Radical against the unimaginable

Looking back from 64 and decades of being a teacher I have found the new normal is an unimaginable betrayal of childhood, learning, teaching, and public education.

If one of my teacher educators professors had said someday future teachers will have to defend play in the classroom, play in the schoolyard, recess, imagination, inquiry, curiosity, equity for all? That standing up for these things would be radical.

I would think her or him insane or if I accepted it as truth? I might have gotten up, and chosen some other profession. The new status quo for teachers at every level in America is to go along to get along. Stay quiet, or you'll be punished by the wealthy, the powerful, and the connected.

The New Radical

Teachers keep your heads down,

Be quiet,

Say nothing publicly.

Do this, and we'll let you get by.

Teachers, be silent and be safe.

To stand up for the truth in education is the new radical,

To stand up for Black, Brown, Speical Education, and Poor Children is the New Radical,

To stand up for a living wage for all is the New Radical.

To fight for health care for all is the New Radical,

To fight for our elders to retire with economic dignity is the new Radical.

To fight against hate is the New Radical,

To fight racism, sexism, homophobia, religious bigotry is the New Radical,

To fight for the union is the New Radical,
To fight for affordable Higher Education,

To fight White Supremacy in the public schools is the New Radical.

To stand up for play, imagination, gym, art, music, in public education is the New Radical.

To stand up for school librarians and libraries is the New Radical,

To stand against a School To Prison Pipeline that dooms children of color,

To stand up and fight back is radical.

I know who I am,

I know where I stand,

Call this teacher RADICAL

The new normal in public education demands an end to teacher silence and apathy,
Dr. Jesse P. Turner
Radical Educator For Justice For All

I know what Radical looks like, for I have stood on that stage with Radical Educators who stand and fight back in the classroom and outside the classroom every day.

I know what Radical looks like because my rank and file sisters and brothers have met with Chigaco Teacher Rank and File leaders. We have broke bread together in Chicago. We have embraced a radicalism for justice in and outside the schools and the communities we teach in at every level of education.

If you like to listen to the song that inspired my morning walk today? Its Rebel Diaz's tribute to Chicago teachers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yN7cRZP58k

What If, policymakers and legislators listened to teachers?

There is no greater disconnect in education reform than between our politicians, policymakers and our nation's teachers than on the value of high stakes testing and standards.
One group feeds off the campaign contributions of for-profit education reformers,
Another group depends on elected officials to keep them employed,
And our nation's teachers dealt with the pain of damage left behind by policies driven not by data, but by greed.

How else can we accept hundreds of billions of tax dollars wasted on testing, while school budget after school budget is slashed?

America needs to ask only one question.
What if we started spending this money on other solutions?
Let me begin the list for us:
Summer schools,
Saturday schools,
Music teachers,
Art teachers,
School librarians,
Special Education teachers,
Reading Specialists,
Gym Teachers,
Real books,
Playgrounds,
School nurses...

WHAT IF, we change the same old, same old to something that mattered?
Respectfully
Dr. Jesse P. Turner

If you like to listen to the song that inspired my walk this morning its Rebel Diaz singing "Chicago Teacher". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yN7cRZP58k 

On my way to Chicago this week. You can bet your bottom last dollar, that this Walking Man will be meeting and listening to some Chicago Teachers.

Scientific Truth Seeker Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig

I know University of Kentucky School of Education Dean Julian Vasquez Heilig,  he is a scholar with a thirst for truth, and a human being driven by a deep sense of justice. Someone needs to seek the scientific truth of school reform. Someone needs to explain that equity and justice in our public schools should be truth-based. And to call it out when it is not! Dr. Vasquez Heilig has made this his life's work. 
I have been an avid reader of his blog > https://cloakinginequity.com/ < for years, and we have become professional colleagues over the last few years. He is a must-read, and follow a scholar.

"Ever wonder why a lion’s share of positive (non-peer reviewed) findings about school choice comes from certain places? We take on that question in our new piece published in the 2nd edition of the Handbook of Research on School Choice. " JVH 

Think about hair loss infomercials, they often claim to have science behind them, but even the slightest investigation reveals nothing more than testimonials. So, what sells their products without any real science behind them?  
The truth is simple men fearing baldness will grab on to anything to prevent baldness. It is the same with School Choice, parents are grabbing at anything to save their children from inequity in our public schools. Market-based Education Reformers behind School Choice, don't care about the science, the truth, they care about profit margins. 
Equity in America's Public School System has become a market-based infomercial scam. These marketers are not held accountable by our policymakers, legislators, or mass media. 

Why?
In the movie "Wall Street" Michael Douglas, (Gordon Gekko) said these lines to young brokers:
"The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind." 

Tell us why Dr. Turner? GREED! 
Thank you Julian Vasquez Heilig for seeking the truth, exposing injustice, and for constantly disseminating the truth that matters.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jesse P. Turner 
Moral Monday Education Ambassador Connecticut

If you like to like to listen to the tune this walking man was listening to on his walk this morning. It's OneRepublic's "Truth To Power" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R01lwJ1K1Mg