Hollywood continues teacher bashing traditions going back to 'Stand and Deliver' and 'Waiting for Superman'... 'Teachers Rock' (August 17 on CBS) is another propaganda attack on public schools, teachers, unions... this time pushing the 'Parent Trigger' charter school attack on real public schools
Sadly, for the latest year in row, Hollywood and other celebrities have been gathered together for a "Waiting for Superman" attack on public school teachers and teacher unions. Thanks to Julie Woestehoff of PURE and Parents Across America for correcting an earlier Substance posting gushing, without enough research, enthusiastically about "Teachers Rock," which is scheduled to air on CBS on August 17. On August 8, Julie posted the following comment to Substance (which we are leaving up while taking down the article to which it referred). Perhaps our own movement is today ripe and powerful enough to hold accountable every entertainer and celebrity, including Garth Brooks, who joins in teacher bashing. And if this stuff doesn't stop, maybe it's time for us to create some kind of award — an Academy Award for union busting scab entertainers and celebrities — that we could make sure goes to every personality who lends his or her name to these attacks.
"This is NOT a great day for teachers or evidence that corporate reform is on the wane," Julie wrote in response to an earlier Substance enthusiasm. "In fact it's the opposite, Don't be fooled. 'Teachers Rock is a PR push for the anti-teacher 'parent trigger' movie Won't Back Down (see the above press release). WalMart funding is the first clue. Folks need to reach 0ut to these musicians and clue them in that they are being used. See Parents Across America here http://parentsacrossamerica.org/2012/06/parents-give-wont-back-down-movie-trailer-a-thumbs-down/."
By: Nathan Goldbaum
"Teachers Rock" will benefit TFA :(
Knowing that George has been a Garth Brooks fan, I alerted him to the news article about his appearance. Unfortunately, none of the stars of this event (including Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Usher, and the lead singer for Maroon 5) probably have any idea what damage TFA really does to the profession. And many of our own members rely on DonorsChoose, even though it's at best a bandaid for our classrooms' underfunding and makes marketers out of every teacher. Here's more of the blurb below:
Teachers Rock is a charity concert that will raise money for teachers and education. The proceeds from the LA show will benefit three nonprofit organizations: DonorsChoose.org, an online charity that raises money for classroom supplies, the hunger-relief foundation Feeding America and Teach for America, a program that trains recent college graduates to lead a classroom.