ThinkProgress filed this report from the Save Our Schools March in Washington, D.C.
Actor and activist Matt Damon spoke at the Save Our Schools rally today. Before he spoke, Damon granted ThinkProgress an exclusive interview. We asked him about how teachers unions are being demonized in much of the media and teachers are being blamed as the root of all problems in public education. Damon told us that the attacks on teachers unions are part of a larger “war on unions over the last decade” and condemned “punitive policies” that punish teachers without looking at the social factors that lead to student achievement.
Towards the end of his statements, Damon joked about the right-wing meme that unionized teachers are
Editor’s note: This Education Week article is one result of a partnership between EdNews Colorado and the weekly education journal, allowing us to provide in-depth stories from a national perspective.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Teachers and their supporters gathered near the White House on Saturday afternoon to chant, cheer, and march for a variety of changes they hope to see in public schools — most notably, a 180-degree shift away from standards- and testing-based accountability.
People march to the White House during the Save Our Schools rally on July 30. Photo/EdWeek
Aside from that message, those who attended the Save Our Schools March and National Call to Action in the
There are many reasons thousands of teachers traveled across the country to protest in front of the White House on Saturday — including to oppose charter schools, to fight for equal funding for poor schools, and to have more say in public education policies.
But at a noisy rally starting at noon under soaring temperatures, their message boiled down to one point, which was summed up by the sound check before the first speaker took the stage:
People march to the White House during the "Save Our Schools" rally in Washington, D.C., on July 30. Marchers chanted and carried signs expressing their demands after hearing speeches nearby.
Teachers and their supporters gathered near the White House on Saturday afternoon to chant, cheer, and march for a variety of changes they hope to see in public schools—most notably, a 180-degree shift away from standards- and testing-based accountability.
Aside from that message, those who attended the Save Our Schools March and National Call to Action in the scalding sun preached everything from boosting support for teachers’ unions, to booting U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, to getting more federal
Here is the speech that actor Matt Damon gave today to thousands of teachers, parents and others who attended the Save Our Schools march on the Ellipse near the White House to protest the Obama administration’s education policies that are centered on standardized tests.
Damon was the last of many speakers, including Diane Ravitch, Linda Darling-Hammond, Deb Meier and Jonathan Kozol. I’ve published posts of theirs before, so here is something different: Damon’s common-sense, straight-to-the-point speech.
As AEM has been reporting, the debt ceiling disaster will have a direct affect upon interest rates on student loans. On the floor today, Senator Harkin called the situation a "manufactured crisis." That is true, and pathetic, because millions of Americans will, undoubtedly, pay a price. Most politicians on the floor are now confirming that a downgrade is probably inevitable.
“I don’t know where I would be today if my teachers’ job security was based on how I performed on some standardized test.”
That was actor Matt Damon talking to thousands of teachers, parents, principals, school board members and other education activists who stood today for hours in 90-plus-degree temperatures near the White House to protest the standardized testing mania that is at the heart of the Obama administration’s school reform policies.
He was one of dozens of speakers — including education historian Diane Ravitch; prominent educators Linda Darling-Hammond, Jonathan Kozol, Deb Meier; Jon Stewart (on video); and Florida activist Rita Solnet — who protested the Bush administration’s No Child Left Behind, and the current administration’s Race to the Top, which, to the disappointment of many Obama supporters, is as punitive and at least as test-centric as NCLB.
After two days of movement-building speeches, workshops, and networking, the SOS march ended with a sun- and passion-drenched rally and march in the middle of Washington DC.
It felt like a huge family reunion. Parents Across America was well-represented. It was so much fun to see our members meeting up with their friends from home.
We even had star power – Pedro Noguera, Deb Meier, Angela Valenzuela, Diane Ravitch and, yes, Matt Damon, whose mother, Nancy Carlson Page, a professor of early childhood education, introduced him.
Matt actually gave a fantastic, personal and heartfelt speech. He asserted that creativity, imagination, love of drama and theater – the things that made him who he is – cannot be tested. He said that he came close to standardized
Damon said the things he values "came from the way that I was parented and taught," and that these qualities can't be tested.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Damon speaks out against standardized testing
Teachers say focus takes them away from educating students
Damon attributes his success to his teachers not being forced to do "silly test prep"
(CNN) -- Actor Matt Damon rallied teachers Saturday at a march in Washington decrying the widespread use of standardized testing to judge how well teachers, students and schools are performing.
A group of teachers and education advocates organized the Save Our Schools March in an effort to inspire change in standardized testing policies, according to founder Anthony Cody. Critics say standardized testing takes teachers' focus off their core mission of educating students.
Teachers marched to the White House, chanting "Save our schools" and other slogans and carrying signs. One read, "Children are more important than test scores." Another read, "I am not the problem."
Damon, whose mother is an educator, said he achieved his successes in large part because teachers at the public schools he
After two days of movement-building speeches, workshops, and networking, the SOS march ended with a sun- and passion-drenched rally and march in the middle of Washington DC.
It felt like a huge family reunion. Our brand new Parents Across America group was well-represented. It was so
bigeducationape.blogspot.com - Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Report from DC – parents are powerfulReport from DC – parents are powerfulby adminHaven’t had a minute yet to report out on the SOS March a...
detnews.com - Last Updated: July 29. 2011 6:52PM Jennifer Chambers/ The Detroit News Detroit - Wielding power under a new state law to modify union contracts, Detroit Public Schools emergency manager Roy Roberts...
mobile.baltimoresun.com - By Liz Bowie and Erica L. Green, The Baltimore SunThe performance of Baltimore's first- and second-grade pupils fell significantly in reading and math on a national standardized test, mirroring the...
editbarry.wordpress.com - This is what rapid growth looks like, in the world of stock images. Baltimore City is a case study in the push for school choice. In November 2004, with the benefit of pro bono services from global...
michaelklonsky.blogspot.com - Diane Ravitch speaks at SOS pre-march conferenceIt seems like I've been doing this most of my adult life. Coming to D.C. to march around the White House has almost become a yearly ritual, starting ...
edreform.com - Participating groups fight to end school reform and parental choice WASHINGTON - This Saturday's Save Our Schools rally is holding itself out to be an effort to restore parent and student influence...
blogs.edweek.org - For me, the journey to today's Save Our Schools March started when I wrote an open letter to President Obama raising serious questions about where we are headed with education reform in America. Th...
larryferlazzo.edublogs.org - Last year, two very talented educators — Ted Appel, the extraordinary principal we have at our school, and Kelly Young, creator of much of the engaging curriculum we use at our school through his P...
politico.com - July 28, 2011 We reported in June that the Save Our Schools March, scheduled for Saturday in Washington D.C., presented itself as a grassroots effort without mentioning the big teachers union's rol...
bigeducationape.blogspot.com - Jersey Jazzman: At SOSMarch! Wrapping UpAt SOSMarch! Wrapping Upby DukeWell, the sun is just brutal, and that was a fairly long walk, so it looks like this is breaking up. Supposed to be some music...
mediaite.com - video Last night, a monologue on the virtues of socialism and the shame of not openly embracing it was received with hearty applause, exuberant cheers and the kind of laughter so loud it makes you ...
jerseyjazzman.blogspot.com - Taylor Mali (sp?) did his "What Teachers Make" poem to raucous applause. AFT and NEA local leaders on stage; now we're hearing from students. Talked to teachers from RI; that district (shoot, can't...
dailycensored.com - What sort of person would deliberately ignore the obvious fundamental reality of any budget?By NumerianIt’s hard to say if the Tea Party has an acknowledged leader, but someone who professes to be ...
sacramentopa.blogspot.com - Published on Saturday, July 30, 2011 by Politico by Molly Ball Jesse Jackson said Friday that President Obama should have been “tougher” with Republicans and less compromising to keep the debt ceil...
mediaite.com - video CNN host Fareed Zakaria is deeply concerned for the future of America, and on last night’s Anderson Cooper 360º took the Tea Party to task for what he considered the “hijacking” of the nation...
hispanicallyspeakingnews.com - Photo Credits: Latino Grandparent Caregivers An accident landed seven of Rosie Cardenas’ grandchildren on her doorstep—and she hasn’t looked back since.Along with her husband, Jerry, Cardenas raise...
alamedaeducationfoundation.org - The Alameda Education Foundation has teamed up with Girl Scout Troop 31532 to kick off our annual school supply drive. Your donations will support nearly 900 AUSD students who are homeless (*homel...
hispanicallyspeakingnews.com - Published at 9:01 am, July 30, 2011 Photo Credits: Richard Chavez It is with a heavy heart that many will say goodbye to a longtime friend, colleague, mentor, loved one and iconic United Farm Worke...
hispanicallyspeakingnews.com - Published at 3:00 pm, July 30, 2011 Photo Credits: Poverty in Mexico In a report released yesterday, the number of Mexicans living in poverty grew by 3 million in the past two years to 52 million p...
hispanicallyspeakingnews.com - Photo Credits: Stop SB 1070 Type Legislation A year after SB 1070 took effect, states nationwide are turning away from similar bills, fearing the financial and political fallout seen in Arizona and...
hispanicallyspeakingnews.com - Published at 12:54 am, July 30, 2011 Photo Credits: Immigration Reform While the House Judiciary Committee focused on a very different part of immigration yesterday, its Senate counterpart held a h...
vidayfamilia.univision.com - RMHC otorga $400,000 en becas a cuatro estudiantes hispanos que se preparan para ir a la universidad. - Thinkstock LLC/Picture Quest VIDEO José Hernández, astronauta de la NASA - Univision Ver ...
bigeducationape.blogspot.com - All Things Education: Restrictive and Inappropriate: How High-stakes Testing & NCLB Abuse Sped StudentsRestrictive and Inappropriate: How High-stakes Testing & NCLB Abuse Sped Studentsby Rachel Lev...
bigeducationape.blogspot.com - School Tech Connect: Scenes From a MarchScenes From a Marchby effacethefacade@yahoo.com (Tim)Just going to embed some selected shots here from the SOS March and National Call to Action. I'm working...
bigeducationape.blogspot.com - SOS March in DC: And to think this used to be Rhee's townSOS March in DC: And to think this used to be Rhee's townby adminGuest post by Dobby44107This used to be Michelle Rhee’s town.This is where ...
larryferlazzo.edublogs.org - Last year, two very talented educators — Ted Appel, the extraordinary principal we have at our school, and Kelly Young, creator of much of the engaging curriculum we use at our school through his P...
larryferlazzo.edublogs.org - Jan 15 2011 Larry Ferlazzo My bias is betrayed in the title of this post. Instead of providing a detailed explanation here about my I think merit pay is a bad idea, I think I’ll leave it to those w...
bigeducationape.blogspot.com - Last Week's Best Posts on Big Education Ape » PostRankHide7.7#SOSMarch No child left behind says test the kids, while teachers are maligned, sing along 3:30 at Ellipse.Whole Child Education Reform2...
ThinkProgress filed this report from the Save Our Schools March in Washington, D.C.
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