The past week has been a blur. I have spent time listening to experts at an education reform symposium, discussing education policy with Congressional leaders, explaining to state legislators why the take over of public schools by emergency financial managers is bad for democracy, bad for students, and bad for educators, and finally I took a drive to Wisconsin to support my friends.
In the middle of my week, I had a chance to discuss educational policy with a Congressional staffer, who asked: what do you need to be able to tell your story?
I responded with a single word: research.
As an advocate for public education, I am in need of more research on education reform. It is only with rational, empirically sound research that I can make an case against attacks on public employees and public education.
We in the field of education need more research from groups like the NEPC, the Great Lakes Center, EPI, CAP, and from researchers like Diane Ravitch and Bruce Baker.
When I talk to leaders, it is only with strong talking points and passionate experiences that they will listen.
I will have more to say about my emotionally charged trip to Madtown later in the week. Because there is still much to digest from my marathon driving experience, I'm collecting my thoughts for a later work.
This diary is a follow up to the one that I published for a fellow educator last week. Why am I the enemy?
While I was gone, my wife took some time to write down her thoughts on education, why she wears red, and why educators are being ignored. The following is a collection of thoughts that my wife has collected and penned to express her thoughts.