Starving the Beast | GoingPublic

Starving the Beast | GoingPublic:

Starving the Beast

by Nancy Letts

Starving the beast, at the very least, will just increase its hunger. Go right ahead and starve me dead. It will only make me stronger. –They Might be Giants

If They Might Be Giants sing it you know it’s true! They wouldn’t lie to children, and neither should we. But the clock is running so fast in many states that it may be too late to call for repairs.
The truth is that we like our educational system. We support teachers and the work they do. We think our kids are getting a good education. We like our public schools. Really. 
So, what’s the problem? I think it’s that we’re not even having the same conversation. You heard me: we’re having parallel conversations. Yes, we’re using the same language. But as The Little Prince said, “Words are the source of misunderstandings.”

Here’s another truth: We all have the same goals for our kids. We all want them to be hard workers, to set realistic goals, and to be able to communicate effectively. Since we don’t agree on the means to the end, it has become imperative for conservative legislatures to end public education once and for all. But since they can’t end it, because you like it, the only solution is to strangle public schools. To starve the beast. It’s not kosher to say this, of course. So they’ve moved to Plan B. Vouchers! For-profit charters! No oversight! Let ‘em eat cake! 

Tick toc…..are you listening? Are you finally ready to act? Call your state legislature. Write to Arne Duncan (do not think I am a one-party person when it comes to the keeping public education healthy).Opt Out of State Tests. Join us at Occupy the DOE April 4-7 in Washington, DC. Join Parents Across America 

Tick toc…..

Nancy writes OP-ED for Good Magazine

by Nancy Letts

Nancy recently wrote an OP-ED for Good Magazine outlining the history of education “reform.”
Education Reform: Who’s Winning and Why We’re All Losing.

No one is connecting the dots. Understand that these are not isolated initiatives. They are connected. The key players have an ideological and financial interest in reframing the narrative around public education. If public schools are the link that America has relied on to develop a vibrant middle class, to define our democracy, what will happen when they are privatized or disappear altogether? -Nancy Letts

Read Nancy’s OP-ED here.