On the second day of the second annual conference of the Network for Public Education’s Conference, I moderated a discussion between the leaders of the NEA and the AFT. Lily Eskelsen represented the NEA, and Randi Weingarten of the AFT.
This is the first video to emerge from the
program. Two very strong women! The video was made by Vibcent Precht.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Hi Diane, Remember the question about a national teachers’ strike? How about a national teachers’ boycott of Walmart re school supplies and asking parents/kids to do the same? Perhaps we can enlist Target or Office Depot, Staples, other nation wide alternatives. . .
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Could you get Randi to clarify her remark that parents should have the right to opt out or to “opt in”? Is there some kind of movement I’m not aware of trying to force parents to opt out? Does she have a true concern that “opting in” won’t be an option? Or is this just some kind of false equivalence, both sides are right and wrong thing?
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Weingarten is all about double-talk and misdirection; this is more of the same.
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I think 2old2teach said it quite cogently when during Weingarten’s blatherings she commented “She tries too hard”.
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And for me that discussion was the least informative of all, a lot less so than my conversations with the valet parkers.
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Dear Dr. Ravitch:
Thank you very much for the video. I do not think that Dr. Weingarten does doubled talk. She seems to be sincere and heartfelt in her tone of voice. On the other hand, Lily seems to be well calculated in her every narrative story.
If I need a good and true friend, I would pick Dr. Weingarten. Señor Swacker and 2old2teach may disagree with me. The tone of voice can show us how people will or will not follow through whatever they promise. It is my own experience.
In short, the truth is that every educator should be proud to be in the teaching profession. The most powerful power is the TRUST that teacher earns from the community base. Parents and students will always support teachers who have done the difference in children’s hope and dream to be the best in their own unique talent.
School annual showcase, music, drama, track and field tournament, civilization museum field trip, science fair… are what the connection between educators and community, as well as the inspiration for children’s hope and dream to come true. May King
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I think people need to go beyond the talk or appearance. If you know Weingarten, who is a lawyer and not an educator, if you have worked as a NYC teacher when she was president of our local union, you would know that it’s not about what she says, it’s about what she actually does. And what she does is align herself with Reformers while throwing teachers and public education under the bus.
Her rhetoric comes across as caring, but this is why she is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. She found a way to kill our union’s democratic process so she and Unity can remain in control. This is why I no longer believe in political campaign speeches where promises are almost always broken. So before you judge the talk, learn about the actual walk.
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Thank you, Diane, for your leadership. Without it, I wonder if either of these women would even be talking about the big issues we face, let alone saying negative (true) things about such as Gates and Common Core even as we approach the election campaign of the Democratic candidate who is so strongly allied with both . . .
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Thank you schoolgal for reminding me the utmost important fact which is “the actual WALK”.
My emotion caused my intellectual judgment cloudy. As I am always cautious about people’s background and action that they deliberately or involuntarily take, I will have better idea about people’s character and morality.
I sincerely apologize to all of educators who have suffered tenure loss or career loss because Dr. Weingarten broke her promise and lost the trust from all conscientious educators.
Although I believe in Buddha’s teaching (=forgiveness) and in the universal law of KARMA (criminals will be suffered), I definitely stay away from whoever declares that they are communist, AND I ABSOLUTELY NEVER TRUST a word or promise from communist mouth (=PR).
Similarly, you would never trust a word or a promise from politician or lawyer. Therefore, SOME conscientious educators should sacrifice their joy in teaching in order to run for certain positions which are related to lead, to protect, to improve, and to preserve PUBLIC EDUCATION. May.
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