The California Teachers Association introduced the resolution calling for Arne Duncan to resign. Similar proposals had been defeated in 2011 and 2012. This one passed. Here it is.
Duncan is without question the most anti-teacher,anti-public schoolSecretary of Education in our history, and I say that advisedly. Both Bill Bennett Reagan’s second term Secretary) and Rod Paige (George W. Bush’s first term Secretary) had their faults, but they did nothing more than talk. Paige, remember, called the NEA a “terrorist” organization. But neither had the ability to open thousands of privately managed schools, neither persuaded states to judge teachers by the test scores of their students. Besides, both served Republican presidents so their antipathy to unions was not surprising. Duncan works in a Democratic administration. What is his excuse for applauding the mass firing of the staff in Central Falls, Rhode Island? The destruction of public education in New Orleans? The release of teacher names with student scores in Los Angeles? The Vergara decision, attacking due process rights? His close alliance with anti-public school groups like Democrats for Education Reform?
Here is what CTA said:
“CALIFORNIA EDUCATORS CALL FOR DUNCAN RESIGNATION
US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan once again showed his lack of understanding of education law and policy, his disregard of the true challenges facing our students and schools, and his disrespect for the hard-working educators in our schools and colleges across the country when he showed support for the flawed Vergara v. State of California verdict.
“Because of his ongoing lack of effective leadership and advocacy on what is really needed to help our schools succeed, the California delegation to the NEA Representative Assembly has submitted a New Business Item calling for Duncan’s resignation.
“His department’s failed education agenda has focused on more high-stakes testing, grading and pitting public school children against each other based on test scores, and promoting policies and decisions that undermine public schools and colleges, the teaching profession, education professionals and education unions.
“Since the beginning, Duncan’s department has been led by graduates of the Broad Academy, Education Trust-West and other organizations determined to scapegoat teachers and their unions. Most recently, some of these former Obama administration staffers announced a national campaign attacking educators’ rights.
“Authentic education change only comes when all stakeholders – teachers, parents, administrators and the community – work together to best meet the needs of the students in their school or college. Teachers are not the problem. Teachers are part of the solution. And it’s time we have a Secretary of Education who understands and believes that.”
The only puzzle is why the vote was close. Are there NEA members who like a Secretary of Education who is hostile to public school teachers?
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Not being at the RA this year, I don’t know exactly what the dynamic was, but my very long association with CTA has led me to a couple of conclusions. NEA, in general, leans a little conservative, or, at least, middle of the road. There simply are teachers who are politically middle of the road. There are also some on the far right. I remember the year that a group from the CA Inland Empire led a fierce fight against establishing observance of Cesar Chavez’ birthday. Bit I wish I had been there to vote for Duncan’s resignation. CTA did the right thing in bringing forth this NBI.
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The relationship between unions and national legacy parties has been either ideological opposition (as is the case with Republicans) or opportunism (Democrats). There’s never been a president or US Senator who was actively pro-union, that is, ideologically predisposed to collective action–certainly within the last 50 years, and possibly never. I think national Democrats have finally accepted the narrative (true or not), that unions are no longer a worthy constituency to court (how many WaPo opeds and Ezra Klein pieces have made this argument the last 5 or 10 years?). Trite as it is, the only thing power responds to is other power. I think if more states did this, but also began withholding support for Democrats in state elections, some Democrats would begin to respond. But it’s going to take guts and for leadership to sacrifice some swag and perks thrown to them by corrupt Democrats looking for rank and file obedience and foot soldiering.
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“The relationship between unions and national legacy parties has been either ideological opposition (as is the case with Republicans) or opportunism (Democrats). There’s never been a president or US Senator who was actively pro-union, that is, ideologically predisposed to collective action–certainly within the last 50 years, and possibly never.”
Exactly!!!! Well put!
My French friends are always awestruck by how Americans support two parties that undermine them: to their minds, there are really no differences between them. We are too “civilized” to revolt against those who tell us to eat cake.
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“There’s never been a president or US Senator who was actively pro-union, that is, ideologically predisposed to collective action–certainly within the last 50 years, and possibly never.”–A totally false statement. I wonder how old you are. Democrats, including political figures, have traditionally been pro-union. Neoliberal ideas undermining unions have been a recent development. Those ideas started polluting public discourse when crackpot economist MIlton Friedman got his Nobel Prize in Economics back in the 1970s.
Because public school teachers in most states don’t have the right to strike, the AFT and NEA have ALWAYS been weak. Now they are infiltrated by what can only be called moles. If you haven’t seen this video, watch it and weep:
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What will it take to stop using failing or succeeding “schools”???? Schools are not people (unlike corporations). Schools are buildings, or parts of buildings these days, that house students & teachers. Using schools rather than students lets everyone off the hook for the real problems of student failures…..poverty.
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Calling for Duncan’s resignation is not enough because Duncan himself isn’t really the problem. We need a clear call for who will be an acceptable replacement for Duncan. Unfortunately, that list is pretty short and I don’t think the person most qualified (our host) really wants the job.
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Dienne: Yes it’s not Duncan. It’s Obama. Calls for Duncan’s removal are pointless unless Democrats realize they will need all the help they can get for the midterms. As a retired teacher I can not support either major party as related to education. In fact I’m inclined to vote Republican since I prefer to fight the enemy I know (Republicans) rather than my supposed friends or enemy I don’t know (Obama – Democrats).
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Case and point, Cory Booker – he and Chris Christie share many of the same donors. DFER just loves it some Cory Booker. DFER can’t wait to see what Booker’s end game as a senator will be, based upon his embracing ed reform in Newark.
Democrats don’t care if they get the teacher vote, or the union vote, matter of fact its one of the reasons both parties want to undermine and bust the union; because without the dues, the union has no political power at all. Both R & D hate the unions, because they are getting all the 1%er monies, pretty much equally.
I think the deme are just repubs in den name; show me a real democrat, and I will vote for her/him.
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Teachers need to be MUCH more aggressive. A national one day teacher’s strike would get everyone’s attention. If parents really understood what is happening to public schools and how their tax dollars are winding up enriching charter operators (Eva Moskowitz) they could help stop the “reform” movement and support public education.
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Candidate Obama campaigned offering us someone like Linda Darling Hammond. We were given Arne Duncan. Sure feels like “bait and switch”.
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Chris: So true.
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Not wanting the job is one of the best qualifications for the job. Some of the best leaders in history were reluctant leaders. Ravitch could be a true champion and game changer, that for sure.
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And if her health weren’t so precarious, I’d agree fully. But considering her health, I don’t want to impose. We need her alive and blogging more than we need her suffering and collapsing under the strain of having to work with Obama.
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I am second to your motion if I am allowable to vote for Dr. Ravitch. May from canada
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There is a current candidate for governor in Massachusetts, Don Berwick, who seems to support teachers and not have any problem with the unions. I’ve only read a little of his views, but he seems to agree that helping teachers do their jobs will improve schools more than reform will.
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Democratic Teachers need to actively support Green and Citizens parties and be very organized and vocal about it. Here in Illinois Democrats are faced with the prospect of voting for a candidate for Lt. Gov. who has been a butcher of public education at every stop–Paul Vallas.
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I hate to say it but if each paragraph of the CTA resolution was added as a count in Boehner’s law suit against the President for breaching executive powers the lawsuit would have some merit. But the Republicans would never do it and the Democrats would oppose it too in an exercise of bipartisanship. Just some wishful thinking.
Bernie Sanders in 2016!
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Another point: Arne’s anti-teacher, anti-public school rhetoric would be *completely* unacceptable in other roles…can you imagine a Secretary of State who constantly spoke poorly about the US to other countries?
Or a Secretary of Defense who said things about our soldiers and families such as “I find it fascinating that…white suburban moms who — all of a sudden — ( realize that) their child isn’t as brave as they thought they were, and their air force isn’t quite as good as they thought they were” are getting upset”… with completely thoughtless changes to an entire system via private sector rampaging?
No, we will never see that. We will never see that.
Ohhhhh I am so disgusted with the president that I voted for twice, that he engaged this hubristic a….. I find it “fascinating” that such a lack of critical thought, tact, imagination and leadership, leads one to such a lofty perch.
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In my experience, most NEA members also hold good standing as GAGAers.
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I was there this year, as a first time delegate. I have to say it was amazing to be part of a tide shifting within the union ranks. It’s true that the leadership is a little conservative, however the process was truly democratic and the voice of the delegates was truly heard. It’s amazing to me that the NJ leadership actually recommended that our caucus vote against the resolution. They are pretty unwilling to rock the boat and appear “militant.” However, despite this recommendation many people voted for the resolution. It was just exilarating when it passed. What I learned at the RA is that so many people are just unaware and uneducated about what is happening to public education. It’s up to us as members and activists to educate our colleagues. My guess is that next year the resolutions will be even stronger and more united!
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Slightly off point, but Diane’s opening observations suggest to me a project that I hope she is considering–a memoir or historical account of her experiences within, adjacent to, and just beyond the federal architecture for education, including these secretaries of education, little known backstories about NAEP, Brookings, and the rest. Some observations are scattered in books and surface in this blog. I think many of us would appreiate a more coherent narrative.
As someone once said to me, “You are history on the hoof.” (Well for Diane that’s with one lame hoof at the moment). There are few people who have her knowledge and skill in telling about a half century+ of disastrous federal policies in education. There may be a few bright spots, perhaps some of these exemplary for the present…and for any candidate for public office.
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“The only puzzle is why the vote was close.”
Just a guess, but perhaps because many (if not most) Democrats will simply not criticize Obama (on anything for any reason) because they have been led (by Obama and other Democratic party leaders) to believe — indeed to fear — that if they do, they will hand victory to the Republicans in the upcoming election.
But, alas, there is always an upcoming election, so such an approach effectively means always withholding criticism, which leads to a party leadership that is sometimes completely unresponsive to (essentially ignores and sometimes even mocks) its members.
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In my totally unscientific sample of K-12 teachers, it is depressingly not surprising that the vote was close. A number of K-12 teachers with whom I’ve discussed this seem to think that the system isn’t the problem, just students that don’t try hard enough.
Obviously the students need to study and try, but if they are not yet at the developmental stage for the concepts being presented, it doesn’t matter e.g. newborn babies aren’t ready for potty training. Starting babies early before they are ready won’t speed up potty training success.
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Yes but was as noted in these blogs – who would replace him?
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maybe it would spark debate about if we really need the DOE. Republicans would love that AND it would help states get their schools back under their own vision
If the DOE is going to hold needed money for a contest anyway, why do we need them?
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It’s pretty simple for me. The fact is there is a substantial portion of ed reformers who seek to replace public schools with a system of publicly-funded private contractors. I disagree with that, but what there should be NO disagreement on is whether lawmakers and policy people have a duty to tell the public that.
They do. They have a duty to run on this. If they want to replace the public school system, they need to run on it because we deserve a referendum on it. This nonsense with “agnostics” and “relinquishing” and “great schools” is deceptive.
If politicians want a market-based contractor system, they should say so.
http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/brown-center-chalkboard/posts/2014/07/10-accountability-whitehurst#.U7_UbsEKV48.twitter
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You raise a good point. I contend teachers should act more like nurses and stand up for themselves.
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Valerie Strauss: What 4 teachers told Obama over lunch
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Thank you for posting this.
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What Obama heard:
” still some kinks to work out… Teachers will always care more about their students than policy… No need to change course…. Arne is the best Caninet appointment I have made…We still have teachers in our pocket, where else can they go….”
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I was at RA and was shocked at the people who spoke either for Arne or on other items that clearly supported corporate reform. I have no idea why the vote was so close. That was surprising.
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In the Harper’s Index this week:
“Number of local-government jobs lost since 2010: 351,000
Portion of those jobs that were in education: 3/4”
Pretty lousy job creation tactic if you ask me.
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