Reforming Education Reform
Teachers fight Wall Street/politicians’ war on schools
by Alan Pittman
After a decade-long war on public education by Democratic and Republican presidents and Wall Street that has wracked schools with high-stakes bubble tests and crowded classes beyond fire codes, but has left kids no better educated, teachers are finally starting to fight back.
“Last year students at my school spent four to five weeks taking standardized tests, that doesn’t even include the time they spent preparing for those tests,” said teacher April LaCombe last week. LaCombe spoke through a bullhorn to a group of teachers protesting outside while U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan gave a speech to Oregon Business Association (OBA) executives in Portland. Duncan joined Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates last year in calling for larger class sizes and privatization of public schools.
“When Barack Obama was elected, we teachers rejoiced,” said LaCombe, an east Portland teacher with 20 years of experience. “But with a heavy heart, we teachers watched those hopes disappear into thin air.”
“This year I gave three standardized tests to my students within the first month of school,” veteran teacher
