A few days ago, Colorado Congressman Jared Polis called me “evil” on Twitter. He said I was doing more harm to American public education than anyone and likened me to the billionaire Koch brothers. I didn’t respond other than to say that in our first meeting, with other Democratic Congressmen, he threw my book across the table in my direction, called it trash, and demanded his money back. I later met him at a gathering at the home of Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (a great friend of education), where he was civil and we had a pleasant chat. (In that same meeting, by the way, California Congressman George Miller went into an angry pout after I said that NCLB was unsuccessful. Miller is a favorite of powerful DFER, the hedge fund managers’ group.)
Who is Jared Polis?
Jersey Jazzman revealed that Polis is one of the wealthiest members of Congress, having sold his family’s electronic greeting card company for $780 million. As the previous link shows, Polis has stepped on many toes.
Jonathan Pelto here explains that Polis is a charter school founder and zealously supports charters and high-stakes testing. Pelto says he is a quintessential corporate reformer who uses his position in Congress to push for more federal money for charters.
Pelto writes:
“As a member of the “New Democratic Coalition,” Polis has consistently pushed an agenda that is as anti-teacher, anti-union and anti-public education as any group of Democrats in the nation.
“This past summer Polis was pushing language to amend the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Authorization Act (ESEA). But rather than correct the worst elements of the bills, Polis was pushing the corporate education reformer’s agenda.
“In one release, Congressman Jared Polis bragged, “We need an entrepreneurial approach to encourage high-quality, proven models of success in education.”
“One of Polis’ proposed amendments would have required local schools “make progress towards the goal of cutting achievement gaps in half in 6 years or towards 100% proficiency, or face interventions including transformation, turnaround, restart and closure.”
To learn more about Jared Polis and his allies, read all of Pelto’s post.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Tweet Polis:
@jaredpolis have I got a great book for you, check out charter chain shenanigans chapter, it’s right up your alley http://t.co/KNUchu3bQs
Okay, full disclosure – I have known Jared Polis since before he was elected to Congress: at the 2nd Yearly Kos Convention (now known as Netroots Nation) in Chicago in 2007, there was an event for all people at the convention running for House and Senate (including some real fringe candidates). When I met Polis he noted the pin I was wearing for being a National Board Certified Teacher – he was the only one of the several dozen candidates who knew what it was.
On some issues Polis is very much a Progressive. For example, after Rep. Steve King made his obnoxious comments about immigrant from Mexico having calves like canteloupes, Polis drove a small truck within the perimeter on Capitol Hill to get in a batch of canteloupes that activist could then deliver to Congressional offices. He is as should be expected an outspoken advocate of marriage equality. He was outspoken against our military actions in Iraq.
But he has a bee in his bonnet about charters, and that makes him unfortunately unreasonable on a number of issues, including teachers unions. He is also prone to attempt to dismantle personally anyone he views as opposing charters, although he knows my opposition to the charter movement and we maintain cordial relationships.
He was in Colorado recently because of the heavy flooding in his district (which centers on Boulder) and some of us who know him who are prepared to challenge him on his attack on Diane have decided to wait until he is back in DC.
This is not the first time Jared’s mouth has gotten him into trouble. When he first arrived in DC he put up an op ed in the Wall Street Journal where he opined that he was going to explain to his fellow Democrats about business. Shall we say that did not go over well – I remember hearing some statements I cannot repeat from some long time Democratic House members that were not complimentary. Similarly, his remarks about Diane have also played badly with several Democratic Congressmen I know who have a strong interest in and are strongly supportive of public schools and public school teachers.
Polis got wealthy from the internet. Somehow he thinks that makes him an expert on some things he does not truly understand.
Except of course that many Congressmen who lack his wealth often display a similar arrogance.
It is perfectly appropriate to challenge him on this. Because I know him personally I plan to say it to his face, rather than use my megaphone at Daily Kos. But I have no trouble attacking him on this issue, while recognizing that on most issues he is reliably progressive.
Remember, he probably has his seat for as long as he wants it, so what we want to do is move him as far as we can, or else just isolate him on educational matters. We are not going to defeat him.
Right now he is being exposed for his true character and that’s what matters.
Interesting comments about Polis on this Pelto thread as well…especially this one by jrp1900
Jared Polis’ tweet about Diane Ravitch clearly reveals that he is an utter twit. Of course, being a twit of the first order, he naturally belongs in the Congress of the United States, because, as Mark Twain once noted, the Congress is often an uninspiring gathering of sorry fools. Said Twain: “fleas can be taught nearly anything that a Congressman can.” But Twain was wrong: it does not appear that Mr. Polis was taught any manners and it may be too late to reach him, as he is too far gone in pomposity and rudeness.
Mr. Polis choice of the word “evil” to describe Ms Ravitch is most telling: it shows that his attitude to school reform is theological rather than sociological or ethical. He has the conviction of a simple fundamentalist that his way is the right way; if you disagree with him you must be “evil.” This vulgar, insipid and insulting style of argumentation should be beneath a sitting member of the US Congress. But, as I said, Mr. Polis is clearly a twit, and it is not in him to show any other side of his character.
I’ve noticed that the corporate “reformers” often approach school reform with the mad light in their eyes of the true-believers. When you hear someone like Steven Adamowski pontificating about the wonders of “school choice” or the virtues of “portfolio model,” you get a good idea of the fundamentalist mentality of the school deformers. To me, they seem like members of a cult, endlessly prating on about “tests,” and “assessments” and “accountability” and “achievement,” as if these words encompassed the actuality of real education. Half the time, school deformers have no real idea of what they are saying and they often know nothing of what goes on in the classroom. They know nothing of pedagogy, child development or educational psychology. They only know that “market competition” is a commandment from on high, and that private schools are heavenly, while unionized public schools are hellish. The creed of the deformers is simple and simplistic: turn the nation’s schools into profit-making opportunities for “education entrepreneurs” and, lo and behold, this is bound to raise “student achievement.” Alas, the hard evidence for this claim is sorely lacking, but the deformers continue with their market fundamentalist nonsense. If they weren’t responsible for hurting scores of children, their mad insistence on the truth of their creed would be almost amusing.
http://jonathanpelto.com/2013/09/19/colorado-congressman-calls-americas-leading-public-education-advocate-diane-ravitch-evil-woman/
Very clever and convincing argument you made by comparing Polis’ positions to that of religious fundamentalists. One could make the same argument about business persons and those in the financial industry. They’re capitalist fundamentalists with authoritarian personalities. Polis fits into both characterizations.
Coming back to the direct assault by Polis on Diane’s judgement & character- this is exactly how the power elite comes after their critics. Attacks on her are broader attacks on anyone who supports her positions. The message to the media & public is to impose doubt about the damaging effects of Diane’s positions when what they really mean is what is being damaged is their own power (or abuse of power).
Diane is a threat to institutional authority. The tactic is to demonize her personality by implying that for someone to disagree so significantly that there MUST be something wrong with her and with the rest of us who agree with her.
Polis is serving his masters.
oops- correction a phrase was deleted!
Very clever and convincing argument you made by comparing Polis’ positions to that of religious fundamentalists. One could make the same argument about business persons and those in the financial industry. They’re capitalist fundamentalists with authoritarian personalities. Polis fits into both characterizations.
Coming back to the direct assault by Polis on Diane’s judgement & character- this is exactly how the power elite comes after their critics. Attacks on her are broader attacks on anyone who supports her positions. The message to the media & public is to impose doubt about HER AND the damaging effects of Diane’s positions when what they really mean is what is being damaged is their own power (or abuse of power).
Diane is a threat to institutional authority. The tactic is to demonize her personality by implying that for someone to disagree so significantly that there MUST be something wrong with her and with the rest of us who agree with her.
Polis is serving his masters.
Not so sure Ken. If you read the comments left by Colorado voters on the first link, it appears he doesn’t have too many supporters.
Looks like his ego and mouth are bringing him down or it will eventually….just another edudilettanate blabbing away.
Thank you for this Ken.
As I read what you wrote, I though of what Dr. King wrote after his home was firebombed with his wife and daughter present:
DR. KING (Stride Toward Freedom page 138): I tried to put myself in the place of the police commissioners. I said to myself these are not bad men. They are misguided. They have fine reputations in the community. In their dealings with white people they are respectful and gentlemanly. They probably think they are right in their methods of dealing with Negroes. They say the things they say about us and treat us as they do because they have been taught these things. From the cradle to the grave, it is instilled in them that the Negro is inferior. Their parents probably taught them that; the schools they attended taught them that; the books they read, even their churches and ministers, often taught them that… So these men are merely the children of their culture. When they seek to preserve segregation they are seeking to preserve only what their local folkways have taught them was right.
From what I’ve read, it was Polis’s parents who got wealthy on the Internet, and he was born with a silver spoon, attended private schools and joined the family business. Wish he’d bought a sports team, like Mark Cuban, instead of deciding to spend his idle rich time as a politician dictating education policies.
Same for all the athletes who start charter schools instead of sports camps. Apparently, it’s a lot easier, far less risky and much more lucrative for them to siphon public funds doing something they have absolutely no expertise in than teaching about what they’re actually skilled at, as with tennis champ Andre Agassi et al.
Yes, it started as a card company. Now it’s also online. Lots of MOOLAH.
Ken,
It is very kind of you to wait to contact your friend regarding his rude and ultimately self serving behavior until after the Colorado emergency subsides.
However, did he not have time to tweet about her being “evil” during the Colorado crisis? Or do I have my time line messed up?
Also, regarding Polis’ “progressive” label, I think commenter Puget Sound Parent said it best:
“These guys know that a lot of the public is still caught up with the symbols of “liberalism” from the 70′s, 80′s and 90′s.
But none of the above cost their buddies and benefactors in the 1% any money. And that’s their Real Bottom Line, protecting the people who own yachts and live in gated communities near the water, with the hope that if they don’t already live there themselves, they’ll be able to join them in time…but only if they’re the kind of politicians who …go along…
Isn’t this the way with all of these guys who’ve spent a lot of time hanging out with tech billionaires? They actually believe that they’re still “Democrats” even when their economic and education policies are right in line with The Bush Boys, Scott Walker and most of Wall Street.
“Cory Booker Democrats” are what I call these people. And we ALL have to start “calling these people”.
Calling Them OUT, that is, for the liars, phonies and posers that they are!”
I am very tired of being played by this kind of “progressive”.
VR,
Ang
Ang,
You go, Ang!!!!!
Booker is a political hooker. He is no good. I am beginning to doubt Sherrod Brown, who has solicited support for Booker.
Let’s call a Booker a Booker. You don’t have to dig too deep.
“Remember, he probably has his seat for as long as he wants it, so what we want to do is move him as far as we can, or else just isolate him on educational matters. We are not going to defeat him.”
Really. Do you remember George H. W. Bush’s approval ratings after the Gulf War? Gallup had him at 89% in February of 1991 (and an average of 60.9% for his full term). But James Carville decreed, “It’s the economy, stupid.” He turned out to be right, and the rest is history. Congressman Polis’s percentage of votes cast was 62.60 in 2008, 57.41 in 2010, 55.69 in 2012. His trend is down. He ran unopposed in the 2012 Democratic primary election, but there’s still time to take a page out of the Tea Party book and run an insurgent candidate against him.
Remember that Republican Richard Lugar won re-election to the Senate in 2006 with 87% of the vote (over the Libertarian candidate). Six short years later he could only scrape together 39% in the primary against a bad candidate. Time passes, things change. If nobody had mounted a campaign against him, Senator Lugar (one of the more reasonable Republicans in recent history) would probably still be in the Senate.
Is there an anti-interventionist Iraqi War veteran Democrat living in Boulder, Fort Collins, or Vail who graduated from Stanford or Colorado and whose father was a school teacher and mother was a successful inventor who is outgoing and well-spoken, with a thick skin? If so, somebody sign her up! Democrat Tammy Duckworth almost beat the up-and-coming Peter Roskam her first time out in 2006. She then defeated the leather-chewing Joe Walsh in 2012. A public education candidate could achieve a similar feat against the outspoken Congressman Polis when the time is ripe.
The University of Colorado houses the National Education Policy Center, an organization Congressman Polis seems not to have learned from. Someone who’s serious about running for Congress might be able to leverage that institution’s knowledge to inform the voters. Maybe some generous friend of public education would be willing to blanket the 2nd Congressional District with copies of Diane’s book. Maybe the insurgent candidate will be a outdoor health advocate–there are more of them per capita in the 2nd District than almost anywhere–and sponsor a Readin’, Writin’ & ‘Rithmatic Triathlon in support of public education. Maybe try to get fellow maverick Democrat Senator Mark Udall to … wait, he’s not a big friend of public education and teacher unions, either. Oh, well.
Maybe get a copy of Malcolm Gladwell’s new David and Goliath book (although Congressman Polis doesn’t strike me as much of a giant, except for the giant bank account) and find out how to topple the mighty. If that doesn’t work, maybe teacherken can challenge him to a staring contest. I’ve got my money on Ken.
“. . . will be a outdoor health advocate. . .”
Please explain.
Thanks!
Duane Swacker:
“An outdoor fitness advocate” would’ve been a better way of saying it. An outdoor fitness advocate would be someone who believes in developing physical fitness through outdoor activities such as running, bicycling, hiking, mountaineering, canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking, cross country skiing, and the like. An outdoor health advocate could be someone who promotes the safe and healthy enjoyment of the outdoors. I’d explain further, but I’m getting ready for a walk in the woods.
I think Congressman Polis is harming public education by attacking public schools and labeling all of them as failing. This is so prevalent in reform circles it’s almost comical. I can recite their litany of “failed and failing public schools” by heart.
I have a simple and easy political test now. I won’t support a politician who promotes charters by attacking my kid’s public school. Why would I support these people? I’m a public school parent. I’m going to vote for people who attack my public school?
Fat chance I’m putting the career goals of one of these clowns over the interests of my 5th grader.
Don’t ya just love these second generation millionaires/billionaires who pontificate about ‘entrepreneurialism’, after making their money the old fashioned way — BY INHERITING IT…. …and i’m REALLY disappointed in GEORGE MILLER, who USED to be, or merely proclaim himself, a PROGRESSIVE Democrat, when in reality he’s been a CORPORATE SUCKUP all along… We really MUST disabuse those deluded by mere Democratic party membership of the cloak of CORPORATE FASCISM…. Democrats For Education Reform does NOT adhere to core values of the Democratic Party — it’s merely a CORPORATE FRONT for the GOP and WALL STREET interests bent on breaking public education in America, to keep Americans, particularly Americans of modest means, POOR, PREGNANT, ILLINFORMED, and POWERLESS….. SHAME ON GEORGE MILLER!!!
Charming that someone calls a book trash and demands money back from author. Even more so, this trenchant commentary offers no evidence the complainant has read said book, and no specific reason whatsoever for the accusation.
My grandfather used to say, “Not enough horses, and too many horses’ asses.”
Good one.
Polis has been taking his Colorado charter school show on the road, opening charters in NM and NV, too (as well as a “college” in CO). They actually focus on ELLs, but the test scores are abysmal. See the New America School, which has several campuses in CO: http://www.greatschools.org/colorado/denver/4202-The-New-America-School/
Oh no, he’s saving the children. He is the answer to all the education ills. Meanwhile, his bank account soars. Why not? He has earned EVERY penny.
Isn’t Polis cosponsoring a bill with Senator Bennett (D-CO) – something with the word “GREAT” in it that will ultimately funnel taxpayer $$ into online teacher prep programs to “reform” how teachers are educated??
I am always amazed at the politicians on both sides of the isle that have such a fierce opposition to teacher’s unions. These people have created almost a cartoon character image of the union teacher that is far from reality. Polis and many of the other politicians that support this view need to have a target where they can direct their attacks on the public education system they wish to dismantle. So the “union teacher” character is created to further their cause. Fortunately the “union teacher” is not despised as much by the public as a US Congressman.
Teresa, unions are now the scapegoat of “reformers,” even in states where there are no unions. It is crazy.
I know we disagree on this (I think we do), but national teachers’ unions are becoming the bain of their members’ existence, and rightfully so . . . . If we point our anger towards the AFT and NEA, it is with substance and truth.
Members do not scapegoat their unions. I am not saying that that is your contention.
Members simply see their unions for what they are: they play many sides into the middle, they talk out of several sides of the mouth, and they, unlike Karen Lewis, refuse to be oppositional and confrontational.
They have agreed to most of these reforms, feeling it is better to dance with the devil and eventually let him see for himself that his steps and choreography are not working.
Not a bad approach, except that tens of thousands of dues paying teachers and millions of students and their families are becoming casualties and damaged in the process.
Sorry, AFT, NEA, NYSUT, and UFT: you’re on your own . . .
You cannot no longer shoot the teacher with the enemy’s gun, along side the enemy, and then all of a sudden, dress up like Clara Barton and go into the fields to dress our wounds and offer us succor. We see right through your costume.
We’ve seen that movie too many times.
MORE and the CTU are brilliant, vibrant examples of internal strife giving birth to reinvention that has produced a better, superior “product” and union voice. Read up on them. Support them.
Clarification:
My suggestions to read up and support “them” were for everyone, Diane, not aimed towards you. I haven’t enough time to edit and recraft the way I should for clarity. . . . sorry.
Diane,
Virtually ALL types of unions have been demonized on all states, not just teacher unions.
The National Governor’s Association is among the worst bashers of unions.
This is all part of our growing pains as a nation.
It’s similar to all the Nazi propaganda that equated Jews with vermin. “Reformer” Steve Perry called union teachers “roaches” and blamed teachers for the “literal death” of children, drawing the same kinds of disgusting mental images, in order to create fear and loathing: http://jerseyjazzman.blogspot.com/2013/05/dr-steve-perry-final-debunk.html
It is the method of hate groups to use dehumanizing words to make the target group “the Other”, separate from humanity. During the genocide in Rawanda, “roaches” was a favorite term of Hutu hatemongers on right-wing radio which fueled the genoide against the Tutsis.
Steve Perry, who is part of Michelle Rhee’s road show, calls unions “roaches.” Does that mean that unions and unionized teachers should be exterminated?
Great point. The characterization of Jews as vermin resulted in the extermination of our families in Europe, so it would not be a leap to infer that that is what’s meant in this case, too. It’s a particularly goading stance when the hate-mongering Perry has claimed those “roaches” are “literally” killing children.
Did you see Pelto’s analysis of the test scores at Perry’s school? Perry has no magic bullets and is not exactly saving students himself, even though he’s cherry picking them.
Teresa,
I was forced to pay dues to the NEA for 35 years even though I disagreed with over 95% of their policies. If I didn’t pay the dues they would have taken an agency fee from me equal to the annual dues.
Local unions are useful and help protect teacher due process State unions get a little too far away to see what’s really happening and often tend to be more concerned with benefits and pensions of their members than the students they teach. While benefits and pensions are important to union members, state unions, at least until recently, have lost sight of the real goal of their members – to educate students to the best of their ability.
Thankfully, even the NEA has come to its senses, at least politically, to now back new teacher evaluation models that include student test results. They realized over time that to attempt to continue opposing the new evaluation model was futile and counter productive; that is to say, they didn’t have a leg to stand on.
That’s very easy to say when you are living comfortably in retirement on the pension that your union membership ensured for you and you will never be subjected to judgments based on tests that weren’t designed for evaluating teachers or voodoo-VAM.
Polis uses the same rhetoric as all the other corporate reformers. In light of Diane’s astute ability to so eloquently let the cat out of the bag, be alert to any attempts by these people to change their talking points.
“evil woman”? Can the Salem witch trials be far behind?
No, but this can:
While I agree with the characterization of Polis, Jonathan Pelto has gone a bit over the top by lumping together the entire New Democrat Coalition as his fellow travelers on education. I know of at least two members who are very progressive on education and friendly to teachers and our interests: Allyson Schwartz (PA-13) and Rush Holt (NJ-12). While the education policies listed on the Coalition’s webpage aren’t all good by our standards, they are still a long way from Polis’ positions, too. If we really want to undercut Polis politically, then we might do well by convincing his fellow New Democrats that education policy needs to go in a different direction and that Polis’ pet concepts don’t work. The two I listed above are already well down that road, so maybe we can get the others to follow them instead of Polis.
New Democrats are about as far away from liberals and progressives as the Tea Party is from the mainstream GOP. New Democrats are neo-liberals and more like traditional Republicans than traditional Democrats. No one who is a progressive or liberal should be supporting the continued dominance of New Democrats in the Democratic party, including the Clintons –who are the ones who initially sold out liberals and progressives to the almighty dollar.
Bubba? Bubba sold out? Aw, come on now!!
Maybe he didn’t like the book because it failed to sing him a song when it opened.
Best. Comment. Ever!
How dare you threaten his cash cow!
The Jared Polis Foundation is also behind Starfall.com which is a great site for building early literacy for students. I only mention this because even though his words can get him in trouble, the work his foundation is doing is not all bad.
Jared Polis’ parents were Boulder people who started a greeting card company after they had a fairly successful run publishing trendy 70’s books of poetry that Susan Polis Schultz (his mother) wrote. I would suspect that Mike Miles and Jared Polis are connected because Mike Miles ran for political office several years back when Jared Polis was just starting his political career. Colorado is too small for them not to have crossed paths.
OMG, I remember those books and cards way back when. As a poetry aficionado, I often read them in book stores and card shops. I recall thinking at the time that while they might convey personal sentiments, their relation to high quality poetry was like what B movies and spaghetti westerns were to films. Ugh. Never bought one.
In the Pelto piece. it is revealed that Polis is gay. So am I. In and of itself, that is immaterial.
But as someone who has been immersed in gay culture, let me tell you that gay men are very well accustomed to saying the word ‘evil’ to the point of where it doesn’t have meaning any longer.
I imagine a possibility where Polis was using this word in the typical gay throwaway sense, not realizing (maybe even still now) that the public puts a lot more weight on that word.
The bottom line is that Polis can’t truly believe Diane is evil unless he has some psychological problems. We don’t call people we disagree with ‘evil’, and people elected to higher office are expected to know better. Polis needs to leave his gay culture antics to catty chats with his gay friends.
Polis is progressively ignorant. ’nuff said.