Last spring, Jeb Bush and Michelle Rhee tried to push the phony “parent trigger” legislation through the Florida legislature. It seemed to be a slam-dunk, since the legislature is controlled by Republicans and the governor is Republican, and the skids were greased to turn more public schools over to the charter corporations. These corporations give generous campaign contributions, so the table was set to add to their portfolios.
But they forgot about the parents, the alleged beneficiaries of the “trigger.”
Florida parent organizations turned out in force to oppose the “trigger.” They knew what the game was, and they knew it was not for their benefit that Bush and Rhee and ALEC were so eager to “empower” them with the ability to give their public school to a corporation. The Florida PTA and groups like Testing is Not Teaching, Fund Education Now, and 50th No More opposed the “trigger.”
Parents made a difference. They understood that the goal of the “trigger” is to shoot public education in the heart. They convinced enough Republican senators to vote against the bill that it ended in a 20-20 deadlock in the state senate. Of course, the forces of greed will return again, but parents will organize again.
Parents in Chicago are organizing to support the Chicago Teachers Union. One group, the parents of the 19th Ward, have been outspoken. I got this email today:
I wanted to share this post, which was written by Nellie Cotton, an involved Chicago Public Schools parent, an activist who speaks truth to power in a snap, a strong CTU supporter and a woman I am so happy to call my friend. Nellie has agreed to let me forward her post. I think it speaks to the experience a lot of parents have had in CPS, but not a lot have taken up the cause as brilliantly as Nellie.
Maureen Cullnan
19th Ward Parents
I was just thinking of how I became involved in all this and of all the wonderful people who have helped me become empowered. Please forgive me for rambling.
All this first started about three years ago when due to budget cuts, we were going to lose positions. One of those was an exceptionally gifted and beloved teacher, Miss Susan Cummings. Miss Cummings is simply amazing as a teacher. Her love of teaching and her “spark” are palpable. I felt helpless. Not knowing what to do, I approached my LSC for guidance, only to be told this happens, nothing you can do against CPS and, by the way, “Where were you when this issue first came up? “
I could not let this rest. My daughter Cecilia (she was Miss Cummings’ student) and I went door to door with a petition demanding her position not be cut. We collected 261 signatures and went to a board meeting to present them, sent copies of the same stuff every Tuesday and Thursday to our congressman, House Speaker Michael Madigan, and to Mayor Daley. I went to the monthly CPS school board meetings. Then one day as I had given CPS CEO Ron Huberman my weekly packet, I coincidentally met that dynamo ,Karen Lewis. She was president-elect of the CTU and she introduced me to Jesse Sharkey, who took my information and urged me to join CORE, any parent groups, or my LSC because “Parents and teachers must work together to be effective.”
I knew then she was a dynamic force.
We are grateful we still have our Miss Cummings!
Fast forward to Mayor Emanuel pushing longest day on CPS schools. Again I was shot down by my LSC, as this was a done deal, I was told. CPS had several staff people come talk to the parents and tell them it was a done deal, accept it.
I couldn’t! I knew better.
My mother picketed and boycotted in order to get a high school built in Pilsen. I had been active in keeping Pope John Paul II school open! Again I started with petitions, signs and red bows on trees. I asked to use Lawler Park to have an informational meeting and, honestly, did not have a real grasp on all the issues at the time. I was struggling with medical issues, my Mom was terminally ill, and I was just going on faith.
The day of my meeting, I realize now that I had no grasp of the issues. I was going on moxie alone. I was so blessed to have Maureen and Christine contact me out of the blue and take time to do a presentation on the issue at hand. I was blown away. They came armed with information and passion. They are incredible! Through them and because of them, I have met so many other fantastic people that are affecting positive changes and inspire me every day. Wendy Katten, Erica Clark, Kelly, Jennie, Becky, Laura and Jimmy, The 19th Ward Parents, I am proud to know you, you guys ROCK! And so many others …
If nothing more, this journey has afforded me the opportunity to meet such incredible people. Thank you for advocating for what truly matters!
Nellie Cotton
CPS parent
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I absolutely have NO problem with putting control back in the hands of parents. I’m not sure this is the way to do it. I’d like to see the US DOE abolished, the state DOE’s abolished and all public schools run by the local community.
Here is my view on all of this. First you have the bureaucrats in D.C. and the state that have imposed progressive measures on these schools to the point that kids are now receiving a dumbed down education. Administrators are not accountable to the community but live by the rules and regulations handed down in mandates. School Boards are clueless as to what is really going on and become collectivists/rubber stampers. The few who do get it are out numbered.
The schools have been set up for failure by all those “well intentioned” legislators and bureaucrats who have NO faith in parents or school employees.
Instead of looking in the mirror and dismantling their oppressive powers, they instead come up with this idea of somehow empowering parents.
The problem I see?? THEY STILL HAVE THE POWER.
They may not be using it YET on the Charters, but it’s just a matter of time before they decide to add a string or two to the Charters, etc.
Right now, our Charters in NH do not have to follow many of the rules/regs. that the public schools must follow. It’s a good thing but I wonder how long it will be, before they force that nonsense on the Charter schools.
They can’t help themselves. They know better than everyone else.
Until you stop feeding the monster, nothing will really change.
This may be a good alternative for a short time.
LikeLike
Hey, if they are going to use public tax money, charters should have to answer to the public. The public schools have to justify how they are spending our tax dollars; so should the charters. I support a system of local oversight which is most likely to be able to accurately judge local needs. However, there are times for state and federal involvement. While I am not at all happy with unfunded mandates and policies that subvert the principles of democracy, I still believe in democracy. That means my tax dollars are intended for the COMMON good and not the interests of a select few.
LikeLike