Archives for category: Supporting public schools

Carol Burris and Darcie Cimarusti of the Network for Public Education argue here that the candidates who forcefully stand up for public schools and speak out against privatization will win in November 2018.

Their evidence is the Elections of 2017.

Start with the remarkable results in Virginia.

“The most important race of 2017 was the hotly contested race for the governor of Virginia, in which a strong public education advocate, Democrat Ralph Northam, faced off against Republican Ed Gillespie. Gillespie fully embraced the entire DeVos agenda — charter expansion, online virtual schools, home schools, and vouchers in the form of tax credits and education savings accounts. There was not an inch of policy daylight between Gillespie and DeVos.

“This should come as no surprise. Gillespie received over $100,000 in campaign contributions from the DeVos family, including a donation from the Secretary’s husband, Dick DeVos. Americans for Prosperity, which is controlled by the Koch brothers, launched a digital video in which a charter school leader criticized Northam for being the vote that stopped the neo-voucher “educational savings accounts.”

“Northam, who was supported by the teachers union, has been a strong and consistent supporter of public education. As stated on his website, “Ralph took tie-breaking votes to protect Virginia’s public education from being raided with unconstitutional private school vouchers and to keep decisions about public charter schools in the hands of local school boards.”

“The election of Gillespie would have been a game changer for public education in the Commonwealth. Virginia is one of a handful of states that allow charter schools to only be authorized by local school boards. In Virginia, charters are subject to the same transparency guidelines as public schools in the state. There are only eight charter schools in Virginia, much to the chagrin of charter advocates.”

Northam, who calls himself a “friend of public schools,” will keep privatization out of the state and instead work to strengthen and improve Virginia’s public schools.”

Friends of public schools will win. Democrats who abandon public schools will not be able to take advantage of “The DeVos Effect.”

Categories Accountability, Betsy DeVos, Charter Schools, Education Industry, Education Reform, Privatization, School Choice, Supporting public schools, Virginia, Vouchers

At the NPE Conference, Dr. Charles Foster Johnson Explains How Pastors for Texas Kids Fought Against Vouchers and for Funding Public Schools

By dianeravitch

November 17, 2017 //

I forgot to include the link on this post, so I am reposting.

This was one of the best keynote speeches from the fourth annual conference of the Network for Public Education in Oakland. They were moving, inspiring, powerful.

Please watch Dr. Charles Foster Johnson of Pastors for Texas Kids explain how he got involved in the fight for public education and why men and women of faith communities must support public schools and protect separation of church and state.

Charlie Johnson is a wonderful speaker. He is working with his peers in other states, including Oklahoma, Arkansas, Arizona, and Indiana. When he finished talking, he was swarmed by people from the South and Midwest, seeking his help and advice.

You will enjoy and learn from his presentation.

Categories Accountability, Budget Cuts, Citizenship, Civil Rights, Democracy, Funding, Justice, Religion, Separation of church and state, Supporting public schools, Texas

Stuart Egan: What “Stranger Things” Teaches About the Role of Public Schools in the Community

By dianeravitch

November 17, 2017 //

Stuart Egan, NBCT High School Teacher in North Carolina, writes here about the lessons learned from a TV series set in the 1980s called “Stranger Things.” Remember the 1980s? There were no charter schools, no voucher schools. Public were and still are the heart of their communities. But some communities have been ripped asunder by false notions of choice and competition, whose main goal seems to be to sow division and break community spirit.

“The fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana became the epicenter of a lot of “binge-watching” in the last month as the second season of the hit series Stranger Things was released in nine episodes.

“Following the trials and tribulations of these school-age kids and their families is rather surreal; the music, the fashion, and the hair styles are as authentically presented now as they were actually in the 1980’s, especially if you are a middle-aged public school teacher who listens to The Clash like he did growing up in a small rural town in Georgia where he rode his bike everywhere without a digital link to everything else in the world.

“He just had to be home by dinner.

“While the kids and adults in this fictional town battle forces from the “upside down” amidst a government cover-up during the Cold War, it is easy to get lost in the sci-fi aspects of this well-written show. And it is very well-written and produced. But there is one non-human entity that is foundational and serves as the cornerstone to those people in a small section of Indiana: Hawkins Middle School, Home of the Tiger Cubs…

“If there ever was a cornerstone for the characters in Hawkins, IN, then it is the public school. It serves as the greatest foundation of that community.

“The AV Room. Heathkit. School assemblies. The gymnasium. Science class. Mr. Clarke. Eleven channeling Will. Makeshift isolation tank. Portal to the Upside Down. The Snow Ball. Parents were students there. Ghostbusters suits.

“Those are tied to Hawkins Middle School.

“So is growing up, coming of age, hallway conversations, epiphanies, learning about others, following curiosities, finding answers to questions you learned to ask.

“Those are also tied to Hawkins Middle School.”

The question that we should all try to answer is how “conservatives” became devoted to the idea of destroying community institutions.conservatives used to serve on the school board and lead the PTA. When did it become conservative doctrine to oppose public schools?

Categories School Choice, Supporting public schools

Douglas County, Colorado: Share the Joy as Public Schools Slate Whips Voucher Advocates!

By dianeravitch

November 10, 2017 //

Brian Malone, videographer, produced a film called “Education, Inc.” in which he portrayed the intrusion of Dark Money into School Board Elections, with the goal of privatization and destruction of public schools. He focused on Dougco in Colorado, where Voucher forces used big money to take control of the local school board.

On Tuesday night, organized parents and teachers elected their slate of public school supporters.

Brian Malone was there to film it, and he says he will change the ending of “Education, Inc.”

Share the joy by watching a few minutes.

For now, public education is back in Douglas County!

Categories Colorado, Dark Money, Supporting public schools, Vouchers

Our Reader Shares Good Education Books with Newly Elected Virginia Delegate Danica Roem

By dianeravitch

November 8, 2017 //

Our reader and commenter, known to you are Virginia Parent, is Michele Boyd. She worked very hard to elect pro-public education candidates in Virginia. In this photograph, taken before the election, she gives Danica Roem some good reading on education issues. Danica was one of the people I endorsed for election to the House of Delegates, on the recommendation of Michele, Rachel Levy, and others on the ground. She is one of the brave Democrats who has come close to taking a majority of seats in a legislature that was gerrymandered to maintain Republican control. Danica knocked out one of the most reactionary members of the House of Delegates.

In case you can’t read the print, Michele gave Danica the following: Daniel Koretz, “The Testing Charade”; Pasi Sahlberg, “Finnish Lessons”; and my last book “Reign of Error.” Can’t go wrong with those three.

Congratulations to all of those and who fought to stop Trumpism in Virginia.

You sent a message to the Nation and gave hope to people who had lost it.

Categories Education Reform, Supporting public schools, Virginia

Northam Wins!!! Democrats Sweeping Virginia! Trumpism Repudiated!,

By dianeravitch

November 7, 2017 //

Fantastic news!

Lt. Governor Ralph Northam won the governorship in Virginia, beating Ed Gillespie, who ran a dirty Trump-like campaign, accusing Northam of allying with criminal immigrant gang MS-13, wanting to remove Confederate statues, and supporting unpatriotic athletes.

The major networks just called the race for Northam. They say it is 51-48, but the margin seems likely to grow as the votes roll in from the DC suburbs. Now it is up to 52-47. It will grow. It is currently a 54-45 blowout. Nine points.

Democrats are also picking up seats in the House of Delegates. The GOP author of the phony transgender bathroom bill was defeated. An openly transgender candidate beat him.

The House Majority Whip was defeated. Our friend and reader “Virginia Parent” says that the “charters and choice” issue is dead in Virginia.

It is a wonderful win for a good man who refused to pander.

Dr. Northam went to public schools, supports public schools, does not support charters or vouchers.

Teachers and public school parents turned out in full force for Dr. Northam.

Message to the Democratic Party: Support public schools, and you can win again!

Categories Charter Schools, School Choice, Supporting public schools, Virginia, Vouchers

Virginia: Vote for the Candidates Who Support Public Schools

By dianeravitch

November 6, 2017 //

On Tuesday November 7, all eyes will be on Virginia. The gubernatorial race is the first statewide election since the presidential election of 2016.

The choice is clear. Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam is a physician, a veteran, an experienced elected official. He is a moderate Democrat. He supports public schools, not privatization, not charters or vouchers. His opponent Ed Gillespie is running as a Trump surrogate, committed to school privatization like Betsy DeVos.

This election is a referendum on Trump. It is also a referendum on the future of public education. Northam is a product of Virginia public schools, and he has promised to improve them, not destroy them.

Many candidates are running for the House of Delegates on a pro-public schools platform. They are teachers, parents, public school graduates who know how important public schools are to our democracy.

Here is a list of candidates who deserve your help and your vote.

If you live in their district, vote for them and make sure that your friends and neighbors vote for them.

They are:

Hala Ayala: https://ayalafordelegate.com

Jennifer Carroll Foy: https://www.jennifercarrollfoy.org

Kelly Fowler: https://www.voteforfowler.com

Morgan Goodman: https://goodmanfordelegate.com

Elizabeth Guzman: http://elizabethguzmanforvirginia.com

Debra Rodman: http://rodmanfordelegate.com

Danica Roem: http://mobile.dudasite.com/site/danicafordelegate#2919

Shelley Simonds: https://www.simondsfordelegate.com

Schuyler VanValkenburg: https://www.vanvalkenburg4va.com

Cheryl Turpin: https://cherylturpinforvb.com/

Please vote. Every vote counts.

Vote for delegates who will improve our public schools.

Your vote could be the single vote that wins the elec

Categories Supporting public schools

Tony Bennett and Susan Benedetto on the Importance of the Arts and Public Schools!

By dianeravitch

October 28, 2017 //

This is a beautiful and inspiring 4-minute video about the iconic singer Tony Bennett and his wife Susan Benedetto,who generously support the arts in public schools.

It is a magnificent testimony to the arts, to public schools, to diversity, and to the way that the arts bring hope to the world.

They may never know about it, but I gladly add Tony Bennett and Susan Benedetto to the blog’s Honor Roll for their love of the arts and for their recognition of the transformative power of the arts in the lives of young people.

Categories Arts Education, Goodness, Honor Roll, Supporting public schools

Bad News from Texas: Moderate Republican Leader Joe Strauss Will Not Seek Re-Election

By dianeravitch

October 26, 2017 //

Joe Strauss, Speaker of the House in Texas, announced that he would not seek re-election.

This is very bad news for Texas.

Speaker Strauss has prevented voucher proposals from getting out of Committee. He understands that more than 90% of the children of Texas attend public schools, and he has protected public schools from extremists who want to take public money for religious schools. He prevented the “transgender bathroom” bill from coming to the floor, knowing that if it passed it would lead to a national boycott of Texas by major corporations and cost the state billions in revenues. It would also make the Great state of Texas look as hateful as North Carolina when it passed HB 2.

He has led the fight against ignorance and bigotry with intelligence and skill.

Now the scramble begins to replace him.

I pray that there is someone with the brains and guts of Joe Strauss waiting in the wings.

Categories Funding, Supporting public schools

Virginia: These Candidates Will Fight for Public Schools!

By dianeravitch

October 25, 2017 //

National attention has rightly focused on the gubernatorial race between Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, a moderate Democrat, and Ed Gillespie, a Trump Republican. Northam is a military veteran, a physician, and an experienced government official who will defend the rights of all Virginians to justice, healthcare, public education, and a safe environment. Gillespie is a former chair of the Republican National Committee and GOP hack who will protect Confederate statues, privatize public schools, and enact the Trump-DeVos agenda.

If Northam is elected, he needs allies in the state legislature. If he is not elected, Gillespie needs a legislature to block him when he tries to transfer public funds to religious, private, and for-profit schools, as he has promised to do.

Here are candidates for the legislature who will fight for Virginia’s public schools. Please vote for them, volunteer for them, donate to their campaigns:

Debra Rodman: http://rodmanfordelegate.com

Schuyler VanValkenburg: https://bluevirginia.us/2017/09/schuyler-vanvalkenburg-vows-to-keep-right-wing-assault-from-gutting-virginias-public-education-system; https://www.vanvalkenburg4va.com

Jennifer Carroll Foy: https://www.jennifercarrollfoy.org

Elizabeth Guzman: http://elizabethguzmanforvirginia.com

Hala Ayala: https://ayalafordelegate.com

Shelley Simonds: https://www.simondsfordelegate.com

Morgan Goodman: https://goodmanfordelegate.com

Kelly Fowler: https://www.voteforfowler.com

Please vote. Every vote counts.

Vote for delegates who will improve our public schools.

Your vote could be the single vote that wins the election!

Categories Democrats, Education Reform, Supporting public schools