Friday, November 25, 2016

Via JMG: Nation’s Largest Labor Union Denounces “Failed” Education Policies Of Trump Nominee Betsy DeVos

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Via press release from the National Education Association:
Every day, educators use their voice to advocate for every student to reach his or her full potential. We believe that the chance for the success of a child should not depend on winning a charter lottery, being accepted by a private school, or living in the right ZIP code. We have, and will continue, to fight for all students to have a great public school in their community and the opportunity to succeed no matter their backgrounds or circumstances.
Betsy DeVos has consistently worked against these values, and her efforts over the years have done more to undermine public education than support students. She has lobbied for failed schemes, like vouchers — which take away funding and local control from our public schools — to fund private schools at taxpayers’ expense. These schemes do nothing to help our most-vulnerable students while they ignore or exacerbate glaring opportunity gaps. She has consistently pushed a corporate agenda to privatize, de-professionalize and impose cookie-cutter solutions to public education. By nominating Betsy DeVos, the Trump administration has demonstrated just how out of touch it is with what works best for students, parents, educators and communities.
The National Education Association advocates for investing in smart strategies that we know help to improve the success of all our students, including creating more opportunities and equity for students, classes small enough for one-on-one attention, modern textbooks and a well-rounded curriculum for every student. We also know that the voices of educators — those who know the names of the students they educate — should always be present at the table when making decisions that impact student success. Educators will continue to focus on raising their voices in support of their students and against any effort by the Trump administration to undermine the educational opportunity of all public school students.
The NEA has three million members.

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Via JMG: Civil Rights Group Denounces Betsy DeVos

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From the LGBT rights group Freedom For All Americans:
The Michigan billionaire is a troubling choice, given her extreme history of supporting anti-LGBT causes and opposing efforts to bring fairness and equality to LGBT Americans. Between 2010 and 2013, the DeVos family and their various foundations have given millions of dollars to anti-LGBT groups, including Focus on the Family, Family Research Council and the Alliance Defending Freedom.
Each of these organizations has fought vehemently against protecting LGBT students from discrimination and harassment. They have also lobbied for legislation to prohibit students from using the restroom that matches their gender identity; opposed rights for same sex parents; and are fighting to require education professionals – including teachers, counselors, therapists, administration and more – to out LGBT students to their parents, even if they are not ready.
DeVos, her family, and their foundations were seen as leaders in the push to ban marriage between loving, committed same-sex couples in Michigan and California.
She has also given more than half a million dollars to the National Organization for Marriage, a group that worked for years to block marriage between same-sex couples and now has made its mission clear to roll back the freedom to marry.

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Via Sri Prem Baba


Via Daily Dharma / November 25, 2016: Give Up Control

When we reach out to what is unknown to us, we let go of the notion that we can control what we experience.

—Ken McLeod, "Where the Thinking Stops"