Alexandra Miletta is a teacher, like her mother, in New
York. When I was in graduate school at Teachers College in the late
1960s, Maureen Miletta and I were in classes together. I am happy
to see Alexandra carrying forward her mother’s legacy as a devoted
educator. Alexandra thinks we can all find inspiration in this
particular Harry Potter story.

Thoughts on education from a teacher
educator.

Dumbledore’s Army

In case you are not a fan of the Harry Potter saga (as I am) allow me to
sum up an interesting moment in the story when it seemed there was
no hope of learning to defeat evil. (For the longer summary with a
bit more context, read this.) The part that I find interesting is
when Hermione (my favorite character) tells her peers:
“Well…erm…well, you know why you’re here. Erm…well, Harry here had
the idea – I mean” – Harry had thrown her a sharp look – “I had the
idea – that it might be good if people who wanted to study Defense
Against the Dark Arts – and I mean, really study it, you know, not
the rubbish that Umbridge is doing with us” – (Hermione’s voice
became suddenly much stronger and more confident) – “because nobody
could call that Defense Against the Dark Arts” – “Hear, hear,” said
Anthony Goldstein, and Hermione looked heartened – “well, I thought
it would be good if we, well, took matters into our own hands.” (p.
339 in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, 2003) In the
movie version, this is simplified to the line, “We need a teacher,
a proper teacher.”

The students of Hogwarts realized that they were
not going to learn the real spells and magic they would need if
they just accepted the status quo being delivered by Dolores
Umbridge and her dull and useless textbook.

Hermione was intelligent enough to recognize that her friend Harry had
experience and knowledge that he could teach them. The group was
formed, a place for secret practice was found, and “Dumbledore’s
Army” was born.

Maybe the analogy of preparing for war in the
wizarding world seems extreme for those returning to school here in
New York State, but as the nation debates the possible consequences
of engaging in real war in Syria, Governor Cuomo ramped up the
hostile rhetoric today by saying failing schools deserve the “death
penalty.” Yes, you read that correctly, it’s a quote. I could
hardly believe it when I saw it. What’s really failing is the
leadership in Albany that has accepted the federal bribe money
through Race to the Top and is creating havoc with lousy tests,
inappropriate measures of teacher performance and school quality,
and a privatization plan that is unproven and as scary as the
return of Lord Voldemort.

So teachers and students, don’t despair.

You don’t have to start this year in fear – of failing, of being
unfairly judged, of seeing your school closed or resources cut to
the bone.

It’s time to learn how to defend yourself against these
dark times. Here are some tips for starting the year off strong:

1. Read and get informed. That means not just the news, which is
sorely lacking in investigative journalists, at least in education.
Find the blogs, the active Twitter users, the Facebook groups, the
organizations of people who are actively working for positive
change and supporting the public schools that are under assault. A
good place to start is Diane Ravitch’s new book Reign of Error:The
Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America’s
PublicSchools, out in mid-September. F

2. Practice your talking points. You will need these not just for staff meetings, informal
lunch conversations, PTA meetings, or school board testimonies. You
need to start talking at dinner parties, after lectures and book
talks, at the gym, in the taxi, anywhere you find people willing to
engage in conversation so they too can be informed and involved.

3. Get inspired. Learn from history, from role model activists like
Bayard Rustin, who just was awarded the Presidential Medal of
Freedom posthumously (you can see a beautiful documentary about him
called Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin).

4. Show off and be proud of your many accomplishments. You have bulletin boards,
windows and walls, and strings to hang things from across your
classrooms, and websites and email newsletters, and concert and
play performances, and charitable actions and good deeds. Let the
world know that you are proud of what you do.

5. Find strength in numbers. Join up with others, make a regular working lunch date to
talk and strategize, organize pot lucks, ask for volunteers, help
people who want to get involved but don’t know how to begin.

6. Make time for play, and joy, and being creative. If that doesn’t
come naturally, maybe you can start by organizing a cardboard
challenge on October 8th for some kids and let them teach you.

7. Ask for help and support when you need it. It’s normal to have bad
days, to feel depressed and overwhelmed. Reach out to your friends
and let them know you need their encouragement and kind words.

8. Sometimes you just need to go on a march. If that seems
old-fashioned or ineffective, read about the 50th anniversary of
the 1963 March for Jobs and Freedom and listen to the speeches of
Martin Luther King Jr.’s family, Rep. John Lewis, President Obama,
and others who commemorated the anniversary on August 28th.

Most of all, have a good year. Do good, and be well.