BATs - Listening to Members & Taking Action in 2017

BATs began on June 13, 2014 as a Facebook group. Within months this Facebook group evolved into an organization that brought forth the powerful voices of teachers, parents, and many other in support of public education and social justice.

Two years ago BATs became a non-profit 501c4 and in so solidified our mission in this fight to save public schools and stand up for social justice. The BATs Board of Directors understands clearly the idea of letting members drive the mission. In late August a survey of our members was launched. The results and the feedback will drive BATs into 2017. Thank you to all who took the survey and to all for your continued support.

Here are some results!

What types of actions do you participate in the most?  Top three

Sharing information on Facebook (81.1%)

Sharing information with my family, community members, and colleagues (64.8%)

Sending an email (45.1%)

How effective is the monthly calendar ?

34.8% Love it

54.8% say it’s ok.  Keeps the group focused

89.4% said they used information from BATs when speaking or advocating for public education

What do you feel we could do better?

More state get together or actions was most popular choice

Do you read the BAT emails?  71.1% said YES

What could BATs offer that would help you become a better advocate for public education?

More information on political action was most popular choice

If you are a long time BAT, is there anything you have noticed that is missing now that you especially appreciated in the beginning?  Openness to others views by the moderators, lack of energy, lack of  enthusiasm, less people taking part in actions, lack of unity were the main themes.

What are your top three concerns regarding education?   Lack of attention paid to poverty, racial injustice, funding inequity, loss of child centered education,  culture of teacher blame, privatization, loss of teacher autonomy, need for stronger unions,  high-stakes testing,  inappropriate standards

How do societal and environmental stressors/factors affect the education profession-- policies & practices ?

Racism, horrific impact of poverty on a child’s ability to learn, children are not cared for and having to provide them with clothing, food, hygiene items, lack of resources for children due to underfunding, vilification leads to burnout, influx of companies calling the shots in education, teachers are bullied due to hostile work environment, neoliberal policies, huge class size,  and  lack of respect afforded to teachers in media/government officials.

Would you be willing to work on distributing BAT material (via Facebook or other social media platforms)?

87.6% said yes!

In your opinion, what do you think distinguishes BATs from other education activist organizations?

Understand the problems teachers face because we are working teachers, aim actions to right people, calling out poverty and racism and its impact on children and families, tackle tough issues others back away from,  nobody owns us/independent from influence, member driven,  source of trustworthy information, true grassroots organization,  listens to members,  support group for teachers,  only agenda is to advocate for children and teachers,  has reach, seems to work with other groups in coalitions,  the badass in BATs is what makes it great, BATs reflects the principles of democracy,  constant communication, go to source for anything education and social justice,  information sharing with each other makes us stronger,