Public
Education, Teaching
and
Activism
In
a Post Act 10 Wisconsin.
. .
By
now we all know the "reality" about public education in Wisconsin, and around most of the United States for that matter. The issues, problems and challenges around
our public schools have been pushed into the spotlight of politics and the
arguments around school "reform" are well documented in the press and
social media. If you haven't heard about
vouchers, standardized assessment, Achievement Gaps and the arguments for and
against collective bargaining for public educators then you have just not been
paying attention.
The
problem is that the "reality" that is presented to the general public
about public schools is not the reality that our educators, students and
families really live, work and learn in.
The dialog around public education isn't shaped by the participants in
the process, but rather is based on a collection of mis-perceptions, political
ideology and widely divergent views about just what education means to our
students and our society as a whole. In
other words, we are having conversations and making decisions about our schools
based on political, social and economic ideology and not on the needs of our
students and educators, or on the educational value of any specific policy or
initiative.
This
isn't to suggest that education and teaching isn't a political, social or
economic endeavor. Public education is,
and always will be, firmly entrenched in these different spheres of human
thought and activity. If our schools are
to live up to their responsibility of guiding students towards becoming
productive, contributing citizens then we must engage our students in critical
thinking and problem solving. Once we
move beyond simple rote learning we immediately enter into the more
challenging, and even controversial aspects of education. There is little controversy involved in
teaching students basic facts, however, once we want our students to apply
their knowledge and look at the realities around them, the process becomes more
uncomfortable for those not directly involved in schools and classrooms.
As
an educator I believe it is my job to get my students to question as much as
possible. They need to use the skills
that they are learning to look critically at the world and to use their
knowledge as a tool to guide their thinking as they decide who they are, and
what they stand for. Education is
neutral, but the results are not. We
know that different people can use the same knowledge and skills and arrive at
very different solutions or results. We
also know that this challenges everyone involved in the process, and even
provokes some anxiety as our long standing beliefs are challenged and even
overturned. Yet, we also need to accept
that, as Frederick Douglass said, "If there is no struggle, there is no
progress." Our ethical and moral growth
as a society is based on the challenging of the status quo and the refusal to
accept things as they currently are, but to constantly strive for something better,
a more socially just society. This is
something that is difficult for many to accept and embrace. It is easier to live in a reality that we
already know than it is to move ahead and explore a new vision. This isn't a condition that is new to modern Wisconsin. Change is always difficult and challenging in
some aspect or another.
We
also know that self-interest is another factor that contributes to the
"charm" of a more conservative way of thinking. Our children are our hope for the future, and
every family has a huge stake in making sure that the members of their family
get the best opportunities. We may, or
unfortunately may not, want others to succeed as well, but it is only natural
that we put our own interests ahead of others.
This means that we will see support for programs and efforts that
benefit our own, and will see resistance against putting resources into things that
will benefit others, especially if those efforts are seen as impacting our own
interests in a negative way.
What
has happened is that political leaders have taken these two aspects of human
nature and used them for political gain and to benefit their financial supports
who gain economic advantages from the enactment of specific policies. Never mind that this is harmful to our
society as a whole, instead these small number of wealthy and influential
people have taken advantage of the struggles that so many of us are facing to
advance their own agenda, and to reap huge profits as well. They have manipulated public opinion so that
enough voters have forgotten that most people like their public schools and the
educators who work with their children, and instead are accepting propaganda
that paints our public schools as failing and our educators as uncaring and
inept.
Eighty-nine percent of Wyoming residents believe their local
teachers are...
www.gallup.com|By Gallup, Inc.
Here
in Wisconsin
we have seen some very extreme measures put in place. Whether it was the record cuts to public
education in the 2011-13 budget, or one of the many other anti-education acts
by our so called "leaders", the effects have been significant and
negative. Unfortunately, Wisconsin's public
educators aren't alone in facing these challenges. Some of the biggest threats to our public
education system are. . .
Vouchers and
Privatization- We know that there are those who view our schools and students as an
untapped opportunity for financial gain.
Privatizing our schools gives them an opening to gain access to the
profit potential that exists.
Walker and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch have secured over
$100,000, combined,...
host.madison.com|By Lee Enterprises
Across the state, 8.9 percent of students were enrolled in a
private school last...
host.madison.com|By Lee Enterprises
Anti-Union Efforts- There has been
significant effort put into destroying the power of public sector unions. Educator unions are among the last bastions
of unionism in America
and the efforts to discredit our public schools are often based on the desire
for the removal of a political obstacle that stands in the way of conservative
political gain. What is forgotten is the
fact that unions are one of the primary reasons that America
has had a prosperous middle-class and are often the only voice that speaks for
the workers of America. These attacks take on many forms, but are all
aimed at reducing the ability of workers to organize and to influence policy
that impacts their jobs, and the opportunities that their students enjoy.
Teacher job protections are being challenged, and a lawmaker
and former school principal explains why that’s good.
nyti.ms|By Frank Bruni
"The more we give, the more they want. They more they
want, the more they take....
detroit.cbslocal.com
Act 10 and the
"Marketplace"- The anti-union effort's crown jewel in Wisconsin is Act
10. Now that the Supreme Court has ruled
it appears that Act 10 is here to stay for the immediate future. While we can make many predictions (almost
all of them dire), the full impacts of Act 10 remain to be seen.
» Act 10 is having far-reaching repercussions on schools
from one end of the state to the other |...
wisconsinsfuture.org
New models for teacher pay are a result of legislation that
allows districts to...
jsonline.com|By Edgar Mendez
The district’s superintendent has resigned amid high staff
turnover and...
jsonline.com|By Erin Richards
There
are those who will tout the effects of Act 10 as being positive, and who will
point to the power of the "market" and its ability to provide
solutions to the challenges we face.
This is a naïve and harmful attitude to take. The idea that a market will provide our most
at-risk communities with educational opportunities is simply not
realistic. Instead, what we will see is
a shortage of qualified instructors, a lack of educational opportunities for
our communities of poverty and color, and a stratification of education that
will mirror our existing discrepancies in wealth and health care.
TIPPECANOE CO., Ind. (WLFI) - It's a problem for area school
superintendents who tell News 18 they are losing experienced teachers at a
rate…
wlfi.com
Testing and Standards- No commentary on
education would be complete without mentioning these two features of the
"reform" movement. In
highlighting the "failures" of our public schools,
"reformers" have made it clear that we need to increase both the
"rigor" and the "accountability" in our schools. Even supporters of our schools have turned to
using tests to validate our students' achievement, while ignoring the fact that
success on a test does not equal success in life, or even real academic achievement. Our standards and tests have become a
cornerstone in the education for profit schemes sweeping across America. They are also becoming an integral part of
efforts to evaluate educators and to influence curriculum.
ACT composite scores in Wisconsin and the nation as a whole did not
change substantively from last year’s results.
on.jsonl.in|By Karen Herzog
The union's board voted unanimously to declare no confidence
in State...
usnews.com|By Allie Bidwell
Read what's going on in Florida.
washingtonpost.com
It has come to our attention that your older brothers and
sisters have been showing up to Kindergarten completely unprepared for the
requirements of a rigorous education. It is time to nip this indolent behavior
in the bud....
m.huffpost.com
Is there hope for the
future?- With
our unions reeling (Madison is now the only district in Wisconsin with a
collective bargaining agreement in place), school budgets slashed, educators
retiring and/or leaving the profession in droves, and private schools gaining
footholds in many communities, the question of hope for the future becomes
vital as we work to hold on to what we have.
There are many people who are articulating the views and needs of public
educators. In many ways the message is
quite simple, we are dedicated professionals who, with adequate support,
resources and time, can do our jobs very well.
We are frustrated with the message of failure being delivered so
publically and want to engage in a real and meaningful discussion about what
education means and what our students and schools need to succeed. In other words, we don't want to just hold
on, but rather to change the direction that our society is currently moving in.
Teachers overwhelmingly report that they love their jobs,
but hate their workplaces. Teachers weigh in on why they love the classroom and
how things could change to make their lives easier.
blogs.kqed.org
'Don’t tell us that you know more about good instruction
than we do." And six...
www.washingtonpost.com
Reformers misunderstand how central human relationships are
to the educational process.
nytimes.com|By David L. Kirp
However, we are learning
that being right, having excellent ideas and working hard in our own
classrooms/schools/neighborhoods isn't enough to change the course that our
current educational policies are taking.
While we may be exhausted after our 3+ years of struggling against the
Walker administration, and we may feel that we can't continue our fight against
what seems to be an inevitable tide of "reform" (who hasn't heard an
educator give up and say, "I don't like all the testing, but our kids need
to know how to score well on a test.") everyone who is committed to our
public schools needs to continue the effort and work collectively to make a
difference. Every little bit helps and
there are many areas we can put our energy into.
Make the best of what we have- There are often opportunities to find a positive in
any initiative or policy. Here in Madison we have an
opportunity to collaborate with our colleagues during the contract day (during
our Monday PCT/Early Release times) and we need to make the most of this. We need to claim this time for our own and
not allow it to become the realm of administration and data. Our discussions about students, curriculum
and school policies need to be focused on making the best possible outcomes for
our students a reality. Working together
we can achieve more, if we retain the power for ourselves as professional
educators.
Mastering the craft demands time to collaborate—just what
American schools don't provide.
theatlantic.com|By Sara Mosle
Participate in unions and pro-education
organizations- No one can fight
these battles alone. We need the support
of like-minded colleagues and organizations that can help us maximize our
efforts while maintaining our morale.
Organizing for action is the cornerstone of any movement and we can take
heart at the many examples that can be found, some even in our own
"backyard." We should never
underestimate the power of a group of like minded individuals, working together
to change things for the better.
Over one hundred Chicago
public school students, parents, and community...
commondreams.org
Chicago
teachers show how to organize an effective boycott of standardized...
livingindialogue.com
Back to school: Once political allies, the National
Education Association and President Obama are now in conflict over teachers'
tenure, students' testing.
usatoday.com
We must be able to think
for ourselves and remember that our leaders/bosses may not have our best interests or those of our students at
heart.
A Texas
court bans employee claims for fraud.
mainstreet.com
Work for social justice- Done well, public
education is the cornerstone of a socially just society. As educators and supporters of public
education we need to be activists. This
will allow us to build connections with our communities, other organizations
and will help fuel our efforts and engage our colleagues and friends. What is good for our families and communities
is good for our schools and vice versa .
'There is no need for innocent children to go hungry
because' of the civic unrest...
washingtonpost.com
Eligible students will no longer need to fill out paperwork
to receive free or...
host.madison.com|By Lee Enterprises
School has been canceled for the week in Ferguson, Mo.,
as civil unrest...
npr.org|By Elise Hu
Spend our money wisely- We can't keep giving our money to the very companies
and individuals who seek to destroy our public schools.
I just signed a petition to Public School Teachers, Parents,
and Supporters:...
petitions.moveon.org
Have a little fun and smile along the way- This is serious business, and incredibly hard
work. Don't forget to celebrate, laugh
and recharge on a regular basis.
The Holderness family went viral in December of last year
with their...
on.today.com|By Zoe Marcus
The
Good, The Bad and
The
Ugly. . .
The Good . . . It's great to see Mary Burke's campaign becoming more aggressive in
going after Walker
about his economic record. Walker's administration has played around with jobs
numbers, given huge amounts of public money away to his political supporters
and failed to be accountable for managing public funds, yet they will tout
themselves as being economically sound and the best choice for Wisconsin. Burke needs to make it clear that her ideas
are better for most Wisconsinites and that she is more accountable to the
"everyday taxpayer" that Walker
claims to be so supportive of.
She tells an interviewer that slower growth was a product of
a different time in...
host.madison.com|By Lee Enterprises
MADISON (WKOW) -- Democratic Gubernatorial Nominee Mary
Burke said people are starting to hear her message that Wisconsin's
economy is falling behind the rest of the Midwest in an interview she did for Capitol City Sunday that will air this weekend
on WKOW 27.
wkow.com|By Greg Neumann
Scott Walker told Wisconsin
he'd have a new plan for job creation in his second term by the spring, but
spring has come and gone, and a lot has happened since then.
buzzfeed.com|By WisDems
Coming soon to Wisconsin. We need to recharge and regain the energy
that we had during the 2011 protests.
Putting the focus on what we can, and should, achieve as a united,
inclusive society is a huge piece of this effort.
RALEIGH, N.C.
(AP) — Organizers of regular protests at the North Carolina...
host.madison.com|By Lee Enterprises
The Bad . . . Thanks to Governor Walker (and other Conservatives around the country)
for "saving" us a little money in the short term and costing us a lot
of money in the long run.
If officials decide to change course and expand the program
in the next state budget, taxpayers would save $261 million to $315 million
through June 2017.
m.jsonline.com|By Patrick Marley
The decision by Gov. Pat McCrory and Republican lawmakers
not to expand...
newsobserver.com
The Ugly . . . Too many people still believe that those on welfare are lazy and are
trying to cheat the system. As a society
we need to remember that we are all in this together and support our fellow
citizens.
As the unrest continues in Ferguson there are many issues to think
about. One is the role of the press in
bringing these stories to our attention in a meaningful and productive
way. We have Constitutional Rights that
are an outgrowth of our nation's historical efforts to hold those in power
accountable. The current efforts by
those in power that are directed against a variety of groups is in direct
opposition to these long-defended beliefs.
For Conservatives to tout the 2nd Amendment while ignoring the rest of
the Bill of Rights is irresponsible and hypocritical. It is up to all of us to hold those in power
accountable and help our nation live up to the sentiments expressed in our
founding documents by applying them to all citizens regardless of race,
religion or political ideology.
Ferguson
police were caught on camera Sunday night threatening to mace one...
gawker.com|By Gabrielle Bluestone
Since the 1990s, police agencies across the country have
armed themselves...
motherjones.com
The lack of passion of white youth across the country for
Michael Brown says a...
theroot.com|By David J. Leonard
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