More than 200 advocates of public education endorsed this open letter to Joe Biden, which was published on Valerie Strauss’s blog “The Answer Sheet” at the Washington Post.
They call on presumptive Democratic nominee Biden to reject the stale and failed policies of the past 20 years.
Their letter (our letter, since I signed it) begins with this preamble and then offers a list of specific proposals that together represent a fresh vision for American education:
Dear Vice President Biden:
As the Democratic Party presumptive nominee, you have the power to fight for the public schools and colleges and universities that our students deserve. We are concerned educators, public education advocates, union members, parents, and students, writing to request that you demonstrate your commitment to that agenda.
Over the past decade, politicians on both sides of the aisle have made devastating cuts to public education, while privatizing public schools, scapegoating educators, and providing massive tax breaks to corporations and the rich.
These attacks have resulted in a national teacher shortage and reduced educational opportunities for many of our students — especially students of color, those from low-income households, LGBTQ students, and students with disabilities.
The public health and economic emergencies resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic have only made public education more vulnerable. It is no exaggeration to say that the future of public education itself is at stake.
Read the list of sensible, research-based, intelligent policy proposals, which would inspire students and teachers and improve education for all students.
Please open and read.
Tweet with the hashtag #EducationIsAPublicGood and @JoeBiden
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Good luck with this. Maybe you can also appeal to Uncle Joe’s economic advisor, Rahm Emanuel. Mainline Democrats are about to get what they wished for, and god help our nation in November.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/election-2020/ct-rahm-emanuel-joe-biden-campaign-economic-policy-20200522-ujxsorrlona7zittfbylv5cyhe-story.html
Yeah, this Trib article disturbed me, too.
Me, three, speduktr.
teamwhq, I read your link and it is clear that Rahm Emanuel is no more “Uncle Joe’s economic advisor” than Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are. All of them are “talking to Joe”, and no doubt there are trolls posting links to articles in blogs that are read by suburban Michigan and Minnesota white women with false innuendo telling those suburban white women that “maybe they can appeal to Biden’s economic advisor, Bernie Sanders” if they don’t want their children’s private health insurance ending on January 20, 2021 as “Joe Biden’s economic advisor Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren” want.
This is clearly a Chicago story about Rahm Emanuel’s advice to Biden. And while I disagree with that advice, I found his take on it quite interesting and important for progressives to read. The way to win elections is to convince voters that the more radical progressive policies are better than Rahm Emanuel’s “new deal” ideas. But until that happens, the way to turn this country more progressive is to elect candidates that aren’t right wing reactionaries so that the country continues to move in a progressive direction. Sure, FDR’s policies could have been more radical but so what? Those policies still were an enormous improvement from Herbert Hoover. Harry S. Truman could have called for a more radical economic agenda, but so what? His policies were still better than Dewey’s. Lyndon B. Johnson could have offered more radical economic change than his Good Society programs. But so what? LBJ’s economic policies still did a lot of good and it’s a very good thing LBJ won and not Goldwater.
I hope all progressives realize that there are a lot of voters who are still afraid of some of the most progressive changes but do like moving toward those progressive changes. And one thing is certain — the more the democrats are empowered by having huge majorities in the House and Senate and the presidency, the more progressive this country is. The times this country has gone backward began with Jimmy Carter’s defeat by Reagan.
I’m no more worried about Rahm Emanuel’s influence on Biden than any suburban moderate should be worried about Bernie Sanders’ influence on Biden. If Biden is elected over Trump, this country is moving to the left, in a progressive direction, and that is the direction that both suburban moderates and the most leftist progressives want it to move.
But I approve of this open letter to Biden. He needs to hear from educators and those who support public education.
Policy is fine when it comes to K12 reform planning, but it’s continuing practice that leads to true reform.
If it’s “more learning more” we want, then we need to have all our students and teachers be a part of the true reform we need.
We won’t find the answers we need on any “Answer Sheet.” We will find real achievement when students can show us what they have learned to do, and that for which they still need assistance.
Battles against ignorance require the planning of policy and strategy. But the battles against ignorance are won only with successful tactics and techniques, both classroom-based or streamed online.
Times are a-changing and we educators must change with it.
Remember, Rahm shuttered 50 Chicago Public Schools all at once. Between advisors like Emanuel, Michael Bloomberg and Larry Summers, I don’t hold out a lot of optimism for Biden being there for the 99 percent.
I wish I could believe Mr. Biden. He has a long record of prevarications and has already insured the donor class that nothing will change.
I feel like Dorothy–instead of “lions & tigers & bears, oh my!” it’s Rahm, & Mike & Larry, oh nooooooo!!!”
The letter is a good move. The number of people who signed on is impressive. The letter is a BRIEF wishlist.
I do not understand how federal policy can establish a minimum salary for teachers. I wish the letter called for federal assistance for schools to hire nurses, social workers and librarians. There will be criticisms and supporters.
I think this kind of political action is important, especially given the dismal legacy of the Obama era and the fact that Joe Biden’s younger brother is all in for charter schools.
I do not Tweet.
I think Joe Biden is likelier to listen to his wife —-a career educator—than to his brother, who seems to have gotten into many scrapes
I love your closing line, Laura. And I wish that the next Secretary of Education had you on the job crafting regulatory guidelines. What a mind you would have for that!!!
Hey Diane,
I saw on facebook that the name for signature 112 is missing. It goes right from 111 to 113. If that is just my copy, oh well but if you need a name for 112, can I volunteer?
Sure! Why not!
Contact Eric Blanc.
Ericblancsf@gmail.com
Tell him to add your name.