In Denial in Indiana

[caraher]

One of the best results on election day was the resounding defeat of Tony Bennett, GOP head of the Indiana school system and supposed rising star of the movement to replace public schools with charters. I've been amazed at the absurd level of denial in the public rhetoric of officials desperate to paint the unexpected victory of the grassroots Glenda Ritz campaign as anything but a firm rejection of their "reform" movement by the electorate. Ritz was given zero chance and had a fraction of Bennett's money but won with a campaign waged largely through the efforts of fed-up teachers and their use of Facebook. (She was given so little regard in the media that well into the election season, the Indianapolis Star's lead education writer wrote a piece on Bennett's plans that basically said his re-election was assured, so let's talk about what we can expect in the future from him...)

Today I wake to the whining of our execrable governor, the man with the inexplicable reputation as a fiscal whiz despite a record that includes service as W's budget director, losing track of hundreds of millions of state tax dollars while laying off public employees including teachers (coincidence or deliberate malfeasance?), and selling off the state's toll road to a private entity and burning through proceeds so fast that completion of a new segment of Interstate 69 is stalling for lack of money. According to Mitch,

"If you're a fan of anything-goes politics, it was a creative use of illegal -- but still creative use -- of public resources," Daniels said Wednesday at a Washington, D.C., meeting of the Foundation for Excellence in Education, a group led by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. "We got emails sent out on school time by people who were supposed to be teaching someone at the time, all about Tony Bennett. We have parents who went to back to school night to find out how little Jebbie is doing and instead they got a diatribe about the upcoming election."

Of course, he has no evidence of any laws broken, or even a juicy anecdote to share about a teacher going off the rails at a parent-teacher event.

Face it, Mitch - we don't want any part of your "reforms!" When you get your ass kicked despite a huge funding advantage, in a state where Republicans won a supermajority in the legislature, it's pretty safe to say you're the one who is out of touch regarding education. God help Purdue (where Mitch's appointees awarded him the university presidency, which was of course totally ethical - the trustees he appointed investigated themselves and found it to be so!)!

[KelleyD]

1. This was a big topic of conversation at our Thanksgiving dinner.

Everyone, including my two sisters who are teachers...my nephew, who is a Principal of a Junior high school...all none partisan... were ECSTATIC!!!!

[savebigbird]

2. Ritz received more votes than Indiana's next governor...

...yet he wants to keep up with Bennett's reforms.

[dls]

3. In Denial in Indiana

It's 6:55 on a Saturday evening, and I just finished 5 hours of grading essays and paragraphs. Few other professionals are "red inking copy" at this moment. It may appear that we have an 8:00-3:00 job, but I work over 3 hours per evening as well. I believe that the State of Indiana gets its money's worth from most who teach in this state; and the idea of being "on the clock" is, in itself, prehistoric! We are allowed PREP time during the day, and we can choose to run to the WC or email whomever we want!

Shame on your arrogance, Governor Daniels! Someone should tell you that your use of the word "REFORM" is a misnomer. You may erroneously believe that you were reforming; but for the first time in many years of teaching, I am now "teaching for the test". I was always proud that I taught BEYOND the tests, and my students returned from college to tell me that I had prepared them for their classes. NOW, I no longer teach students TO THINK; I teach "the test".

Teachers in this state responded NOT to Bennet's "reformation", but to the misdirected use of our time, resources, and gifts. We were bullied, maligned, insulted, demonized, and blamed for everything except the crucifixion of Christ by Dr. Bennet and Governor Daniels. The time of being their whipping boys has coming to an end. This election was not about revenge; it was not about being "dinosaurs". It was about knowing our students, embracing our mandate, voicing our concerns, refusing to be ignored by THE state superintendent, and, in my case, switching party loyalties.

Elected officials: this is a cautionary tale for you. 1,3000,000 votes is FAR more than the 50,000 members of the teachers' union. You may use strong-arm tactics with Superintendent-elect Ritz; you may set her up as your opponent before she even steps in office; you may spend an inordinate amount of time challenging this Hoosier reaction to the Bennet political games that were ousted rather than addressing the economic issues that were your campaign platforms, but be careful. You are elected to represent Hoosiers. When you no longer fulfill your duty, we will stop electing you.

Now, where's that tonic and gin?

[hrmjustin]

4. Welcome to DU!