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Let me preface this discussion with the fact that the Principal Gibson I am getting ready to introduce, is just one of probably thousands of administrators in American K-12 education, who has no problem throwing students under the bus, in order to harm teachers. Principal Gibsons are the henchmen of American common conformity education programs. They are similar to the flying monkeys in the "Wizard of Oz", always ready to do the dirty work -- always searching for ways to feel relevant. They are empty headed followers, and they are directly responsible for retarding the education of American students. As long as American education is dictated by non-teachers, these flapping imps will continue to dig their anti-intellectual talons into American students. Several years ago, I worked under a school manager named Principal Gibson. This administrator was/is the poster child for today’s typical school principal. A master at following directions no matter the cost to teaching and learning. Strictly by the book (written by those who are hell bent on destroying what’s left of intellectualism in American schools). I never witnessed innovation, thoughtful decision making, or honest care about teaching and learning. This principal was the Macdaddy of regurgitation. Ruling by fear -- the threat of retaliation ever present. There are several people I have come across in education, who belong no where near children; nor, should they have power over teaching and learning. Principal Gibson is one of those persons.  I truly believe that if Gibson’s supervisors required students to be locked in a closet, Gibson would do so. You know that news story about the school principal who handcuffed a six-year-old to his desk? Or any school principal in the newspaper who makes absolutely idiotic decisions; leaving readers scratching their heads in disbelief? Those are all examples of the Principal Gibson Genotype. Now, I have no idea whether my Principal Gibson ever handcuffed a child to a desk, however, I do believe that this person is capable of doing so. My professional relationship with Principal Gibson, began with a phone interview for a full-time elementary gifted position. After I received the official notification that I had been hired,  I sent an email thanking Gibson and for this opportunity and writing that I was excited to soon be a part of the school community. Unfortunately, the next two years were to become the absolute worst t

There are three reasons most persons enter the K-12 teaching profession: They love working with young people They love learning and want to impart that onto others They are passionate about a particular age or discipline, and want to teach to that age or discipline I also know that most teachers do not enter the profession because they want to get in there and kick some adult ass. In other words, people who like to argue and fight are usually not attracted to the profession of teaching. However, I believe professional teachers in America, are to the point, where they better start publicizing their voices, because the profession of teaching is at the beginning of its demise. So, this podcast includes my teaching and learning survival techniques that I feel puts power (or at least some of the power) back in the hands of the only education experts in America, great American teachers. When directly faced with a criticizer let the criticizer -- criticize -- don’t say a single word. While he or she is criticizing, look him/her straight in the eye with a pleasant or nondescript facial expression. When confronted by a criticizer, only talk when asked a direct question. Never respond to criticisms -- only questions. If you’re asked why you’re not responding to the criticism, simply state: I’m allowing you to talk and voice your opinions. I will be happy to answer any direct questions. Then, stop talking and let the criticizer continue. Happily agree to implement whatever the parent wants -- but make sure you include an addendum that places some of the responsibility on the parent. For example -- if the parent wants you to make daily notes in his student’s planner (what the homework is, what the student did not complete, behavior issues, etc..), agree to this and then add -- I will need you to sign the planner each day so that I know you saw my notes. Each time the parent fails to do this, write a note in the planner and in your own records “No Response From Parent On This Date.” Or, if a parent wants you to meet before school, after school or during your lunch, to tutor his child, tell him you would be happy to, and request that he attend the tutoring sessions as well. Explain that this way he can see what you’re working on, which will make it easier for him to work with his student at home. Of course he will have some excuse for not a

Podcast #13: Will You Be the First Politician to Stand Up for Great American Teachers? What if you could be the very first American politician to stand up for great American teachers? I don’t mean simply making empty statements about the sad state of affairs -- but really putting teachers at the center of your platform. For example, instead of the slogan Make America Great Again - your rallying cry could be Make America Intelligent Again -- Support Great American Teachers. What would that do for your career? Isn’t every politician searching for a niche? This could be your perfect niche, because it’s never been done before. Nobody with political, financial, and social clout, in the United States of America has ever truly stood up for teachers. Yes, there are all kinds of stupid and meaningless quotes that fly around social media stating teachers should be paid more, criticized less, and their expertise respected. However, none of these is effective because none have brought about the much needed overhaul of American education. These quotes have begun to really anger me, because while stating the obvious, the end result is support for the dubious. Anyone can post, but who will actually do? Who will take action to bring about the change that would silence this meaningless rhetoric forever? It could be YOU Mr or Ms politician. This could be your rise to power. Supporting teaching and learning -- which you would be doing by taking a stand against the injustices happening to teachers in American education. When you support teachers you are supporting students -- you are supporting teaching and learning. One can not happen without the other. The way a school system treats its teachers is a clear sign of what it thinks about its students. Systems that treat teachers like they’re scum does so because they do not care about the students they’re tasked with educating. If school systems hire leaders who do not possess any credible classroom teaching experience, those systems do not care about the students they are tasked with educating. Why haven’t people with clout stood up for great American teachers? Probably because there is no money to be made off teachers and students -- doesn’t it always come down to money? But in this day and age -- isn’t the time ripe for someone in Washington to put integrity first? Isn’t the time ripe for intelligence to reign? Isn’t it time to s

The following podcast is based on an online article entitled: Why Teachers Suck … June 10, 2017 / Bert Fulks  https://bertfulks.com/2017/06/10/why-teachers-suck/ Basically the article is written by an ex-teacher who is arguing with his friend, Tim, who has stated that:  “Our country’s a mess because teachers suck.” I will let you read the article at your leisure, because I want to focus on the comments left by three of the readers. Parent JULY 15, 2017 AT 4:46 AM Special Education is a civil rights issue, that almost every human being in our society has decided to ignore. It starts with public education. Yes, the system is beyond broken! Everyone has a reason to complain about something in their lives. However, if you are unfortunate enough to have a child, or to be a child, with special needs, you will systematically be cast aside, ignored, and downright disrespected, simply because of a disability. No child asks to be born, and they certainly do not ask to be born with a disability. If teachers are complaining about kids not having the right clothing, imagine how they feel about one with special needs- that is just WAY too much work, and just NOT what they thought they were signing up for. Boo hoo to all you teachers complaining about your dismal existence, and validating to each other how unfair the world is being to you. Think about what a parent of a special needs child has to deal with, let alone the child herself. If you don’t like your chosen career, switch careers like everyone else in the world has to do in that situation. And QUIT YOUR B*****ING! Parent JULY 15, 2017 AT 5:06 AM “Unfortunately, with federal programs like special education, it’d [sic] the paperwork isn’t done correctly the funds are taken away…” It’s comments like this that really make us parents of special needs kids feel so darn special (sarcasm here, in case you couldn’t tell). If only someone would make the damn civil rights of all of those special needs kids disappear, life for you teachers would be so much better. Thank you so much for your caring and dedication to ALL of your students. I say, if every teacher that has commented or complained about the injustices in the public education system would become advocates for all children, we could really get some change! With the fact that it’s literally only the parents of some of the special needs students who are t

  As I write and podcast about the types of persons hired to be education leaders, I struggle with the appropriateness of using words like: stupid, idiot, crook and moron when describing most of the administrators I have been forced to suffer through. Should I call it like it is or should I be gentle?  In the end, I have decided to state it like I see it, because of the impact these people have on American students. Additionally, many of these people enjoy salaries in the six-figure range, because their stupidity and conformity are rewarded. And at this point in the American dream, I think the days of trying to take the high road, are over. A decade ago, I would never have used those words. Today, with the current state of affairs in the United States, I say call them out -- call every single one of them out, because look at what’s happening when they’re left unfettered. The hatred, lack of integrity, and poor judgement in DC, has basically given every white hate group the thumbs-up to spread their stupidity and intolerance onto American streets. There is an ugly faction in American society, and although it has always been there, it is gaining strength. It is no longer covert. It has itself a president who represents it, and therefore, it has a loud voice that is getting louder by the day. Sitting back, taking the high road, trying to show respect for diversity, no longer works. And what is happening in DC is happening in American school systems that support racist and classist common conformity education programs like Common Core and College and Career Readiness. These programs are not designed to improve American education; they’re designed to keep American students common, average, mediocre. But, only those students attending public schools, because the white and wealthy are not sending their children to schools that keep everyone down so that none get ahead. The white and wealthy are not paying thousands of dollars in tuition, to have their children’s academic potentials stunted.   Incompetents get hired, retained, and promoted in education because they are key to the mediocrity goals of common conformity education. These are the proverbial yes-people; the head-bobbers who will say and do anything their bosses require - no matter what. They don’t stir pot, they don’t question, and most importantly -- they will never examine any new policy or procedure. They will accept what the

I am specifically referring to those on Capitol Hill who are making the policies that affect what, where, and when things are taught in American classrooms. You know the ones -- the folk with little to no classroom teaching experience, but somehow have the knowledge to decide the fate of the education of American children. I base my hypothesis on two things: Common Conformity Education programs and the voucher system Although I do not even know if my next statement is true, I would bet my life savings that both programs were written primarily by white people with financial means. I envision a swarm of bleached men, designing the downfall of the Education system -- like the photo I saw of the Caucasian male morons who decided to de-fund women’s healthcare. Of course, these buffoons are simply pawns, because the top echelon of education is actually pulling their strings. This is a very wealthy oligarchy that wants to make sure there is another generation of mediocrity it can employ to make and consume the products that add zeros to the bank statements of each oligarch. So, let me explain my racist and classist hypothesis. I will start with the voucher system. I do believe in school choice. Right now, the only Americans who get to decide what school their children will attend, are those with the financial means to do so. Everyone else is confined to her local neighborhood public school. Now, this is nothing negative about public schools. What I am stating is, it doesn’t matter whether the school is safe, what the quality of education is, the maintenance of the building, the dropout rate, etc… Whether the local public school is awesome or not, everyone without means is told by the government, which school she will attend. There are few other choices -- home school or charter. And some charters are becoming difficult to get into due to enrollment caps.  Thus, getting accepted into a good charter school is not always guaranteed. So, this white woman, who has never attended public school, has decided to push for the voucher program under the guise that it will allow families a choice in where their children can attend school. In all fairness, the white incompetent woman of whom I am speaking, probably has no idea what the voucher system is -- she is probably a puppet who is publicly doing the bidding of the white guy puppet masters, who placed her in that position. However, no matter their race, religion,

  Several colleagues of mine have asked me if I’m scared to blow the whistle. They fear for me and my continued employment. They know that the persons who are stealing tax money from teaching and learning, are not going to allow a lowly teacher to bring attention to their scams. Several educators have warned me that nobody cares. They reason that parents really don’t care; as long as they’re getting their free-babysitting, they may complain a bit, but they’ll never actually do anything that would possibly interrupt that public service. Teachers are too passive to do anything collectively to stop the insanity. Teachers love to gripe, but they don’t take the needed action that would free them and their students from the chains of mediocrity. Up until several years ago, I would have agreed that even though it’s bad (and getting worse), there was really nothing I could do. However, I have witnessed too many outrages. I have worked under too many incompetents; purposely being hired to implement common conformity education programs. I now clearly see the writing on the wall. At this point in my career, teaching has actually become an integrity issue. By going along with the deceit and hypocrisy, even begrudgingly, I am supporting people and programs meant to destroy what’s left of teaching and learning. Fear is a scary emotion, and one that education leadership knows how to use to its advantage. They use fear to psychologically enslave teachers. They do this by refusing to supply teachers the resources necessary to perform their jobs. Education leadership loves to use the excuse that there is no money. How many times have I, my peers, and the public heard this excuse?  And yet they say there is no money while sitting in their comfortable offices, and enjoying their six-figure salaries.  They enslave their teachers when they don’t pay them on time or correctly. They enslave by hiring bullies and incompetents to run school systems. They do this when they support parents who abuse teachers. They do this by forcing teachers to take on parenting responsibilities. They do this by placing expectations on teachers that they themselves, could never master. They wear down teachers by forcing them to spend energy jumping through unnecessary hoops. They make sure that teachers have to fight tooth and nail for every single scrap. America should be very proud of itself; it’s education system is basically lor

In 2005, I received a transfer to a high school in my school system. My new principal and assistant principal had both been special education teachers at this particular school. Allegedly, the principal was plucked straight from the special education classroom and promoted to principal, without ever being an assistant principal. He then brought up his boy, another special education teacher. The result was that this school had two administrators, who had both been special education teachers in the school of which they now managed. Before I continue, I must explain the role of the school secretary in order for readers to understand what these two men thought of women. The school secretary wore pleather miniskirts, cleavage baring blouses, and six-inch stilettos to work. I realize this could be considered sexist, but her professional wardrobe was totally inappropriate high school office attire. She also had an interesting working relationship with the two male principals.  One of the UPS drivers, who serviced the school, told me that he had walked into the administrative office to find the school secretary sitting on the principal’s desk, her legs definitely not closed, and Mr Principal's face not too far from her not so private parts. To say the least, business in the administrative offices of that school was not conducted in a professional manner. However, the real point I wish to emphasize is that the two male administrators loved her inappropriate work attire, the way she doted on them, and how she encouraged them to talk down to her as if she was their pet. In their eyes, she was the perfect woman: not too attractive, not too smart, and she knew her place as a woman -- to be an object. The problem with this good old boy way of thinking is that if this is their idea of womanhood, how are they going to treat intelligent competent female staff and students? Although the answer is probably obvious, I will still provide a few anecdotes. This school had a female science teacher who was brilliant; not only in her subject matter but in her approach to students. She was able to take a course that some consider difficult or boring, and make it come alive for her kids. There was a story that one of her students had an eye doctor appointment. I don’t know the exact details, but during the appointment, the student was able to go into great detail, beyond what is normal for a lay person, of the inner wo

Not too long ago, I observed a first grade classroom that was just beginning to implement common conformity education. The teacher had a huge white three-ring common conformity education binder, filled with prewritten scripts she had been directed to read (instead of teaching). She didn’t want to stand in front of her 25+ students with her eyes on the script. So, she had tried to memorize the script. As she was attempting to speak from memory, she kept forgetting her lines. She wasted time walking over to her desk, flipping through the binder, and finding her next line.  At one point, an aide was asked to hold the binder and provide her assistance when she forgot her lines. The following day, I went to her classroom to discuss scheduling. She apologized profusely for her inability to follow the script properly. She actually told me several times, “I felt so stupid.” I asked her why she would feel stupid when what she was being forced to do, read from a script, was stupid. Unfortunately, she didn’t get the point I was trying to make. She continued to blame herself for not having the script memorized. I told her that she needed to quit feeling like she was the one who had done something wrong. The system was wrong. However, she wouldn’t stop blaming herself long enough to hear my message. I wish I had the magic pill that empowered all teachers, but I don’t and I do not know what it will take. I fear it is becoming too late. I think teachers have been treated like crap for so long that they have simply accepted their fate. Like a victim of Battered Spouse Syndrome, they are so wrapped up in their professional bubbles, that they don’t realize they're abused. They have handed over their power to education leadership. Teachers have no idea how powerful they are because they have been bullied for so long. If every teacher got up right now, and walked out, they could return and write their own contracts. Just think what would happen to society if all teachers quit? Petty crime rates would increase as hordes of teenagers had nothing better to do than hang-out. Working parents would have nobody to watch their children during working hours -- some would not be able to afford the astronomical price tag of full-time child care. Child care centers would hike their rates to the heavens because of the commodity they would be providing. However, this window of opportunity, for teachers to take back their power, is closing

  Listeners, have you ever driven down a 2-lane highway and found yourself forced to slow way down because the driver in front of you decided to drive 40mph in a 65mph zone? You are unable to pass him because twists, turns, and hills in the road disallow you from seeing far enough ahead to determine whether you have the time to safely pass? The result is that you are forced to accommodate a slow mover. This is the best metaphor I can think of to describe what it’s like to be a great American teacher, forced to work under slow car leadership. Creative, innovative, teachers with intelligence and natural ability, unable to pass the mediocrity of their systems’ leadership. This means that their students also have to slow down; their education retarded due to education leadership. For example,  right now, I work in a system, that for the past three years has been directed by a man in his 70s, who has never been a K-12 classroom teacher. Listeners, what do you think this man is doing to the education of the students attending his schools? In what way is this man affecting the careers of teachers -- employees who actually have classroom experience? What can a man in his 70s, with no teaching experience, possibly do to improve teaching and learning? Answer: Absolutely NOTHING positive. Because he has no credible K-12 classroom teaching experience, he has created all kinds of above school-level positions -- almost all enjoying six-figure salaries, to aide him. Actually, I don’t think they are hired to assist him; I believe they are all “yes”-persons hired to insulate him from the backlash and unfortunate effects of his imbecilic decisions. Unfortunately, instead of just collecting a paycheck and keeping out of the way of the real experts -- his great American teachers, he has decided to dictate what, when, and how things will be taught in the classrooms of his schools. Along with my peers, I am now forced to sit through hours of mind-numbing drivel spewing from the mouths of other incompetents, otherwise known as education consultants, that he has hired to teach his teachers how to teach. I am blocked from driving the speed-limit because this septuagenarian doesn’t have the capacity to put the peddle to the metal. If only they made a little blue pill for that. The slow car metaphor is alive and well in the ranks of school administrators too. Ask any teacher how much time he/she wastes clear

Podcast #5 Reality TV & Education Reform Anyone who listens to The 50th Percentile podcast knows that my hypothesis is American K-12 education is, has been,  and continues to be ruined by big business and  the government. However, there is a place for them -- I want their money and resources. Specifically, I want their money and resources for a reality show. I have two magnificent ideas. So, this podcast goes out to all the billionaires who truly have philanthropy in their DNA -- either that or a tax write-off -- Doesn’t matter - but if you truly want to invest in people and entities that will improve American education then invest in me. Take your billions out of the control of the crooks and give those dollars to me; because, I actually have the knowledge and fortitude to truly bring positive change to American education. Unfortunately, because I am a teacher, I do not have enough financial, social, or political resources at my disposal. So businessman, I want access to your money and resources, but you must leave teaching and learning to me. There may be some questions as to why I would choose Reality TV for education reform purposes. Think about it, Reality TV has brought focus to struggling dancers and the need to care for America’s national parks. It has shown that a man can booze his way across the world and get paid while doing so. It proves that one can compete for a spouse and find true love within two episodes. Basically, Reality TV is a medium that brings light to the embarrassment and brilliance of America. I bet millions of Americans watch some form of Reality TV; so this would be a way to publicize how wonderful an education can be when it is provided appropriately -- free from the chains of mediocrity. The following two Reality TV pitches will showcase what education can be when it is strictly centered on teaching and learning. Pitch #1: A World Class Education Get six high school girls who desperately want to further their educations, but for whatever reasons are unable to do so. Maybe they are impoverished or their families do not support education. Maybe their schools are too violent and drug-ridden to safely attend…. Doesn’t matter…...if they want it but forces outside their control are keeping them from furthering their studies, they would make it to the short list. For one semester or one school year (haven't figured out which would be better)  I wo

American public education is failing because it is run by non-teachers -- none has the background necessary to competently make decisions that affect the education of children attending America’s schools. And yet, they do. About a year ago, I conducted some research; specifically, I wanted to know how these incompetents were getting their feet in the doors of America’s classrooms and the minds of America’s youth. I came across an article that discussed an “elite” academy known as the Broad Superintendents Academy. This academy was started in 2002, by billionaire businessmen Eli Broad.  So, I went to the website for this elite academy and was not surprised to learn that one does not have to have a background as a successful classroom teacher, in order to be accepted. Already, in my mind, this is a failure. Here I go back to the farce that people believe anyone can teach. Sure, anyone can stand in front of a classroom and talk, but that is NOT teaching. The website goes on to inform that this academy is a two-year program. Ok, so that would be similar to an Associate’s Degree. However, when I went to the page that explained the curriculum of this two-year program, what I found was that it wasn’t exactly a two year academic program. In reality it is a series of sessions that meet throughout a two-year period. For example, the 2017-2018 session dates are:                                          Session 1: March 21-25, 2017                                          Session 2: July 11-15, 2017                                          Session 3: November 7-11, 2017                                          Session 4: March 6-10, 2018                                          Session 5: July 10-14, 2018 Thus, there are five sessions, which meet for five days per session, over a two-year period. Evidently, after 25 days, one is miraculously competent to run a school system. No classroom teaching experience necessary. Ask yourselves, does this make any sense whatsoever? After 25 days, could you run a school system, with no classroom teaching experience? I bet nowhere, except in the United States of America (and maybe North Korea), can one become a district superintendent after 25 days of meetings. Dumb! Dumb! Dumb! This is a reason that American public education is not at the caliber it should be

Podcast: INTRO I find myself on a sinking ship. I look around at the unfolding events and just can’t believe that I am the only person who sees that everyone is about to drown. I scream, “Wake up!” to those around me. However, all attempts to bring focus to the unfolding events fall on deaf ears. A couple of my fellow passengers give me a sympathetic pat on the back. A few even agree with me, but their agreement does not equate the call to action that is so desperately needed. All the while, the hole that will eventually cause the ship to sink, continues to expand. If efforts to patch the hole do not commence, it will soon be too large to patch. The ship will indeed sink to its final resting place amongst all the other wrecks that sank before it. I am on a sinking ship because a small hole was never fixed. Over time, the hole has slowly and subtly enlarged into what is now becoming a gaping wound in the bowls of the ship. I do not want to drown, and find myself going through stages of absolute desperation followed by frustration and anger. I try to show my fellow passengers evidence of the water that is slowly edging up the sides of the ship. When they do not take notice or do not share my desperation, I look over the railings to see if the water is truly deepening; I question whether it’s simply a case of my overactive imagination. Sometimes, I am able to fool myself into believing that I just need to enjoy the ride and all will be hunky dory.  But then, a signal is given that brings attention once again to the rising water level. A warning signal, which to me is so obvious that I am certain the other passengers will finally see what I am seeing and heed my warnings. So, I run around the ship grabbing every life saving device that I can muster. During the time it has taken me to grab all available lifejackets, the admiral has announced that there is no need to be alarmed, The passengers are assured that he has all the knowledge necessary to successfully get us back to port. As long as we follow his instructions to the letter all will be smooth sailing. He calmly explains that rising water levels are normal and the warning signals are simply figments of our imaginations. The admiral’s crew – his captains, lieutenants, ensigns, and sailors, all chime in to assure us there is no hole too large to fix. Even now as the water has begun to seep into our cabins, the admiral provides data that proves all is perfectly normal. H

What a frigg’n joke; what an incredible waste of time. I can tell you in all honesty that in the 17 years I’ve been a classroom teacher, I have never EVER attended a professional development session that did anything to improve my teaching or learning. This is why I have named this podcast Teacher Professional DeHELLoment, because it is pure hellish torture to have my valuable time wasted, sitting through the endless hours of mind-numbing drivel that spews through the mouths of people who are considered “experts” in education. The only persons, who have truly aided me in my profession, are other great American teachers with whom I have collaborated. Their creative tips and tricks are what gave me a creative push in the right direction. Professional development has always been a huge and painful waste of time; however, in the last couple of years, I have noticed that professional development has gone from boring stupidity, conducted by out-of -touch incompetents, to something a bit more ominous. Since 2015 the professional development I’ve been expected to embrace has been turning into passive-aggressive threats that if I don’t embrace whatever it is that is being presented, I may need to re-evaluate why I am a teacher.  The last professional development that I suffered through was in April 2017. Substitutes were hired so that the Language Arts teachers could attend the training. The person who conducted the training was a teacher from the school. The objective was for him to show teachers how to use the new software resources purchased to support the new Common Core language arts text. He sat in a chair, and showed teachers how to start and stop the videos that were part of the software program. He also explained that if teachers clicked on the “resource” tab, they would be taken to the resources, and if teachers clicked on the “assessment” tab they would be taken to the pre-written assessments. During his “training” he regaled us with all the wonderful things he had done with the software. When a teacher asked him to show us examples of all these great things he had done with the software, he couldn’t provide a single piece of evidence that he had done great things with software – even though all of it was online and he should have been able to pull it up right then and there. Sitting in a chair and showing teachers how to click on tabs – really?  It was necessary to hire a substitute

PODCAST #2: Common Core is Common Crap I think that the late George Carlin said it best when he stated, “They don’t want an educated populace capable of critical thought, sitting around the kitchen table realizing how badly they’re getting f….” It really doesn’t matter whether it’s entitled Common Core, Head Start, No Child Left Behind, College and Career Readiness or Boom Shak-A-La-Ka. The reason for all the education programs in the past the present and into the future are to indoctrinate American students; they are not meant to provide a free-thinking creative education. None of these programs were designed by successful classroom teachers. Do not believe any source that states they were. Recently, I have read articles that purport some school systems are shying away from Common Core; however, I have a hard time believing this as I seriously doubt that big business and the feds are going to walk away from a billion dollar education program that lines their pockets. They are simply regrouping. Under the covers, I am fairly certain that the common conformity education money making machine is still firmly chugging away. If a school system states it is no longer implementing CC, then parents and tax payers need to find out how much money their districts spent on CC and demand their taxes be reimbursed. Hold these free-spenders accountable. They sold America another faulty bill-of-goods, which made all those businessmen, politicians, and administrators a lot of money. Then, kick them all out of education and place education in the hands of your local teachers. About every five years there is some new teacher nemesis, or what the politicians and faux educational experts like to call education program (Common Core, NCLB, CCRS), new buzzword (stakeholder, critical friends, cadre, UBD), and new entity (Broad Foundation, PARCC, Singapore,) that all claim to be the answer to improving American K-12 education. I call these Five and Fails, and they all come down to schools from above. Classroom teachers have NO say in what flows down the sewer pipelines and plops into their classrooms. Whenever an educational leader is trying to sell and/or implement the newest Five and Fail, he will publicly state that teachers were consulted. That leader is lying. Or, if teachers were consulted, they were few in number, the ass-kissers, or they were at the table to be seen but not heard. They most definitely

This episode discusses the people in America who dictate what, when, and how things are taught in America's classrooms - also known as educational leadership. What are the qualifications and motivations of these people running K-12 education?