Here is the letter that I just sent to Kent Williamson at NCTE. I will be sending the letter to the Executive Council... as well as to IRA's leadership but they don't seem to listen at all.
I'm also posting this to my blog which is a new venture for me. I'm sure there will be moments that cause all of us to laugh at my follies, commiserate with my foibles, etc.
Debbie
July 18, 2009
Dear Mr. Williamson and the Executive Council,
It has come to my attention that NCTE was invited to Mr.
Arne Duncan’s meetings about nationalized standards. What has emerged as I’ve searched for verification of these
facts is that both NCTE and IRA, as the major literacy organizations, asked to be invited. What is troublesome isthe reason for the outrage was due to not being asked initially. This stands in opposition to the stance many NCTE members of this fine organization believe: that nationalized standards tends to relegate teaching and learning, literacy, and the learner to the status of nothingness.
In effect, the nationalized standards movement does something that all associated with educational organizations should be
adamantly opposed to. Mr. Duncan’s stance dismisses all education organizations that support teachers and learners as irrelevant. The organizations become irrelevant and without power themoment teachers and learners are forced to follow one definition of what andwho is considered successful in school settings.
As a long time member, teacher, teacher educator, and teacher-researcher I am both ashamed and appalled at this moment to be part of an organization whose paid and volunteer leadership cannot stand up to those who undermine both the profession and the people this democratic nation’s constitution demands public schools to serve.
It is my fervent prayer that if anything goes awry in the discussion that you and the Executive Council has the strength to loudly withdraw from that fray. It is my fervent prayer that you and the Executive Council demand and ardently,
tirelessly, and vocally work towards those goals.
I will be publishing my letter on my blog, to all organizations and listservs to which I participate in, and to the Executive Committee of this organization.
An outraged and disappointed member,
Debbie
I'm also posting this to my blog which is a new venture for me. I'm sure there will be moments that cause all of us to laugh at my follies, commiserate with my foibles, etc.
Debbie
July 18, 2009
Dear Mr. Williamson and the Executive Council,
It has come to my attention that NCTE was invited to Mr.
Arne Duncan’s meetings about nationalized standards. What has emerged as I’ve searched for verification of these
facts is that both NCTE and IRA, as the major literacy organizations, asked to be invited. What is troublesome isthe reason for the outrage was due to not being asked initially. This stands in opposition to the stance many NCTE members of this fine organization believe: that nationalized standards tends to relegate teaching and learning, literacy, and the learner to the status of nothingness.
In effect, the nationalized standards movement does something that all associated with educational organizations should be
adamantly opposed to. Mr. Duncan’s stance dismisses all education organizations that support teachers and learners as irrelevant. The organizations become irrelevant and without power themoment teachers and learners are forced to follow one definition of what andwho is considered successful in school settings.
As a long time member, teacher, teacher educator, and teacher-researcher I am both ashamed and appalled at this moment to be part of an organization whose paid and volunteer leadership cannot stand up to those who undermine both the profession and the people this democratic nation’s constitution demands public schools to serve.
It is my fervent prayer that if anything goes awry in the discussion that you and the Executive Council has the strength to loudly withdraw from that fray. It is my fervent prayer that you and the Executive Council demand and ardently,
tirelessly, and vocally work towards those goals.
I will be publishing my letter on my blog, to all organizations and listservs to which I participate in, and to the Executive Committee of this organization.
An outraged and disappointed member,
Debbie
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