I posted a strong endorsement of Kelda Roys. She is a candidate in the Democratic candidate for Governor of Wisconsin. The leading candidate in the race is Tony Evers, who is currently State Superintendent of Education. Some people think that he would be a strong supporter of education. But, in fact, he has made teachers’ lives worse during his tenure in office. Teachers are deeply demoralized by the combination of Governor Walker and State Chief Evers’ policies.
Read what Tim Slekar wrote about Tony Evers’ record on education. It is very bad, almost as bad as Scott Walker.
From dean of education at Edgewood College and strong public education advocate Tim Slekar.
“Tony Evers has “name recognition.” He can beat Walker. Except…
I know that’s the “theory.” But on his own issue—education—there are serious problems. For me specifically (as dean of a school of education) his Leadership Group’s dismantling and deregulating of teaching licenses because of a refusal to understand the cause of the “teacher shortage” tells me that using sound research to make policy decisions will take a back seat to neoliberal market solutions that actually cause more damage.
Teachers are leaving the profession in droves. Making it easier to enter our classrooms as a “teacher” does nothing to stop the exodus. It actually adds to it by further demoralizing the teachers that are still teaching. And that’s the real reason teachers are leaving. They are demoralized.
Excessive testing, educator effectiveness bunk, continued accountability (reform word for teachers are to blame for the achievement gap), expansion of non-public charter schools, and a top down system that denies teachers professional autonomy. And a Broad Academy Fellow (Privatization) as second in command. These are all issues DPI have significant control over but for some reason remain silent or worse supportive of.
And the candidate to take on Walker will not win without the support of the teaching profession. Assuming teachers will support Tony is rejecting their moral compass. They know Walker is horrible but they are also quite aware of the fact that DPI has left them hanging.
Give me a candidate that understands “demoralization.” That candidate will fire up education voters.”
Tim Slekar is supporting Kelda Roys for the Democratic nomination for Governor. I hope you will too!
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Posted at https://www.opednews.com/Quicklink/Wisconsin-Why-Educators-S-in-Best_Web_OpEds-Diane-Ravitch_Education_Education-Costs_Education-Laws-180803-384.html#comment709601
My comment
“As this article describes,”Teachers are leaving the profession in droves. Making it easier to enter our classrooms as a “teacher” does nothing to stop the exodus. It actually adds to it by further demoralizing the teachers that are still teaching. And that’s the real reason teachers are leaving. They are demoralized.”
I SAY –It is time to bring real educators back to run the government departments, people who will give the teacher-practitioner autonomy to meet the needs of the children who sit in that classroom for 10 months!
Go to my series here at OPED: “Legislature & Governors false info- undoing education”
https://www.opednews.com/Series/legislature-and-governorsL-by-Susan-Lee-Schwartz-150217-816.html which shows how the legislatures are packed with people who arenNOT ONLY clueless about what learning looks like or requires– have no background in education, but are connected to hedge funds and organizations intent on privatizing the schools.
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Looking at primary elections across the country leads to this question: “Why doesn’t the DNC oppose any candidate who supports privatization of public services?”
The answer is clear to me: the hedge funders who see an opportunity to profit from privatization have captured both political parties and created a mindset among voters that the marketplace should replace government “monopolies” wherever possible…. and as readers of this blog realize, democracy operates differently than business.
A few years ago I heard Lawrence Lessig give a talk at Dartmouth College outlining the ultimate impact of Citizens United. In the talk he noted that the money spent on the campaigns in November was far less important than the money spent in the primary campaigns, for in the primary campaigns smaller donations (or, in the idiom of hedge funders, “investments”), could yield bigger dividends by ensuring that candidates in both parties reflect the will of those who have the most money. From what we have witnessed to date, it seems that the hedge funders are being rewarded for their “investments” in both political parties.
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