Getting The Word Out

I feel fortunate to be a part of a profession filled with brilliant people who truly stand up for what's right for children and teachers. Below, I'm attaching important information from five amazing educators I've become inspired by via email, Twitter, Facebook, or latest book published---Lynn Stoddard, Anthony Cody, Donalyn Miller, Susan Ohanian, and Linda Darling Hammond. Whether I know these people personally or not, I'm a teacher who continues to be thankful that I can call them some of my new "social media mentors".
Lynn, Anthony, Donalyn, Susan, and Linda have reminded me what teachers can do to change the face of education today. They have reminded me what children and teachers deserve. Read their words, and take action. I certainly will.

1. The first message comes from Lynn Stoddard, author of Educating For Human Greatness, a reform plan that restores teaching as a respected profession.

I begin with a quote from his book:



2. Next, read the message from Anthony Cody, who's leading the charge to get teacher voices to the national government through his "Teachers Letters To Obama".
To members of Teachers' Letters to Obama

Anthony Cody September 18 at 6:47pm Reply
Dear Members of Teachers' Letters to Obama,
This next week is a critical one with some important opportunities for our voices to be heard on education issues. Please take part in these activities.

First of all, NBC is promoting a week of programming devoted to familiar "experts" on education reform -- but teachers are nowhere to be seen on the main stage. Teachers are given a separate town hall on Sunday, Sep. 26, but will be lectured from on high by Bill Gates, Michelle Rhee and the like. Please register to participate nonetheless at www.educationnation.com, and let them know what you think!

This Monday, Oprah will have as guests Michelle Rhee and Bill Gates. But Oprah has issued a call to Chicago area teachers as well for a special show devoted to giving teachers a voice, for Friday, Sep. 24! Please sign up here if you can go. https://www.oprah.com/ownshow/plug_form.html?plug_id=4683574

Teachers' Letters to Obama is hosting our next Round Table, "Stop Griping, Start Organizing," on Tuesday, Sep. 28, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm Pacific time, 8:30 to 10:30 pm Eastern time. Guests will include Lily Eskelson of the NEA, Jesse Turner -- who just completed a 600 plus mile walk from Connecticut to DC to protest federal education policies, and Chris Janotta of Million Teacher March. We will discuss ways teachers are taking a stand and ways you can make a difference. Please register here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/StartOrganizingRoundtable

Lastly, many of us wrote letters this summer addressed to members of Congress, aligned with the seven principles to guide reauthorization of NCLB. These letters are now posted and available for downloading. Please download them and share them with your Congressperson and Senator. http://www.edweek.org/media/tloletters910.pdf

Now, when all the media seems to be fixed on promoting the same convergent message about school reform, it is crucial that teachers speak out and be heard. Please do not allow us to be silenced.
Anthony


3. Next, in yesterday's blog post by Donalyn Miller (aka The Book Whisperer), she speaks loudly for one of my favorite authors, Laurie Halse Anderson, and for why it's important to fight against banning books. In her own words in the blog post, "banning books increases ignorance and closes dialogue about these issues", and I wholeheartedly agree. I'm blown away by Donalyn's knowledge of books, social media, teaching, learning, and children, and her ability to share that knowledge with a global audience.
Read Donalyn's post here

4. Susan Ohanian, longtime teacher and author, fights daily for us as teachers, and does the hard work to get out information about what's going on with education in our government, our cities, and our schools across the nation. Send her an email to start receiving these important messages about how we can fight for what's right for our children, our teachers, and our schools.
http://susanohanian.org/

5. Finally, I'll end with a quote from Linda Darling Hammond's latest book, The Flat World and Education: How America's Commitment To Equity Will Determine Our Future. I'd love to have a book talk when you're done reading it and will still dream of her being the Secretary of Education one day.
I read this quote from Martin Luther King at the end of the acknowledgements in her book:



Take action because Conscience tells you it's right.

To the possibilities of a great future for our nation's children...
AM