The New York State United Teachers, which represents all public school teachers in New York, clashed repeatedly with John King when he was state commissioner. So did parents. So did superintendents. He was one of the most divisive state superintendents in the state’s history.
NYSUT urges its members to let the White House know what they think of the President’s selection of John King as Interim Acting Secretary of Education.
“New York State United Teachers is disappointed in John King’s appointment as acting U.S. Secretary of Education. NYSUT has always considered John King an ideologue with whom we disagreed sharply on many issues during his tenure as the state’s Education Department commissioner. Just last year, our members delivered a vote of no confidence against him and called for his resignation. NYSUT urges its members to call the White House switchboard at 202-456-1414 — as well as a special White House telephone line dedicated to public comments at 202-456-1111 — to express their displeasure in John King’s appointment.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Just tried to call. The “telephone line dedicated to public comments” (1111) had a recording saying that it was not operating right now. Something about call back between 9 and 5. So…..I tried the switchboard number (1414) and as soon as I opened my mouth the operator there immediately connected me to the “telephone line dedicated public comments”…. WHICH OF COURSE SHE MUST HAVE KNOWN IS NOT OPEN NOW.
Wow. I guess the White House works on “bankers hours”. Too bad most the country does not, especially teachers. I just finished grading a set of papers and still have more work to do. It’s just about 6 p.m.
I’m sure Bill Gates has the direct number.
LikeLike
“The Gatesphone”
The White House has a Gatesphone
That’s answered by Barack
When Billy Gates is home alone
And simply needs to talk
LikeLike
This REALLY made me laugh. You are the best.
LikeLike
I would urge teachers and their supporters nationwide to inundate the WH with calls, emails, and tweets telling Obama to reconsider on appointing King to lead the DoE. Perhaps even suggest other names for consideration. We have a great supply on this site. Diane Ravitch, Arthur Camins, Ira Shor, Carol Burris, and on and on.
LikeLike
The same nysut who at a time when public education is on its last legs has come up with the genius idea to…take part in the nae nae challenge…are you kidding me?? This leadership fails again and again… This leadership should be planning a statewide walkout that shows the public that educators like myself are willing to lose two days pay for a one day walk out protesting all that is wrong…first nysut reactively endorses opt out two years late… And now educators should do a jig to embarrass ourselves to the public who already thinks educators are a joke…I apologize for the rant but just when you think things can’t get any worse they do… The entire leadership of nysut should be ousted…
LikeLike
Think not thinks
LikeLike
Wow! Call and inform your representative (in this case the President) about your thoughts on an appointee! Bold bold bold call by NYSUT! Doing basic citizen/civic duty is now something NYSUT try’s to pawn off as a proactive activism.
Perhaps they should assume that membership is smarter and more active than they are. They’d do ALOT more towards helping our cause by simply shutting up and not sitting at every table that offers a seat.
Thanks for the heads up NYSUT.
We will all let you know how the war against reformers goes when it’s over. Be sure to declare victory at all points along the way though…..just don’t expect anyone to care about what you are saying.
LikeLike
I am feeling the same for some time. Leading from behind is not leading. “We are strongly urging folks to keep paying their dues and click ‘send’ on this form letter describing the union’s concerns!”
LikeLike
Arne Duncan @arneduncan 5h5 hours ago
Honor of a lifetime to lead @usedgov. Nobody will fight harder for students than @JohnKingatED. Lots to get done the rest of the year.
I just hope he can finally defeat those NY public school opt out parents. Victory will be his!
Does anyone else think it’s just weird how ed reformers consistently put “parents” and “students” and “teachers” into separate groups? Are the opt out parents opposed to their own children? What the hell?
LikeLike
Ohio is discounting the new, more expensive GED. On sale, for a limited time only!
The numbers must really be tanking with the new test. Word must have gotten around.
http://education.ohio.gov/Media/Ed-Connection/Sept-29-2015/GED-back_to_school-discount-now-available
LikeLike
As if the other million phone calls had an impact
LikeLike
I urge all teachers who are members of the NEA and AFT to let them know what you think about them prematurely endorsing Hillary Clinton, centrist neoliberal, for president. It’s time to take back our unions, or, if that is no longer possible (and I have doubts due to the way they are structured politically) form new unions and starve the two dinosaurs of our dues money.
They continually ignore the rank and file, they are not fighting for us but aiding and abetting our enemies. Lilly had to say nice things about Duncan and no harsh words about the pain, suffering, and destruction he and Obama have wrought on our profession? Really?
Randi has little to no interest in fighting for our profession, our jobs, or public schools. She’s one of the DC insiders now and seems to enjoy her access and selling us down the river.
How long will we keep supporting these shadowy reformist-controlled unions? John King is a minor player here. The real enemies are the leadership of the NEA and the AFT and the millions and millions of dollars they take from us while failing to do anything whatsoever to support and sustain our professions.
RANDI OUT. LILLY OUT. NEW UNIONS. NEW DIRECTION!
LikeLike
Exactly.
LikeLike
John King in The Federal Government Department of Education = 💩
LikeLike
I sent my email to the White House. http://www.whitehouse.gov
LikeLike
Me too. Hopefully MANY others will do likewise.
LikeLike
cross posted at
http://www.opednews.com/Quicklink/NYSUT-Urges-Teachers-to-Le-in-Best_Web_OpEds-Diane-Ravitch-151006-696.html#comment566013
with this comment :
If you value PUBLIC EDUCATION whether or not you live in NY, let the PRESIDENT KNOW HOW YOU FEEL about choosing a charlatan a shill for selling the war on teachers ignored to end PUBLIC EDUCATION by removing the VOICE of the real professionals from the conversation about what it takes for young, human minds to actually learn. ENOUGH of this subversion of the national conversation
http://www.perdaily.com/2011/08/subverting-the-national-conversation-a.html
We do not need another endless narrative about evaluation and false standards, and teaching, when the conversation needs to be about LEARNING.! We need authentic VOICES of educators who GRASP WHAT LEARNING LOOKS LIKE, and what must be in place for kids to meet genuine LEARNING objectives.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Learning-not-Teacher-evalu-by-Susan-Lee-Schwartz-111001-956.html
LikeLike
Susan,
We are past the point of words, phone calls, letters etc. It is time for real action but educators lack the leadership to carry it out.
LikeLike
I have followed the activists for years, Karen Horwitz, Betsy Combier, Norm Scott, and Lenny Isenberg, who is still fighting, and actually suing the union.
http://citywatchla.com/8box-left/6666-lausd-and-utla-complicity-kills-collective-bargaining-and-civil-rights-for-la-s-teachers
http://www.perdaily.com/2014/03/lausd-and-utla-collude-to-end-collective-bargaining-and-civil-rights-for-teachers-part-2.html
Diane, Leonie, Anthony, Carol and all the NPE are leaders. It is not for lack of leadership… it is for lack of $$ $, that make everything possible.
Look, why , after Sandy Hook, is Guns still an ISSUE?
Hillary says that she will issue executive action, but According to Ladd Everitt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7E3tWBfm0Ycommunications director for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, President Obama has already issued 23-25 executive orders in his presidency in an attempt to curb gun violence. How is that working out?
“Executive action has been ineffectual in the hands of Obama, who almost everyone believes is sincere and committed to gun control— and marshaling public sentiment— though one hesitates to see how public sentiment against guns could be more marshaled after Sandy Hook— has little chance to succeed because the plan does not attack the problem structurally.
Structural problems require structural solutions.”
This is worth reading because the reason nothing can be done about the gun debacle is the same that is allowing the destruction of public education… a legislative and judicial body that is corrupt to the core. ”
As long as members of congress and Senators are afraid to be outspent— and if they don’t take that NRA money, they will be— they will continue to vote in lock step with the NRA and will continue to stymie any sensible gun reforms. And so it is with the privatization of the schools… this is what the billionaire oligarchs that run our nation want, and Citizen’s Untided let it happen
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Sanders-vs-Clinton-on-Gun-by-Robert-Gross-Congress_Guns_Laws_Sanders-Bernard-151006-52.html
The candidate with the structural solution in this case is Bernie Sanders, not Hillary no Biden, nor annoys the GOP clowns running.
LikeLike
Sorry to be a Debbie Downer,but like the White House cares what we think…
LikeLike
The White House will only pay attention if ENOUGH people make their views known. Obama believes that he is doing right by education. That of course is not the case but like voting, not enough people participate in the process to make a positive difference.
LikeLike
Gordon, I have lost any belief that Obama would NOT choose King or that he might change course. Obama is thrilled with RTTT. King alienated parents and educators in Néw York. He made a mess of Common Core. He was a failure. Don’t you think Obama knows this?
LikeLike
“Tell us what you think”
You’ve reached the White House line
Press 1 if King is prime
Or 2 if he is fine
Or 3 if he’s sublime
Press 4 if he is choice
Or five if he is grand
We want to hear your voice
To tell us where you stand
LikeLike
“King 1 and King 2″
When Cat-in-the-Hat
Messed up with Things
He cleaned with DIRT-majigger
When school reformers
Spread their Kings
They leave a mess much bigger
LikeLike
I called the White House during my lunch break. I was immediately put on hold…… There was no background music, just an annoying recorded voice saying to keep waiting. So I sat there for a few minutes, eating my sandwich. I imagined what songs the White House ought to have playing when they put the citizenry on hold…you know, what’s with all this silence? “Theme From Titanic”, “Yesterday” or how about Barry Manilow’s “Mandy” but with the words changed to “Arne”? That made me laugh a bit.
Then, a very pleasant “volunteer” came on and listened to my now oh-so-familiar rant about how I am so disappointed in President Obama, how rotten a educator John B. King is etc… etc…. The volunteer thanked me etc…etc….
Lunch over…..back to class…..ironically, “Participation in Government”.
LikeLike