CAT Tracks for August 26, 2011
2 TEACHERS AND A MICROPHONE

First the basic news report...

...then for the hearing impaired, an article that contains the lyrics.

They may not be worthy of teaching kids (they got pink-slipped), but they are definitely creative!


From the Huffington Post...


Link to Original Story


'Two Teachers And A Microphone' Rap A Public Letter To Education Secretary Arne Duncan

Twitter's 140-character allowance wasn't enough for anonymous rapping teacher duo Two Teachers and a Microphone to talk education with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

Released just before Duncan's Twitter town hall Wednesday, the Los Angeles-based former teachers, who have turned to hip hop after they were served pink slips, rap "a letter for Mr. Duncan."

They've rapped about education issues ranging from budget cuts to standardized testing. But this time, they're shining the spotlight on Duncan, questioning his qualifications to serve as Secretary of Education and his support for charter schools, among other issues:

Public education is under attack/ By those who caused our economic collapse/ The Department of Ed put your letter on the Web/ Did you read the comments? What the teachers said?

The ex-teachers also reference Duncan's advocacy for higher teacher salaries, rapping that "your 150 Gs we don't really want it/Can't buy our respect, you already lost it."

The Education Secretary has said that teachers should earn between $60,000 and $150,000 based on performance. He reiterated his stance during the Twitter town hall Wednesday, noting that "a great, young teacher" should have the opportunity to earn an annual salary of $100,000 or more.

While Two Teachers call on the president to replace Duncan, they also offer some insight into how they think the Education Secretary should proceed in his position:

Arne Duncan, please listen/ A lot of things in our schools we're missing/ Smaller classes, arts and enrichment/ Light a fire and the kids will listen / On the front lines, where you ought to be/ Trust teachers and communities/ Acknowledge poverty/ And talk honestly/ About race, and class, and equality!

Watch the full video below and tell us what you think.


From the substancenews.net website...


Link to Original Story


Rap hit takes down Duncan... 'Two Teachers and a Microphone' return with a great piece on Arne Duncan, worth a four-minute before class this morning

John Kugler - August 24, 2011

Can Arne Duncan take the humor that is now being thrown at him as the 2011 - 2012 school year begins in the aftermath of the SOS march on Washington and the realization on the part of the majority of us in America's schools that the U.S. governments corporate school reform plan is aimed at busting our unions and destroying public education? "Two Teachers and a Microphone" are back with a "Letter to Arne Duncan" just in time for the opening of the new school year. [Fans will remember them as the mask-wearing rappers from last Spring's "...So much more than a test score..."

As the attack on public schools by the Obama administration, the corporate oligarchs, and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan escalates, teachers and the supporters of public education are escalating the fight back not only with protests like the July 30 SOS march on Washington, but with videos and rap music, including an excellent music video you can play in your classroom. the video is entitled "Two Teachers and a Microphone...Letter to Arne Duncan" and is a hysterical four-minute takedown of the hypocrisies of Arne Duncan. The URL for those who can't access a hotlink is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn-SfH15e70&feature=email

The visuals for this piece require more than one look. The brothers who have produced this have obviously spent some time in our urban schools (and studying everything from Diane Ravitch to "The Wire"). It would be great if this were playing across the USA every day as public schools open and the lies of "Waiting for Superman" and "Race to the Top" are exposed from Guam to Puerto Rico and in every real American public schools in between.

The lyrics for those who want to share are:


Letter to Arne Duncan
By Two Teachers and a Microphone


Listen for a minute to what I say

We don't teach kids for the merit pay

I wipe away tears and break up fights in the halls

While Arne Duncan plays basketball

Public school you never taught in your life

But you studied Harvard so it gives you the right

To bully the states who don't run in your run race

Who oppose the policies that you embrace

Based on the test you and your crew

Crucify teachers and close our schools

Pimping out Pearson and private charters.

Carrots and sticks ain't gonna make kids smarter

Public education is under attack

By those who caused our economic collapse

The Department of Ed put your letter on the Web

Did you read the comments? What the teachers said?

Test scores rising, check the illusion

What is proficient? This is the confusion

Headlines sayin' test scores risin', check the illusion

What is proficient? This is the confusion

Headlines saying the scores are getting higher

But they're jukin' the stats, like you seen on The Wire

Hire those who lack credentials off the streets

The rich get enrichment & the poor get worksheets

Amazing feats when schools close their doors

And go shopping for the kids with the parents and test scores

Ignoring kids with special needs

ELLs ... IEPs

Take away the bargaining & budget freeze

And just watch the swarm of corporate entities

Doing to schools whatever they please

Skimmin' from the top of that government cheese

We don't need a test to assess this disease

It's time to repeal NCLB!

Arne Duncan, please listen

A lot of things in our schools we're missing

Smaller classes, arts and enrichment

Light a fire and the kids will listen

On the front lines, where you ought to be

Trust teachers and communities

Acknowledge poverty And talk honestly

About race, and class, and equality!

Hey, yo' Bunk?

What's the word McNutty?

Smash this fool Duncan like he's Silly Putty!

Alright, okay I got something to say

How you be S.O.E. and never taught a single day?

Your resume's impressive but you're still not a teacher

Cater to the market, not to our future!

How many parents you called? How many lessons you planned?

How many kids have you given your heart and your hand?

And Mr. Duncan can you tell me please

What do you know about design strategies

Your 150 g's we don't really want it

Can't buy our respect, you already lost it

Get up a get get a get down

Race to the Top is a joke in your town!

I said it before y'all I'll say it again

This man ain't no teacher just the president's friend

Mr. Obama if you want my vote

Can your boy Duncan and bring back that hope!

Creepin and creepin

On the Web we're tweetin'

Your rep is reekin'

Like Bernie on the weekend

Wasted billions and wasted time

Do us all a favor and just resign!

Your Superman movie, damn I ain't down with

The Superman at my school got a pink slip

Mad 'cause I'm paying my union dues

I bet you're hoping that Katrina hits all our schools.

Thinking of ways to get teachers fired

For working with the kids who aren't desired

No top down, corporate overhaul

We're here to save our schools! Yes, yes y'all!

Trade a ball player for an educator

Not a businessman or a teacher-hater

Your career we're here to now bury

Diane Ravitch for Education Secretary!

Arne Duncan, please listen

A lot of things in our schools we're missing

Diversity, true integration

The vision of Brown vs Board of Eduction

On the front lines, where you ought to be

Trust teachers and communities

Acknowledge poverty And talk honestly

About race, and class, and equality!


[Here is how they describe themselves: Two Teachers and a Microphone: We are both products of LAUSD schools and have spent our careers teaching in LAUSD schools. We love what we do, and we feel that our public school teachers are compassionate, creative and critical to the intellectual and emotional success of our youth. If you feel the same please call the LAUSD school board members and demand that they follow AB114 and rescind pink slips immediately: 213-241-6389

All music and lyrics written, produced, performed and recorded by Two Teachers and a Microphone.]