BATs v. Free Market Fairy

BATs v. Free Market Fairy

Here we go again. Once more, the hope and promise of a new year is trashed by more divisive legislation proposed by Wisconsin's Republican Party. To the elation of the GOP's machismo-minded supporters, Governor Walker's divide-and-conquer approach to managing Wisconsin continues.

This new year the first piece of legislation to the floor is a useless school accountability bill designed to hand over school districts with high student poverty rates to the private charter industry for even less accountability. (Wisconsin Soapbox spells out the absurdity.) This, of course, is a national trend just now hitting Wisconsin. For the GOP, it is the free market fairy to the rescue!

Fighting this annual assault on my profession and public education is exhausting. Some days I think, "why bother?" Challenging my pessimism is the persistent advocacy of many of my professional colleagues. Most consistent and persistent in challenging the forces trying to dismantle public schools is the noble-minded, but tough-named, Badass Teachers Association (BATs).

BATs is a grassroots organization formed "...for every teacher who refuses to be blamed for the failure of society to erase poverty and inequality, and refuses to accept assessments, tests and evaluations imposed by those who have contempt for real teaching and learning." BATs combat the false narrative of a failing public school system produced by those infatuated with the free market fairy. It is an epic battle of BATs v. the free market fairy.

Yeah, BATs have an edginess I like, but mostly BATs provide an inspiring and motivating defense of public education for those of us beaten down by plutocrats orchestrating the attack on Wisconsin's public school system.  For example, just a couple days ago, I ran across this beautifully written post by fellow Wisconsin BAT, Allison Pratt.

The expectation by communities of our public schools has changed. It’s no longer “Help us teach our children.” It now is “Raise our kids.” No generation of teachers and administrators in history has had to fulfill this mandate. And each year, the pressure grows upon Educator's shoulders. We carry 500 pounds while trying to balance the twirling plates.

Our country's social and economic conditions demand that Educators develop the full potential of every child. An Educator's future is tied to student success as never before through evaluations, goals and standards. But this is a job for an entire community. Everyone, in every community, must help remove the obstacles to student success. We must recognize our common interests, and do our part to help our schools create the graduates and citizens we need. Our public schools cannot do it alone. Survival of our neighborhood public schools depends on a partnership of respect and problem solving. What are you doing to speak out and save your public school and community?

Thanks for the lift, Allison.  I'm writing again. I'm speaking out for social justice and what is right in my kids' schools.  I join the BATs in fighting back the free market fairy. True to my New Year's resolution, I am #teacherstrong.