WEAC launches ad condemning 'interference' in schools

A new hard-hitting television advertisement beginning today condemns political and corporate interference in public schools.

The WEAC ad, "interference," drives home the harm caused by conservative corporate influence in school policy.

“The ad shows that there are some politicians and corporate lobbyists who do not have the best interests of children at heart,” WEAC Public Relations and Communications Director Dick Vander Woude said. “These are forces more interested in destroying our public schools and making a profit from them than creating a great school for every kid. The ad asks Wisconsin residents to vote for candidates who support great schools.”
Vander Woude said that state and federal interference in our schools – from the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act, misleadingly called the “No Child Left Behind” law, to state-imposed revenue controls and teacher salary caps – have begun to take their toll on Wisconsin schools.

“Schools are suffering because of the ESEA, and state-imposed laws like revenue controls and the Qualified Economic Offer,” Vander Woude said. “This ad is a wake-up call to Wisconsin residents: Make sure people who support great schools are elected to public office.”

The ad is available on OnWEAC.

To see a story in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about the ad, visit www.jsonline.com/news.

Local leaders who talk about the ad to members, the media or the public may want to use the following talking points:

• “Interference” is a hard-hitting spot that drives home the harm caused by conservative and corporate influence in school policy.
  
  
• The ad is a direct appeal for support for public schools. The ultimate goal is to get people to vote for candidates who support great schools.
  
  
• The ad shows that there are politicians and corporate interests who do not have the best interests of children at heart. These are forces more interested in destroying our public schools and making a profit from them than creating a great school for every kid. The ad asks Wisconsin residents to vote for candidates who support great schools.
  
  
• This ad is a turning point for WEAC. Previous advertising has stressed the quality of Wisconsin public schools and the importance of public schools to our communities. This year’s ad represents a reflection of the new realities faced by WEAC members in our public schools. State and federal interference in our schools—from the federal ESEA to state-imposed revenue controls and teacher salary caps—have begun to take their toll on our schools. The public needs to understand that these federal and state mandates are hurting schools, not helping them.
  
  
• It shows that political and big-business interference does not create classrooms that work; it does not benefit everyone – it’s aimed at benefiting only a few.