SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK

Takepart.com asked me to write a column during this year's School Choice Week, which celebrates parents accessing new educational options for their children, mostly through charter schools and publicly-funded private school vouchers. I was happy for the chance to reflect on where we are today in the fight to give more children the opportunities that are normally reserved for wealthy parents only. Please read:

IF YOU THINK SEGREGATION IS OVER THINK AGAIN

QUESTIONING UNIONIZATION

My last blog post inspired this op-ed, an exclusive for TakePart. It's getting some strong feedback, so clearly I've touched a nerve. Change is hard, but isn't it time for us to RETHINK the education system and the structures that surround teaching if they aren't benefitting anyone??

What We Need to Ask is: Does Unionization Still Make Sense?

Read it here: TAKE PART Op-Ed 9-18-12 

How bad does it have to get?

by Kelly Amis

I am always amazed by what gets people passionately angry when discussing education reform. It seems that everyone knows there's a serious problem with getting and keeping amazing teachers in the American classroom -- and that there's an even MORE serious problem being able to fire teachers who are not good at the job, or who are even ABUSIVE to children! -- but when you begin to discuss why (i.e. union-created and strongly protected rules that make it nearly impossible to fire anyone), the outrage is suddenly directed at YOU. You must be a union-hater! You must hate teachers! (This reminds me of a quote from the classic film, The Jerk: "He hates these cans!"). As in The Jerk, this outrage is misdirected.

How can anyone deny that the profession is SERIOUSLY screwed up when it is impossible to fire people who have sexually abused children? We can have absolute proof of a teacher's indefensible actions and still not be able to fire him/her. It is great to see the media finally bringing these often-ignored issues to the forefront. Some articles on this issue, including an op-ed by former CNN analyst Campbell Brown:

Campbell Brown: Teachers Unions Go to Bat for Sexual Predators

Miramonte teacher was paid $40,000 to drop dismissal challenge

A California State Senator introduced a bill to stop the insanity and make it easier to dismiss teachers who sexually abuse children...but the bill was killed by Democrats (my political party, btw) who presumably are more concerned with keeping teachers unions happy than taking even the most obvious and basic steps to protect children. How did we get to this point? And, more importantly, how do we get out?

One thing you can do is VOTE. Follow your elected officials and vote them out of office if they choose adult interests over childrens'. Who killed this bill in California? Names included in this article:

Why California Democrats Protect Sex Abuser Teachers

Also read:

Why Is It So Hard to Do the Right Thing?

"He hates these cans!"

WHAT WE'RE DOING...AND WHAT YOU CAN DO

VOTE. READ. ORGANIZE.

Over the last few months, we've had the opportunity to try out our interactive screening model at three different venues in front of three very different audiences:

• A prestigious film festival; 
• A community screening organized by friends at their local public library; and,
• A screening and panel discussion organized by and for college students.

At each event, we brought "stars" from the films and/or other guest speakers to present their views and answer questions from the audience. I also shared some of my background and described how the project came to be.

The feedback on all three events has been over-whelmingly positive. Audience members tell us they learned much they did not know before, and we in turn have learned a lot about how these events can have the greatest impact. We plan to fine-tune our model every step of the way.

But there has been one surprise. I wasn't prepared for the feeling of hopelessness audience members would share with me, their frustration in the belief that our education system can't be changed. BUT IT CAN, and in fact, it must be. So what can you--what can we--do?

- VOTE. 

The number one thing you can do to improve our education system and, especially, make sure every student receives the same opportunities, is to VOTE FOR CANDIDATES who are not owned by the powers-that-be, that are independent-minded and that believe that all children can learn. THiS STARTS AT THESCHOOL BOARD LEVEL. If more people would vote in school board elections, there would be a greater diversity in those who get elected and serve. 

For whatever reason, many school board elections are held at off-times (in the spring), not along with the other big races you would probably never ignore (ie, the President!). MAKE IT HAPPEN. Find out who's running, what they are promising to do, ask questions of and about them (especially where their funding comes from), AND VOTE. (If you need help finding information about candidates and elections in your area, feel free to contact us, we will help.)

- READ.

...especially between the lines. There is so much misinformation out there, so many people who benefit from the system remaining exactly as it is, that you must apply commonsense to the opinions you read and hear.

Compare what you hear -- the excuses-- to the statistics: do you really believe that ALL the parents of ALL those kids don't care? Do you really think that in today's world, THAT many kids believe dropping out of school is a great idea? Why might so many students decide it's not worth it to stay in school?

Also think about how you and your family are impacted by the realities behind the outrageous statistics. Do you think our nation is able to remain a global leader if THAT many children aren't finishing high school? How does it impact our economy, your personal saftey, the nation's progress? And what kind of potential are we missing out on when so many kids aren't even close to realizing theirs? 

Keep up on the facts, and keep your commonsense at the forefront. If you find yourself getting caught up in the same old tired arguments others give for why the system can't be changed, don't accept them. This is America. We can vote, we can change policy, we can demand something better. And when we do, students, teachers, families and our national community will benefit.

- ORGANIZE.

It's becoming an overused phrase but one I love: BE THE CHANGE. Be the one in your circle of friends or community to keep the fight for educational equality alive, to make sure people are paying attention to the elections that matter and voting in them. Better yet, help find the best candidates to run for elected office and support them, or run yourself. Serving on a school board is rarely glamorous or well-compensated, but it can and will make a huge difference if more independent thinkers and activists for education equality run for elected office and serve. 

I created TEACHED to document the sad race and income-based injustices that continue to plague our education system and to inspire and motivate more people to demand change. Consider the TEACHED short films as tools you can use to bring people together to focus on and discuss thse issues. We are in the process of making the TEACHED VOL. I DVD available for public screenings; we hope you will organize a screening in your community and bring in your own speakers (for instance, invite you local school board candidates to present their views and take questions from your audience). Email us at screenings@teached.org if you are interested in organizing a screening event.

And don't give up.

FIGHTING FOR EDUCATION EQUALITY IN THE CORNHUSKER STATE

by Kelly Amis

OK, I'm a bit biased when it comes to Nebraska (my home state) and people from there, but I believe this young guy named Justin Wayne has the potential to be a national leader on education reform. A lawyer by trade, Justin got himself elected to the Omaha School Board and is really shaking things up there (and taking plenty of heat for it). 

Justin Wayne

Here's Justin's BIO.

And here's a letter today he submitted in support of a bill that would improve teacher evaluations in the state: Justin Wayne testimony for LB 809

You know, I can't help looking at that testimony and, for the millionth time, seeing just how crazy our system is with regard to evaluating teachers. Can you imagine if, as a new employee, you were only evaluated ONCE a year -- that is, a person actually came and observed you doing your job ONCE year (and you knew exactly when it would be)? Then, after a couple of years, you might only be evaluated every THREE TO FIVE years! Justin is supporting a bill to make sure every teacher is evaluated at least once a year. I mean, that's how far away we are from a system that holds teachers accountable.

For more reading on just how important teachers are, don't miss these recent articles by NYT writer Nicholas Kristof:

How Mrs. Grady Transformed Olly Neal

The Value of Teachers

TWO DAYS in LA

Everyone, and I mean, everyone (ok not really) has told me that I should share updates on our films' progress and some of "the making of TEACHED" experiences on this blog. Usually they end this advice with "duh." OK they don't say "duh" but they might as well have, because, duh! 

I do tend to get very serious about this work and the issues we are focused on, but HEY making the films is an adventure, has presented GINORMOUS learning curves for me (some surmounted more easily than others, for sure), and is often VERY FUN. 

The best part of this whole project, for me, has been the amazing people I have met-- the teachers doing incredible work that nobody sees (or nobody would have seen until we filmed them in action!); the parents doing everything they can for their kids, against ridiculous challenges and obstacles; the students-- little students who are so adorable, but also the teenagers who are all in that awkward time of life -- I just love them; the people I've hired to work on the film, or otherwise met in the film community-- so many talented, cool people. And of course there is the occasional celebrity or VIP (can you say John Legend?!), that's pretty fun too.

Yesterday I had the honor of interviewing Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles. This man grew up himself in Los Angeles, at one point attending Roosevelt High in Boyle Heights, which is where we filmed the interview. He knows as well as anyone that EVERY child comes to us with potential just waiting to be fulfilled, and it's up to us --- including and very much up to our schools-- to help every child achieve it. He knows that urban, minority kids can learn and achieve at high levels, and that we can make that happen if we're willing to fight against the VERY intransigent system as-it-is that expects very little from them (and in fact blames them for not achieving).

OK, off the soapbox and back to the fun stuff. We had a fabulous conversation with the Mayor then went back to film some of our favorite teachers in action (Pearl, Steve, our new pals Erin and Gary-- all exceptional teachers who are a joy to watch in action). Also big shout out to my beloved friend Saskia Pallais who helped us set up the interview with Mayor Villaraigosa. Saskia and I worked together (I think I hired her?) several years ago in DC and she is a super-star. -- Will post photos asap!