Why is the media so excited about school choice and so indifferent to the defunding of public education?
How did telegenic Campbell Brown, with no experience or background in education, become the face of teacher-bashing, anti-union, anti-public school advocacy? Why is she obsessed with the idea that public schools (but not charter schools or voucher schools) are filled with sexual predators, who prey on “our children” (not hers, actually, because they don’t attend a public school)?
Who pays for the attacks on public education and teachers? The linked article digs deep and answers almost all these questions. I say “almost” because it does not explain why Campbell Brown is obsessed with sexual predators in the public schools.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
“Why” is the same old why. The corporate media behemoths see themselves as the delivery platforms for the newfanged commercial education system.
I enjoyed this post. It brought up some really valid points. I feel that who controls the media has a major impact on the way the public views certain things. I think that the same people who are trying to control our current educational system are the same people who are trying to control the media and presenting themselves and private/charter schools in a more positive light and public schools in a very negative light. It really shows the power of the media and its influence on society.
YES. For years many of my teaching peers and I would send our concerns about school reform invasions and testing abuses to the two newspapers running (at that time) in our city only to have our voices be rejected, time after time. Anything written against the district’s “benevolent” reform invasions was skewed into a “union-directed” selfish teacher whining. ciedieaech.wordpress.com WHO’S DRIVING THE VAN
The way in which the media treats public schools and teachers is the result of the monetization and corporatization of public education. It is assumed that public schools should do what they were never designed to do, compete with privatized entities. It like sending a hundred pound weakling into the ring with a skilled two hundred pound boxer. Public schools do not possess the paid for PR machine to compete. Public education is a public service, not a capitalistic enterprise. With the advent of privatization, the wealthy have jumped on the bandwagon to control the narrative through their well placed “donations”. Just like legislators whose influence can be purchased, the media can be bought and sold. This unfair advantage of the wealthy has created a false, negative narrative regarding public schools, teachers and unions. The whole charter movement is based on false assumptions and bias against public schools, and it is as much about profit and union busting as it is about ideology.
AGREE!
Do-It-Yourself public relations is one answer to this. If enough public education activists develop PR and media savvy and put it to use (like a number of Opt Out groups already have), there’s a chance the message could break into the mainstream.
Events like tomorrow’s NPE webinar on communication strategies can’t hurt:
“Please join NPE Action for the third installment of our series of webinars to inspire and inform public education activists. This Tuesday, April 5th, Ruth Conniff of The Progressive, and education activist Susan Dufresne will discuss communication strategies in the 21st Century.
“Ruth will share ideas about using commentary to educate, persuade and reach key audiences, while Susan will focus on using social media, images and memes to motivate and mobilize.”
To register for the webinar:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2564668419502109442?can_id=717e278ca049d8cfe25cd3f4792ae057&source=email-dont-miss-our-webinar-series&email_referrer=dont-miss-our-webinar-series&email_subject=dont-miss-our-webinar-series&link_id=2
I suppose Brown does not read about sexual abuse in private schools that have made the media. Not teachers only but depraved students as well. One could just email the stories to her, explaining why private schools are corrupt hell holes.
Hi retired teacher:
I really love your analogy of public school versus capitalistic enterprise, hahaha.
[start paragraph]
“It is like sending a hundred pound weakling into the ring with a skilled two hundred pound boxer. Public schools do not possess the paid for PR machine to compete. Public education is a public service, not a capitalistic enterprise.
[end paragraph]
IMHO, we, conscientious educators, parents and students, have the best weapon which is our conscientiousness, spirit in humanity, and caring for young American generations. To us, this weapon is like the strength of water that can be divergent into any shapes and styles to lead us to live in civilized community and to eventually transform all savage beings (=corrupted and crooked people who are hunger for money and power) into human beings with conscientiousness.
I am honest to admit that it took 40+ years in living through more than enough life and death circumstances to awaken my spirit and to transform my greedy attitude into my current and unshakable conscientious spirit. Please let nature to be the best teacher to all corrupted and crooked leaders/ authorities. Time will tell and Karma will follow for all thoughts and deeds that people commit intentionally or accidentally (=ignorantly).
I really wish that there will be a video to show all global movers and shakers in the time before their death. That will be a powerful message for all corrupted and crooked leaders. Back2basic
and there is this Article: A Media Unmoored from Facts
http://www.opednews.com/articles/A-Media-Unmoored-from-Fact-by-Robert-Parry-Assad_Israel_Media-Bias_Media-Corruption-160407-553.html
Reprinted from Consortium News
“For a variety of reasons — from the draconian staff cuts among foreign correspondents to the career fear of challenging some widely held “group think” — many journalists have simply become stenographers, taking down what the Important People say is true, not necessarily what is true.
It’s especially easy to go with the flow when writing about some demonized foreign leader. Then, no editor apparently expects anything approaching balance or objectivity, supposedly key principles of journalism. Indeed, if a reporter gave one of these hated figures a fair shake, there might be grumblings about whether the reporter was a “fill-in-the-blank apologist.” The safe play is to pile on.
This dishonesty — or lack of any commitment to the truth — is even worse among editorialists and columnists. Having discovered that there was virtually no cost for being catastrophically wrong about the facts leading into the Iraq invasion in 2003, these writers must feel so immune from accountability that they can safely ignore reality.
But — for some of us old-timers — it’s still unnerving to read the work of these “highly respected” journalists who simply don’t care what the facts are.”
Susan
The midia is so excited because they have no more choice to chose join THOSES Evils . Susan they are unde control of the beast , they have what they deserve .. Media is excite but for no much long , laft now , cry later . Evils happiness always finish in pain .
Great coment .
I AGREED .
It makes me so sad!…muy triste