Mercedes Schneider is a Wonder Woman of data. She teaches high school English in Louisiana, holds a Ph.D. in research methods, and writes lengthy, carefully documented articles when she is not teaching.
I can’t wait to see her book, which will be published in 2014.
When the so-called “Center for Union Facts” purchased a full-page ad in the New York Times to attack Randi Weingarten and teachers’ unions for the alleged “decline” in PISA scores, Schneider wrote a post exposing that the CUF is neither a “center” nor does it deal in “facts.” It is a public relations firm that represents rightwing corporate interests and specializes in union-busting, among its other unsavory projects.
I also wrote a post about CUF, describing my personal encounter with its president Richard Berman at a conference of rightwing philanthropies, where he explained his campaign to discredit teachers’ unions.
CUF wrote a response, attacking me and ignoring Schneider’s expose of their funding.
In this post, Schneider blasts back. It is Mercedes at her best, the dogged researcher who is principled, courageous, witty, and fearless.
Let’s see if the CUF has the nerve to go after Mercedes.
I place my bets on her.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Diane’s and Mercedes blogs are read by journalists. But again I urge both to do op eds in major media of their choice to reach not us who already know, but others who don’t. Let the truth shine out to a bigger audience please.
Gail, I haven’t the time.
In order to complete this post, I slept only three hours last night.
Others can certainly take on the op-eds.
Why don’t you permit some bloggers here to send your work out to major publications.
Any takers?
Robert, anyone who wishes may forward my work. However, my posts tend to be several times the length allowed for op-eds.
Excerpts of my work could certainly be used, with a statement referring readers back to the full work.
deutsch29: your devotion to others is moving. Your integrity is tried and true.
Pardon the presumption, but please remember that R-E-S-T is not a four-letter word.
For your own sake and that of those close to you, show kindness to yourself as well as to the rest of us.
Your most appreciative neighborhood KrazyTA.
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KrazyTA, not to worry. Thursday night I had eight hours of sleep.
When I write, it is common for me to get four hours of sleep, but I try to stagger those nights.
I support unions in general, but I’d support teachers unions even if I didn’t, because teachers unions are the only entity advocating for public schools.
It’s not complicated.
The Center For Union facts can buy as much media as want. There is ONE entity who have advocated for public school funding in Ohio and that’s teachers unions. They were up against most of our elected leaders, nearly the entire business community and Michelle Rhee’s lobby shop.
Rhee’s lobbying organization sent out an email crowing about their success in the last Ohio ed budget. The last Ohio ed budget screwed every public school in the state, but charter schools won big. Thanks, ed reformers! Good job!
It isn’t hard to figure out who is fighting for public schools in this state, and it isn’t the Center for Union Facts, our elected leaders, or ed reform lobbyists. While I think it’s completely nuts that we’ve come to this place, where a labor union are the last remaining advocates for the 90% of kids who attend existing public schools, that’s where we are after a decade of “ed reform”.
Click on all three links provided in the blog posting.
Then marvel with me that CUF couldn’t hire [find?] a smear artist that could do even a mediocre job.
But when it comes to the gang that couldn’t shoot straight, they should have picked an easier mark:
“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog. “ [Mark Twain]
And just what are their chances of winning against a single ethical numbers/stats person?
Even someone as innumerate as I am could have told them: with the CUF and their political connections and sleaze artists and millions of $tudent $uccess on one side, and Dr. Schneider on the other—
They’re hopelessly outnumbered.
“Truth is powerful and it prevails.” [Sojourner Truth]
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Diane, with all the people who follow you and 34,000 BATS, we should buy our own full page ad in the NY Times. I agree with Gail. Our message needs to extend beyond our own supporters. Slowly, doggedly, we need to educate the public – because most still aren’t getting it, and the reform rhetoric is scary and persuasive.
Alicia, maybe Diane and Dr Schneider should start their own Super PAC (a la Colbert ) and really start spreading the truth to the unsuspecting public (a la Rachel Maddow style).
I have my checkbook ready.
Chickenshits are as chickenshits do!
CUF = Chickenshits for United Fascists
Here is the CREW web site devoted to exposing Berman, a trua scumbag that makes other lesser scumbags (such as corrupt politicians) look like saints. http://bermanexposed.org/
How does a loser like that get on tv???? What a con artist
I, too, am excitedly awaiting Dr. Schneider’s book. She’s a person of extraordinary discernment.
Robert D. Shepherd: I already have the money earmarked.
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Ms. Schneider is a person of breathtaking integrity.
Never do you hear her scream, curse or belittle in her writer’s tone.
She simply tells the truth with beauty, exquisite detail, critical thought, and profundity.
She is all of Apollo’s muses wrapped into one sobering and empowering journalist . . .
Aren’t there anti-bullying laws in education? I think everyone of us need to file a separate report on Berman.
Your tireless efforts are received by each of us in the know with support and gratitude. I concur with Gail E Janensch’s comment on OpEd pages. We need both Mercedes and Diane to hit every major newspaper and media outlet with the truths you speak.
Dr Schneider writes with clarity and humor, revealing a truth that confirms our suspicions.
Thank you Diane, for introducing those of us who were ignorant to a new, reliable source of information in the fight against greed and stupidity.
Big time kudos to Mercedes! Excellent, excellent piece. I pasted the link on my FB status. Mr Berman’s quite a guy.