The other night I was watching the PBS Newshour and was pleased when they said they would have a discussion of the NCLB reauthorization. Was America over testing its children, the announcer intoned. The discussion was certainly not a debate. The two discussants were Rick Hess of the conservative American Enterprise Institute and former West Virginia Governor Bob Wise of the Alliance for Excellent Education, a close ally of Jeb Bush. No teachers or parents were invited to the discussion.
Here is another one-sided discussion. You might consider watching and phoning in.
http://www.c-span.org/video/?327036-5/washington-journal-roundtable-child-left-behind-
JULY 12, 2015
No Child Left Behind Law Rewrite
Nina Rees of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and Phillip Lovell of the Alliance for Excellent Education talk about the developments in the rewriting of the No Child Left Behind law and preview what’s next for education policy.
Airing LIVE Sunday, Jul 12 8:30am EDT on C-SPAN
Nina Rees was education advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney in the George W. Bush administration.
Again, no teachers or parents. Only inside-the-Beltway talkers.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Same one-sided discussion on NPR’s “On Point” last week. Only 2 panelists from Educ Trust & Fordham.
LikeLike
You could also deluge them with emails that highlight any objections you may have to these two spokespersons, both known to be supporters of charters and big time recipients of money from Bill Gates and foundations. Offer some opinions on who SHOULD be there to discuss how the law enables even more frauds in charter schools and reflects the absurd belief that testing is a civil rights issue.. There are no evidence in this programming that C-SPAN is even thinking about who SHOULD be present to opine about some needed wisdom in federal policy. This brief announcement is really remarkable in that it seems to assume these speakers have some special authority and a crystal ball to “preview what’s next for education policy.”
Email contact appears to be Washington Journal: journal@c-span.org
LikeLike
It’s just bizarre they don’t have anyone from a public school.
90% of the kids, 0% of the exposure and influence.
That makes sense, right? 🙂
DC is ga-ga over charter schools. Absolutely smitten.
The same is true of Ohio lawmakers and assorted hangers-on, BTW. You have to drag them kicking and screaming to address issues in the schools 90% of kids in this state attend. I think it bores them.
LikeLike
Are they broadcasting to their fund daddies or prospective fund daddies?
LikeLike
I believe PBS is owned by the libertarian Liberty Media? Do not expect real news from them. Bert and Ernie traded in rubber duckies for cold, hard cash.
LikeLike
It’s also the case that Koch brothers fund PBS.
LikeLike
Here’s another one:
Kati Haycock, president of the Education Trust, a non-profit education advocacy organization.
Chester Finn, distinguished senior fellow and president emeritus of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. Founding partner at the Edison Project. Author of the forthcoming book, “Failing Our Brightest Kids.”
I guess we will once again hear from the same 15 people who will repeat the same 15 slogans for public policy that affects millions and millions of children.
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2015/07/08/no-child-left-behind-education-reform
LikeLike