Here, Arthur Goldstein explains why Matt is a hero of public education, and why those who send their kids to tony elite schools while they close public schools are not.
The corporate reform PR machine has trained its big guns on him because he put his kids in a private school. First, they wreck public schools by turning them into testing factories, then they ridicule those who don’t like what they have done to the public schools. They say, yah, yah, yah, you have no credibility to support public schools. They send their own kids to private schools, but they say he should not because he supports public schools.
They are wrong, because everyone should support public schools, even if they send their children to private schools and EVEN IF THEY HAVE NO CHILDREN AT ALL. Public schools are a public responsibility, like public parks, public roads, public libraries, fire protection, and police protection. Even if you never call the police, you pay for them. Even if you never go to a public library, you should pay to support it. It is a community asset. Even if you never have a fire in your own house, you pay to provide fire protection for the community. Even if you don’t send your children to public schools, you should support them because they are a necessary institution in a democratic society.
Matt Damon is a true American hero because he supports the commonweal.
When he spoke to the SOS rally in 2011, Matt was harassed by a TV crew who insisted that he only works because he gets bonuses. He told them off, and this video went viral.
And for that reason, and because he is willing to stand up for all of those who are voiceless, I am adding him to the honor roll. He is not only a hero on the big screen, he is a hero to millions of parents and teachers who need him.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
There are some wonderful progressive public schools in Los Angeles, both district & charter. Mr. Damon should look harder before placing youngsters in a private school.
Spent time with an LA parent this weekend who strongly agrees progressive options are available in LA.
Are those “progressive” public schools subject to the same testing regime as other LA public schools? Do schools and teachers face the same kinds of “accountability” measures as a result of their students’ performance on said tests? If so, then they’re not truly progressive and I can understand why Damon would choose not to subject his kids to that.
Taking tests does not mean you can’t be progressive. There are some great Montessori public schools, for example, that take the tests and still go ahead with active learning that Maria M urged.
An individuals choice of schools has nothing whatsoever to do with his or her support of public schools.
It is hypocritical to push for one type of school and then send you children to another type of school.
Matt Damon advocates for the same school he sends his children to, he just can’t find one in the public school system in Los Angeles. This doesn’t mean there aren’t good schools or the best school for you child isn’t in the public school system.
If there are any stakes whatsoever attached to standardized tests, no, the school is not truly progressive. Active learning is only a part of the progressive model. Teaching to the whole child and authentic assessment are equally important parts of the equation. You cannot put a child through the stress of having their future hang on one standardized test (much less their teacher’s future or that of their school) and call yourself progressive.
Joe, I don’t think that is the point. I think it’s more about him recognizing that supporting public schools has principle to it in democracy; he might have his own private security team, but I’ll bet he supports police—that type thing.
Support your public services and do what you will (within the law). That is the deal here (or it should be).
Progressive, as in charter schools?
Progressive, as in weak, nominal, or non-existent unions?
Thanks for asking, Robert. Both district & charter progressive as in lots of youth/community service, active school/family/community partnerships, interdisciplinary learning, teachers having a strong leadership role, things like that. A number of them, district and charter, are profiled here, in a book endorsed by, among others, Linda Darling Hammond and Deborah Meier:
http://hometownsource.com/2013/03/06/a-book-about-trusting-teachers-draws-praise-from-educators-and-activists/
My parents taught in public schools, subsidized Head Start, and subsidized after-school programs. They sent their kids to private schools.
When we lived in a district with an excellent public school, we sent our daughter there and were very pleased. When we moved to an area where the public schools were so-so and the nearby private school one of the best in the country, we placed our daughter in the private school. We were very fortunate to have had that option. This does not mean I do not support public schools, quite the opposite. Public schools are the backbone of our country and essential to the prosperity of our country. I did not want vouchers or tax breaks, and I am against the privatization trend in our schools. We need to strengthen public schools at every opportunity.
That is insane. You send your kids to a private school, while trapping poor kids in public schools. That is no different than a family values republican preaching the bible, while having an affair with his secretary.
Agree: “Matt Damon is a true American hero because he supports the commonweal.”
Does anyone see the irony in that reporter’s complaints about teachers? She should have done her homework regarding just exactly what tenure is before allowing herself to prove her incredible ignorance on camera. Once again, those with little knowledge are the first ones to complain about educators.
Thank you Matt Damon for taking on the tough questions and supporting hardworking lifelong educators with your voice. Thank you standing up for every child who attends public schools and fighting for their education. Your mother and all your teachers must be incredibly proud, as are all of us who care about America’s future.
That reporter sounded like the guys in my gym (the same ones who told me Florida had a powerful teachers’ union).
And she should never have let it be about her–oh how terribly uncomfortable to watch (but go Matt Damon!)!
I cannot believe this type of conversation is going on.
They are going to hang on that tenure argument until I don’t know what.
Maddening.
So happy to Matt Damon in the public school corner. I have been hoping some celebrities who stand up like he has.
The elite private schools have class sizes of 12 kids or even less plus they have a whole host of enrichment programs that charter schools and the real public schools can’t afford. Such schools could offer added security for the kids of big celebrities who are stalked by crazed fans and paparazzi. Libertarians, the billionaires’ boys clubs, right wingers and Ayn Randians don’t believe in the commons or funding the commons, things that are shared by all. The judicial system, the penal system, public roads, the public infrastructure are funded by our tax dollars even though you may never use the judicial system, the penal system (yikes) or certain roads. I have argued with libertarians who do NOT believe in public schools; their attitude is that parents should have all the responsibility to educate their own kids either by home schooling or private schools and that tax dollars should not be used for public schools of any sort. So tough luck to parents who can’t home school (because they work full time or work 2 part time jobs) and can’t afford private schools. One libertarian actually wanted to privatize the roads and the police! He told me that big companies like Walmart should build and maintain the roads and the Pinkertons could replace publically funded police. Just insane and nuts. Libertarianism is an off the wall fringe cult.
Just wondering Allyson, how did you decide that a school was excellent or not?
Any group energy against Matt Damon must also be explained (I suppose) because reformers are hoping to sandbag and/or railroad people into accepting charters as better. So he chose neither the charter school nor the public school, but still gives his support to the public school (just as many would and do).
I am terrified that type thing will happen in my own state—that we will be sandbagged into accepting charters because our publics are beholden to RttT. I certainly hope not, but it is my fear. From what I have read, that is sort of how it all started with Ren2010 (but it was in more vulnerable communities, so it worked). Perhaps they did not anticipate the resistance (or did they?) that stronger communities (for various reasons stronger) might put up. And furthermore, other than opting out, what other forms of resistance are there?
It is unfortunate that Damon exercising his parental rights is now being criticized. He has openly supported public education but has chosen private schools for his kids. I have my own private library but I support public libraries. I choose to use my car but I see the need for public transportation. I have a comfortable property but see the benefit of public parks for all. As a student I attended a parochial grade school and a Jesuit H.S. and college. As a teacher I choose to teach in public schools. We need a broad base of support not just the parents of our students because voters include many who have no kids in schools but hopefully see the need for strong public education.
Wasn’t Matt Damon’s mother a public school teacher?
Speaking of people in the high wattage, oscar dazzling spot light, more high powered celebrities like Matt Damon, should speak up now that they have made their gazillions.
Although, don’t count on Oprah. You know the Oprah I’m referring to: best media friend to reformers like Corey Booker, Mark Zuckerberg, and Bill Gates.
She wouldn’t dare feature Diane Ravitch on her show, and especially not alone. It would be like Socrates having a conversation with Minnie Mouse . . . A crystal stem glass of good Bordeaux next to a plastic tumbler of Coke . . . . A fresh artisanal brioche warm from the oven sitting next to a plate of stale Hostess Ho Ho’s.
Not a good match, unless you’re doing a skit on SNL. . . . Kristen Wiig are you listening?
What has her OWN royal self Oprah been thinking all throughout this reform? As if all those predominantly female audiences of hers don’t have any teachers or moms who send their children to public school?
Unlike Matt Damon, the prime time doyenne of you-can-never-have-too-much-self-affirmation is too busy fighting the oppressive inability to purchase $42,000 handbags. And too busy posing on her O magazine cover, in her O airbrushed adobe photoshop glow, with her new O farm in Hawaii, holding O rainbow chard in her O gardening gloves. . . .
O Lord!
H-m-m-m-m. . . . I wonder if her missed-out-on handbag came encased in a Volvo . . .
Oprah, won’t you, like Mr. Damon, help out and lend at least a balanced voice to public education. If you are reading this, and I know you love to read, please invite her on your show or at least interview her and air it.
Diane, why not have your people call hers . . . .
Matt Damon’s mother is the well-respected Nancy Carlsson- Paige, professor of early childhood education at Lesley University in Boston.
I can’t go see Matt Damon’s new movie
to show my support of him
because I am swamped setting up for
the new school year, but if someone
would tell him thank you for teachers
I’d appreciate it.
“They are wrong, because everyone should support public schools, even if they send their children to private schools and EVEN IF THEY HAVE NO CHILDREN AT ALL.”
The corollary to this is that schools do not “belong” to parents. They belong to citizens. It is in the interest of all citizens to support public schooling because it promotes a democratic society to have well educated young people. This also means that parent “choice” or “parent trigger” legislation are not valid reasons to direct money and support away from public schools. Parents have the right to make choices for their own children, but they are not entitled to direct resources away from other people’s children via the destabilization and de-funding of our public schools.
Matt Damon’s continued advocacy for our public school system is an example of responsible parent choice.
Well said. I always tell people to support public schools because if they don’t, their community is at risk for social strife. I hope they lock their doors at night.
Wise public school teachers in Wichita, Kansas taught me many years ago that what I did was more important that what I told others to do.
It remains disappointing to me that Matt Damon has “dissed” the LA Public Schools, district and charter by insisting that there are no schools “progressive” enough for him.”
It remains disappointing that he chose to say “do what I say, rather than what I do.”
What is wrong with liberals? If you send your kid too private school while being against vouchers, charter schools etc you are a hypocrite. You are no different than a family values republican cheating on his wife. If being progressive means trapping poor kids in public schools while sending your kids too private school, then I will never be a progressive