This just in, following my speech at the Emerging Issues Forum in North Carolina, whose extremist Governor Pat McCrory and General Assembly have passed laws diminishing the status of teachers and promoting vouchers and charters.
“Your speech to the IEI Forum was extraordinary and really sparked immense discussion on the floor of the Forum and later this afternoon. It cogently summarized the dramatic and destructive effect of the Republican policies of this last session, which has led us to 49 th in the nation in teacher pay, 46th in state spending on education, the abrogation of career status for teachers while offering only 25% of teachers a long term contract no matter how many on merit deserve them, elimination of mentor pay and all professional development funds, termination of our nationally recognized Teaching Fellows Program, massive cuts to teacher assistant positions, student support services, administrative capacity, textbooks and supplies; and the creation of a new voucher system and all but unregulated charters, unmoored from their original purpose and accountable supervision, soon to litter every corner of the state. Five years ago our commitment to public education was the envy of most of the nation; today, we are the example of all that is wrong with the term “reform” of public education by those who, in reality, too often seek to abandon it, and a betrayal of our children and their educators in the process. Thank you for your inspiring words and being a part of moving our state’s citizens to reconsider the ideological overreach that has imperiled public education in North Carolina.”
Representative Rick Glazier.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Diane,
Sorry I missed you, sure your remarks were well received.
But, it was disappointing a member of our Legislature demeaned HIMSELF by labeling the governor as an “extremist”.
When will politicians, notable Democrats be able to articulate their positions without disparaging opposing ones?
NC is taking steps teachers and opposition party may disagree with. Only time will tell whether the steps will advance education, the results will determine which party will have the confidence of NC citizens to control the General Assembly in 2014.
BTW, please advise if you spoke about the Common Core, would be interested if your audience supported your position
Trolling
Silly troll. It was Diane who called McCrory an extremist. Well said Diane, and thank you Representative Glazier!
“…49 th in the nation in teacher pay, 46th in state spending on education, the abrogation of career status for teachers while offering only 25% of teachers a long term contract no matter how many on merit deserve them, elimination of mentor pay and all professional development funds, termination of our nationally recognized Teaching Fellows Program, massive cuts to teacher assistant positions, student support services, administrative capacity, textbooks and supplies; and the creation of a new voucher system and all but unregulated charters,…”
I don’t need a crystal ball to see how these “innovations” will affect public education over the next several years.
Ah, I see, when you’ve accused others of partisan hackery, you’ve been looking in the mirror.
Destroying public education is not simply “taking steps teachers and opposition party may disagree with.” This isn’t a matter of a pleasant disagreement that can be settled over a cup of tea. This is war, and it’s the “reformers” who started it. Now, you could point out that there are plenty of Democratic “reformers” in various places and you’d be right. But in North Carolina, it’s all Republican.
DITTO!
Race to the Top was a poison apple. And the Democratic governor who signed it was between a rock and hard place. To refuse it would have meant saying no to $433 million for public education in the state.
Obama and Duncan are to blame for that. The rest in NC is the rather newly elected right.
I will give AJ this. . .the ideological overreach has come from both sides, for sure. At least in terms of the Department of Education.
But now it’s time to find what we agree on. Anything else is counterproductive and does not help children.
I know we disagree on this, but I don’t think it’s our problem to find areas of agreement. That’s just a sales tactic to move toward “compromise” without them having to give up any ground. Ever been to a time share presentation? That’s what I feel like whenever the “reformers” start talking about agreement. At a time share presentation, it’s the beginning of the end if they can get you to agree to anything, even something as seemingly simple as “nice weather we’re having today, isn’t it?”
I think it’s the “reformers” job to find agreement with us. Is public education worth saving or not? (By “public”, I don’t mean charters or vouchers.) If it’s not worth saving, then we have nothing to agree on and it’s a war for survival. If they think public education is worth saving, they need to present their ideas that don’t involve privatization or testing/”evaluating” it out of existence. When they can give their ideas how to best educate every child, not just get their children out of “failing” schools or away from “those kids”, then I’m all ears.
Dienne, well said. The time for compromise is over. Compromise at this point is giving up on public education, educators, and our precious children. As they said way back in my youth, “Hell no, we won’t go!”
Dienne–
Fair enough. Your point is well illustrated.
I used to think that there was some motivation behind reformers (as a group, with Gates at the lead, and even Kopp in the beginning) that really did want great public schools. But I do see, more and more, that really the issue is the economy and reform is a way to ease the sting of its drawbacks by putting it off on the teaching force. I get that now. It’s a deflection of the pain and belt tightening that everyone should share in when our economy dips.
I am just such a Pollyanna, I do know that. It’s my strength and my weakness.
That said, I don’t want to ever create a situation where reformers can’t come around and be welcome. Like. . .the Prodigal Son. Perhaps I will shift my eyes to waiting for that moment.
Business people look for money. That’s what they do. This time, though, I think they went to the empty piggy banks of the poor and looked to what they did have that they might want.
I do see it now.
You can tell the true motives when you’re attacked for questioning. So it is with Common Core.
The evidence is the duplicitous information in support of the standard and the purging of any documented criticism.
This tells us all we need to know, it is NOT about creating a superior public education system, its about the “connected” benefiting, not the students who will be cannon fodder, while
the elites praise one another for their deep concerns.
Common Core is an education tsunami that only the grass roots,
parents and teachers clearly see,and the few politicians who have been convinced the damage being done is inexcusable are trying to stop.
Can they be successful? This remains to be seen. But, as with most elitist endeavors don’t expect those who create the problem to admit being wrong. However, you can count on them knowing exactly what is required to fix whatever problem is identified. ajbruno14 gmail
Thank you to Diane for being where our solidarity is most needed now. Congratulations, North Carolina sisters and brothers for your courage and tenacity which is setting examples for the rest of us everywhere. You bring to mind the 1960 Greensboro sit-ins which spurred a whole generation into the action which became the huge, and successful, Civil Rights Movement. Once again, North Carolinians show us how, and why, it’s done.
I was thinking of those sit ins today too and feeling proud of Guilford County.
So who is Rick Glazier and what has his policy been on public education all along? Was he always fighting for REAL public education or is he trying to ride the coattails of the Ravitch speech (knowing that “ed reform” is on a downhill decline)? I hope he has always been for public education but hope that teachers in NC are in the know as to the trajectory of his intentions. Such good news that the board members acted responsibly. Hats off to them! Hats off to Ravitch for being present in NC at such a crucial time.
We are all trying to figure the WHO is???
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/members/reports/introducedBills.pl?nUserID=317&Chamber=H
Teachers in NC and across this nation are overwhelmed by this Political and Corporate takeover which is destroying the lives of millions of children..bit by bit….
ED DEFORM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A special thank you to the Brave and Brilliant Diane Ravitch for taking the REINS of this Educational Terror and exposing this REIGN of Error to the World!!!
My sister is one of the teachers in the 25% who is supposed to get the raise. She is getting information from the state that she may be “punished” if she doesn’t take the raise and information from the union who are telling her she could be fired afterwards anyway. Apparently the merit increase is only $500 dollars over 4 years which really is not that much. I may have my facts mixed up too. Can anyone tell me what the facts are and the pros and cons of accepting the merit increase. She is only 4 years from being able to retire and is afraid for what might happen either way. BTW conditions in her district are much like others and many good teachers are retiring or moving. Truly sad news for those teachers in NC. I live in Michigan and of course we have our own problems, but I sympathize with those down there.
If you read the past posts on this you will have a better understanding. There is no union here in the sense that teachers or anyone else can strike, only the NCAE which does require “dues” for membership.
What type of information is she getting from the state?? That sounds hinky. If it’s in writing, please share. I have not heard of any school system that has chosen their 25% yet, I thought that was to take place later this year.
Supposedly if she takes the money she gets a 4 year contract but loses her right to due process. I don’t understand how a 4 year contract can be offered if her right to due process is gone. That’s like giving with one hand and snatching away with the other.
If she’s a member of NCAE she needs to talk to someone at the state level. I believe they are in the process of filing a lawsuit(s) on some of the recent shenanigans the governor and legislators have come up with.
Adding to the NC education discussion, speaking of the NCEA. It is disappointing this teachers ‘advocacy’ organization is not rallying in support of the teachers who want to end Common Core. Such groups such as the NCEA should not be selective, perhaps for political reasons, in the support for its members, and even non-members if they are sincere about workers in such professions. ajbruno14 gmail