The new film “Won’t Back Down” apparently celebrates the “parent trigger.” Since this film is fictional, it is likely to provide misinformation about this concept.
Parents Across America invited member Caroline Grannan, who lives in California and often writes about education, to prepare a fact sheet about the real “parent trigger,” which was passed as a law in that state in early 2010.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
As a teacher, I’m not sure taking back schools is wrong in all instances. When an administration requires its principals and teachers to be ‘bobbleheads’ with all the new reforms, and the parents are smart enough to see what is going on, perhaps it is OK to take back a school. Maybe that is something retired teachers should be looking in to. Perhaps they could help the parents do this.
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Then why is the movie deceitful? Why not tell the truth? Why have one more piece of propaganda demeaning our teachers? Why?
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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Did you see the movie? It’s not out yet, is it? Yet it’s already ‘deceitful?’
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The parent trigger is deceitful.
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Read the fact sheet…be informed not fooled. The trailer was pathetic enough. Keep your head in the sand.
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I see. You describe a movie you haven’t seen as ‘deceitful,’ but it is I who my ‘head in the sand.’ Interesting.
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What exactly does “taking back a school” mean? Are you suggesting that we allow a group of people (whether it’s 51% of parents or some other group) to take over a public school and “give” it to a private corporation or organization? If so, then I disagree completely.
On the other hand, if you mean, changing the publicly elected school board then I would agree completely. If you mean working with the teachers and parents to improve the educational program, then I agree. If you mean changing the legislature, governor, or other elected officials who are killing public education then I agree — completely.
As Diane has said many times, public schools belong to the public, not 51% of the current parents. You can prove that for yourself by going to a high school basketball or football game. The “alumni” are often there in great numbers. Public schools belong to the community. They are centers for community pride and memories. They are (and should be) a stable influence in a community.
If 51% of parents decide that a school is no longer meeting the needs of their children and give it away to a private company, what happens next year if 51% of the parents decide that they want to convert it back to a traditional public school? The parent trigger laws do not allow that. Once the public school is gone…it’s gone.
I’m a retired teacher…and I would LOVE to “take back” public schools from the “reformers.” That’s why I write to my legislators. That’s why I belong to a community group which works for public education (neifpe@blogspot.com). That’s why I blog. That’s why I try to inform as many people as I can about what’s happening to public education.
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I am not opposed to education reform as long as it is good and makes sense. Everyone thinks they are a teacher because they went to school. Those of us in the profession know how untrue that is. I agree that public education belongs to the community. The community needs to work together. I believe very strongly in public education. When movies come along that vilify all teachers and unions, it sends a very damaging and incorrect message to the public. The movie is not out yet but the trailer is everywhere! These drive thru ed reformers have the potential to destroy public education. Which is why I am tweeting, posting, writing letters and attending rallies in support of public education.
New York State has started EducateNY Now. I hope it will bring communities together to improve public education and to correctly inform the public. To blame teachers unions for the current crisis in public education funding is also untrue and misleading. I can’t remember where I read this but someone said something like a teacher’s working condition is a child’s learning environment. I think this is something the public doesn’t understand.
Alliance for Quality Education here in New York is another great organization that is working hard to have school districts and communities come together.
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I said it: Teachers’ working conditions are children’s learning conditions.
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Please explain the parent trigger.
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Read the fact sheet, as it explains the parent trigger. The law passed in California in January 2010 says that if 51% of parents in a school sign a petition, they can take control of the school, fire the staff, and hire a private charter corporation to take over the school. A similar law has been passed in Mississippi and Texas. The fact sheet explains what has happened in past 2 1/2 years.
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