Watch Live: Congressional Hearing on IRS Scandal

Live Now on TheBlaze Radio: ‘The Buck Sexton Show’

Education

What Does Bill Ayers Have Against Popular ‘Teach for America’? Calls It a ‘Fraud’

Jan. 9, 2013 11:13am Erica Ritz

Bill Ayers Slams Teach for America as Educational Tourists, Fraud | Unions

In this photo taken Sept. 1, 2011, Teach for America’s Michael Darmas “high fives” a student at Holmes Elementary School in Miami. (Photo: AP)

Bill Ayers, prominent domestic terrorist-turned educator of America’s youth, has been back in the news recently after speaking at New York University “Change the Stakes” meeting back in December. There, among other things, he said the left must utilize its “absolute access” to America’s schools to further its “movement.”

New video to emerge from the meeting seems to reveal one crucial gap in that “absolute access” — Teach for America.

A nonprofit founded in 1989, Teach for America sends some of America’s top college graduates to teach in underprivileged schools for a year to several years at a time. They typically consider it a service, making little money and often dealing with less than glamorous working conditions.

You can imagine why Bill Ayers — or president of the Chicago Teachers Union Karen Lewis — may dislike them. According to Ayers, they are little more than “educational tourists” and their organization is a “fraud.”

National Review online explains:

TFA has earned the enmity of teachers’ unions across the country in a variety of ways: It provides highly qualified non-union teachers, many of its alumni do not remain in the profession and join teachers’ unions, and some have become leaders of education-reform efforts despised by union groups.

You may remember that, in the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting, the president of the Chicago Teachers Union, Karen Lewis, charged that TFA’s policies “kill and disenfranchise children across the nation.”

EAG News, which posted the video, continues:

Appearing at a “Change the Stakes” meeting, Ayers implied that TFA has “no vision for the collective voice of teachers” and that TFA instructors are “not serious about the enterprise.”

That depends on what the “enterprise” is. If it’s helping kids learn, TFA instructors are very serious. If it means promoting silly union political efforts, they tend to have little interest. They actually put kids first. What a breathtaking concept for American schools.

It is hard to gauge how serious Lewis is about education, given Chicago Public Schools’ 54 percent graduation rate, or the seriousness of Detroit Federation of Teachers President Keith Johnson, given the fact that only 7 percent of 8^th graders in his district are proficient in reading.

But they’re in it for the long haul, so apparently results don’t matter.

Watch the entire video, via EAG News, below:

–

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (60)

tangonine
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 4:09pm
I teach at a major university and my students love it when we make fun of the hippies. All is not lost. There’s a few of us out here fighting the fight.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- ElChupaCabraDeUSA
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 5:41pm
  you must be in the Business school…the last bastion of free thinking on campus
  
  Report this comment
- bekhiet
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 9:01pm
  I guess it is good they all laugh about it, but ayers wasn’t just a hippie, he was a domestic terrorists and we should be outraged is has so much involvement outside of prison.
  
  Report this comment
- lowen
  Posted on January 10, 2013 at 5:45am
  Its better to take action and also support Teach for America, etc.
  I think Ayers is associated with Common Core. This may be the “Absolute access” to the classroom he talks about. In our state, even the private schools have embraced Common Core, and moreover I think one of the free home school curriculum programs has scrubbed American History in favor of what one commenter calls “pablum” of the indigenous peoples be ousted from their lands… Please support conservative curriculum and programs like Teach for America.
  If you can stomach it, stand for election in the local democratic caucus and then elect as a precinct chair and you can help steer the country back to sanity – from the inside.
  
  Report this comment
Arshloch
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 2:56pm
You can see that face in the bottom of any outhouse.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
The_Cabrito_Goat
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 2:19pm
Bill Ayers doesn’t like something?

Perfect. Where can I invest?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Ray2447
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 2:37pm
  “There, among other things, he said the left must utilize its ‘absolute access’ to America’s schools to further its ‘movement.’”
  
  And that is exactly what the left has been going on in taxpayer funded academia for decades as shown in Marxist Valley College at Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iVmh0VCkL4 Freedom loving America is losing tomorrow’s generation of voters on college and university campuses today.
  
  Report this comment
- jhrusky
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 5:01pm
  And no one is doing a damn thing about it other than p1ss1ng and moaning on a blog! People need to get off their potato chip enhanced a55e5 and start fighting this fight. They need to attend every school board meeting, town meeting, county meeting, state meeting, ____(FITB) meeting in their areas and make their voices heard, run for offices/seats and start to turn this tide. It will not happen overnight. Of course, if participation does not immediately increase geometrically, it may never happen.
  
  We will have the government and representation we deserve!
  
  Report this comment
1FreeVoice
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:41pm
Ayers has been writing your kids textbooks for how many years, and it’s taken you this long to wise up? We should be pushing for more volunteers to join up with this program, especially people educated in the “hard” sciences … anything judged against real world results instead of peer review. Did you read Intellectuals and Society? It really pulled things together and made sense out of a lot of stupidity you see nowadays.

Unions are on record admitting that their priority is the unions, not the kids. People who can afford it send their kids AWAY from public school. People who can’t afford it, can’t use the public funds to pay or offset private tuition, and those who can end up paying twice – once for the private school, and the second time to fund the school they took their kids out of. It’s not fair to anyone. I have seen expensive private schools charge less than what the state spends, and get better results, but you can’t use your tax dollars to go there or they pass out of the control of the state.
*Control* Remember the laws allowing minors to get abortions w/o parental notification? Parents have responsibility but NOT authority. The state can decide your kid’s birth control, or medical decisions without you. First welfare moms (to keep getting benefits) then girls over a certain age, birth control required. The state will decide who is allowed to reproduce and when. If you want grandkids, learn to kiss ass. Opponents need not apply.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
term limits for congress
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:16pm
Educational tourist? What does that make him? An educational native and a terror tourist? I’m glad he has no connection to the WH.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- MIBUGNU2
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:46pm
  On the contrary, bet he has access to BO by coming up through
  the sewer…
  
  Report this comment
katzkiner
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:03pm
The FBI was accused of killing communists in the 70′s, Hey guys you missed one!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
OUTLAW_WEALTH
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:42pm
Screw the unions and their minions

Parents, teach your children well. Teach them foremost the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Bible.

Also teach them the Book of Mormon, a second witness for Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. It was written for our time by ancient prophets whom the Lord raised up to testify of the divinity of the Son of God. The Lord reveals his will to his servants.

If you read the Book of Mormon you will see the hand of God in all things.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- encinom
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:01pm
  The Book of Mormon, is a great Broadway Musical, as a religious book its even more of a fairy tale than the bible. At least there are historical figures in the Bible, the Book of Mormon lacks any of that, its closer to Scientology with space gods and lost tribes.
  
  Report this comment
- The_Jerk
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:13pm
  Focus! Don’t get lost in the religious arguments.
  
  Report this comment
- Lamarr01
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 4:36pm
  @encinom
  
  You should found your own religion and write some sacred scripts so that we may all worship at the altar of your damaged ego. I’m looking forward to reading “The Book of Deviants.”
  
  Report this comment
- MIBUGNU2
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 5:20pm
  @encin
  
  Just go away !!!!
  
  Report this comment
- CloudNine
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 9:32pm
  @ Encinom –
  Enema (aka Encinom) is offering “it’s” wisdom on the topic for today! I am always amazed at how your comments reflect such little intellectual capacity. Is it hard to breathe with your head up your “arse”? For those of you unfamiliar with this quack, ignore “it”. There’s never a relevant thought, comment or statement from Encinom’s input! Hey “Enema”, you still have that Rod Serling “Fathead” on your wall?
  You’re an idiot!!!
  
  Report this comment
YourVoiceMatters
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:41pm
It is all about the union thugs pure and simple!
education?
You don’t get no stinkin education in a government run school !
you get a survival slip!
If you make it through…
It certainly is worth little more than toilet paper,,,,
thanks to bill “i put on airs”
If he gets upset at some group making a difference in education,
i would say it is true to form for this commie!
You would expect he would do something different?
When you (your school system)can not compare ~ you denigrate!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
jessieH
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:23pm
What this treasonous SOB has to say is MEANINGLESS.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- brother_ed
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:36pm
  @JESSIEH
  
  It may be dangerous, but it is not meaningless.
  
  Report this comment
- The_Jerk
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:39pm
  Don’t believe that. They own education. They are pushing Common Core and the International Baccalaureate, IB, programs into our schools. These are progressive indoctrination programs that avoid as much objective data, as possible, for grading. They control outcome, the winning students being those who exemplify the most progressive traits.
  
  Report this comment
BLACKDIAMONDSKIER
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:04pm
A progressives worst nightmare is the truth. Apparently to Bill Ayers…educating children with selfless and genuine teachers who actually care more about the children than the union is too. To them it’s all about the fist in the air and the security of the union. It’s hard when the cattle break away from the herd isn’t it Bill?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- MDECKER
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:18pm
  Well, I’m confused! Is Bill Ayers about “education” or a “bowel movement”?
  
  Report this comment
TX_45_ACP
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:57am
Bill is a walking pile of communist turds. He is a terrorist POS. If anything, his objection only validates that the popular teaching group is doing the right thing. Thank you Bill Terrorist for bringing such a wonderful teaching group to light. I will now find a way to support them.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
65Mustang
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:56am
Bill Ayers is just disgusted that people are seeing him and his communist ways for what they are BS…nothing more disgusting than the union-teacher thugs that he has helped to indoctrinate.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Salamander
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:53am
I don’t understand why Ayers isn’t still in prison!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
megamind
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:48am
who cares what the excrementum says

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
ArmedAndReallyPissed
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:48am
Whats the matter Bill ? Are you just mad because the Fuhrer hasn’t Massaged your Hemorroids lately ?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
GoodCook
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:40am
Ayers, an extremeist Democrat terrorist, finds fault with it? Well then I guess I’m all for it. Right now in our counties history extremeist Democrats (which is now all of them) and those that support and vote for them are simply traitors to America.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Dudley Do-Right
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:35am
This is my fourth visit to Venezuela, each time at the invitation of my comrade and friend Luis Bonilla, a brilliant educator and inspiring fighter for justice. Luis has taught me a great deal about the Bolivarian Revolution and about the profound educational reforms underway here in Venezuela under the leadership of President Chavez. We share the belief that education is the motor-force of revolution, and I’ve come to appreciate Luis as a major asset in both the Venezuelan and the international struggle—I look forward to seeing how he and all of you continue to overcome the failings of capitalist education as you seek to create something truly new and deeply humane. Thank you, Luis, for everything you’ve done.

Bill Ayers

http://billayers.wordpress.com/2006/11/07/world-education-forum/

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
IndyGuy
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:32am
Ayers needs to come down with a case of lead poisoning…

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- scrapadapolis
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:53am
  Only the good die young.But I was thinking the samething
  
  Report this comment
- MIBUGNU2
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 4:35pm
  He liked to play with stuff that went “BOOM”, I was thinking a little C4..
  That would be the only justice for this “Little Tur*” !!
  
  Report this comment
...sam
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:32am
Bill sucks soooo bad…sitten there in his little commie hat…what is up with that skeletor chick next to him puttin on her scarf wile inside is it the cold or the heroine?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- OBUMAURMAMA
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:47am
  Hides the needle marks.
  
  Report this comment
- ron2win
  Posted on January 10, 2013 at 7:50am
  The skank sitting next to him with the scarf is bernadine dorn , his wife and fellow terrorist.Bill is complaining that some one is doing the opposite of what he and his cohorts have been doing for thirty years. in other words he alinskying people who are trying to repair the damage he and others like him have been doing to school children . Look up the phrase , “teach the children and you will own the future” .A commi adage . bills and dorns picture will be next to the explanation. If you want to learn more ,just look them up on wikipedia ,individually.It is hard to imagine these two traitors ended up as teaching professors ,at real universities !
  
  Report this comment
Akridgerunner
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:30am
The fact that murderer Bill Ayers and his cronies are living anywhere but in chains in a dank dungeon and have anything to do with the educating of Americas students at any level whatsoever is a very sad statement as to the state of education and of our legal system in this country.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
mrunner
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:30am
I don’t give a darn about a “collective voice for teachers”. As parents we need to have a loud and clear “collective voice for students!” The leadership of the teachers unions could care less about the kids- which tells me they truly care less about their actual customers- the kids and their parents.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- GoodCook
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:46am
  Teachers for the most part have turned into nothing union thugs with little regard for the children and are bent on extorting as much as they can for their own gain from the tax payer. All this while providing an inferior Marxist education on our children making them indoctrination units. This has to stop and it can if the union strangle hold is broken. Just look at big Bertha who heads it up in Chicago and look at the results.
  
  Report this comment
barber2
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:28am
This is just more of Bill Ayers doing what he was filmed saying at an OWS gathering . Our Big Time Chicago radical , Bill, is dedicated each morning to doing what he can daily ” to destroy capitalism.” ( That video should be shown 24 /7 to the gullible, uninformed Americans who are being further brainwashed by the Obama Chicago radical crowd .

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
booger71
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:28am
They don’t like this group because it actually focuses on kids education, rather than the Union coffers.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- IndyGuy
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:36am
  They don’t like the group because it interrupts the indoctrination process….Nothing more and nothing less…
  
  Report this comment
- jcldwl
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:41am
  Yes it does I looked over their site and they are quite impressive. This is a movement that needs to be enlarged to cover the entire country. Going to put them on my donation list.
  
  Report this comment
jcldwl
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:23am
I am going to look this organization up and find out if they take donations for their efforts.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- jcldwl
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:27am
  checked it. Here is their website, they do take donations.
  http://www.teachforamerica.org/
  
  Report this comment
- stopprintn
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:45am
  If they would take their support for LGBTQ and anti-bully crap off their site i would thik about it.
  
  Report this comment
civilwarcometh
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:18am
When SHTF this guy better be long gone is all i have to say…..

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- civilwarcometh
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:44am
  He is his father’s son. I feel ya RJJ. d@mn shame.
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:50am
  Oops, thought that I was pushing just a bit too hard on that assessment. They deleted my post. Sorry guys, will be nicer for the rest of the day.
  
  Report this comment

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.