Author: Mitchell Robinson

Betsy DeVos, Steve Ingersoll, and Michigan as a “cautionary tale” for American education

Betsy DeVos, Steve Ingersoll, and Michigan as a “cautionary tale” for American education

The news yesterday that Bay City, MI charter school operator Dr. Steve Ingersoll had been sentenced to 41 months in federal prison after being convicted on three counts of tax evasion and conspiracy should be sending shivers up Betsy DeVos’ spine today. Because while Dr. Ingersoll and Ms. DeVos may not know one another, the connections between them are numerous, significant, and […]

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Who’s narrating the “Teacher Shortage” narrative?

Who’s narrating the “Teacher Shortage” narrative?

A column written last year by Stephen Mucher, Director of the Master of Arts in Teaching Program at Bard College, has attracted a lot of attention from those concerned about the health and vitality of public education. And for good reason. Mr. Mucher mentions the recent history of campus protests across the country, which he says he has noticed on his […]

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The “false equivalencies” of education policy: Betsy DeVos edition

The “false equivalencies” of education policy: Betsy DeVos edition

I just finished taping a TV panel discussion for a local cable news show (click here or scroll down to the bottom of this post to see the show) on the nomination of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education. The panel featured two pro-Betsy DeVos, pro-charter, pro-choice advocates (the executive directors of the Great Lakes Education Project and the Michigan […]

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Detroit Redford High School Demolition

Privatize, Monetize, Weaponize: How the DeVos family devoured Michigan’s schools

NOTE: This post is a companion piece to this week’s episode of The Sit and Spin Room podcast. Click HERE or scroll to the bottom of the post to listen to the podcast or find it wherever you get your podcasts by searching for “Sit and Spin Room” on iTunes, Stitcher, etc. The news that President-elect Donald Trump had nominated […]

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The truth about school “choice”

The truth about school “choice”

Like President-designate Donald Trump, and his nominee for Secretary of Education, Michigan billionaire and Amway heiress, Betsy DeVos, I’m a huuuuge proponent of “school choice.” What’s more American than the freedom to choose (unless you’re a woman, and we’re talking about reproductive health choices–but I digress…)? It’s a fundamental human right to be able to make important personal choices about […]

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Dick and Betsy DeVos avoided paying school taxes on summer home

Dick and Betsy DeVos avoided paying school taxes on summer home

Incoming Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos doesn’t just want to expand school choice, provide (unconstitutional) school vouchers so parents can use state tax dollars to send their children to private and religious schools, and privatize our public schools. She’d rather not pay school taxes at all, and was nabbed in a tax dragnet by the state of Michigan for trying to avoid paying […]

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Trump names Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education: It’s Game, Set, Match for public education

Trump names Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education: It’s Game, Set, Match for public education

Game. Set. Match. The news that Donald Trump has named Betsy DeVos as his choice for Secretary of Education is just another brick in the wall for Mr. Trump’s plan to turn the US into a giant flea market, selling off the bits and pieces of a once great nation for parts to the highest bidders. I had to laugh in […]

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Photo credit: Gage Skidmore.

Mike Pence is gaslighting us all

Mike Pence is every principal or superintendent who has looked a teacher straight in the eye and told them that they were being terminated for low student test scores, even though most of the teacher’s students come to school every day hungry and tired. Mike Pence is every business owner who cuts his employees’ hours to avoid paying for their […]

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Guess who’s the most worried about Donald Trump becoming our next President?

Guess who’s the most worried about Donald Trump becoming our next President?

The last few days have been incredibly hard for many of us. I’ve been walking around in a fog; nothing about the world makes sense. One of the only things that’s made me feel any better since Tuesday night was spending time with my students, who are uncommonly caring, sensitive, bright, and passionate future music educators. Our conversations have been positive, […]

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The Today Show’s Matt Lauer deceptively pitches Shinola partnership as providing scholarships to needy Detroit kids

The Today Show’s Matt Lauer deceptively pitches Shinola partnership as providing scholarships to needy Detroit kids

Apparently Matt Lauer doesn’t know **** from Shinola when it comes to charter schools I happened to be watching The Today Show yesterday morning (which I have only recently returned to watching after NBC fired Billy Bush), and looked up to see anchor Matt Lauer in a hair net and booties, standing in the Shinola watch assembly room in downtown Detroit. […]

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The 2 biggest losers in this campaign: Respect and tolerance

The 2 biggest losers in this campaign: Respect and tolerance

Most of us would agree that this has been the dirtiest, nastiest presidential campaign in our lifetimes. One candidate has lied, evaded, and avoided continuously, and presents a clear and present danger to our nation, while the other has demonstrated…an inability to manage her email communication very well. Clearly, there are no good choices here. ; ) At the same time, […]

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