Public Education

[LWolf]

I know this is not a big issue for DU, except when it's time to bash teachers or toss of a comment criticizing current reforms while racing off to discuss something more important.

Here's a video; a LONG video, which gives a clear accounting of the history of current ed reform, who is behind those efforts, how the new Common Core State Standards fit into those efforts, where the CCSS is going, and how it's affecting public education. The predictions for the future are particularly note worthy.

It's long enough; the introduction of the speaker takes the first 5:40.

I think anyone who wants to discuss the current state of public education from an informed standpoint ought to be educating themselves about the issue first; this video provides one source.

It ends with a message of hope that brought tears to my eyes; the idea that parents would finally begin to stand up, to be heard, to fight back against harmful reform instead of fighting us, the educators, means much to me. I'd <snip> the conclusion for DUers to read, at least, if I had a transcript, but I don't. I hope some will spend some time with this.

&feature=youtu.be

[Scuba]

1. The problem with the "education reform" movement is that it cares nothing about education ....

... and everything about stealing the education budget.

[LWolf]

2. Yes.

Karp provides abundant evidence of that right here.

[sabrina 1]

5. Anywhere there is a big Public Fund, Education, SS eg, you will find

the greedy, thieves who can't wait to get their hands on it. NCLB is NOT an education program, it is a Corporate Business Program using America's children as 'commodities'.

It is a disgusting thing to watch, they get to steal education funds and at the same time, keep America's future generations from getting a decent education. For them it's all good because and educated population is definite threat to the greedy.

[woo me with science]

3. Thank you.

K&R

[LWolf]

10. You're welcome.

[chervilant]

4. k&r, and

bookmarked to read when my phone isn't dieing.

[Jefferson23]

6. Arnie Duncan equals big disaster, sorry but he has championed this mess.

I find it more than a little creepy how Republicans don't especially have any problem
with Duncan. Even Romney during the campaign season said he agreed with the
approach the administration was following.

Parents are fighting back, I see it in my state along teachers and providers of services
such as speech therapy and the like. We have to, not much choice.

K&R

[LWolf]

8. Teachers knew we had a disaster

in the making when Duncan was appointed. RTTT makes NCLB look amateur.

[Jefferson23]

11. True, and I don't think there is any evidence that is a false statement.

Encouraging that people are fighting back.

[BelgianMadCow]

7. K&R for teachers

one of the noblest professions in the world.

I just read Martha Nussbaum's "Not for profit: why democracy needs the humanities". It also has a small segment about standardized tests etc. Also, note the huge protests in Mexico against standardized testing of teachers: [link:http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=10764|Mexico Police Repress Opponents of Neoliberal School Reform
]
And finally, I'm reminded of George Carlin.

[liberal_at_heart]

9. bookmarking for later. Thank you LWolf. Yes, there are many of us parents who do realize where

the problem lies and the teachers are not the problem.

[LWolf]

12. I hope

you find it informative.

[ananda]

13. Education needs to be unreformed..

Just let teachers take charge and do their jobs.

[LWolf]

14. YES.

A colleague down the hall from me has a sign on his door:

"Just let me teach."