Several readers have pointed out that retired teachers are free to be outspoken, because they can’t lose their jobs.
This teacher explains what retired teachers did in one community:
In Rockford, IL, a group of retired teachers and parents heard the cry for help from their active teachers. They formed an organization (W.E.E.: Watchdogs for Ethics in Education), and set about doing fact-finding work: they researched, went to meetings and took notes, filed an FOIA, and then presented their facts via a fact sheet to the community. Their efforts–in large part–resulted in the departure of their reviled Broad superintendent! (The next one was better, and he also knew that W.E.E. was on the case!) So–get your retired teachers out there to work with parents and community members (don’t involve active teachers–they’re too busy teaching, and their jobs might be threatened), and have at it.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I do think it is very important for retired teachers to add their voices to the conversation as often as possible. Planting seeds of wisdom comes naturally to us, and although I no longer teach in a classroom, my daily routine now includes adding my voice to the local paper’s educational news through words, using the same skills of kindness and patience used in the classroom. The public needs to see the truth of what a teacher’s job entails, and the forces making the job almost impossible today. Teachers perform magic each and every day and that truth needs telling. I agree, it is not always easy for working teachers to find the time and courage to speak out, but I encourage you, whenever you can, to find that inner determination, even if it’s a quiet voice, as your words and truth so need to be heard. This September, start talking to your colleagues about ways to learn more and ways to be stronger together. Bring Diane’s words and the words of others to their attention. In the meantime, the teacher in me will always be in your corner, blogging for each of you.
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Thank you all retired teachers who are out there helping. Can’t wait to join your forces in 3 years.
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You’re welcome. The retiree rolls keep growing. There is a line for your name in three years! Have a good school year.
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I retired in June of 2010 and continued writing my blog (which I started in 2006) since then…focused on speaking out against the privatization of public education, the corporate “reformers” doing everything they can to damage public schools and public school teachers, and the lies being told which de-professionalize, demonize and demoralize teachers.
What’s more important, I’m a member of a group of retired and current teachers, parents, and community members who stand for the same thing…the Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education (NEIFPE). Like John Lennon said, “We’re all doing what we can.”
Visit us at
http://neifpe.blogspot.com
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I am a recently retired teacher working hard to promote public education. I have time, energy, and an unwavering desire to fight for teachers and the unions which support them. I was president of my local union for the 12 years prior to my retirement in June. However,my perspective is a bit different! I am happy to fight for teachers as long as I look behind me and see others. When we fear, THEY have won. There is empowerment in taking a stand . Our union predecessors who went before us and fought for the working conditions and benefits that we enjoy were not afraid!
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Yes, this is very true. We need the help of retired teachers. One example is when it comes to sick buildings. I need your testimony if you retired on disability or got sick teaching in the public schools. I have a Facebook page called WA-SOS! which stands for “Washington (teachers)- Sick of Sick (schools)!” I’d like to see similar pages set up for each state, but I only have time to take on one state, Washington. Regardless, we need former teachers to tell their stories of how they got sick. Don’t underestimate the importance of how much this would help to improve teaching conditions. Here’s my link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/352090828169958/
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The UFT has more retirees than teachers. And when they call retirees for action, it’s not to help teachers who are caught up in the reform lunacy. I am retired and do what I can to help. I think it would be great if retirees would rise up against RTTT and Bloomberg.
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