Katie Osgood is a special education teacher in Chicago who has worked for years with children in high need. She has been critical of Teach for America on her blog for sending inexperienced recruits to work in schools with vulnerable students who should have experienced teachers.
She wrote a comment on this blog today about TFA’s leaked memo on how to respond to critics:
“In TFA’s memo, they cite me BY NAME, as a “known detractor”. So, apparently your tax dollars are also going to spying and unsuccessfully debunking tweets/blog posts from a simple special education teacher in Chicago. I have no media team or PR strategy, I’m just writing the truth of TFA and its devastating impact on my city. I am pretty upset how TFA has singled me out and targeted me. I feel violated and even unsafe given the vast power and resources TFA has at its disposal.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I’ll send my child to Katie’s class any day. I’ll always take experienced teachers over a person with 5 weeks of training. These TFA teaching wannabes are a detriment to the teaching profession and to our students. Go Katie!
LikeLike
There’s a word for societies that take revenues from taxes on working class people, give them to corporate entities like TFA, and then use those selfsame funds to spy on and oppress anyone who speaks out against the corporate state.
LikeLike
and the word is . . .
LikeLike
Hmmm… slips my mind at the moment. I’m sure Spaniards and Italians who lived during the 1930s would be able to remind me. I also remember that Orwell volunteered to fight against it and then wrote a wonderful book called “Homage to Catalonia.”
LikeLike
I just call them scum.
LikeLike
?
LikeLike
NY Teacher: “Fascists”. Verily so. ‘Tis about time that we gave it the name is so richly deserves. On Woody Guthrie’s guitar: “This machine kills Fascists.” They could not be stopped in Spain due to the lack of support from democratic countries. Let’s hope that our resistance in this country, at this time, is successful, at least in the field of education. Resistance is growing. The trade unionists of the NEA and AFT must fully commit themselves to engage in this struggle. Educators need their own version of The Abraham Lincoln Brigade.
LikeLike
Don.t worry john a, ” . . . they’re bound to lose”
LikeLike
Sound familiar?
LikeLike
Interesting to note, too, Robert, that there was an “annual benefit” held (in Chicago) for TFA which raised $1.1 MILLION! This was touted (with pictures) in the Chicago/North Shore (think Rauner territory) magazine Make it Better, published by the Chicago/North Shore Make it Better Foundation (which served as the media sponsor of this benefit). While M.i.B. does sponsor some genuinely worthy organizations (such as Bernie’s Books,** a not-for-profit that collects/distributes books for those in need so that all may read), the magazine described TFA as an organization that “recruits and trains recent college graduates & professionals” (!)* “to teach for two years in urban and rural public schools.”
Hmmm…I wonder just how much of this money raised is going to people who investigate ‘”known detractor(s)”‘ such as Katie?! (Aside from all the $$ that go to the administrators of TFA.)
*(!) was inserted there by me: “trains ‘professionals?!'”
**Also–& I think Katie et.al. would agree–I’d much rather that Bernie’s Books (or one of M.i.B.’s other worthy charities) have that $1.1 million! M.i.B. also touts/sponsors fundraisers, charitable work and volunteerism for charter schools in the Chicago area.
Make it Better Foundation, please do your homework before you make recommendations & raise money–you can DO better than that.
LikeLike
Arne Duncan (?) bust at 0:26
LikeLike
Katie Osgood’s concern about her security is warranted. The corporate ed reformers are showing themselves to be absolutely ruthless. She can take consolation in the fact that they are scared about her truth telling! It shows their support is very weak and they must single out opponents to try and silence them. They cannot obscure the truth forever!
LikeLike
They ARE RUTHLESS!
LikeLike
I always enjoying reading Katie’s blog and posts. Sad to say her experience is part of today’s surveillance state. All I can say is: Stand strong and don’t back down. Hopefully this nightmare will be over soon.
LikeLike
I wonder if TFA is taking a page out of old Richard Nixon’s playbook and has an “enemies” list? Betcha they do.
LikeLike
I have 36 years in public education. I support Katie Osgood and her push for value of experience and training in the profession of teaching.
LikeLike
I feel for Katie. I experience the same thing with on of the largest charter school system in the nation. Educational Corporations simply do not want to educate children with high needs and only want to provide the cheapest most cost effective appearance of special education. Please Katie stand strong! Get yourself a donor page going too.
LikeLike
CONTACT A LAWYER. I think it’s time to fight these issues on the level politicians and corporations understand.
LikeLike
The OLIGARCHY one more time. Outrageous.
LikeLike
I would love TFA to charge their detractors with slander. They need to learn facts are not lies. I guess the truth hurts.&
LikeLike
The TFA attack on Katie Osgood is reprehensible, but not unexpected.Chicago teachers under the aegis of the CTU must protect her as well as pursuing all legal remedies to stop future attacks.
Behind Wendy Kopp’s obsequious yet blank PR smile and empty words lies a most dangerous organization, that in addition to spewing b.s. and sending ill trained kids to provide scab labor, is ready, willing and able to attack single teachers who oppose TFA. This prong of their attack on public schools must be challenged.
LikeLike
wendy is soulless and without conscience
LikeLike
I worked with Katie in Japan. She is an intelligent, inspiring woman from whom I learned a lot. I would be more than happy to have my own kids in her classroom.
LikeLike
Well I would say this. Everyone here will at least have her back. Now that she knows, and we know, that is a bit of “protection” from the powerful TFA, et al. Scary.
LikeLike
If TFA is spending its time worrying about Katie, that’s good! Perhaps we are making a difference in our collective voices of opposition, here and on countless other blogs and Twiiter and Facebook. Keep up the good fight everyone.
LikeLike
It’s time to go on the offensive. People who throw stones usually have many things in their closets, the IRS is a good place to start, think Al Capone…..
LikeLike
Concerning, yes, but it means Katie is telling the truth and they know it. Thus their only (pathetic) defense is to name her and try to intimidate her from speaking up. That’s what bullies do when they have no legs to stand on because their position is dead wrong. This has convinced me that any of their supposed attempts to change are fake and futile, because at the core, the organization is dead rotten.
Lots of us have your back, Katie, so don’t let them get to you. Revel instead in the fact that one person speaking the truth has an entire organization worried.
LikeLike
It shows they feel threatened. If you demonize someone with lies, you don’t have to accept the truth.
LikeLike
Oh for Pete’s sake
LikeLike
Not a Fan; Can you finish your statement, or did you have a brain cramp?
LikeLike
“I feel violated and even unsafe.”
Makes total sense. I mean, TFA might go so far as to tweet a link to the research the next time you slander them.
LikeLike
When I read that the Los Angeles Police Department had at least one full-time position in order to monitor social media-just to be proactive, I realized that social media with regards to education probably has “monitors” as well. And why not, a lot of money is involved. I applaud Katie’s courage. You speak the truth and have our support!
LikeLike