Tasha on Corporate Ed Reform

Oct. 12, 2011 Protest at Arnie Duncan's address to Oregon Business Association, TT.

"The Race to the Top, which should be called The Race to Dismantle the last vestige of Democracy in this Country, pushes charter schools to the forefront of educational reform.
Let's not be confused, they are wolves in sheeps' clothing. Many people- particularly in Progressives-tend to put charter schools into this little pretty, white, middle-class, home-owner, sustainable community box. Yes this is a reality for of some, however, the vast majority do not accept students with learning disabilities, who rely on free and/or reduced lunch, who speak English as a second language, who are from single parent homes or parents have criminal records or who cannot commit to "required parent involvement" because of their work schedules. In addition, students are chosen through a lottery. Oh not to forget to mention most are owned or funded by business interest- that is Dell, Bill Gates, Green Dot, Wal-Mart, Goldman-Sachs.
What happened to the idea of providing a high-quality education to all Americans regardless of color, class, country of origin, religion or ability.
The Race to the Top's other initiatives include more testing, merit pay, nationalized standards and a $4 billion dollar grant program for states to complete over. This has already lead to the firing of teachers (most of color because they don't seniority), forced teachers to teach to the test, closed schools in low-income neighborhoods, caused higher drop out rates for students of color, and has widened the achievement gap. All exacerbated when coupled with the growing poverty rate, where 1 in 6 American families live under the poverty line; especially affecting people of color. This doesn't seem like a step forward or the realization of Dr. King's dream to me.
Needless to say, we deserve better, students deserve better, our future deserves better. The fact that prison spending triplicates education in this state alone should make you cry and then mad as hell!"

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