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[WS:] On the other hand, his "market driven" educational policy is not just obnoxious - it is dangerous as it effectively sabotages the only largely public industry in this country, driving it toward privatization. Straight from the Republican kitchen http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/21/AR2010092103413.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR
A friend who's hot and heavy against privatization writes:
"In case you haven't heard, an onslaught of ed deform propaganda is about to descend on the screen-viewing nation next week with the double whammy of the official opening of the pro-charter/anti-teacher union spectacle "Waiting for Superman," followed by a binge-fest on NBC called "Education Nation."
A bunch of us have been pressuring NBC about a number of things, most especially to include 1.) more parents on the panels (as of last week there was only one, from Connecticut and a member of "Moms Congress," an organization co-fabricated by Parenting magazine and the PTA), and 2.) some measure of discussion about the controversies surrounding "philanthropic" foundations bankrolling the destruction of teachers unions and the privatization of public education, and other reality-based topics.
The NBC producers haven't been much willing to budge, and the reason for their refusal is understood upon viewing the program's sponsors. Listed at #3 and #4 are the Gates and Broad foundations, respectively. That venerable institution of higher education, the University of Phoenix, is sponsor #1.
Education Nation has a Facebook page ( http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/educationnation and its NBC moderators were kept very busy last week doing damage control because so many complaints were being posted; they simply deleted a bunch of them.
Just today, I learned about a fun new Facebook page called "Miseducation Nation." Take a peek at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Miseducation-Nation/115549011834676
And "NOT Waiting for Superman," another Facebook page, has also appeared. http://www.facebook.com/pages/NOT-Waiting-for-Superman/149979798356036?ref=ts&v=wall:"
This is a HUGE issue and public sentiment is starting to turn against the privitizing stuff.
Do whatever you can to help.
Joanna