So many terrible education policies have been enacted in the past several years, and so many people feel powerless to act and make a difference. But there is a way to take action: Vote. That’s the only way to get better leadership. It works, but only if everyone votes.
What if every educator took a pledge to vote in 2016? If you vote, you can beat big money. Imagine the difference educators can make in every state. You can save public education, save the teaching profession, and restore democracy.
This idea is starting in Néw York. It should spread to every state and city and town and village and school district.
Subject: Educator Oath To Vote
Hello, Fellow BATs,
I have a bit of an announcement to make – sort of a “Coming to a School Near You” kind of thing and I believe, if successful, it will change the state of politics in New York for years to come.
I’ll ask you to imagine, before reading the long explanation below, how things would be different if every single one of the 250,000 NYSUT educators voted in the November 2016 election. Not only WOULD they vote but they would ANNOUNCE that they would vote a year before hand by signing an oath/pledge that they would do so. Imagine if NYSUT then announced that “EVERY SINGLE NYSUT EDUCATOR WILL BE VOTING IN THE NOVEMBER 8, 2016 ELECTION!”
I believe that money will continue to dominate politics until this happens and I have little doubt that it can be done…
Background: Back in November, after the election, My co-president, Tim Jacques, and I heard that only 32% of NYSUT members voted. The actual numbers are, 87% registered to vote and about 50% of them voted in, arguably, the most important election regarding education that we have seen in a long time – maybe ever. Pitiful!!!
Needless to say, we were depressed by that number and shared with each other things like, “if we don’t vote when our students, profession, and public education are under attack, we are toast and, maybe, we have ourselves to blame.”
We also discussed the fact that, all the rallies and forums are great and we have and will continue to attend many but, in the end, none of that really matters if teachers just sit on their hands come Election Day.
That conversation turned into one about how to get teachers to vote but this would not be just another “get out the vote drive” – we are looking for 100% of educators to commit to voting.
We came up with a plan of how that could be done. We envisioned every local president receiving a box of Educator Voting Oaths that they could distribute to their building reps and have them get every educator in their district to take an oath that they will vote in the November 8, 2016 election. The oath wouldn’t say WHO to vote for, just that they would, and they would “keep public education and their students in mind” when they voted. In other words, the network is already in place to reach every educator in every school district in NY State and that’s what we decided we would try to do…
After our conversation turned serious, we pitched the idea to many NYSUT officials, who “loved the idea” and thought it could work but they were dealing with so much planning of rallies and other activities they would have to get back to us but we were told, “don’t let us forget.”
We also shared the idea with our LRS and she too thought it was a powerful idea and said she would help prod those we talked to to move on it. Then, about a month ago, She called us and said she wants to meet and talk…
At that meeting she proceeded to tell us that she was in a meeting with NYSUT LRSs from around the state and they were sitting around depressed as the budget vote had just gone through and they were feeling hopeless, lost, depressed, and wondering what their next move was. She then stood up and presented the Voting Oath idea. She told us, “Eric and Tim, I kid you not, the entire room lit up.” She said the room went from depressed to hopeful immediately and they spent the next hours talking about the idea of having 100% of active NYSUT educators taking an oath to vote. She told us they were ready to move full steam ahead…immediately.
So, my district – Brunswick (Brittonkill) – went to work. We have 129 NYSUT members and we gave ourselves a week to get every member to sign the oath. We had a meeting with building reps and distributed oaths along with a list and voter registration forms. We called a general membership meeting and informed the staff. We emailed those that couldn’t make it. At the general membership meeting we had a well respected teacher come down and sign the oath – the staff stood and enthusiastically applauded.
When the building reps went to work they gained 129 signed oaths – 100% – in just two days. The buzz around the building was electric and the building reps were totally inspired. We had two Minot objection about not wanting to be told what to do but they were easily overcome by stressing that we are simply asking them to stand with all educators around the state to give their word that they would vote.
In the end, we had done what we imagined – every Brittonkill teacher will vote in the November 8, 2016 election and now it is time to duplicate that in every other school district.
Again, imagine for a moment the power this holds. If NYSUT could stand up and show that 250,000 active educators were committed and poised to vote in the Nov. 2016 election I have no doubt that all state candidates for the assembly, and the senate, as well as others, would have to take note.
Imagine local presidents walking into legislator offices and presenting a stack of oaths from all educators in their district…that has power.
Once every educator in the state makes that commitment, NYSUT will find the right time to reveal it to the public (probably around next years budget time).
The plan right now is that every school district present this plan to their members at their opening day general membership meeting next September followed by the gathering of signed oaths by September 30th.
Take note that this is being driven by the rank and file. Teachers along with LRSs will make this happen and NYSUT will provide the oaths to be signed (see pic of oath below). Actually, you should all know that this initiative was started by two pissed off BATs!!!
Finally, I will point out that a feeling of helplessness has infected most educators and this gets at that. This is one small, easy thing that every educator can do that, when combined with the same action by others, has tremendous power. It reminds me of one of my favorite things ever written by historian Howard Zinn – “Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.”
In the end, I would like all BATs to know this is on the horizon. Your input and comments are welcome.
Sincerely,
Eric Olson and Tim Jacques
Teachers
Diane Ravitch's blog 
There would have to be someone to vote for. The two parties we have now represent the interests of the 1%. We need a party that represents the interests of the 99%.
If you don’t vote, no one cares what you want. You don’t count unless you vote. In some states, it is a chance to throw out the bums. Think Indiana.
I agree, Philaken. This is why I am supporting Bernie this time around and will not fall for the Clintons and their corporate backers a second time. The two major parties are not for the 99%. Just look at the bipartisan support for Obama’s trade bill as the most recent proof. It is sad that at the same time that Republicans and the Supreme Court are so energized to restrict voting, there is less and less reason for the common citizen to vote anyway. Citizens United needs to be overruled. And, finally, if we want to have more educators voting, our unions have to do a much better job of educating those educators. A good recent example is Pennsylvania. Estimates are that 40% of educators who voted in 2010 voted for Tom Corbett. In 2014 they voted overwhelmingly for Tom Wolf.
I admire Bernie so very much too. He has said and stood for the things he says for a very long time. He does NOT just see which way the winds are blowing. TOO, I LOVE the things he stands for. I do not know whether he will secure the Democratic nomination or if he does if he would win BUT, I sure am hoping.
Yes, I’m supporting Bernie, too. But if he doesn’t win the nomination, I’ll vote Green Party for president. As we know from 23 years of Clinton-Bush-Obama, to vote for one of them is to vote against education’s interests. I do follow closely other races, tho, where I know my vote will count.
The reason there is no one to vote for is BECAUSE we have a disinterested citizenry. Elected officials are all too aware that people, including educators, don’t vote so they feel safe in doing the bidding of their top donors instead of serving the people.
We can complain about the current situation or we can do something to change it. This is an attempt, in New York State, to do the latter. This is one, very easy step every educator, school, and district can take that will make our legislators listen to us once again. I truly believe that nothing else will.
Thank you Diane, for sharing this!!! If this Voter Oath Initiative is successful, you will have helped greatly…
FAR more important than showing up for the November election is showing up for the primary and, whatever you do, do not vote for Hillary. I don’t care what pretty stories she tells us in the next 12 or so months, she does not and will not support public education. If Hillary gets to be the Democratic candidate, educationally speaking, there won’t be any difference worth noting between her and the Republican candidate. We must do everything we can to prevent that.
Keep in mind, Dienne, although it is a presidential election, the real power of having every educator declare their promise to vote in the November 8, 2016 election is in the state legislature. Members of the New York State Legislature have been voting for and passing bits and pieces of Governor Cuomo’s plan to destroy public education in NY and eventually around the country. Oh, sure, they always say “it is with a heavy heart” before they vote yes, but their conscience and integrity obviously aren’t a strong enough reason to reject those things that are bad for students, schools, teaching, and learning.
Maybe a quarter of a million educator voters, poised to vote in favor of public schools and its students, will be what is needed for legislators to drop that “heavy-heart” garbage and vote for what is right for kids…not billionaire hedge-fund managers.
I agree – in fact, I agree with Chiara below that the presidency isn’t even very important compared to state and local races. But again, the primary is more important than the general. If people don’t vote in the primary, then it’s almost guaranteed to be a choice between Tweedledum and Tweedledummer in the general, even at state and local levels.
It would be a fantastic to have every Educator in every state go to the polls and vote. What an awesome concept. But…
Making it happen is another thing. Educators in New Mexico had an opportunity to do such a wonderful thing last November. Educators across New Mexico clearly are fed up with the way the current Governor and Secretary of Education are destroying the education system in this state. But they did not get out and vote. The Teacher Unions did not push hard enough to get all the Teachers out to vote. The Superintendents Associated did little to get out the vote. They set back and hoped someone else would take care of business. In this state only 40% of the Teachers are registered to vote and not even that percent of Teachers went out to vote. There are enough Teachers in New Mexico that could have voted that we would have gotten rid of Governor Martinez and Secretary of Education Skandera. It is a very sad commentary when the Educators of our children will not go out to vote and take a stand on the future of education for our children. Very sad!! This this an example to set for the children of America? I hope not. Voting by all educators did not happen and won’t until all Educators actually unite and say enough is enough. Time for a change.
“It would be a fantastic to have every Educator in every state go to the polls and vote”
At the same time one might want to be careful for what they wish. Many teachers in Missouri are very very conservative, enough so that they push xtian views in many subtle ways that tend to be on the edge of unconstitutionality and these folks vote what their pastor/preacher/priest tell them to vote for.
I urge all eligible citizens to vote no matter what their political views and let the chips fall where they may. A part of me says voting should be mandatory, but then again a bit of a libertarian streak in me says that is wrong. In that case I go with not mandating.
That’s what I was going to say too. I know many teachers who vote based on party lines regardless of the candidate’s stance on education. Or they don’t know anything about the political race and who even stands for what.
Unfortunately, here in Florida, many educators vote for the very legislators and governors who work so hard to follow the ALEC templates and destroy our public schools and our profession.
One colleague I have now comes to me, as a union member, and complains about everything but when I asked her why she voted the people who made these policies she hates into law, she rants and raves and claims she doesn’t believe that ‘her’ party, which she has voted for her whole life!, would do the things I claim they do. When I show her proof she stalks off in a huff and then votes for them again and urges all she sees to do the same. What to do about the Kansas effect (see “What’s the Matter With Kansas?”) is something we need to work on as well.
We need to combine the GOTV effort with educating the voters and holding the candidates feet to the fire about coming clean on where they stand re: education matters.
We are severely limited here in Florida when it comes to advocating anything regarding elections at school because the legislature has passed laws that make it illegal for the unions and public employees to engage in any political activity during work time. We get as creative as we can and do what we are ‘allowed’ to do to GOTV and educate.
My local although small is one of the most active with the highest participation in the state. If all teachers had come out last November and voted against him, Rick Scott would not have been reelected and we would not be facing massive budget cuts yet again.
Same thing in Utah. We’re such a red state that people would vote for Atilla the Hun if he had an (R) next to his name. When I talk to teachers about voting and beg them to vote for someone other than the incumbent, I get every excuse as to why they can’t do it. They get so caught up in the social issues (ie abortion) that they can’t see they’re voting against their own self interest. It’s infuriating.
Yes ALL teachers should vote….for new union leadership. After watching Eskelson (NEA) and Weingarten (AFT) on stage with Diane Ravitch I am convinced that only a change of union leadership will help teachers and students. Eskelson stated that parents opting their children out of high stakes tests will not stop those test! Totally nonsensical! Weingarten stated that students should have the right to opt out AND opt in! Students don’t have the right to opt in, they are in by default. Both Eskelson snd Weingarten were clearly sending signals to the billionaire-boys-club that they will continue to do their bidding.
I heard that in NEw York Randi made robocalls to get out the vote for Cuomo. Why wasn’t she campaigning for Zephry Teachout?
Of course! RW helped another billionaire-boys-club hack. (Cuomo)
Amen to that. This is another example of teachers voting against their own self interest. Weingarten isn’t even a teacher, and Eskelsen-Garcia won’t even help her home state as education is crushed (she’s from Utah).
Can’t argue with you there. I am sure that this summer the national meetings of the NEA and AFT will be carefully orchestrated shows where dissenters and fighters will be sidelined and silenced as happens every summer.
If we could have a direct vote on leadership (here in Florida we are both NEA and AFT) I believe Eskelson and Weingarten would be seeking new work by August.
I’ve been thinking a lot about having some kind of “no confidence” vote nationally but the logistics of verifying union membership of voters and getting the word out are problematic for me at this point.
In the meantime I keep bringing the issues up at our monthly Representative Council meetings and sharing them with any and all members (and potential members) who will listen.
So true, Michael, so true.
I don’t think you can beat big money at the national level. The Money Party always wins there. It can be a D or it can be an R but it’s really an M, for “money”.
I think you can still beat big money at the state level (although not for long!) and absolutely at the local level.
It’s harsh but that’s what I believe and it’s practical because it’s a kind of triage for people with limited funds who aren’t professional operatives. At some point regular people have to stop wasting time and effort and either get on with it where they can have some effect or drop out completely, is my opinion.
How about if all the teachers decided to go for Bernie? Let’s stop thinking he doesn’t have a chance against the big money folks and give him our money and our time. Let’s see if we can’t start something new! I’m in, all the way, for Bernie and a new way of thinking for our nation. No more 1%…let the 99% unite!
This.
Oh Yeah!
Way to go Diane. Did I tell you that I love you.
Yes, Yes, and Yes again. Projecting teacher power is the only answer. After this victory, the next step will be to change the school culture and raise the status of teachers by eliminating administrative positions, and replacing them with support personnel culled from the existing teaching staff, to be implemented on a rotating basis without any rise in the salary, so that there will be no chance of an adversarial relationship, as is the case today. The only people who count in the process of education are the teachers and their students. Everyone else is superfluous.
Ian Kay
I will be voting here in Alabama. At this point in time, Bernie Sanders has my attention. Hillary, Jindal, Walker, Cuomo, Perry and Pence (if he’s running) will for sure not be getting my vote. Anyone else I should pay attention to or ignore?
Chris Cristie and Jeb Bush, both of whom have worked to destroy public education in their respective states.
Mike Pence couldn’t run a hot dog stand, let alone the State of Indiana (or ~scary organ music~ the entire country). I was hoping he’d run for national office so he could get the rebuke he richly deserves, but he’s already dug his political grave here in Indiana. (He didn’t use a shovel–he used his mouth.)
The rest of these candidates don’t give a rat’s bladder about education (I have my doubts about Hillary, but I’d support her over any of the R candidates).
Go Bernie!
True dat.
Individually we are one drop.
Together we are an ocean.
Ryunosuke Satoro
It’s time to be an ocean…
Are all the teachers in NY part of the NYSUT?
The reason I ask is that here in Missouri there are, I believe, at least three entities that teachers can join, the MO NEA, the MO State Teachers Association and the AFT. It mainly depends on where one lives with NEA being more suburban oriented, the MSTA rural oriented and the AFT urban oriented. These groups do not necessarily see eye to eye.
Does one have to join the NYSUT to teach in NY?
http://www.democracynow.org/2015/6/22/exclusive_green_partys_jill_stein_announces
consideration?
Sure, if you don’t understand how basic math works in the current U.S. electoral system. If you want third parties in the U.S. system to be anything other than spoilers, you have to first change the electoral system. Odd thing is, all of the third party people know that. The reason they are running is that this how they make there living, and people are gullible enough to keep forking over enough money to them to make it worthwhile.
Reblogged this on Network Schools – Wayne Gersen and commented:
This wouldn’t have done much good in NYS… or ANY state where a neo-liberal DINO is running against a voucher-loving ALEC funded conservative… and if we have another Bush-Clinton choice those of us who are opposed to privatization might want to look seriously at a third party…. and all of this makes voting in off year elections and school board elections especially critical.
we need every teacher to vote in the primaries where we can be most effective.
Don’t forget the retired educators…. a potent force to enlist!
Joan, I totally agree but the focus right now in New York is on active teachers. The goal is not “some,” “many,” or “most” – it is ALL. To do this we need serious focus and starting with retirees makes that difficult. Once we get active teachers, I see retirees next…
Agree Joan,
Rhetorically, why are the teacher pension systems failing to coalesce the members as a voting block?
More than 86% of Ohio public pensioners continue to reside in the state after retirement. 50% of Ohio households are 50+ years of age,
It’s the obvious direction for organizing.
Last year, I felt compelled to inform Ohio’s STRS that their investment in Corinthian Colleges was unwise. Their reply indicated, the concept of avoiding investments in privatized education, wasn’t on their radar.
Reblogged this on Creative Delaware and commented:
VOTE!!!!!!
Philaken, Bernie is running as a Democrat. Some info. from New Hampshire has him at 31% there, Hillary 41%. His #’s went up (only 10%age points behind), & that’s amazing! As I’ve commented before, here, we DO have someone to run who’s clearly in our corner–something we’ve been hoping for for many, many years. Now that Bernie’s declared–& early enough to make his presence known (at this very moment, I am watching his appearance on Real Time With Bill Maher–& people are screaming & cheering!) & to raise money, all things ARE possible. The real meaning of the rank-&-file union (not talking about the leadership of AFT/NEA) is “don’t agonize, ORGANIZE!”
Bernie’s campaign is doing what they’re supposed to be doing and, like other commenters before me, I’m for Bernie–yes, WE can, yes, we DID (definitely in local elections, where, indeed, it starts) & yes, YES WE WILL!!!
After reading all of these posts, may I be educated or cultivated ABOUT the American Electoral system.
Please be kind to cultivate all readers in this forum, if there is or must be known as shown in this sentence:
“”If you want THIRD PARTIES in the U.S. system to be anything other than spoilers, you have to first CHANGE THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM.””
IMHO, if all voters OPT OUT voting or ONLY VOTE with “”NO CONFIDENCE””, then what would happen? Can big money fabricate the number to get whom they want to control? Or the electoral system MUST CHANGE to reflect DEMOCRATIC WAY in voting with confidence in candidates from voters.
I hope that all presidential candidates clearly indicate their mandates in each pledge of their platform that they are honor to achieve on behalf of their voters.
If Educators fail to identify the TRUE IDENTITY of candidate who will always support PUBLIC EDUCATION, then American will suffer the DARK PERIOD in EDUCATION.
We need to go to the root of cause “”PRIVATIZATION”” in order to eliminate the cause with power of the mass in votes. Back2basic
It’s happening now in a manner that doesn’t require a messy, long constitutional amendment process. Some states have pledged to give all their electoral votes to the candidate that wins the national vote. This makes every vote count. Not every state is on board yet but it is spreading. Big states are ignored like NY, CA, etc. because they vote overwhelmingly for the Democrat so there is no point campaigning in those states.
The Oath to Vote is a great idea. Maybe runners would be pushed to discuss the issues and their belief more. Ted Cruz saying repeal the CC. What exactly is he saying he will do? I just saw this Declaration of Education. “THESE are dark days in the land of American Education. The topography is flat, institutional, lifeless, humorless, and all business. It is the lack of a pulse—humor, identity, risk-takers and creative vision—that afflicts our culture of learning. Children are pushed, piled upon, and tested. Teachers ‘manage their classrooms’ and ‘teach the curriculum of the day’—a shortsighted, short answer, short leash, standardized reality. Teachers are no longer encouraged to be clever or artful. Instead, they are harassed, marched, gagged and hamstrung in school systems that have resorted to policies of zero-tolerance and accountability in their routine dealings with children and parents. Sadly, many young teachers, unaware of these developments, accept this condition as normal.” https://www.change.org/p/call-to-adopt-an-american-declaration-and-education-bill-of-rights
It would matter to vote, if unlike most districts in North Carolina, the incumbent wasn’t already guaranteed 60% of the vote, that is assuming that there is another candidate running against them.
But I will be at the polls in 2016 regardless, but it is hard to throw the bums out when they run unopposed and write-ins are not allowed.
Bobby,
It is crucial to vote in North Carolina. You need a new Governor and fresh legislators who are not Tea Party.