Yea Amy Goodman and Democracy Now!

[teacher gal]

Happily, the Chicago Times is actually covering this too.


Interview by Amy Goodman (you can read the transcript for free or view the video) concerning Arne Duncan's VIP list of requesets at Chicago schools and the effects of his expansion of charter schools in Chicago. The militarization of Chicago schools is also addressed. It's really worth taking a look because MSM has been failing to report these things for years despite pleas from teachers, parents, etc.

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/3/26/a_look_at_arne_duncans_vip



Brief excerpt on the Chicago plan (Renaissance 2010, more aptly called disaster capitalism):

So the federal stimulus money that’s being offered now to the states is being offered on the condition that they raise charter school caps, that they tie teacher evaluations to students’ test scores, that they close what they call failing schools, that they turn them over to private turnaround operators. So we have a neoliberal project nationally, which was tested out in Chicago and then is now being pushed out nationally.

[teacher gal]

1. BTW, I really want to emphasize

that I don't oppose charter schools per se. It was actually an idea first born out by people like Al Shanker of the AFT and urban educator Deborah Meier. Shanker did later become disillusioned with them before he died. But anyway, it isn't charter schools I oppose but their hijacking by corporate interests. If there are charters (and I know there are some good ones) let them be truly PUBLIC. And I'll ask again: Why not try innovative things and pouring resources into EXISTING public schools rather than disrupting communities and pouring billions into charters, which are increasingly being managed by private companies?

[Nikki Stone1]

2. Hijacking is the right word.

Thanks for posting this.

[teacher gal]

3. Thank YOU Nikki

I'm going to keep kicking the education threads when I come inside (working out in the yard spraying weeds!) and I hope I'm not irritating anyone by doing so.

[Nikki Stone1]

7. Nope

It needs to be done. This is happening right before our eyes. Rarely are changes this overt and this quick. It's an ambush.

[teacher gal]

8. Yea, disaster capitalism when the country is so vulnerable. nt

[Nikki Stone1]

12. I think it was made vulnerable deliberately

I think that's what all those bonuses were about.

[teacher gal]

15. Hmmm..

I finally got to watch Capitalism, A Love Story the other night.

[Nikki Stone1]

18. There's a subtext to that film

Watch it carefully

[teacher gal]

24. ?? I'm dense.

Watched it with my daughter when I visited her recently in Las Cruces.

[Enthusiast]

30. I suspect this will end badly.

Kind of like Blackwater(Xe)and KBR in the Iraq War theater and their costly abuses that have never been adequately investigated or prosecuted.

Privatization! The wave of the future!

[flyarm]

33. thanks Teacher gal for posting this!! The bastards are now doing a number on Fla schools!

and it is a total disgrace.

I just want to know how we are going to apologize to the children..and when..for our utter failure as citizens to stand up to these bastards??

In both parties!

K&R too!!

[Kalun D]

4. K and R

Kick and Recommend

this is not a democracy, it's a corporatocracy.

[teacher gal]

6. I'm afraid you're right

Only a semblance of democracy is left if that.....

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. Infuriating that the practice of giving OUR tax dollars to private business continues.

Happy to rec.

[teacher gal]

9. Yes, and they scream about "socialism"

after getting the biggest public funded bailout in history.

[laughingliberal]

22. They only call it socialism when the people get help. nt

[teacher gal]

26. right

[Go2Peace]

29. It is "Neo-liberalism" - the one philosphy which unites the two parties

[teacher gal]

32. yes n/t

[teacher gal]

10. K n/t

[EFerrari]

11. Kick

[teacher gal]

13. Why, thank you! n/t

[druidity33]

14. your welcome! K&R. nt.

[EFerrari]

20. My pleasure. Amy has been doing a great job on this situation!

[teacher gal]

16. I appreciate the recs for this issue.

It gets some unrecs too but oh well.

[LWolf]

17. Disaster capitalism is right.

:grr:

By the time the NEA and AFT get around to organizing and fighting, instead of commenting, it will be too late. What can we do to light a fire under their metaphorical behinds?

[teacher gal]

19. I don't know.

Never was a union member. Threaten to withdraw membership if they don't get busy? I said this on another thread somewhere but I've listened to and read Randi Weingarten and she just isn't a strong spokesperson. She should be leading massive marches but instead capitulates to Bloomberg/Klein to keep that seat at the table. Remember when the Educator Roundtable came out with the petition to dismantle the NCLB iteration of ESEA? The NEA opposed us! Incredible. The law should never have been passed and now we're seeing the consequences.

[LWolf]

36. Yes.

I think the problem is that our union leaders act much like our reps in congress when it comes to representing us.

[G_j]

21. that is exactly what it is nt

[Nikki Stone1]

23. kicking

.

[teacher gal]

25. another thank you

[Nikki Stone1]

28. No prob

.

[Starry Messenger]

27. Chicago was beta-testing

Now we're getting the roll-out. These technocrats are so out of touch. :grr:

[G_j]

31. kick

[amborin]

34. kick

[upi402]

35. Amy Goodman on MSNBC mid day NOW! Please , please -oh puhleeezz

That is so needed. It'd be great!:bounce: :party: I heard that. Disgusting. Where's our party at? Who has power here in America? The "Democratic" Party barely pushed thru an insurance industry give-away.