Changing Face of the Enemy

[tonysam]

Written by a teacher, of course. Conclusion:

The new danger appears in the rise of the seamless melding of the corporation and the state in the US. The corporate-state was certified as constitutional by the US Supreme Court in its recent decision on corporate campaign financing. The new reality is reflected in the unprecedented amount of money Secretary of Education Arne Duncan suddenly has at his disposal to undermine the public schools. Duncan has put the 50 states in a competition he calls the Race To The Top, to become the most effective at destroying public education and advancing the charter school movement. Duncan will spread over $4-billion among the "winning" states. The denial of funds is expected to finish off public education in the "losing" states.

Some people are confused as to why President Obama's education policy is indistinguishable from that of George W. Bush. Well both are either willing servants or hostages of the same masters. In the transition from one administration to the next the bankers takeover of the US treasury never missed a beat. The military, one of the pillars of the corporate-state, allowed President Obama the public perception of choice on Afghanistan. But Gen. Stanley McCrystal was ordering not requesting more troops. Another pillar of the corporate-state, the insurance companies and pharmaceuticals, have humored Obama with the idea they would allow national health care reform. They've tired of the theatrics and ordered up Scott Brown in Massachusetts the other day to bring the curtain down on it.

In regards to the public schools and every other vestige of democracy in US society the corporate-state is the last stage where fighting back will be possible. Next comes the national curriculum from Winston Smith's world.

It's resistance now or never.

More

[Catshrink]

1. It is so sad...

Arne can't buy a clue. Have you seen any evidence that Obama and his team are paying attention to teachers or even listening? Or even aware of our opinions?

[tonysam]

2. I have seen absolutely no evidence at all

they are even listening to teachers. There is a place on the education department website where people are allowed to post comments (this was when Arne was on his listening tour with Gingrich and Sharpton), but outside of that, nothing.

The Obama administration is a complete disaster on this issue.

[mzteris]

3. Teachers at US Dept of Ed:

Here's an opportunity for you guys to have play a larger role!

U.S. Department of Education
Teaching Ambassador Fellowship
Mission: The Teaching Ambassador Fellowship is designed to improve education for students by involving teachers in the development and implementation of national education policy. The Fellowship seeks to:

* Create a community of teacher leaders who share expertise and collaborate with policymakers and leaders in the federal government on national education issues.
* Involve teachers in developing policies that affect the classroom.
* Expand teacher policy leadership at the national, state, and local levels.

Washington Fellows become full-time employees of the Department of Education in Washington, DC for the Fellowship year. Classroom Fellows remain in their schools under their regular teaching contracts, and are paid an hourly rate to perform Fellowship duties for the Department of Education for the Fellowship year.

Washington Fellows will be assigned to appropriate positions within the Department depending on their background and interests. They may work in more than one program office, contributing expertise and assisting on specific projects or policy matters. Washington Fellows will also work closely with Classroom Fellows. Throughout the year, all Fellows will participate in activities designed to increase their knowledge and understanding of Federal education policy and program management. Fellows will meet for discussions and sessions to explore and share strategies around needs and best practices in public education. They may also work on collaborative or individual projects to strengthen the Department's teacher outreach.

Please note: Application Information for 2010-2011 will be available shortly. Some changes are expected, but the application process will be similar to that in previous years.

http://www2.ed.gov/programs/teacherfellowship/index.html


*****

Question: wasn't that what the "listening tour" was for? Didn't he visit schools and talk to teachers, admins, parents, and students?

[teacher gal]

5. mzteris

Hello mzteris. Thank you for your civil and thoughtful posts and the link to the teacher fellowship resource. Teachers are frustrated, angry, and defensive (undertandably so) but I do not think it helps our cause to lash out against those who may disagree with us (for example, on our stance on charters...I read your comments on a GD thread). It is good to be able to talk, to value, respect and give thoughtful consideration to the opinions of those who may disagree with us. Give and take and we can all learn something.

As to Arne Duncan, I thought his Katrina comments were callous and insensitive considering children actually died in that event. I am not a Duncan fan by any stretch of the imagination but I can't believe he is actually glad the tragedy occurred and I'm sure he did not mean to convey that impression. There probably isn't a human being alive who hasn't at one time or another said something stupid that they wish they could take back. I certainly have.

As to your question at the end of your post about Duncan's listening tour: In my opinion, it was only for appearances sake. Despite the cries of teachers and despite the fact that the research itself weighs heavily against RTTT "reforms", they are plundering forward anyway advancing practices known to be destructive. Even despite the warnings from the Academy of Sciences. It is bribery, pure and simple and profoundly undemocratic. Cash-starved states are being strong-armed to change their laws in order to get desperately needed money. In my opinion it is better to just say no to the money. Despite it being known that high-stakes testing increases the drop-out rate, narrows the curriculum, advances a suffocatingly narrow vision of "success" for a hugely diverse population of children (I could go on and on), they now want states to tie teacher pay to these high-stakes tests. As has been said, it's NCLB on steroids.

The Constitution gives no provision for the federal government to impose education policy but the corporate/politicos get around this through outright bribery. I believe it was the same with NCLB.

[mzteris]

6. thanks.

You know, there are many things about the whole RTT I don't like. I hate standardized testing, and you're right - I think it IS a question of "bribery" - and quite frankly - I DON'T like it.

"Teaching to the test" is one of the most horrible things that has ever happened to our education system. My friends and I have always called the NCLB - No Child Gets Ahead. It's short-sighted and narrowly focused. Yeah, kids who need more help in the classroom should be having their needs met, but in the process, our best and brightest are NOT getting what they need from the classroom. (No, not all schools. . . ) I did a statistical analysis of test scores in NC a couple of years after NCLB took effect.

Scores are
I - below grade level
II- on grade level
III - mastery of grade level
IV - above grade level

It was interesting to note that yes, there were fewer I's and more II's. But there were also more III's and fewer IV's. And the II level had increased statistically more than the III level had increased, indicating that not only did some of the I's become II's, but some of the III's became II's as well.

Thus - the dumbing down.

I really liked Donco's story about his school system. It CAN be done - and SHOULD be done (as LWolf noted), but unfortunately is NOT being done - for whatever reason. Politics? Money? Logistics? Power? Unions? Ennui? Lack of imagination? Control? Lack of will? Fear? It's terrible that more systems aren't taking the steps that are so desperately needed.

I believe teachers should have a much larger voice in the process of change. I also believe students and parents should play a role as well. The thing is, since change so desperately needs to occur in most systems - and is NOT occurring, some people are tired of waiting for others to do the changing and decide to do it themselves. The Charters I've been directly associated with have all been founded by EDUCATORS who decided to leave the rigid "traditional system" and start their own programs.

Most Charters (appx 80%) are started by educators and parents and community leaders. I do get upset that Charters are dismissed out of hand and painted as the evil "forprofit" moneygrubbing organizations. Yeah, there probably ARE some like that, but there is a whole whole lot of monetary abuse going on the traditional system as well, so let's weed out the bad and keep the good, ya know?

Choices in education I think are a good thing. What works for one, may not work for another. I support traditional public schools, being painted as if I don't really upsets me. The fact that I support choice in education - charters, homeschool - for some reason really really ticks off the traditional teachers in this forum. Someone suggested once that they feel "insulted" that parents think they can educate better than "trained teachers". I dunno.

I think we should all work together. Take what IS working and expand on it. Ditch what isn't. But don't reject everything (or anyone) out of hand because you don't like some aspect of it.

[Catshrink]

4. I so agree, tonysam.

I can't think of any other issue where the experts on it are so completely ignored and dismissed, indeed, even "campaigned" against. It's mindboggling.