Sheila Resseger, who taught deaf children for many years,
wrote to say there will be a Labor Day rally today in Providence,
Rhode Island. “In Honor of Labor Day, the Coalition to Defend
Public Education (Providence), and the RI Badass Teachers are
holding a rally in downtown Providence–Labor Day Rally for Justice
in Public Education. We will have speakers from the
community–teachers, retired teachers, parents, and concerned
citizens. We will talk about the callous attempt to privatize
public education for private gain. We will talk about the
inappropriateness of the Common Core State (sic) Standards. We will
recite limericks, perform a rap, and sing this song that I
transcribed from Barry Lane’s Cabaret at Occupy the DOE 2.0 in D.C.
last spring.” Sheila posted the following song for Labor Day. Song
from Barry Lane’s Cabaret at Occupy the DOE 2.0 in D.C., April 4,
2013 Sung to the tune of “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”
Superficial unrealistic rigor is atrocious Yet so many education
reformers propose this. If you drill them hard enough, They’ll stay
upon their toeses. Superficial unrealistic rigor is atrocious. We
shouldn’t be afraid to speak when policies seem bad. We have the
best democracy the world has ever had. Why do they keep on scolding
us on how we run our class? Take those mandates and those tests and
… Help us stay on task! Superficial unrealistic rigor is atrocious.
What qualifies you to be the education Moses? Testing is not
teaching, We don’t buy the mass hypnosis, Superficial unrealistic
rigor is atrocious. We knew this child named Billie His life had
not been kind. He was a child that stingy folks had (?) left far
far behind. A caring teacher came one day and reached this little
boy. So reading, writing, ‘rithmetic is this lad’s pride and joy!
Super teachers always know connection is where hope is. Let them
guide their classrooms with a student-centered focus. Please untie
their hands and lose this data hocus-pocus. Super teachers always
know connection is where hope is. Super teachers always know
connection is where hope is. Super teachers always know connection
is where hope is. If you’re feeling sad and blue This song will
help you cope with Superficial unrealistic rigor that’s
atrocious!