Education

HiPointDem

(20,729 posts) Wed Oct 3, 2012, 03:20 PM Oct 2012

Help Write a Letter to President Obama

Diane Ravitch:

Based on your many comments, I have drafted the following letter to President Obama. Please tell me if you have any changes or corrections. Once the letter is edited, I will post it again, and whoever wishes to do so will send it on October 17, two weeks from today.

http://dianeravitch.net/

Teachers’ Letter to President Obama

Dear President Obama,

We assume you know that there are many thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of teachers, who are disappointed in your education policies.

We assume you know that some will vote for you reluctantly, some will vote for a third party candidate, and some will not vote at all. Our votes will make a difference.

Given the choice between you and Mitt Romney, who seems to view public education with contempt, we want to help you win back the hearts and mind of teachers.

Here are ways to do that....

11 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Help Write a Letter to President Obama (Original Post) HiPointDem Oct 2012 OP

It's outstanding the way it is, imo. Smarmie Doofus Oct 2012 #1

Not gonna do it. NYC_SKP Oct 2012 #2

I believe the President said " Make me..." kickysnana Oct 2012 #3

So far, he has ignored LWolf Oct 2012 #4

And last night, in his first or second go, what does he highlight as his big accomplishment? Smarmie Doofus Oct 2012 #5

Well, if the goal was LWolf Oct 2012 #8

"we want to help you win back the hearts and mind of teachers" proud2BlibKansan Oct 2012 #9

Many teachers don't need to be won back. It's condescending and presumptuous. NYC_SKP Oct 2012 #10

I don't know any teachers who support Obama's education policies. proud2BlibKansan Oct 2012 #11

Good luck to her. Reader Rabbit Oct 2012 #6

We had been promised some zingers coming from Mitt. HiPointDem Oct 2012 #7

Smarmie Doofus

(14,498 posts)

1. It's outstanding the way it is, imo.

Reply to HiPointDem (Original post)

Wed Oct 3, 2012, 05:30 PM

Oct 2012

K and R.

I'm in.

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)

2. Not gonna do it.

Reply to HiPointDem (Original post)

Wed Oct 3, 2012, 09:19 PM

Oct 2012

It's composed as a veiled threat.

Don't need to do that.

kickysnana

(3,908 posts)

3. I believe the President said " Make me..."

Reply to NYC_SKP (Reply #2)

Thu Oct 4, 2012, 05:27 AM

Oct 2012

Since he has blindly shunned public school teachers in his policies, no debate, my way or the highway, what do you suggest to point out to him that I and many others CANNOT vote for him this year because of his policies on torture, indefinite detention and public schools. This will be a problem for him despite the polls now that we think he will win by a landslide. His people need to hear this now. It is not a threat it is a reality. I did vote for him last time and would never vote for Romney.

I couldn't vote for Mussolini just because Hitler was worse. These things are that important to me and our future.

LWolf

(46,179 posts)

4. So far, he has ignored

Reply to kickysnana (Reply #3)

Thu Oct 4, 2012, 07:22 AM

Oct 2012

reasonable attempts to "make him" do the right thing; yet my inbox is full of his requests for money. When I respond to those requests, pointing out why I'm not sending him any money, they bounce back as "delivery failed."

I can't think of anything else to do to "make him."

Smarmie Doofus

(14,498 posts)

5. And last night, in his first or second go, what does he highlight as his big accomplishment?

Reply to LWolf (Reply #4)

Thu Oct 4, 2012, 07:31 AM

Oct 2012

Race. to. the. Top. --- The centerpiece of his catastrophic education agenda.

Aka - RATTT.

Let's just say he's not making it any easier for us to support him.

LWolf

(46,179 posts)

8. Well, if the goal was

Reply to Smarmie Doofus (Reply #5)

Fri Oct 5, 2012, 07:23 AM

Oct 2012

to alienate teachers, he certainly accomplished that.

proud2BlibKansan

(96,793 posts)

9. "we want to help you win back the hearts and mind of teachers"

Reply to NYC_SKP (Reply #2)

Sat Oct 6, 2012, 09:24 AM

Oct 2012

Yep, such threatening language!

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)

10. Many teachers don't need to be won back. It's condescending and presumptuous.

Reply to proud2BlibKansan (Reply #9)

Sat Oct 6, 2012, 10:09 AM

Oct 2012

proud2BlibKansan

(96,793 posts)

11. I don't know any teachers who support Obama's education policies.

Reply to NYC_SKP (Reply #10)

Sat Oct 6, 2012, 10:18 AM

Oct 2012

Not one.

We are struggling to get teachers in my district to get involved in this election. We hold phone banks a couple nights a week. We only call teachers. So far, we've not found any who support RTTT. Most say they will vote for Obama, but they are very unhappy.

So this sentiment is not the least bit condescending. It's based on reality.

Reader Rabbit

(2,663 posts)

6. Good luck to her.

Reply to HiPointDem (Original post)

Thu Oct 4, 2012, 08:14 AM

Oct 2012

I've written the president a ton of letters about his education policy, and all I've ever got in return was the same ridiculous form letter.

HiPointDem

(20,729 posts)

7. We had been promised some zingers coming from Mitt.

Reply to HiPointDem (Original post)

Fri Oct 5, 2012, 05:27 AM

Oct 2012

Who would of thought that the zinger would come from Obama and aimed squarely at every teacher watching? It was barely a few minutes into the debate when President Obama brought up Race to the Top as a positive example of what his administration has done for education.

Zing! He brought it up several times later. Zing! Zing!

There was more in Obama’s performance that was pretty awful. But since education has not exactly been a hot topic in this campaign, it surprised me that we were the zinger we have been waiting for.

Which is why I will take part in the October 17 letter to Obama action proposed by Diane Ravitch.

http://preaprez.wordpress.com/

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