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Monday, February 12, 2018

Outraged by legislators & policy makers without humanity, not by falling test scores



https://www.the74million.org/another-outrage-in-flint-third-grade-reading-levels-plummet-by-75-after-citys-water-poisoned-by-lead/

"At the onset of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, third-grade literacy was 41.8 percent. That was nearly five years ago. The literacy rate declined sharply to 10.7 percent last year, nearly a 75 percent drop. “We’re in crisis mode,” (Flint school board vice president Harold Woodson told the Detroit Free Press February 6).


Falling test scores outrage legislators and policy makers, Old Betsy DeVos must be in a tail spin. Surely, she rush millions of dollars to Flint public schools, Never mind, the charter school queen, like always will remain silent.

Should parents and teachers be surprised by this new outrage?
Parents and teachers, were outraged by poisoned water,
Parents and teachers were outraged by the closing of numerous public schools,
Parents and teachers were outraged by endless cuts in school budgets for decades,
Parents and teachers were outraged by decades of cuts to the arts, music, Physical Education, and play.

Parent and teachers are not surprised by test score drops in the capital of poison water.
No, parents and teachers are outraged by legislators and policy makers who have worked diligently over the decades to crushed the hopes and dreams of Flint young people to save a few dollars to cover tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires.
Outraged, yes but not by falling test scores, but by your lack of empathy and humanity.
Outraged by decades of legislative child abuse.
Yes, Parents and teachers are outraged,
But more than outraged,
We are determined to bring justice and equity to justice not only to Flint's public schools, but to every public school in the land.

We shall over come someday,
Jesse The Walking Man Turner


If you are wondering what song this walking man is listening to on his morning walk today...it's that Civil Rights song Bruce Spingsteen cover of "We Shall Over Come that carries our dreams and hope through all dark nights....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqT9yegqoRk

I Am A Public School Teacher


Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said: " I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality.... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word."

I refuse to be defined by hate,
I refuse to be the pawn in the hands of bigots and racists,
I refuse to reduce those human beings I teach to the statistics of fear,
I refuse labels,
I refuse standards without equity,
I refuse to part of the scam to close Black, Brown, and Poor Schools.
I refuse to see less in any child, when I know they are so much more than your test scores.
I am a public school teacher.

I am,
A builder of tomorrows,
A teacher of hope in the darkness,
A miracle worker in a world of inequity,
A path builder for brighter days,
A candle stick maker for those lost in darkness,
A teacher who sees hearts beating, not hearts bleeding,
A teacher who sees hope and beauty in Black, Brown, DECCA, Poor and Special Education children in our schools and universities.
I am a public school teacher.

I am not special,
I am not great,
I am not gifted,
I am another link in that long line of young mind liberators.
I am a public school teacher.

I am a bringer of hope,
I am a finder of book that open minds,
I am the voice in young minds,
That says rise up ye mighty ones,
You are more than worthy.
I am a public school teacher.

You are our tomorrows,
You are hope rising,
You are meant for greater things,
I am a public school teacher.

I am here,
To guide you,
To push you,
To move you,
I am your teacher.

I refuse to be define,
By CEOs seeking tax breaks and profits,
By Billionaires and millionaires,
By policy makers,
By legislators,
People whose have never taught children anything,
I am bigger than their hype,
I am bigger than their scams, I am a public school teacher.
I am a public school teacher

I am a public school teacher
Just Another Proud Public School Teacher,
Jesse The Walking Man Turner

"You who are on the road

Must have a code that you can live by
And so become yourself
Because the past is just a good-bye.
Teach your children well. "

If you like to listen to the song that inspired my walk on this rain free day...it Playing For Change Teach Your Children