This is an evolving definition. Stand for Children began in Portland, Oregon, as a grassroots organization to advocate for more funding for public schools (readers in Portland and elsewhere, correct me if I am wrong).
At some point in the past two or three years, Stand shifted priorities and discovered that it would have far greater impact if it aligned itself with the financiers behind the corporate reform movement. Their numbers are small, but their wallet is large. They want more privately managed charts, and Stand was okay with that, after all, charters provide an escape from “bad” public schools. They want teachers to serve at-will, with no job protections (after all, don’t job protections protect “bad” teachers). They want teachers to be evaluated by student test scores (after all, isn’t that a good way to identify and boot those “bad” teachers).
And until we hear a different account from Stand’s founder, Jonah Edelman, we must conclude that it is now a very well-funded arm of the corporate reform movement. Some of its original supporters in Portland removed their names. Some of its original sponsors removed their names. One, who shall remain nameless, told me that she now thinks of Stand as “Stand ON Children.”
Stand has pushed the corporate reforms–anti-public school, anti-teacher, anti-union–in several states, notably in Illinois (where they wrote a new law that was supposed to make it impossible for Chicago teachers to strike by setting a threshold of 75% approval–but CTU got a 90% approval vote), and in Massachusetts (where they threatened a ballot referendum to achieve their goals with a heavily-funded PR campaign (the union capitulated to avoid the punitive language that would have been on the ballot, as well as the costs of fighting it).
If any reader can add to this description, or contradict it with better information, let me know.
A reader comments about Stand:
| You really should read past what you have been told. This is the beginning for SFC, not the ultimate goal. What happens in other states is coming to you eventually. Getting rid of seniority, job security, basic rights will all be taken away for your teachers. You will be left with a revolving door of at will temps who will focus primarily on test prep and stay at max five years and then repeat. This does not build a professional community where teaching and learning is a priority that is respected and cherished. Maybe you are the one who cannot see the forest though the trees. You really should check out SFC’s record in Masachusetts.
Best of luck to you, your children and your community. Stay informed. Excerpt: |
Thanks for sharing Dr. Ravitch. I would like to know how many other corporate reform organizations are out there doing the same thing. Do you have any comprehensive information on this “movement”? I honestly fear I won’t have a job, or much of one in a few years.
Here’s a starting point. There are many such well-funded groups that are pushing the same ideas. The amount of money behind them is vast; their actual numbers are small. Start reading here: https://dianeravitch.net/2012/06/29/the-reformers-fight-club/
Thanks so much!
As a Massachusetts teacher, I am so disappointed in so many. Our successes are a model for the rest of the country and now we are punished. What do I understand? That seniority allows me to speak for children and stand for them without fear of losing my job. This is especially important given the evaluation system being put in place. One of the reason for our success as a state is the work done with special populations. But, this work will be damaged because of the loss of voices due to our jobs will being on the line unless we tow the line.
My disappointment in my union is profound. I am tired of the union throwing money after candidates and never trying to educate the public. MTA had a chance to get in front of this. They ignored it. They could get in front of it again. But again, they are letting “Stand ON Children” own the conversation. They are busy with candidates rather than issues. I am tired of the deals that throw the rank and file under the school bus. I want them to fight for me. That’s why I pay my dues. Many are asking why on earth do they pay dues when they do losing deal after losing deal to keep political stature. I am their political stature.
I have to wonder when the tipping point will be and what it will look like.
Who knows when the tipping point will be. “Stand ON Children” (as you call them) got there way, and I guarantee you when this new law fails, the group come back to Massachusetts, and try to make things worse. I am currently getting my graduate degree in Special Education, and I want to teach in Boston, but now I may consider another teaching in another state. Unfortunately, that means my options would be limited because there are only a few states left in this country that have not jumped on corporate education reform bandwagon.
Diane, I was at a meeting at Westminster Presb. Church in Portland where Marian Wright Edelman introduced her son Jonah and his new organization Stand for Children. It was a time of gratitude and joy that things were going to improve in public eduction, beginning in Oregon and spreading across the country. Some time later an organizer came to my house and signed me up as a member. I had never been a member of any organization like this but as a concerned parent, it sounded like the right thing to do. I remember the organizer asking me if I understood how the process would work? The point of the organization was to elect the right people who would work towards better funding for education. At that time I was a stay home mother with two young children but I pledged to pay the monthly fee to support the efforts of SFC. I attended meetings in my community and went to Salem to demonstrate in favor of more funding for education. I felt hopeful for an improvement in our children’s education. Instead, in our school district, I have seen all the school librarians cut, music directors and programs cut, class sizes of over 30 in elementary and over 40 in high school. Sports programs cut, speech and debate classes cut, foreign language classes cut, drama cut, School has become a crowded and rather boring place. My own kids see little point in going to school which is intolerable to me. I am now a certified teacher in a low wealth, low stability public school. I cannot believe what I read about the reforms STC is behind after such a hopeful start. I read your blog every day looking for good news.
For a digest of information about Stand for Children, you may want to take a look at Education Watch at the Great Schools for America website here: http://greatschoolsforamerica.org/edwatch.php?org_id=000070
Last Stand for Children First will make you smile.
Stand for Children now has a chapter in Louisiana. They are making themselves more visible through the leadership of Rayne Martin. Rayne’s bio includes ties to the Recovery School District and the writing of reforms before joining as the Executive Director of the state chapter.
In 2007 Rayne became the Chief of Staff at the Recovery School District in New Orleans. The RSD, created by legislation, transforms chronically low-performing schools through direct state intervention. A shining beacon of hope, the RSD schools have shown outstanding progress posting double gains in almost every grade and every subject.
Rayne was lead author of the Louisiana Education Reform Plan, a 200-page strategic plan outlining initiatives designed to dramatically improve student academic outcomes statewide by ensuring an effective teacher in every classroom and an effective leader in every school. In 2010 she became the Louisiana Department of Education’s Chief of Innovation, managing a large department responsible for creating reform awareness and building district- and state-level capacity to implement human capital, school turnaround and district support best practices. http://stand.org/louisiana/staff/rayne-martin
If Stand for Children has not been a player in your state, it will. It’s still quite new in Louisiana. Public school supporters hope to be able to muffle their voices, before they can add any more harm to education here that has not yet been done..
http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/26_01/26_01_sanchez.shtml