Mark Naison, professor of African-American Studies at Fordham University, sends holiday greetings to education activists across the nation.
Activism today on behalf of public education, he finds, is akin to the activism for civil rights in the 1960s. It requires courage and dedication.
You do it because you have to or you won’t be able to look yourself in the mirror every day.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I agree. To stay silent and “tough it out” is to accept our society’s sacrifice to mythical market gods-who apparently have plenty of wrath and tests (of faith?) for the majority of us, and worldly blessings for market preachers and test makers. I will not link more to my petition to end testing on this blog. You will be able to find it and me if you are interested. I am not well connected, appointed, elected-but I teach and have three young (13 and under) girls who could change the world. I don’t want their schools commanded by profiteers and resisters of the most needed reforms.
This letter should be forwarded to President Obama. I wish there were a way to get through to him– and not just to get a form answer saying what wonderful things are being accomplished with Race to the Top
Sent from my iPad
At the August 28, 2012 IEP Pre-Labor Day Rally that I organized on the steps of the MI Capitol I urged each person to look into the mirror and ask what he or she could do for 5 or 15 minutes every week to advocate for public education and special education. I said and believe that each of us will be a part of the solution or a party to the continuing errosion and destruction of public education in America. It has been paintfully clear that America lost its education compass fifty years ago. I will admit to being aganst the creation of Charters and Academies since their inception. Wondering why We the People were unwilling to reinvest, reinvigorate and reform public education for the 21st Century. Why not the innovation within our public schools? Why the need to call a public school district a Charter or Academy and convolute instead of rebuild? Why not a reboot and redesign of our nation’s teacher preparation programs and create teachers ready to mediate learning instead of teaching to short-term memories and tests? Clearly I am not Pollyana and the answers remain the same. The trianglulation of public education-evil continues to be a growing bipartisan, albeit misguided, belief in for-profit charters and free market theory; coupled with the NEA and AFT’s unwillingness to change with the times, and so the times continue to change without them (Can you say Right to Work in MI and a turncoat Governor Snyder?); and a lack of investment in overhauling teacher preparation programs. Children, pre-school through 12th grade are nothing more than war-torn casualities in this apocolyptic battle, as their parents and dedicated educators stand by, both idly and quietly. Public Education in America must matter because our children are our greatest natural and national resource. Will it matter in 2013? Will a resurgence of unwavering belief in public education gather the energy of the populace in time to push President Obama to be the Education President he wants to be? In 2013 we will see Congress and lobbyists for the Gates Foundation, Broad Foundation, ALEC, and others prepare to do battle over the reauthorization of ESEA. Insidiously, discussions are at play to banter, rant and lament the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), better known as our nation’s economic-education-albatross. The clock is ticking on 2012 and we are at the precipice of 2013. Will we reawaken America’s belief and commitment to Public Education? As individuals and collectively we know what we need to do? Will we do it? America’s children are askng?
“…defend the right of all children to have an education that stirs their imaginations and builds on their strengths.”
Mark Naison has identified the reason education activists across the country will not give up.
This is why I say there is no such thing as an ex-teacher. Once you are a teacher you are a teacher for life whether you make money doing it or not. If you are an ex-teacher, you may never have been one at all, just worked in a teaching position, like a Teach for America.
Fighting for public education is definitely the civil rights fight of today. As an older individual, I remember what it was like when women and people of color were treated like second class citizens. Unfortunately, teachers and children continue to receive and in many ways, accept, this second class status today. Civil rights are not always given. They require activism and strength. History is worth knowing or as they say history repeats itself. Thank you Diane and all who continue to fight for what is right for our country and for humanity.
What a lovely message. Mark has inspired many of us. Our connection to him and each other is a ‘beloved community.’ Folks remind us to never underestimate the power of social media. Mark is a reminder to never underestimate people.
Happy Holidays, and as we say down here in our Florida branch of the beloved… HOPE.