Before you write to tell me that the headline has a triple negative and to correct my grammar, please be aware that it was written knowingly and with a sense of outrage.
In this article, Lindsey Wagner of NC Policy Watch describes the massive demoralization of teachers and the prospect that some teachers will leave North Carolina to find a state where teachers are not treated with contempt, as they are by NC’s governor and legislature.
One businessman quoted says that NC is now exporting teachers because of flat or declining salaries.
And this:
“Teachers not only grapple with reduced budgets at home, but also in their classrooms. Significant cuts to instructional supplies over the past several years have left teachers with little choice but to dig into their own wallets for paper, markers, books and other teaching materials.
“And it’s not just supplies – many educators in North Carolina teach students living in abject poverty. When students comes to school soaked in urine and hungry, teachers once again open their hearts and wallets to get those students extra food and clean clothes so they can actually learn that day.
“Elementary school teachers rely heavily on teacher assistants to manage their classrooms and ensure learning gains, especially at a time when lawmakers have lifted the cap on class size. For the 2013-15 biennial budget, funding for 1 in 5 teacher assistants was cut. Some school districts have been able to save jobs with local funds, but many more have been forced to cut those positions from classrooms.”
And the legislation, in its war on teachers, said that no one would get a salary increment for earning a master’s degree. In other words, the state does not want its teachers to get more education.
Voters should throw these wreckers of public education out at the earliest opportunity.
– See more at: http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2013/09/26/is-north-carolina-a-net-exporter-of-teachers/#sthash.ZCz4Rooy.dpuf
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Thank you Dr. Ravitch for telling the world what teachers really do during and after their work day. I do not know one single teacher who wouldn’t reach into their own pockets to help out a student in need, even when their own salaries do not go very far. These needy students exist in every school and classroom across America. And the corporate reformers want to conduct a “war on teachers”? This is beyond rational comprehension and it is shameful!
Shameful, yes, but the so-called reformers are shameless.
Given their arrogance, sense of entitlement and shamelessness, the only alternative is to physically drive them out of the Temple of Learning.
You are correct, Michael. Exposing and driving them out of “The Temple of Learning” is the only choice we have. No one said teaching would ever be easy but who could have predicted times as tough as these? And I am not referring to the the challenges of classroom instruction.
I will argue one point with you, readingexchange. These needy students DO NOT exist in every school, and especially not in every classroom. There are many, many communities across America where the parents ensure that their children have the best of everything, or at least the best that they can afford, which is infinitely more than the parents of the poor kids can spend.
One of the biggest obstacles to getting the general public to understand abject poverty is the fact that the power brokers live in families and communities where poverty simply doesn’t exist. I can’t count the number of TFA and Mississippi Teacher Corps blogs where the corps members, who are mostly from white or extremely diverse wealthy communities and who graduated from the top-tier universities, express utter amazement that the conditions found in the Mississippi Delta even exist at all in America. They are dumbfounded to learn that there are public schools where no white student has attended in decades, and perplexed at the fact that the wealthy white families, who remain the primary landowners and businessmen, send their children to private academies which they can afford because they ensure that the public school taxes are extremely low. Thus the schools in these areas are at two ends of the spectrum. The poor black students attend underfunded and weakly-run public schools, while the whites attend private schools that cater either to those with money or those without and their quality varies almost perfectly with the income of the students’ families.
The corporate reformers generally come from either old money or new. They know on which side of the bread their butter lies. They have already isolated their own children from the proles, and it has cost them a pretty penny. Now they have set their sights on recouping that money by privatizing as many public school functions as possible. It began with janitorial and transportating services, and now they have passed a charter schools law that they hope will allow them to convert their private schools into taxpayer-funded charter schools. The one thing they haven’t yet made public is how they intend to keep the poor kids out. I’m sure that they have their plans well worked out.
It’s not just the power brokers who are clueless. I live in a city with a significant % of low income families. A charter school mom I know couldn’t understand why my school still had children enrolling and she wondered why parents are moving after the school year started. She was even more shocked when I told her my school got new students as late as May. So even middle class parents can be ignorant of the struggles of low income families.
NC teachers,
New Jersey is surely better than NC, but I would look elsewhere first. Chris Christie is only a few steps behind the fools leading education in your state.
Jump on in – the Kool-Aide’s fine.
NC may be a pilot program. Pre-empt it in your state by following the money and by advancing the news covered in Dr. Ravitch’s new book.
Considering that English is in the minority of languages that doesn’t allow multiple negatives I write that headline for you in Spanish: “No queremos nunca ningún de nosotros ni nada de profesores inteligentes y educados ni pagarles los sueldos que merecen.”
Are six negatives enough???
Today I took a photo and posted it on my blog at http://www.adventuresindyslexia.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-no-homework-charter-school-and-what.html
It’s a picture of a sign advertising a charter school which requires no homework. It’s positioned in a high traffic impoverished area.
In Ohio a charter school gets over $8,000 per child whether the child finishes the year at the charter school or not.
Many families in higher economic need areas think the idea of charter (also called community) schools are a solution. The local media and almost all local politicians are doing nothing to share the facts which surround the privatization of education.
Does anyone know a state that respects teachers??? Certainly not NYS and that includes NYC.
I would not recommend Nevada either, the purge and dark age is just getting warmed up here.
My first job out of school four years ago, I worked at a Newark, NJ public school. Right around Chistmas, it was quietly communicated that there was no more paper available to teachers and we’d have to provide our own. Paper!! So for the rest of the year, when we made copies, we had to supply the paper! This year, at another school, we were given a large carton of crayons (kindergarten) and told we needed to split the carton with the class next door. And we received one large easel pad. Oh, what i would do for a big box of Expo markers! Or a big, thick sharpee! And some white construction paper! (Of course, I buy them all…) No, education is most definately not valued.
Know the feeling… I would spend over $1000…most years closer to $2k
Tired of begging for an expo marker and a paper clip from a secretary that reprimanded you for even asking…
I finally bought a Brother Laser and would run copies at home or I would go to Staples and pay for copies rather than go through the H*ll of trying to prepare a “Feast for a King using Flour and Water”
This is why I started Scissors and Glue LLC. I am not thinking I will make money, but there has to be a place where business excess can get to schools. My school has been using crayons from restaurants and card stock that was signage at a department store. There is a need for this type resourcing and up cycling and I am trying to model it with my little endeavor. Right now it is a labor of love. This type creativity can help our schools and our children.
Our union has a room where it organizes supplies donated by businesses from around the Twin Cities. We call it “School Support” and it is free for teachers. It doesn’t have everything teachers use, but it really does help.
I’m not sure about districts in northern Alabama, but the district in southern Alabama in which I live does not seem too bad. The Superintendent is a long time educator from he area. Recently there was some fuss about proposed changes to the dress code for teachers, but in the end, the superintendent and school board listened to the wishes of the teachers.
Dress Code??
I have no idea how some teachers can really do the ‘Down and Dirty Job wearing High High Heels and so much Bling……
I tried……I never sit down in a classroom…..never…I almost choked on a necklace that got stuck in the door as I was closing it,…
By the end of everyday, I look like a Kaleidoscope…….
Finally decided on Khaki and Black to camouflage the Dirt accrued during each and everyday..
Got one of those Sanitize Washing Machines to cleanse the millions of Bacteria accumulated….
Besides…..teachers have to shop for clothes ON SALE ….Cheap clothes…..
Just look nice and professional using the Preppy Dress..
No T-Shirts..No Blue Jeans (unless dressy)
and A GOOD WASHING MACHINE!!
How much longer do we sit back and take it? No other profession would respond so meekly.
You can go ahead and start Monday. Just walk in to the principal’s office and tell him you quit. Then go out and find a better job in the private sector. No one will blame you.
Teachers…….Switch parties all at once
1. GRASSROOTS DEMOCRACY
Every human being deserves a say in the decisions that affect their lives and not be subject to the will of another. Therefore, we will work to increase public participation at every level of government and to ensure that our public representatives are fully accountable to the people who elect them. We will also work to create new types of political organizations which expand the process of participatory democracy by directly including citizens in the decision-making process.
2. SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
All persons should have the rights and opportunity to benefit equally from the resources afforded us by society and the environment. We must consciously confront in ourselves, our organizations, and society at large, barriers such as racism and class oppression, sexism and homophobia, ageism and disability, which act to deny fair treatment and equal justice under the law.
3. ECOLOGICAL WISDOM
Human societies must operate with the understanding that we are part of nature, not separate from nature. We must maintain an ecological balance and live within the ecological and resource limits of our communities and our planet. We support a sustainable society which utilizes resources in such a way that future generations will benefit and not suffer from the practices of our generation. To this end we must practice agriculture which replenishes the soil; move to an energy efficient economy; and live in ways that respect the integrity of natural systems.
4. NON-VIOLENCE
It is essential that we develop effective alternatives to society’s current patterns of violence. We will work to demilitarize, and eliminate weapons of mass destruction, without being naive about the intentions of other governments. We recognize the need for self-defense and the defense of others who are in helpless situations. We promote non-violent methods to oppose practices and policies with which we disagree, and will guide our actions toward lasting personal, community and global peace.
5. DECENTRALIZATION
Centralization of wealth and power contributes to social and economic injustice, environmental destruction, and militarization. Therefore, we support a restructuring of social, political and economic institutions away from a system which is controlled by and mostly benefits the powerful few, to a democratic, less bureaucratic system. Decision-making should, as much as possible, remain at the individual and local level, while assuring that civil rights are protected for all citizens.
6. COMMUNITY-BASED ECONOMICS AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE
We recognize it is essential to create a vibrant and sustainable economic system, one that can create jobs and provide a decent standard of living for all people while maintaining a healthy ecological balance. A successful economic system will offer meaningful work with dignity, while paying a “living wage” which reflects the real value of a person’s work.
Local communities must look to economic development that assures protection of the environment and workers’ rights; broad citizen participation in planning; and enhancement of our “quality of life.” We support independently owned and operated companies which are socially responsible, as well as co-operatives and public enterprises that distribute resources and control to more people through democratic participation.
7. FEMINISM AND GENDER EQUITY
We have inherited a social system based on male domination of politics and economics. We call for the replacement of the cultural ethics of domination and control with more cooperative ways of interacting that respect differences of opinion and gender. Human values such as equity between the sexes, interpersonal responsibility, and honesty must be developed with moral conscience. We should remember that the process that determines our decisions and actions is just as important as achieving the outcome we want.
8. RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY
We believe it is important to value cultural, ethnic, racial, sexual, religious and spiritual diversity, and to promote the development of respectful relationships across these lines.
We believe that the many diverse elements of society should be reflected in our organizations and decision-making bodies, and we support the leadership of people who have been traditionally closed out of leadership roles. We acknowledge and encourage respect for other life forms than our own and the preservation of biodiversity.
9. PERSONAL AND GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY
We encourage individuals to act to improve their personal well-being and, at the same time, to enhance ecological balance and social harmony. We seek to join with people and organizations around the world to foster peace, economic justice, and the health of the planet.
10. FUTURE FOCUS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Our actions and policies should be motivated by long-term goals. We seek to protect valuable natural resources, safely disposing of or “unmaking” all waste we create, while developing a sustainable economics that does not depend on continual expansion for survival. We must counterbalance the drive for short-term profits by assuring that economic development, new technologies, and fiscal policies are responsible to future generations who will inherit the results of our actions.
Ten Key Values of state and local Greens
There is no authoritative version of the Ten Key Values of the Greens. The Ten Key Values are guiding principles that are adapted and defined to fit each state and local chapter.
Taken from http://www.gp.org/tenkey.php
I wouldn’t recommend MD either. It will be a long diatribe if I go into the many ways teachers are disrespected in PG county… here is the icing on the cake… students are taking the MD State Assessment while studying the new (ever-evolving) common core curriculum which does not align. Yet teacher’s careers will hinge on how well their students do on the old test! Why? Because they haven’t rolled out the common core high stakes test yet. Forge ahead with “accountability”, make students feel awful when they fail the test and then fire their teachers based on poor evaluation due to poor student test performance! Nope.. don’t think it would be wise to head to MD for now.
Art,
Excellent point. The same illogical situation occurs here in New Jersey. The standards that teachers are required to teach in Language Arts, and Maths are the Kommon Kore. The high stakes tests, NJASK, were written for the “old” NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards. So, as you have stated, the tests that will “evaluate” effective teaching ARE NOT EVEN ALIGNED TO THE STANDARDS THAT TEACHERS ARE REQUIRED TO TEACH.
And next year, it will be a different Test.
It was long ago understood that if you “want to measure change, don’t change the measure”.
And, many advanced students are not being taught the grade level curriculum anyway.
Chrises Christie and Cerf, too smart by a third to understand.
I attended a meeting hosted by NCAE yesterday about the new laws.
They are filing suit on taking away career status and on vouchers.
But mostly the key will probably be getting any rep who is a member of ALEC out of office next round. I don’t think many people had heard of ALEC before, and many conservatives did not realize what they were signing us up for.
The odd language in one new law is that districts will choose 25% of teachers to grant 4 year contracts to. Most districts will fight this because the possibility for lawsuits is huge (racial discrimination, etc).
One teacher at the meeting (there were about 12 from Western NC, several counties) said he had taught in FL and he talked about Jeb Bush saying how teachers should only be teachers for five years at most and then move on. So I guess 25% just sounded like a good number to ALEC folks (like 3/5 of a vote sounded good to someone at some time).
I told folks about Diane’s book.
Not sure what else I can do.
All ears.
Chris Hayes-(one of the my favorite news anchors) on MSNBC interviewed Diane last night on her Reign of Error Book..
It was an awesome interview.
Hopefully that will get more folks reading her book.
You and every teacher you know can switch to the green party asap. Spread the word quickly. They will not stand for this. See how they have attempted to help the city of Philadelphia, to no avail. Teachers have to turn to the Green Party to help turn this around.
1. GRASSROOTS DEMOCRACY
Every human being deserves a say in the decisions that affect their lives and not be subject to the will of another. Therefore, we will work to increase public participation at every level of government and to ensure that our public representatives are fully accountable to the people who elect them. We will also work to create new types of political organizations which expand the process of participatory democracy by directly including citizens in the decision-making process.
2. SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
All persons should have the rights and opportunity to benefit equally from the resources afforded us by society and the environment. We must consciously confront in ourselves, our organizations, and society at large, barriers such as racism and class oppression, sexism and homophobia, ageism and disability, which act to deny fair treatment and equal justice under the law.
3. ECOLOGICAL WISDOM
Human societies must operate with the understanding that we are part of nature, not separate from nature. We must maintain an ecological balance and live within the ecological and resource limits of our communities and our planet. We support a sustainable society which utilizes resources in such a way that future generations will benefit and not suffer from the practices of our generation. To this end we must practice agriculture which replenishes the soil; move to an energy efficient economy; and live in ways that respect the integrity of natural systems.
4. NON-VIOLENCE
It is essential that we develop effective alternatives to society’s current patterns of violence. We will work to demilitarize, and eliminate weapons of mass destruction, without being naive about the intentions of other governments. We recognize the need for self-defense and the defense of others who are in helpless situations. We promote non-violent methods to oppose practices and policies with which we disagree, and will guide our actions toward lasting personal, community and global peace.
5. DECENTRALIZATION
Centralization of wealth and power contributes to social and economic injustice, environmental destruction, and militarization. Therefore, we support a restructuring of social, political and economic institutions away from a system which is controlled by and mostly benefits the powerful few, to a democratic, less bureaucratic system. Decision-making should, as much as possible, remain at the individual and local level, while assuring that civil rights are protected for all citizens.
6. COMMUNITY-BASED ECONOMICS AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE
We recognize it is essential to create a vibrant and sustainable economic system, one that can create jobs and provide a decent standard of living for all people while maintaining a healthy ecological balance. A successful economic system will offer meaningful work with dignity, while paying a “living wage” which reflects the real value of a person’s work.
Local communities must look to economic development that assures protection of the environment and workers’ rights; broad citizen participation in planning; and enhancement of our “quality of life.” We support independently owned and operated companies which are socially responsible, as well as co-operatives and public enterprises that distribute resources and control to more people through democratic participation.
7. FEMINISM AND GENDER EQUITY
We have inherited a social system based on male domination of politics and economics. We call for the replacement of the cultural ethics of domination and control with more cooperative ways of interacting that respect differences of opinion and gender. Human values such as equity between the sexes, interpersonal responsibility, and honesty must be developed with moral conscience. We should remember that the process that determines our decisions and actions is just as important as achieving the outcome we want.
8. RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY
We believe it is important to value cultural, ethnic, racial, sexual, religious and spiritual diversity, and to promote the development of respectful relationships across these lines.
We believe that the many diverse elements of society should be reflected in our organizations and decision-making bodies, and we support the leadership of people who have been traditionally closed out of leadership roles. We acknowledge and encourage respect for other life forms than our own and the preservation of biodiversity.
9. PERSONAL AND GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY
We encourage individuals to act to improve their personal well-being and, at the same time, to enhance ecological balance and social harmony. We seek to join with people and organizations around the world to foster peace, economic justice, and the health of the planet.
10. FUTURE FOCUS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Our actions and policies should be motivated by long-term goals. We seek to protect valuable natural resources, safely disposing of or “unmaking” all waste we create, while developing a sustainable economics that does not depend on continual expansion for survival. We must counterbalance the drive for short-term profits by assuring that economic development, new technologies, and fiscal policies are responsible to future generations who will inherit the results of our actions.
Ten Key Values of state and local Greens
There is no authoritative version of the Ten Key Values of the Greens. The Ten Key Values are guiding principles that are adapted and defined to fit each state and local chapter.
Taken from http://www.gp.org/tenkey.php
I would also like to know why teachers are/have been an easy target.
?
I think it is in part because that gives people a justification for their actions. How can you question someone who doesn’t want their child to attend a school full of lousy teachers? However, when you talk to these people one on one and tear down their lousy teacher argument, most will admit there is a whole lot more to the issue than teachers. Just ask them if they think teachers in a successful school district (or charter) would have a same results in a struggling school. I do not mean to say that teachers don’t make a difference, because I know they do, but factors outside of their control can make their job very difficult.
Maybe because it is a profession dominated by woman who care for human beings with compassion in the middle of a male dominated world obsessed with money and power over others who are weaker?
Well. It’s kindly like the folks in charge, they don’t see eye to eye with the folks strugglin along or nothin
And them boys in Raleigh, see, they done pulled a fast one on the school teachers cuzn they wasn’t payin no attention, ya know. It’s kindly like what the thunder? We was just boppin along and next thang you knows is that the school teachers is under attack or somethin
Beats the ever lovin puddin outta me why. I always liked my teachers.
I figur you’uns ull figure out some kind a compromise, ya know. But changin up teachin staff every one to four years don’t make a licka sense to me. I’d sume just getta job down at the fillin station with that kinda security.
Them poor chillunz ain’t gon like new faces in the buildin all the time or nothin. Ya know.
———–
Clearly I have lived in NC a long time. Mountain folks, a portion of them anyway, might have poor English but it seems to me more common sense comes out of their mouths than some of our elected officials.
I’d put my faith in the custodian at my school (who speaks fairly similarly to what I just typed) more so than I would some of our elected officials lately (and he plays bass in the band I’m in). Integrity does not always speak properly. But integrity holds communities together.
I am not going anywhere.
My people have been in NC a long time, as have my husband’s. We will turn this around because the ideas being brought forth in Raleigh (some voted in) are not wise laws. McCrory is already referred to as a lame duck.
Tar Heels might have been broad sided (from both sides, I might add), but eventually better things will come to pass.
They best not be messin’ with my state!
I’m a Tarheel Born
I’m a Tarheel Bred……you know the rest…
I do hope Pat enjoys his one term…..cause come 2016 we gon fine an’ther guv’nr!!!
Maybe a Greenie!?
“Teachers not only grapple with reduced budgets at home, but also in their classrooms. Significant cuts to instructional supplies over the past several years have left teachers with little choice but to dig into their own wallets for paper, markers, books and other teaching materials.”
And yet McCrory boasts that K12 funding has been increased. Further more they say they are going to pay the best and brightest teachers more. Should we pay our best and brightest legislators more?
I just read Sol Stern’s article “The Closing of Diane Ravitch’s Mind” (in City Journal, also on realclearpolitics.org). I’m experiencing cognitive dissonance, since I admire you both for your cogent analysis of American education. Of his many assertions: you now reject E.D. Hirsch’s Core Knowledge curriculum, you praise former domestic terrorist professor Bill Ayers and former domestic terrorist and Mao apologist Michael Klonsky. Stern ends his piece, “After Ravitch’s many years of intellectual zigzagging, it’s a travesty that she’s ended up in solidarity with the destructive radicals of the Education Left. For poor kids, it’s a tragedy.” Would you please comment on this?
Sol has competition..Diane’s information comes from the Horses Mouth and Sol is outside the Pasture looking in…
Diane does not just look at the War from some tech device… and report……
Diane puts herself on the battle field….front lines!!!!
A quote I once saw…(do not know the author) sums it up nicely..
Tell Me ….I will forget
Teach Me ….I will Learn
Involve me..and I will remember…….(That is Diane) 100% involved
I wish Diane would comment on or rebut the Stern article…this is a war on the soul of American public education, and Diane is one of our best, most articulate generals!
Rachel,
I have a personal policy of not responding to personal,attacks on me. I am 75. I know the limits of my energy. I want to save my strength to move forward, not to do battle with angry detractors. Sol used to be a close personal friend. I was surprised by his venomous attack. He has become a fanatic on the subject of the Core Knowledge curriculum. He should appreciate the meaning of changing sides. In the 1960s, he was on the editorial board of the far-left Ramparts magazine. Now he is paid to write for the far-right Manhattan Institute. I feel sorry for him.
Diane has responded to numerous attacks. I think she responds when the attacks are easy pickings. Not when they are substantive.
I have yet to see a substantive critique of my work that challenges the facts, the data, the evidence. All I have seen are attacks on my motives and my person. My facts, data, and evidence come from the U.S. Department of Education website and other unimpeachable sources. If you can impeach them, go right ahead.
He is clearly snowed by technology and testing as education if the highest order.
When I have had discussions with folks who are “entrepreneurs” in education right now, their measure of what is state of the art is technology. I think some of that comes from what I call “sleek and shiny syndrome”–that is, they cannot see past a situation in terms of judging it by how much plastic and computer language is involved. It is where they are. I don’t judge them for it, but I don’t envy their frame of mind. And unfortunately they are projecting “sleek and shiny syndrome” onto American schools. And so long as they are making money off it, they will feel justified (even heroic) in doing so.
I like technology. But I also like knowing how much diatomaceous earth to put in my chicken feed, measuring it out myself and converting it into mL, cups and ounces in my head for mental exercise. To me, that is education.
As a kid we spent weeks during the summer in an old cabin in Virginia with a pump out back and no electricity. We hiked, we played in the creek, we read books, I discovered how to make grapevine wreathes and other art projects. I was in the top of my high school class and graduated from a very selective college. Therefore, I am not a victim of “sleek and shiny syndrome,” but I know there are a lot of people who are.
Typo: education of the highest order
I have been an urban educator for 25 years. I was just introduced to you, Ms. Ravitch, on Chris Hayes’ show last night. I am so grateful for your voice and can’t wait to read your book. Thank you for speaking the truth. I was feeling discouraged that there are so many lies on top of lies on top of half truths floating in education these days that no one could see the truth at all any more. I am still concerned that the web of misinformation is so thick and powerful that I wonder if it can be penetrated. I am encouraged to know that you are still fighting at your blessed age. I will too.
Dr. Ravitch disavows high-stakes testing, that is, testing used to fire teachers or close schools. She has not rejected a curriculum. See https://dianeravitch.net/2013/09/03/e-d-hirsch-jr-what-am-i-trying-to-sell/ and the discussion after. Her writings bemoan the profit seeking of testing companies and the corporate-model schools at the expense of strategies that work: smaller class size and early childhood education.
The governor of NC has given jobs with salaries of $84,000 plus to his campaign workers. and he speaks out of both sides of his mouth.
I know of no teacher that has any respect for him and they are just waiting patiently for the 2016 elections……waiting and researching….
He is stuffing his wallet and his followers wallets with the Green…..The Greedy Green.
I see not one thing this man has done for the betterment of this State..
He smiles a bunch…you can see him pitching his lame game on tv……saying one thing…doing another….
This man thinks he is pulling the Wool over our Eyes.
Wrong…MC-Governor…
quote from the LATimes
“The founders of a San Fernando Valley charter school were sentenced Friday for the misappropriation of more than $200,000 in public funds in a case that could affect charter schools statewide.”
———————————————–
There are a lot of loopholes in these laws. Money is being siphoned off through 401 (c) 3 organizations etc. The legislature has to fix the problem (state by state). One man in MA siphoned off about 40 million and then the legislature went in to try to fix the 401 (c) law describing “collaborative”….. but all the loopholes haven’t been covered and an “entrepreneur” will find them in charter school or collaborative or some other educational (laws that are not tight enough and allow individuals to steal with a pen instead of a gun). Read the whole LA Times article and you see that the lawyers are saying everything he did is legal AND the taxpayer is picking up most of the court costs… not all of the thieves use guns like Whitey Bulger. Alan Dershowitz is quoted as saying “had there not been a Bulger in the State House there would not have been a Whitey Bulger.” We need to be vigilant about who is in the state house, who is on these boards and who gets elected. After the theft/crime the board says they thought it was legal or didn’t realize it was money being siphoned off for an individual’s gain. Only one person got a $5000 fine for ethics violation.
I was a teacher in Florida for ten years. My teaching career in North Carolina lasted one month. I thought the Florida Legislature was bonkers, but North Carolina wins hands down! You can read more about my experience and reasons for resigning on my blog (to0 lengthy to post here) http://kafkateach.wordpress.com/2013/10/05/who-will-teach-the-children-of-north-carolina-a-letter-from-a-florida-teacher-to-the-citizens-of-north-carolina/
What we have going on is theatrical political DRAMA that disguises the problem. Sort of like thinking that the militaristic, capatalisitc, technocratic approach will solve all problems.
It is the manufacturing of a consenting democracy. They have us blame the other party when the two available parties are really on the same team. Don’t believe the hype, switch to Green party today
1. GRASSROOTS DEMOCRACY
Every human being deserves a say in the decisions that affect their lives and not be subject to the will of another. Therefore, we will work to increase public participation at every level of government and to ensure that our public representatives are fully accountable to the people who elect them. We will also work to create new types of political organizations which expand the process of participatory democracy by directly including citizens in the decision-making process.
2. SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
All persons should have the rights and opportunity to benefit equally from the resources afforded us by society and the environment. We must consciously confront in ourselves, our organizations, and society at large, barriers such as racism and class oppression, sexism and homophobia, ageism and disability, which act to deny fair treatment and equal justice under the law.
3. ECOLOGICAL WISDOM
Human societies must operate with the understanding that we are part of nature, not separate from nature. We must maintain an ecological balance and live within the ecological and resource limits of our communities and our planet. We support a sustainable society which utilizes resources in such a way that future generations will benefit and not suffer from the practices of our generation. To this end we must practice agriculture which replenishes the soil; move to an energy efficient economy; and live in ways that respect the integrity of natural systems.
4. NON-VIOLENCE
It is essential that we develop effective alternatives to society’s current patterns of violence. We will work to demilitarize, and eliminate weapons of mass destruction, without being naive about the intentions of other governments. We recognize the need for self-defense and the defense of others who are in helpless situations. We promote non-violent methods to oppose practices and policies with which we disagree, and will guide our actions toward lasting personal, community and global peace.
5. DECENTRALIZATION
Centralization of wealth and power contributes to social and economic injustice, environmental destruction, and militarization. Therefore, we support a restructuring of social, political and economic institutions away from a system which is controlled by and mostly benefits the powerful few, to a democratic, less bureaucratic system. Decision-making should, as much as possible, remain at the individual and local level, while assuring that civil rights are protected for all citizens.
6. COMMUNITY-BASED ECONOMICS AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE
We recognize it is essential to create a vibrant and sustainable economic system, one that can create jobs and provide a decent standard of living for all people while maintaining a healthy ecological balance. A successful economic system will offer meaningful work with dignity, while paying a “living wage” which reflects the real value of a person’s work.
Local communities must look to economic development that assures protection of the environment and workers’ rights; broad citizen participation in planning; and enhancement of our “quality of life.” We support independently owned and operated companies which are socially responsible, as well as co-operatives and public enterprises that distribute resources and control to more people through democratic participation.
7. FEMINISM AND GENDER EQUITY
We have inherited a social system based on male domination of politics and economics. We call for the replacement of the cultural ethics of domination and control with more cooperative ways of interacting that respect differences of opinion and gender. Human values such as equity between the sexes, interpersonal responsibility, and honesty must be developed with moral conscience. We should remember that the process that determines our decisions and actions is just as important as achieving the outcome we want.
8. RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY
We believe it is important to value cultural, ethnic, racial, sexual, religious and spiritual diversity, and to promote the development of respectful relationships across these lines.
We believe that the many diverse elements of society should be reflected in our organizations and decision-making bodies, and we support the leadership of people who have been traditionally closed out of leadership roles. We acknowledge and encourage respect for other life forms than our own and the preservation of biodiversity.
9. PERSONAL AND GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY
We encourage individuals to act to improve their personal well-being and, at the same time, to enhance ecological balance and social harmony. We seek to join with people and organizations around the world to foster peace, economic justice, and the health of the planet.
10. FUTURE FOCUS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Our actions and policies should be motivated by long-term goals. We seek to protect valuable natural resources, safely disposing of or “unmaking” all waste we create, while developing a sustainable economics that does not depend on continual expansion for survival. We must counterbalance the drive for short-term profits by assuring that economic development, new technologies, and fiscal policies are responsible to future generations who will inherit the results of our actions.
Ten Key Values of state and local Greens
There is no authoritative version of the Ten Key Values of the Greens. The Ten Key Values are guiding principles that are adapted and defined to fit each state and local chapter.
Taken from http://www.gp.org/tenkey.php
Greenie: you have mastered “paste.”
Sprinkle it in a little more sparingly, kind of like Duane Swacker does the Wilson list.
As for me, I am uncertain that the Green Party understands business enough. There has to be that understanding.
I had to stop everything and read, not skim, but read this blog entry as my children unfortunately attend school in NC. The double negative is a common mistake along with other incorrect grammar and spelling sent home from my son’s honor graduate from NC State first grade teacher. The latest is that she is having them capitalize words on a spelling test that are not proper nouns. When asked why, her response was that it is just a practice test. If you can make that make sense than my guess is you have a bright future at any NC university’s college of education.
When approaching the principal, his emailed statement was that we can no longer have any contact with teachers just him, yet he won’t respond. The superintendent’s response was to question why are we sending the teacher emails during the school day. They are now quickly documenting incidents where he has cried after being yelled at by the teacher in hopes of diagnosing him as EH and then will counsel him out of this public school (a pattern that is long and documented by dozens of parents).
So as an educator, I am against the privatization of public education, charters, etc but as a parent I see no difference between charters and public schools here in Wake County, NC. Maybe we are asking the wrong questions, maybe we need to address teacher education – who are teaching these teachers? and Administrator education, are they really being taught how to lead a school? Simply because right now as the mother to a first grader whom has spent all weekend worrying about when he HAS to go back to school and counting the years until he can quit school (another gem stated by the teacher) I am concerned that we educators are giving reformers a platform for an argument.
To all you wonderful teachers and leaders out there, and I know you are plentiful, keep fighting the good fight!
* Who are these people teaching these teachers? Sorry a reply about grammar and I omit two words!
I think you will have a good case against the school. Have one lawyer write them a letter since they are in violation of Federal law if they don’t want to provide the necessary services, and you will see a difference.
Thank you for your support of public education.
Buying supplies for our students is a long-standing practice in the community colleges in MA and NY where I’ve taught.. So is being sure they have food and warm clothing. Unfortunately, of course, the more we take on these necessary task, the less pressure anyone else has to acknowledge or deal with them.
Arkansas has similar supply problems, and teachers take up the slack. Some in my zone have not seen a raise in over 10 years, even though the state funds annual raises in poor districts and appropriates $500/elementary teacher for supplies. In most districts, teachers receive half or less of the appropriation. Now, Arkansas faces a huge tax cut (Republican legislature) and health insurance premiums skyrocketing, in some cases, by 48% more this year than last. Pay to work seems to be the goal.
At my school, our budget has become somewhat of a joke. Almost everything, from our school dances to our bake sales, are fundraisers. A few days ago, one of my teachers was saying that we needed some materials to to do the next project that we probably weren’t going to get because of the budget. In other words, NC is getting hit fairly hard. In the budget.