Our movement shows no signs of stopping. We are gaining momentum and resolve with each passing day. We have garnered national attention and local support. The oppressive state legislature is scrambling for cover, and the corporate reward structure headed by Jeb Bush is getting worried. This is our time. We are the change that we seek.
From Teacher Magazine:
Teachers are finally learning how to organize. It took some intense provocation, because we do not rile easily. But from Florida to Fremont High School in Los Angeles, teachers are doing what it takes to be heard. And this is not your mother's protest movement. Teacher protest is alive in the digital age, and we are using the latest tools of the times.
Using the tools of the times, we are not only being heard. We are changing the narrative for the entire State of Florida.
I would like to quote one more section of that article by Anthony Cody. In the past week, thanks to Facebook, the Teachers of Florida have become a voting block that can no longer be ignored.
Why has Facebook emerged as such a powerful vehicle? First of all, most teachers are women, and according to this report from istrategy labs, at least 54% of Facebook users are female, and the largest age group is 35 to to 54 year olds. Facebook membership has more than doubled in the past year, and more than 100 million Americans are registered users. Facebook allows you to set up a group, host discussions, and share links and videos. You can even announce a protest, invite people to attend, and track who says they will come. But the best thing about it is that since this is a social platform, posts can permeate into our everyday social scene, so amidst the flurry of news from friends like "I just popped some popcorn and am going to watch Casablanca" we can get posts with the latest news about teachers protesting in Florida, or an invitation to write our congressperson about ESEA. And since so many people belong, it is possible for important news to spread virally outward.
Florida teachers are also using Facebook very creatively. The group Stop Senate Bill 6 now has about 22,000 fans, and is a hub of organizing activity for teachers in the state. And the teachers are taking their message to the Facebook pages of their representatives as well. A visit to the Republican Senate Majority Office Facebook page reveals scores of notes from angry teachers raising serious questions about the future of education should this law pass.
Art teacher Rian Fike has used his diary on the Daily Kos to share news of the teacher movement against Senate Bill 6. Because of him, I saw these great YouTube videos of teachers confronting Republican governor Charlie Crist, pressuring him to veto the bill. This is a great example of effective dialogue with our representatives. The teachers are passionate, on point, and united.
We are passionate. We are on point. We are united. We are actually holding our own against the Jeb Bush machine.
This has not happened in the past. We have been jaded, scattered, and separate. Not any more.
Facebook has made us into a movement.
And, it got us on Huffington Post.
The heavily Republican-controlled Florida Legislature has been hard at work for the last few weeks drafting draconian legislation that would strip teachers of tenure, negate their advanced degrees and length of service for salary consideration and install a merit pay system that would reward results based on test scores rather that how well they teach.
Florida educators and other concerned parties are not taking this lying down. All over the state, teachers unions and independent public school teachers, as well as PTAs, politicians in opposition, civic activists and concerned citizens are speaking out and social networking their resistance. Several rallies are being held outside Republican State Representatives' offices throughout the state urging them not to pass the bill. The Senate passed HB 6 last week, and if HB 7189 passes the House it is expected that Governor Crist will sign it into law.
Let me explain how this all happened, and where it is going.
Jeb Bush has been making millions for his friends by directing the education policy of Florida since NCLB allowed him to destroy the spirit of our schools with the FCAT test. He thought he could do it again.
Jeb Bush set up a "non-profit" corporation to steer his lucrative policy. He enlisted the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Council of 100 corporations. He lined up his cronies: Charlie Crist, Marco Rubio, Bill McCollum, John Thrasher. They pushed a hideously disrespectful bill through the State Senate and had their plan in place for $1 billion in federal funds from the Obama Administration's Race to the Top program.
Then the teachers started to organize.
We caught wind of the bill three weeks ago. Our unions made sure we understood the dire situation. We took the ball and we went supersonic. Facebook groups gained thousands of members per day, and then we met together in person to protest. We got our cause on the local news in over 30 different cities. We followed the money trail to the Council of 100. We found out that Publix Supermarkets and Office Depot were part of the plot. We are waiting for a clarification of their position, since they immediately began backpedaling. If the bill is forced through and signed by Governor Crist, we will organize massive boycotts.
At Thursday's press conference, Jeb Bush urged lawmakers to ``dramatically change the way we deal with teachers.''
Be careful what you wish for Jebby. From now on, you WILL have to dramatically change the way you deal with us. You will deal with us ON OUR TERMS. The Obama administration came down on our side, and refused to hand you the $1 billion for your plan, stating that it contained "too much funding for consultants". They exposed you for only gaining 8% teacher approval for a plan that would affect 240,000 jobs. If you want to win the next round, you need to work WITH the teachers.
There are 237,868 teachers in Florida. Each teacher spreads the news to their family and friends about the horrible impact of Senate Bill 6. Family: 237,868, Friends 237,868 (at a minimum). Our vote WILL count even when our voices don't seem to make a difference. Copy and paste this into your status to help the children and teachers of Florida.
On Monday, the Florida House is on schedule to railroad their version of the bill through. This law would make it illegal for a local school board to choose an experienced teacher over a new teacher when it comes time for layoffs. My 27 years of experience would be rendered meaningless, and they could eliminate me, with my stellar record and three Teacher of the Year awards at three different schools, to save money. It is an outrage, and it will not stand.
On Monday night, Charlie Crist is attending a fundraiser for fatcats at a Country Club. He will be greeted by hundreds of angry teachers and concerned parents. We are not going away. We are organized and we will be heard.
The Florida Teachers Movement is getting stronger every day.