Anthony Cody writes a great blog. He is very likely the nation’s most eloquent spokesman for the teaching profession. He is a National Board Certified Teacher who taught middle-school science for many years in Oakland.
Today, he joined me in releasing the news of the Network for Public Education.
Let me be the first to say that Anthony is doing the heavy lifting. I write and speak. Anthony organizes and makes things happen. He is a teacher.
If you are in an organization that is supporting your local public schools, please contact Anthony and join our network. If you are an individual who wants to know “how can I help?” Contact Anthony.
He is at anthony_cody@hotmail.com
The Network has been created by the willing hands of volunteers. Every member of the board has worked hard to get us started. An artist volunteered artwork. A web designer volunteered his efforts. After the announcement, I received an offer this morning to translate everything into Spanish.
We will build a powerful network of grassroots organizations and individuals, using social media to counter the money power of a handful of billionaires who want to control our public schools.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Don’t know where this will go, but I became a member.
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After all, if Leonie Haimson is involved, then definitely count me in.
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This is exciting! I joined, I am following on twitter, and I am willing to help in any way that’s needed besides spreading the word.
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This is great news. I’ve been waiting for a nationwide movement (as I’m sure many people have). We can all do small things on our own but together we can do great things, like “the story of stuff”‘s organization.
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Please join!
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I just e-mailed Anthony. Thanks, Diane. You are the fearless leader of democracy in our nation today; a beacon of common sense, a refreshing light of historical fact in a world dominated by rhetoric, glaring inexperience and half-truths; state houses and Governor’s mansions full of so-called leaders who place the advice of cave-dwelling policy wonks above that of public school students, public school parents, public school teachers and public school volunteers. You are our General, Diane. Fight on.
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Well said! I heartily agree.
Thanks to all of you who have stepped up and extended a hand to the rest of us to join you. I feel as if I’m a witness at the birth of something big!
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Thanks, Diane and Anthony . This sounds great! I’m all in !
I’m confident that this leadership team with the support of parents,teachers and administators over the country, will provide a formidable defense of professional education and the Public Schools , the “fourth arm” of our government .
See you at the United Opt Out 2.0 protest in D. C. April 4th. 🙂
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I’m in. Lead on!
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20ld,
Sweetie, You are never too old…in fact you are still teaching right here, and you do a great job!
From another “oldie, but goodie”, as the saying goes.:)
Peg
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I am now officially an activist! All signed up and ready to spread the word!
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If these powerful oligarchs are not countered the game is up in their favor. LAUSD has proven that they are not that slick in this last election. Even Garcia could only win by 6% with millions over thousands. She got her seat but did not really win and now they are going crazy trying to figure out how to not lose Roosevelt High School from PLAS after being total failures for almost 5 years. Recently, PLAS told the parents that they were going from 7 schools with 8 principals to 3 schools. I have this meeting on video and it is on the web at George1la. Not two or three weeks after that they are now saying it will be one school. What is next in two to three weeks again. They could not figure it out in 4.5 years, then the next plan is no good and then they figure out that plan is no good and suddenly they have the plan for the plan that was no good and they are absolutely sure they know what they are doing. Does any of this make sense? If not, do not worry, you are not crazy, they are!
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Good Evening– I would like to FOIL the names and salaries of all of those who are employed at the New York State Education Department and their travel expenses and who paid for the trips. This information should be published and available online. They , too should be evaluated on student test scores. If they believe that test scores are the true measure of an educators’ worth they should be leading the way by having their continued employment be 100% dependent upon the test scores of all of the children in New York State. The rich, the poor, the learning disabled, the ESL students and absentee students.
Let’s have this information for all of the state education departments as well as the federal department of education. I would love to know Arnie Duncan’s travel expenses and who paid for the trips.
Marge Borchert
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Marge,
What a great idea! You are right…their jobs are to increase the educational effectiveness for all the children in the state. I guess if that is not happening, it should affect their performance reviews as well
Does anyone there know how to do performance reviews? ( Is this the kind of thing the new Network will work on?)
.I would love to know how thay justify the expenses they personally incur. Where do they go that we pay for?
If you need help with this let me know.
I think I love you… Yep, I do.
Peg 🙂
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Peg— Thank you!!! I do need help with this. I am trying to find out the name of the person in State Ed who is responsible for processing FOIL requests. I would think that Business First would be interested in publishing this information also. It should at least be available online. I would like to know if Pearson lobbyists did indeed pay for trips to Helsinki, Finland; Rio de Janero and Singapore and who from the NY State Ed Department ( and other state Ed departments across the USA) went on these trips. No doubt , these benefits influenced the decision to go with Pearson Publishing for the standardized assessments, software, and text books. If Governor Cuomo has the “foresight” to run for president in 2016 and is looking to Corporate support from Pearson, I think that warrants an ETHICS review. I am offended that the children are being emotionally and psychologically “buried” in assessments that have been designed to benefit the elite wealthy & politicians. Certainly, their own children and grandchildren do not have to endure this!!
Marge Borchert
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I’m on it!
Back to you later 🙂
Peg
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