Join the Movement!

You are here

Illinois // Latest News // Censorship of parent voice in Chicago

Illinois Blog

Censorship of parent voice in Chicago

+Share
Posted by Juan Jose Gonzalez on June 20, 2012

In my past, I was an immigrant rights community organizer in Chicago.  A movement that is rife with backlash from all sides.  As a young organizer, accusations from both the left and the right enraged me, but I was always able to remain focused because of the immigrant leaders I worked with and the realization that our cause was on the right side of history.  And at least we had a voice.

Now, at Stand for Children, every day I work with parents who want the best public education for our children in Chicago. We educate, empower, and act on our convictions. I don’t apologize for this behavior and for taking positions that are in the best interest of kids regardless of the political forces that may have a difference of opinion.

Yesterday, the online petition site Change.org announced that they have decided not to work with us or anyone who disagrees with their larger clients.

In Change.org’s own words, “At the heart of Change.org mission is an open, democratic philosophy: we believe our platform should be open to people from a range of viewpoints who share a common interest in changing their world for the better.”  Yet, under pressure from entities who disagree with us, they shut down our petition that simply implored the Chicago Board of Education and the Chicago Teachers Union to stay at the negotiating table and work out a deal that will ensure our kids stay in the classroom come September. (You can see the language of our petition here.)

I would hardly say that not wanting 400,000 kids on the street is that controversial.  All this represents is censorship, pure and simple. 

With this decision, Change.org has decided to say, ‘if you disagree with us, we’re going to find ways to silence you’. This is disrespectful to parents as it prevents them from being able to consider different viewpoints.

There are many roads up the same progressive mountain, and I find it shameful that Change.org has kowtowed to larger interests and made a business decision that squashes the very reason their platform exists.

We hope Change reconsiders as they are telling the world that those who have a difference of opinion are not welcome on their site.  They are telling the world that parents shouldn’t have an option in how to take action on education.  They are telling the world that they are willing to sell out to those who give them more money.   

We don't hide who we are. 

We don't expect everyone to agree with us, but we expect to have the right to debate because public education is so important to us.  

We will not stop doing the important work of ensuring every one of the 400,000+ students on the Chicago Public Schools receive an excellent education.  We will not be bullied by Change.org, the unions, the district, or anyone else.  We will stand our ground and do what we think is best.

Progress means advocating for an education system that gives our children the best opportunity for success. I don’t judge someone for their route to get there and welcome the debate.

I just wish everyone else welcomed it.

Juan José González
Chicago Director
Stand for Children Illinois

Comments

Joe (not verified) said on June 20, 2012 8:18 PM
It isn't censorship. They are a private company and have the right to work with anybody they want or refuse to work with anybody they want. It does seem like organizations supporting and supported by right wing politicians and hedge fund managers may not be progressive. In the end, I am sure you can get one of your billionaire supporters to build you a new survey site.
Jen (not verified) said on June 20, 2012 9:20 PM
Doesn't it tell you something that in a manner of days, over 4,500 people signed a petition to stop Change.org from sponsoring your attempt at interfering in contract negotiations, but your petition calling teachers negligent for taking a strike authorization vote and telling them to get back to the table (even though teachers never left the bargaining table but neither JC Brizard nor David Vitale ever have been at the table) can't muster even a full 1/3 of the number of signatures? People in Chicago and nationally understand that Chicago teachers want what's best for students and one thing that would help students is to let the actual teachers, parents and students voices be heard instead of your corporately backed astroturf visions for school deform.
John Kugler (not verified) said on June 20, 2012 9:24 PM
Got Dough? How Billionaires Rule Our Schools A few billion dollars in private foundation money, strategically invested every year for a decade, has sufficed to define the national debate on education; sustain a crusade for a set of mostly ill-conceived reforms; and determine public policy at the local, state, and national levels. In the domain of venture philanthropy—where donors decide what social transformation they want to engineer and then design and fund projects to implement their vision—investing in education yields great bang for the buck. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/05/29/1095781/-Got-Dough-How-Billionaires-Rule-Our-Schools
Mark Friedman (not verified) said on June 20, 2012 9:28 PM
Mr. Gonzalez, You mentioned being unapologetic for being on the "...right side of history". If that were true, wouldn't you be working in solidarity with teachers, supportive parents/families, and other grassroots community members asking the question: "How can the momentum for a strike best be utilized to demand and deliver what is best for children and fair for teachers?" After all, if you look at the declining conditions for masses of children in, not just Chicago, but in urban areas throughout the country, that would seem like a question to raise. I frame the issue this way because, if folks look at the political priorities of administrations in urban education across the nation, it often is not in the best interests of children regardless of the flowery romantic rhetoric. I know that admitting that the source of anger in this situation is not about censorship is likely deemed a tactical suicide from your stand point. Instead it's about the surprise that a well-funded, corporate-driven organization could possibly be denied the public voice that y'all bought and paid for due to the pressure of teachers, parents, and other concerned community members nationwide who see the policy disaster that has been the Chicago Public Schools' morally bankrupt corporate leadership.
brendan (not verified) said on June 20, 2012 9:52 PM
how can a 5th grade teacher be *required* to *improve* test scores *every* year over the last when s/he has a different batch of kids every year, and one year's class might be really bright, while the following year's class be really dull? How do you logically arrive at the conclusion that it's the teacher's fault if the 5th grade score goes down?
CitizensArrest (not verified) said on June 20, 2012 10:02 PM
Stand On Children is an astro turf organization that cannot have the best interests of children at heart since it attacks the rights of their teachers based on a specious ideology and then brags about it. Teachers working conditions are the children's learning conditions, period. When groups like Stand attack teachers and public education itself, the children suffer right along side them. Take your corporate money and get lost.
Rosemarie (not verified) said on June 21, 2012 5:09 AM
Stand for Children is not a grassroots organization nor does it have students best interests at heart. And teachers, who CHOOSE a profession knowing they won't make money,will be trashed by the public, and will work long hours trying to help children learn and grow, are not the monsters your group continues to paint them. I am not sure where all the teacher hatred has come from, but for me, my teachers were my role models and mentors. For my kids, they are the same. ANd I would remind you they are AMERICAN women and men doing something noble and are part of our country's dying middle class. Apparently, those at Stand for CHildren are trying to stomp that out. But who really loses? Our children continually lose when their schools are underfunded, when they are ripped from their neighborhood schools, and when their teachers are continually beaten mentally by those who have NO IDEA what it is to educate children. I'd love to know how much you have benefitted monetarily for this "stand".REal parents and real teachers get a say...corporate deforming organizations like yours deserve the door.
Linda Boyle (not verified) said on June 21, 2012 8:27 AM
After 34 years as an educator, I believe I have the right to raise my voice and expect my sister and brother educators and C.T.U. members to have a say in their avocations and stewardship of children and young people. Since when does exercising your rights in your profession and avocation over privatizers, corporate entities, Broad/Walton/Banks/Commercial Club et al. and noneducators consititute bullying? Vencemos porque tenemos la verdad en nuestro lado.
Amy (not verified) said on June 21, 2012 9:03 AM
2 attacks leveraged against Stand for Children and Students First that came up in the discussion about change.org are (1) they're "union-busting" organizations and (2) they're evil because they're funded by wealthy individuals and corporations. Being in favor of education reforms that teachers' unions disagree with and opposed to certain tactics used or contract provisions advocated for by teachers' unions does NOT make a person or organization generally "union-busting" or "anti-union". Similarly the fact that corporations or wealthy individuals give money to an organization doesn't mean that the organization is corrupt or bad (even if you think the corporations or individuals who gave money are) any more than any corporation or wealthy individual who gives money to a good cause is good just because they did so. Also, corporations and wealthy individuals are not necessarily bad or evil. That's not a given.You can think corporations are doing bad things and have too much influence over our government and elections, be anti-Citizens United, be pro the Occupy movement, and still acknowledge that corporations and wealthy people are not necessarily bad or evil. Let's focus on actual arguments about policy specifics. And, let's make student outcomes the highest priority (as it should be in a system that exists to produce student outcomes). Teachers absolutely have a right to advocate for themselves and serving their interests is connected to serving student interests, to a degree. But, bottom line is the system exists to serve the students (and our nation) and it's failing. We have to change a lot about the system to get it to actually achieve the vital and basic goal it is tasked with. Some of the changes that need to be made will go against the interests of certain adults. That doesn't mean all of the changes will and it doesn't mean the changes that go against the interests of certain adults go against the interests of all adults. It also doesn't mean we shouldn't care about teachers and protecting the interests of teachers or allow them to advocate for themselves. Prioritizing student outcomes is just that-- prioritizing student outcomes. I support Students First and Stand for Children and think the work they're doing is valuable.
Ms Cotton (not verified) said on June 21, 2012 12:20 PM
Stand For Children should more appropriately be Stand ON Children Unlike SFC we are CHICAGO parents advocating for our children. Our organizations are made up solely of CHICAGO PARENTS, not paid organizers, not lobbyists. PARENTS involved for the benefit of every CPS student, passionate parents who have spent countless hours researching the issues at hand, parents that are informed, without ulterior motives or incentives. Our chikdren are not a test score to be held over educator's heads or political platform to catapult someone into the spotlight. We will not back down from the politics or big money funding the decimation of public education. We stand behind our educators. As for the children, this is a lesson of solidarity and civics for my children who have been to Springfield, picketed at Roosevelt University and have passed out informational flyers for our cause. I hope they have learned not be sellouts, to have mores and values, unlike the SFC organization that does the dirty work of millionaires wanting privatization of education. They are aware of the worth of our educators and that if you disrespect our educators, you disrespect the children they educate. I applaud Change.org for taking a stand and not kowtowing to political forces and big money backing organizations such as the one whose petition was withdrawn from their site. Juan Jose, SFC and friends need to go back from wherever they are and leave Chicago public education issues to those who have knowledge of the issues, and our childrens best interests in mind, Chicago parents
Linda Boyle (not verified) said on June 22, 2012 8:32 AM
I recently submitted a comment. As an educator for 36 years (34 in the classroom), I would hope I'd be entitled to express my views.
Tim Furman (not verified) said on June 22, 2012 9:52 AM
"We don't hide who we are." Good to know. Listen, I'm having trouble finding out who your membership and funding consists of. I'm sure there's a link to it somewhere. Could you direct me to it? Many thanks.
mmcclelland@sta... said on June 22, 2012 10:02 AM
https://stand.org/illinois/about/annual-report-and-financial-statements
Lisa Kulisek (not verified) said on June 24, 2012 3:03 PM
I am a Chicago parent and I care about the students and teachers in Chicago (especially CPS teachers) as they are the ones who I expect to lead the process of educating my two children. I appreciate that this blog post has given teachers and parents an outlet for dialogue because there aren't many venues for us to discuss these issues outside of school- and I think we need to do that. I read all of the negative press about Stand for Children and came to the group as a sceptic, then I dug in to find out what they are really doing in Chicago, and I have been nothing but impressed with how respectful they are of parents, teachers, and administrators. All I would ask is that you take the time to see first-hand what Stand does and says (rather than relying on the souped-up political rhetoric that doesn't often reflect the truth) - I think you would be surprised. Stand for Children is actually an asset to Chicago (for students, parents and teachers.) Don't take my word for it - just keep an open mind and take the time to see for yourself.

Add a comment