Join Me at the Rise Above The Mark Kokomo Show, July 17th

By Doug Martin

I will be in Kokomo on the Rise Above the Mark after-movie panel on July 17 at the South Branch of the Kokomo library.  I will be signing copies of Hoosier School Heist from 4:30 to 5:30pm.  Here is the press release.  Please share this far and wide and follow me on twitter:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, July 1, 2014

RISE ABOVE THE MARK, DOCUMENTARY FILM DETAILING THE ATTACK ON INDIANA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS, COMING TO KOKOMO

After-Movie Panel Discussion to Include Workers Voice Show Radio Host, Hoosier School Heist Author, Indiana Democratic House Candidate, ISTA Rep., and Literacy Expert

CONTACT: Randy M. Obenchain PHONE: (765) 301-8113 EMAIL: randy.obenchain@gmail.com

KOKOMO – Rise Above The Mark, a documentary film created by the West Lafayette School Corporation and narrated by actor/activist Peter Coyote, will be shown at the Kokomo Library South Branch. The film is aimed at educating the general public about the “corporate takeover” of Indiana's educational system and what parents, community members, and educators can do to protect their local public schools. The event will be hosted by The Workers Voice Show, a local worker's rights podcast, and the Indiana State Teachers Association Unit 7.

“Public education is and always has been the mark of a free democracy” says Randy M. Obenchain, host of The Workers Voice Show and moderator for the event. “The attacks against our public schools brought on by the Walton family and the Koch brothers are not happenstance events – they are deliberate, well calculated attacks designed to further corporatize America.” Heidi Miller, the Indiana State Teachers Association Uni-Serv Director for District 7, further comments, "Hoosiers and experts come together in the documentary Rise Above The Mark, discussing the real impact of the extreme education reforms on Indiana educators, schools and students.”

Free and open to the public, the event will take place July 17, 2014 from 4:30 to 7:30pm at the Kokomo South Branch Library, 1755 E. Center Rd.  The first hour will be a social hour with the film being shown promptly at 5:30 and a panel discussion to take place directly thereafter. Along with moderator Obenchain, the panel members will include:

Dr. Doug Martin, the author of Hoosier School Heist whose research on the corporate school movement has been cited or used by the Washington Post Answer Sheet, the Associated Press, ABC Nightline, and the FBI. 

Chuck Sosbe, the Democratic candidate for Indiana House District 30 who is a retired Kokomo firefighter and current vice president of the Indiana AFL-CIO.

Heidi Miller, the Indiana State TeachersAssociation’s Uni-Serv Director for District 7 and a past chemistry teacher at North Miami Community Schools, Denver, Indiana.  

Bob Stephenson, the executive director for Kokomo-Howard County Literacy Coalition and the vice president of the Indiana Literacy Association.

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