Jonathan Pelto, ex-state legislator and prolific blogger, is deciding whether to mount a challenge to Governor Dannell Malloy, based in large part on Malloy’s embrace of the agenda of the privatization movement in Connecticut.
Pelto here describes reactions from friends and foes.
In my view, this would be an honorable challenge.
Teachers and parents should not vote for a governor–whether it is Malloy or Cuomo–who consistently sides with the billionaires who seek to undermine public education.
Most children in both states attend public schools. Those schools need to be improved and supported, not placed in competition with charter schools that are free to choose students they want and free to push out those they don’t want.
I wish Jon Pelto well and hope that every governor who abandons public education faces a similar challenge.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
How do we send him money for support?
Mark,
Will let you know how to help Jon if he decides to jump in. Just to “explore” costs $250,000
Maybe if Pelto pulls this off, citizens in other states around the country will be motivated to do the same and voters will be motivated to help such candidates.
Third party candidates should not be a consideration right now – THEY ARE A NECESSITY! It’s not just education that is in trouble. Pelto – God bless your efforts, and once you are elected, can you find a way to help us in Illinois? I’d like to contribute to the campaign also. It has to start somewhere; I’ll be praying for a first follower!
CT citizens for Pelto. Democrats for Pelto. Republicans for Pelto. Independents for Pelto. Teachers, their spouses, families and college students for Pelto. State employees for Pelto. Humans, tired of Malloy and his lies, for Pelto. Run, Jonathan, run.
Pelto would be likely to behave like an actual statesman, rather than like a mere politician.
Diane,
I am a very faithful reader of your blog. Today I want to send this 2011 article about Bill and Melinda Gates’ start with teacher evaluation after surveying teachers.
I was struck by this quote: Page 2: “. . . but the field of education doesn’t know very much at all about effective teaching.” Hmmm … this is not correct, and it is a dangerous assumption upon which to build plans to overhaul public education when you are not an educator (which I have been for 54 years – your career and mine follow a similar path in terms of the decades in which we taught).
Thank you for your commitment to maintaining your blog and providing such critical information to us out here.
Judy Casey Colorado Attendee at the NPE Conference in Austin
Reblogged this on We Are More and commented:
Anyone Willing to Run in IL?
Democrats in particular need to beware: if they ignore large constituent groups like teachers, they could see new third party emerge that could become the second (or even first) party as the Republicans continue their descent into madness.
I will financially support and vote 3rd party. The time seems ripe for success. I am hoping for a 3rd party candidate here in NY.
http://www.howiehawkins.org
Howie Hawkins. His platform includes advocacy for opting out of common core, high stakes testing, and, in a nutshell, education deform and rheeform. Pro public schools.
Fan and supporter of Pelto!
Fan and supporter, also, but it would be a very long shot running as an independent.
Diane, I know you said you don’t often (if ever) post videos on your blog, but hope you don’t mind if I post a link for this wonderful anti-Coumo video that was shot out in Holbrook, Long Island when Cuomo came out for a fundraiser. It’s brilliant! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlTgHIAi1QI
p.s. Hope your knee is healing nicely. Keep up with the PT!
Mary, I can always post links to videos. Glad to post yours.
Isn’t it sad how the local news doesn’t let the public know just how many people boldly told Cuomo his policies are not working? Thanks for posting this. And thank you Diane, for offering a place where freedom to learn the truth still exists in America.
Yeah, Pelto! He doesn’t have to win. He just have to shake things up and make people pay attention. We need to rewrite the script that the “reformers” have been parroting for too long. Jonathan can help to do that.
cx: he just has to
Go, Mr. Pelto, go!
It’s not about right versus left or dem versus repub anymore.
It’s about the individual versus the corporate world.
I think this is just what Connecticut ordered! This needs to be about who will best serve the kids, not about who will change direction when the wind does like Governor Malloy. I voted for Malloy in the last election, but will certainly not in this one. It is noce to know that there may be an alternative.