Mission Statement of the Badass Teachers Association

BADASS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

CLARIFICATION OUR MISSION

JULY 18, 2013

Dear Members - We would like to make it clear and concise what our mission is for this association of teachers.  We believe that our actions will occur in three phases and continue to evolve as the landscape of corporate deform evolves.

           

Phase 1 – To call out the entities that are harming public education (Corporate

deformers and government officials/lawmakers). Time Frame: July/August

Phase 2 -To Educate the public about what is really going on in education policy.    

To pursue ways, prior to the start of the school year, to educate and  join in partnership with parent and student groups to actively stop the privatization of our public school system.  To also educate those teachers who are still in the dark about privatization efforts. Time Frame: Late July/August

Phase 3 - To continue to make public the hoax of that our public school system is broken and that this is one of the many lies being spread about public education. We will actively monitor and target public figures/politicians to demand they “step up” and increase support for public education. Time Frame: Late August/Year Round

We also want to make clear that we ARE NOT A POLITICAL ORGANIZATION.  WE DO NOT SUPPORT OR ENDORSE ANY POLITICAL PARTY. The only thing that we endorse is to return public education back to the public and teacher voice to the education conversations being had at both the federal and state level.

 Here is what we are clearly fighting against:

1.     Badass Teachers will fight against Common Core National Standards - this stance is rooted in an extensive review of research literature, policy documents, and advice of educational historians/experts (Ravitch, Krashen, and Cody).  This stance is in NO WAY ROOTED TO SUPPORT ANY POLITICAL PARTY. BATs  WILL NOT ALIGN THEMSELVES WITH ANY POLITICAL PARTY FIGHTING AGAINST CCSS.  WE BELIEVE THIS IS AN "EDUCATOR’S" FIGHT AND WE WILL FIGHT BASED ON ITS PROPENSITY TO HARM PUBLIC EDUCATION IN AMERICA.  This group is opposed to the forced imposition of Common Core Standards on teachers, schools and school districts. We do not exclude teachers who voluntarily work with Common Core Standards, but we vehemently oppose a one size fits all model of learning that is imposed through bribery, intimidation and extreme political pressure, for the profit of private companies, in a manner that brings with it increased testing and smothers student and teacher creativity.

2.    Badass Teachers will fight against High Stakes Testing and the excessive testing of our children.

3.    Badass Teachers will fight against teacher evaluations tied to student test scores

4.    Badass Teachers will fight against the corporate attempt to privatize public education, which has seen the closing of schools in urban and poverty areas and the subsequent opening of charter schools for profit or a voucher system that seeks to destroy neighborhood schools.

5.    Badass Teachers will fight against any federal or state educational policy or mandate that has been implemented without funding and extensive teacher input.

6.    Badass Teachers will fight against any attempt to assault, hinder, or deny our right to collective bargaining.

We hope that these 6 mission statements will allow you all to carry on conversations and dialogue as great Badasses always do. We also hope they will provide you with a clarification of our goals. An army of 23,000 Badass Teachers will not agree on all these elements but we do agree on most.  We want to thank you all for your continued support, time, and consideration.  Now let's get to work!

Respectfully your Co-Founders,

Mark Naison and Priscilla Sanstead

                        and

BAT General Manager

Marla Kilfoyle