corporate education reform film at Dem convention needs to be SWAMPED by real educators protesting

[yurbud]

Last edited Sun Aug 26, 2012, 02:37 PM - Edit history (1)

There seem to be few ways real educators can get the attention of the administration and make them admit that redundant testing, mass firings, union busting, and privatizing public education serves the wealthy who want to divert public education dollars into their own pockets--not the actual kids who need educating.

Diane Ravitch posted this invitation a reader got:

StudentsFirst, Parent Revolution, and Democrats for Education Reform are hosting a screening of the film "Won't Back Down" at the Democratic National Convention. It is not on the official program, so I hear.

This is the film celebrating the parent trigger, the law started by the billionaire-funded Parent Revolution in California and since adopted by the far-rightwing group ALEC as model legislation to encourage parents to seize control of their public school and hand it over to a charter school operator.

http://www.studentsfirst.org/page/s/dnc-signup

Join Us for a Screening of Won't Back Down at the DNC

You and your guests are cordially invited to a pre-screening of Won't Back
Down at the Democratic National Convention sponsored by Democrats for
Education Reform, Parent Revolution and StudentsFirst. The film will be
followed by a panel discussion with Michelle Rhee, Ben Austin, Joe Williams,
Mayor Kevin Johnson and others.

Where: EpiCentre Theaters - 210 E. Trade St., Charlotte, NC 28202
Date: September 3, 2012
Time: 1:00 - 3:00pm

http://wp.me/p2odLa-1xj

It would be criminal for this event during the media intensive convention to occur without teachers, parents, and those who want real public education making it clear that ALEC backed education reform is about PROFITS NOT PUPILS.

We should be both inside and outside this event, prepared with a couple of simple talking points like charters doing no better than real public schools according to the Stanford study, charters being free of the micromanaged curriculum and mandate to serve special needs kids that public schools have, and the profit motive underlying the whole ugly affair.

Obama will certainly be better on education funding than Romney, but that will mean little if most of the money ends up in the pockets of the privatizers.

Democratic politicians need to know that whatever campaign donations they get from this crowd will cost them far more in bad PR and the support of otherwise fervent progressives.

[yurbud]

1. .

[senseandsensibility]

2. K and R

I hope there are protests. I have been very disappointed with this adm. education policy. Thanks for keeping us informed.

[CabCurious]

3. How about we win the election and take back Congress?

[yurbud]

4. if we don't register that this policy is unacceptable, the corporate Dems will say we endorsed it

with our votes.

[CabCurious]

11. I'm torn... mostly because I consider such protests to be pointless... but

I also agree with your point.

[yurbud]

5. Is our only role in the process to vote and keep our mouths shut the rest of the time?

[yurbud]

6. it's funny how often that needs to be said on a DISCUSSION board.

[99Forever]

8. Yep...

... that's what CorpoDems and posers would have it like. Never let them silence you. Ever. This is a war for the Nation we leave our children and theirs beyond that. Corporate front people are very well funded and have infiltrated everywhere.

[yurbud]

9. I just hope they are as transparent and ineffective elsewhere as they are here

every buck they spend on PR on DU has the exact opposite of its intended effect--but at least it is supplying a few jobs to the pay-to-post crowd.

[99Forever]

13. And they get so ...

... overly defensive when you out them. It's like they think we are as stupid and easily duped as Teabaggers.

[yurbud]

14. Teabaggers are at McDonald's and think it's a pot luck.

[roody]

7. Let's do both. Nt

[yurbud]

10. let's win the election and take back the Democratic Party.

[CabCurious]

12. CONGRESS is the issue, here... especially since Ed reform is mostly a state/local matter