Ravitch's very apt description of Arne Duncan.

[madfloridian]

Why the California Teachers Association Launched the Call for Duncan’s Resignation

Diane Ravitch at her blog points out the words of the California Teachers' Association in calling for Arne Duncan to resign. She links to their website and resolution.

Then she describes how Arne Duncan is such a terrible Secretary of Education. Every word true.

Duncan is without question the most anti-teacher,anti-public school Secretary of Education in our history, and I say that advisedly. Both Bill Bennett Reagan’s second term Secretary) and Rod Paige (George W. Bush’s first term Secretary) had their faults, but they did nothing more than talk. Paige, remember, called the NEA a “terrorist” organization. But neither had the ability to open thousands of privately managed schools, neither persuaded states to judge teachers by the test scores of their students. Besides, both served Republican presidents so their antipathy to unions was not surprising. Duncan works in a Democratic administration. What is his excuse for applauding the mass firing of the staff in Central Falls, Rhode Island? The destruction of public education in New Orleans? The release of teacher names with student scores in Los Angeles? The Vergara decision, attacking due process rights? His close alliance with anti-public school groups like Democrats for Education Reform?

The only puzzle is why the vote was close. Are there NEA members who like a Secretary of Education who is hostile to public school teachers?

Agree on all.

There is a very good post in the comment section.

“The only puzzle is why the vote was close.”

Just a guess, but perhaps because many (if not most) Democrats will simply not criticize Obama (on anything for any reason) because they have been led (by Obama and other Democratic party leaders) to believe — indeed to fear — that if they do, they will hand victory to the Republicans in the upcoming election.

But, alas, there is always an upcoming election, so such an approach effectively means always withholding criticism, which leads to a party leadership that is sometimes completely unresponsive to (essentially ignores and sometimes even mocks) its members.

[Starry Messenger]

1. k&r

I'm not too surprised the vote was close. I think this is a pretty big step for the teachers unions. We were trying to make this relationship work, and there was a lot of good will for a Democratic administration after the Bush years.

Activists here saw the writing on the wall early on, but it takes longer to demonstrate to the rank and file what is going sour. And there has been complicity in leadership too.

I'm hoping really hard that this new shift leads to some shake ups.

[Smarmie Doofus]

2. Some in the leadership seem ok w. corporate school reform.

My guess is they've figured out how to turn it to their personal and political advantage.

This seems esp. true of UFT/AFT.

UFT pres Mulgrew recently dismissed teachers complaints of micromanagement by telling them to "get over it".

Meantime, he spent thousands of $$$$ union cash having his office swept for spyware.

http://nypost.com/2014/01/20/uft-spent-18g-in-dues-for-headquarters-spy-sweep/

Someone should follow *him* around for a few days with a clipboard. Let's see how fast he can "get over it."

With all that cash flooding the system it's hard to believe that SOME union professionals are NOT gaming the system.

Which might explain the "collaboration" rhetoric that's been coming from UFT/AFT, more-or-less from the get-go.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

3. Republicans cater to their Base. Dems cater to Repugs and expect their Base to like it.

[msongs]

4. duncan is merely implementing obama's vision of education. why get mad with him? nt

[DeSwiss]

5. ''Duncan works in a Democratic administration.''

- Duh.

K&R

[Scuba]

6. The quoted comment sounds like it's aimed at DU. So true.

[Doctor_J]

7. excellent article, excellent comment. my only complaint would be the line

"Duncan works for a democratic administration". Hardly anything about the Obama administration is Democratic.

[amandabeech]

8. I think that turnout will be low in 2014 for just that reason.

In addition to advocating seemingly Republican policies in education and health care, it seems that some actors in the current administration are very authoritarian, another Republican theme. Dissenters and whistle-blowers do not seem to be at all welcome no matter without regard to the importance and truth of the message.

[Doctor_J]

9. yeah, most of the new and neutral voters from 08 have been completely repulsed

by the dems' right wing agenda. Even the BOG have to fall back on "better than McConnell". What a motivational platform!!!

[amandabeech]

10. You said it.

Do any leaders of the party understand? If they do, do they feel comfortable speaking out?

Somehow, at this point, it seems to me that the answers to those questions is "no."