Help Write a Letter to President Obama

[HiPointDem]

Diane Ravitch:

Based on your many comments, I have drafted the following letter to President Obama. Please tell me if you have any changes or corrections. Once the letter is edited, I will post it again, and whoever wishes to do so will send it on October 17, two weeks from today.

http://dianeravitch.net/

Teachers’ Letter to President Obama

Dear President Obama,

We assume you know that there are many thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of teachers, who are disappointed in your education policies.

We assume you know that some will vote for you reluctantly, some will vote for a third party candidate, and some will not vote at all. Our votes will make a difference.

Given the choice between you and Mitt Romney, who seems to view public education with contempt, we want to help you win back the hearts and mind of teachers.

Here are ways to do that....

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. It's outstanding the way it is, imo.

K and R.

I'm in.

[NYC_SKP]

2. Not gonna do it.

It's composed as a veiled threat.

Don't need to do that.

[kickysnana]

3. I believe the President said " Make me..."

Since he has blindly shunned public school teachers in his policies, no debate, my way or the highway, what do you suggest to point out to him that I and many others CANNOT vote for him this year because of his policies on torture, indefinite detention and public schools. This will be a problem for him despite the polls now that we think he will win by a landslide. His people need to hear this now. It is not a threat it is a reality. I did vote for him last time and would never vote for Romney.

I couldn't vote for Mussolini just because Hitler was worse. These things are that important to me and our future.

[LWolf]

4. So far, he has ignored

reasonable attempts to "make him" do the right thing; yet my inbox is full of his requests for money. When I respond to those requests, pointing out why I'm not sending him any money, they bounce back as "delivery failed."

I can't think of anything else to do to "make him."

[Smarmie Doofus]

5. And last night, in his first or second go, what does he highlight as his big accomplishment?

Race. to. the. Top. --- The centerpiece of his catastrophic education agenda.

Aka - RATTT.


Let's just say he's not making it any easier for us to support him.

[LWolf]

8. Well, if the goal was

to alienate teachers, he certainly accomplished that.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. "we want to help you win back the hearts and mind of teachers"

Yep, such threatening language!

[NYC_SKP]

10. Many teachers don't need to be won back. It's condescending and presumptuous.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. I don't know any teachers who support Obama's education policies.

Not one.

We are struggling to get teachers in my district to get involved in this election. We hold phone banks a couple nights a week. We only call teachers. So far, we've not found any who support RTTT. Most say they will vote for Obama, but they are very unhappy.

So this sentiment is not the least bit condescending. It's based on reality.

[Reader Rabbit]

6. Good luck to her.

I've written the president a ton of letters about his education policy, and all I've ever got in return was the same ridiculous form letter.

[HiPointDem]

7. We had been promised some zingers coming from Mitt.

Who would of thought that the zinger would come from Obama and aimed squarely at every teacher watching? It was barely a few minutes into the debate when President Obama brought up Race to the Top as a positive example of what his administration has done for education.

Zing! He brought it up several times later. Zing! Zing!

There was more in Obama’s performance that was pretty awful. But since education has not exactly been a hot topic in this campaign, it surprised me that we were the zinger we have been waiting for.

Which is why I will take part in the October 17 letter to Obama action proposed by Diane Ravitch.

http://preaprez.wordpress.com/