Badass Teachers Association Blog

BATs HAD AN AMAZING 2015! HERE WE COME 2016!

àBATs Teaceher Congress this summer in D.C. which included 60+ appointments on Capitol Hill

àBATs filed an Amicus Brief in the Supreme Court for Friedrichs vs. CTA http://www.scotusblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/14-915_bsac_Brittany_Alexander.pdf

àBATs Quality of Work Life Team research project with AFT Research is now written into ESSA Section 2301 N of Title II. This requires Title II money to be used to study school workplace conditions.

à BATs heralded as a prominent educator activist group by Yahoo News this year http://news.yahoo.com/no-child-left-behind-dead-happens-standardized-testing-214447919.html

àWe appear on The Rick Smith Show every Monday on #BATsRadio, The Jeff Santos Show every Tuesday for #TeacherTuesday, Just Let Me Teach, and every fourth Thursday of the month of We Act Radio Education Town Hall. Please head over to our website and locate the Radio Shows tab for links to these amazing radio stations http://www.badassteacher.org/

àNY BATs helped to organize an Education Justice Conference in NYC.

àNY BATs help to expose “Deskgate” in the Bronx. http://nypost.com/2015/10/18/principal-forbid-teachers-to-sit-so-she-threw-out-their-desks/

àThe BAT NEA caucus had amazing accomplishments this summer at NEA RA in Orlando, FL. Read about it here http://badassteachers.blogspot.com/2015/07/bat-caucus-reflections-by-becca-ritchie.html

àBATs continue to form and join coalitions around the country that range from education to social justice issues.

àMany BATs and BATs main twitter feed got blocked by Campbell Brown's Twitter account

àHaving our comments deleted by TFA and then reposting them elsewhere.

àBATs became a 501c4 and restructured so that we can mobilize more quickly both at the national and state levels. http://badassteachers.blogspot.com/2015/10/big-bat-surprise-month-bats-became-501c4.html

àA successful Fall Fundraising Campaign that raised double what was needed (and funded our Amicus Brief and ad in the Washington Post Express due to come out Jan. 14th)

àCalling out the NEA and AFT for early endorsement of Hillary Clinton without rank and file input

àHosting and presenting on panels all over the country including at NPE in Chicago, TEACH in DC, NYCORE in NYC, and RootsCamp in DC.

àOutreach – Startup of some new regional groups like Broward BATs and open fan pages like New York BATs Open Facebook page, NJ BATs Open Facebook Page. BATs also has twitter feeds in every state and will be launching a new surprise in 2016 on social media!

BATs in the News-2015!

BATs Respond to Arne’s Retreat on Testing

http://dianeravitch.net/2015/10/24/bats-respond-to-arnes-retreat-on-testing/

How to get 100% Passing Rate on a Test – Backfill

http://dianeravitch.net/2015/03/17/badass-teachers-association-how-to-get-near-100-passing-rates/

WA BATs Refuse to Test

http://www.livingindialogue.com/four-seattle-teachers-declare-refuse-give-tests/

Tonight I am informing you that I am a conscientious objector to this test

http://badassteachers.blogspot.com/2015/02/tonight-i-am-informing-you-that-i-am.html

Response to Arne Leaving Office

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2015/10/05/reactions-to-arne-duncans-departure-illustrate-national-divide-over-education/

Four Seattle Teachers Declare: “We Refuse to Give the Tests”

http://www.livingindialogue.com/four-seattle-teachers-declare-refuse-give-tests/

We Won’t Get Great Teachers By Treating Them Badly

http://educationopportunitynetwork.org/we-wont-get-better-teachers-by-treating-them-badly/

California Teachers Association Pres. Looks to the Future

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/on_california/2015/04/dean_vogel_looks_to_his_union's_future_in_ed_reform.html

Teachers union demands apology from Chris Christie

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/08/teachers-union-demands-apology-chris-christie-punch-in-face-121038

New York BATs Outraged Over Cuomo Education Reforms - See more at: http://progressive.org/news/2015/04/188081/new-york-bats-outraged-over-cuomo-education-reforms#sthash.m6DuA5CG.dpuf

Can we interest you in Teaching?

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/12/opinion/frank-bruni-can-we-interest-you-in-teaching.html?_r=0

Oregon BATs Protest Pearson

Teacher-led protest against Common Core testing picks an unlikely target

http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2015/06/teacher-led_protest_against_co.html

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/06/24/teachers-group-leads-protest-outside-common-core-linked-publisher-conference.html

FL BATs Protest Jeb Bush

Florida teachers plan to protest Jeb Bush's education summit

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/florida-teachers-plan-to-protest-jeb-bushs-education-summit/2216158

Following 'testocracy uprising,' White House issues call for limits on time taking tests in classrooms

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/10/25/will-new-plan-testing-caps-bring-end-disastrous-bush-obama-education-policies

Using the Restroom: A Privilege—If You’re a Teacher

http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/07/teachers-not-enough-bathroom-time/399629/

John Kasich's teacher problem

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/08/18/john-kasichs-teacher-problem/31944403/

Pauline Liu: New education chief has her hands full – New York

http://www.recordonline.com/article/20150531/NEWS/150539938

Campaign for America’s Future: We Won’t Get Great Teachers By Treating Them Badly

http://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/great-teachers

How The Big New Education Law Could Cut Testing Time

http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/07/22/414905874/how-the-big-new-education-law-could-cut-testing-time

National teachers union wants feds to study stresses of teaching

http://chicago.suntimes.com/education/7/71/600773/national-teachers-union-stress-study

The Global Search for Education: Teaching in a Global World

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/c-m-rubin/the-global-search-for-edu_b_8104494.html

Teachers's organization rallies against over-testing – Washington State

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/olympia/2015/02/16/toxic-testing-rally/23531421/

The Teachers Unions Savior?

http://www.usnews.com/news/the-report/articles/2015/10/06/teachers-unions-look-to-clinton-to-save-them

Survey Reveals That America’s Teachers Are Seriously Stressed Out

http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/05/15/groundbreaking-survey-reveals-americas-teachers-are-seriously-stressed-out

How The Big New Education Law Could Cut Testing Time

http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/07/22/414905874/how-the-big-new-education-law-could-cut-testing-time

Are Cleveland schools 'manipulative bullies' over test opt-outs? Or just making sure parents are informed?

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/03/the_cleveland_schools_manipula.html

Arne Duncan’s Departure: Education Reporters Dig In – National

http://www.ewa.org/blog-educated-reporter/arne-duncans-departure-education-reporters-dig

New York Activists Organize a RoboCall for Opting Out

http://www.livingindialogue.com/new-york-activists-organize-a-robocall-for-opting-out/

Broward BATs - Badass Teachers Association' fed up with teaching to the test

http://hollywoodgazette.com/FL/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=406:badass-teachers-association-fed-up-with-teaching-to-the-test&Itemid=333

Parents fight back against PARCC testing by opting out in Ohio

http://www.thenewsoutlet.org/parents-fight-back-against-parcc-testing-by-opting-out/

OP-ED: ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL TESTING ISN'T WHAT OUR KIDS NEED TO SUCCEED – New Jersey

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/02/02/more-testing-doesn-t-measure-what-our-kids-need-to-succeed-in-life/#

For Every Nonprofit: A Labor Day Agenda and Challenge - National

https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2015/09/08/a-labor-day-agenda-for-nonprofits-and-a-challenge-for-the-year-ahead/

Badass Teachers Association Opposes Common Core - Arizona

https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2015/03/06/badass-teachers-association-opposes-common-core/

Jeb Bush to raise money, discuss education in Tallahassee

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2015/02/jeb-bush-to-raise-money-discuss-education-in-tallahassee.html

Why education activists are furious at ExxonMobil’s CEO

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2015/12/27/why-education-activists-are-furious-at-exxonmobils-ceo/

BATs Year in Pictures and Memes - 2015

Our top shared meme for 2015 was created by BAT Meme Team Co-Director Sue Goncarovs. With over 2 million people reached it spreads the message loud and clear - our children are NOT standard!

TN BATs lead and strengthen the union in Shelby County!

WA BATs Becca Ritchie gives Bernie Sanders a BAT Handshake

BATs around the nation joined a 1 day hunger strike to support the Dyett 12

BATs Represent at United Opt Out Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, FL

OHIO BATs Protest Kasich bid for President!

NY BAT Michael Flanagan addresses Educational Justice Conference in NYC

NV BATs take to the Las Vegas strip for a fair contract and public education

FL BAT Trudy Jermanovich testifies before her BOE

FL BATs protest Jeb Bush Education Summit

BROWARD BATs HOLD A PROTEST IN BROWARD COUNTY, FL

NEA BATS

A FORCE

AT NEA RA

Oregon BAT Kathleen Jeskey stands before her BOE as a conscientious objector to testing!

WA BATs Refuse to Test

Oregon and WA BATs lead a protest of Pearson in Oregon

Ohio BATs Protest Kasich Presidential Announcement

NY BATs Protest NY Gov. Cuomo at the NY State Fair

Ohio BATs Gather and Organize for Education

NV BATs take to the Las Vegas Strip to fight for Education

BATS Occupy Bernie Sanders Office!

BATs Teacher Congress - Summer 2015

BATs March on DC with Jesse Turner, who walked 400 miles for
kids and education

MN BATs take to Capitol Hill!

BATs Occupy Bernie Sanders Office to get an appointment or discussion with him. His education adviser did call BATs Executive Director Marla Kilfoyle after this occupation!