Education
Related: About this forumAn Open Challenge to Michelle Rhee and the Corporate Education Zombies
Maybe I shouldnt have stood up and said, Welcome to Seattle, while wearing my Garfield High School hoodie when Michelle Rhee took the stage at a recent Town Hall event in Seattle.
Students, parents, teachers and community groups protest outside a talk given by 'corporate education reform' darling Michelle Rhee last month in Seattle. The high-profile former DC school chancellor champions charter schools, high-stakes testing, and other corporate school policies but refuses to acknowledge the substantial damage being created by this approach. (Photo: greatschoolsforamerica.org)
Rhee, the prominent corporate education reform advocate, former D.C. Public Schools Chancellor, and CEO of the ironically-named Students First organization, now has Seattle in her crosshairs. In her March 5th op-ed for the Seattle Times, Rhee berated teachers at Garfield and other Seattle schools for their boycott of the district required MAP test.
She began her piece: Seattle public school students should pay attention. Theyre getting a front-row, real-world lesson in how the actions of adults can distract from whats best for students. But dont get your hopes upthis wasnt a long overdue acknowledgment of the events surrounding the testing scandal when she was commanding the DC public schools.
With only a little investigation of the news of the MAP test boycott, Rhee would have found that the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) and the Associated Student Body Government (ASB) at Garfield High Schoolthe school where the test boycott of the test began on January 10thhad voted unanimously to support teachers in the boycott of the MAP test.
more . . . http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/03/15
MichiganVote
(21,086 posts)MyOwnPeace
(17,275 posts)what the Pugs have done to unions, health, and public institutions (unions again), they want to do to education. that is to say, make sure somebody gets to make a profit, the public welfare be damned!
The whole "reform" system set up by Rhee and her ilk is simply a way to use public money that provides a steady flow (taxes) to enrich private enterprise - "charter schools" - school choice - mandated testing ("chosen test providers - plus "options" for "test prep" materials) and vouchers - means to take money from districts and send those moneys to "chosen" providers (see "private schools!" .
I could go on - I'm too to believe that the public doesn't see this (but then again, 47% still liked Mitt! )!
proud2BlibKansan
(96,793 posts)Democrats support this crap.
haikugal
(6,476 posts)I couldn't believe it.
proud2BlibKansan
(96,793 posts)I'll turn this shit off if she is annoying.
LWolf
(46,179 posts)There's nobody left in power to stand up for public education, for students, for teachers; and, as long as people keep voting for, and excusing, deformers because they are Democrats, it won't change for the better.
sulphurdunn
(6,891 posts)but to stand up for yourself, form new organizational relationship and fight back as best you can.
mbperrin
(7,672 posts)No idea how they sell that as a positive. And why isn't Rhee in prison for crimes committed in DC?
MoclipsHumptulips
(59 posts)"Michelle Rhee, Im afraid you are lost. Come debate me in public, and I can help you find your way."
The corporate clown she is will never debate him, he would wipe the floor with her lies.
Thanks to you proud2BlibKansan, you and madflordian are important true Education voices to a lot of us out here.
Great article, it took three times here in Washington State but the 1% money bags finally bought their Charter School bs this last election. We will keep speaking up and out and posts and links and efforts like you guys make here help tons.
Many many thanks, not ever giving up on ending this privatize public schools crap.
Democrats do not destroy public schools for private gain. Period.
proud2BlibKansan
(96,793 posts)And I think Democrats are guilty of destroying public education but have more honest motives. They just aren't listening to the right voices.