History of IDEA
Jeannie Oakes, Founder and Former Director
Youth Voice in School Finance
NEW REPORT: Los Angeles' road to A-G for all
Without Dollars and Sense Powerpoint
Past Educational Opportunity Reports
Teacher power: The new force in American politics
- 04-20-2010
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By Anthony Cody/Teacher Magazine
Last Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle had a front page article about Democratic Party candidates attempting to whip up enthusiasm among their followers, to rival the energy seen in the Tea Party across the country. Politicians need look no further than Florida to see where the grassroots activity will come from. Energized by a terrible law that would have diverted 5% of education money into tests, which would be used to evaluate and pay teachers, that state's educators, parents and students came out en masse. They protested along roadways, they challenged their politicians on the facts, they clogged their mailboxes and fax machines, they filled Facebook with groups posting the latest news, and made themselves a force to be reckoned with. Governor Charlie Crist, who hopes to soon be Senator Crist, heard the siren call of the "voice of the people" and vetoed that bill last week. (more...)
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