The Bullets of the Rally

oRob Kremer, a former state representative, and huge advocate for virtual charter schools. That is the back of Kim Thatcher, a current representative, who is also a huge advocate of virtual schools. She was flanking Dembrow in the hearing I write about later. Her son is a virtual school student.

We are a rag tag bunch in the freezing rain, aren't we? One official joked, "You'll see lots of people in suits carrying blackberries. Look around and you'll see baby strollers and goldfish crackers spilling out of pockets. This is reality, the suits and blackberries are not reality."

We had the huge rally on Monday. Here is what I learned, saw, and experienced:

* I am shocked that truly you can walk right into the offices of your state representatives. No security scanners, no metal detectors, no receptionists, no kidding. Just a law clerk as an assistant at the desk, but truly, you can walk in.

* I was pleasantly surprised at how well JM took the whole day. It definitely took some convincing to go. I just thought he would complain all day. Nope. He found some new friends as soon as we arrived, we hung with them for the rally, had lunch, then headed to representatives' offices. He handled himself very well.

* I found out the whole picture of State Bill 767. It was sponsored by both of my representatives, followed by five, count them five, teacher's unions. I put the link on the previous post. Those facts are right at the top of the bill. This bill does a lot of harmful things. 1) It succinctly shuts down ALL charter schools by making it so difficult for a district to start one, they won't even try. 2) Absolutely shuts done online virtual charter schools for the same reason. 3) If, and that is a big if, a charter school were to actually start up in under this rule, to be a student in a charter school would be so bogged down by rules and regulations, no parent or district would want to even try.

* It was said numerous times by numerous parents AND officials, traditional homeschooling is next if State Bill 767 passes.

* Our first meeting was a gathering of us parents, a list of the agenda, and how to talk to representatives. We were encouraged to be positive, answer specifics about virtual schooling, etc. I asked the specific question, "It is one thing to talk to a rep who is voting on a bill, it is a whole other situation to talk to a rep (mine!) who sponsored the bill." I got a pity look from most people.

* Okay, the rally was over, and I had to go to the reps offices. Here goes! I go to Michael Dembrow's office and his law clerk's desk is not attended. The email on the computer was left open. I could honestly have done some serious damage to this person's inbox. I was amazed at the lack of basic privacy in these offices. I left a note asking for Michael Dembrow to call me. As his constituent I have serious concerns about his sponsorship of this bill and by the way, this is a follow up to an email I sent him as well.

* Whewie! Off to Jackie Dingfelder. She isn't there either, but she has two law clerks. One of them is in Jackie's office playing with a laptop, the other greets me. The guy who greets me is really enthusiastic and I find out it's his first day on the job. He is actually quite bubbly to talk to a constituent! This is actually quite amusing to me, because he has no idea what he is in for. So he kicks laptop girl out of the office and sits me down at a swanky desk.

I ask him about his awareness of the representative's sponsorship of State Bill 767. None. I just so happen to pull it out of my bag and show him the top lines. I say she is a major sponsor of this bill "....and look who's names come right after her name. Several teacher's unions. I want to know why the representative is sponsoring this bill. I also want to tell you my current school situation. I live in Portland Public School District where my elementary school has had problems with guns in school, the middle school shut down and the high school is red listed. If you know Portland Public Schools, you know if I ask for a boundary waiver, I won't get it." He actually nodded to that. "So I need a quality education right now for my son. We found Connections Academy. Your employer wants to give me the only choice for public education is to be what I just told you. I want to know why." I also told him it absolutely bothered me that she would be willing to cater to unions instead of her constituency, in working class Portland, that already has limited (okay, crappy) options for public schools. He blinked like a deer in headlights and nodded.

I also made it crystal clear I want to hear from Ms. Dingenfelder. He took my information and promised.

* We go to an educational bill hearing, where sure enough, there is Michael Dembrow. He is on this committee. He is also flanked by two staunch supporters of online charter schools, one of them is Kim Thatcher. I wonder what that water cooler talk is like. I watch panels come forward to give testimony for this bill, which is on stiffening bullying laws. Michael Dembrow asks the question, at one point, about what services can be offered to both victims and perpetrators of bullying. All the kids and young adults who came to give nasty testimony of their experience of being bullied, and not having any set way to get help, all said they asked their parents "please homeschool me". I am just thinking to myself, virtual charter schools could be a temporary solution to bullying for both victim and perpetrator. And here is Michael Dembrow wondering what resources the state has. Sigh....

* We leave the hearing and run into Mary Kremer, the wife of a former state representative. She knows me and wants me to go with her to visit another representative, even though I am not from his district. We visit Gene Whisnant from Oregon City. He very much supports charter schools, choice in public education, etc. Gene and Mary go off into the good 'ole days because they are both from North Carolina and grew up in the same area, etc. Gene does get one point to me crystal clear. "I don't know about this bill, ladies. You have some good Republican support, but you need to get some Dems on board. There is a lot of money at stake here for the unions, and that is who you are up against." There it is! We all suspected, we were all reading between the lines, but he confirmed it.

* JM also did a great job meeting with Gene Whisnant. Gene made a huge point to shake JM's hand. JM introduced himself properly. Gene then asked what JM liked about his school. Aside here, JM had been doing nothing but giving snarky answers to this when we practiced at home. So, I held my breath while he very confidently said, "I wasn't doing so well last year in writing and math, and this year I am." And there you have it. I sucked the tears out of my tear ducts and whispered a very proud, "Good job!"

* Then the coolest part for JM. We had done a lesson last week on rocks and had gone to a rock shop, yes rock shop, right down the street and bought a bunch of rocks. Like some really cool rocks like petrified wood, rose and lavendar quartz, obsidian, etc. He has really enjoyed that lesson and has become a little geologist with his new rock collection. Well, at the gift shop at the capital, there is a pile of tumbled rocks where, for $5, you can fill a bag with rocks. Nice! We got some iron pyrite ("Fool's Gold"), turquoise, and some quartz crystals. I thought that was a very appropriate reward for a long day of walking, talking, whispering, sitting, and listening for an eight year old boy.

The ride home says it all.

* Update since yesterday. We just got this email from Mary Kremer, who is keeping track of bills coming and going right now. Here is what she emailed us:

"WE HAVE A BILL; Senate Bill 829 sponsored by Sen Larry George posted today.

Click here for a summary of Senate Bill 829.

What our bill will do is explicitly grandfather ORCA from the 50% provision in ORS 338.125 Section 2 (b). We are waiting for the first reading and the committee assignment. At that time, we will need to inundate the committee chair (probably Sen. Mark Haas) asking him to hear the bill.

Our focus now is the list of senators `on the fence' (see message 360) as well as calling and emailing Sen. Mark Haas to NOT hear Senate bill 767. District 4 is Beaverton so a call from his constituents would be helpful.

Senator Mark Hass
Party: D District: 14
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1714
District Phone: 503-641-2742
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-419, Salem, OR, 97301
Website: http://www.leg. state.or. us/hass
His email is listed on his website."

Does this solve everything? No, in fact if State Bill 767 passes this bill is a moot point. What would be great, if this passes and State Bill 767 is defeated. That would be optimum.

Also, for the first time today, I agreed with Obama! He chastised schools for catering to unions and squelching charter schools that have a record of success. What?? Who is this man and what have you done with the President?