Rahm's Ironic Speech at the DNC

On September 1^st, 2012, roughly 18,000 parents, students, and teachers took to the streets in another massive demonstration of the public’s growing weariness of corporate-style school “reform” that deprofessionalizes teaching, disrupts low-income, minority communities, disenfranchises parents from decisions that affect their children, and threatens public education as a whole. The very next night Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel was ironically extolling the virtues of the Democratic Party as he delivered his speech to the Democratic National Convention.

The Case for Elected School Boards and the Fight for Democracy in Public Education

Kenwood Oakland Community Organization's Jitu Brown giving parents and concerned citizens instruction before collecting signatures

With the creation of the Chicago Educational Facilities Task Force and HB 363 by the Illinois General Assembly (ILGA) that mandates (but doesn’t really enforce) community engagement and more equitable capital funding by Chicago Public Schools (CPS) officials, it seems that a few of Illinois State Congressmen are beginning to realize the gravity of the huge mistake (granting mayoral control over Chicago’s schools) that was made by ILGA in 1995.  It is hard to imagine that they had any idea their decision to give Richard M. Daley mayoral control over CPS would bring about destruction to low-income communities throughout Chicago and the entire country.   

Texas GOP Opposes Critical Thinking, Duh

The 2012 Republican Party of Texas Report of Platform Committee supports much of what you would expect a GOP platform to: anti-immigration legislation, a disdain for marriage equality, the denial of scientifically proven global warming, and a disregard for people who are not members of a Judeo-Christian religion. 

Carrots and Sticks

Your tax dollars are carrots thanks to the U.S. Department of Education.  In order for states and districts to receive education funding, they have had to compete with each other in Race to the Top (RttT). The “winners” of RttT have been the ones most willing to privatize and use high-stakes “accountability measures.  There are also millions of public dollars available through School Improvement Grants (SIGs) for every school that is closed or given to a private sector charter or turnaround organization. 

In addition to being heavily lobbied by corporate interests (ALEC, Stand for Children, etc.), State legislatures and school districts are now basing educational policy on financial incentives rather than on sound research.  U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan calls this the “carrot”.  

The “stick” is the denial of badly needed funding, thereby setting already under-resourced schools up for closure or conversion (based on faulty metrics of course).  Arne even warned his own state they would lose a chance at needed funding if they didn’t increase charters schools and funding for them. Several states raised their caps on charter schools including virtual charter schools and adopted high-stakes “accountability” measures. There seems to be a lot more sticks than carrots, but either way, the private sector expansion into public education is being forced upon communities in spite of protest and research. The sheer disregard for logic in these policies should make people question their sincerity and intent.   

More recently, Arne developed another carrot and stick game that is even more absurd. In 2001, No Child Left Behind opened the door for privatization by creating ridiculous targets that if not met, meant closures and transfers of management to private sector operators.  All of this of course, was and continues to be based on unreliable tests that are developed by multi-million dollar corporations like Pearson. Anyway, Arne’s new carrot is the offer of waivers from the mandates of NCLB if states adopt the same reforms that were pushed by NCLB (and RttT)!!!!!  Regardless of whether you get the carrot or the stick through RttT, SIGs, or NCLB waivers, privatization is the end result.

Fortunately, the resistance to corporate school reform is rapidly growing. This is partly due to the audacity of corporate reformers and their politicians, but also due to the great organizing efforts on both local and national levels. Basically more and more parents, teachers, and students would like to tell Arne Duncan where to stick his carrots. 

Check out www.unitedoptout.com, www.parentsacrossamerica.org, www.dumpduncan.org, http://timeoutfromtesting.org/nationalresolution/.  

A Great Week of Democracy for Education around the World

From Chicago to New York, to Canada to Australia, last week was a great week of grassroots actions involving parents, teachers, students, and concerned citizens all standing in solidarity to protect education.  It is inspiring to know people around the world are organizing to fight the corporate takeover of public education. 

In Chicago, roughly 90% of the Chicago Teacher’s Union (CTU) members voted to authorize a strike next year if agreeable negotiations are not made.  According to a new state law, the CTU must get the approval of at least 75% of its members in order to call a strike.

The Obamney Education Plan

" I’m going to make that choice meaningful by ensuring that there are sufficient options for parents to be able to exercise them. And thus, in order to receive the full complement of federal education dollars, states are going to have to provide students with an ample school choice opportunity." - Mitt Romney  in a recent speech given at a Philadelphia Charter School

If it weren't against the Republican rules and he wasn't a presidential candidate, you'd think Mitt Romney would have nothing but praise for Obama and Duncan's Race to the Top and School Improvement Grant education "reform" policies. Its no secret the attack on public education is bi-partisan. Both Democrats and Republicans are pushing the corporate school reform agenda by making the receipt of federal taxpayer dollars for education contingent upon privatization and high-stakes accountability measures. Even Democrat Mayor of Philadelphia Michael Nutter criticized Romney's higher education plan yet they both support privatization at the elementary and high school levels of public education. Isn't it great to know that your tax dollars are being used to force states into privatizing their public schools?

Chicago Teacher's Union Rally

Just two days after the NATO Summit and the numerous protests that drew thousands of people from all over the country to Chicago, the Chicago Teacher's Union (CTU) organized a local rally that was comparable in numbers to those of the previous days.

Thousands of teachers, parents, students, and concerned citizens came together in solidarity to oppose to the corporate school reform agenda that is destroying public education. Unlike the protesters who were paid to speak in favor of CPS school privatization, the people were there with sincerity. Along with the Chicago Tribune poll that showed the public sides with the CTU over Mayor Emanuel when it comes to improving education, this is indicative of the growing resistance to reforms that are harmful to teachers, students, low-income communities, and the entire public education system.

Chicago has been ground zero for corporate school reform for over 20 years. What began with Mayor Daley and Paul Vallas, continued with Arne Duncan and is still ongoing with the policies of Rahm Emanuel and his appointed school board. Nobody has been fighting against these destructive policies longer and harder than the CTU. They have created a message that resonates not only with their members, but with parents and students as well.

The world was watching when NATO came to Chicago. Let's hope this impressive solidification of people against corporate school reform was also noticed and will further embolden resisters to corporate school reform in districts across the country.

National Nurses Rally

Tom Morello singing Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land" complete with the verses you didn't learn in school at the National Nurses United Rally in Chicago, May 18, 2012.

Parents in Chicago Support Real Education

A recent public opinion poll taken by the Chicago Tribune revealed that parents in Chicago side with the Chicago Teacher's Union over Mayor Rahm Emanuel when it comes to education policy by a ratio of 2:1. They overwhelmingly think teachers should get paid more for working more hours as the longer school day is implemented next year. Not surprisingly, African-American and Latino respondents were the most opposed to the Mayor's education plan. Their communities have been the most disrupted and disenfranchised.

Considering the disbanding of the Philadelphia public school system didn't make the national news, I'd be surprised if this does. There are parents across the country who feel the same way about corporate school reform (of course, Rahm's aggressive approach that disrespects parents doesn't exactly help his approval ratings). Along with the dissolution of Philly's public schools, this should be seen as another referendum on mayoral control and the top-down corporate school reform that results from it.

Arne Duncan was the CEO of Chicago's Public Schools after Paul Vallas who then worked for Philly's public schools (and later, New Orleans). Both were appointed under mayoral control and are staunch advocates of privatization. What happened in Philly is not a coincidence and what is happening nationwide to low-income, minority communities isn't either. Mayoral control is always the predecessor to massive privatization schemes that are harmful to parents, teachers, and children. Chicago Public School officials just announced they will be opening 60 more charters in spite of public opinion (and research). If you live in a city with mayoral control of schools, contact your state legislators and demand an elected school board ASAP.

Chicago owes a lot to its labor history, but particularly to the CTU and other organizations that have been fighting for over a decade for Chicago's children. In light of the corporate media, this is a glimmer of hope and proves you can't fool all the people all the time.

Real Reform vs. Corporate Reform

The quotes in this post illustrate the very different perspectives held by people on opposite sides of the education reform movement. 

Dr. King was assassinated long before No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top, and other pro-corporate school "reform" legislation was passed. His words were prophetic nonetheless. His definition of true education is in line with the vision held by Paulo Freire, Diane Ravitch, Howard Zinn, and other progressive educators. His warnings about what could become of education when priorities are skewed are unfortunately, synonymous with the effects of corporate school reform. 

Problems and Solutions

Below is the text of a one-page hand-out being distributed by Schools Inc.?. The intent is to provide people with information regarding the damaging effects of corporate school reform and resources they can use to do something about it.

***FRONT***

Our public education system is where the battle for a better future will be won or lost. Unfortunately, corporate interests know this and are influencing public education policy at the expense of democracy, critical thinking, creativity, parents, teachers, and especially children. A well-funded social engineering project is underway that is attempting to serve the plutocratic desires of the one percent.

Where's the Philly Phallout?

The Philadelphia Public School System announced last week that it will be effectively dissolving itself by closing 64 schools and splitting up the rest between private sector operators.  You would think this would be big news, but hardly a word has been said about it in the mainstream media. This is indicative of media outlets that are being controlled by the same interests that want to privatize public education.

Stopping Child Abuse through Opting Out

From physical to mental, child abuse can take on many forms.  Although it tends to primarily associated with what happens in an abusive home or relationship, it can also be the result of irresponsible policymaking.  Even though testing can be a useful diagnostic tool, the results of the high-stakes nature of testing as a result of No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top are in many ways, perpetuating child abuse.  The good news is that there is a growing resistance movement. Additionally, the insistence upon using this flawed method of evaluation gives the movement a clear target that if eliminated, will undo many of the injustices outlined below.

Children are under increasing pressure to “perform” at school, are increasingly exposed to violence, are subjected to zero-tolerance discipline policies, and have limited or no access to mental health services or creative outlets like art and music. Research has documented the psychological impact this has on students is detrimental. However, hearing personal stories from the parents, teachers, and students who are joining the resistance movement makes it even clearer that children are being subjected to abusive procedures with abusive results.

Connecting the Dots

Click here for larger ALEC chart

Generally speaking, when policymakers ignore substantial amounts of research, there is an agenda that is influenced by something other than the people affected by those policies.  With the exception of climate science, there perhaps is no clearer example of this than with corporate school reform.  Research has been fairly consistent in regards to the devastating effects of high-stakes testing and other market-based reforms. Yet, every year research along with the affected parents, teachers, and children, is ignored in favor of privatization.

The U.S.Department of Education is offering millions of dollars via Race to the Top and School Improvement Grants to states and districts for every school they handover to a private sector charter or turnaround organization. States are also rewarded for using high-stakes test based “accountability”. This is despite research that has shown these privately run schools are no better than their traditional counterparts and that standardized tests are not an accurate measure of student, teacher, and school performance. These corporate reforms have also created numerous other problems relative to segregation, school safety, and corruption.

Occupy Department of Education

From March 30th to April 2nd, 2012, United Opt Out National held the "Occupy the Department of Education" rally in front of the DOE building in Washington D.C. Although there were no people sleeping in tents and clashing with the police, the term "occupy" was fitting. 

The 1 percent is controlling what is taught to the 99 percent and it is the same narrow set of neo-liberal, free-market ideas (i.e. deregulation and privatization) that screwed up our financial and health care systems that is now destroying public education. All of this is being done so charter and turnaround school executives, testing companies, and the privatized prison industry can make millions of dollars off the backs of mostly poor, minority children. It is also the same people who have profited from a system that purposely creates and sustains inequality who are now financing corporate school "reform" (Broads, Gates, Waltons, etc.).