3 results for author: Sheila Plotkin
EDUCATION BY EXCLUSION
Phase 1: 26 years ago, education by exclusion was wrapped in the camouflage of "parental choice". Charter schools were touted as citadels of best practice, hotbeds of innovation, and a much-needed alternative to "failing" public schools. The courts determined that as long as taxpayer money (vouchers) went to the child and not the school, such public support for religious and other private education did not violate the constitution. The bulging public pocket was now open for picking.
But, the privatizers had a problem: public schools were not failing fast enough, and in some cases, despite the ravages of institutional racism, poverty, joblessness, ...
OPEN RECORDS REQUEST…..ORR
OPEN RECORDS REQUEST…..ORR
This fall, Wisconsin Republicans put game-changing legislation on a fast tract. From October 21 to November 16, they dismantled the independent Government Accountability Board (GAB), changed campaign finance laws such that Wisconsin now has the loosest restrictions on dark money of any state, and exempted themselves, and only themselves, from the secret John Doe process.
I wanted to know whether Wisconsin citizens were pushing for these changes, and whether citizens’ demands compelled the fast-track approach.
From the end of October to the present time, 14 volunteers and I have sent each Republican legislator ...
A TEACHER’S SPEECH
A TEACHER’S SPEECH by Sheila Plotkin
The following speech was given by Sheila Plotkin at a Rally for Public Schools in Sun Prairie.
I taught in the Milwaukee Public Schools Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program for 28 years. I am here as a retired teacher, and as a proud American. I am here because I believe that today, we stand together on common ground, and I am moved to begin with the most common ground of all. We all know these words well, perhaps too well. I ask you to imagine that you are hearing these words for the first time. Please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of
Ame...