Stephen Colbert Does Something Wonderful

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1. deb says:

   May 8, 2015 at 5:55 am

   Retro philanthropy? Gee, I’m old enough to remember way back when….
   Thank you Stephen.

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2. andrewdavidmitchell says:

   May 8, 2015 at 6:09 am

   Forgive me for my against-the-grain reaction. This is awesome for the kids and teachers of SC. Thank you Steven Colbert!

   But what the hell kind of funding system even allows this kind of philanthropy to be necessary?

   Today the Koch Bros. offered to bail out every “to big to fail” business when Congress refused to fully fund a bail out plan for banks that were caught defrauding the American public.

   Today Bill Gates agreed to foot the bill for the U.S. to continue its military presence around the world when the President informed the Pentagon that he would no longer support deficit spending to fund wartime activities.

   Today Mark Zuckerburg announced that he would replenish the pension systems of states ravaged by years of short-sighted profiteering at the expense of our middle class.

   Today Arne Duncan agreed to eliminate waivers and just end testing abuse nationwide.

   Pearson shutters its doors and announces that its employees will be trained to work in high-poverty schools. Additionally, its former employees and all preexisting teachers in these schools are given 150% pay raises for serving our most vulnerable children.

   I can imagine, can’t I?

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   • andrewdavidmitchell says:

     May 8, 2015 at 6:15 am

     Stephen. “too” Sorry I can’t edit my comment on my phone!

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   • Laura H. Chapman says:

     May 8, 2015 at 7:43 am

     I agree with your observations. The state of South Carolina officials might just as well as have required these teachers to get a tin cup and stand on a street corner to receive money for projects that could have been placed into a review process and awarded grants based on merit rather than being able and willing to recruit friends, family, whatever as a precondition for being eligible. I admire the impulse to help teachers but this is a very slippery slope.

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     • Chiara says:

       May 8, 2015 at 8:00 am

       I’m really conflicted on it too. Generosity is great – and this is a real gift, not a fake “gift” that comes with strings- but I think “books for my classroom” (several of the requests) should not be left up to charitable impulses.

       This donor set-up also pretends that time and effort is “free” and it’s not. If teachers are raising money for necessities the teachers are donating time and effort. It bothers me that that isn’t included. Why is their time without value? Arguably if you spend 4 hours raising 400 dollars no one “gave” you anything. You earned it.

     • 2old2tch says:

       May 8, 2015 at 10:42 pm

       “Arguably if you spend 4 hours raising 400 dollars no one “gave” you anything. You earned it.”

       Nah, Chiara, nobody had to give me anything just as I didn’t have to go out and raise money. Nobody makes us go out and buy supplies for our classes with our own money, but a lot of teachers do. They are still benefactors even though we have to put some effort into making the request. I understand what you are saying in the sense that a teacher should not have to feel the need to fundraise for essentials, but I still can’t feel like people who might donate owed it to me.

3. Michael Fiorillo says:

   May 8, 2015 at 6:12 am

   Colbert did a good thing (I’d call it penance for the free rides he gave so-called reformers on his show over the years), but if public schools need to rely on the charity of the rich and famous, then we’re doomed.

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   • Robert Rendo says:

     May 8, 2015 at 7:10 am

     Agreed!

     Than you Mr. Colbert!

     But please advocate for saving your charitable donations and just paying your taxes . . . . .

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4. artseagal says:

   May 8, 2015 at 6:32 am

   All is not what it seems.The organization that is behind “overseeing” these monetary donations (donors chose) winds up with a national data bank of teachers ALONG WITH THEIR PERSONAL connections. Teachers are expected to ask family and friends for donations and all family and friends need to be listed with donors chose. This organization started under the premise that corporations had charitable money to give away and Donors Chose was the middle man enabling teachers to connect with corporations to receive money to fund particular projects. Then suddenly teachers who were funded were the ones who were required to aggressively recruit donations from any family member or friend willing to give money in order to receive corporate funds and were required to provide Donors Chose with personal donor contact lists in order to receive corporate donations. Steven Colbert’s intentions are noble. Donors Chose is not giving away “free money”! If you are a teacher and do not mind giving Donors Chose your personal contact lists in order to receive corporate money, then there is no problem for you.

   Now if they go back to their original approach and allow teachers to receive Colbert money without “corporate strings attached”… teachers having to get family and friends donating and providing Donors Chose with those contacts in order to receive Colbert money… then this is another story!

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   • Dienne says:

     May 8, 2015 at 6:36 am

     Thanks for that info. I’m always shocked – although I know I shouldn’t be any more – by the depths of depravity often found lurking behind seemingly noble charities.

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5. Judith Malys says:

   May 8, 2015 at 7:37 am

   I had seen this on twitter and used to follow the Colbert Report. He has a big heart and knows where to get the best bang for his buck! Many thanks to Stephen for his kindness!

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6. Marian Cruz says:

   May 8, 2015 at 9:53 am

   Stephen Colbert, great job!

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7. Tim says:

   May 8, 2015 at 10:07 am

   “Using the proceeds of the sale of my old set on The Colbert Report which we auctioned off, and with the generous matching funds from The Morgridge Family Foundation and ScanSource, DonorsChoose is going to flash-fund all 1,000 projects in South Carolina,” Colbert said. “Enjoy your learning, South Carolina.”

   The Morgridge Family Foundation has given extensively to a wide range of K-12 initiatives, including substantial donations to and partnerships with a variety of KIPP schools and the national KIPP network. No Honor Roll for them, I guess.

   Many corporations, foundations, and philanthropists are already funding projects on Donors Choose every day. Hopefully Colbert and the Morgridge Foundation will inspire others to take it to a higher level.

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8. schoolgalS says:

   May 8, 2015 at 10:20 am

   Colbert sits on the board of Donors Choose. A few years ago this organization teamed up with charters to get money for teachers for TFA. They also teamed up with Gates and any recipient had to promise to go to a viewing of Waiting for Superman. I hope DC goes back to its roots, but Reformers are putting their stamp on everything. Very sad.

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   • artseagal says:

     May 9, 2015 at 8:11 am

     schoolgalS… thanks for mentioning this. I am not surprised that there is a connection of Donors Choose to TFA.. did not know this. Yes we should question why as teachers we need to be getting necessary supplies by spending our time scouring the internet for corporate charities. This indeed should not have to be. BUT WE ALSO SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE LARGER PICTURE AND NOT IGNORING THE FACT THAT THESE “charitable organizations” are structured to support “corporate ed reform”. Donors Choose is one prime example. Seems like the two Colbert articles sing his praises but ignore the larger issue. And then… how can TRUE EDUCATORS… THE REAL REFORMERS get the attention of the “Colberts” in order to help the real reform cause led by professionals WHO ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND EDUCATION BECAUSE THEY TEACH!!

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