From Mark NAISON, co-founder of the Badass Teachers Association:
” “This is Crazy”
When policy makers are morally bankrupt, they are forced to rely on bribery and intimidation and the assertion of raw power. This is what we face in Education. Teachers are assailed from multiple directions by public officials who who project a “My Way or the Highway Mentality” while bombarding them with curricula, assessments, evaluations, and new methods of instruction. It takes the joy and creativity out of the work, ratchets up levels of stress, and steals time from the activities students enjoy the most. Many teachers feel what is happening is crazy, but are afraid to say this publicly. That is why we have this group. BATS not only say what most teachers are thinking, we shout if from the Rooftops and say it to policy makers faces.”Your policies are Crazy, you are Crazy, and we are going to fight to protect our colleagues and our students from the damage you are doing.”
There is no more powerful a moral stance than Speaking Truth to Power. That is why we have nearly 31,000 members and show no signs of going away.”
Wherever I go, in every city and state, there are BATS. They are fighting to restore the dignity of the teaching profession. Join them!
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I joined BATS but I wasn’t good enough because I am anti-teachers union and was kicked out. Seems the BATS only allow people who think EXACTLY like them, which is ridiculous. Even though I agree with most everything else BATS fights for in public education, I still cannot be a member because of one different point of view. Pretty sad and petty of them.
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I want to join but it goes against the grain to join an organization with such a name. I am too old for that.
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I think that is pretty close-minded. If the movement makes the impact and difference for education in America, should the name matter?
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I agree Linda. There is too much vulgarity in our world. Why should a teacher join an organization that obviously endorses vulgarity. I choose civility.
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Who cares what the name is? This is an exciting organization that is battling evil and making difference! Haters gonna hate.
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Yes, because what the education “reform” movement is doing to us and our students isn’t vulgar or profane at all.
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I got stuck on the name, too. A student told me I have cojones, which is anatomically incorrect, but was meant as a compliment. Calling myself a BAT stirs the same feeling that affirming my possession of cojones would. I don’t object to others embracing the name but I can’t. It also bothers me that Tracie was not welcome; while I am pro-union, I can see the other side. We don’t need to create an organization that shows the same narrow-mindedness of which we accuse the “reformers.”
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Whenever I’m in doubt about something, I go with the old adage, “When in doubt, don’t.” And my instincts tell me not to join an organization with a name that is suggestive of something not nice. That said, I certainly respect the opinions of the people who have joined.
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I wasn’t thrilled by the name, but I appreciate their goals and so I joined. I have friends who won’t join for that reason — depends on how vulgar you find the name, I guess…
I am totally pro teachers union — but like Tracie I have misgivings about this group’s censorship of dissenting opinions. I may be wrong to stay in the group, because censorship goes against one of my deepest values.
However, I stay because I can understand why they are doing it — and because of the potential good this united group of teachers can do — has already done, as a matter of fact.
It is AMAZING hearing from teachers all across the country. It is good to hear what is happening in their schools. And teachers who may have been alone in their concerns on a building level are finding many who share those concerns on a national level.
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I am not keen on the name either; Diane Ravitch (elsewhere in her blog) that she had misgivings about the name as well.
Civility, politeness, logic, and reason are useful, but so far we haven’t gotten very far with fighing “by the rules.” I think it’s time to be more militant. Just refer to it as “BATs” until they come up with another name that suits you better.
Tracie, I think BATs should open their doors to everyone who can further the cause of public education. I hope the BATs will reconsider allowing you, a non-union member, to join. We need diverse points of view…and I would even embrace those who hold different political views as long as they understand the essential truth that public ed. is under attack.
We really need you, Linda Johnson, Sharon White Scalies, hollyboardman, et. al. While Bad@$$ teachers is offensive to some, what the reformers have done to children in the name of reform and profit is not only offensive, it is obscene!
Please reconsider!
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BATS has many members who are not in either union, including myself. Their stance is not to attack unions, fellow teachers, students, or parents. Their stance is focused on the politics and policy of the Common Core and the abuse of teachers.
As for being a Bad Ass, the point is to get attention and let people we’re not going to be the typical educator where we sit back and take it.
I encourage you both to join. You will find more in common with us than our differences.
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Tracie, why are you anti-teachers’ union? Why would you even join a group that is obviously pro teacher union? If you are anti teacher union then you have more in common with the so called reformers.
Diane, hope you’re feeling better. Maybe you could take the weekend off and just relax?
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Joe, I don’t agree with you on this point. Many good teachers are anti-union, and that does NOT align them with the reformers. Why make this a central point? Pro-teacher doesn’t necessarily mean pro-union.
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I suggest that you change the name of the organization to one that promises something for students and teachers.
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I suggest you spend some time with this amazing group of Teachers, Administrators, and Parents from across the country dedicated to making the most important impact of all.
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Let me try to give voice about the need for this name – These times require that those who have the anger and the gumption about what is happening to education stand up to corrupt figures who would destroy it. Teachers don’t usually fight; we’re normally quite compliant and pay much more attention to our students and lessons than we do the world outside. But we can no longer ignore what’s happening as it encroaches on everything we love. With the name, we show our newly acquired attitudes – we are tough, not compliant, not willing to allow you to destroy our profession and our students without a major fight. We grow daily not just in numbers, but in courage and resolve. We take actions which lead to greater actions. The actions are intended to speak up for all teachers and students, even those who are unaware or afraid.
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How does one join?
And to Tracie- Unions can be as different as the people in charge of them, or as the people they represent. Can you really be for or against all Teachers’ Unions?
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To join I think you need to be invited by a current member. You could also probably contact the site owners directly and they’ll add you.
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To join, see Badass Teachers Association on Facebook. There’s also a website.
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This kind of hyperbole sounds more like Talk radio. Naison considers anyone who disagrees with him the enemy. He and a few acolytes have dictated a BATS agenda and remove those who disagree.
Which, ironically, is what he accuse the opposition of doing. “My way or he highway”
We who oppose these reforms need to do better.
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Having a mission and aligned goals within a group so large is critical to its success. Please go right ahead and “do better” for our educational future. Thanks for joining the fight.
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It’s true – The leadership sets a few rules that you can see before you join. These rules are set up to ward off divisiveness. If you can’t agree, don’t join.
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Sue, the problem isn’t with the rules. It is the fact that the leadership does not actually follow those rules. They kick people out or delete comments on a whim.
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Peter, unfortunately you are right. I joined BATS the first few days. The discussions became completely unhinged by the end of the first month. Naison doesn’t ban, he lets his lackeys do it and man! have they banned. it seems to be their biggest activity. There are other groups that aren’t aligned with Right wing ideologues like Bat. I
encourage folks to seek them out.
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Peter, there are many of us who have experienced exactly what you are saying. It’s downright bullying.
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Isn’t this an admission that the NEA & UFT/AFT leaderships are failing their members?
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Indeed.
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I can support some of the things they do, but I can’t join a group that stands for children and education yet goes by this name. Just Google the word “badass” and see what images you get. The name is inappropriate in the context of preK-12 education.
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There is far more inappropriate in the context of preK-12 education in this country than the acronym of an activist group that is doing something about it. Please investigate the BAT movement further. Thanks
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As Nancy said, all unions ARE different. Basing one’s like or dislike of unions on one experience seems to be very closed minded.
That said, I am a site rep for my local union, and attended a training this past weekend where the California Teacher’s Association president and an executive board member from the NEA were in attendance. To Michael – just as all teachers (and people) are different, so are the views and opinions of union leadership on CCSS. Is the NEA failing us? No, not really. But they have failed to listen to the majority of their members about CCSS. They seem to have made up figures of teachers who embrace the new standards, and I have met very few.
As to Mark of the BATs “kicking out” members. I know of only those being banned who have come in and tried to cause problems. Civil discourse is fine and occurs regularly on the page; but those who come in and pick fights, use bad language or bully others, etc., yes, they do not get to stay.
I am a BAT. I am a site rep at my school site. I am also a target for the administration because of both of those truths. I have been teaching for 15 years, and am still treated like a first year teacher by admin – not because I am a poor teacher, but because I am skeptical of admin, the CCSS, and because I am pro-union. My colleague is out on stress leave until at least Christmas because of the bullying and intimidation that occurs daily.
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While I am a member of BATS I wonder why more BATS aren’t involved in actively building alternative caucuses within their unions to reform them as we are doing here in NYC with MORE? BATS must fight to change the unions which have access to all the teachers and the resources and the organization to battle back. No matter how active a mostly social media group like BATS is we will see not see a movement grow without building a ground game. I know that Diane can’t take sides in the internal union battles going on in so many cities and tell teachers in NYC to join MORE or NEW Caucus in Newark or CORE in Chicago but BATS sure can. And to Tracie — many of us are very supportive of our unions but feel they need reform and I hope that is where you are coming from. Join our battle. If you are against unions and want teachers to become low-salaried independent contractors I have no idea why you would want to be a BAT.
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Tracie- without my union I could not advocate for my students, fellow teachers or myself. In an ideal world administration would be fair and allow us to express disagreements with the spirit they’re meant. But they want you to shut up and do as you’re told without question. Even with unions this is sometimes difficult. I’m so thankful I have my “teacher organization” (union) to lean on when needed.
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If you find the word ‘badass’ offensive…then I guess you’re just not a badass.
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and btw…there are over 31,000 BATS
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Many of those 31,000 are just there!
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I don’t find the word badass offensive, hell, I use a lot f….ng worse. But real badazzes don’t need to point out that they are badasses. I haven’t joined that group because of that stated fact and I don’t think that badass is appropriate for K-12 educators even though most of the students by the time they are in K have heard and know a lot worse than badass.
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Teachers are tired of being portrayed as weak cowards. “Inappropriate” is what deformers are. We are BRAVE BADASSES for taking them on. What are you doing to help besides hurling inane, petty criticisms toward the good guys? ^o^
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As you see them as “inane, petty criticisms” I see them it as a valid concern. Excuse my intellectual pedo! (thanks to Nobrick for that one!)
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I agree, Duane. It’s like what I tell my students when they tell me they are being quiet: If you’re telling me, then you’re not…
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I have always behaved appropriately and professionally and where has it gotten me and others in this vocation? I’m thrilled that this organization has an edge, starting with it’s name. To quote the classic film Network, “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore!”
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While I am one member of the BAT group, I suggest to those that do not want to join “our” movement to create their own. You can choose the name. You can set the agenda you deem critical to saving our public schools, our children’s futures, and our educational future in this country. I fully respect the differences in opinions you may have as I respect the varied opinions within the BAT group. PLEASE help us whether you are a part of our organization OR a part of your own. Make the difference. Thank you.
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Sharon White Scalies: I share your opinion.
Those who support a “better education for all” are not standardized. The voluntary organizations they form and support will not be either. Anybody remember the civil rights and anti-war in Vietnam and women’s rights movement? They got a lot done because people of differing views and sensibilities spoke out in their own ways, formed their own organizations, and participated in the ways most appropriate to their particular views and sensibilities.
Rough edges? Messes? Can’t always agree? Welcome to Planet Reality. And to the classrooms on Planet Reality. On RheeWorld, on the other hand, Big EduSister and Big EduBrother will ensure that all thoughts and behaviors are scripted and standardized…
Except when it comes to themselves and THEIR OWN CHILDREN.
Just speaking for myself: my hat’s off to anyone who is genuinely and sincerely for a “better education for all.”
Do I have my own definition of what that means? There is a 98% satisfactory [thank you, Bill Gates!] chance of certainty that I do. But I only remind everyone of a small history lesson that involves, er, a certain KrazyHistoryLady…
If you had caught her mid-stream in a rather large shift in POV and public position not so long ago, it would have been premature to predict where she would end up. Patience is not automatically a good virtue, but nowadays it seems to be in too short supply.
Are there times when a firm stand is necessary and desirable? Absolutely! But wherever and whenever possible, let’s save our fire for the edubullies and the educrats and the edupreneurs and their accountably underlings. IMHO, that doesn’t mean suppressing honest and heartfelt differences even if they are sharp.
Agree where we can, disagree where we must.
But never forget: like the owner of this blog, we are ‘in it to win it.’ What does it mean to win? To fight? Those old Greek guys—no matter if it was pretty much all ‘non-informational’ text—weren’t far off:
“Rather fail by honor than succeed with fraud.” [Sophocles]
Even when the edubullies win, their victories are dishonorable and fail. Even when those struggling for a “better education for all” fail, they succeed in modeling honorable behavior and what a genuine victory would be like.
Just my dos centavitos worth…
😎
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“Even when those struggling for a “better education for all” fail, they succeed in modeling honorable behavior and what a genuine victory would be like.”
as always, KTA…
thank you
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Well said.
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“Just speaking for myself: my hat’s off to anyone who is genuinely and sincerely for a “better education for all.””
Define “better education,” please – and I dare you to do it in a way that satisfies both the Tea Party and the Liberals who are anti-CCSS. And yes, there are MANY Liberals who are strongly against the dehumanizing effects of CCSS on children and on families.
The big difference I see between the 2 extremes is the vision of what comes *after* CCSS. My (left-leaning) vision is vastly different than that of most of the right-leaning people I know, FWIW.
I’m happy to fight for the end of CCSS, but NOT at the expense of, say, the teaching of evolution. It’s just not the same. It really really isn’t.
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Crunchydeb, I have defined my vision in many places, including blogs and books and articles. I believe that all children should be in well-resourced schools with experienced teachers and reasonably sized classes (not more than 24 in elementary grades, not more than 30 in high school).
I believe that all students should have access to the arts and physical education every day. I believe that all students should learn history (including national and world); the sciences; mathematics; foreign languages; geography; economics; civics; and literature. I don’t believe that students or teachers should be subject to the threat of high-stakes testing. I don’t believe that schools should be closed unless there are not enough students to keep them open. I think that all schools should have a school psychologist, a library with librarians, guidance counselors, social workers. I believe that the primary goal of public education is to develop citizens who are equipped to make our society better. I believe that whatever is taught should be in accord with the best thinking of subject matter experts in each field. I believe that schools should aim to encourage creativity, originality, innovative thinking, critical thinking, and a willingness to try out new ideas.
I think every school should treat its teachers, principal, administrators, students, and parents with respect.
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Diane, I don’t question *your* definition of what “better education” means. 🙂 You’re right – your writings have given everyone a pretty clear idea of that.
And I generally agree with what I’ve read, here and elsewhere, from KrazyTA. That particular quote, though, reminds me constantly that the Right and Left extremes tend to have vastly different ideas of what constitutes “better.” It’s like defining “success.” To some extent we know it when we see it, but the devil is in the details – and where I have pretty much nothing in common with most of the writings I see coming from the Far Right is that I want my kids to have the opportunity to be complete humans, AND I want that for their agemates who, in many cases, are desperately poor and whose classes are huge and whose schools have had to do away with specials and recess. My younger child’s class no longer has a dedicated time to go to the library to check out books; that block of time has been completely eliminated in our lower-SES neighborhood school, and I shudder to think about what might be next. Many of the Far Right commentators I’ve read are looking for higher test scores if they’re in favor of CCSS and for the freedom to institute Bible-based “science” if not, and generally they don’t write as if they place much value in the arts for poor kids, as if The Basics should be enough for any child, especially Other People’s Children. That is not my cause, and it can’t be. The enemy of my enemy is not my friend here, not if we’re going to be at each other’s throats as soon as CCSS goes away, KWIM?
So again, I challenge KrazyTA to define what s/he means by “better education,” and further to do so in a way that will satisfy both the Far Right and Far Left, or even most of the Centrists.
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to the naysayers who are living in the 19th Century, if you have a problem with Badass..then use the acronym BATS! It wouldn’t have been my first choice for a name, necessarily, but it’s hardly offensive. I joined about 12,000 members ago! I get incredible moral and academic support from the group. As to kicking people out, I know some have been removed due to not abiding by the rules of the group- starting terrible arguments, threads, being trolls, whatever. If you state you are anti- union, then I must ask you why? Our unions for teachers are often the ONLY thing that keeps us from crazy parents, unfair admin, and the political whims of the communities. We are here to work with and nurture kids, but we need the unions to protect us as we do our job. For me, a 30+ year member of CTA, I think of membership not in terms of contracts or money as much as a source of defense against the sways of the political world. As in all groups, some may be more extreme than others, and BATS is no different, but what I get daily are ideas, inspiration, willingness to fight the good fight.
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A gentle word to people offended by the word ‘badass’. It is important to keep up with the current vernacular of popular culture. My niece is a member of a Badass Nursing Mothers group, hardly what one might call a nasty idea unless one is not in favor of breast feeding. Badass simply means you are fervent in the face of opposition. I am proud to belong even though I am not a licensed teacher but have worked in public schools for over 20 years. I am not a union member. You will not get ‘kicked out’ for anything other than bashing TEACHERS. The group is strictly anti-CCSS and anti-school reform in the modern political sense of the word. There is no political discussion not related to those two issues, no religious discussion and an inclusion of everyone who is fighting the good pro-child, pro-public education fight. If we want to see the right kind of change in our schools we must set aside differences and petty objections and band together.
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Teachers were often the teacher’s pets when they were 8 year olds. So all they really needed was to grow up, stand on their own two feet and yes fight. This is though a fight for the children. They know the current state of education is abuse. Finally they are getting the clear eyes and responsibility to do it- take a stand. Does that scare the status quo? You betcha. Bold Activist Teachers are the kind of B.A.Ts that will no longer struggle singly feeling alone in a kind of despair but will band together to make sure parents and students are represented in education by a most powerful group- the teachers. That scares the billionaires that have seeded the system to have their government contracts yield billions. Oh well. Stealing our education dollars has stopped. They know it. We know it. It wouldn’t have happened without this bold step.Even though it took a ‘scary’ name, thank you Badass Teachers that are making it happen! Thank you from every parent and student in this country!
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BATS is an awesome way to connect with teachers in other states. We share the same love of teaching as well as disgust for corporate reform, excessive testing and CCSS. We’ve had many great discussions with diverse opinions. Parents and students are welcome as they have a different insight as to what is going on. This organization is a strength. There is no teacher bashing allowed. I am a Union teacher and welcome talking to non-union teachers. It would be nice if all teachers had the support of a strong union. I’ve learned a lot from this group about different types of testing being forced on children, the in appropriateness of the common core and the harm it’s causing the children, the attacks on special ed and the frustration teacher feel. Many want to quit, many are struggling to hang on, all are spending hours of their own time trying to keep up with the excessive demands on them. Teaching is the hardest job you’ll ever love. We have to keep fighting back to put the joy back into teaching and learning. We are the experts and it is our job to lead the fight. This is a welcoming group, however, if you bring in a negative, sabotaging tone, you will be asked to leave.
We’re here to help each other in solidarity not rip each other apart.
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Although the name initially made me hesitate, I find that the people there are 100% in it for our children and our future. I said a while ago, “I became a teacher to make lots of money and not work nights, and have lots of free weekend time – said NO TEACHER EVER!”
I am since finding that many teachers are parts of a system in which they are forbidden to speak out agains the Common Core (isn’t that illegal?). They can not only lose their jobs but being “part of the team” is also part of the new evaluation. This group is heartfelt and at times, yes, people can get feelings bruised, etc. That is human nature – and I guarantee you that no one is perfect. I am thankful however to be part of a group that I see willing to stand up, to voice their concerns for what they witness daily in trying to teach these inappropriate methods to our children. I am thankful they have a voice. I hope that others will unite with us, (crazy name & all), and work to remove the Private Sector who is basically selling our children out, and help to get us out of this.
My Child is NOT a DATA PLOT!
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I am a BAT despite the name because I believe in the cause. Now more than ever we need teacher voices to be heard loud and clear. Policies, legislation, and new initiatives are moving closer than ever before toward hurting children and those charged with teaching them. We also need teachers to become well informed about research, agendas, and legislation. Before, we just shut our doors and kept on teaching, but it is imperative that we don’t continue that old practice. Teachers must become well informed so that they can state their positions about policies in a well-educated, thoughtful manner. We are professionals and need to act in professional manners in order to enact real change. Our voices matter.
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Since June, BATs has acquired 31,000+ members, in all 50 states.
BATs do not allow teacher, student or parent bashing. There are rules set up, by the founders of the group, regarding how its members speak to each other on the Facebook page, and all are expected to follow and given ample warning if they do not. There is also a chat based forum page, off the FB action page, where no topic is off limits and conversation is “no holds barred!”
BATs believe in strength in numbers, so are inherently pro-union, yet realize that the state of our unions is not perfect! There have been plenty of questions, concerns and comments regarding the use and advocacy of unions…and the conversations have been civil.
As far as the name, it will never change. It was never going to change. Now, after the verbal assault on a NJ teacher by the honorable Governor Christie, the BATs name is out in the public forum. In the dictionary, “badass” is defined as, “distinctly tough or powerful; excellent.” Words have many meanings, and are defined in context. Look up words like “rigor” and “common.” Is that how you want to define your children and the school they are supposed to love and learn in? There are bigger fish to fry than a badass name of a group of intelligent, dedicated, driven individuals, that return each and every day/month/year to a new set of expectations, with less and less to show for their effort, and more and more being taken away.
I suggest instead, Google search Pearson. Common core. Opt out. Gates Foundation. Standardized testing. Research exactly what your children have to face on a daily basis. Follow the money trail. I guarantee you won’t like what you see!
Sincerely,
A BadAss Teacher! ^0^
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There was plenty of TFA-bashing, and while I have to agree with bashing the organization itself, this extended too often to bashing even corps members who did go on to become degreed and certified teachers and stayed in the classroom.
There were also too much bully-pulpit top-down mandates off and on; I got enough of that from my own schools while I was still teaching (I’ve struck out on my own now and have pretty much left public schools as a teacher) and the LAST place I needed to feel out of place was in a group of otherwise-disenfranchised teachers where I thought I’d find more like-minded support. The day I left was when Mark posted something like (paraphrasing here) “In light of what is happening in Chicago (this was around the school closings, if I remember rightly), there will be NO posts here that support ANYTHING about TFA. Any posts like this will be deleted on the spot.” I clicked the “Leave Group” button and never looked back. I’m already persona non grata in my child’s school because I talk about all the wrong stuff, and life’s too short to walk on eggshells in the name of school reform. I’m not an “eggshell” kind of person; if I were, I might still be teaching. I have no issues with the name, and I still belong to my State group and to the Progressive group, and I’ve never had my knuckles rapped in either forum, so I guess I’m still a BAT, kinda-sorta – but count me out of the main membership for now. It’s too much like school was, and for all the wrong reasons.
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I’m with you, I left, didn’t care about the name but there’s no room for people who aren’t Naison lock step and not full on progressive in every respect. I left the day Manny said I didn’t reply to him and he was offended/hurt/ really don’t remember the word and another guy’s effort at debate was “I’m right, period”.
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crunchydeb,
Try BATs out again! I know what you are talking about with the TFA bashing. And, while BATs do not approve of the removing valued, successful teachers for replacement with TFAs, there has been much discussion…and you have missed it. That was a heated time for CPS teachers, but with calm discourse has come many realizations. Also, as numbers have grown, so have discussion rules, as you called “mandates,” to keep order and professional decorum. I may not have agreed with all things, and have even had a post deleted (gasp), but there is more good than bad. Questions are being asked and answered. Teachers are finding their voice and are more potent advocates for themselves and their craft!
We need any and all teachers dedicated to their students and the success of teachers and students nationwide!
Good luck in all you do!
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Other than not having to pay dues to a union, what does being anti-union do for you?
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Not supporting the union bigwigs (I refuse to call them leaders-collaborators yes, leaders no) who sleep with the enemy.
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Duane, I and many teachers, union and non-union are appalled at the stance that NEA and AFT leadership has taken on CCSS and other topics. This though is a problem that needs to be solved from the inside. Both unions at their local levels have provided plenty of protections as they are still afforded by law. The answer is to fight, not switch. (Maybe we all need to wear black eyes – for those old enough to remember the reference)
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The unionization rate in this country is down to 11.3% because of aggressive union busting over the decades and the anti-union legislation in many states and nationally (Taft-Hartley Act). The last bastion of unionism is in the public sector and that group is under heavy attack. If people think things will be better without unions, they are delusional .Finland has an overall unionization rate of about 74% and all its teachers are unionized. No union is perfect and if the leadership is not good, then change the leadership rather than give up and just abandon all unions. The reformers will be very happy if the unions self destruct, saves them time, effort and money.
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Many people still consider teachers to be meek, sing-song, crayon collectors. No way! The BAT name represents the tough, in-the-trenches work we do along with the physical and emotional strength it takes to do our job each day. Sign in my kitchen: You can’t scare me; I teach.
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well said!
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I co-founded BATs with Mark Naison on June 14th. We had no idea we had touched a nerve. The result was our explosive, unexpected, and unprecedented growth. If you don’t like the name, that’s okay. We have 31,645+ members because of the name. Could we have more? Maybe. Are there any other groups with sweet names that are this big and influential? No. We’re an ACTION group. Our members are fed up enough to embrace the name. I hope those who don’t like our name have found a supportive group for their activism if they didn’t join BATs. Please be active somewhere. This fight is too important to let a name get in your way. You might be surprised to find some of your friends here.
BATs offers 40 (and counting) interest/affinity groups for members to join – SpEd, Retired Teachers, LGBTQS, Racial, Ethnic & Cultural Equity, and BATs Under Fire, to name a few. We have Facebook group state chapters – just called BATs (not Badass) – in all 50 states & DC. We support our teachers with BAT-love and compassion while providing a place to network, learn more, and actively contribute to the fight against corporate reform. We empower people while providing them a safe haven! People join and find their voice. We are all in different stages of our badassedry. Join us and be empowered!
Search on Facebook for our fan “Page” to like and Google for our website and other sites like Youtube and our TV channel. Maybe you’ll then want to join our Group. We also have a Spanish language Facebook fan page, with more languages coming. BATs welcomes ALL who support our mission – to reduce or eliminate the use of high stakes testing, increase teacher autonomy in the classroom and work to include teacher and family voices in legislative decision-making processes that affect students. Yes, we welcome all – we are not just a teachers group.
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I’m not sure if anyone cares, but I am a teacher, in the heart of the Bible Belt, who is being punished for refusing to follow a pacing guide. I chose, instead, to follow my students pace. If you are truly concerned about helping save the children of this country; worry less about the name and more about the children being abused by these standards. The BATs have been my saving grace and I am so grateful to those who started it. For the first time in my career I have hope. So, thank you Priscilla, Mark, and Diane from a small town southern BadAss Teacher! ^0^
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“We have 31,645+ members because of the name.”
Prove it.
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You welcome all and then promptly kick them out when they don’t agree with your every commander, Your Highness!
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To join, go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/BadAssTeachers/
Click on the “Join Group” button. You do not need to be a teacher to join. There are also BAT groups for parents and students. In addition, there is a website http://www.badassteacher.org/ with other non-FB joining options.
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I am a recently retired teacher (after 30 years) and a BAT. I was in the leadership of my local union and a voice of dissent at times to both the administration AND the union. BATs are like that. Students first. When we know something is wrong for students and learning we speak truth to power. That is what makes us badass, and there is nothing vulgar about that!
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It’s not for everyone. The name is not going away. If you have problems with the word Badass, it’s not for you. We’ve tried playing nice, being warm and fuzzy. Where did that get us? Badass suggests non-conformity. Badass is in-your-face. Badass is not polite. Neither are we.
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BATS is all about taking action. Our ideas and concerns mean nothing if confined to the teachers’ lounge. We have over three million voices – let’s use them! That is what my film is all about, and I can use your help to get it in the public eye. Diane Ravitch graciously gave me a wonderful interview at the Aspen Ideas Festival, and she is in the film, along with Jonathan Kozol, John Kuhn, Nancy Carlsson-Paige, and teachers from all around the country. Please spread the word. See the trailer (and information about how you can help) Here: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/hear-our-teachers–2
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This is so sad…….. At long last, an unabashed and unapologetic public education and teacher advocacy group appears, becomes miraculously large in number over a few months, takes action, multiple actions, to reverse the course of the so called education reform movement and what do we see?? over 30,000 BATS and a handful of people who are still not impressed or able to see the energy and clear success and possibilities of this group. BAT’s is a fragile coalition that truly cut sacross the partisan wasteland and ideological divide. As such, yes, BAT’s seeks to keep the energy focused on our shared beliefs: that CCSS is bad, that High Stakes Testing is bad, that Privatization of the Public school system is bad, that efforts to “deprofessionalize” teaching are bad………….those that claimed to be banned or kicked out are only those who repeatedly attempt to divide or or distract the group from the shared objectives. With such a large number of articulate, energetic, intelligent members, it is essential to keep BAT’s focused on the shared goals. I urge all of those hung up on the name to join and see for themselves. You can always leave the group if you do not like it……. ^0^
http://www.facebook.com/groups/BadAssTeachers/
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Those attacking Bats could be corporate slugs posing as teachers trying to sow dissension among the ranks to obviously limit Bats’ effectiveness. How many times have I seen supporters of charter schools attack the critics only to find out they were charter operators.
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Michael, I am not a corporate slug. The admins at BATS try to join other groups to see what is being said about them. That is pretty juvenile, don’t you think? i left the group, but wasn’t banned. I have found at least two other groups where sane discussions are the norm and coalitions are sound. Still I believe BATS is a vanity project.
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Like Leigh, I am not a “corporate slug”. I am a teacher. But I don’t like the way the admins have handled conflicts in discussions. That doesn’t make me wrong.
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Trust me – no corporate slug here. I’m a mom and a teacher and I occasionally post an article on a “mommy-blog” with like 2 followers. I really thought I’d found a place to cut loose and express my personal badassery – only to find out too many people were guanopsychotic. (And I wish I could remember who coined that term so I could give credit where credit is due! :-))
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Looked it up but can’t figure out what you mean. Are you saying people here are to mild trying to be inoffensive?
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“Guano” = bat manure
“Psychotic” = psychotic.
“Guanopsychotic” = bat-s*** crazy.
I’m trying to say that I thought I found my kind of crazy. *smile** Instead, I found a venue where, if anything, I was even more restricted from speaking my mind, even though we were supposed to be on the same side. 😦
Is that any clearer? I wasn’t sure what you were asking either….
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Sounds like a KrazyTA neologism.
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Unions in our state have done many, many things to benefit the kids!!! Smaller class size, for one, which is critical to learning and providing the needed supports. The name is a way to say we are not afraid to speak up for our kids across the country being decimated by our legislators/governors. One voice, spreading the words to parents is critical at this juncture….or we won’t have public schools to defend!
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Which “unions” are you referencing?
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I would like to know which unions are being referenced too. Also, I am a retired teacher, am almost older-than-dirt, and I do believe I am a BADASS! …and damn proud of it!
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All of the things the BATs are against they are correctly against. But I don’t have a good sense of what they are for. A clearer articulation of that and the 30,000 could become 300,000, and I’m convinced 3,000,000,000, and that WOULD be a game changer.
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Good catch, Harlan.
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You’re right, Harlan.
And just a friendly reminder that you don’t have to be in the teaching profession to become a member of BATs.
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3,000,000,000!!?! Would that include Indian and Chinese teachers?
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what are you talking about?
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When people start talking in BILLIONS of people, we’re out of the US by a wide margin….. I got it, no worries!
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Reblogged this on 21st Century Theater and commented:
The comments here point to larger issues. Most unions are not democratic, not run by the rank and file, not accountable to their members, and on and on…
Teachers now find themselves at the nexus of a class war that has been raging for almost forty years. It has been a corporate led war that has weakened and corrupted unions and channeled their wealth to a political system that breaks unions and doesn’t care if their membership lives or dies.
As the war increased in intensity, corporations began to commodify and corporatize education using neoliberal tactics. It is time to realize this, learn about the forces at work, and organize against them. Make common cause with other people and organize under the banner of pro-human, anti-neoliberal. Take over unions and make them democratic – or leave en mass and start your own. None of this will happen without understanding that you are not alone. This is happening world-wide – and not just to public schools. Utilities, food, water – everything is being privatized.
When we finally see we are not alone and that what is happening to us is happening to everyone else, we can reach out and join forces. So activists organizing against the destruction of the planet by corporate forces can join with activists who are organizing against the destruction of public education (and teaching itself). They can join with activists organizing against the corporate takeover of our governments through “lobbying” and campaign “contributions.”
The allies are out there – and we are all fighting the same thing. When we join forces, maybe we will have a chance against the corporate elite and the politicians and lackeys they buy.
In the face of this epic struggle, people who have enough money to sit back and talk about having had their sensibilities offended need to educate themselves about the war we are in. Your pensions are not safe. Maybe when corporate high finance engineers the next crisis and through neoliberal politicians steals even more of your pension than they’re stealing now, you will wake up and understand what is really happening. By then, it will probably be too late.
The battle is to get corporations (and corporate culture) out of education, the war is to stop corporations from owning everything and controlling every aspect of our lives.
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The privatization you speak about was started by the followers of Milton Freeman, an economist. The Nation magazine did a piece on him a few years ago. In that article they wrote about what happened to the educational system in Chile. I am afraid by the time people do wake up it will be too late.
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Yes, that is what I’m talking about. Here is a good place to start learning more:
I agree with your last statement. In fact, it probably is too late (especially when one takes climate change into consideration), but we might still have a small window of time (historically speaking) to organize and fight. It will take an organization that is strong enough to challenge corporate power and it will have to be worldwide.
To many uneducated people (and yes, unfortunately this includes the majority of people with advanced degrees), this sounds hyperbolic. They counter attempts to organize and have a sense of urgency with arguments that power has always been the same, that small powerless groups have always been dominated by big ones. That some of those powerless people have always fought back, that power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely, etc. Yes, of course.
What they fail to understand is that it is actually different this time.
Wealth and power is concentrated in massive transnational corporations who have unprecedented control of every aspect of our lives. Public school teachers have been experiencing the effects of this control through changes in their unions and privatization, but it is a much bigger process. It is the same process that has decimated our industrial base, increased our cost of living while suppressing our wages, polluted our environment and controlled our food production. And the list goes on and on.
Activists have said, “wake up” for centuries, just as they have warned people of threats to their freedom for centuries. But this time the warning is not just about the freedom of teachers and students, it is about the quality of our everyday lives; indeed, it is about all the lives on this planet. These are the connections people need to make. The ideology that leads corporations to privatize schools and extract wealth from them is the same ideology that compels corporations to drill for oil and “frack” with impunity while the ice melts, the oceans rise, and natural disasters become more intense.
Make connections. Organize.
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I was a BAT but their FB page was too confusing. If I got on a thread, I couldn’t find it when I returned. And my inbox was over-flooded even though I changed the settings for emails. Then some of the conversations were turning nasty. We all have to be on the side. Also it’s a closed group–but I was accepted (under my real name) and I am sure the admin knew nothing about me. I could have been from DFER, TFA, of Educators4Excellence……or any other group trying to privatize education. BATS needs to go public.
But I am still waiting to see the BATS take actual action…..and they had that chance before Election Day. We really need to show the Democratic and Republican parties they cannot turn their backs on public ed.
As for being a site where teachers can learn what’s going on…..what do you think all those Education FB pages have been doing for the last 3 years?? And of course Diane.
If the name BATS can attract more teachers, more power to them because teachers need to be informed. But also look to other pages besides BATS because those admins have been working very hard to get the message out.
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Having been kicked out of BAT four times now, I can say that unless you’re willing to echo everything Naison says and never question an administrator (oh the irony!) of the group, you’re better off joining some if the groups, like Fairtest, who have been around for twenty years. What bothers me is the absolute inability to think without dichotomies: either something is all bad (CCSS, TFA) or all good (Naison and his sycophants). There’s no acknowledgement of shades between, which to me us what got schools into this mess in the first place- the idea that all schools, everywhere, we’re failing. If you’re willing to be a kiss ass, rather than a badass, then BAT is for you. Thus far the only actions the group has actually done are limited to calls and tweets and emails… But as for actual action, it’s still the domain of individuals in their community. I think if BAT is to be a force on a larger scale Naison narcissism and physical threats will have to end and BAT will have to articulate a plan for what they WANT rather than what they are against… Right now it’s just about the what they’re not for- not what their vision is for education.
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I would say add that Naison and Priscilla are, at times, as abusive toward the very teachers they profess to protect as the reformers they rail against! And you might get called a “jive turkey” if you disagree with the Overlord!
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Grandpa Charlie. That’s all we need to say about that.
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That has been my experience too, Teresa. Too much bullying and posturing — too little supporting and organizing.
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That has been my experience too, Teresa. Too much bullying and posturing — too little supporting and organizing.
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This is exactly why I left. Perfectly decent discussions, with no name calling, were shut down by the administrators because they didn’t match their views. And then people started “disappearing” for no known reason, because they had been banned. As soon as I saw that, I got out and have no intention of ever going back.
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wow, been a BAT since last June, and it has empowered me to stand up and speak outin my own school. You may be looking for BAT to “do something” but we’re already changing the national conversation about CCSS on the grassroots level and raising the public’s awareness about the issues around education “reform” — and those who claim to be reformers. Your experience is your own, but many other have found their teacher voice through Mark’s work. It’s not about you, or me or Mark, it’s about the work we need to do to protect our public schools. You can sit and stew or put on your big girl panties and get back in the fight. Your choice.
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What is Mark’s work, incidentally? He’s a college professor at an elite private school. He’s never worked as a public school teacher. Aside from his own blog, what national press has he written for? What programs, aside from those run by members of BAT or small, local programs, has he appeared in? He can hide behind the “it’s all corporate media controlled” bull, but writers like Susan Ohanion have been writing in mainstream magazines like US News and Time for years about high stakes testing. What, aside from threaten to break people’s legs and stroke his own ego, has Mark Naison actually done? It’s a lot of bluff and bluster but what action has really been taken? Grassroots organizations like Opt Out have pulled together rallies and meetings throughout the country… What’s BAT done, really? I’ve been in the fight 17+ years and have lost jobs over it. I’ve been on NPR to speak out. I’ve handed material on opting out to parents. I’ve marched and rallied. I don’t need another blowhard- we need a leader who actually does something, actually risks himself instead of asking teachers to risk themselves. Mark Naison has yet to prove himself that man, although he claims to be that nan on an almost hourly basis.
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You hit the nail right on the head. BATs are asked to support the master and his minions, but that support is not reciprocated.
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It’s about Mark, NY’s next governor!
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I’m running for governor too… Whoop di do. Those are just words. If it’s not backed by an actual campaign– and even if all 31k bats were New Yorkers and they voted for him, he still wouldn’t win. It’s just words, words, words- what’s he actually done?
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I didn’t realize you were being sarcastic. 🙂 so, yes. It is all about him.
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If BATS was responsible for changing ahh conversations, they’d be getting national news coverage. they aren’t. the inflated sense of self worth in the BATS administration is obviously infectious.
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ps sweetheart, I’m no kiss ass. And neither is any other BAT I know. Get over yourself.
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Or is it just that you haven’t posted something viewed as contentious (yet)?
This right here – “either something is all bad… or all good” – was a huge issue for me; I tend to see things in shades of gray, but there aren’t any there that I ever saw.
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debra, that attitude exactly what has led me to leave the BATs. It’s all about Agree or Leave, not about actual conversation and debate. You may think you are bad ass, but you come off sounding like a middle-schooler.
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Thank you Diane!!! You are right! We are going to continue fighting. Thank you for your support. We love you.
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BATs are a Facebook group, not a brick and mortar organization. I find the input from members around the country very informative and sometimes even inspiring. Some of the mobilizations they do are worthwhile and effective. I am sure individual BATs in their local communities have done great things and they should continue to do so. But I have found the leadership to be clueless about how to manage their Facebook members; they have arbitrarily kicked out people whom I know to be totally badass. That’s OK, these banished folks will continue to do important work elsewhere, but the Mussolini-like tendencies of the leadership have turned me off.
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Jacman,
I would love to know what great things are happening around the nation because of BATs.
This is why I wish their page wasn’t so confusing and had to drop out. Other groups have a “Discussion Board” list so you can pick up where you left off. But between the email notices and the arguments on the page, I dropped the page.
As for the arguments, every district, city and state are different. Those that teach in good schools where they are respected have NO idea what the realities are for everyone else.
Try teaching in NYC where Weingarten weakened our rights, our contract and demoralized us.
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I have been vaguely aware of this Face book group for a while now if increasingly annoyed and then disgusted by the delusional, ever escalating and insidiously written claims of its apparent leader, Naison, such as that “ some claim it (BATS) is the conscience of the AFT and the NEA “ and the like. It is difficult to express how simultaneously pointless and deeply insulting such a self serving statement is to the thousands and thousands of articulate, passionate union member teachers who have been battling their union leadership for years now — in the trenches and not from the safety of the internet.
To me, such statements reveal a thinking that I associate, in the best light, with advertizing, competition and almost sociopathic self promotion – all which I find have no place, no place at all in the horrific and degrading scenario all teachers and parents (of which I am both) deal with on a daily basis. You might imagine my surprise then, when, two days ago, curious as to why I was receiving so many posts from this organization, I looked at their website and to my astonishment discovered that I was somehow a member despite the fact that I never joined. Someone, I was told from a stranger in Washington State, signed me up. I found the use of my name without my consent or knowledge outrageous and informed the “administrator” that I would be seeking legal recourse.
My name is my name and it is not to be handed out to anyone or any group by any third party without my knowledge and consent. And yet this is exactly what happened. I ask you: what kind of people allow behavior this grossly disrespectful? What are such people really doing and what do they really want? Within moments of my discovery I began to receive a series of posts from this person Naison who, in a shameless attempt to manipulate and intimidate me, immediately began to insinuate that I was somehow the transgressor, that I was “threatening “ an ”administrator “ I’d “never even met” which was “low ” and so on.
When I brought up the fact that I was signed up to his “association” without my knowledge or consent he told me that people do this to him all the time or something to that effect and that it is no big deal. I found this statement astounding but not as astounding as what came later when Naison asked me if I was “significant” and I was told from this perfect stranger that I was a liar and more. ( I copied the exchange.) Suffice to say; I do not recall a moment when I , a teacher, was spoken to with such utter disrespect and arrogance from anyone — never mind from this self appointed protector of teachers.
Naison, in fact, was so arrogant and delusional he was simply could not imagine that any self respecting teacher wanted nothing at all to do with him or his “association” and hence badgered me about being a charter school agent or some kind of spy, at least twice telling me that he was conducting “historical research “ and looking me up on the internet. It was a very disturbing and depressing encounter and one that told me all I need to know about this person and this “association. ”
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