TEACHERS SPEAK

I am very proud to see amazing teacher and L.A. pilot school founder Pearl Arredondo--featured in the second TEACHED short film "The Blame Game: Teachers Speak Out--writing as a teacher fellow at TeachPlus! Pearl, a first-generation college graduate from East L.A., is not just a great teacher but a natural leader. I have said it many times already: I highly expect to see her as Superintendent of L.A. Schools in the not too distant future.

Read her op-ed on the notion of introducing a teacher "bar exam" to the field: 

Seriously, A Bar Exam for Teachers? This is Not the Answer

SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK

Takepart.com asked me to write a column during this year's School Choice Week, which celebrates parents accessing new educational options for their children, mostly through charter schools and publicly-funded private school vouchers. I was happy for the chance to reflect on where we are today in the fight to give more children the opportunities that are normally reserved for wealthy parents only. Please read:

IF YOU THINK SEGREGATION IS OVER THINK AGAIN

QUESTIONING UNIONIZATION

My last blog post inspired this op-ed, an exclusive for TakePart. It's getting some strong feedback, so clearly I've touched a nerve. Change is hard, but isn't it time for us to RETHINK the education system and the structures that surround teaching if they aren't benefitting anyone??

What We Need to Ask is: Does Unionization Still Make Sense?

Read it here: TAKE PART Op-Ed 9-18-12 

...And TEACHERS STRIKE

A friend and colleague I respect enormously asked, on the Facebook TEACHED page (in response to an article posted about the Chicago Teachers' Strike), the following:

A system that can't keep and retain the best teachers hurts children (and society) far more than a few lost days of school. Whatever you think about Chicago in particular (every battle is nuanced), strikes are a tool workers use to ensure fair wages and working conditions. What other leverage do you think teachers have to do this besides leaving the field?

My response was:

The question is: are teachers "workers" that need this type of protection/unionization, or has this heavy unionization of teaching (a few decades old) actually led to where we are now, a situation where it is so hard to get and keep great teachers because they want "professional" jobs, in a professional environment, that holds them--and their colleagues--accountable?

"Workers" usually bring to mind low-paid, low-skill jobs in which people can be very easily replaced. (Teachers are paid very well relative to factory or farm workers, and shouldn't be easily replaceable). "Workers" need group-level (union) protection because they can be taken advantage of (and are) by profit-seeking corporations. 

Teachers are college graduates with content knowledge and skill. And when they strike, they aren't postponing profits or production of things, the impact is on children and families. So no, I don't think teachers should be allowed to strike, because the entire construct of the treating the profession like an industrial, factory-level job is wrong. 

TEACHERS ROCK

We had the great honor and joy to screen one of the TEACHED Vol. I films--The Path to Prison--at the Friendship Schools Convocation in August. This annual event brings together all the 1,000 or so teachers who work in Friendship Schools, an excellent group of charter and traditional public schools in Washington, DC and Baltimore (which are featured in our other short film, Unchartered Territory, along with their inspirational leader Donald Hense).

Friendship Schools prove that it's possible to serve both students and teachers well. We knew the students were doing well, but WOW at this convocation did we some happy, joyful teachers! This is what teaching is supposed to be! Sometimes I think we all forget that. These days it seems like it's all arguing about how bad the job is, how hard the kids are, how terrible the parents are, etc. Hopefully schools like Friendship will light a fire to treat all teachers like professionals, let them work together and bring out their passion and JOY. 

Ok, off my soapbox to let our fabulous new INTERN Josh Saunders tell you about his experience at the convocation. We are so happy to have Josh on board! 

INTERNS SPEAK! From Joshua Saunders

The tenth Annual Friendship Public Charter School Convocation was held on August 22, 2012. It was a wonderful experience. While I learned a great deal on the errors in the school systems and observed everyone's appreciation for education, I also had a great time.  I enjoyed the music and the entertainment. This event was a fun learning experience. I met Donald Hense, chairman of the Friendship Schools, and Kenneth L. Campbell, founding member of the Black Alliance for Educational Options. The speeches made, especially by Howard Fuller, opened my eyes to the reality of educational issues and how they affect students all over America including me. I also had a great time with Ms. Kelly Amis.  I'm really glad I went to the convocation.

Check out photos from the Convocation HERE.

How bad does it have to get?

by Kelly Amis

I am always amazed by what gets people passionately angry when discussing education reform. It seems that everyone knows there's a serious problem with getting and keeping amazing teachers in the American classroom -- and that there's an even MORE serious problem being able to fire teachers who are not good at the job, or who are even ABUSIVE to children! -- but when you begin to discuss why (i.e. union-created and strongly protected rules that make it nearly impossible to fire anyone), the outrage is suddenly directed at YOU. You must be a union-hater! You must hate teachers! (This reminds me of a quote from the classic film, The Jerk: "He hates these cans!"). As in The Jerk, this outrage is misdirected.

How can anyone deny that the profession is SERIOUSLY screwed up when it is impossible to fire people who have sexually abused children? We can have absolute proof of a teacher's indefensible actions and still not be able to fire him/her. It is great to see the media finally bringing these often-ignored issues to the forefront. Some articles on this issue, including an op-ed by former CNN analyst Campbell Brown:

Campbell Brown: Teachers Unions Go to Bat for Sexual Predators

Miramonte teacher was paid $40,000 to drop dismissal challenge

A California State Senator introduced a bill to stop the insanity and make it easier to dismiss teachers who sexually abuse children...but the bill was killed by Democrats (my political party, btw) who presumably are more concerned with keeping teachers unions happy than taking even the most obvious and basic steps to protect children. How did we get to this point? And, more importantly, how do we get out?

One thing you can do is VOTE. Follow your elected officials and vote them out of office if they choose adult interests over childrens'. Who killed this bill in California? Names included in this article:

Why California Democrats Protect Sex Abuser Teachers

Also read:

Why Is It So Hard to Do the Right Thing?

"He hates these cans!"

Los Angeles Premiere - As if you were there!

We had an amazing program in Los Angeles, focused on the many great things happening there (and statewide) with regard to teacher accountability & evaluation. The beauty of what's happening is that so much is being led BY teachers and former teachers, who want the profession to improve and know it will benefit students AND teachers if it does. 

To learn more, read our background hand-out from the event here.

To see photos of the event go here and here.

Read a review of the event here: TEACHED Film Series Cracks Open L.A.’s School-to-Prison Pipeline

And, most importantly, watch the video of Dr. Howard Fuller's keynote speech:

Please join us in thanking the sponsors for this wonderful, inspiring event:

COMMUNITIES FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE & STUDENTS MATTER

Race Matters

by Kelly Amis

I think we all want to believe that race doesn't play a defining role in how people are treated in America today, but that is sadly FAR from the truth, and many astounding statistics prove it.

Here's one of the latest I came across in an USAToday article about the "Stand Your Ground" law, which is getting more scrutiny in the wake of the tragic Trayvon Martin shooting. From the article:

"According to the FBI, "34% of cases involving a white shooter killing a black person were deemed as a justifiable homicide. Meanwhile, in similar situations, when the shooter was black and the victim was white, the homicide was ruled justifiable only 3.3% of the time."

Here are a few more you may not know:

"Studies show that people of all colors use and sell illegal drugs at remarkably similar rates. If there are significant differences in the surveys to be found, they frequently suggest that whites, particularly white youth, are more likely to engage in drug crime than people of color. (Yet) in some states, black men have been admitted to prison on drug charges at rates twenty to fifty times greater than those of white men." (emphasis mine). -- Michelle Alexander, The New Jim Crow (a MUST-read)

Unequal treatment begins early and is perpetrated in our most "democratic" institution--the public school:

Black Students Face More Discipline - from the New York Times. (There are many studies showing that black students in particular are given much harsher, life-impacting punishments-- like expulsion or arrests--than white students for the exact same behaviors). 

Thought for the day: What kind of America do you want to live in, and how can you help create it?