Tag: Rhee

Senator Flanagan and his pal Michelle Rhee

Just a reminder that every PJSTA member should be writing their letters to Senator John Flanagan.  To recap, Flanagan, whose top campaign contributor last year was Michelle Rhee‘s Students Last First with a contribution of $10,300, is the head of the New York State Senate’s Education Committee.  He is holding hearings around the state to inform his committee about how the education “reforms” are working.  You know, the ones based on junk science?  The ones that are leading Governor Cuomo to put schools on death row?  Those “reforms”.  The hearings are by “invite only”.  Guess who isn’t invited?  That’s right, real teachers.  However, we can submit written testimony.  Any written testimony must become part of the permanent record and all members of the committee will receive copies of it.  Therefore we can make our voices heard in that manner.  It is important that we all participate in this action and encourage our friends to do the same.  To download a form letter for submission visit Students, Not Scores!  After you finish your letter please give it to a building rep.

Finally, at a recent Rhee town hall event a student had this to say…

A Few Links to Check Out

“Wait til you see how I am wasting tax payer dollars!”

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has a group of people (also see here) whose job is to dig up dirt on Diane Ravitch (a friend of ours) and discredit her.

One of the best bloggers around, Reality-Based Educator, who we have linked to many times, gives us a shout out!

The Port Jefferson Patch’s article on Saturday’s rally.  Be sure to watch the accompanying video to see our beloved president!

NYSUT’s story here.  Their photographs here.

Another rally story, this one from longisland.com, including a quote from Dimino.

What many of the rally stories seem to miss (or ignore) is the fact that these assessments really were never meant to assess students.  Instead they are all part of the rigged game to destroy public education.  Just ask John Merrow, who can’t get the real story of Michelle Rhee published.

On a separate note, we have discussed the need to contact our elected officials who do not support us (particularly John Flanagan and Ken LaValle).  In addition to this you should be contacting politicians who have supported us to express your gratitude as well.  When calling Assemblyman Englebright and Assemblyman Graf today to express my gratitude for their support at Saturday’s rally I didn’t get the sense they had heard from many people.  They each had staff members who spent 10-15 minutes each on the phone with me, however.  They wanted to know my experience as an educator dealing with the destructive “reforms” that have entered our profession recently.  The idea that legislator’s would want an educator’s opinion on education issues shouldn’t have been surprising.  But it was.  It was refreshing too.  They should hear from all of us.  When they take our fight to Albany they need to know that they have an army of us behind them.

A Whole Lotta Rhee

If you are into hating on Michelle Rhee (and really who isn’t?!) you should find plenty of interesting reading in the links below…

Jersey Jazzman with Democrats Wake Up About Rhee.

Reality-Based Educator, who never holds back, with Frontline Presents Evidence of Test-Tampering Under Michelle Rhee.

Jersey Jazzman with Rhee Enters Panic Mode.

Hero of public education Diane Ravitch with NYC Parent Group Grades Michelle Rhee.

Reality-Based Educator with Rhee Did All She Could to Resist and Investigation of DCPS Cheating Allegations.

Jersey Jazzman with Rhee’s Phony Math.

Ed Notes Online with Rhee on TV Frontline Tonight- Cheating Scandal Addressed But What Else?