Duncan Silent on Florida Education Mess (Unbelievable What Is Happening)

[teacher gal]

This is from Valerie Strauss of the Washington Post. A big thank you to her for covering this story:

Duncan Silent on Florida Education Mess

It’s no wonder that many teachers, students and parents feel that public education is under assault in Florida.

Despite a growing chorus of opposition from teachers, students and even school superintendents, the Republican-dominated state Legislature is intent on passing a bill that would make eliminate teacher tenure, link teacher pay to student standardized test scores, and add a heap more tests on already test-plagued students.

Each one of those items will negatively impact every student in a Florida public school. But that’s not all.


Citing terrible budget constraints, legislators are trying to pull back on a decision voters made in a state referendum in 2002 that limited class size. Voters approved a plan for gradual reductions in class size until they reach no more than 18 for grades pre-K-3, 22 for grades 4-8, and 25 in high school.

But that’s not all.

Even though money is so tight, the Republican legislators somehow found money for private schools through tax-credit scholarships, and that bill is moving swiftly too.

With all this work to do, you might think the Florida legislators don’t have any more time to deal with lesser education issues. But you’d be wrong.

Read the rest of the story here: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/education-secretary-duncan/duncan-silent-on-floridas-educ.html

[izzybeans]

1. THis is happening in nearly every republican controlled state.

Indiana's schools are being systematically dismantled by the republican governor.

[teacher gal]

2. Yes, you're right.

Teachers need to mobilize for massive protests. But in instances where they already are organizing and protesting, the big shots in MSM don't even cover it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Yes here in Kansas as well

[izzybeans]

5. Is there some nationwide coordination being done through the unions?

My mother, (fearing a layoff one year from retirement) has been working on a local referendum with her fellow teachers and local union reps to put a stop to funding cuts. In her small rural district they are cutting nearly 1/4 of teaching staff - should the new budget take effect next year. She hasn't put it in a broader context outside of state policy. Someone should compare the race to the top proposals of each of these states because the three I've read or browsed outline very explicitly these types of plans. I haven't looked at any of the 12 finalists though. Hopefully union strategists are reading them and putting two and two together.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. I'm on my way to a meeting in St Louis today

They've invited teachers from all over the Midwest. Hopefully we'll come up with some good strategies.

[teacher gal]

15. Keep us posted! n/t

[Dinger]

18. Please Let Us Know How That Goes

Wish I could have went.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. Will do

[izzybeans]

23. Good news. Please report back. :)

[teacher gal]

11. There was the big March 4th protest

out in California but many, many more are needed. It is my opinion that a clueless (and sometimes complicit) corporate MSM do not want to cover the protests. It's all about money, power, and control of the masses.

[ibegurpard]

4. Duncan is a charter school promoter

don't look to this administration for any help.

[teacher gal]

7. When the CREDO study came out recently

showing that nationally only 17% of charters outperform traditional public schools and the remainder perform the same or worse than regular public schools, Duncan changed his rhetoric to, "I don't support charter schools, I support GOOD charter schools."

Perish the thought that it occur to him to support good public schools that already exist and innovation and freedom in regular public schools.

It's fascinating and outrageous watching him change his rhetoric to fit the direction the winds are blowing!

[LWolf]

6. The war on public education is moving faster, and farther,

in the last year+ than it has since Reagan declared it decades ago.

:(

[teacher gal]

8. In large part

I think because it has become bi-partisan opportunism. Far easier to attack schools and teachers than address the massive problems with poverty and societal ills directly. And there's lots of money for the taking in the anti-public school movement. It's driven by billionaires.

[LWolf]

12. I agree.

It's also easier to accomplish under a Democratic administration. Under a republican administration, Democrats have to put up at least a show of resistance.

[Dinger]

19. Ding Ding Ding!

Exactly.

[Karmadillo]

9. When you see a mess, Duncan sees a march to Utopia. Until we mount a credible primary threat

against this administration in 2012, we'll get nothing from them.

[teacher gal]

13. agreed

Corporate Utopia

[Dinger]

17. I Really Hope That Happens (nt)

[Starry Messenger]

14. The situation in Florida is utopia to Duncan

He'll be able to perform his "miracles" there now too. x(

[Dinger]

20. Utopia For him Is The republican party

That is all.

[Starry Messenger]

22. I hear you.

x(

[Dinger]

16. K & R

It's war here too. Sickening.

[teacher gal]

24. Thank you so much DUers

for supporting this thread and the other threads on education. It has long been neglected in MSM. Now the boat is finally a' rockin a little bit.

[teacher gal]

25. Boy has Duncan opened a can of worms

with his brilliant ed reform package. He may have to spend the rest of his career in the DOE covering his butt and adjusting his rhetoric to do damage control.

[teacher gal]

26. Giving this one more kick

because education is getting a little traction on here today.

[Odin2005]

27. TPTB have decided that the majority having a good education is a threat.

TPTB discovered what educated young people do back in the 60s and 70s and so they made college expensive in the 80s. This is a continuation of that.

[TomCADem]

28. Wait, You Are Blaming Duncan For The Actions Of a Republican-dominated State Legislature?

I guess are we going to blame the Obama administration for the Texas re-write of textbooks as well? Maybe Duncan is the cause of Kansas teaching creationism?

[proud2BlibKansan]

29. Kansas doesn't teach creationism

The rest of your post proves you don't have a clue as to what is happening.

[TomCADem]

31. So, Kansas BOE Never Approved Intelligent Design/Creationism?

I guess we should blame Democrats for the following:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/08/AR2005110801211.html

TOPEKA, Kan., Nov. 8 -- The Kansas Board of Education voted Tuesday that students will be expected to study doubts about modern Darwinian theory, a move that defied the nation's scientific establishment even as it gave voice to religious conservatives and others who question the theory of evolution.

By a 6 to 4 vote that supporters cheered as a victory for free speech and opponents denounced as shabby politics and worse science, the board said high school students should be told that aspects of widely accepted evolutionary theory are controversial. Among other points, the standards allege a "lack of adequate natural explanations for the genetic code."

The bitterly fought effort pushes Kansas to the forefront of a war over evolution being waged in courts in Pennsylvania and Georgia and statehouses nationwide. President Bush stated his own position last summer, buoying social conservatives when he said "both sides" should be taught.

"This is a great day for education. This is one of the best things that we can do. This absolutely teaches more about science," said Steve E. Abrams, the Kansas board chairman who shepherded the conservative Republican majority that overruled a 26-member science committee and turned aside the National Academy of Sciences and the National Science Teachers Association.

[proud2BlibKansan]

33. That's not what you said

And no, since I fucking live here I do know what the Science standards are NOW.

See we organized and voted OFF the lunatic state school board members who wanted to ban evolution. Several elections ago.

So your slam is inaccurate. And the rest of your post is still wrong.

[TomCADem]

35. So, Were Democrats To Blame For The Actions Of The Kansas BOE Then?

Also, as you suggest:

"See we organized and voted OFF the lunatic state school board members who wanted to ban evolution. Several elections ago."

Well, isn't that the solution in Florida, rather than slamming Duncan for the mess? Shouldn't we work to vote off the Republicans who are making the changes in Florida?

Just asking.

[proud2BlibKansan]

39. The changes in Florida are driven by the policies established by Obama's dept of ed

So yes what is happening in Florida is directly related to the president and his policies aimed at 'reforming' public education.

[teacher gal]

40. The mass firing at Central Falls

is actually a case study of RTTT "reforms" for the so-called bottom 5% of America's public schools. Note there will always be a bottom 5% of schools, mostly in poverty-stricken areas. As James Crawford of the Institute for Language and Education Policy writes in the article linked below:

The ugly saga of Central Falls is just a preview of what’s in store for large numbers of urban schools if the Obama administration gets its way.

More: http://www.susanohanian.org/show_nclb_outrages.php?id=3924

[teacher gal]

30. You don't seem to understand

The attacks on public education and teachers are BI-PARTISAN. The Democrats were up to their eyeballs in the No Child Left Behind Act, just as they are RTTT. Have you actually studied what Duncan is doing? How much do you really know about the Obama/Duncan Race To The Top bribery plan?

Teachers supported Obama. Massively. I like what he has done for health care despite enormous efforts by the corporates to defeat it. But when oh when will people recognize that it is power and wealth behind these disastrous ed reforms which are designed not to strengthen and improve public education but to discredit and destroy it?

You need to do some digging behind all the rhetoric out there.

[TomCADem]

32. Well, Democrats Are About To Kill Private School Vouchers In DC...

...which does not seem to comport with this Obama is out privitize education talking point that I have been reading. I am all for a discussion, but I find the hyperbole less than credible. Likewise, blaming the Obama administration for the actions of Republicans also stretches credibility.

Throw me a bone. What has Duncan done that you disagree with? Please some ALL CAPS one liner that Obama is out privitize education tends to lose me.

[proud2BlibKansan]

34. Get back to us when they get rid of the charter schools in DC

That's why they don't need vouchers.

[teacher gal]

36. In answer to your questions about Duncan....

Sorry for my poor manners, I do get heated and carried away sometimes.


In answer to your question about Duncan, I could give you literally dozens of links but I'll just provide a few for starters:


http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/19-8

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/education-

http://socialistworker.org/2008/12/17/duncans-school-reform-sham

[tonysam]

37. The education forum has oodles of threads and links

about what the Obama administration is doing TO, not for, public education.

[teacher gal]

38. About Race-to-the-Top itself:

It's a huge bribery scheme, just as NCLB was. It is NCLB's mean step-sister. Desperately cash-strapped states, in order to obtain funds, must choose one of four "solutions" for underperforming schools, all of which will further devastate public education. A lot of parents around the country are catching on. Below is a link to a NYC Public School Parents blog which will provide you with more info. on RTTT:


http://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2010/03/even-more-punitive-approach-for-our.html

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/daniel-willingham/willingham-race-to-top-a-doome.html

[teacher gal]

42. Hope Tom comes back. n/t

[teacher gal]

41. Why I personally believe Duncan

is "remaining silent on the Florida education mess".

It's going to take a while to come up with the right rhetoric to cover his butt, given the backlash that is taking place. He and Obama (sadly) praised the mass firings at Central Falls. Remember Duncan's words about Hurricane Katrina being the best thing that ever happened to public education in New Orleans. Sometimes they slip up and the real agenda comes out.

Watch for the rhetoric to shift ever so subtly, just as it did when the CREDO report came out about charter schools. Duncan will also backtrack and contradict previously made statements.

[teacher gal]

43. Last kick for this thread from me n/t

'Nite to all.

[Dinger]

44. Not For Me

Keepin' this kicked till duncan is gone.

[Dinger]

45. Sunday Morning Kick!

[Dinger]

46. Monday Morning Kick!

[proud2BlibKansan]

47. Time to wake up

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8042179