Lee could not be traveling a more dangerous path. All who have kids in public schools should be appalled. Teachers should feel insulted. We need to do an intervention with Lee. Hillsdale is a symptom of the awful place we have landed. The only solution is the ballot box ... and we better mobilize soon. We are at the threshold of disaster and without electing better folks than we have we are doomed to years of remorse.
Every single day I get increasingly discouraged about the state of our state and the state of our nation. So many of our leaders are either right wing extremists religious zealots or they are too cowardly to stand up for what’s right. I want to remain hopeful but it’s not easy.
Again, on the money. Both of my daughters are teachers. I have many friends who are
Teachers. The idea of having that group even in Tennessee sickens me. To have this excuse of a person as our governor sickens me. He must have a democratic House and Senate to prevent private schools take ANY state money. Lee is no better than Ray Blanton.
It is a gut punch. And scary. Why doesn’t Governor Lee turn to higher education in Tennessee???If he wants to select private religious college, there are plenty in our own state
I'm so glad you wrote about this. I've been seething ever since watching that arrogant, pompous blowhard dismiss public school teachers and the schools that train them. I'm outraged that our tax dollars are going to this man whose ideology involves indoctrinating Tennessee children with his narrow-minded, ultra conservative views. It says a lot about Bill Lee's judgment that he would make this man his education advisor.
Keel, you often “hit the nail on the head”, & you REALLY hit it this time. Regarding Gov. Lee’s attempt to pull back on his “sound of silence” remarks against our teachers, my comment is: “Too late, Governor-the horse is out of the barn!” Shame on you.
My wife, both of my kids and son-in-law are all involved in education in one form or another. Two are/were public classroom teachers. I worked nearly 45 years on college campuses. I’ve got grandkids that stand to be short changed due to these fools. If this is “conservative leadership” God help us all. I’d missed this story, thanks for the heads-up. I’ll hope real educators speak up.
I wrote Gov. Lee and asked him why he didn’t stand up to Larry Arnn’s condemnation of teachers and teacher education. I got no response.
I wrote Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn and asked for her opinion of Arnn’s statements. She did reply, saying that Lee “has been an outspoken advocaton for Tennessee public school teachers,” but she didn’t say anything about Arnn’s accusations. (I have responded to Schwinn that this should be a watershed moment for her. Does she really want to be associated with Arnn and Hillsdale?)
I wrote UT President Randy Boyd’s PR office, asking for Boyd’s reaction. The response from a staffer again didn’t address Arnn’s comments.
Do you get the feeling that responsible people are putting their heads in the sand while Tennesseans’ taxpayer dollars get sent to an ideologue at a private college in Michigan?
Thanks for your comment here. That ignoring of legitimate questions is, unfortunately, part of a modern Republican office-holder's dismissive attitude about engagement with constituents and journalists. Not the way our system is supposed to work.
You know, I always felt like one of the dumbest level, but I had really bad case of “never-give- up” and ended up being a product of Peabody, with instructors who looked deeply into one’s substance. Ended up that being a TEACHER is not just about accolades, grades, titles, degrees etc. It’s a larger part of student (and parent) connectivity, love and respect for them—here I’d be remiss if I didn’t credit God for giving one the ability to lift up people— not just fine institutions. Maybe our leaders need to redirect themselves and lift up.
Sherrie: Your note this morning reminds me of my mother’s spirit about teaching. A Peabody grad, she taught at several school’s on Nashville’s east side (Schwab, Inglewood, Jere Baxter, Rosebank) where we lived. Thank you for commenting here.
My thoughts exactly as I read the article, Keel. A new low for our governor, and that says a lot. I fear for the future of our public education if we keep electing people like this.
My brother was a Tennessee teacher for 40 years, my daughter was a proud teacher and many of my friends are teachers. This is beyond appalling. Lee is making our DeSantis look good (she says while holding her nose).
Thank you for posting this. For some reason I have been on the mailing list from Hillsdale College for several years. I usually glance, occasionally laugh, then toss. Earlier this year when I saw our governor proposed spending millions of dollars to pay them for new charter schools, I started reading my mailings......Keel, it is scary. It is a sophisticated and carefully orchestrated campaign that Goebbels would have been proud of. I received an invitation to the private President's Reception in Franklin, but when I tried to get more info (time, place, cost) I kept getting voice mails rather than emails in response. Phil Williams should be nominated for a Pulitzer for unmasking this nefarious plot in our state. This is much deeper than just a stupid insult to all teachers. Please stay on this, and I encourage other media to do the same. Thanks again.
Lee could not be traveling a more dangerous path. All who have kids in public schools should be appalled. Teachers should feel insulted. We need to do an intervention with Lee. Hillsdale is a symptom of the awful place we have landed. The only solution is the ballot box ... and we better mobilize soon. We are at the threshold of disaster and without electing better folks than we have we are doomed to years of remorse.
Avi,
Old truism about politics: You can't beat somebody with nobody.
Thx Keel. This infuriating episode reminds me of the Hamilton musical line: “If you stand for nothing Burr, what will you fall for?”
Every single day I get increasingly discouraged about the state of our state and the state of our nation. So many of our leaders are either right wing extremists religious zealots or they are too cowardly to stand up for what’s right. I want to remain hopeful but it’s not easy.
Esther, I feel your pain. I, too, have been fighting against the gloom that seems to pervade.
Again, on the money. Both of my daughters are teachers. I have many friends who are
Teachers. The idea of having that group even in Tennessee sickens me. To have this excuse of a person as our governor sickens me. He must have a democratic House and Senate to prevent private schools take ANY state money. Lee is no better than Ray Blanton.
It is a gut punch. And scary. Why doesn’t Governor Lee turn to higher education in Tennessee???If he wants to select private religious college, there are plenty in our own state
The gutting of public education continues. We let it go any further at our own peril.
I'm so glad you wrote about this. I've been seething ever since watching that arrogant, pompous blowhard dismiss public school teachers and the schools that train them. I'm outraged that our tax dollars are going to this man whose ideology involves indoctrinating Tennessee children with his narrow-minded, ultra conservative views. It says a lot about Bill Lee's judgment that he would make this man his education advisor.
Keel, you often “hit the nail on the head”, & you REALLY hit it this time. Regarding Gov. Lee’s attempt to pull back on his “sound of silence” remarks against our teachers, my comment is: “Too late, Governor-the horse is out of the barn!” Shame on you.
Exactly right, Keel!
My wife, both of my kids and son-in-law are all involved in education in one form or another. Two are/were public classroom teachers. I worked nearly 45 years on college campuses. I’ve got grandkids that stand to be short changed due to these fools. If this is “conservative leadership” God help us all. I’d missed this story, thanks for the heads-up. I’ll hope real educators speak up.
Rod, my regards to all in your family for their service.
I wrote Gov. Lee and asked him why he didn’t stand up to Larry Arnn’s condemnation of teachers and teacher education. I got no response.
I wrote Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn and asked for her opinion of Arnn’s statements. She did reply, saying that Lee “has been an outspoken advocaton for Tennessee public school teachers,” but she didn’t say anything about Arnn’s accusations. (I have responded to Schwinn that this should be a watershed moment for her. Does she really want to be associated with Arnn and Hillsdale?)
I wrote UT President Randy Boyd’s PR office, asking for Boyd’s reaction. The response from a staffer again didn’t address Arnn’s comments.
Do you get the feeling that responsible people are putting their heads in the sand while Tennesseans’ taxpayer dollars get sent to an ideologue at a private college in Michigan?
Tom,
Thanks for your comment here. That ignoring of legitimate questions is, unfortunately, part of a modern Republican office-holder's dismissive attitude about engagement with constituents and journalists. Not the way our system is supposed to work.
You hit the nail on the head. I guess Boyd is too far up someone's posterior to go to bat for his faculty, students, and graduates.
You know, I always felt like one of the dumbest level, but I had really bad case of “never-give- up” and ended up being a product of Peabody, with instructors who looked deeply into one’s substance. Ended up that being a TEACHER is not just about accolades, grades, titles, degrees etc. It’s a larger part of student (and parent) connectivity, love and respect for them—here I’d be remiss if I didn’t credit God for giving one the ability to lift up people— not just fine institutions. Maybe our leaders need to redirect themselves and lift up.
Sherrie: Your note this morning reminds me of my mother’s spirit about teaching. A Peabody grad, she taught at several school’s on Nashville’s east side (Schwab, Inglewood, Jere Baxter, Rosebank) where we lived. Thank you for commenting here.
My thoughts exactly as I read the article, Keel. A new low for our governor, and that says a lot. I fear for the future of our public education if we keep electing people like this.
Thx for writing this! Betsy Miller
My brother was a Tennessee teacher for 40 years, my daughter was a proud teacher and many of my friends are teachers. This is beyond appalling. Lee is making our DeSantis look good (she says while holding her nose).
Sue,
That's quite a family history in education. My regards to them all, for their service.
Thank you for posting this. For some reason I have been on the mailing list from Hillsdale College for several years. I usually glance, occasionally laugh, then toss. Earlier this year when I saw our governor proposed spending millions of dollars to pay them for new charter schools, I started reading my mailings......Keel, it is scary. It is a sophisticated and carefully orchestrated campaign that Goebbels would have been proud of. I received an invitation to the private President's Reception in Franklin, but when I tried to get more info (time, place, cost) I kept getting voice mails rather than emails in response. Phil Williams should be nominated for a Pulitzer for unmasking this nefarious plot in our state. This is much deeper than just a stupid insult to all teachers. Please stay on this, and I encourage other media to do the same. Thanks again.
Bo,
Thanks. And congrats on your new book!
Between Lee and the TN Legislature, our state has sunk to new lows.