Books to Read as We Survive Trying Times

I recently saw an observation that when Barack Obama was elected, sales of guns spiked...and now with the election of Donald Trump, we are seeing a resurgence in the sale of books. As a Reading for Pleasure teacher, I find that fascinating...and hopeful. Especially since I surrounded myself with books and readers for my entire career. I was the luckiest teacher in the world.

There are multiple research studies that point out the benefits of reading: This National Endowment for the Arts blog post mentions several: reading literary fiction makes us more empathetic, reading may help us resist the effects of dementia, reading helps reduce stress, and reading just flat-out makes us smarter. I, myself, would love to see a citizenry that is empathetic, stress-free, and as smart as we can be. And as the daughter, granddaughter, and niece of dementia patients, I read to keep my mind strong. So, I am proposing we set about reading our way through the next several years...novels (they, especially, contribute to making us more empathetic to others), narrative nonfiction, and straight-up informative nonfiction.


My idea for this blog started small...two books, in particular, have shot up to the top of the Best Sellers' lists: Representative John Lewis's graphic novel trilogy, March, and George Orwell's 1984. I just recently read book one of Lewis's trilogy and was moved by his memories of the Nashville lunch sit ins, and his training to be a nonviolent demonstrator. And, I read 1984, long before 1984! I decided I needed to revisit the classic, and it's waiting on my to-be-read stack.

I asked my online friends what books they would recommend to others and suddenly I lost control over my own project. NINE pages of titles...books I've read and loved, and many books I've not read...some I'd not heard of before.

My plan is to present four lists -- Novels I've read and agree would be important pieces to read and reflect on...nonfiction I've read and recommend. Then I will share the novels suggested by my friends, books I've not gotten to read yet...some again, on that teetering stack to be read, and finally the extensive list of nonfiction I've not read. The two lists that were largest were the novels I HAVE read and the nonfiction I have NOT read. A perfect reflection of my reading habits.

I'll star books that have especially moved me, and I recommend highly.

So, in alphabetical order by title, is a list of novels my friends and I think would be especially thought-provoking and appropriate for us to read and consider over the next years. Please feel free to recommend others, or add your thought on the books here...would love to start a real dialogue. I love talking about books, and my friends know that.

Novels I’ve Read -- literary novels, young adult novels, popular fiction. 

**1984 – Orwell

A Farewell to Arms – Hemingway

**All American Boys – Reynolds

**All Quiet on the Western Front – Remarque

**All the Light We Cannot See – Doerr

Animal Farm – Orwell

Anthem – Rand

Bell Jar – Plath

Beloved – Morrison

**Book Thief -- Zucak

**Brave New World – Huxley

Catch 22 – Heller

Center Ring – Waggoner

Chocolate War -- Cormier

**Christian Nation – Rich

Cloud Atlas – Mitchell

Dark Tower – King

Divergent  Series – Roth

Dune -- Herbert

East of Eden – Steinbeck

Esperanza Rising – Ryan

**Fahrenheit 451 – Bradbury

Go Set a Watchman – Lee

**Grapes of Wrath – Steinbeck

**Handmaid’s Tale –Atwood

**Harry Potter – Rowling

Heart of Darkness – Conrad

**Hunger Games Series – Collins

Invisible Man – Ellison

**Kite Runner – Housseini

Lonesome Dove – McMurtry

**Lord of the Flies – Golding

Lord of the Rings – Tolkien

Matilda -- Dahl

Moby Dick – Melville

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest – Kesey

Parable of the Talents – Butler

Pinocchio – Collodi

**Poisonwood Bible – Kingsolver

Ready Player One – Cline

Slaughterhouse Five – Vonnegut

**Small Great Things – Picoult

**The Crucible – Miller
The Goldfinch -- Tartt

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas – Seuss

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter – McCullers

The House of the Scorpion – Farmer

**The Jungle -- Lewis
The Nightingale – Hannah

**The Reader – Schlink

**The Storyteller -- Picoult

**To Kill a Mockingbird -- Lee

Uglies Series– Westerfeld

**Unwind Series– Shusterman

Watership Down – Adams

We Were Liars – Lockhart

Where the Heart Is – Letts

**Wonder – Palacio

I have starred titles I think are especially important to read and consider. 

Three more lists to follow.

And in case you need more ideas, here is my Top Ten reads of 2016...and my friend Nancy Flanagan's Top Ten for last year. Her lists always mean new books on my TBR stack. 

What books would YOU recommend for us all?

Excu-u-u-u-se Me

Note--this is my 200th post. Others write so much faster (and better if I were honest), but I'm proud of this!

“Vitriol” An interesting word I’m hearing a lot…usually directed to passionate educators who stand up for our profession. The first time recently I read it was on an Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs's post taking several of us education bloggers to task for our bad words and our anger/passion about current affairs in #oklaed. Their sanctimonious pursing of their lips and clucking with disapproval is typical, and I figured I was in great company. So, I checked the link to my own name and found a blog I’d posted: “Fund Us. Support Us. Or STF(lip)U.” Hmmm. I know OCPA thinks ‘fund’ is a dirty word, especially when it applies to funding schools adequately. They will fight tooth and nail to keep that dirty word from supporting the work in our schools. I plead guilty. I used a dirty word. I used another one in "Vote, Dammit." Self reporting!

That's just one of the words and phrases I hear "reformsters" use...another makes me see red, and want to use even more bad words.

“Moral imperative," as “children are our moral imperative.” I agree, but not in the same sense of the phrase. Reformsters use it to push choice, and cutting retirement benefits for teachers. For excusing the lack of pay raises, for cutting funding to schools. I use it differently. 

I taught moral imperatives for 39 years. The moral imperatives who came to school ready to learn, from an intact family, with full tummies. The moral imperatives who came hungry, tired, inadequately clothed for the season. The moral imperatives who faced insurmountable odds in their lives: family poverty, homelessness, abuse, deprivation, ill health, hunger. I taught moral imperatives who were already under the influence of drugs and alcohol…making learning nigh onto impossible. I taught moral imperatives who struggled academically, who couldn’t catch on as quickly as others, who came to me with learning disabilities we worked to overcome.

I don’t need a politician who’ never taught a day to lecture me about moral imperatives. I attended their graduations. I attended their funerals. I attended the funerals of their parents and siblings. I spent 180 days with them, hearing their hopes, trying to assuage their very real pain. I sat with a moral imperative when she described in vivid detail the rape she had suffered at a party. I sat with a moral imperative when she reported child abuse. I held the hands of moral imperatives who told me they were pregnant and were trying to figure out how this would affect their lives, and their education.

I cried and laughed with my moral imperatives for 39 years, watching life become harder and harder for them and their families. I secretly paid for snacks and books and supplies and lunches for my moral imperatives.

I prepared lessons and assessments to help my moral imperatives grow in their academics. I took hours to respond to their work, creating a dialogue. I created a community of readers and learners with my moral imperatives. I begged them to buckle up, to be kind. To find ways to reach out and help each other. I created a climate of classroom respect and trust where risks were expected, and failure was never permanent.

At this point in my life, I am connected with many former moral imperatives, and we often have conversations about their lives. Several are educators themselves, and we talk about learning, and loss, and how to return to the classroom after those losses. These conversations are rich and real.  And heartbreaking.

So excuse me when I get passionate about defending my moral imperatives…for standing up for them, for marching, for emailing, for writing, for visiting, for calling.

Excuse me if an occasional bad word slips out. I’m defending public schools and my moral imperatives from harm. Harm from uninformed legislators and policy makers with their own agenda. I have an agenda – it’s my moral imperatives.

Excuse me if I am extra assertive, if I share research in this time of ‘alternative facts.’ Excuse me if I advocate passionately for my moral imperatives and my schools.

Education is my family business…we have invested our lives in other people’s moral imperatives. We entered teaching knowing it was not a high-paying profession, but knowing it was a profession we valued. Our own children often suffer because of our decisions…I used to tell my children that I’d used up all my patience on other people’s moral imperatives and had none left for them. My low salary meant our family didn’t ‘have’ what other families had. My family supported my decision to teach, knowing we would never get rich, knowing I was not contributing my ‘fair share’ to our finances. My children didn’t wear the latest designer clothes, or drive brand new cars (the cars many of my moral imperatives DID drive), because their mother chose to be a teacher.

Excuse me if I expect policy makers to pay a living wage to educators. Excuse me if I expect policy makers to provide resources for our moral imperatives’ education.  Excuse me if I demand that every school be staffed with a professional librarian, overseeing a full, up-to-date collection. Excuse me if I expect moral imperatives to have access to up-to-date, dependable, technology, to fine arts classes, to rich electives, to recess.

Excuse me if I become incensed when politicians tell ME that my students are ‘moral imperatives.’ That is exactly how I lived my life for 39 years in the classroom.

As ideas for this blog post were swirling in my mind, a former moral imperative, Lauren Blatzheim, tagged me on a touching link about a teacher who taught all day, and went home to unimaginable hard work at home. But he returned to the classroom, to his moral imperatives, every day, full of love and optimism.

She reflected, in the introduction to her post, 

“First, having a teacher in your life who's passionate about What they're teaching--that is an amazing gift. Another gift is getting to have a teacher who enjoys teaching, and a teacher who loves their students, and a teacher who truly takes the time to get down on a personal level with their students. When a teacher supports you, it's hard not to feel capable, to feel infinite even.. but then for him to teach the importance of love. How enlightening to be reminded that we as humans are not just number crunchers and test takers, but that we're all deserving of love!”

“…we are not just number crunchers and test takers…we’re all deserving of love.” They are moral imperatives.

So, excuse my passion and my vitriol. I’m busy defending a generation of moral imperatives from lousy reforms.

Top Ten Reads of 2016

I can never follow the rules on any 'top' followed by a number list, and why should 2016 be any different?

I had to revise my total goal on Goodreads DOWN, after my husband's emergency hip-replacement-replacement surgery, but I still did a lot of reading. 146 books, 49 audible books (love to listen as I walk and drive and do gardening). I rated 33 books five-out-of-five, and have winnowed that list down to ten...well, not ten. Really twelve. Let me explain.

I read two books this year written by friends! How very cool is that to KNOW the author and hear his and her voice in my head as I read? Those two go to the top of my Top Ten (plus two). And since I changed the rules, I'm not allowing myself any honorary mentions this year...see, I am playing fair. AND I did not include any of the 8 books I reread this year and rated 5.

I was surprised that of my top ten (plus two) only three were novels (or a picture book of folk tales). I, the fiction queen, reached out and read more nonfiction...now, I'll admit, most of the nonfiction was narrative -- stories told and analyzed -- but that was a surprise. One Young Adult novel, and two YAL nonfiction books, by the same author. 

Automatic Top Two:

Center Ring, by Nicole Waggoner. Nicole is married to one of my former students and we have discovered so much in common: English teachers who wanted it all. Center Ring is part of a trilogy, and it's a good thing Nicole included the first chapter of the second book on her webpage...otherwise... Young moms with professional jobs or training, try to balance their lives and commitments. Every woman can relate! 

Capturing the Spark, by David Cohen. I've met David several times at National Board Certified Teacher conferences, and was excited to see his book. He took a year off from the classroom, and visited classrooms around his home state of California. He used those observations to reflect on what schools really need to be successful. I 'visited' the classrooms of several online friends through this book, and his recommendations at the end, while focused on California, would work to improve #oklaed. David's is the only professional book I rated 5.

Countdown of my Top Ten:

10. God Help the Child by Toni Morrison. My walking buddy and I spent our summer reading works by African American women, and I was eager to read this, Morrison's contemporary novel about a black woman and the mother figures in her life. It was so different from her historical fiction, and I found it so much more accessible.

9. Black Eyed Susans by Julie Heaberlin -- a mystery-thriller with a split narration -- the main character as a child who survived a horrific kidnapping and narrowly escaped death, and the adult with second thoughts about her testimony in the case. Since I listened to this one, I couldn't 'cheat' and read the last pages to learn how it ended...so I just took lots of walks!

8. What it is Like to Go to War by Karl Marlantes. " War is society's dirty work, usually done by kids cleaning up the failures perpetrated by adults." There were so many surprises with this book -- the author's classical academic training, and his analytical investigation of our society's treatment of those kids we send to war, and then abandon once they're back home. We can do better.

7. The Singing Bones by Shaun Tan. Tan is a visual artist, and has created tiny, evocative sculptures for seventy-five Grimm's tales...some familiar, most new. His retelling of the words tells one story, and the sculptures tell a heightened version of the same tale. I pored over these pages, wanting to touch the tiny works of art.

6. Family Romanov by Candace Fleming. I have always been a sucker for books about the doomed Romanov children -- Anastasia, Alexei, and their willfully-blind parents, Nicholas and Alexander Romanov. I hoped, as we all did, that the stories of Anastasia escaping the assassinations were true. Fleming covers the horrible murders, and the forensics of the search for remains with care. No one escaped. 

5. Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of Viet Nam by Steve Sheinkin. I had to find a young adult author to interpret the Pentagon Papers for me...even though I lived through that era. In my defense...I was busy as a mom of a toddler. Sheinkin is my favorite nonfiction author, and I'm thrilled that his books are so assessible to young readers. His research is meticulous and he find the rhythm of the times.

4. The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights also by Steve Sheinkin. This guy...he's got chops. He found a story most of us know nothing about and he's brought it into our lives. Port Chicago was a naval base in CA during WWII. Since African Americans were not able to hold positions of power and responsibility during the war, they were force to do the heavy lifting and dangerous work others didn't want to do. The explosion at Port Chicago was a direct result of neglect and abuse of workers. The subsequent mutiny and its aftermath is something we must all learn about. Sheinkin is a master at telling the stories we NEED to know.

3.  Ratf*cked: The True Story of the Secret Plan to Steal America's Democracy by David Daley. This was my light Christmas reading...holy...heck! Daley travels the country, interviewing political operatives who took control of redistricting our Congressional (and state) boundaries, as well as victims of that redistricting, and the beneficiaries. This book tirelessly examines gerrymandering, but also the work to gain the power TO gerrymander. He is a harsh critic of both political parties, and he offers some suggestions to possibly save our republic. 

2. All-American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Keily. Ripped, as they say, from the headlines, this story follows two high school boys through an incident of violence that forces them, their families, and friends to face harsh facts of our treatment of each other. The two authors narrate the voices of two young men -- one African American, one white. They must come to terms with the unfair nature of life and news and treatment of our young people. Done with an even hand, this book must be read by all of us.

1. Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin Manuel-Miranda. Yes, I am obsessed. I have the Chernov biography in my TBR stack, but this...the story of the show...is a work of art. First the photos...of cast members, and of the production itself. Then, the backstage stories about the making of the show. Then, the analysis of how the music was created, complete with footnotes with sources and inspirations. Then, and most marvelously, there are the lyrics to every story. I sat, read all the background, read the lyrics and the footnotes, and then listened to the song, following along with the lyrics in the book. I know I couldn't have caught half of the creativity if I hadn't taken this strategy. The parts reassemble into a whole that is transcendent, genius. I am in awe. NOW I must see this show in person.

What didn't make my list? Classics-I-should-have-read-before, a new Jodi Picoult, YAL I've known about and never read. I've discovered new favorite authors, including Zadi Smith, whom I met, and Jenni Lawson, whose honesty astounds me. New books that scared me and delighted me. 

What's a book you'd recommend I put onto my 2017 books-to-read?

CAPTURING THE SPARK by David Cohen -- A Review

"...the real drivers of education are not technological or programmatic. It's educators who make innovation work, when they are connected, empowered, and inspired to make learning come alive for students."

I have met David Cohen, the author, several times, and I admire him greatly, so reading this book was having a long visit with him...

David took a year off and set out to visit as many schools as he could, observing educators in action...visiting with administrators and learning what works and what doesn't. He counted on his extensive network of educators: people he trained with, NBCTs he worked with, and just friends from his career...It was a joy to 'visit' these classrooms with him.

More than a few are teachers I know, or are online friends...FB friends, network associates, or folks I follow on twitter. I loved the possibility of peeking into Jane Fung's classroom, and Jim Burke, and Larry Ferlazzo, and Leslee Milch, whom I've met at several conferences.

David organized his visits first by level: elementary, middle school, secondary...Then, he reconfigures his visits according to other criteria: Teachers of the Year, NBCTs, teachers in the STEP program, union leaders, authors, tech-networking teachers, teachers at innovative schools, teacher-run schools...he learns from each teacher and each site.

Then, in the epilogue, he puts it all together, all his insights, all him reflections (he IS, after all an NBCT!) and shares his observations, his suggestions. I was reading and cheering the whole way. His recommendations are all for California schools, but they are so transferable to #oklaed too:

1. Equity of funding
2. Local control and accountability (CA programs)
3. Libraries with full-time librarians (YES YES YES)
4. School nurses and counselors at every school...
5. Address teacher salaries and recruiting/retention programs (Teacher Salary Project)
6. Teacher preparation and induction
7. Teacher leadership-career pathways
8. Address teacher evaluations
9. Progressive unionism and collaborations

What if -- what if our policy makers really committed to reforms like this?

Favorite quotes:

"We err by viewing school improvement as a personnel problem rather than a system problem"

"New teachers, like other professionals, should be thoroughly trained and ably supported by experienced mentors."

"Teaching is more multidimensional, involving continual learning, planning, design, assessments, collaborations, and leadership."

"..accomplished teaching depends on the teacher's ability to learn."

He reminds us of the danger of a single story, and he shares so many different stories of accomplished teachers, vital schools, and wonderful students.

I'm sure David didn't hear, but there were several times I was cheering out loud as I read!

If you read one professional book this year....or next....make it this one. Share with policy makers...and let's work toward David's recommendations.

Winter is Coming -- Vouchers, Too

Winter is coming...the legislative session is coming. Vouchers are coming.

I have read the first Game of Thrones novel, and was horrified when Martin, the author, killed off my very favorite character with no mercy...since then I check in with others who continued reading to see if my other favorites are still around...


I’m going to begin by telling you how tired I am about talking about vouchers. Tired. But, like the zombies I called them last session, they just keep struggling to their feet, year after year, for us to fight again.

In anticipation of our next ESA bill (have not read through the proposed bills for the 2017 Session, but I know there will be at least one, even though their standard-bearers, Representative Jason Nelson and Senator Clark Jolley, are not there to introduce them.

I’m pretty sure who WILL introduce a bill in the Senate…Kyle Loveless, who had two primary opponents in June, but no opponent in the fall. He only beat teacher and coach Mike Mason by 766 votes, but one would think he won by a landslide by the way he’s been hawking vouchers nonstop since his squeaker of a race.

I find it interesting that American Federation for Children brags about having a hand in Loveless’s 766-vote victory. Wonder how much each of those votes cost AFC in donations. Here’s how they characterize the race: “In addition, Sen. Kyle Loveless, R-Oklahoma City, was re-elected earlier this year in a primary, defeating an opponent recruited by the teachers’ union who opposed school choice.”

Those of us with long memories will recognize the name Jennifer Carter, who is deeply involved in the AFC Fund…she was Janet Barresi’s campaign manager, and then chief of staff, until an unfortunate incident of name calling forced her to resign. She is married to an editorial writer for the Daily Disappointment Oklahoman. The Lost Ogle did a satirical piece on the Carters here. Aren’t dots fun to connect? Barresi—Jennifer Carter—Ray Carter—DOK--vouchers. And the biggie….

Those of us with short memories may recognize the name at the top of the AFC link: Bet$y Devo$, the president elect’s choice to head the Department of Education. She is Chair of the Board. Voucher proponent in charge of the Department of (public) Education. Ms. Fox – here’s your henhouse.

But I digress…this is about vouchers and the fight here in Oklahoma.

Since his primary win (766 whopping votes – I’ve written nearly half that number of words so far on this post), Senator Loveless has been posting every pro-voucher link and article he can on his FB page. Senator Loveless is not a member of the Senate Education Committee. I’ve observed at least one of his appearances before the Committee, and I found it surrounded with a kind of tension I could not identify. His relationship with the Committee feels very prickly and not very cordial. **

His posts about vouchers are full of the false narrative that #oklaed opposes school choice because we oppose vouchers. He and Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs and AFC work overtime to drive their point home. They are NOT the same. Nope. Choice we have in abundance…we can choose our neighborhood school, or another school in the district. We can choose to transfer out of our home district, and provide transportation. We can choose public charters, and again, provide transportation. We can choose to home-school our children. And we can choose (IF we are chosen) to send our children to a private school, providing tuition and transportation and fees and uniforms.

That last choice is the sticking point, and the centerpiece of AFC’s, Carter’s, OCPA’s, and Loveless’s work: they are determined to make public schools pay for families’ choices to attend private schools. They frame it ‘about the kids…for the poor kids who are attending those nasty government-monopoly-public-schools.’ We are painted as those greedy, grasping establishment teachers-union lackeys who are in education for the money and glory.

I’ve written about previous attempts to ram voucher bills (or ESA—education savings account) down our throats here and here. I’ve compared and contrasted our bills to ALEC model legislation, and the similarities were undeniable. ALEC writes our voucher bills, and local politicians carry them, pretending to be the authors. I’ve written about conversations on social media, including some strategies for talking to proponents.

One can assume Senator Loveless will be the new standard-bearer of the ALEC legislation this year. He and the Daily Disappointment Oklahoman are doing all they can to push the false narrative of ‘choice’ as ‘vouchers’.

Who doesn’t want vouchers? Public schools (THAT is word 766 in this post. That’s how many votes the sitting Senator won by, beating a political novice, full-time teacher and beloved coach), religious organizations, homeschooling families. Who wants vouchers? AFC, ALEC, OCPA, Daily Disappointment Oklahoman, Senator Loveless. Other legislators will step forward, I am sure.

So, keep this post  close, browse through the links. Share them on your FB page, in your Twitter feed. Share them with your legislators. Let policy makers know you are informed on this issue, and you are expecting them to stop the hemorrhaging in our public schools, not open another artery.

We know voucher proponents will attack us as union lackeys, supporting failed schools. We will be accused of thinking only of ourselves, of blocking progress. They will use the word ‘choice’ as a synonym for ‘vouchers’. We know vouchers will not be going to poor families in urban or rural schools – they will be going to wealthy families who can well afford the tuition and transportation and uniforms and fees…AFTER the private schools choose them. Vouchers will go to families who already get significant tax credits for donating to their private school…and now they want vouchers too. Wealthy families can benefit twice at our expense if vouchers become the law…ESA should stand for “Entitlement Savings Account.”

We’re ready. I’m collecting every link I can find that will assist us in this zombie battle and shared below. I’ll update and republish this piece when I find helpful resources.

If you find a good source, add it in the comments. Let’s make this a living document, a resource center.

Ending where I began – I’m tired of this fight. But I’m ready with more facts, and with the knowledge of how the proponents will fight, and how they’ll characterize those of us who oppose them.

Help an old lady out…let’s make this session the LAST session we talk about vouchers.

**Correction: Senator Loveless has been named to the Senate Education Committee for this Session...So, we'll be seeing a lot of each other as I visit and watch the Committee hearings. Will be observing for that same awkwardness.

Links:

https://gadflyonthewallblog.wordpress.com/2016/01/27/top-10-reasons-school-choice-is-no-choice/

http://proliberty.com/observer/20100417.htm

http://neatoday.org/2016/01/22/school-choice/

http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/education-uprising/why-corporations-want-our-public-schools

http://a.tfn.org/site/DocServer/The_Great_School_Voucher_Fraud_-_July_2012.pdf?docID=3241

http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2013/08/us_government_files_to_block_s.html#incart_m-rpt-2

http://nepc.colorado.edu/files/reviews/TTR%20Lubienski%20Meta-Analysis.pdf

http://www.southerneducation.org/PubliclyFundedPrivateSchoolSegregation

http://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2016/07/18/report-private-school-vouchers-cost-state-53-million/87254558/

http://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2016/04/14/new-report-shows-indiana-remains-national-leader-school-vouchers/83039918/

http://www.prwatch.org/news/2015/07/12869/alec-school-vouchers-are-kids-suburbia

https://educationrealitycheckok.wordpress.com/2016/07/26/why-choosing-a-school-isnt-like-shopping-for-furniture/

https://www.brookings.edu/research/on-negative-effects-of-vouchers/

http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/05/31/study-school-vouchers-dont-show-positive-results

http://www.epi.org/publication/studies_vouchers-full/

http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2014/may/28/mary-burke/no-evidence-students-voucher-schools-perform-bette/

http://www.nea.org/home/16970.htm

http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2016/02/louisiana_voucher_fall_behind.html

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-02-03/louisiana-voucher-program-leaves-students-behind-one-study-shows

http://www.rethinkingschools.org/special_reports/voucher_report/v_sosintl.shtml

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/local_schools/dpi-students-in-milwaukee-voucher-program-didn-t-perform-better/article_4f083f0e-59a7-11e0-8d74-001cc4c03286.html

http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/03/13054/cashing-kids-172-alec-education-bills-2015

http://www.parentsunited.org/news/alec-exposed-starving-public-schools/

http://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/Privatizing_Public_Education,_Higher_Ed_Policy,_and_Teachers

http://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/Education_Savings_Account_Act

http://www.journalreview.com/news/article_7e2fbdb6-6360-11e6-bdf7-5ffd159edb94.html

http://okpolicy.org/current-form-education-savings-accounts-proposal-widen-inequality-guest-post-john-lepine/

http://reportingtexas.com/pastors-for-texas-children-becomes-a-rising-voice-against-school-vouchers/

http://www.journalgazette.net/food/the-dish/Indiana-s-vouchers-wow-GOP-16999984



Dallas Koehn, BlueCerealEducation, has written a brilliant series of posts about Vouchers:

http://bluecerealeducation.com/blog/lets-talk-about-vouchers-part-one-what-happened-cleveland

http://bluecerealeducation.com/blog/lets-talk-about-vouchers-part-two-zelman-v-simmons-2002

http://bluecerealeducation.com/blog/lets-talk-about-vouchers-part-three-majority-opinion-zelman

http://bluecerealeducation.com/blog/lets-talk-about-vouchers-part-four-story-so-far

"There's a Pony in There Someplace"

A young father tried very hard to prepare his son for the ‘real world’ by providing challenging experiences. His son was a natural optimist and never learned the hard lessons Dad wanted him to learn…he always saw the bright side.

The father wracked his brains trying to think of something that would force his son to see the dark side, the unhappy side of life. He desperately wanted to toughen his son up so he would develop a jaundiced eye.

He thought he had a plan. For Christmas, he transported a four-foot high pile of horse manure into the house, right next to the Christmas tree. Surely, this, as his only present, would humble and humiliate the child and he could properly navigate the cold cruel world.

Christmas morning came, and the father told his son that there was one present for him by the tree. The child ran down the stairs, beheld the pile, and jumped up and down in glee.

“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!! This is the best present ever! Oh, Daddy. I love it!”

The mystified father dropped into his chair in confusion. A huge pile of manure as his only present, and the boy was ecstatic? How?

The father repeated…”This is your only present. This is all you get for Christmas.”

“I know!! I’m so excited!”

“Son, why are you happy to get a pile of manure for Christmas?”

“Oh, Daddy!! There’s a pony in there someplace!”

By nature, teachers are optimists...we go to school every day, determined to be a better teacher than the day before, and expecting to affect lives. 

But, we in #oklaed were given a pile of manure yesterday at the polls. And I’ve spent the day looking for the pony.

Our ‘teacher caucus’ bravely stepped up and ran for the legislature. They took on the better-established, better-funded incumbents. These teachers and family wanted to shift the conversation at the Capitol, and provide much-needed guidance when school reform was the topic of conversation.

Our teacher candidates knocked doors, created networks, learned to ask for money.  They navigated a whole new world of candidacy…and too many of them lost their races yesterday. Too many friends put their lives on hold to learn a new skill-set, and they came up short. I read post after post that started, “Well, the outcome was not what we wanted…”

My favorite candidate, Jacob Rosecrants, is a former student. I’ve known him since I was taller than he. I’ve watched him grow in confidence as a dad and a teacher. He stepped up, with the attitude, “I’ll win or I’ll learn.” He learned…he made a very strong showing against an established incumbent. He made me proud.  He learned. And he’s returning to his classroom to shepherd his students…

My Grand’s favorite candidate is Shawn Sheehan, her Algebra 1 teacher. He’s inspired a love of math…a willingness to persevere on tough problems. Shawn, last year’s Oklahoma Teacher of the Year is also returning to the classroom, and my Grand will have him for her teacher.

We lost some fantastic teacher-candidates, and I hope sincerely they stay involved in Oklahoma school politics and maybe even make another run for office.  We need their expertise and their courage.

There was a bright spot in my night. Mickey Dollens, one of the first teacher-candidates to announce a run.  I saw an interview where he talked about the books he’d studied on how to run for office. He attacked this challenge with energy and intelligence. He won. He will be representing HD93 in the next session of the legislature.

Seven educators won seats in the Senate and four in the House. Much smaller numbers than we’d hoped. But a start. I keep looking for that pony.  Eleven educators or family members will be joining the legislature, with the knowledge to affect policy.

We watched two State Questions with great interest…one was the penny sales tax question. Money generated would be used first, for a raise for all teachers, and then for other purposes. This was a tough one. I was against it before I was for it. None of us likes the regressive nature of sales taxes on the working poor. We all wanted another proposal to address the dismal teacher salaries in our state. Everyone said they had a plan…no one delivered. Signatures were collected and the question was placed on the ballot. Folks knocked doors, created short videos, and we were all feeling pretty positive. Then the attack ads appeared. Figures were manipulated…actually, figures were lied about. Innuendos surfaced about the groups providing funding for the Yes campaign…they were – gasp – charter supporters. That must mean the question is evil.

It was defeated. While early polling numbers showed support, the barrage of negative ads did their trick, and there will be no raise.

We heard many people say, “I support a teacher raise, but…” That but negates the introductory phrase. 

“I support a teacher raise, but…this is regressive.”

“I support a teacher raise, but…this is not the way.”

“I support a teacher raise, but…we need a better plan.”

“I support a teacher raise, but…if we vote yes, the legislature is ‘off the hook’ and won’t do their jobs.” 

Let me see…for ten years teachers have waited…and the legislature and the governors have ignored the need. Easily sliding off the hook.

The question was defeated. Teachers watched in abject sadness, knowing this was the only opportunity for a raise in the next several years.

I posted my frustration: “Looks bad for SQ779, so all you folks who said we need to wait for 'a better plan,' I suggest you get a teaching certificate quickly and jump into the classroom to fill in for all the career teachers who see this as a slap in the face. And then we'll wait for a 'better plan.'”

Teachers returned to the classroom today with heavy hearts, and many with tears in their eyes. The voters had said, “NO” to any possibility of a raise.  Some told us they wanted the legislature to do their jobs. We would all love that. I, for one, am not holding my breath. I’ve waited and watched as half-hearted attempts are made, papers shuffled and nothing happens. Why would I trust them now? Why would any teacher in OK trust them?

We begged voters to vote YES and to vote FOR every pro-public education candidate on their ballot. Or, if they were voting NO, to vote for every pro-public education candidate…you already know how that went. The party in power solidified its lop-sided advantage in both houses.

Voters re-elected the same incumbents who’ve created the problem, and voted against the last hope for a raise for our teachers. We are told to wait…again…still.

Teachers are packing their bags, polishing their resumes, talking to friends in neighboring states. Preservice teacher candidates are choosing to bypass #oklaed as possible employment. It’s not hyperbole to say we will lose a generation of teachers in our state. I have former students who are now teachers. I watch them struggle with their decision to stay at home, or to pull up stakes and find a state that respects their educators. 

Do those voters care? How can we assume they do? They’re content to wait for that ‘better plan’ which will miraculously appear on the first day of the 2017 session.  We are not. We’ve had years of broken promises, of excuses. We are done. And many of us are moving. Or changing careers. With the full knowledge that the voters of our state are willing to wait for a ‘better plan’ as we hemorrhage teachers.

Today, I learned who financed the attack ads...those ads casting doubts on the groups funding the YES vote...those ads that just lied about facts. Lies that were parroted back at us all day today. The force behind the NO ads? Wait for it....Americans for Prosperity. Koch Brothers, ALEC. Sincere people were duped by the most cynical group of lobbyists in our country. And too many of my friends fell for it. And voted no. ALEC controlled this election. ALEC controlled the information and the voters. 

So, are there ponies in the manure pile that was the election night? Yeah…some new lawmakers who can make a difference.

But there was a giant pile of poo, also. Teachers were told ‘not now, wait, another time, maybe.’ We were told, ‘you’re not a priority.’ We were told to keep digging in that manure pile and maybe…

Vote, Dammit!

I’m reading –actually listening to—a book called Start with Why? By Simon Sinek

…it’s a business and organizational book about inspiring others with your vision as a way to sell more, work harder, create a social movement. It’s making me think of #oklaed – how it began, and what we’d say our inspiring vision is.

#oklaed is a loose confederacy of educators and parents who want more from our schools, more from our policy makers. More from ourselves. I think if we asked all the educators and parents who show up for our #oklaed chats, who attend the EdCamps, who participate in social media around our hashtag, “What is your vision for #oklaed? What’s your purpose? Your ‘Why?’ you’d get variations on a theme…to participate in the education of the 670,000+ school children in our state. To make education better because we were there, and we spoke up.

It’s now crunch time, #oklaed…We can make education better…if we show up. Show up at the polls and vote.

Scores of our friends and colleagues answered that ‘why?’ with, “My purpose is to run for office, to represent my students’ families at the Capitol. To participate in the legislative dialogue.” That has been inspiring. I’m giddy to think I have friends running for office. A former student running for office. People I KNOW are running. They’ve put their home life on hold. They’ve learned how to run a campaign. They’ve knocked doors of strangers and pitched their candidacy. They’ve been interviewed. They’ve studied other issues facing their constituents. They’ve become students again so that they are informed to serve.

They’ve shown up. Now it’s our turn.

Every one of us should know the candidates for state Representative and Senator in our districts. Every one of us should have informed ourselves on the State Questions. We should know that we’ll be voting on the retention of judges. That’s been our test prep. Finding sources and looking at websites. You can type in your address and get a sample ballot from the OK Election Board.

The test is November 8. If you haven’t voted by mail (I did, and it was fun to sit in my easy chair and use my phone to research issues), or if you don’t plan to vote early (I’ve done that too. I’ve found the workers at the Election Board to be helpful and friendly), you must show up at the polls and vote for these education candidates. Ones we know share a common vision and purpose for #oklaed.

There is a State Question on the ballot that will directly impact #oklaed: SQ779. It will provide raises for teachers…much-needed raises. At a cost of a penny sales tax. This SQ has been made necessary because our policy makers have failed to do their job of funding #oklaed. They throw out false promises, but they do nothing.

Sincere opponents of the SQ ask us to wait for a ‘better’ plan…one that does not fall on the shoulders of the working poor and middle class (read: Teachers). One that’s ‘fairer’. You know, the legislature has had years to do just that, and they’ve failed to prioritize education or teachers.  For eight years we have seen policy makers rip holes in school budgets, and cut per-pupil funding. They’ll tell you they’ve increased funding in that time…technically true. BUT because our school population has far outstripped their funding, we are still near the bottom of per-pupil expenditures…as we are for teacher salaries.

People tell us other state workers haven’t had a raise either. True. Very true. And they do God’s work, just as educators do. I hate the feeling of pitting one group of underpaid state workers against another. We should be allies, demanding our policy makers do the right thing.

Obviously – my stand is clear. But it’s evolved as I realized it is the ONLY proposal on the table. The. Only. One. Everyone has ‘a plan’ to help, but no one’s done anything. People tell us to wait for the perfect plan…and my response is, “I’ve waited since 1979…when we moved to Oklahoma, and I love $1000 real dollars in my salary from my job in Iowa…with one more year’s experience.”

I have two nightmares about SQ779. If it passes, policy makers will say, “Well, see? We didn’t have to lift a finger to solve the problem. “The people” will tax themselves. Woohoo! Business as usual” If it fails, they might say, “Well, see? “The people” don’t care any more than we do about teachers. Woohoo! Business as usual .”

The combination of education friendly candidates AND SQ779 gives us all a unique opportunity to really do the right thing for schools and students and teachers.

Do the right thing. Vote.

Here’s what I know about my blog posts about voting: they are the lowest-read pieces I write. People don’t seem to want to read about voting. Here and here and here and here, this, my first voting post. Sorry/not sorry for linking all the old posts. I write about voting a lot. To a tiny audience, it appears.

Here’s what I know about teachers and voting: WE DON’T. Depending on the source, I’ve heard anywhere between 18% and 30% of teachers vote. That’s why policy makers ignore us when we email and write and visit and rally. They know we won’t show up. For all our commitment to the vision of #oklaed, we don’t take the action to build that vision into reality.

Do the right thing.

Vote. And vote for the vision, the purpose, the 'why', of a state that will support and fund public schools.