I see a Truth to Power day coming, and we'll sing Hallelujah

Someday history will tell the evil truth of policy makers, legislators, and CEOs who came to destroyed public education.
On that same day, history will tell the stories of resisters who spoke up, stood up, and saved our schools.

Children will ask:

Were you there in 2011 with SOS,
Did you write one of those Teacher letters to Obama,
Were you at the 2 DOE occupies in DC with UOO,
Were you with Long Island Opt Out,
Were you an Opt Out parent,
Were you a Badass Teacher,
Were you with United Opt Out,
Were you with Parents Across America,
Were you with Network for Public Education,
Were you with Chicago Teachers Unions,
Were you one of the Dyett hunger strikers,
Were you there with SOS, BATs, UOO, J4Jusitce, Rev Barber, and Bishop Selders at the Lincoln Memorial in 2016?

Were you with Children Are More Than Test Scores?

Young teachers will ask:

Did you stand with Journey 4 Jusitce,
Did you listen to the War Report?
Did you stand with PCAPS,
Did you stand with Moral Mondays,
Did you stand with the Dreamers?

Or were you:
One of the complacent ones,
One of the silent ones,
One of those apathetic ones that let it all happen?

Someday, they will tell the story of those who saved our public schools.
On that day I plan to stand tall,
Jesse The Walking Man Turner

There are many, many groups fighting back, please add your names to our resistant groups? I am inspired by the thought that there are too many groups to list.
When that Truth to Power day comes?
I plan to be singing Hallelujah with my buddy Barry Lane, just like on that 2011 day in DC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkJQOv4h0Es

Dear President Trump you can't make America great without ending inequity and injustice

Dear America,
Inequity has been the constant in America's public schools for over 170 years. Schools in Black, Brown, Immigrant, and Poor communities have never known equity. A public school system without equity is a public school system rooted in injustice. Children spend 13% of their lives in their public schools. If inequity only existed in the school house walls, perhaps the vast majority could rise above it?
But, they live 87% of their lives in communities where that very same inequity occupies their lives.

We can't turn around our schools without turning around our communities. We can't have racial justice in our nation, without economic justice.
Truth to power Walking Man Moment: We need policies and legislation that address inequity and injustice in our schools and our communities. Anything less is a crime against our own humanity.

Finally, President Trump, you cannot make an America without equity and justice for all great.
Poverty matters,
Racism matters,
Equity in our schools and our nation matters.
An America without equity is a failing nation.
Maya Angelou told us: "I'm convinced of this: Good done anywhere is good done everywhere. For a change, start by speaking to people rather than walking by them like they're stones that don't matter. As long as you're breathing, it's never too late to do some good."

The time for doing some good is at hand America

My sisters Ruth and Ceresta have lit those candles in the dark years ago. All we need do is light our own candles for justice and equity. We are closer to change than ever before. Brother and sisters come light the way.

I don't have all the answers, but I do know change begins with the people. It begins with us, it begins one person at a time, the key to change has always been you, and it is never too late to light those candles for justice.
We are the heroes, America has been waiting for,
Jesse The Walking Man Turner

If you like to listen to the tune that inspire my walk over that Avon Mountain this morning...it's "For what it's worth"-Buffalo Springfield cover by Del McCoury Band and friends. > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIdfulZ1c5c <

Those Lazy Teachers!

Teachers some people say they'll lazy!

Well, it's a new academic year, and I have met my new graduate students. All hard-working teachers. Research indicates teachers work 57 hours per week. 37 are paid hours a week, 27 on instruction, and 10 on required school duties. The other 20 are without pay.Summers are without pay. Every teacher I know looks for summer work.

My teachers spend another 3-9 hours a week on top of that earning graduate credits in literacy. Twice that amount of time completing assignment for us. It will cost them between 20,000 and 30,000 dollars. No one is paying for them. This is all on their own dollar.
They will write numerous research papers, critically read the research, deeply expand their thinking professionally, take exams, create numerous projects, and tutor and feed 4 children for free, and write extensive case studies on each one. Then after all that the state of Connecticut requires them to take a standardized exam that they pay for to become certified. This is after they have already taken and passed at least 2-3 other standardized license exams. These exams will add 1000-1500 out of their own pockets. It is coming to the point where fewer and fewer students want to be teachers. The word is out, teaching is extremely hard, and is one of the least respected professions in America these days.    

Teachers some people say they'll lazy!

My simple Walking Man truth,

Teachers are my heroes

I say they are our First Responders of Humanity and Dignity for children in our public schools.

I say they are over worked and bullied by oppressive education policies that are doing everything possible to kill the motivation to learn in our children.
They, are doing the best they can against legislative mandates, and privatizing forces reducing our childhood into data points and profits.

Over a hundred years of research indicates teachers make the difference, not standards or test scores.

Praise and respect to America's teachers.

Love,

Jesse The Walking Man Turner

If you like to hear the tune that inspired my morning walk this morning...it's Lulu's "To Sir With Love" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT5OmavfOWg