This Indiana teacher wants you to know what Governor Mike Pence did to the public schools on his home state. He didn’t do it alone. He had the help of Republicans who control the legislature, and he built on the anti-public school record of his predecessor Mitch Daniels.
The New York Times reviewed Pence’s record on education, noting his support for charters and vouchers and his efforts to undermine State Superintendent Gloria Ritz, who received more votes than Pence in 2012. All the sources the Times quoted are conservatives.
But the Indiana teacher, who is self-described as a conservative, calls out Pence for his ongoing attacks on the teaching profession.
In Indiana, small, rural schools are shutting down because funding has been cut, families are moving out of district, and whole communities are losing jobs where school corporations are the largest employers.
Inner-city schools, like Indianapolis Public Schools, are urban nightmares as charter schools take away public school funding, yet only meet the needs of a fraction of the population.
Cities like Indy, Detroit, and Chicago are the poster-children for big government in education. The corporate rich and politicians get the money, and the urban poor, of which have a racial bias, receive a sub-standard education.
This is what Pence brings to the Republican Party ticket if he follows the path he’s paved in Indiana. If you don’t think education effects all parts of society, then education has benefitted you. If you know what the school-to prison pipeline is, then I don’t need to explain anymore.
This teacher is right. Pence has been an absolute disaster for public education and in a very public fight with the democratically elected superintendent of schools, Glenda Ritz, he has shown he is no fan of democracy either. It is important that all Diane Ravitch readers get to know the work of Stu Bloom (http://bloom-at.blogspot.com/), Phyllis Bush (http://neifpe.blogspot.com/2012/02/neifpe-beginnings-by-phyllis-bush.html), Cathy Fuentes-Rohrer (http://www.icpe-monroecounty.org/blog/parents-want-accountability-from-legislators-speech-at-statehouse-rally) and other public education heroes in Indiana who are fighting against Pence and his reformy cronies.
Here are my own thoughts on Hoosier Daddy, Mike Pence http://russonreading.blogspot.com/2015/06/hoosier-daddy.html
IF a school does not preform it should not get money.
But, parents could and should stay and demand local schools improve.
Not run away, blame the parents not PENCE
Cross Posted at http://www.opednews.com/Quicklink/Indiana-Teacher-What-You-in-Best_Web_OpEds-Diane-Ravitch_Education_Educational-Crisis_Educators–Teachers-160723-835.html#comment608438
with this comment which has embedded links at the article post:
ence buys into the con–the conspiracy by the EDUCATIONAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX to demolish public education and replace it with choice… putting the INSTITUTION of Education which he thinks of as ‘schools’ on the ‘free’ market!
. Peter Greene nails it in a piece he wrote as Philadelphia public schools face annihilation: Charters close because charter schools are businesses, and businesses close when it is not financially viable for them to stay open.
The first question of the public education system has to be, “How can we get a great education for every single child in this country?” The first question for a business has to be, “What model can we use that will keep this business economically viable?’ And the answer to that question will never, ever be, “By providing an education to every child in this country.” There will always be students who live in the economic cracks, niche customers that no business wants because there will never be money in them. Some charter fans suggest, either explicitly or implicitly, that educating those students will be the job of public education. But that represents a dramatic and complete re-imagining of the purpose of public education, and to repurpose an entire public sector without a public discussion is irresponsible and undemocratic.
In the meantime, charter schools will continue to close when it makes business sense to do so, no matter what sorts of promises they made to the families of their students. Charter schools think like businesses, not like schools, because charter schools are businesses. We cannot be surprised when they act like businesses, and we cannot keep hiding from a discussion about the implications of turning that business mindset on a public good.
Diane Ravitch adds: The free market will never work for a national education system. Never. Never ever.
A business operating in a free market will only stay in business as long as it is economically viable to do so. And it will never be economically viable to provide a service to every single customer in the country.
All business models, either explicitly or implicitly, include decisions about which customers will not be served, which customers will be rejected, because in that model, those customers will be detrimental to the economic viability of the business. McDonald’s could decide to court people who like upscale filet mignons, but the kitchen equipment and training would cost a whole bunch of money that would not bring a corresponding increase in revenue, so they don’t do it.
Apparently some 2,500 charters had closed by 2013. Obviously there have been numerous closings since then, although the U.S. Department of Education won’t release data on how may of the charters it funded have closed.
This is business. Where is Eastern Airlines, Pan American Airlines, Braniff? Where are the small stores that disappeared when Walmart opened? Google the term “brands that disappeared” and you will find dozens of familiar, once iconic brands that no longer exist. Kodak. Woolworth. Tab. Chiclets. All gone.
Public schools are not supposed to open and close in the twinkling of an eye. They are not supposed to compete for survival. They are public services, designed to serve every child in the community who wants to enroll. There is no lottery to enter.
This is business. Where is Eastern Airlines, Pan American Airlines, Braniff? Where are the small stores that disappeared when Walmart opened? Google the term “brands that disappeared” and you will find dozens of familiar, once iconic brands that no longer exist. Kodak. Woolworth. Tab. Chiclets. All gone.
Public schools are not supposed to open and close in the twinkling of an eye. They are not supposed to compete for survival. They are public services, designed to serve every child in the community who wants to enroll. There is no lottery to enter.
A good article but a teacher should know that “education affects” – effects is a noun, not a verb
Blanche Brick Professor of History Blinn College Bryan, Texas
Sent from my iPhone
Effect can be used as a verb under certain circumstances – from my online dictionary: verb (with obj.) cause (something) to happen; bring about: nature always effected a cure | budget cuts that were quietly effected over four years.
Affect and effect are both verbs and nouns, but only effect is common as a noun, usually meaning ‘a result, consequence, impression, etc.’: my father’s warnings had no effect on my adventurousness. The noun affect is restricted almost entirely to psychology (see affect3). As verbs, they are used differently. Affect most commonly means ‘produce an effect on, influence’: smoking during pregnancy can affect the baby’s development. Affect also means ‘pretend to have or feel (something)’ (see affect2): she affected a concern for those who had lost their jobs. Effect means ‘bring about’: the negotiators effected an agreement despite many difficulties.
We all make mistakes, especially if we are typing fast or typing from some gizmo with a small keypad or if we are multitasking.
Vote 3rd Party and in your own best interest. The two party system is BROKEN and who says we only have two choices? Vote 3rd Party. Jill Stein is solid.
I understand the points presented regarding Governor Pence’s approach to education in Indiana. That said, it is only fair for your blog to inform readers of the infamous “Dear Hillary” letter that was written by Marc Tucker (the president of the National Center on Education and the Economy) to Ms. Clinton (the incoming first lady) in 1992. This letter was placed in the Congressional Record in 1998 by Rep. Bob Schaeffer and can be read in its entirety on the web site: http://www.eagleforum.org/educate/marc_tucker/. The site notes that the letter “lays out the master plan of the Clinton Administration to take over the entire U.S. educational system so that it can serve national economic planning of the workforce.”
What was once a “twinkle in the eye” of Tucker and Clinton in 1992 appears to be coming to fruition decades later in the form of Common Core and its various deleterious tentacles. It is appropriate to criticize Pence for the problems he has created with regard to education, but Pence’s educational missteps are miniscule in relation to Clinton’s obvious role in this atrocious federal overreach and assault on our students and schools. EVERYONE should read the “Dear Hillary” letter to obtain an insight into the disturbing possibilities in store for education in the United states should she be elected president.
Sorry, but what Marc Tucker wrote in 1982 has no relevance to 2016. Whatever appears on the Eagle Forum website has no interest.
You support Trump. I don’t.
First of all, it was 1992, not 1982, and Hillary’s educational viewpoints DO have relevance to 2016. (Her strong support of Common Core indicates that there has been no epiphany that has changed her positions.) To their credit, Eagle Forum just happened to post Tucker’s letter. It is the LETTER ITSELF that indicates Hillary’s perspectives. People can decide for themselves whether they agree with them or not, but they certainly should be exposed to them in order to vote intelligently.
And BTW, I NEVER said I supported Trump…I just do NOT support Hillary. She would carry on Obama’s disastrous federal overreaches into our lives in so many arenas, of which education is one.
As a teacher myself, I have for years read and been impressed by your writings and opposition to the egregious testing associated with the Common Core initiative. I strongly support our public school system, just as you do. Can you not see the hypocrisy in Hillary’s positions? Do you think Chelsea or her grandchildren (like Gates’s children) will ever see the inside of a public school classroom except possibly for political show? Her mantra is “Do as I say, not as I do!”
Joanne,
Again, what Marc Tucker wrote to Hillary in 1992 does not have relevance to today. Does she believe now what HE wrote then?
I wrote many things 25 years ago that I would retract today. But the Internet is forever.
Good reply… people say lots of stuff… but the truth is the truth!
Eagle forum.org is a far right wing Phyllis Schlafly web site, though it’s been reported that they are trying to push her out. From The Dallas Morning News: WASHINGTON – Conservative icon Phyllis Schlafly says six state leaders are ousting her from the Eagle Forum organization she founded because of her support of Donald Trump, and five of them support Sen. Ted Cruz.
http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2016/04/phyllis-schlafly-says-shes-being-ousted-from-eagle-forum-for-trump-endorsement.html/
Eagle Forum’s web site was merely the vehicle by which the “Dear Hillary” letter was publicized. It is obvious that this copy is legitimate and not falsified. It sheds light on Clinton’s educational perspectives that do not seem to have changed over the decades. . It is the letter’s contents that are relevant to this discussion – not the political positions of the Eagle forum organization.
Joanne,
You could also smear me by posting things I wrote in 1992. Hillary Clinton didn’t write Marc Tucker’s letter. Give it a rest. If you are determined to vote for the orange demagogue, go right ahead.
“If you don’t think that education effects all parts of society…”
You should have used the word “affects” not “effects”!
Your improper use of words is eye-opening.
The link below offers a discussion of affect vs. effect. The latter is sometimes used as a verb, as was mentioned above, but most often, affect is the correct form.
https://www.vocabulary.com/articles/chooseyourwords/affect-effect/
That being said, this was a guest post on my blog. It was also posted on facebook and our group’s blog (http://neifpe. blogspot.com). I was the one who posted it on both blogs and decided not to edit it in either place. [Full disclosure: I didn’t catch the effect-for-affect anyway]. That was my mistake and if the errors in the piece offend anyone I apologize.
However, the importance of the essay is not the fact that a teacher made a error in grammar. It’s important because it gives folks from outside Indiana information about the Republican nominee for Vice-President and his education policies.
Read it for its content.
http://neifpe.blogspot.com
Who are you people! Find COMMON ground, get some COMMON sense and get rid of COMMON CORE!
Here’s a friendly reminder of repeated failures of the Pence Administration – a record Eric Holcomb is very proud of as the new GOP gubernatorial nominee.
Month/Year
Mike Pence’s Failed Record
January 2013
Mike Pence’s staff scrubbed pro-LGBT rights comments from the governor’s Facebook page. [NWI Times, 6.28.13]
October 2014
Without public announcement, Mike Pence declines $80 million that would have created a statewide Pre-K program. [IndyStar, 10.17.14]
January, 2015
Mike Pence announces and then embarrassingly ends “JustIN”, a state-run news service. [Fox 59. 1.29.15]
March 2015
In a closed door ceremony, Mike Pence signs the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, throwing Indiana into a $250 million economic panic. [Indy Star, 3.25.16]
March 2015
With Scott County in an HIV outbreak, Mike Pence waits 65 days to declare a State of Emergency for the county. Cases rise from 10 to 79. [Politico, 3.26.15]
May 2015
With no public debate, Mike Pence signs an education budget that eliminates funding for urban and rural public schools, creates more loans for struggling charter schools and adds to an unreliable voucher program. [Associated Press, 5.7.15]
August 2015
Mike Pence hires the bare minimum workers needed for the Department of Child Services to remain compliant with state law. [Indiana Public Media, 8.13.15]
August 2015
An I-65 Bridge nearly collapses in Lafayette, causing a month-long detour that leads to gridlocked traffic and fatal accidents. Mike Pence? He only provided “maybe” solutions to fix Indiana’s crumbling infrastructure – and ignored local roads and bridges. [Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, 8.13.15]
October 2015
Before hundreds of schools receive failing ISTEP score levels, Mike Pence flip-flops on accountability for teachers and schools on the test. [NWI Times, 10.27.15]
November 2015
Mike Pence politicizes the Syrian refugee crisis by denying a family the opportunity to resettle in Indiana, putting our “Hoosier Hospitality” reputation in jeopardy again. [Indy Star, 11.20.15]
December 2015
After the Lt. Governor’s longstanding opposition to RFRA, Mike Pence encourages her to seek new opening at Ivy Tech Community College. [Fox 59, 12.27.15]
January 2016
After RFRA and months of “studying” LGBT rights for Hoosiers, Mike Pence does nothing to advocate for adding protections to state’s nondiscrimination laws. [IndyStar, 1.13.16]
March 2016
In a closed door ceremony, Mike Pence signs one of the most restrictive anti-abortion laws in the nation. [IndyStar, 3.24.16]