Poodle of the Plutocrats: Dennis Van Roekel

Platonist D Coleman

Van Roekel has an established record of selling out the membership of NEA (here, here, here, and here), just as Randi Weingarten has done for AFT members.  With an uprising imminent over teacher evaluations based on test scores and more high stakes national testing based on a national curriculum written by arrogant elitist, David Coleman, we wonder how long it will take for Van Roekel and Weingarten to decide to spend more time with their families.  In the clips below, Van Roekel defends his position as the handsomely-paid lap dog of philanthrocapitalists.  Here is part of Dennis's latest defense of the rotted Common Core.

. . .NEA has been working to ensure educator input throughout the development and implementation of the standards. As an early partner of the Common Core State [sic] Standards Initiative, we provided support for common standards and opportunities for our members to provide specific feedback on the standards themselves. We believe this state-led initiative has the potential to provide teachers with manageable curriculum goals and more freedom to exercise professional judgment in planning and instruction.

. . . .

Educators will have the opportunity to translate these broad standards into creative, relevant, and engaging class lessons that help students learn in new ways that truly prepare them for lifelong learning. This is not to downplay anyone wrestling with doubt about Common Core – states will struggle, some educators will chafe – but as long as we can accept this, and embrace the transition, educators and public education can come out ahead.