About Alabama teachers finding their voice

In reporting on the latest system asking for the ‘Accountability’ Act’s repeal, APR’s Josh Moon asks, “(W)hat the hell is taking so long on Alabama teachers finding their voice on … everything?” I’m on the outside, but think it’s starting and has even existed.

Instead of doing a bunch of tweets to thread together, I decided to just toss them over here into my rarely used web pages. I keep saying that one of these days I’ll start back to blogging. These are short and initial thoughts. I’d refine them surely if I took the time to do so. I might eventually drop a link or three in. Here goes the drafts of some tweets I’d dropped into a Word doc for editing into an anticipated thread.

1 – I’ve not taught in Alabama since 1987-88 and have never made one thin dime doing organizing or politics in this state. (I’ve never made all that much elsewhere considering the hours I put in. But I never did it for the dollars.) But I’ve traveled some and tried to learn. So maybe I’ve some few thoughts worth sharing.

2 – First, many teachers in the trenches are worked like rented mules. They’re often harried, have limited bandwidth, etc. Threeish decades into the ‘accountability’ era, starting with that assumption seems proper.

3 – The other assumption is that counting on anything ‘top-down’ is likely a waste of time. In fact, those who you’d think might be your allies are arguably doing as much harm as good. The Alabama Democratic Party (ADP) and the Alabama Education Association (AEA) often seem a bit bent.

4 – Troubles at the ADP, even before the Joe and Nancy show, are well known. Joe Turnham was ‘praying from his knees’ while Mike Hubbard was kicking him in the face. And I still cringe over that mid-2000s ‘Covenant for the Future’ Republican Lite slop some others tried.

5 – The AEA under Mabry decided spending bigly in the 2014 GOP Primary was the answer. One consultant involved is even repping the ‘Proud Boys’ founder in a lawsuit. I don’t know if the AEA board ever figured out where all the money went.

6 – John Rice from over here in my neck of the woods was mixed up in whatever they’d cooked up. If any of the AEA board members or muckety mucks paid a price for that ‘genius’ plan going forward, I missed the news.

7 – And even in this past 2018 election, AEA gave money to the likes of Tom Whatley – who was there to help pass the ‘Accountability’ Act in 90ish minutes after it’d been revealed. I guess they’re deciding to play nice – perhaps especially with pliable types.

8 – ‘Leadership’ at the NEA, like many ‘Big Labor’ types often do, thought getting behind Brand Obama early would give them more influence even though that administration liked the neoliberal education ‘reform’ hooey that’s mucked things up.

9 – With allies like that, Alabama teachers have had to weather what sometimes looked like a sort of revanchist payback fantasy come to life under the Hubbard-Marsh crowd. Adding on to that the nationalizing of the party structures and they’re in an even bigger mess.

10 – However, all is not lost. In fact, what’s happening in other states shows Alabama teachers a possible path. As I understand some cases, teachers are often working around their hidebound state-level organization structures.

11 – ‘Bottom-up’ organizing, perhaps even directly against the existing group or groups who aren’t being as assertive, is where the potential is. Going ‘wildcat’ in withholding labor might even be necessary. That’s the ultimate power.

12 – Old-school organizing takes time and social media alone won’t cut it. Various social media platforms are also vulnerable for infiltration and mischief. And I greatly value the informal and organic. Existing networks and relationships already exist. Build on them.

13 – What’s happened in other states offers models. Assertive exercises of organized power get the attention of politicians and media. Parents and other community members are likely allies in much of this.

14 – Use the ‘Accountability’ Act as a cudgel and example. Many of the politicians involved in the sordid way it was hidden away and passed are still around. Make them try to explain/defend that process on the record. They can’t so they’ll try to dodge. Don’t let them

15 – A prime place to apply pressure and demonstrate power is right there with Del Marsh as he apparently told his caucus the ‘Flex Bill’ switcheroo he and his had cooked up was something they could weather. It’s way past time to finish that up since he has US Senate aspirations.

16 – As to messaging and strategy, figure out your goal (keep it simple) and focus on that exclusively. Have some fun but lean in. It’s nice to get a win out of the gate but you might not get everything. Get something to build on.

17 – Sure, there’s plenty of money with paid operatives and lobbyists behind much of this education ‘reform’ hooey. Some of the ‘journalists’ assigned to the education beat are in ‘bless their heart’ territory or worse. But organized people can still do much.

18 – To summarize, think ‘bottom up’ and be assertive. Bypass the tired and timid organizations if they won’t do right. Try to have fun. Develop next generation. Teach and care about each other. Solidarity is our superpower.

That’s all I put in the Word doc before I realized that thread was getting far too long and merited even a rushed post. I’d welcome comments as to how to improve, where I’m wrong, etc. And yes, I’m willing to lend a hand as able to anyone who might wish to get something like this going. However, I’ll either be upfront about when I don’t see much promise in something or just try to politely demur and wish you good luck.