Delegates to the national convention of the National Education Association passed a resolution calling for the resignation of Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
Similar resolutions did not pass in 2011 ad 2012.
The resolution was proposed by the California Teachers Association. Teachers are angry at Duncan because of his support for the controversial Vergara decision, which ruled against teachers’ right to due process and his devotion to high-stakes testing.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Yes! It is about time. I guess union leadership has gotten the message.
On the floor you would have noticed a lot of states’ leadership wanted the NBI defeated but literally members voices were too loud not to be heard. Proving again that the NEA is a democratic body.
I wish I could have seen it, and heard it.
Maybe Dennis van Rinkle was right when he said that the NEA is a battleship that takes a long timetoturn. Speaking as one union member who has been asleep at the wheel, believing first that Obama was for public education, and then that our unions are on our side, I’m finally awake. Taking back our unions should be our first step. I’m going to go email my rep congratulations, because I’m sure she was one of the loud voices who insisted on being heard.
The NEA is slow to turn only if its leaders are asleep at the wheel.
More than angry about his praise of the Vergara decision that unjustly smears individually and as a group, teachers. Angry because his policies harm children. Today via the NEA RA Body we decided not to pretend otherwise.
Of course if Duncan resigns, Obama will probably replace him with Michelle Rhee. Still, it’s a great resolution. I’m glad it passed.
I had a crazy thought they were grooming Linda Darling Hammond for Secretary of Education. After the Gates-backed PARCC moratorium expires, she could just roll out SBAC.
PARCC is dead to Gates, not even mentioned on the Microsoft CCSS rollout. He’s going all out to save some remnant of his Common Core market domination. He has no loyalty to broken tools like Duncan.
Is SBAC any better?
No.
NO SBAC is no better, and LDH is no better either.
John Stock’s speech combines with the CTA proposal gives the laundry list of reasons for the NEA resolution passing.
Thanks to retired Illinois public school teacher Fred Klonsky, who attended the national NEA conference for retired teachers. He reporting that NEA staff are picketing the conference:
What’s your point Joe? Why don’t you just make it on your own?
My point is that there was other news from the NEA convention. Glad Fred shared this info. People wanting to know about what happened at the NEA convention might find this interesting – including members of the union.
Which is why Fred shared it. He keeps us Illinois teachers well informed along with a cadre of other Illinois bloggers.
We already knew that. Your intent was to burst the Arne pack your bags news. Always defending the privatizers Joe first and foremost. That’s your legend here.
Joe is usually angling for a way to minimize and/or deflect from each post when it doesn’t support his mission, the destruction of traditional public schools and unionized teachers.
Our three children all attended urban public schools. I served as a PTA president of an urban public schools.
Do you have children, Linda? If so, where did/do they attend public schools.
Are you an urban public school teacher? What school?
Obviously, many people have anecdotal “evidence” of poor school incidents that make them.long for a change.
They could be correct in their personal observations, but there is absolutely no evidence that all schools in the US need “fixed” by sweeping reforms. There is no evidence that these particular reforms will fix low functioning students from backgrounds if poverty and starvation either. Sure, changes can improve things but not all things for all people.
I am just tired of false assumptions, false accusations, false promises. What do these clowns think they are doing? It is exhausting to deal with.
This is rather like having a car with a flat tire that is taken to the garage and given a complete engine overhaul. I believe that is known as a scam. We have been victims of a very massive scam.
Agreed, Deb, all US Public schools are not in need of changing.
The money needs to be put into bringing schools with high poverty up to acceptable levels of functioning. I do not feel that there is a will to identify and deal with the real problems of hunger, crime and poverty. Instead a game of rigor and college preparatory skills are being thrown into the mix to broad brush the problem. This will fix nothing.
Driving teachers out of the profession in perfectly well-functioning school districts is insane.
Our district is doing very well and does not need some supervisory direction. But the teachers have been driven out the door and are fed up with the stress and hatefulness that we have received for the last 10 years.
No one deserves that. But throwing all schools into the same pot is unconscionable.
We have wasted way too much money on unneeded change.
Linda, Joe Nathan’s unintended point is that shills are gonna shill, and Trolls are gonna Troll and attempt to distract, and when called on it, this one will predictably bring up his tired, “Charters are public schools and are not all the same” rap.
Happy day to you too. I salute public school teachers & union officials who spend their time creating terrific district options. And my newspaper column constantly shares insights from district as well as charter educators – and the president of Minnesota’s statewide teacher’s union.
http://hometownsource.com/2014/06/11/joe-nathan-column-keep-their-minds-and-bodies-engaged-in-wonder/
They are doing “informational picketing” as THEY say when they hand out their literature as we-the delegates-enter and leave the convention center. As to the details of the disagreement I have not educated myself.
Also on the Klonsky blog:
Fred is amazing. They should make him the guy in the “most interesting man in the world” commercials.
The NEA and unions in general need to take a stand now! Aggressive advocacy must be combined with financial support for candidates that have consistently demonstrated their commitment to public education and labor. Millions of lives will be adversely affected if the status quo persists.
Don’t count on David Boies:
From the Wall Street Journal:
“Mr. Boies grew up in rural Illinois, and he says that his own father, an American history teacher, treated him the same way. “I was probably 16 before I was able to beat him in ping pong, and my children were probably 16 before they were able to beat me,” he says. He received an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in 1964 and law degrees at Yale and New York University.
“Education is the next big issue that Mr. Boies wants to tackle. “We are becoming a nation of haves and have-nots. That is traceable more to who gets what education and who doesn’t than any other single factor, in my view,” he says. He disapproves of teachers unions’ efforts to restrict charter schools, and he has looked into bringing a lawsuit to argue that the failure to provide an adequate education violates various provisions of state and federal constitutions. “There has to be fundamental reforms in the way our educational system is delivered,” he says, and he believes that will only happen through the law.” http://online.wsj.com/articles/david-boies-and-the-fight-against-proposition-8-1403302477
Obviously he has no idea that charter schools do not outperform public schools, nor does he know about rampant fraud and corruption in the deregulated charters.
There’s no such thing as a typical charter or a typical district school. So these debates about which is better don’t help students.
What makes more sense is learning from schools that help youngsters (especially those from low income families, and immigrant families, and teen parents) achieve much more than they thought possible, helping youngsters see how they can and help build a better world, and learning from some of these youngsters…that’s what some people are trying to do.
I know a LOT of people who think the NEA likes Arne. And they use that as a reason to support the common core (when they haven’t read it). They mistakenly believe that the common core is only objectionable to the Tea Party and home schooler crowd who think the common core is “socialist”. Rather than understanding that this version of a common core is, quite simply, developmentally inappropriate.
The insertion of this group of ” standards” into current curricular demands and testing students as if they are familiar with objectives that more correctly belong in grade levels at two ie three levels higher, is objectionable and unreasonable.
I am glad the NEA is standing up against Arne and his untenable attitude towards teachers and public education.
As a teacher (retired) of 36 years and 50 years in education, I am in complete support of such a resolution.
New research that you may be interested in that supports your view of the massive effect of poverty.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/health/uw-researchers-show-how-early-stress-hurts-brain-development-b99304197z1-265866281.html?ipad=y
Peggy Hamby Milwaukee, WI
Important work, this.
My Nevada caucus was determined to backwardly back Arne. I was told it was useless to ask for his resignation because “it was like throwing a rock at a dog”. Then later as I was working with another caucus they told me they expected it to pass because California somehow found out Arne had another job lined up. So as it happened (it was close-as it has been every year) and Dennis smiled really big and declared we would ask for Duncan’s resignation – I cheered loudly, danced, sang, and made it known. I stood alone in my caucus but I was not by myself today. RELIEVED.
I agree with the NEA. If he is replaced, how will his replacement be chosen? I’m encouraged that NEA is speaking out.
The debate that occurred before this NBI was passed slowly slid from blaming Mr. Duncan for the attacks on public education to blaming President Obama-by name-for being the prime cause. Speakers at the microphones made it clear that Mr. Duncan could leave but nothing would change as the person who wanted teachers and public education to suffer was the President himself.
.
Sitting with my delegation the comments from these very liberal and highly diverse teachers about President Obama were of the type, “He’s the problem!”, “I used to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I’m done with him!”, and “We have two more years of getting kicked in teeth by Obama no matter who is the Secretary of Education.”
.
This resolution was attempted in at least two previous years and failed. The realization that the President was the one that was hurting us on purpose was the factor that lead to the resolutions passing this year on a very loud and overwhelming voice vote.
I never thought I’d live to see the day that after teaching special education for 29 years, and having an extremely difficult class, when they don’t know what to label a child, they say they are “Other Health Impaired”, which couldn’t be further from the truth, I received the poorest evaluation that I have had in 29 years. “DEVELOPING” and I need to write a TIP for next year. It doesn’t matter that some of the parents can’t be bothered to come to school for an Annual Review Meeting, or Because their child is sick. That a handful of children ask you if they can take food home because there is none at their house. That 3 or 4 of your students out of 10 are in some way involved with CPS, or that some students have such a limited attention span, that every 15 seconds they are up walking around the room learning nothing, it’s because that according to the new evaluation system I, who have taught successfully for 29 years, suddenly don’t know how any more.
Just as a note the teacher of the year in our district scored “INNEFFECTIVE”.
Appalling.
Cathy,
They want us upset. They want us to quit. I just got a heap of criticism from my administration. We know what we do for these children. Do not allow them to undermine your confidence. It is an uphill battle to maintain one’s equilibrium under these conditions.
Too true, NJTeacher. But NOW it is time for ARNE to quit (which he, of course, won’t). So, as others have called for–bloggers Glen Brown, Ken Previti & many, many others, it is TIME to take to the streets, time to GO to 1600
Pennsylvania Avenue and DEMAND this from POTUS. Not simply the number of people in attendance at the first S.O.S. March on Washington, but THOUSANDS–hundreds of thousands, to be exact–NEA rank-&-file, BATS, NPE, AFT, CTU, Retired Teachers’ Assn’s, Occupy organizations focused on education, Parents Across America, Class Size Matters, Student Organizations–but High School & College–EVERYONE!! It’s summer, people–the school of testing and test preps.isn’t in session, but the school of life, the school of a crucial civics lesson (upon which the very well-being of our students depends) IS. How can the mainstream media ignore the really huge numbers? How many CTU red shirts clogged the downtown streets of Chicago, thus making national news, as well as those Wisconsin educators clogging the state capitol, and their fleeing legislators?
What happened to the saying, “Not why…why NOT?”
ORGANIZE, don’t agonize–town by town, suburb by suburb, city by city, state by state–GET ON THE BUS!!!
If WE don’t do this–and NOW–who else will?
I, too, have taught for 29 years and just received the worst eval of my career. Until this year I have consistently received positive evaluations. I teach preschool and have been recognized for my work by national and international leaders in the field. Several times I have been asked to mentor/coach other preschool teachers. This year Massachusetts used a new teacher eval system. My supervisor rated me as “Needs improvement” in two of the four domains for the same reason. I got knocked twice for insufficient documentation of my use of assessment DATA (that word again!) to inform my teaching. For 29 years I have used data to inform my teaching daily. I have taught others how to collect and use data. This is unbelievable, but I place no value on it. My supervisor has not been in a classroom for years and doesn’t understand what I do. She has jumped on the data bandwagon and is obsessed with it although she has no idea how to assess preschoolers. I have confidence in my teaching. And proof. All of my students demonstrated growth on the assessment we use twice per year. All, but 5 on IEP’s, scored at least average, 10 scored above average on many objectives. So what’s the problem?
In my mind lawsuits are absolutely appropriate for dealing with a totally subjective evaluation system, that has been hastily implemented, relatively untried , untested, and clearly disigned to destroy tenure and weaken the teacher’s union.
The mistake we make is to think of the evaluation system and the core standards as educational tools that are part of educational reform. They are not.
They are part of a calculated economic movement that has taken grip in the Democratic and Republic Parties. It is known as neoliberalism, designed out of the University of Chicago school of economics. Milton Friedman is the guru and it calls for all out political war, with no compromises, in implementing deunionization, free trade, privitization of the public sector(education, et.al.) and social sector cutbacks. Milton and Rose Friedman were the leading advocates for vouchers and charter schools. At the end of his life Milton Friedman praised Katrina for creating a clean slate and opening the door in New Orleans to Charter schools. Creating a clean slate, by making public sector education impossible, by using excessive testing requirements, that an enormous amount of vital teaching time, by using a subjective observation process, connected to student test scores, creates absolute havoc in the teacher-student community , as a whole.
The observation process is unbelievably subjective in the way that Charlotte Danielson’s and Marzano’s best practices are translated into a rigid observation system, with totally subjective interpretations. They were meant as useful suggestions to supplement teaching. Not a rigid set of 30 or 40 categories that have to appear in each lesson.
They are truly unproductive and idiotic, from an educational standpoint. Their goal is to reduce the veteran teaching force by a set amount each year, say 5%. Student testing is connected to sa many factors beyond the teachers control . To design a system that places so much emphasis on student testing is ridiculous. All of it designed to demoralize teachers, unions, parents, and students for the purposes of paving the way for charter schools and vouchers.
Teachers have to fight back politically and the NEA resolution v. Duncan is a small but positive step. We need more. The fact that Obama and Duncan have bebome front runners for Broad, Gates, and the whole so-called “reform movement” is a terrible tragedy
Good luck , Cathy. You are not alone.
So sad. And while I like a sweeping national call by the NEA for Arne Duncan to resign, he won’t. In fact, his response was that he “looks forward” to continuing working with the NEA/ AFT. (Sorry Diane..but Randi’s response bordered on clueless.She’s like a deer in the headlights. I HATE when she goes on news shows and attempts to “speak for teachers.” She doesn’t, and I wish she would just stop.) I have heard, and seen, so many heartbreaking stories like Cathy’s. And most involve an army of poorly trained, highly paid, administrators, who are eating up the “data driven” crap and making our daily working lives, and the lives of our students, impossible. All politics is local, as Tip said. We need to lean really heavily on our local and state unions to make these petty bureaucrats who are involved in implementing these crappy “reforms” more uncomfortable in their positions as Educational Leaders.
What is TIP?
When I was in high school (60s-70s) it stood for “turn in a pusher (of drugs)”
Well Duane now it stands for Teacher Improvement Plan. Isn’t this embarrassing after 29 years of teaching Special Education and never having a poor evaluation?
Not embarrasing, (yes, I believe I sense the sarcasm in your statement), but something to be proud of if you are now get a “poor” evaluation because the evaluation tool is a joke (on you unfortunately). You have the unfortunate set of circumstances, 29 years experience (costly old fart teacher) and teaching SpEd (throw those students to the dogs).
We are coming to take you away ha ha ho ho he he!
I say let schools become charterized, but they must not be allowed to cherry pick students and they must be completely transparent about policies and budgeting, and they must be heavily unionized. in fact, there can be local unions, or better, a nationwide union that serves teachers who teach in charter schools. Also, there should be a proportions limit regarding the pay of managers vs. the pay of teachers. No director or adminstrator or proprietor of the management company can earn so much more than a teacher. Also, charters must seek their own space to teach in and cannot co-locate.
If they want the government contract, then they must play by the same rules, maybe except for the length of the work day, the work year. Let’s see how free markte choice approaches work here.
Then, let’s see if charters perform the same, worse, or better.
It’s such a simplistic goal with extremely complex factors and one does not necessarily equate to the other.
Why do we need to require a level playing field? They don’t live up to their hype now. If a school can’t perform under the favored circumstances so many of them enjoy now, why give them another chance? If they are not fulfilling their mandate now, they need to go.
Robert Rendo,
The charter lobbyists would never permit your proposal to pass. Accept all kinds of children? No. Accept limits on compensation? No. Accept unions? Never.
Joe Nathan has supported the notion of unionized charters. But maybe he is a lone wolf?
I think we are all a little primed to jump on him. I don’t think he has suffered the abuses that many who blog here have as a result of the reform agenda. The fact that there are decent charters does not go over well in a state like Ohio or Michigan where the concept has been malignantly used to privatize education. Those teachers in Chicago who lost their jobs during Rahm’s public school purge and those in New Orleans are less than likely to take kindly to a defense of the charter sector. Minnesota has done a better job of policing charters although I think Joe would admit there is room for improvement. He has got to know that he is more than likely to get his head bitten off if he isn’t careful when he posts here, so he has a thick skin, and it isn’t bad for us to have to defend our beliefs. I hope to see the end of this war, but I would like to have an idea of what education should look like going forward. Being aware of all points of view is important in shaping the future.
Nice post in the spirit of July 4 2old. I work with folks all over the country and readily acknowledge there are problems with corruption and charlatans in charters.
It’s just that I’ve seen similar things all over the country with unions and traditional districts. There’s so single solution.
And yes part of progress will require more high quality early childhood education, esp for youngsters from low income & immigrant families. more people employed in living wage jobs with medical care & other benefits, many fewer people unemployed, more affordable healthy care….all things that the Obama administration has been working on.
Some of us are actively promoting teacher led schools as part of what needs to be done. Encouraging that some folks posting here see the value of that too. But clearly no single strategy will get schools, students, educators and families where we want to be.
No a number of state laws explicitly permit unions in charters.
Joe Nathan is funded to provide the outlier or exception that the so-called reformers can point to and say, “You see? We’re not all robotically predictable and the same, and we’re not only about busting unions and accumulating power and profit. Here’s the proof…”
Assuming his sincerity about these matters, which I do, just shows that he is as willing to deceive himself as he is others.
Insults may make some people feel better. But creating constructive options is what draws families and students.
When you write “never” about unions & charters, how do you account for the state laws that explicitly permit unions in charters? Or the fact that the UFT in NYC has started charters that have union members?
Joe Nathan,
How do you account for the fact that 88-90% of charters nave no union?
Already asked and answered.
But since you asked, because the teachers who work in the schools decided not to affiliate with a union.
In the 80%+ charters without the option to have representation, ALL of the teachers voted not to be in a union? Wow! Some stat.
You’re not the only one who provides options Joe. Stop promoting yourself 24/7. It’s not all about you.
Certainly isn’t just about any single one of us, Linda.
What do you think of what this public school teacher said this weekend?
“Educators are the “decisive element” in the lives of millions of students who face daunting challenges every day of their lives.
“More than ever, children at the bottom need incredible schools and incredible teachers. Our schools are the land of opportunity in this country,” McComb said. “They must be—our children depend on them and they deserve for them to be.”
That’s NEA Member Sean McComb, the 2014 National Teacher of the Year,
(The above, as well as the info below comes from an NEA press release) “McComb, an English teacher at Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts High School in Baltimore County, Md., was awarded the prestigious title in April by the Council of Chief State School Officers. At Patapsco, McComb focuses on creating critical readers, strong writers, and judicious thinkers. As coordinator of Patapsco’s Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program, he takes a leadership role in honing student work habits and academic skill. This program helped Patapsco, for the first time in its 50-year history, receive recognition as a top high school from The Washington Post and U.S. News and World Report.
Introducing McComb to the delegates today, NEA President Dennis Van Roekel remarked that Sean has had profound insights into the profession, and the power of the teacher-student relationship. “I know that Sean will make a wonderful ambassador for our profession,” Van Roekel said.
McComb was selected to be Teacher of the Year not only for his tireless work in creating new learning opportunities for his students but also inspiring them, a role he underscored in his speech.
Sounds like a wonderful teacher. Good for him.
Glad to see the National Teacher of the Year things teachers are the decisive element in the lives of millions of students who face daunting challenges every day.
And you believe that’s new news to us?
If it isn’t about any one of us then stop posting your family history and all your achievements every time you are challenged.
We have already read it hundreds of times. Move on Joe….it’s boring.
So glad to hear we agree that teachers can make a huge difference in students’ lives.
Really Joe? As if no one on this blog didn’t believe that all along. Let’s also agree that puppies and kittens are cute. Stop patronizing us here Joe.
Lots of comments here about external reasons schools and teachers can’t have much impact.
Glad to the National Teacher of the Year agrees that teachers are “the decisive element” in the lives of millions of children who face challenges every day.
You have selective reading skills. No one has said teachers cannot have much impact. We are not the sole factor. There are many variables we don’t control. Now you’re just repeating the same talking point to convice yourself. You appear to respond to make yourself feel better. Yawn.
“Glad to see the National Teacher of the Year things teachers are the decisive element in the lives of millions of students who face daunting challenges every day.”
Actually I find that rather sad. Most high school teachers do not have the chance to spend a lot of time with their students. AVID is a worthwhile program because of the mentorship it provides. While I believe that teachers can have an impact on a student, I sincerely hope that teachers do not need to be so critical as to be considered decisive. I know I connected with my students, with some better than others, and perhaps helped some of them to push themselves to go beyond what society said they could do, but their lives extended well beyond my classroom. I am not inspired by the teacher as superhero meme. I am much more taken with the “it takes a village” mantra. I am sure McComb is a great teacher and the AVID program allows him to maximize his impact . Being recognized by CCSSO, WaPo, and U.S. News and World Report in these circles may be a bit of a dubious honor, however.
Joe Nathan,
My colleagues and I create constructive options for our 100% immigrant student population every day, and we do it under the protection of a union contract that also serves students by limiting class size, so please spare me your sanctimony about the “choices” your fronting for charter school interests gives to students and teachers.
As for the fact that some charters are unionized, so what? While a good thing, it’s a minuscule number that has virtually no broad affect on working conditions in that sector of the industry.
Unions are not “prohibited” from organizing in charters? Again, so what? Unions are also not “prohibited” from organizing in right-to-work (for less) states, yet somehow that lack of prohibition has not translated into higher wages, benefits or improved workings conditions for teachers, since the power of employers remains overwhelming. Another meaningless factoid, used to misdirect.
You also attempt to divert attention by referring to the outlier – or is it “out, liar?” – of the UFT charter schools. You obviously don’t read my posts on this site, otherwise you would know that I am a frequent critic of the UFT leadership that co-located its charter schools on the premises of a public school. I personally spoke up at the UFT Delegate Assembly on the day of that vote, opposing the union’s establishment of charter schools, partially because even then I knew that people like yourself would use their existence to further propagandize for charters, as you reliably do.
Thanks for clarifying your views. Please share information about what you do to serve students from immigrant families. Please tell us what you think of the National Teacher of the Year’s comment that Teachers are “the decisive” element” in the lives of youngsters from challenging backgrounds.
I agree with him. Do you?
Fred and his ten minute drawing:
As a career teacher with a foot-thick pile of thank you notes from students, I disagree that teachers are “the decisive element” in students’ lives, and find it unfortunate that the teacher you refer to is so naive as to have accepted the false premises and duplicitous flattery of the so-called reformers.
Perhaps when a new Principal, barely out of diapers and with virtually no teaching experience, starts harassing him and giving him ineffective ratings, he’ll wake up.
Until then, he credulously provides ammunition to front men like you, so they can turn the public schools over to your funders.
Yes, I agree that a principal can be a huge positive or negative impact.
Can’t speak to the letters of appreciation you’ve received…but I’ve also received many over 40 years. Some speak to the enormous impact that classroom teachers can have on a student. For most former students who’ve written to me, it has little if anything to do with test scores. It’s about helping young people see they can accomplish far more than they thought possible.
What kinds of things do former students thank you for?
As to “turning over the public schools…” thanks to tax payers like you, Michael, our funders include the US government. They’ve helped us bring district & charter educators together to work with and learn from each-other. Some of us believe there is value in collaboration.
Let’s do it!!!!!
Michael, glad to hear about your work.
NEA delegate res against Duncan is very good news, a start. NEA has deep pockets and a national network. Lots more to do to encourage parent opt-out, legislative rejection of CCSS/PARCC/VAM. Legal aid to teachers unfairly targeted. Start a national charter for “what kids need from school” as a blueprint for what a Sec/y of Educatioin should follow, preparing for sec’y who will follow Broadie Duncan. Start a national charter campaign to put a broadly appealing document out there.
Obama was brought in by the Finance, Insurance and Real Estate lobby (see Penny Pritzker, et al) whose ranks are swelled by the likes of Michael Milken (k12, Inc) and Lumina/ALEC stooges like Nancy Shulock, and ACCJC goons Barbara Beno, Sherill Amador and Frank Gornick. These privatizing profiteers are working at the behest of very big money. It’s all so exasperating and depressing when the leadership appears to be bought out. NEA and AFT need to speak with one voice and condemn Obama for his miserable abuse of our nation’s children.
That would be great Ge, if the primary motive of both the Bush and Obama Administrations was about the best interests of our nation’s children. I’m frankly disgusted with Obama, and I agree that he should be “held accountable” for not only dismissing the voices of the very people who who helped get him elected in 2008 and 2012, but actively attempting to undermine the very structures that allowed him, and his wife, to reach such personal and professional pinnacles. The former Community Organizer has lost touch with his community and stopped listening to the members of those communities. Politicians are peculiar animals, driven by a hubris that most teachers can’t quite understand because our motives are so different. Imagine a black Columbia and Harvard Law School graduate of limited means “making it” in a way most of us cannot imagine, and then “forgetting” who and what helped him along the way? He’s VERY smart, but where along the line did he forget that he was the product of a world class education and suddenly decide he was an EXPERT in all things education?
Maybe the powers that be are setting Duncan up to be the fall guy? NEA & AFT need to publicly condemn Obama, Duncan, Gates & Common Core. Until they do that, Duncan, if removed, will only be replaced with someone just like him.
Rosie,
Like you, I would love to see our “association” (I can’t use the word union, if they do not act as a union), and the AFT condemn Obama and Duncan, but sure don’t see it happening. For years they have been like a deer in the lights of an on coming car. I remember when I read that the teamsters union held back their vote for Obama to see what he really would say about union rights. The reporters said in California that the NEA bragged that they were the first union to confirm him for a second term. I thought it was a bad strategy to accept Obama immediately in his second run when before he was elected the first time he told us he would “fix” NCLB and we still had Duncan. Our union needs to wake up. My dad was in a real union, the ILWU. We need to also have a strong union like my dad’s union or the nurses union. Where is the respect for teachers when we get so little respect. When I first started teaching if an adult asked me what I did and I said I was a teacher they would beam and tell me how they really admired teachers. Do you hear this anymore? I read on a nurse’s blog that they have a radio station. I don’t know in what state, but we needed something like that or PR people defending us. With the Bushes, Obama, Duncan and reporters that take the corporate line, when did our union help us? When did we get PR help when reporters said we were lazy and incompetent? It is never to late, but our “association” needs to get its act together before it is too late, maybe if they can do this, I will be able to call thematic union….