Ravitch to Obama: Change Course Before it's Too Late!

[Orlandodem]

This is an EXCELLENT article in the WaPo. It's a Q and A with education historian Diane Ravitch. Ravitch worked on Bush's NCLB but has seen the light (it was a foolish policy). She is urging Obama to change course on Race To the Top. The answer to her last question is important advice. Even if you are not in education, you need to be aware that teachers may sit out 2010 and 2012 in protest. It's in YOUR interest to help convince Obama to dump RTTT or teachers may not vote for him or for Dems in Congress.

SNIP

Q) Do you think there will be political consequences for the administration’s education policy?
A) The administration’s alienation of teachers is a really bad idea politically. There are four million teachers, and they vote. They have families. There are retired teachers, who care deeply about our public education system. The President is heading into a tough mid-term election. I don’t see the point of cultivating Republicans and endorsing their agenda of privatization and tough accountability, because they won’t vote for him anyway. And I don’t see the point of disrespecting public school teachers, who are one of his core constituencies.

Link to full article.


http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/diane-ravitch/ravitch-to-obama-change-course.html

[NJmaverick]

1. "you need to be aware that teachers may sit out 2010 and 2012 in protest"

Teachers need to take a long hard look at what Republican Governor Chris Christie is doing to teachers in NJ before they do something so foolish.

[Orlandodem]

2. Look. I'm from Florida. This is the most anti-teacher state in the union.

What Obama is doing is right out of the Jeb Bush playbook. I don't need to look at NJ. If public schools, their students, parents, and teachers are going to get trashed by Obama, there's not much difference between him and a Republican. In fact, the Republicans have been emboldened by OBAMA! They continually reference HIM when unveiling their latest "reform". Note the tour that Duncan had with Newt Gingrich.

Simple question: What is Obama doing for the children who remain in public schools? Nothing. He's doing a lot for charters and the testing industry, but nothing for the kids who remain in the public school system.

[NJmaverick]

3. "I don't need to look at NJ. If public schools"

You need to look at what Chris Christie is doing in NJ. You have no idea what anti-teacher is until you see what Republican Chris Christie is doing. Living in NJ and knowing first hand what is going on hear, I can't believe how out of touch your comments are. Here teachers are losing jobs, pay, benefits, rights and everything else from a governor that takes great pride and joy hurting teachers, students and parents. Worse he is becoming a national hero of the right wing movement.

[Donnachaidh]

4. the world does NOT revolve around NJ

how much more insulting can you get? Out of touch with a state she doesn't live in? Uhh, crank that ego back a few hundred yards, some of us are trying to breathe :sarcasm:

While New Jersians like to think of themselves as the center of the universe, they are not. And I'll bet other states are getting screwed far worse than teachers in NJ.

CLUE for you -- EVERY state is having massive teacher layoffs, and massive education cuts. Instead of insulting a poster who doesn't think NJ is more important than her *own* state - why don't you listen to what others are saying? She's from FLORIDA. It goes without saying that the situation with florida teachers WILL be more important to her.

:eyes:

[NJmaverick]

7. If you believe what Christie is doing will stay limited to NJ

You are badly mistaken

[Orlandodem]

5. And he has been emboldened by OBAMA!

Democrats from Obama on down would be wise to listen to Ravitch.

Ironically, while I hate RTTT if Florida does not get a RTTT grant, I think Obama will lose Florida and it will be because of the teachers. IF we get a RTTT grant, the state Republicans won't have as much incentive to foist a bill on us next year like they tried last year. The grant we submitted this year had union backing. The one last year was draconian and based on a Republican bill that passed out of the legislature but Crist vetoed it. And Crist is getting the support of a TON of teachers. Democrats need to know that teachers are paying attention VERY closely. They will punish who ever disses them. They will support whoever supports them. Diane Ravitch's book is selling big time. She has the support of teachers across America because she has seen the light of how stupid NCLB and RTTT are (and she helped craft NCLB). Maybe, just maybe, the teachers know what they're talking about and they'll throw their support behind anyone who listens.

[RainDog]

8. why threats about "but look at the republicans" are useless

to me, at least.

it's like this: if you want to destroy public education (oh, buzzword reform - truth is make it education a corporate rather than state entity) and you destroy protections for teachers through unions... then we can all go to hell together.

these threats about looking at the republicans - are the problem of the democratic party, not its supporters. If the democrats are going to do much the same thing then they can find out what it's like to lose their jobs too.

If democrats want to honor their largest and wealthiest constituency - liberals - then they'll get votes. If this means democrats have to play hard ball with conservative democratic factions to get votes, then that's what THEY do - they don't tell us to shut up and take it and vote for them anyway and expect anyone will give a damn about putting them in office.

Because the only thing a voter has is his or her vote. The power of the ballot box is where voters let their politicians know what they think about the job they're doing.

Since the party has chosen to back conservatives rather than liberals in primaries, too - well, if they can do that - why can't a liberal stay home in protest?

why the threats about "but look at the republicans" are HARMFUL-

why? Because they are ABUSIVE toward liberals. they're like someone smacking you in the face and then telling you they love you.

when the people on this board who constantly attack liberals FINALLY GET A FUCKING CLUE ABOUT THIS - we'll all be better off.

Those who continue to do this, after others have pointed out time and time again how counterproductive such a strategy real is, are doing the work of the republican party, whether they intend to or not, by a failure to understand that principles matter enough to some people to choose not to support anyone.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. NJ is no exception and it isn't only republicans

Teachers are being attacked all over the country. Tenure is being taken away, salaries are being cut, raises are non-existent, teachers are being forced into early retirement and replaced by interns with no background in education.

Curriculum is under attack so our kids can focus on tested skills and shine on useless standardized tests. Forget about not only the arts but Science and Social Studies are also not being taught because they aren't tested.

Our politicians - in BOTH parties - are promoting legislation and federal policies that encourage more charter schools even though there is no proof they serve our kids better than traditional public schools.

The same is true of merit pay. There is no research proving it increases achievement and plenty of data proving it LOWERS what kids learn, but it is being forced upon us with all these other nonsense reforms.

Your governor is an idiot but his education policies are no different and no worse than policies being promoted in many other states. Ask the teachers in Chicago what Arne did to their district. And he's a Democrat. Ask the teachers in Detroit what's going on there. Or LA.

And it is all being encouraged by a Democratic administration and a Democratic Congress. Wake up. They are on the same page as your governor.

[Scuba]

6. Obama will never with the right? Why is he abandoning the left?

[Bluebear]

9. kick