The local press in Nashville reported recently that the pro-privatization political outfit called “Stand for Children” had amassed a war chest of $200,000 to fund the campaigns of charter advocates for the Metro Nashville school board. Across the state of Tennessee, the Oregon-based SFC was spending $700,000 in state and local races, apparently to assure Continued Republican dominance of the state.
Yesterday a liberal advocacy group and a Metro Nasville parent asked for an investigation of the ties between SFC and the candidates it supports:
“Consumer rights group Tennessee Citizen Action and a Metro Schools parent plan to file a petition requesting an investigation into potential campaign finance violations involving Stand for Children after questions emerged over whether the group illegally coordinated with pro-charter school candidates.”
SFC is now a money-laundering operation for the plutocrats who hope to eliminate public schools. The hedge fund managers, billionaires, and equity investors are pouring money into key school board races across the country, hoping to undermine democracy–since locals who are committed to public schools are vastly outspent–and to promote privatization.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
But Most of the public school supporters who ran in Metro Nashville beat the charter people yesterday. Hooray for the vote!
It does seem they didn’t get a whole lot for 200K :
“Metro Councilman Jeremy Elrod, who represents part of Pinkston’s district, agreed with Hollin that Thursday’s results are a resounding rebuke of the spread of charter schools. “Nashville can decide for itself how it wants to move forward with education, and that we aren’t going to be bought by outside special interest groups,” Elrod said.”
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/politics/pro-charter-school-group-sees-its-candidates-lose-local-races–392e1a8c-b3c3-2f65-e053-0100007f12e9-389256211.html
Citizens United freed up the corporate world to subvert democracy by buying elections so that politicians would do their bidding. The push to replace elected school boards with private charter boards is an attack on democracy itself. Too many school boards are ill informed and dysfunctional. But the solution to badly functioning democracy is not elimination. With the specter of authoritarianism looming, we best remember: First, they came for the school boards……
http://www.arthurcamins.com
I read Diane ‘s earlier post from this week on this heinous organization only yesterday so i thought it would be too late to comment. If anyone in Colorado, Denver metro in particular would like to share Stand encounters with me, I would be most appreciative. You can reply here I think.
I had two icky encounters with Jonah Edelman in 2009 when Stand made its first appearance in Denver. He used Brad Jupp who had some big job with the Bennnet/Boasberg regime and shortly after went to DC with Arne to introduce staffers to principals, saying they were just an organizing group. DPS legal dept had to send letter to principals saying this was not legal, some principals tried to cover their stories when I tried to get to the bottom of this. Jonah assured me I would have the support of Stand IF I just took on the Union.
Stand has been at the heart of all the ALEC supported legislation in Colorado since then, along with DFER. SB -191- The harshest teacher “evaluation” legislation in the country. They have supported republican legislators, based solely on the candidates’ education position. They have poured money into various ballot initiatives, and of course, have been one of the top contributors to the Denver Public School Board of Education elections. 7-0 board now.
I am envious of the grassroots action in Tennessee
Jeannie Kaplan
The hated name of Brad Jupp.
Your reports are always filled with “lived detail.” Thank you. My knowledge of Denver politics comes from the pay for performance plan in 1999 that produced the infamous and invalid SLO process, still marketed by Wm Slotnik, with the whole state of Maryland one of the latest captures for his snake oil.
Good word: icky
Thank you. I have witnessed so much. I cannot figure out why Denver is implementing the business model after so much evidence of failure and virtually no evidence of success. Very frustrating.
As to the title of your post “S.f. (aka ON)C.” Conduit for Dark Money”…NO KIDDING!!!
Have to REPEATEDLY tell ILL-Annoy legislators (esp. one, supposed liberal/progressive Democrat) to stop taking S.o.C. money. Jonah came over here, made a devil’s pact w/the teachers unions (resulting in an awful bill–passed–that restricts collective bargaining) & then bragged about it in Aspen, on tape.
In Brevard County, Fl. at least one school board candidate, Tina Dershovich, a republican is receiving PAC money from Republican senator Rich Workman. Workman is very lovey dovey wish JEB. This seems to be the first election in our county that will be influenced by outside PAC money. Her opponent, Darcy Addo, is non partisan, a teacher, and very well informed about the issues.
One more thing. Our new superintendent, Dr. Blackburn, came on board last year to great fanfare. Half way through the year, he quietly announced he was asked to join Chiefs for Change. The reform poison is seeping into our county.
Bruce,
Any superintendent who joins Chiefs for Change is on board with Jeb Bush, high-stakes testing, charters, vouchers, VAM, Etc
Received an excited email from my credit union this morning advising me they would be making a donation to RAISE UP Texas every time I use my debit card. Name at the top of the non-profit running the program as a founder? The Gates Foundation.
Elizabeth,
If Gates is involved, it is very bad news for public schools in Texas.
I would love to repeat Dr. Ravitch’s wisdom:
[start quote]
The long game is to elect people who share your values from the city council to the state legislature to the Congress to the governor
Winning the presidency without changing the politicians in Congress and in state offices is not a viable strategy
You advance one step at a time. Sometimes you make a strategic retreat, so you live to fight another day.
[end quote]
Dr. Ravitch’s wisdom can be translated to the fate of my country from all gullible Southern Viet Nam commanders, and all greedy, ignorant and coward communist leaders.
1) Communist leaders used the long game with sniping technique, with both Russia an China’s supply of arms, with manipulation of gullible military commanders, educators, priests and monks and all cheating, empty promises of patriotism and respect for humanity
(Please note that communism is very rude, crude, brutal and in-human. but communists always demand to be treated with humanity, hah!)
2) Yes, southern VN commanders co-operate with communist leaders in a belief and trust to have VN as being a whole country where peace and freedom for all.
They thought that they won for a country in unity, but they did not understand and really comprehend “a viable strategy” in which communist leaders do not CHANGE their manipulation and do not keep their promises.
[ a) Please note that regardless of what Party, whether it is Republican, Democrat, Reformers, Green or Libertarian, the leader from the city council to the state legislature to the Congress to the governor, MUST SHARE YOUR VALUES through their experience in education and working ethics, NOT their charisma or their popularity from dark money that controls media.
b) Because of the gullibility, all southern VN commanders were imprisoned in the concentrated camps in a horrible condition with death in desperation in the end.
c) In the same vein, people, who follow and support the dark money, will be in the same fate of southern VN commanders in the end.]
3) If southern VN commanders had Dr. Ravitch as an advisor, then they would live with a glory in lieu of death in desperation in the concentrated camp.
In short, if all educators, parents and students, together, unify
in OPT-OUT MOVEMENT to regain our local control in Public Education.
in voting “from the city council to the state legislature to the Congress to the governor who share your values in both culture and belief in humanity.
IN ORDER TO “advance one step at a time. Sometimes we make a strategic retreat, so we live to fight another day.”
This will definitely help us “the WE PEOPLE” to sustain our democratic rights and to successfully fight back the dark money. Back2basic
May King,
Thank you for YOUR wisdom.
When did you leave Vietnam?
Dearest Dr. Ravitch:
I failed many attempts to leave VN from 1975, then escaped many jail terms in 1976 and 1977, until my first shipwreck in China Sea in 1978 and second shipwreck in water area between Thailand and Malaysia in 1979.
Finally, I arrived in Canada in 1980. It took me 5 years to work all odd jobs to pay rent, bus, food and tuition fee in order to graduate from College. After working 3 lowest paying jobs non-stop, I had a lucky break from college degree to work two jobs with better earning wages. This opportunity has helped to save enough within 10 years for my university degree from 1990 to 2010 due to having my only child at the age of 40 and two major illnesses: severe kidney infection and a mild stroke.
I am glad to go through all challenges with success so that I am able to sustain my hope in humanity and my belief in the universal law of karma.
You and all of your supporters are the main reason that has given me the hope and belief in the American Freedom Spirit in order to have a courage to escape Communists.
I do not expect all immigrants can be as strong will as I am in treasuring democratic freedom and spirit. However, I am truly disappointing in the majority of today immigrants who follow and support the dark money for an easy way to earn their living without shame, without appreciation of American people’s kindness and without concern of their offspring’s future to live like “a cog in machine” society that they inadvertently help to build today.
Very respectfully yours,
May King
Dear May,
Your survival through so many trials and challenges is an inspiration.
You must find it annoying to listen to so many of us complain about our lives. When I compare mine to yours, I realize what privileges I have had. You take away my breath with your courage. I am so happy that you read the blog, you support the Network for Public Education generously, and I call you my friend.
Dearest Dr. Ravitch:
I profoundly appreciate your selfless dedication and very patient in advocacy for American Public Education, for Educators and for students.
I thank you for your generous praise of my courage to escape the in-human living condition under communist regime. Most of all, I am delighted to be called your friend and your alliance in Network for Public Education
My family members thought that I was young and foolish because I preferred to go through all life and death situations in order to have my own freedom in limitless learning.
My courage must be credited for American Freedom Spirit that has influenced my endurance to live with hope to head up and to reach out for my enlightenment. And I did it even that there were only few of nano seconds. This is worth for my dangerous journey to experience with enlightenment.
My sincere experience is to express and to share with all conscientious people who trust in the universal law of karma. All people have been on Earth for different times and different purposes for many thousand or million of years. Nobody is genius or ignorant, but someone learns better than others regarding compassion, logical mind-set, and being considerate for the unfortunate.
Patience is the BEST virtue that helps people in developing a forgiving attitude toward ignorance. I hope that all educators will learn from your wisdom and your patience in dealing with devious and malpractice authorities in educational field.
Very respectfully yours,
May King
Investigation is a good idea. But if money can’t buy elections, watch for it to flood into plain old ideological advertising (propaganda). The good stories of public education must continue to be brought to light as terrific returns on public investment.