Last printed 5/6/12 3:10 PM

Half Hollow Hills Teachers Association

The Finland Phenomenon Screening May 2012

Objective
Given the current climate in the field of education, its never been more important for educators to communicate the intricacy of what we do to the general public. While our system of education is not perfect, in many ways, the impediments that stand between what it is today and what we want it to be in the future are resigned to elements of the system that are outside the control of individual teachers. These structural and cultural conditions that give form to the system within which we teach and seek to advance student learning are by far the greatest obstacles we face in closing the achievement gap and ensuring our students are ready to compete in a global economy. With the current reform movement spiraling out of control, we risk sinking the system deeper and deeper into the bureaucracies and corporate interests that capitalize on perceived or manufactured weaknesses in the system without improving it in any meaningful way. While competing nations around the world continue to invest in education and raise the esteem of their educators, our plan does the opposite. Cutting education funds, demoralizing teachers publicly, and outsourcing the brain work of the profession to for-profit corporations will only undermine any real efforts at reorganizing our schools to produce the next generation of leaders. Robert Comptons documentary, The Finland Phenomenon, paints a picture of a reform movement that is drastically different from what American policy-makers are imposing on our system today. By sharing the film with educators, parents and policy-makers and engaging them in a discussion that juxtaposes the two systems, we hope to open channels to the intelligent dialogue we need if were ever to correct our current path.

Goals

Circulate print media dispelling myths about education. (Materials generated and selected by NYSUT research department.) Communicate an alternative to the current reform movement in American education. (Through use of the film, the post-screening discussion and print materials) Assemble audience of educators, local politicians and policy-makers, students and concerned parents. (Event will be promoted through Avenues for Promotion cited below) Air screening of the documentary, The Finland Phenomenon. (Purchase non-profit license for screening)

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Last printed 5/6/12 3:10 PM

Host focused discussion on conditions that interfere with our system being what we want it to be for our children. (Discussion will feature panel guests cited below and likely include a facilitator and focus questions)

Tentative Panel

Randi Weingarten, President American Federation of Teachers Tony Wagner, Author The Global Achievement Gap New York Teacher of the Year Andrew Greene, President Suffolk County Middle Level Principal Association Samuel E. Abrams, Visiting Scholar Teachers College, Columbia University [NYSUT Speaker TBA]

Distinguished Guests

Tim Bishop, U.S. Representative for NY District 1 John Flanagan, Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Education [Other local politicians]

Targeted Avenues for Promotion

Media Contacts: Long Island Patch, Newsday, NY Post, NY Times, NYSUT United, LIEvents.com, Suffolk/Nassau Herald, Suffolk/Nassau Life Venues to Post At: bookstores, libraries, Hofstra University, Adelphi University, St. Josephs College, SUNY Stony Brook, Long Island University, Molloy College Supporters and Promoters: NYSUT, PTA, AFT, LIPC, ED Directors, Hills Foundation, LI educational alliances, PDK, Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association, LI admin associations, BOCES, SCSSA

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