Education/Labor blogger Fred Klonsky is imploring teachers across the country to contact the White House weekly to urge the president to abandon Race to the Bottom Top and stop privatizing public schools.
Here is what he has to say…
Contact the White House weekly at 202-456-1111 on your state’s designated day.
Message: Give all students the same education your girls are getting! Abandon Race to the Top and stop privatizing public schools.
Recently we shared with you the story of the UTLA, who would not sign their district’s application for Race to the Bottom Top (RTTT). We recently received the message of gratitude posted below from the UTLA:
UTLA and Port Jefferson Station Teachers Association stand in solidarity!
In Los Angeles, as you know, signing a RTTT grant application commiting more than $43.3 million to bring in $40 million, with undetermined on-going costs, at the same time we’re seeing higher class sizes due to the number of layoffs we’ve endured for five years in a row now — that would have been irresponsible. $4.3 million equals roughly 39 teachers and health and human services educators. Our classrooms and communities need smaller class sizes, not more beauracracy, which is what the RTTT grant would have created.
From our hearts to yours, thank you again for your post. It really means alot to us to see other locals recognizing that Race to the Top does not equate to reform and/or progress.
Now another teachers union is emerging heroically in the fight for the soul of public education. Ronnie Greco, President of the Jersey City Education Association, has refused to sign his district’s application for RTTT as well.
This is very, very important for any teacher who cares about the future of his or her career to understand: this grant would have enshrined a series of practices that would have destroyed teacher protections, compensation, and work conditions – and have never been proven to increase student achievement.
and goes on to say…
It seems that the issues here are largely the same as the ones that came up during theChicago strike: teacher working conditions are student learning conditions. If you can’t show that any of these practices are going to help students learn – and, let’s be clear, as Greco outlines them, you can’t – then no teachers union should agree to them.
Representative Tim Bishop, who NYSUT and the PJSTA worked hard to get re-elected has defeated Randy Altschuler. This is a victory for public education and a victory for labor!
The superstorm that hit the Tri-State Area this past week is one that none of us will forget any time soon. Some of us lost power, some of us did not. Certainly many of us have suffered damage to their property. Hopefully all of our members and their families are safe.
If you have a story or circumstances dealing with the storm situation that you would like to share, feel free to use the comments section below. Certainly if you have issues that your PJSTA brothers and sisters can help with, use the comments section to ask for help. I personally have power, heat, hot water, cable, etc. If there is anyone who needs a hot meal, a hot shower, or even a place to watch a movie or storm coverage on the news don’t hesitate to ask.
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