Let them play

I can't remember one single test answer I wrote.
But I remember,
Recess, 
Milk and cookies,
I remember singing "Rain, Rain Go Away The Kindergarten Wants To Play",
I remember a million moments in gym,
I remember day dreaming my life away in the books we read,
I remember the school yard play ground,
Hand ball,
Jump rope, 
I remember those rhythms of the beats we sang every day,
I remember walking, running, climbing, jumping, and talking my way to school. 
I remember catching snowflakes in my mouth in the school yard, 
I remember Ms. Gitter singing "Don't rain on my parade" and "Getting to know you",
I remember Mr. Bass turning out the lights, pulling the blinds down, and reading "Sleepy Hallow,"
I am sure I learn a millions things, but it's the play that taught me:
To Share,
To take turns,
To say excuse me,
 Please,
To listen to everyone,
To help others,
To respect everyone.
It's the play people. It's the play that teaches us what we need most. I have a Ph.D. in Reading, Language, and Culture, and in my professional opinion nothing is as important to learning than play.
Dear Next President, it's the play not the testing that grows the mind.
Respectfully,
Jesse The Walking Man Turner

If you like to know what song I was listening to on my walk this morning....its Whitney Houston's "The Greatest Love Of All" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvPYXHM94DQ

Secretary King, I am tired of Justice Is Coming Someday

United States Secretary of Education came to Trinity Magnet School in Hartford Connecticut today. He came to say Hartford's network of magnet schools in Connecticut can serve as a model for achieving the kind of diversity that is lacking in too many American schools, Funny how his visit came while schools were on summer break. If he just waited another two weeks....Well you can read all about it in this link.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/education-secretary-discuss-diversity-hartford-school-042105505.html?nhp=1

My response to Secretary King's Visit. 

Dear Secretary of Education John King, I heard you visited one of our Hartford Connecticut Magnet Schools this week. It must be nice to cherry pick your visits. I noticed you failed to stop by Governor Malloy's office to suggest Connecticut cease fighting Connecticut's obligation to fully fund our poor schools. Well, you don't want to rock that Equity Someday Boat. Of course as always equity is never on the agenda.

This trip was about that desegregation is coming someday train. Magnets and Charters are coming to save some children of color. Hold on children, the United States Department of Education doesn't do all children. Some works nicely in twenty-first century America. Secretary King, Magnet Schools like Charter Schools always leave a majority of Black and Brown children racially isolated. That segregation someday train also seems to end in inequity for the majority of children of color left behind in their local public schools.

My thinking is you Washington DC policy makers, and our nation's legislators could use a little history lesson. The 1954 Brown Vs the Board of Education decision did not say compromise your way to desegregation. So three years later when Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus call out the national guard to stop the Little Rock Nine from integrating their public schools. President Dwight D. Eisenhower's (1957) signed Executive Order 10730 placing the Arkansas National Guard under his control to ensure the safety of the Little Rock Nine, and ordered they protect the Little Rock Nine. Perhaps somehow in the twisted minds of Ed Reformer revisionist history you think Executive Order 10730 was President Eisenhower's way of saying Governor Orval Faubus take your time desegregating those "Little Rock" Public schools. I bet Governor Faubus would love today's Ed Reform no rush we'll get there someday people. It is so much more civil than Eisenhower's Federal Marshals and National Guard troops on your school house steps.

America, we'll start with a few Magnet and Charter School plans. After all we have only been at it for 10, 20, 30 years. Hold on children be patient change is coming. Just not today. Meanwhile, no one at the United States Department of Education appears to mind 49 states spending more money on their wealthy schools than their poor schools.

Mr Secretary, Black and Brown children don't need desegregation someday. They need it today. Just like poor children of all colors don't need equity someday. They need it today.
I have a word for desegregation and equity today. It's call JUSTICE.
Not buying your desegregation someday compromises,
Jesse The Walking Man Turner

If you want to listen to the song this Walking Man is listening to...it's Playing for Change singing that old Sam Cook song A Change Is Gonna Come" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zDeBIA-vQ8

Live the life you sing about in your heart

I've heard some say the world has gone mad, it's unfair, it's unjust, and it's cruel. There isn't anything we can do to change it. The wealthy, the powerful, and connected have rigged the game. Goodness has been silenced. But, then what do I do with this song of change in my heart? Victor Hugo wrote in Les Misérables: “Not being heard is no reason for silence.”


Trust me the only chains on a better world is our silence and apathy.
I say, stand up, shout, march, and live that song in your heart.
Momma loved Mahalia Jackson. Mahalia was her church.
Hush everyone, Mahalia is on....Church came in songs with Momma.

" I'm gonna live the life
I sing about in my song
I'm gonna stand for right and
I always shun the wrong
If I'm in the crowd,
If I'm alone,
On the streets,
Or in my home...

I'm gonna live the life,
I sing about in my song"

Trump Hate is showcased everyday on TV,
Muslim, hispanic immigrants, and Americans of Color bullied everyday on Fox TV,
Unarmed Black boys and girls die everyday without out even a I'm Sorry,
Mayors, Governors, and legislative puppets cut school budgets, and close public schools, and give billions to the Hedge Fund boys to open new Private Charter Schools no one wants,
Leaders saying the bank is broke,
Go away you throw away mill workers, steel workers, and blue collar boys and girls,
No more art, music or play for poor boys and girls,
We ain't got a dime,
Can I get another Amen for Tax Cuts for the rich,

Maybe you can stay silent, but me I'm living the life I sing about as loud as I can.
Still singing that justice song I hear in my heart,
Jesse The Walking Man Turner

If you like to listen to the song I'm singing on my walk to today. Its...That version of Momma's favorite Mihalia song "I gonna live the life I sing about by The Last Internationals.

Justice requires action. Action requires marching.

Robert F. Kennedy said about the pursuit of justice: "The problem of power is how to achieve its responsible use rather than its irresponsible and indulgent use-of how to get men of power to live for the Public rather than off the public."  
I'm sitting here today wondering what Senator Kennedy would say about an education reform movement that lives off the public seeking to privatize our nation's public schools?  My thinking is, if Senator Robert F. Kennedy were alive last month, he would have joined the marchers at the Save Our Schools March for Public Education and Social Justice; just like he supported Cesar Chavez and the migrant farm workers in their struggle against the growers in California.  Justice requires Action. He would have marched with us, because we were marching for Public Education and Social Justice.  What matters about marching for Public Education and Social Justice, is that we still need to march; and are you still marching?  This struggle is so much more than one simple march.

Justice requires Action.  

Diane Ravitch has become one of our most vocal outspoken opponents of high-stakes testing, national standards and a national curriculum, (CCSS), and inequity in our public schools. Some out there complain that Ravitch was not marching in 2000. Who cares? She marched in 2011; and then again in 2016.  I salute her willingness to grow and learn.  She is the only policy maker I know to admit she was wrong.  And more importantly, with her admission she decided to take up the cause of what is Right. Very few education reformers, policy makers, researchers, and politicians have the guts to do what she has done.  To change. To fight harder than ever for that change.
I applaud Diane Ravitch for refusing to stay with the pack.
I applaud her for stopping for just a moment, standing up, realizing she was wrong, and then using her voice in support us.
I salute Diane Ravitch for marching in 2011 and again in 2016.
I salute her for being the only education historian committed to telling the truth, even if it means admitting she was wrong initially.
I salute her for standing against the powerful elite, and choosing instead what's right for children, parents, and teachers.
WHEN you started marching matters less than "Are you marching today?"

In Diane Ravitch's new edition of The Death and Life of the Great American School System (2016) she writes:
"The original version of this book I criticized testing and choice, but continued my long-standing advocacy for national standards and a common national curriculum.  I thought that if every child experienced the same engaging curriculum, then every one of them would have a great education. Wrong again. I have come to realize that "high standards" and "rigorous testing" do not promote equity; instead, they produce high rates of failure for many students and widen the gap between those at the bottom and those at the top. Inevitably, those who fail to jump over an unrealistically high bar will be the children who need extra help and resources; they will be disproportionately impoverished children of color, children with handicaps, and English-language learners ... Standards on their own do not address the root causes of poor academic performance, which are generational poverty, racial segregation, and inequitable resources" (prologue xxiii-xxiv).

Justice Requires Action.  Action requires work. 

The old bible parable Matthew 20:1-16: The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, where the workers in the field are paid to pick grapes for the land owner who sees a storm coming.  He needs his all his grapes picked today.  He offers one wage.  Some workers begin early in the morning; some don't start till noon.  By late afternoon he sees the need for more workers; they don't start working till near the end of the day.  Once the task was complete, some workers complain "it's unfair" The land owner reminds them that they accepted the wage that was offered to them; he had done no wrong... In my mind, it's the very same with our struggle for public education and social justice today. There is only one wage "Justice in our public schools for all".  

Justice Requires Action. Action requires marching.

In 2010 when Save Our Schools was planning our march against NCLB/RTTT, Rita Slonet from Parents Across America contacted me to inform me that Ravitch would be speaking at Yale about her book "The Life and Death of the Great American School System" and suggested I attend.  I went to the event accompanied by my wife a Hartford Public School teacher. After the event I had the opportunity to speak with Diane, and I asked her if she could possibly come to DC to speak at our rally and march ~ even though we didn't have a dime to pay her.  She knew of me, "Jesse Turner, the guy who just walked from Connecticut to DC right?"  Yup ~ that guy. She said she would think about it...  Carolyn and I started walking towards our car. Well, at least I had asked her...  Before I started the car, Rita was calling me to confirm that indeed yes, Diane would come to speak at The Save Our Schools Conference, Rally and March in July 2011.

To the rumblers ~ Justice Requires Action. Action requires marchers. It doesn't matter when you started marching for justice in our public schools. What matters is, are you ready to march now?  

In 2016 Save Our Schools March gathered a coalition for public education and social justice for another march on DC. Dr. Ravitch had released her 2nd edition book; we invited her to speak with us again. She did.  

Who marched in DC for Equity and Justice in Public Education and Social Justice on July 8, 2016?

Diane Ravitch: Marched,
Jonathan Kozol: Marched,
Rev Dr. William Barber: Marched,
Bronx Principal Jamaal Bowman: Marched,
Dr. Denisha Jones: Marched,
Ruth Rodriquez: Marched,
Bishop Selders: Marched,
Youth Dreamers: one the bus,
Newark Students Union: Marched,
Jesse Hagopian: Marched,
Gus Morales: Marched
Brett Bigham: Marched
United Opt Out: Marched

Dr.  Julian Vasquez Heilig: Marched

Dr. Yohuru Williams: Marched

Lisa Rudley: Marched

Jitu Brown: Marched

Dyett Hunger Strikers: Marched

Tanaisa Brown: Marched,
Barbara Madeloni: Marched
Sam Anderson: Marched
Mike Klonsky: Marched
Michelle Gunderson: Marched

Jeremy Dudley: Marched

Barry Lane: Marched

Family von BATs: Marched

The BAT Band: Marched

Terry Moore: Marched

DC Labor Chorus: Marched
Detroit Federation of Teachers: Marched

Washington Teachers Union (DC): Marched

Chicago Teachers Union: Marched

SOS March: Marched
BATs: Marched
UOO: Marched
I marched

Justice requires action. Action requires you.

While "Save Our Schools Coalition" Committee did all the preparations for this March; they helped 1500 other beautiful brave souls march. The 1500 marchers set a new standard for education reform resisters. The only "standard" that matters in our Struggle for justice in America's Public Schools in 2016 is "Are you marching for Public Education and Social justice?"

Tell me you fight by writing letters to editors,
Tell me you fight by blogging,
Tell me you testify at local and state board of education meetings,
Tell me you fight by lobbying legislators,
Tell me you fight on social media,
We need all of these fights.
But in 2016, and beyond

What we need most is Fighters Willing to March.
You don't need to go to DC to march.
Marchers are needed in America's local communities,

In America's towns,
In America's cities.
In our state capitals.
We need marchers outside the offices of America's Mayors, Governors, and Legislators.

We need marchers with big signs "Ready To Vote You Out"
We need marchers singing.
"People Get Ready,
There's a train a coming
You don't need no ticket,
All you need is to get on board"
Get on this marching train.
Still marching,
Jesse The Walking Man Turner

 If you like to listen to what song this walking man was listening to on his walk today....its "People Get Ready" by Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdKEbnS1eBE

Do Something Guidelines

Albert Einstein said: "The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." Do Something Guidelines

If you see hatred today?
Show love.
If you see injustice today?
Show Justice.
If you see someone hungry today?
Feed them.
If you see racism today?
Speak out.
If you see wrong today?
Act against it.
If you believe in justice?
Live a just life.

If you are wondering what tune this walking man is listening to on his walk up the mountain today its... Des'ree "You gotta be" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvl7240TZTc

Would you like to know why education reform has been left out of the 2016 primary presidential debates?

Would you like to know why education reform has been left out of the 2016 primary presidential debates?

For 15 years now the United States Department of Education, and all 50 state Departments of Education have ignored the research, and pushed market-based education reforms that have failed over and over again. They have elevated Corporate experts and their failed ideas over educators. When I reflect I get sick thinking about the damage done to our children, their teachers and public schools in the name of market-based education reforms. 
The loss the hundreds of billions of wasted tax dollars spent on high-stakes testing and market based education reforms spent since 2002 with little or no research supporting their reforms is demoralizing. So much of the damage led by slogans claiming improvements for Black, Brown, and Poor children. Instead of putting children first these reformers put test scores and profits first. Public education is a sacred trust. They were suppose to honor that sacred trust not sell it to the highest bidder. They turned education reform for Black, Brown and Poor children into a lottery system with a trail of data that points to their reforms as the most massive failures in American Education history. Education reform should be more than take your lottery ticket parents. 
Education reform has been left out of the debates, because discussing it would mean Republicans and Democrats would have to owe up to their failure to protect and educate our children in America's public schools. We don't need their permission to discuss what our public schools need. We don't need to upset the no tough questions TV debate moderators to discuss the damage being done to our children. Parents and teachers don't need to study what works they already know.
Imagine if research mattered more to to policy makers and politicians than campaign contributions. They might discover that research indicates that school performance increases when children are engaged in outdoor learning experiences. Research documents increased academic achievement, better attitudes, better attendance, and lower behavioral problems. I love the outdoors, but growing up in the inner city and poverty meant I did not discover the woods, the rivers, forests, and mountains until I entered college. We could create schools where children play, jump, climb, imagine, row a boat, hike up a mountain. Just ask any child, any teacher or parent how can we inspire learning. They will give idea after idea rooted in reality and backed by research. 
Educators know what inspires learning. Outdoor education is just one of the many researched based ways to decrease behavioral problems and improve academics.
A 60 second trip on the water with the Walking Man.

We need a revolution to take back our public schools,
Dr. Jesse Patrick Turner

If you are interested in listening to the song this walking man listened to on his morning walk today...its Tracy Chapman's "Talking about a revolution" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2wneBVssPc

Donald, keep your wall! I have a golden lamp

Imagine if instead of a Lamp telling the world send us your homeless and tempest-tost there was a wall saying stay home.

It appears Donald Trump a New Yorker never took the ferry over to the Statue of Liberty. He must have also missed that teacher favorite public school lesson every young New Yorker and Jersey boy and girl had about Emmal Lazarus's poem at the base of the Statue of Liberty. I forgot he never went to public schools. This imaginary so called Blue Collar born Billionaire missed every public school lesson.

The New Colossus

"Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

It was those wretched homeless, tempest- tost masses of immigrants help build this nation. They built it with Native peoples and a people brought in chains whose Blood and labor lifted this nation. Peoples who despite their unjust treatment bought into was a nation not of walls, but of a nation yearning to be free.   Emma Lazarus knew America is a wall less nation. Donald, get over it! Emma's people built it, not you billionaires.
My grandparents came with nothing, but the clothes on their backs with near empty pockets. But with hearts full of hope. Those words and that Lady with the Lamp in the harbor meant everything to them.
You missed the lesson Donald.

If you like to listen to what this Walking Man listened to on his walk over the mountain this morning....its "This land is your land" tribute to Bernie Sanders by 

Vermont’s music community. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3aqV-f7tEo 
Bernie got it, and while others was with Hilary, Bernie moved Hilary and the whole democratic party. Won't tell you who I am voting for, but it won't be the I'm gonna build a wall one.