On many occasions on my blog, despite its anti-teacher, anti-union rhetoric, I advocated for educators to go see the controversial education documentary, Waiting for Superman, in hope that the film will motivate them to become more vocal. Maybe I need to reconsider my stance since there are now a plethora of reports/articles/op-eds praising and especially criticizing the film that are accessible online; just Google for it. In addition, in seeing the movie, who are we really supporting?
The judgment is out there. Now the public is choosing sides. Nevertheless, while many teachers, like myself, have been writing and blogging about the film, our efforts failed to make a huge impact on the public perception. So, I was delighted and well-pleased in stumbling across this video of a group of Bay Area teachers protesting this movie and expressing their personal feelings on how this film has affected our profession:
Although they were small in numbers, to me, it was a first of teachers activism against this movie. This is a precedent for something that is sorely needed to bring about REAL reform in education. We cannot afford to be complacent and entertain derision. We cannot just wait until election time. We cannot always depend on union leadership. We cannot just write only when it likely fall on deaf ears. We need to act now. Go to the school board meetings. Participate in organized, yet peaceful protests. Become members of your professional organizations -- unions. Solicit support from and create alliances with others who support public schools. Stay abreast on the current debate in education reform. Get the word out. Vote.
Also, if you are involved in the teachers unions, hold your union leaders accountable. And if they are not doing their jobs YOU paid for them to do, then remove them from office. Consider what happened in the recent election of officials in the Chicago Teachers Union when a group of rank-and-file members overcame a huge political wall to take over the leadership of the 3rd largest local teacher union in America. These members refused to compromise their principles, as educators and due-paying members, to be a part of the "business-as-usual" get along gang within their union. Quite frankly, it is a shame this had to happen in the first place. But that's what happen when cronyism and other forms of political enticements infiltrate into the union leadership, which cause those in charge to forget who they are SUPPOSED to be representing...it's time to get off my soapbox now.
I know there are stories of teachers being vocal and active in protest that go unnoticed. I have participated in many of these before during my teaching career. Yet, personally, I prefer to "show" than "tell". Right now, it is surely getting to the point for us teachers to "show" the ed deformers and politicians to take us seriously. Last week, SocialistWorker.org posted an article advocating for more activism from the labor workers by highlighting the current French working-class protest against changes in their pension plans imposed by the government. Perhaps, there are lessons to be learned from the "little people" in France.
Whatever the case may be, something DEFINITELY must be done. It has to start with us...but when? When enough is enough? I pray it won't be until AFTER the damage has been done. By then, it will be too late.
I really like the activist direction you and your writings/blog is taking. It is important that we inform our professional praxis with analysis of the social and economic realities that our work is embedded in and which constructs the parameters within which we work. I also think you are RIGHT ON THE MARK by looking to the French resistance to budget cuts and the impact on the public sector workers. We should seize on the global connections we can make with the internet to learn about, support, and use the experiences of other people struggling for justice, equality, and dignity to inform our local struggles. Keep up the thought provoking writing and analysis.....
ReplyDeleteThanks for the compliments.
ReplyDeleteThe more I learned about the corporate takeover of educating our children, the more frightening I become. Perhaps the biggest hurdle to get over is teacher complacency on the issues. I know times are hard and many of them have to do what they must to survive; nevertheless, it's getting to the point where they will be put in a corner. What will happen then?
The beauty of the World Wide Web is just that: global access and connections. I am definitely all for making global alliances with others.