Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/81027
'WON'T BACK DOWN' FICTIONALIZES AND GLORIFIES PARENT TRIGGER LAWS Propaganda at the movies? By Frank Wells "INSPIRED BY ACTUAL EVENTS" states the promotional trailer for 20th Century Fox/Walden Media's film Won't Back Down, which opens nationwide Sept. 28. But how closely does the film follow the events its producers claim inspired it? Produced by the group that made the controversial documen- have been attempts to invoke the parent trigger law, the suppos- edly grassroots parent effort was agitated, organized and largely paid for by Parent Revolution, a Los Angeles-based group dedi- cated to the proliferation of parent trigger laws throughout the nation. Parent claims of misrepresentation by some pro-trigger organizers and petition signature gatherers led many parents to rescind their signatures. The real trigger-targeted schools were already making school improvement efforts, had new principals in place, and in some cases were showing remarkable test score gains. In contrast, the film presents an entrenched, failing, status quo system and a teacher who disciplines a slow learner by locking her in a custo- dial supply closet. Lori Yuan, a concerned parent who helped lead the trigger tary Waiting for Superman, this film tells the story of a mother (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and a teacher (Viola Davis) who team up to take over a struggling inner-city school. Set in Pennsylvania, the film centers on a fictional law modeled on California's "parent trigger" legislation. In Compton and Adelanto, the only places where there UPDATE: The Adelanto school board 'Won't Back Down' The Adelanto parent trigger saga ended with the local school board rejecting parents' call to transform a school into a charter. Instead, the board voted to improve the school by forming a community advisory council, using the Alternative Governance Model, to oversee improvements such as an extended school day, new curriculum, and more technology. Read more at www.cta.org. Every child deserves a quality education regardless of zip code As school starts, we know we will continue to have to find a way to do more with even less than last year. We have to fund programs and priorities that help level the opposition in Adelanto, is disheartened that Hollywood distorts and glamorizes a law that has wreaked havoc in both places it's been invoked. "Real change involves parents and all stakeholders working together and exploring all the options for improving a school. It shouldn't be a one-sided petition effort organized by people with a national political agenda who don't even live in the community. increasing parental involvement in our schools, but Walden Media and the Walton family (which helped fund Parent Revolution and co-sponsored a benefit concert to publicize the movie) are vocal supporters of vouchers and charters, and are known for their anti- union views. In the film, Academy Award winner Holly Hunter plays a local CTA supports recognizing great teachers and is dedicated to " teachers union leader opposing the school takeover. "When did Norma Rae get to be the bad guy?" her character muses. Well, she didn't, and certainly not in the actual events that led to this movie. Won't Back Down may or may not be an absorbing film drama (at press time CTA had not seen a final cut of the film). But its skewed dramatization of real parent trigger events threatens to make it a propaganda piece for yet another harmful and divisive attack on public schools. 22 California Educator September 2012 playing field for kids who aren't from affluent areas. Only by work- ing together can we can improve our public schools. That means voting for measures like Prop 30, which provides millions in school funding, and leaning on legislators to put the necessary resources behind our students. We all—parents, educators, elected officials, community lead- ers—share the responsibility for the success of students. We must all ask ourselves what we can do in our respective roles to make our schools better for kids and help to ensure their success. Here are some tips for parents, from parents, to help their child succeed: Create a home environ- ment that encourages learn- ing and schoolwork. Establish a daily routine of mealtimes with time for homework, chores and bedtime. Model the habits of a lifelong learner. Let your child see you reading, writing and using technology. Work with your local teachers union to become an advocate. Sign up to speak to the school board about resources your child's school and schools in general need to be successful. Unions, parents and com- munities are working throughout the country to create positive, sustainable change in our public schools in order to increase stu- dent achievement. Great examples and tips can be seen on CTA's website in our "Quality Education Investment Act" and "Parents and Community" sections.