Got Hereos

Looking for some heroes members? Look no further than these teachers from Trumbull Connecticut who said: Thanks, but no thanks.
That sums up the letter fired off last week by some Trumbull teachers who have decided being recognized by Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now, an education reform advocacy group that favors charter schools and changes to teacher tenure laws, isn't such a great thing.
Here is the link.
http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Teachers-reject-education-award-3357555.php

In November, Trumbull High School was recognized in three top 10 lists -- for best academic performance among low-income, Hispanic and African-American students -- published by the group, also known as ConnCAN. The New Haven-based group has released such lists for six years.

The recognition comes with a citation that is available for viewing on the school's website.

At first, staff members were proud to be recognized for doing their part to close the nation's worst achievement gap.

That all changed last week, said Nick Banks, a Trumbull High English teacher and union vice president, when he and others started looking into ConnCAN after the group threw its wholehearted support to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's education reform plan. That plan would increase funding for charter schools, in part by making local districts contribute financially toward their operation.

Malloy also wants to link student achievement to teacher evaluations and force teachers to re-earn tenure -- or the right to due process -- every five years. Banks said he heard ConnCAN's chief operating officer, Patrick Riccards, state repeatedly that for the reform plan to work, it had to be an all-or-nothing proposition.

That prompted Banks and eight or nine union representatives at Trumbull High to craft a letter to ConnCAN, which received approval from Tammy Baillargeon, president of the Trumbull Education Association.

Signed by TEA, the letter, in part, states: "We do not recognize or value your opinion of our performance and we view our inclusion in your 2010 State of Education Report as an opportunistic ploy to further promote your privatized agenda on the backs of hardworking public school teachers.

"Our inclusion in your list is not what inspires us to succeed with all of our students; it is our drive as highly trained, highly qualified educators to provide a rich public education for our students, free of the influence of corporate agendas," the letter continued.

Banks said he is not one to turn away a compliment but simply does not want an award "from these people."

Rather than an educational advocacy group, Banks said he considers ConnCAN to be a business out to "profit off of the public education system."

Riccards said Thursday the award is not the teachers' to return.

"We provided an award to Trumbull High School," he said. "It's unfortunate that the leadership of the local union doesn't want to be recognized for the fact that they are doing a good job."

Riccards said ConnCAN is a nonprofit advocacy organization that wants to ensure all students have access to great public schools.

"For too long, all we've done is talk about what's wrong in public education. This is one of the times we get to applaud those doing a great job," he said.

Never before, he said, has anyone tried to turn down the award.

Banks said Trumbull High principal Robert Tremaglio was surprised when teachers told him of their request to give the award back. Tremaglio could not be reached for comment. The teachers plan to meet Friday with Superintendent Ralph Iassogna.

In an email, Iassogna said the district is pleased with the growth in student performance and extremely proud of the hard work and efforts of the staff. He did not comment directly on the ConnCAN recognition.

Banks said the teachers also intend to go before the Trumbull Board of Education on Tuesday to read their letter to ConnCAN into the record

Every state has some Privatizing Charter Group like ConnCAN.  They are are actually a lobbyist group they show up at every leglslative hearing pushing their let beat up on teachers and public schools leglislation. They claim to represent the parents, but everyone who shows up is emplyed by them. 
Read more: http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Teachers-reject-education-award-3357555.php#ixzz1nMy2Fyp7

What really makes these teachers heroes in my book is they are not only rejecting an award, but sending a very strong public message to Connecticut's Governor Malloy and his new Commissioner of Education Stefan Pryor a message that taking over 20 million dollars from regular public schools to give charter schools makes no sense.  Connecticut is talking about rewriting tenure rules, new teacher regulations, and evaluating teachers based on valued added state mastery test scores. The talk is 45% of a teacher's evaluation will be based on testing.
Connecticut legislative hearings have been overflowing with testimony from parents, teachers, university faculty members, and community groups questioning the governor's new proposed school reform initiatives, and the state's application for an NCLB waiver.
 

You can even sign their petition against privatizing public schools as well.
http://www.change.org/petitions/keep-private-companies-out-of-public-education 

If you are wondering what the Walking Man is listening to on his walk today it   is Mariah Carey's Hero:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IA3ZvCkRkQ 

Teachers are my heroes,
Jesse

We have met the enemy, and they are not the Girl Scouts

Who are the people elected to office? The very same people telling America that testing and privatization can save our schools. Let's all come to the realization that many of our lawmakers are not smarter than a fifth-grader.  Allow me to introduce an elected official, Indiana State Representative Bob Morris who clearly is not smarter than a fifth-grader.
This week Bob Morris Indiana State Representative refuse to sign resolution honoring the 100 Anniversary of the Gril Scouts of America. He sent the following letter to his colleagues urging them not to sign it as well.
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/21/10469492-lawmaker-radical-girl-scouts-out-to-destroy-american-family-values
Here is his letter: Verbatim text of letter from Indiana state Rep. Bob Morris, R-Fort Wayne, to fellow lawmakers.

February 18, 2012

Members of the Republic Caucus

Dear Fellow Representatives:

This past week I was asked to sign a House Resolution recognizing the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts of America. After talking to some well-informed constituents, I did a small amount of web-based research, and what I found is disturbing. The Girl Scouts of America and their worldwide partner, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), have entered into a close strategic affiliation with Planned Parenthood. You will not find evidence of this on the GSA/WAGGGS website—in fact, the websites of these two organizations explicitly deny funding Planned Parenthood.

Nonetheless, abundant evidence proves that the agenda of Planned Parenthood includes sexualizing young girls through the Girl Scouts, which is quickly becoming a tactical arm of Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood instructional series and pamphlets are part of the core curriculum at GSA training seminars. Denver Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley of Denver last year warned parents that "membership in the Girl Scouts could carry the danger of making their daughters more receptive to the pro-abortion agenda."

A Girl Scouts of America training program last year used the Planned Parenthood sex education pamphlet "Happy, Healthy, and Hot." The pamphlet instructs young girls not to think of sex as "just about vaginal or anal intercourse." "There is no right or wrong way to have sex. Just have fun, explore and be yourself!" it states. Although individual Girl Scout troops are not forced to follow this curriculum, many do. Liberal progressive troop-leaders will indoctrinate the girls in their troop according to the principles of Planned Parenthood, making Bishop Conley's warning true.

Many parents are abandoning the Girl Scouts because they promote homosexual lifestyles. In fact, the Girl Scouts education seminar girls are directed to study the example of role models. Of the fifty role models listed, only three have a briefly-mentioned religious background – all the rest are feminists, lesbians, or Communists. World Net Daily, in a May 2009 article, states that Girl Scout Troops are no longer allowed to pray or sing traditional Christmas Carols.

Boys who decide to claim a "transgender" or cross-dressing life-style are permitted to become a member of a Girl Scout troop, performing crafts with the girls and participate in overnight and camping activities – just like any real girl. The fact that the Honorary President of Girl Scouts of America is Michelle Obama, and the Obama's are radically pro-abortion and vigorously support the agenda of Planned Parenthood, should give each of us reason to pause before our individual or collective endorsement of the organization.

As members of the Indiana House of Representatives, we must be wise before we use the credibility and respect of the "Peoples' House" to extend legitimacy to a radicalized organization. The Girl Scouts of America stand in a strong tradition that reflects with fidelity the traditional values of our homes and our families. The tradition extends from coast-to-coast and back through the past one hundred years. That said, I challenge each of you to examine these matters more closely before you extend your name and your reputation to endorse a group that has been subverted in the name of liberal progressive politics and the destruction of traditional American family values.

I have two daughters who have been active in the Girl Scouts of Limberlost Council in Northeastern Indiana. Now that I am aware of the influence of Planned Parenthood within GSA and other surprisingly radical policies of GSA, my two daughters will instead become active in American Heritage Girls Little Flowers organization. In this traditional group they will learn about values and principles that will not confuse their conservative Hoosier upbringing.

I have been told that, as of today, I am the only member not supporting the Girl Scout Resolution.

I challenge each of you to examine these matters and to decide carefully whether or not to sign the resolution.

Respectfully,

Bob Morris

Has anybody noticed he did not say anything about the Boy Scouts? Perhaps it is only the girls that are dangerous to Representative Morris? We can not afford to elect crazies like this to America's legislatures any longer.  

First let's all just agree that doing a little internet research does not reach the bar of any fifth-grader's research report assignment. I don't even know where to go with this nonsense. It is becoming scary, because electing people like this is placing our democracy at risk.
Children are more than test scores, and the Girls Scouts deserve better than shoddy internet research.
If you like to make a donation to the Girl Scouts of America, or find out how to buy some tasty radical cookies go: http://www.girlscouts.org/
Finally let's all show these crazies what democracy looks like this fall, and vote them out of office?
Ready to occupy the DOE in DC this March 30. 31, & April 1 & 2,
Jesse The Walking Man also votes!     

If case you are wondering what inspired the Walking Man on his walk this morning: MAKANA's We Are The Many You Are The Few: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq3BYw4xjxE&feature=player_embedded

Secretary Status quo Duncan sprinkles his Fairy Dust in New York

Facebook post from a teacher responding to our voice of sanity and truth on education reform Anthony Cody's blog in ED Week " Sorry Mr. Press Secretary, Multiple Measures Are Not Fairy Dust” _{http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2012/02/sorry_mr_press_secretary_multi.html}

The teacher heeding Anthony's warning about the dust shared on Teachers' Letters To Obama this morning about the effects of the dust on New York teachers. 
"Well, as a teacher in NY who has sat through a day of "professional development" on data driven instruction, I can say that we were told (and the quotes are real - this was what we were told by the trainer from our BOCES center who travels regularly to Albany to get the 'latest news and information') "The TEST is where you start. When you look at the test and frame your instruction so that your students will do well on the TEST, then you will see increased scores and you will know that they have LEARNED what's on the test." 
It is exactly what we're being told - TEACH TO THE TEST"

Another clear example of the effects of the dust on mainstream media showed up in an editorial in the New York Times this morning "A sound deal on teacher evaluations"

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/17/opinion/a-sound-deal-on-teacher-evaluations.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y

It open with "Thanks to an agreement brokered by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New York has moved a step closer to carrying out the statewide teacher evaluation system it promised two years ago in return for $700 million from the federal Race to the Top education program. Ending the impasse between the teachers’ unions and education officials will help improve instruction across the state."
Clearly the dust effect demonstrates the disconnection between dusters like Governor Cuomo, Secretary Duncan, and the New York Times, and what is actually happening in New York schools. The effect is simply amazing. The dust of course is making some dusters rich and powerful. It's that old story come around again. The Gospel tells us Judas took 30 silver pieces to betray Christ.  Governor Cuomo took 700 million from Race To The Top to betray New York's children, parents and teachers. While the New York Times may be inhaling Arne's dust parents, teachers, and students know better. In the world of Race To The Top fairy dusters don't teach in or attend our public schools. They live in that 1% world of you the 99% don't know what is good for you.  Just breath the dust in, and feel us getting rich off your misery. 
The NYTimes editorial ends with this eye opener: "To push districts to finalize their evaluation systems, Governor Cuomo has wisely included a provision in the agreement that would deny districts that do not comply a planned 4 percent increase in state education financing. That penalty, combined with the threat of losing federal money, should get the two sides to end the blockage."
Those fairy dust pixies of old did never threaten people. These new Giorgio Armani suit wearing RTTT fairies are always threatening parents, students, and teachers with fall in line, or else we'll take away your funding.  Just behave and smell the _ _ _ _
If you want to see what parents really think about Cuomo's dust read Class Size Matters posts on Facebook about this deal.

 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Class-Size-Matters/41193929122?sk=info

• Class Size Matters

  Guess what? Charter schls will not be subject to ridiculous & damaging NYS teacher eval system; is that why charter industry pushing it?

  
  

   ·  · @leoniehaimson on Twitter · 7 hours ago viaTwitter

  • • 
      

      Sarah Porter What?
      

      7 hours ago · 
• 
  

  
  

  Class Size Matters

  victory for #corpreformers; if budget cuts, testing obsession & class size increases do not destroy pubschls new teacher eval system will

  
  

   ·  · @leoniehaimson on Twitter · 7 hours ago viaTwitter
• 
  

  
  

  Class Size Matters

  ‎1 thing makes me feel better re parents completely shut out of new deal on teacher eval is that principals ignored too @carolburris NOT!

  
  

   ·  · @leoniehaimson on Twitter · 7 hours ago viaTwitter
• 
  

  
  

  Class Size Matters

  for @arneduncan & @JohnKingNYSED multiple measures for teachers means multiple ways to fail

  

Spread the word we reject their 30 pieces of silver. They can keep their dust. The NCLB/RTTT resistant is alive and well. We are walking, marching, protesting, speaking and occupying your board meetings from sea to shinning sea. SOSers are blogging,  going to occupy Arne's U.S. DOE this March 30, 31, april 1 & 2. Save Our Schools is going to Selma Alabama for the Selma Jubilee.  Hot off the SOS Press we are organizing and inviting all NCLB/RTTT resisters to a SOS Education Convention in DC this summer. We promise no fairy dust will be used. Someone tell the DOE the Revolution won't seen on CNN or MTV, but it is coming to DC?   

If you want to know what the Walking Man listened to on his walk in the rain this morning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5Z1trynEHs

That's right Sweet Honey Tn The Rock "Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around"
and Chris Streetman's "Will we occupy" 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE5nIRFnerM

We will occupy,

Jesse 

Poverty Matters Secretary Status quo Duncan

Dove Rosenberg a member of Children Are more Than Test Scores posted a comment today about Secretary Aren Duncan and poverty: " Good teaching cannot outweigh the detrimental effects that poverty has on a child. Arne Duncan says that education can be used to fight poverty, but that's nonsense. Poverty is far more effective at fighting education than the other way around."


Easy for for Status quo Secretary Duncan to say. Those who have never known poverty always think poverty doesn't matter. During Secretary Duncan's tenure as the Chicago Public School CEO over 100 children under the age of 18 were murdered in Chicago, and all he focused on was test scores. He missed the real crisis of violence in his city. The first time he noticed Chicago Parent's pain was last year two years after he left. When the beating death of Derrion Albert an honor student was murdered on his way home.
http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/video_derrion_albert

Derrion Albert Video: Teen Attacked, Beaten to Death in Melee - Chicago News

www.myfoxchicago.com

Poverty matters, School matters, A government that cares matters, and it will take everyone to help fight poverty.
May the Lord and his angels protect our children,
Still marching,

If you want to know what the Walkingman is listening walking in the rain through his tears:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVbkz_3lO3c

Rest in peace Derrion Albert, and may the lord hold you close to his heart forever,
Sincerely,
Jesse Turner The Walkingman 

The Saint Valentine's Facebook Massacre

The next generation 

Before the Facebook Saint Valentine's Massacre "Children Are More Than Test Scores" had 7,167 members then Facebook took away 7,157 members on Valentine's day 2012. We are a rag tag band of parents and teachers resisting the notion that the best measure of academic success for a child is a test score on a standardized measure. We are part of the 99%. Perhaps in those 1% CEOs offices at Facebook it was decided we grew too big. Who knows their reasoning Facebook is not a democracy.
Now we are 87, and growing.
My grandparents were Immigrants who loved two countries. We were brought up with a love of two nations. We were our family's first Irish Americans. We are proud of that fact. We salute the Red, White, and Blue every day, go to church on Sundays, and at weddings, wakes, and baptisms we dance and sing Irish rebel songs.  The whole room always erupts with pride whenever someone sings Luke Kelly's "A Nation Once again". Every soul in the room on their feet singing:
"When boyhood's fire was in my blood
I read of ancient freemen,
Of Greece and Rome who bravely stood,
Three hundred men and three men;
And then I thought I yet might see
Our fetters rent in twain,
And Ireland, long a province, be
A Nation once again! "

Of course the connection is to those brave Spartans who sacrificed their lives at The Battle of Thermopylae when Brave King Leonidas dismissed the bulk of the Greek army, and remained to guard the rear with 300 Spartans against Xerxes massive army of invaders.  Our fathers and grandfathers always ensure every child would learn the lesson that the sacrifice of a few could inspire great things.  Long after the singing and dancing on the bus ride ride, train ride, or drive home the lesson was always continued. Every child learning silence and apathy are never the options of a free people. By the way isn't this really what the anti ethnic studies in Tucson Arizona is all about these days as well. A fear of free men and free women who are proud of two nations?

I am calling for three hundred free men and free women to join Children Are More Than Test Scores on Facebook to stand against this madness of NCLB/RTTT that is reducing our children to test scores.
On your feet:
"When boyhood's fire was in my blood
I read of ancient freemen,
Of Greece and Rome who bravely stood,
Three hundred men and three men;
And then I thought I yet might see
Our fetters rent in twain,
And America's School's no longer be testing factories, but places where Children Are More Than Test Scores Once Again.
Looking for 300,
Jesse
Guess what the Walking Man was listening to, and singing on his walk today?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6DHtWJ_n4E

Choice means: You are not in control of your child's education.

Come meet Parents Across America and Karran Haper Royal

http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=2a7464fbd013f3ccc705d32cf&id=95e485cf84&e=0d8bda2f6a

Imagine if parents no longer have the right to send their children to local schools. Welcome to the world of Race To The Top. Imagine you do win the school lottery, and your child gets in! It's Hallelujah time. You are dancing in the streets, but then they discover that your child has special needs. They start doing everything they can to make you and your child uncomfortable. Welcome to the world of "push outs." 
You see the word "public" in "privatized public education" means these schools do not have to educate your child. In the "Choice world" schools do not have to keep your child. If your child's has low test scores, or if they require special services school administrators may just start to make you and your child feel uncomfortable enough to leave. This is the world of push outs!   
Choice means parents have the right to be in the lottery. Those lotteries always end up with less special needs & ESL students.  Choice means parents don't vote for school board members. So much for empowering parents. There is no democracy in the world of choice schools, but there are CEOs.
Think of it like this "Choice" works like that old Outer Limits TV Show: There is nothing wrong with your school set. Do not attempt to adjust your school. 
"We are controlling transmission. If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume. If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper. We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical. We can roll the image, make it flutter. We can change the focus to a soft blur or sharpen it to crystal clarity. For the next hour, sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear. We repeat: there is nothing wrong with your television set. You are about to participate in a great adventure. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to — The Outer Limits." (The Control Voice naaration) 
You parents are not in control of your schools under Race To The Top. You are in the Outer Limits of school choice. 
Perhaps Realtors should begin their listings with your children may or may not be able to attend the local schools in this neighborhood. 
This one is dedicated to Parents Across America and Karran Harper Royal! 
Go tell it on the mountain next week, With love and the deepest respect.
Yours truly,
The Walking Man Jesse 


Want to know the truth?

Dear Friends: · Feeling overwhelmed by all the negative legislation and education policies being imposed by corporate reformers on your school or district? Next  Monday night, Feb. 20 at 8 PM, Parents Across America will be sponsoring a conference call, open to all parents and concerned citizens, to brief you on strategies you can use to fight back against the damaging tide of privatization wreaking havoc our public schools. When: Monday, Feb. 20 at 8 PM EST. Conference Dial-in Number: (424) 203-8075   Participant Access Code: 1037540# First, hear from Karran Harper Royal, a PAA founding member, about what’s happening in New Orleans, where about 75% of the schools are charters and before too long, they may all be privatized.  Rather than the idealized picture portrayed by Sec. Duncan and the corporate reform crowd, this has led to nightmarish experiences for many children, who no longer have the right to attend their neighborhood school, and are often forced to travel hours each day on buses which their parents have to pay for, especially if attending higher-performing schools.  Discrimination is especially fierce against students with disabilities. This is the future that children in many parts of the country may face if the privatizers get their way.  Hear what Karran and other parents are doing to fight back, and about the lawsuit they have filed with the help of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Then, Dora Taylor and Sue Peters, founders of PAA- Seattle, will describe how the state of Washington is experiencing the fourth push in 15 years to authorize charter schools.  Washington is one of only about ten states in which charter schools are still not legal. Though the research doesn't support charters, the backers of this campaign have deep pockets -- including the Gates Foundation and the operations they fund, including Stand for Children, Inc. DFER, and the League of Education Voters.  Parents are also facing a barrage of potentially damaging "teacher evaluation" bills in the legislature. The corporate reformers' strategy is to bypass the voters and push these bills through, inundating the session with multiple bills in 'whack a mole' tactics. Sue and Dora will talk about how they are organizing other parents throughout the state, working with other stakeholder groups, and helping to disseminate the truth about charters and teacher evaluation to prevent these bills from being passed – in Bill Gates’ own backyard. When: Monday, Feb. 20 at 8 PM EST.  Conference Dial-in Number: (424) 203-8075   Participant Access Code: 1037540# If you have a question in advance, please send it to info@parentsacrossamerica.org  Thank you and  Happy Valentine's Day from Julie, Leonie and the rest of us at Parents Across America! Go tell it on that mountain Parents Across America! If you are wondering what the Walking Man is listening today on his walk it's Joan Baez singing "We Shall Over Come" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkNsEH1GD7Q&feature=player_embedded

Secretary Duncan the status quo is you

On Secretary Arne Duncan's Facebook page he states: "Let's stop defending the status quo when it hurts children. Let's wage the right education battles. Together, let's work collectively to advance achievement and a love of learning in America."
Well, well, well, Mr Secretary let me understand this the US DOE has run the show for 12 years now, and spent nearly a trillion exactly their way mandates, and you don't call that the status quo?
Well let me show what Democracy looks like in NYC at the PEP School closings:
http://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2012/02/video-of-protests-at-pep-meeting-last.html

Above is a picture of the status quo:

Above is a picture of someone opposing the status quo:


So to keep it simple and sweet Secretary Duncan you are the Status Quo!