Education Reform Now is the political action arm of Democrats for Education Reform. DFER is privatization, financed by hedge fund managers. It supports charters, high-stakes testing, evaluation of teachers by test scores, and is in general opposed to public education and not friendly to teachers or to unions.
Here is their side by side on Hillary and Bernie.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
It is interesting and discouraging that neither Clinton nor Sanders is willing to take on policies that support charter school expansion. Neither do they really talk about integrated schools and their advantages for achievement and a more just society. Charter schools are the vanguard of efforts to undermine democratically-governed public education, carving out false hope for the “deserving poor” or the “best and the brightest,” while abandoning everyone else. There are better choices than school choice to improve education. It’s long past time to demand that candidates at all levels embrace those better choices: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arthur-camins/post_9646_b_7638398.html
Arthur Camins:
Thank you for your comments.
To the owner of this blog:
Thank you for the posting.
😎
Thank you, Arthur! Very good piece and it underscores so many of my beliefs.
I often say to parents: Public schools work when ALL of us are fully committed to making them work and not looking for “a side exit” or an “escape latch” for “my kid”.
When the entire community pulls together: students, teachers, parents, taxpayers and more, it’s remarkable what can be achieved.
When we ALL work together, to make our public school the very best it can be, we ALL benefit to the maximum degree. Public schools work when we ALL work at it; in fact, that’s the ONLY way in which they’ve ever worked or ever will work.
Based on that comparison, neither is a good choice! Who’s left?
Hard put to choose either…maybe Hulk Hogan wants this job.
I chill just went down my spine when I thought about two other bodybuilders — who happened to be governors. How about this for muscles: Matt Damon for president!!!
My current thinking is the Democrats need to be taught that they cannot take teacher support for granted. The Republicans may want to dismantle public education entirely, but the Democrats are actually getting it done. I won’t vote for Jeb, and now that Walker is out, we don’t have to have that conversation, but I’m otherwise open-minded about the whole thing.
But is Sanders able to be educated in the REAL issues. I am hoping so!!!!!!
Nobody, drakestraw. That’s your choice. However, please understand that this propaganda piece was put out by Wall Street (the phoney “Democrats for Education Reform”) crowd, and intended to discourage those who stand in their way. Take Heart! Bernie has them concerned.
I’m not sure I would pay a whole lot of attention to what DFER has to say. The AFT candidate sheets are much more informative.
Frightening! That settles it. I’m voting for the shoe that was thrown at George W Bush. Just kidding, I’m voting for a democrat. Might have to flip a coin, after reading this post, though. Hope everyone in power is reading that study about unions in the NYTimes.
What study is that? I’d appreciate you sending a link. Thanks!
That is disappointing news. But as a mom of young children, I’m begging you: please don’t be one-issue voters in this important election. A Democrat supporting charters, etc., is far better for the country than a Republican on all other issues — and a Democrat is much more likely to listen to facts and change his or her opinion on the matter.
The next president will be appointing multiple Supreme Court justices. This alone should compel you to the polls to vote Democratic in the general election. Vote however you wish in the primary, but please don’t stay home in the general!
Careful, folks. Notice who put out this chart? I clicked on the ‘Tennessee” chapter and found they were a ‘sister organization’ to Democrats for Education Reform, namely, reformsters looking for Wall Street Money, or, rather, Wall Street pretending to be a bunch of Democrats. Do you think they intend to offer an even-handed appraisal without any attempt at deceit?
As I went down the list, I was disappointed that Bernie didn’t have more disagreements with the positions being advanced, but then I looked more closely.
This is a hit piece. Wall Street wants Hillary. Notice the imagery. If you agree with the poisition, you get a ‘greenlight’ (go) and a check (OK). If you disagree, you get a ‘red light’ (stop) and and X (No!). It’s meant to work on your brain way back there in the recesses.
I haven’t figured out why a human caricature with a green on one side (right?) and a red on the other is worse than a faceless question mark, but I’m sure some psychologist knows the answer.
Yup, don’t take this chart seriously. It is extremely misleading — not only in its oversimplification, but in what is omitted. Follow the money, folks…
I think some of these may be off. Bernie, I’ve read, doesn’t go for charters, or high stakes testing, see the open letter to him from teachers and his response. I would definitely do more research and not go by this chart.
You got it, Becky. This is (in all probability) and orchestrated disinformation campaign. Unfortunately, many posters here seem to be falling for it. When doing ‘research’, be sure to note the source (trustworthy?). The source of this info is (as Dianne said), hedge fund managers.
I’m concerned that people who have been reading comments didn’t read Diane’s headline. This is a hit piece by hedge fund managers, not the world’s most honest people. Instead, most are commenting as if this is an honest appraisal of the facts. You trust Wall Street operatives that much?
I’m also concerned, John.
John, I believe that DFER is very happy with the Obama administration. Duncan was their pick. Now, they will do whatever they need to do to assure an equally privatization-loving President in 2016. Any of the Republicans will work well in their interest; they all want to disrupt and privatize public schools. They throw sand in our eyes by their very name.
John Wund:
Thank you, here and above, for the needed cautions in reading the posting and the linked article.
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Bernie, an Independent and a democratic socialist, caucuses in Congress with the Democrats, who count on his Senate vote when the rubber hits the road. For caucusing and voting with the Dems when they most need him, Sanders is allowed a meager insider status. Tolerated and ignored, Bernie has not stepped up to distinguish himself progressively from centrist insider Hillary regarding education. The chart Diane linked on education matters shows him too close to Hillary. Bernie has not staked out a compelling alternative agenda esp against standardized testing, VAM, and the private war on public education, hewing close to the Dem agenda, from the habit of voting with the Dem Caucus all these years in Congress?
Bernie’s robust campaign is refreshingly “social democrat” with some “socialist” ideas. He wants new taxes on Wall Street and on the banks, good soc dem idea; next, arrest and jail these admitted banker felons who threw millions of ordinary families out of their homes. He wants free public higher education, which we once had here in the City University of NY but lost in a town and state controlled by Democrats. Next: unravel toe class-bound, racial hierarchy that now segregates high-income students into separate but unequal private campuses where they learn how to become the next CEOs and cabinet ministers. Bernie wants a minimum wage of $15/hour, much needed, already underway at the protest grass roots level for several years; next, stand up for the “family wage” won by labor strikes in 1946, $20/hr. He wants a single-payer health care system, great idea, when big pharma crooks raise drug costs 1000% overnight.
Authentic Bernie is appealing and persuasive. Dem failure to solve the 2008 Wall St collapse to the benefit of the 99% created an opening to the left which Bernie ran through, an historic phenomenon in progress, full of danger and risk should he win or lose because of the organized wealth and power against any alternate campaign, against the widespread hope for a democratic nation he represents.
Thanks Ira for laying this all out and making Bernie’s points so clearly. The debate hopefully will clear some of this up. But all charts and other press and data releases must be looked into as possible mind bending by those whose intentions are not pure. Everything must be sourced.
Bernie Sandrs volunteer supporters have put together a very thorough website that details his position and history on dozens of issues… It does detail his position on K-12 education…. http://www.FeelTheBern.org I have used it often to research his stance on issues…from Palestine to small business..very thorough.
Charters…Bernie wants them regulated and held as accountable as public schools.. .4. Q. What are your views on private school vouchers, tuition tax credits, and charter school accountability and transparency?
Sanders: I am strongly opposed to any voucher system that would re-direct public education dollars to private schools, including through the use of tax credits. In addition, I believe charter schools should be held to the same standards of transparency as public schools, and that these standards should also apply to the non-profit and for-profit entities that organize charter schools.
Source: AFT Q&A
I’m going to wait for your annotated version. 🙂
Since we know that chart is biased, coming from DFER, why don’t we create our own that includes all the Presidential candidates? One that has sources to back up the ratings.
The DFER link is not angelic and innocent but it does offer citations backing up each claim, very unusual for right-wing folks who Gerald Bracey called “data-proof” 20 years ago. Bernie so far is a blessing, the right voice at the right time, huge response to him indicates such; his potential to make a difference is still ahead of him, to consolidate the immense unorganized 99% yearning for influence to counteract the billionaires and bankers looting the schools and the nation.
Those close to Bernie–keep pushing him to address public education in stronger terms, denounce charter privatization as it is now underway, standardized testing and CCSS undermining teacher professionalism and student passion for knowledge, against judging teachers by bogus commercial testing, against over-regulating and under-funding public schools to establish under-regulated and over-funded private charters, etc. Bernie is an audacious voice–push him to give an education speech where he makes a decisive break with Wall St. Hillary and the insider Dem agenda. We teachers need that but so do the 50 mil kids in schools and their voting parents.
My modest offering for the Sanders education speech: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arthur-camins/the-k12-education-speech-_b_7755854.html
Ira,
My guess is that no one has explained to Bernie the links between the billionaires and privatization. I was informed yesterday that Citi is donating large sums to Uncommon Schools, the boot camp chain founded by John King.
Yes, I think you’re right, likely that Bernie has not had your narrative of the school crisis presented explicitly…has he reached out to you or you to him? Very impt. you sit down with him for an hour.
Ira…some of us here have tried for months to contact Bernie to suggest he meet with Diane. Susie Lee knew him in public school, and I have friends who are still his close Dem friends in Vermont whom I urged to write to him…alas, he and his team have replied to no one that I know of. Perhaps if you and Arthur contact him, he might find an hour to sit in front of a camera and talk with Diane about the issues which most matter to public school supporters.
Ellen, thanks for the support.
I read the ARTICLE, below,
https://edreformnow.org/annotated-quick-look-clinton-v-sanders-on-key-education-issues/
today, and it tells me that he is either PLAYING IT SAFE by saying nothing, or he is clueless as to the enormity of the contraversy that is finally raging about Common Core crap andits teacher evaluation tie-in.
I want to hear the words PRIVATIZATION FROM BERNIE’S MOUTH, and some SINCERE words that shows US , the teachers, that he KNOWS that the WAR ON TEACHERS spells the end of public education — WHICH affects HIS BIG ISSUE…INCOME INEQUALITY.
Is he deaf, or cagey, because these charter schools will leave our ethnic minorities and the already poverty stricken in the swamp, to be used a servants, and to fill our pofit making jails.look, I will cc this to him and his campaing for all the good it does. I tweeted it and Facebooked it already… HE IS NOT LISTENING TO US, AND THAT IS TRAGIC FOR HIM AND FOR US.
He could win if the teachers and parents go behind him.
I get the NY Teacher and the NYSUT newspapers and finally, privatization , cc and the charletans are making headlined.
I loved this Headline on the cover of the NYSUT paper:
“BAD FOR SCHOOLS, “By land, sea and air members protest billionaire’s puppet.”
LOL… The puppet is no other than Campbell brown.
Inside the paper, article is titled NYSUT activism builds up steam for 2016:
http://www.nysut.org/news/nysut-united/issues/2015/september-2015/nysut-activism-builds-up-steam-for-2016
So, while this hidden drama is perpetrated by the corporate owned media, this scandal that spells the end of our democracy continues, BECAUSE SCHOOLS ARE THE KEY to shared knowledge of history, to the skills necessary for success, to the road to equality.
So forgive me, my friends here — who know me for my erudition for you see I am Brooklyn born and bred (as is Bernie) and after reading that article on where he stands on our key issues: I WANT TO KNOW WHERE the F**K IS BERNIE SANDERS on the WAR on public education?
…and why the heck has he not spent quality time talking to Diane, or Leonie, or… shall I go on.
AND YOU CAN QUOTE ME!
Same goes for Steve Krashen if you are reading this stream. Steve, your sterling academic creds should certainly get Bernie’s attention. Glad we had a chance to talk about all this on KPFK before the station folds.
I believe Diane is correct. Bernie is not someone who would deny the evidence of greed and privatization. He would not call us conspiracy theorists for claiming that the corporate reform movement is then assisted along by the political process. He knows as well as anyone that this really happens.
What I believe needs to be done is a very good letter from the Network for Public Education, straight to his campaign. It should be drafted by Diane or someone on the board, and signed by a massive list of educational and social justice organizations. Something like this, sent both in physical and electronic form, will reach Bernie. The question is how long it will take him to review the evidence, form an opinion, and take some kind of action. You know what? He may already be in that process now. Do you see how many issues he is dealing with? Bernie is an active senator, and is simultaneously campaigning for president. He also works with various committees to look deeply into some of the biggest issues facing our country. He’s a very busy man. Patience.
A good idea… Hope Diane ,Anthony Leonie, Carol and the others get to him, because he just does not know the speed of the assault, and he does not grasp the conspiracy is not merely for the profit of privatizing our INSTITUTION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, but to end the road to opportunity for everyone who is not the 1/%.
I cannot believe that if he knew about this organize, fund war on democracy, the creation of an ignorant citizenry, he would be talking about it.
DRAFT THAT LETTER, DIANE AND THE NPE… THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY AND THE DEBATES ARE COMING NEXT WEEK.
HE NEEDS YOU NOW!
Ok, lets go with the DFER comparison chart. Lets assume its legit. The real questions it brings up aren’t really about the candidates. They are:
1) Why did the AFT and NEA throw their support in with Clinton so embarrassingly early? According to the DFER chart, Hillary is like 1% more awful than Sanders from our perspective. That this hasn’t lead to a mass teacher uprising against their unions is beyond me and has thrown me into despair.
2) As the chart articulates our problems as organized teachers are deeply bipartisan. Working in the traditional and accepted paths of political redress will BRING US NOTHING AND HAS BROUGHT US NOTHING. Our enemies reside under both tents of the American political party system. And yet we think the usual pathways of influence we once had will now work for us? Insane.
So yeah, this DFER chart only brings up deeper issues our side must confront.
That said, outside of this chart, and if one looks closely for themselves, they’d see that Sanders is much closer to what we need as far as political groundwork to have a proper fight against the reformers. A vote for Clinton is a vote for the Duncans, Kings, and DFERs.
according to his record here, he does not offer confidence that he cares about public education or understands what teachers face!
Very upsetting. He needs someone to read hm the riot act on what’s actually happening to the road to income equality ,if charter schools take over.
That’s what I suggested too, just above in my reply, thanks.
Ira…see my note to you above. Your voice adds so much to our learning curve.
Helpful! Thanks so much!
Bias is shown in the DFER question “Encourages Opt Out?”.
Greater understanding is provided by the question, “Discourages Opt Out?”.