For a great visual showing who funds the Charter School Movement, click here.

 The chart is included below, but it displays better if you click on the link above!

Report from the Conn. Educators Association Meeting, March 31, 2012

by Mollie Bruhn, GEM/Real Reform Studios

GEM/Real Reform Studios filmmakers were at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut on Saturday, March 31st, to deliver a keynote address and show a portion of The Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting For Superman. CEA (Connecticut Educators Association) invited us to present as part of their new teacher conference for teachers with up to 6 years of experience. Not only did they headline their event with our film, they also made copies of our DVD for every conference attendee.

The morning began with a wonderfully honest and spirited welcome speech by the CEA executive director, Mary Loftus Levine, who wasted no time in addressing the ongoing attacks on public education and the teaching profession. “Follow the money,” she said, as she implored her new members to stay involved and informed in the fight to defend public education, school workers and their union rights. Her comments were professional and tactful, and a stark contrast to the message we often hear in NYC from our union leadership.

Earlier Saturday morning, the Hartford Courant had run a story about school reform and the author did not speak highly of CEA. Ms. Loftus Levine spoke directly about this article but did not seem disheartened. After the event she discussed her commitment to fighting for her members and what is right regardless of the press she and her union get as a result. Ms. Loftus Levine made it clear that she is interested in preserving, protecting and improving public education. She and CEA are not interested in finding “common ground” with those who are pushing privatization and the use of punitive teacher evaluations. She also spoke about the need to reconnect the union, teachers and parents, as a distance has grown between these groups.

When Ms. Loftus Levine was finished with her remarks another CEA staff member took the stage and discussed CEA’s texting alert program. It was simple, easy and seemed a great way to keep members connected to new and urgent developments. CEA clearly wants their members involved and informed. The union plans to text members with information about legislative developments and how they can reach out to their elected leaders. While the UFT in New York does ask members to do the same sort of thing, CEA’s approach felt different. It really seemed like they were interested and invested in keeping their members involved and mobilized to the fullest extent.

After these two speakers, Julie and I had the privilege of addressing the audience of about 200. I spoke first, discussing my path to becoming a public school teacher, which involved a short stint at a charter school.

Here is an excerpt from my speech:

Like many charter schools, mine was one with an unfortunately inexperienced administrative team. Our principal had only one year of experience and had never actually worked with our schools young kindergarten and 1st grade population. I expected to have a leader who could mentor and guide me, but I found myself stuck trying to figure things out on my own. I asked tough questions, probed for insights and challenged my colleagues to think critically about our work.

Some students had a difficult time adjusting to the school routines and our overly long school day (730 am to 5 pm). A few of these students continued to struggle as the months went on, and our administrative team actually advised their families to take their children elsewhere to be educated. While our principal did not overtly “kick” any students out of school—he certainly made it clear that our school would no longer be a good fit for these families. This surprised and disappointed me greatly. The genius of our public education system is that everyone is guaranteed an education—no one can be turned away. But, as I learned, in the charter world, the schools were far from public.

As the year went on, I grew more and more frustrated with the environment around me—the discipline system felt harsh and punitive; the school culture seemed to ignore the social needs of young children and the day was much too long for their young minds. I raised concerns in staff meetings and tried to make the best of my situation. Then, one day, my principal called me into his office and without warning informed, me that I was being let go. Just like that. Fired. I had signed a contract with the school, but, like those of most charter schools, the contract made me an at-will employee, basically giving my employer the right to fire me for any reason at any time. When asked for the reason, I was informed, simply, that I “had asked too many questions.” Since I wasn’t a member of a union, like public school teachers are, I was on my own. I had no recourse, no ability to appeal the decision and no one to reach out to.

I realized that my hasty dismissal–however unjust–was actually a blessing in disguise. It allowed me to take a step back and examine what I wanted, which was to work in a real public school where I would have the support and backing of a union and have the opportunity to work in tandem with experienced educators.

I feel very proud to be a public school teacher. Today the landscape of education is rapidly changing, as many in power seem to have lost sight of the purpose of our public education system. We see politicians promoting charter schools and privatization, talking about “choice” and laying blame on our dedicated teaching force. Now may not be the easiest time to be a public school teacher but perhaps it is one of the most important times. Our public education system needs determined individuals who are willing to honor it, support it and defend it.

Julie followed up my story and spoke about Waiting for Superman, helping to contextualize the attack on public education today. She spoke about the push for privatization, the attacks on unions and working people and the attacks on teachers. She spoke about how we, as educators, must be on the forefront of the fight against these attacks.

Then, we showed the audience about 20 minutes of The Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting for Superman. The audience seemed engaged and receptive, especially the CEA staff members. When had only a brief opportunity for discussion, but a few hands went up right away. After the discussion, many CEA members approached us and thanked us for our presentation. A few mentioned interest in hosting their own screenings, as they were clearly moved by the film.

While I was unbelievably pleased with the event and CEA, I couldn’t help but ask myself: why can’t our union show this same support for our film?

The Success Academy Charter School Network already has 12 schools open in NYC. There are now trying to gain more free space in Middle School 50 on Williamsburg’s Southside. The community has been actively and continually opposed to the charter school, showing up at two public hearings, as well as the Panel for Educational Policy, to voice their opposition. Now, a lawsuit is on the horizon. Check out this video by GEM:

On February 9th at Brooklyn Tech High School, more than 2,000 parents, students and teachers voted “No Confidence” in the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP), a rubber-stamp for Michael Bloomberg’s undemocratic and racist system of mayoral control over New York City’s public schools. In complete indifference to the will of parents, students, teachers, and the borough appointees on the panel, the mayor’s puppets have voted to close 117 schools. These closures are devastating to local communities and a testament to the utter failure of a decade of mayoral dictatorship over the public school system.

See the new Truth About Charter Schools Brochure by clicking here.

Download your own copy here: The Truth About Charter Schools in NYC

•Thursday, January 19th at 7:00PM. The Commons, 388 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. Discussion to follow. Sponsored by Occupy Brooklyn!

•Saturday, January 21st at 12:00 PM. PSC-CUNY office, 61 Broadway, 16th Floor, NYC: Labor Goes to the Movies.

•Sunday, January 22nd at 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Spectacle Theater, 124 S. 3rd Street (near Bedford Avenue), Brooklyn, NY. Sponsored by Occupy Williamsburg!

Thursday, January 26th at 6:00PM. PS 84, 250 Berry Street, Brooklyn, NY. Sponsored by Community Education Council 14.

Stan Karp, of Rethinking Schools, writes a compelling article about the corporate reform movement and some hopeful signs of resistance. He names our film as one of these 10 positive signs of resistance! Check it out:

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/10/25-1

“The outpouring of critical response to Waiting for Superman last fall was when a lot of teachers discovered they were not alone.  Rethinking Schools’ “NOT Waiting for Superman” campaign drew tens of thousands of supportive responses and has created an archive of information and resources for countering corporate reform that’s still growing.  In New York City, the GEM produced a documentary response to the film entitled The Inconvenient Truths Behind Waiting for Superman that’s served as a rallying point for organizing and discussion across the country.”