NYT: Election Issue of Education Is Promoted (mobilized NCLB oppo.)

[DeepModem Mom]

Election Issue of Education Is Promoted
By DIANA JEAN SCHEMO

Published: August 12, 2004


WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 - A coalition of organizations, led by the nation's largest teachers union, introduced a campaign on Wednesday to mobilize opposition to the No Child Left Behind law, to demand more money for public schools and to raise the profile of education as an election issue.

Members of the coalition include the National Education Association, the teachers union, which has endorsed Senator John Kerry, the Democratic nominee, for president, and MoveOn.org, the 2.3 million-member Internet-based political movement that also backs Mr. Kerry. But it also includes groups like Acorn, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, and the Forum on Education and Democracy, which are more oriented toward policy.

The campaign, called the National Mobilization for Great Public Schools, came under attack from Congressional Republicans, but the coalition insisted that its effort was nonpartisan and that it would not endorse any candidate or party....

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The groups plan to have thousands of supporters hold house parties on Sept. 22, at which they will show a video outlining their priorities for education. Mr. Borosage said meetings were also planned in schools, churches, libraries and workplaces....


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/12/education/12educ.html

[callous taoboy]

1. Excellent!

I begin another school year next week without the training, materials and technology needed to do my job effectively. My district applied for a waiver that will allow them to keep stuffing kids in here past the state mandated cap of 20(up to 23 now, when 16 would be ideal).
I will have to buy my own laser printer(and donate it to the district in order to use it in conjunction with district computer)in order to run the computerized math program.

Although I am bitter that NCLB is one of the biggest scams of the * admin, and bitter that he raided the treasury when public schools and the children they serve are in such need, I will do my best with what I have because I love kids and want the best for them. This is my eleventh year of teaching, but if * gets back in I am through with it, at least in this state.

[DeepModem Mom]

2. Really valuable real-life report, CT -- thanks!