Colbert's call to donate to public schools through his Donors Choose page

[Beaverhausen]

http://www.donorschoose.org/homepage/main.html

I only heard about this for the first time last night on his show, but apparantly his viewers have already donated over $100,000.

Let's help out!

Oops- can't spell.

[Beaverhausen]

1. Kick- and thanks mods for moving this to the right forum

this website is so cool. Lets get to work!!!

[waiting for hope]

2. Thanks for the link -

I'm finding it harder and harder to stay up to watch Colbert -

K&R!

[LiveLiberally]

3. K&R -- This is a wonderful initiative....

although I find it more than sad that some of our public schools are getting more help from the initiatives of comedians than from NCLB (which is eager to "fail" a school but not to provide meaningful support to improve it)

[Contrary1]

4. My son is a 5th grade teacher in Indianapolis...

His classroom and students have benefited greatly from this program. Fiction paperbacks for 25 students, a classroom computer, and several GPS units. It's a really good idea.

[Beaverhausen]

8. I had never heard of it before last night. I'm glad to hear it works

:hi:

[Greylyn58]

5. K & R n/t

[SoCalDem]

6. The sad thing is that teachers need to beg for

PENCILS??

When I was in school every classroom had a big ole cabinet LOADED with supplies..paper, pencils, workbooks, art supplies, chalk, crayons, scissors..

We didn't have to supply anything, unless we wanted to..

Every desk had its OWN textbook that never left the classroom, and we all had our own set of books at home.. The only time we ever saw a backpack was in the camping section at Sears..

[knitter4democracy]

9. Sadly, it's not that way at most schools anymore.

When I taught, public and private, I had to supply tons of supplies out of my own money. My mom, a retired public high school art teacher, ended up having to charge students for their art supplies and paid for the kids who didn't have the money out of her own pocket.

Teachers need pencils, chalk, posterboard, scissors, you name it. Getting a teacher a gift card to an office supply store is a great gift.

[Contrary1]

11. And it's even worse in the lower income areas...

When I worked as a classroom aide some years back, as long as any crayon or pencil still had a bit of life left in it, it was not thrown away. More than once, I saw teachers providing coats, gloves and hats for the kids. There were a couple of times that I heard about trips to the dentist and eye doctor being paid for by the teacher. The logic was that if a kid couldn't see, or was sitting there with a terrible toothache, they would not be learning much.

And you are right about the basic supplies. I've sent folders, pencils, crayons, stickers, boxes of Kleenex, you name it...the teachers will pass on to others what they have no use for. Gift cards are a wonderful idea.

[knitter4democracy]

12. Our knitting group provides hats.

By Michigan law, if the temp's low enough, a kid can't go outside without a hat. Often, those are the kids who really need to go outside at recess, so our knitting guild provides hats every winter to several schools and charity organizations.

Hats and mittens and coats are always needed at our area schools, as are boots and slippers for in the classroom to use in case they only have the shoes or boots and need something for inside that's warm and dry.

[JNelson6563]

21. You are a kind hearted soul dear.

I've read lots of comments from you about the things your group does for the community. I often see a bumper sticker promoting knitting when I pick up my son from school and I always think of you.

You are a treasure, just thought this was an appropriate time to tell you that. :-)

Julie

[dajoki]

19. "No child left behind" unless...

they are stuck in poverty, then they are all left behind because their schools are considered to not be making the grade. Instead of funding and lifting up these schools, they would rather let them rot, which is another hinderance to learning. But they will give vouchers and fund Charter schools at the price of forgetting about the schools in poverty stricken neighborhoods and that includes rural areas as well as the inner city.

Also many if not most of these children have nothing to go home to, if they are lucky enough to have a home. Charity by teachers and others is all well and good, but it can only go so far, we need a complete overhaul of the education system as well as getting to the root causes of why so many are stuck in poverty. Instead of charity for the few we and our government should strive for justice and equality for all!! Which is not happening now.

[bobbolink]

18. At the risk of being excoriated as "angry" yet again, this is exactly the point... JUSTICE, NOT

CHARITY!

Charity will always only go to those who are deemed "worthy", and poor kids in poor areas will always miss out.

JUSTICE is what is needed here.... that EVERY SCHOOL, and EVERY TEACHER have all they need (and more!) in order for EVERY CHILD to learn.

In my day, we ALL saw this as a legitimate need.

How far we have fallen.

:cry:

I hope Colbert will now use his considerable influence to push for JUSTICE for schools and teachers!

[dajoki]

22. Absolutely...

as I said above charity can only go so far, and like you said, you must be "deemed worthy" or you get nothing. I'm so sick of hearing that people stuck in poverty have made the wrong choices. How can individuals and families make any choices when they have no options? It seems to me that these choices have been made for them by clueless government officials, think tanks and people who have no idea what they are talking about. Our goal should be EQUALITY and JUSTICE for all these children, parents, schools and people, who only because of their situation in life, are made to feel like they don't matter. This is wrong and must change!!:hug:

[Two Americas]

24. public education

Public education was always intended to level the playing field. The early Republicans, Lincoln for example, advocated strongly for public education so that "all may have a fair start in life."

What is next? Fund raisers to pay the salaries of our legislators? No? Why not? Think that through. Imagine if we did that - if Colbert was raising money to pay the salaries of our elected legislators. Everyone would see the insanity of that immediately. Clearly those legislators are making sure that their own salaries are funded and no one would dream of a situation where that aspect of our government would need private donations.

Yes - "our goal should be EQUALITY and JUSTICE for all these children, parents, schools and people."

Charity is not justice. It cannot replace justice. Nothing less than fighting for justice will ever solve the problems.

[bobbolink]

25. "Colbert raising money to pay the salaries of our elected legislators"

Now, THAT'S what he should have done!!

Really, it would be funny, it would fit in with his "character", and it would have raised consciousness!!

People would actually have to THINK!

So, why the hell aren't YOU writing for Colbert????

This is a BRILLIANT idea!

:toast: :bounce: :toast:

[dajoki]

26. That would really open some eyes...

Charity for our lawmakers is a good example of the problem with thinking that charity can solve all the problems of society in general, and crumbling schools and poverty in particular. I think charity has its place, but it must never be used as a replacement for the fight for justice and equality. And charity and justice must NEVER be confused!! One is a band-aide at best and the latter is a solution.

[Two Americas]

27. false dichotomy

The presentation of charity as "of course it is not the ultimate solution, but at least it is something" sets up a false dichotomy and promotes a distorted view of society and politics and thwarts efforts to develop the needed demand for strong public policies and political solutions.

Promoting solidarity and demanding justice first, leads to more charity. If charity is a good thing - and it is - then presenting it as an alternative to political mobilization, which the phrase "at least it is something" certainly says, is not good because that ultimately leads to less charity, not more.

When the fight for justice was front and center, when the unions were strong, when we had a middle class, when the activist community had not yet been suburbanized and gentrified and co-opted into libertarianism, there was more charity, not less. Also, keep in mind that poor people are much more generous and give more away than wealthy people do, so if the working people are doing better they will have more to give to charity.

One of the problems with modern liberalism is that it is based on individualism - individuals making the "right choices" and improving themselves and gathering with the few, the "like-minded." This is inherently and inevitably aristocratic and divisive, and makes it very, very difficult to discuss serious political solutions to social problems.

Justice leads to charity. Charity will never lead to justice, and in fact can reinforce and promote injustice. Justice will never preclude charity. Charity can often preclude justice.

[dajoki]

28. I see what you are saying...

and I agree that charity cannot be used to replace justice, that should be the ultimate goal for our society and government. And yes, the unions were front and center in that fight, but they are not what they used to be.

I grew up in a union household and was proud to carry on that tradition myself as I was a member of the same union as my grandfather, the UMWA. But alot of that changed because of Reagan's tactics, he had great success in busting and weakening the unions, we held out as long as we could but eventually fell to the pressure of losing our jobs. Our local was disbanded and we were left with the choice to work the same job without the benefit of a union and everything that entails or just quit and take your chances. I was raising a family at that time and I had no choice but to continue working.

My wife is now in the AFSCME union, but from what I can see it is nothing similar to the unions in their heyday. Much of the individualism you speak of is now being promoted by the unions as compared to the solidarity of years past. This is a major problem as the people who once fought and struggled to give labor a voice has been now taken away by the very people who were entrusted to carry on the struggle for justice. I am only speaking from what I know about the unions from my past experiences and my wife's current personal experience, so I do not pretend to know if it is the same around the country.

But it seems similar to the rest of society who have now taken on the mantra of the strongest survive which leads to the like minded forming their cliques along with their exclusivity at the cost of leaving the rest to fend for themselves. This has been going on for quite awhile and has become embeded in many people and groups, including our lawmakers.

I feel what has taken decades for the right wing, "Reagan Democrats" the "new liberals" to destroy may take just as long to retrieve. I hope I am wrong about that, but we are going to need an overwhelming change of attitude on the part of all involved including activists and lawmakers, from the local level and nationwide to bring justice and equality, which I think is just as important, back to the people who need it most.

[benny05]

7. K and R

Have a great day.

[MissDeeds]

10. K&R - Big time

It really says a lot about a nation when it invests more in war and killing than in the education of its children. The values in this country are so out of whack. Hope everyone here will do what they can to help out.

[Kurovski]

13. K&R. (nt)

[Beaverhausen]

14. Kick

so many schools with needs.

[Beaverhausen]

15. More about Stephen Colbert's history with this organization

http://blog.donorschoose.org/blog/2008/03/21/vote-in-the-pennsylvania-primary/

Vote in the Pennsylvania Primary!

By Mike Friday, Mar 21, 2008 at 12:19pm

Stephen Colbert has challenged the nation to “vote” in the Pennsylvania Democratic Primary by funding a Pennsylvania classroom project in honor of either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama (or, if you’re undecided, both!)

Last fall, the Colbert Nation gave $66,000 to South Carolina classrooms in support of Stephen’s presidential run. As of high noon today, donors have given $37,158 in honor of their favorite candidate! Do Senators Clinton and Obama have the keystones to do for the Keystone State what the Colbert Nation did for the Palmetto State? Let’s find out. Right now Obama is in the lead — this is your chance to show your support in the “straw poll that makes a difference”!

The “Democralypse!” Challenge has been picked up by The Philadelphia Inquirer, dotCommonweal, I’ve Made a Huge Tiny Mistake, and End Politics as Usual. We’re sure there will be more linkage coming as Colbert heads to Philadelphia.


vote and donate here
http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/leadershipboard.html?category=25

[MissDeeds]

16. Kick

It's no accident that most educators are Democrats!

:kick:

[asdjrocky]

17. K&R!

This is a great program.

[Two Americas]

20. privatization

Many are willing to accept - even celebrate - the complete privatization of our society, but at the risk of creating bad feelings I feel compelled to continue to speak out against this. To fail to speak out against this would be to abrogate any claim to being a Democrat, in my opinion.

Donations to public schools is an oxymoron - either we are committed to public institutions, or we are not. Making public institutions reliant upon private donations does more harm than good. Either the donations do not make a difference - in which case we should not see them as a solution to the problem - or they do make a difference, in which case we are making the institutions dependent upon, and subject to influence by, the private sector. There is no free lunch here. If we are going to say that private donations make the difference, then we are saying that there is not a political and social problem. We will all eventually be dependent upon the charity of the wealthy, as sure as night follows day.

The public has a limited attention span for these social problems. When that is taken up by stories about how the problem has been solved by privatization, it becomes more difficult to get any other message to the public and this saps public demand for the serious and fundamental change needed, and weakens the political will to effect the change. It is a lack of political will that is the cause of the crisis in public education, not a lack of charity.

Stories about a few schools being helped makes it less likely that there will be news coverage of the many that are not helped. Even were it possible to support all of the schools around the country through private donations, is this the direction we want to go? Sooner or later, the people giving the money will attach strings, and that means we no longer have public schools, we will have private schools. Those with wealth will want to buy a better education for their children, and the entire concept of public education will be undermined and destroyed.

When private donations take the pressure off of elected officials, this makes it more difficult for us to force them to put their attention on the real problems. It gives them an easy out - "something is being done."

Today we have a celebrity we like, who is doing "good" things, tomorrow we have privatized armies and death squads. Actually, we already have privatized armies and death squads.

Please, for the sake of all that is decent, for the sake of the traditional principles and ideals of the Democratic party, for the sake of the survival of millions of people, think through the implications of this trend toward privatization and our willingness - eagerness - to promote and celebrate it. We are playing with fire.

[bobbolink]

23. You're exactly right, uncomfortable tho it may be. Look what Lotto has done to schools.

:(

People in states where Lotto funds go to schools now think the problem has been solved.

When the depression hits, and people aren't buying Lotto tickets anymore, where will the school funds come from?

I'm so sad that we have fallen this far.

:cry:

[blindpig]

29. School "Choice"

Very big in these parts, state education secretary promotes it hammer and tongs. Ain't nothing but back door segregation. They get away with it because there is no solidarity, not from parents, community or the teachers, the pressures are great on all. Parents are presented with the false choice of getting with the program of dooming their child to failure. Communities are caught in a catch-22, by tying funding to the school district's tax base the less affluent gotta play too. Teachers are held under a very selective microscope, have one get caught diddling a student and it's headlines for weeks if not months while the overwhelming majority struggle with inferior resources and over-crowded classrooms, no news there.

"Dollar Democracy" is tyranny.

[Two Americas]

32. "dollar democracy is tyranny" - brilliant

The reason why there is no solidarity is because it is continually broken up and thwarted by the proponents of modern liberalism - libertarianism with an "organic" label slapped on it. Since understanding this would require us to look at ourselves critically, and since the "progressive" movement is all about each of us progressing and becoming new and improved and enlightened superior individuals, there is a tremendous amount of resistance to any such self-examination.

We know we are in trouble when..

...the Catholic church takes positions on labor and racism and human rights and poverty that are much stronger and farther to the left than the ones that modern liberalism takes.

...the physicians in the AMA take a position on health care that is much stronger and farther to the left than the one that modern liberalism takes.

...the small farmers take positions on public agencies and regulation that are much stronger and farther to the left than the ones that modern liberalism takes.

...when millions of people take to the streets demanding justice and equality, and liberals sit on the sidelines oblivious to what is happening and muse about what it will take to "wake the people up" so they will become "like minded."

.. when liberals claim that by riding a bike they are "saving the planet" while they ridicule all suggestions that mass organization is what is needed.

[Romulox]

30. "free trade"

If a children's parents must compete in a globalized economy, why shouldn't the children's teacher also have to compete? Other than "but it's MY ox that's being gored!" type arguments, I can see no rational reason.

The free market is said to have the almost magical effect of allocating goods where they may be used most efficiently. The market clearly is saying that if anything, teachers are overpaid, and furthermore, there are huge number of workers in places like China and India that could do a better job for far less money. We can't afford protectionist barriers to free competition in education, or any other markets!



"Many are willing to accept - even celebrate - the complete privatization of our society, but at the risk of creating bad feelings I feel compelled to continue to speak out against this. To fail to speak out against this would be to abrogate any claim to being a Democrat, in my opinion."m:









:sarcasm:

[qanda]

31. When I was getting school supplies for my children

I ran into the principal of a school here. She was telling me how a lot of the kids come to school without anything from the list they're given (their parents just don't have the means) and so she was there picking up supplies. I was moved to get her a gift card and help her out with the purchase. I remember when I came to school and I didn't need to bring my own pencils or notebooks. I guess that was a long time ago.