'Save Our Schools' Leaders Decline White House Invitation

[proud2BlibKansan]

The organizers of the Save our Schools March and National Call to Action are saying "no thanks" to a White House invitation to meet with education advisers to President Barack Obama tomorrow.

Organizers instead say the White House can come to them, or they'll come to the White House on Sunday. Obama officials had no comment on the executive committee's response to their invitation.

In a statement this evening, the executive committee said:

We sincerely appreciate the interest of the White House in the Save Our Schools March and National Call to Action. We'd be pleased to host any White House or Department of Education personnel on the Ellipse on Saturday so they can hear firsthand what teachers, students, parents and community members from around the country have to say about public education. Thousands of concerned citizens will be sharing their experiences and their thoughts on the future of our schools. July 30th is your opportunity to listen to us. After the March, we will be open to meeting with White House or Department of Education leaders to further discuss our specific proposals.

More . . .http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2011/07/save_our_schools_leaders_decli.html

[roody]

1. Glad to hear it.

[Tx4obama]

2. It is disrespectful to turn down a White House invitation. n/t

[msongs]

3. obama is not the king or god. nothing disrepectful about it nt

[Fearless]

4. How quaint. The reason undoubtedly lies in the fact that they have differing views.

[woolldog]

5. Agreed. It's extremely rude. nt

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[EFerrari]

10. It's disrespectful to wage war on American public education. n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. Are you still following me on Twitter?

I've been sending tweets about the event. We were welcomed by the organizers yesterday with these words: "They're afraid. They know we're here. They know we're angry."

It's been a wonderful event so far.

[EFerrari]

24. Yes'm.

:hi:

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. Like the white House has respected teachers???

:rofl:

[indurancevile]

17. they didn't turn it down. why are you spinning it that way?

[bvar22]

22. Not near as disrespectful as The White House has been to Teacher's Unions

and the Public School System.

Let Obama go to them and explain the choices he has made,
and he can bring Arne Duncan with him.

I STAND with the Teachers, ALL Organized LABOR, and the Public School System.
If the Public Schools are broken,
FIX them,
don't give their funding to Private Charter schools.

Solidarity!!!

[chalky]

6. What a CRAP, SHIT-STIRRING headline. They did NOT turn the Whitehouse down.

They already had an important event scheduled.

This evening, Save our Schools spokesman Bob Schaeffer told my colleague Nirvi Shah that corganizers are not turning the White House down. "We think it's important for them to see the breadth and depth of our concerns," he said. Schaeffer explained that the executive committee has a full day of programming on Friday, but is available on Sunday for a meeting. And, the "best path" for the White House to hear the concerns of those marching is to come to the rally, he said.

[Starry Messenger]

8. Who the heck are you? Were you there?

[chalky]

9. No, I did something really wacky--I READ THE ARTICLE.

I even quoted it for you, and bolded the important bits.

[Starry Messenger]

11. Take a chill pill.

Jesus, you sound drunk.

[chalky]

13. Projection, dude.

[CakeGrrl]

12. +1. Funny what happens to some OPs when one pays attention to the details. -nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. Yes they did. They said no to meeting today.

[indurancevile]

18. yes, but the headline implies they refused a white house invitation, period.

instead of saying "busy today, but we can come sunday".

and some posters are running with that implication of complete refusal to label them "disrespectful".

of course i'm assuming the wh wanted to meet today to defuse protest activities/leadership. but "disrespectful" is a smear that might work with some people.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. And you really believe the WH will accept those terms?

I'm here in DC with these people. They met with Arne on Wed. I'd be surprised if they went back on Sunday.

That's what's misleading about the article. They already HAD a meeting.

[indurancevile]

20. i didn't say or imply anything about what the wh will accept. i think you're misreading me.

i'm responding mostly to the posters who are calling "disrespectful". there's no disrespect in refusing an invitation when you have a prior committment, esp. when you offer a counter date.

i can't be blamed for not knowing they already had a meeting. i'm going by what's in the article. but if they already had a meeting then it would appear the wh is being disrespectful by putting out this kind of pseudo-reportage.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. Sounds like we're in agreement

:hi:

I'm in DC for the conference and march and it's been fabulous so far.

[bvar22]

23. No thanks.

I have to wash my hair.