Teachers to WORK together to reform the school! Which is very important because TEACHERS not teacher union bosses are in the classroom and Parents entrust their children to them. NOT UNION bosses elected officialos and others! Stop getting it twisted and distorting the facts
In closing, “If there is anything the nonconformist hates worse than a conformist it’s another nonconformist who doesn’t conform to the prevailing standards of nonconformity.” ~Bill Vaughan
AND For those who want to keep a majority of schools performing “poorly” for a vast number of kids, for whatever reason and for those who think its okay for substantiated sexual misconduct school employees to remain in a classroom, you are OUTNUMBERED by the number of parents and guardians of children and teachers with the moral courage to fight against any system that does not put children first!
What makes you think that the vast majority of schools are underperforming? Is your children’s school underperforming? What does that mean?
Do your children do their homework? Do you make sure they get to bed early? That they attend school every day? Are you doing your job as a parent?
What part of your job are you blaming on the school? I have noticed that when parents do their job, children do just fine in any school.
The parent trigger has never succeeded anywhere, and it never will. Both times it has been attempted, the situation exploded into chaos and conflict. One problem is that it pits parents against teachers, treating teachers as the enemy. It’s not possible to improve education by treating teachers as the enemy — as we see in all this hate talk painting teachers as sex perverts. Teachers need to be partners.
Another obvious problem is that charter operators don’t want to take over existing struggling schools, where they inherit existing problems. And while charters overall are far less successful than comparable public schools, “takeover” charters have been even more unsuccessful. Charter operators want to start their own schools where they can pick their students and do things their own way. So the concept has a fatal flaw from the start..
@Diane there are many reason schools underperform one being SAFETY so for you as an educator to think its only about the ABC’s and 123’s concerns me. CT just started to “meaningfully evaluate” the performance of our teachers/principals so how can YOU as an educator properly assess any school without measuring the performance of its instructors and leadership. I forgot you don’t have to measure it because educators get paid regardless of performance(it must be nice). BTW Parents and guardians of children can put their child to bed early, support their academics and handle their business as parents BUT if you have an instructur in class that is not knowledgable about their subject area the child will sruggle learning that subject area because the instructor is struggling. FYI teachers and principal don’t work for free and why should taxpayers pay for a reading teacher that does not know how to teach reading…Thats why I am 200% behind supporting EFFECTIVE professional development for teachers and principals but please don’t ask me to sacrifice my childs life until you get it right. It sooo amazes me that as long as parents support ANY type of performance from educators we all get along but as soon as a parents challenges the quality and safety of their childs school its a problem.
If you are going to be for children please be for children but please stop insulting our intelligence by claiming all is well when our economy and local /global competiveness tells another story!
How about this, you do what you have to do to protect both good and not so good teachers and parents will do what we have to do support great educators and do our best with our resources to get rid of teachers that can not teach and principals that cannot lead. And if compulsory laws still insist on making people send their kids to schools that are unsafe and underperforming then parents will continue to fight for high quality options. Mrs Ravitch with all due respect don’t hate the players hate the game! A childs overall wellbeing and educational experience is NEVER negotiable for parents and please don’t continue to understimate the love parents have for their children even poor parents. Thank you for this ‘agree to disagree” moment
It sounds like you believe the propaganda about sexual predators in schools. Unfortunately, incidents occur, but it is not widespread, and unions do not protect those who are guilty. All unions do is insure that there is due process, which is what business leaders and certain politicians want to take away. Am I to suppose that if you were accused of wrongdoing, you would want someone to have the right to judge you without being able to defend yourself? As a retired teacher and administrator with 30 years experience, I can tell you that the vast majority of (elelentary) teachers I worked with were professional, hard-working, and cared deeply about the children they taught and continue to teach.
Are you saying that your children’s teacher don’t know what they’re doing? Also, teacher’s union leadership at the school district are teachers elected by their peers who serve a limited number of terms and then return to the classroom (at least in the district I worked in). They are not “bosses”. The current superintendent has tried to exert his influence by offering the last union president and then planted a candidate in the last election. Workers need representation from unscrupulous people who would take advantage of them.
I wish the hashtag was shorter loke #boycottWBD
I’m all on board, but can we use a shorter hashtag. Maybe #boycottWBD
I’m afraid that if you remain in denial about some of the lousy schools out there, you will never be part of the solution.
The same propaganda maker of Waiting for Superman also made An Inconvenient Truth. The Al Gore propaganda movie about global warming.
I think it’s better to acknowledge a problem exists, then explain why YOUR idea to reform Ed. is better than their idea.
No one has denied that there are problems that need to be addressed. We disagree on the bogeymen: teachers vs. poverty to oversimplify the situation. We disagree on the solutions and have ample evidence, which has been presented on this blog. Parent trigger laws disenfranchise those parents who do not support privatizing their schools. Parent trigger laws also disenfranchise taxpayers who do not have children in the schools. I have a say in the public schools I support with my tax dollars. Where is my voice in a charter?
Putting aside the discussion of global warming, one point is that Won’t Back Down falsely claims to be inspired by true events. It’s supposedly based on the parent trigger process. There have only been two attempted parent triggers anywhere, ever, and both exploded into chaos and controversy. One has failed, and the other is still up in the air, with the chaos and controversy continuing. Press reports have implied that the second is completed, but that’s way inaccurate.
I saw one of the clips and it made the teachers look like uncaring thugs. I suppose Hollywood is in it for the money not the truth. I bet there is no mention on how many parents were duped into signing the petition or the judge not allowing their names to be removed.
Aside from my professional feelings about the WBD film, as an avid film lover, I’m not even curious to see it. My gut instinct tells me the subject matter lacks box office potential, and the movie will be a flop. That said, I can’t wait for the new film version of Les Mis!
http://ruralteacher.wordpress.com/2012/08/08/wont-back-down/
Here is a link to a trifold folder that can be distributed that includes that parent trigger, charter schools, and Walmart.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!!!
Wear Red for Public Ed on Tuesday, August 14
On August 14, Walmart Corporation is hosting an event to “honor” teachers and promote charter schools. The new movie “Won’t Back Down “ will be promoted which encourages the use of the parent trigger to close public schools. TEACHERS FOR AMERICA will benefit financially from this event. Most of us will not be able to be in LA to participate in an informational rally, but we can show our support for public schools by wearing RED FOR PUBLIC ED on that day. Get as many people as you can to participate and contact your local media and let them know why you are in red!
A trifold brochure is posted in the files at Wear Red for Public Ed, Dump Duncan, and SOS Florida. Feel free to download it, modify in whatever way you want, and distribute widely.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/WearRedForPublicEd/?ref=ts
Daily Kos • So Many Big Stars on Board for CBS “Teachers Rock” to Push Parent Trigger Laws. TFA to Get Proceeds
The movie raises three critical points:
1- There are too many weak teachers. The number is not huge, but the problem is real and the system has not dealt with the issue
2- Same with principals — good or great principals have good or great schools, Weak principals too often get reassigned to another school. Not acceptable
3- Parents are mad as hell
The Parent Trigger is not the right answer. The right answer is for parents, teachers and other committed citizens to change the system so our teachers and principals are not plagued by a small, but significant number of weak teachers and principals
We ignore this movie at our peril
Diane, I applaud your efforts. Let’s work together to make public schools the schools of choice for parents and kids
MUST READ: http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2012/09/hollywood-film-pushes-flawed-corporate.html
HOLLYWOOD FILM PUSHES FLAWED CORPORATE EDUCATION AGENDA
“Won’t Back Down” pushes so-called “parent trigger” laws espoused by rightwing policy groups and privatization advocates
by Mary Bottari and Sarah Jerving
Well-funded advocates of privatizing the nation’s education system are employing a new strategy this fall to enlist support for the cause. The emotionally engaging Hollywood film “Won’t Back Down” — set for release September 28 — portrays so-called “Parent Trigger” laws as an effective mechanism for transforming underperforming public schools. But the film’s distortion of the facts prompts a closer examination of its funders and backers and a closer look at those promoting Parent Trigger as a cure for what ails the American education system.
While Parent Trigger was first promotedby a small charter school operator in California, it was taken up and launched into hyperdrive by two controversial right-wing organizations: the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the Heartland Institute.
ALEC brings together major American corporations and right-wing legislators to craft and vote on “model” bills behind closed doors. These bills include extre
Let’s take the two issues raised in the meeting — ineffective principals and teachers, address them within the public school system and prove that the best choice for parents is often a great public school.
To jump from a problem to a radical solution is rarely the best choice. Far better to address the root causes of the problem.
For too long students and the majority of teachers have been pulled down by a small number of poor teachers and principals. Let’s solve that problem and thank the filmmakers for helping to improve public schools.