(Re : DeVos) Angry and frustrated, teachers feel unheard by Lamar Alexander

[Tanuki]

http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2017/01/27/teachers-protest-betsy-devos-lamar-alexander/97092554/

...."More than 150 people protested outside Alexander's Nashville office Friday evening ahead of DeVos' confirmation vote, which is scheduled for Tuesday.

Educators at the protest said DeVos, a Michigan billionaire and vocal supporter of charter school expansion, is not qualified for the job. Unlike former education secretaries, DeVos has not attended, taught or held a leadership position in public schools.
DeVos, at times, was unable to answer questions about education policy and law at her confirmation hearing Jan. 17. Democrats were on the attack during the meeting, while Republicans defended DeVos, including Alexander, who said she is "on our children's side."
....

"I tried to call Sen. Alexander's office five times over the past week. It was busy every single time," said Mary Holden, member of education advocacy group TREE and a former high school teacher. "I did send an email and got his standard response, which isn't helpful."
"And I'm here today — I don't know how else to reach him other than to keep trying," Holden said. "But I don't think it will make a difference with him. He seems really adamant that she's qualified."

Representatives from the Tennessee Education Association, Metro Nashville Education Association, Statewide Organizing for Community Empowerment, the Middle Tennessee Coalition Advocating for Public Education and Tennessee Citizen Action, as well as Rep. Bo Mitchell, D- Nashville, and Rep. Mike Stewart, D-Nashville, also attended the protest.
.........
Alexander also has been vocal on Facebook about his support of DeVos' nomination and about Democratic opposition. In a Tuesday post about the matter he received over 7,000 comments — the majority of which were against DeVos' nomination.
In the comments, many social media users also complained about not being able to get through to Alexander's offices.
.........



RESIST!

[Squinch]

1. The "busy" telephones are where those postcards come in handy. Write to them. You won't

necessarily change their minds, but large numbers of complaints will frighten them and possibly modify their behavior.

[NCTraveler]

2. I see no reason to be shocked. He will vote to confirm. I do like that they are going after him.

•1985: Raised state taxes to improve education. (Jun 2004)
•Allow organized voluntary prayer in public schools. (Aug 1995)
•Federal funding for HOPE scholarships for grade school. (May 1999)
•More teacher pay; but end tenure. (May 1999)
•Support public schools with local control. (May 1999)
•Test for high standards for teachers and students. (May 1999)
•Replace bilingual education with “English for Children”. (May 1999)
•Create Education Savings Accounts. (May 1999)
School Choice

•Charter schools make public education better. (Jul 1999)
•Regulate all public schools like charter schools. (May 1999)
•Public scholarships for charter or private schools. (May 1999)
•$1,500 scholarship for poor kids to attend any school. (May 1999)
•Pass Model Charter School Laws in all 50 states. (May 1999)
•Give school decisions back to families. (Aug 1995)
•Voted YES on additional $10.2B for federal education & HHS projects. (Oct 2007)
•Voted NO on $52M for "21st century community learning centers". (Oct 2005)
•Voted NO on $5B for grants to local educational agencies. (Oct 2005)
•Voted NO on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education. (Mar 2005)
•Rated 27% by the NEA, indicating anti-public education votes. (Dec 2003)
•Support the goals and ideals of Charter Schools. (May 2007)

http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Lamar_Alexander.htm

[spanone]

3. for years, lamar has pretended to be a centrist. he has NEVER been a centrist.

he's a coward who hides behind centrism.

he's a hard line partisan.