The Network for Public Education will hold its second annual conference in Chicago on the weekend of April 24-26. This conference is an opportunity to meet fellow public school activists from across the country and your favorite education bloggers. You just might meet some Momma Bears there!! 

Register for the conference here. Fees are an affordable $100 for both days or a one day registration fee of $60. Meals can also purchased through the conference or you can make your own arrangements. Check the NPE website for more details. 

This year's conference theme: "Public Education: Our Kids, Our Schools, Our Communities" is designed to have something for everybody and we hope all our our Momma Bears from moms, dads, teachers, to grandparents and concerned citizens will attend this event. 

There will be over 40 informative panels not to mention the powerhouse line-up of featured speakers including Yong Zhao, Diane Ravitch, Lily Eskelson Garcia, Randi Weingarten, Karen Lewis and Jitu Brown. 

Just a few of the spectacular presentations are listed below:

Student Panel – Tanaisa Brown, Kristin Towkaniuk & Others
If you’re coming to this conference you care about our students and probably have your own ideas on how to help. This is your chance to hear directly from some of our nation’s leading student leaders. Tanaisa, Kristin & Hannah will talk about what life is like for students today, how they feel about all of these so-called reforms, and what they’re doing to take back their schools.

 
BATs and Social Justice - Dr. Denisha Jones, Aixa Rodriguez and Kristin Vogel 
Looking to grow your understanding on the connection between race, inequity in education funding and what’s happening in your classrooms? Then join these three prominent voices from the Badass Teachers Association who are committed to social justice and equity in the schools and communities in which we work and live. The conversation starts here.


Perils of Ed Tech - Leonie Haimson, Rachael Strickland and Cynthia Liu
Want to know what’s happening in the world of student privacy? Three leading national activists will bring you up to speed. Between these three women, they have lead the movement to stop inBloom, built a national Student Privacy Coalition, and exposed the iPad scandal in LA Unified School District leading to the downfall of LAUSD Superintendent Deasy. Their workshop will focus on ways to strengthen federal protections, outline strategies for successful coalitions that lobby state & federal officials, and discuss how to expose the fraud and waste inherent in these systems.


Defending the Early Years - Nancy Carlsson-Paige and Geralyn Bywater McLaughlin
Concerned about what’s happening to our youngest children? Join leading national experts as they discuss their work pushing back against the current ed reform climate where academic skills and tests are replacing experiential, play-based learning. This interactive workshop will bring you into full participation by sharing experiences of what has worked and what has not as the group develops concrete actions steps for moving forward to Defend the Early Years.


More Than A Score - Jesse Hagopian
Black Student Lives Matter: The achievement gap is often used by corporate reformers to justify their policies. Are you looking for a way to respond to them that is both respectful of the experiences of communities of color, but does not accept high stakes testing is the way to close the achievement gap? Then join teacher and author Jesse Hogapian as he explores this topic. Jesse will share his experience in leading the successful MAP boycott in Seattle, discuss examples of gaining support from civil rights groups, and talk about how we can all help build a multicultural, anti-racist movement to support all students.

Last month, the TN Department of Education announced that they are making a new task force to study testing.  Interestingly enough, it seems that they have stacked the deck in favor of Common core…  Imagine that!!!

Momma Bears have a hunch that this Testing Task Force will proclaim that testing is hunky-dory in Tennessee.  They'll say all these Screener Tests and Benchmark Tests that districts are now required to do to implement RTI2 are magical.  Also, Common core will be touted as the best thing since sliced bread.  Given that there is a massive testing rebellion going on across the country right now, our state leaders are trying to prevent that from happening here with the new TNReady test (which suspiciously has questions purchased from Utah and ties to SBAC).  So, to be “ready” for TNReady, they are obviously creating an army of loyal testing and common core-loving people to give the appearance of this being state-led and supported by regular people we can all trust… but can we?

Commissioner McQueen says that they have heard concerns that there is "too much testing" taking place.  That is why she has formed this special task force.  The press release for this task force said this:

“The new task force includes state legislators, education officials, school administrators, teachers and stakeholders. The task force will meet for the first time in late March and focus on the results of a survey of school districts and their testing. It will issue a report on its findings this summer.”

Then it lists the task force members.  Of course, you know Momma Bears did some digging and investigating (because a worried Momma does better research than the FBI).  Take a look and weep at the stuff we found:

People hand-picked to be on this testing task farce:

• Commissioner Candace McQueen, TDOE
  
• Sara Heyburn, Executive Director, TN State Board of Education
  
• Sen. Dolores Gresham, R-Somerville, chairman, Senate Education Committee – In the TDOE announcement, Gresham said, "Assessments can be powerful tools in ensuring the work we’re doing in education is effective and that we are gaining a return on our taxpayer investments.”  Well, you could say she's getting a pretty good return on her voting record because she has received a boatload of money from Students First and is heavily involved with ALEC (a corporate organization that pushes laws that benefit their donors by privatizing public entities), both test-loving entities. A school board in her district recently passed a Resolution against Common Core, so she’s torn between representing those who elected her versus those who paid big bucks for her campaign.  She’s recently flip-flopped on Common Core and everyone sees it as a political maneuver to save her position and to save the common core.  Click HERE for the scoop on her flip-flop. 
• Rep. John Forgety, R-Athens, TN.  Chairman of the House Education Instruction and Programs Committee - Click HERE to see his flyer from his election website on education.  Nothing much stellar here, but do note there is nothing about repealing common core or any type of testing.    
• Rep. Harry Brooks, R-Knoxville, TN.  Chairman, House Education Administration and Planning Committee -  Thanks to Rocky Top Politics for exposing Harry Brooks and his love of the core.  He recently brought Marc Tucker, Common Core over-lord, to TN to testify and spread his common core love to the House education committees.
• Mike Winstead, Maryville City Schools director. His hometown newspaper prints that he’s all about the data and testing:  “I don’t jump to conclusions. I’m very diligent with my decision making. By nature, I’m very data driven, analytical and deliberate.”  For this reason, the administrator is looking forward to Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career (PARCC) testing in 2014-15.  He goes on to boast, “We’re the best school system in the state, and one of the best in the country. We’re soon going to know for the first time where we actually stack up. I’d imagine that we’ll look very good, but we’re going to see some things that will need improvement. I expect those results will serve as an impetus for future growth. We’re not complacent here, and we’re going to continually work to meet the needs of all students. We’re going to grow them academically, accelerate their growth, and ensure that they’re better prepared graduates — as we’ve done for many years.”  So, this guy loves him some tests that generate data. 
• Wanda Shelton, Lincoln County Schools director - Definitely a testy data lover judging by this horrifying video of a data wall in the hallway which color-codes students and ranks them by their test scores.  She talks about how it is great that her students are now so competitive.  She puts a LOT of weight and faith on tests.
• Mary Reel, Milan Special School District director;  signed Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS) report supporting common core 
• Nancy Ashe, Lebanon City Schools assistant director - She was originally hired in another district as a testing coordinator! Nancy's daughter is Asst Principal at Mount Juliet High School, which makes us wonder if that is how the one student (Jasmine Carlisle) got chosen to be on this Test Task Force.  Also, Nancy Ashe's husband is principal at Lavergne.
• Beth Unfried, Elementary Schools Director, Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools.  WE SCOREd with this one!  She is a SCORE prize winner and we all know where SCORE stands. "CHEERS to Beth Unfried, principal of Norman Smith Elementary, who has been named elementary schools director for the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, replacing Priscilla Story, who is retiring. Unfried led Smith Elementary to high honors last year as the school was chosen as the Tennessee SCORE Prize winner and named a state Reward School." 
• Sharon McNary, Principal, Richland Elementary School, Shelby County Schools.  Not much info we could find on her, but she's at a top-rated school in Shelby County/Memphis.
• Philip Eller, teacher, Cedar Grove Elementary, Rutherford County Schools; and a common core coach!!! 
• Becky McBride, teacher, Brighton High School, Tipton County Schools;  Teacher of the Year finalist for TDOE 2014-15
• Valerie Love, teacher, Dobyns-Bennett High School, Kingsport City Schools;  and another SCORE!!  This one won a  SCORE Educator Fellowship 
• Susan Lodal, president, Tennessee School Boards Association
• Jasmine Carlisle, 11th-grade student, Mt. Juliet High, Wilson County Schools; 
• Virginia Babb, member representing Knox County Parent Teacher Association.  She posted on her Facebook page: “I support the Common Core and the tougher standards. This year we are actually asking my 3 kids to think! Before it was all about bubbling in a test. Sometimes this change has been hard, but learning should have some struggles. Tennessee has smart students and we need teach to their abilities, I think the Common Core is helping to do that.”

Ex officio members:

• Kathleen Airhart, Deputy Commissioner of TDOE
  
• Stephen Smith, deputy commissioners, Tennessee Department of Education
• Emily Freitag, assistant commissioner for curriculum and instruction, Tennessee Department of Education 
• Nakia Towns, Assistant Commissioner for Data and Research, TDOE (was formerly with Knox County Schools)
• Eva Boster, Teacher Ambassador, TDOE; and 
• Alyssa Van Camp, Policy Director, SCORE

The process has been very hush-hush.  Nobody has seen an application process.  Nobody even knew this task force was being created.  Surprise!  A cadre of hand-picked test lovers to determine the outcome of testing for our kids.

Some things Momma Bears need to point out:

• TEA isn't receiving any money or paying any money for this arrangement.  We are so glad to hear that!  We knew National Education Association has received money from Bill Gates in the past (click HERE to see all those grants), so we're glad that the state level isn't being manipulated with Gates' money.
• Carolyn Crowder called SCORE, "the most active public policy voice in our state."  Really?  SCORE doesn't represent our students, SCORE represents their donors.  We didn't elect SCORE.  SCORE is here because of money from Bill Gates.  (Click HERE for our previous blogs on SCORE).  In fact, SCORE's latest golden egg from Gates was just last year for nearly $1 million dollars paid over 22 months to "amplify voices on reforms" in TN.  
• So, that's 2 out of 3 organizations in this arrangement who depend on Bill Gates' philanthropy for their paychecks.  SCORE and Hope Street Group are both signed up for the Gates Meal Plan, so why would those organizations ever bite the hand that feeds it?  Why would they tell the Emperor he has no clothes on when the money flows into their bank accounts if they keep telling him how dashing he looks in his reformy underpants?  
• This partnership has an "understanding" that all 3 organizations must agree to an issue before it is researched by the Fellows, and the TDOE has agreed to work on whatever issues are brought forth from this partnership.  Read the above bullet point again.  What issues are the other 2 organizations firm on?  Teacher evaluations using standardized testing, charter schools, privatization of public education, high stakes testing, Teach for America teachers, Common Core, etc.  Basically, the same things TEA is battling against.  
• Carolyn Crowder wrote that Hope Street Group has had "successful partnerships" in other states, but she didn't mention the states.  It is important to know that this "partnership in states" is a pretty new concept for them (even though they have a National Teacher Fellowship to influence national policy).  Their website says, "Hope Street Group’s state teacher fellowship program was launched in Kentucky in 2013 and in Hawaii in 2014 in partnership with teacher associations."  Um, that is more like 1 and a half state partnerships so far.  Let's look at those 2 states:

1. Hawaii:  They've barely had time since 2014 to go through the teacher selection process, training over the summer, and a full legislative session (Hawaii's starts the 3rd week of January).  So in actuality, the Hope Street Group hasn't done a darn thing yet in Hawaii to influence policy or laws.  We wouldn't call that "successful."
2. Kentucky:  That leaves Kentucky.  ONE state that has had ONE year of this partnership between their Education Association and Hope Street Group.  We did find out that Kentucky teacher evaluations are now using student surveys as part of their evaluations.  Ugh... TN teachers have experienced the biased surveys (and parents, too), and have plenty to say negative about that.   We asked Carolyn Crowder to give us an example of something positive that has come from the Kentucky Education Association partnering with Hope Street Group, but she couldn't tell us even one thing.  She did say she would ask them and let us know.  We'd be happy to publish details if she responds. 

TEA is clearly outnumbered in this Gates-funded conversation.  Despite TEA having a larger membership than SCORE's well-paid staff and Hope Street's army of lobbyists, TEA will be the minority.  Gates' money will dominate the conversation, as they intend to do, and will dominate the outcome, as they fully intend to do.  And, honestly, can anyone think of ANY organization funded by Gates that doesn't push for his reforms?  Anyone???  Nope.  Because there isn't one.  He's deliberate and strategic in who he funds for a reason. 

We have some major questions about this partnership, and we found some alarming information about Hope Street Group.  Stay with us, readers...

Who gets to pick the teachers that become the Hope Street Fellows?  
There is a application process, including: narrative questions, recommendations, and an interview.  
But who gets to narrow down candidates, interview, and pick the fellows?  
If a teacher doesn't agree with common core and/or merit-based pay, will their application be quietly discarded or do they have a real chance?  
Does TEA have any input whatsoever on this process, interviewing, or selection of teacher fellows?  Does SCORE??  
We asked the Carolyn Crowder those questions, but were surprised to learn that she didn't know the answer to any of them.  She did say that "TEA requested to be invited to the training."  Um, that doesn't sound like TEA will have any control over which teachers will be picked or what they will be trained to do as citizen lobbyists.  Hope Street Group obviously has a plan; the process is already on their website for teachers to apply.   So, it appears that TEA doesn't get a say in that Fellowship process.  Are you surprised?  We're not.

Grab a bucket to puke in, because we found some sickening stuff about Hope Street Group you need to know about:

On Hope Street's website, we read this:

"Hope Street Group assisted the U.S. Department of Education in designing Race to the Top (RTTT) in 2009. Since then, the organization has partnered with multiple states including the first two Race to the Top winners, Delaware and Tennessee, working on new ways to engage practitioners, complement work efforts and support work product."

Oh, my, we have opened the can of worms with this one...

Nobody.  Nobody.  Nobody likes Race to the Top in Tennessee!!!  So, we're going to allow an organization that assisted the USDOE in designing that horrible RttT program, AND who worked with teachers to get us to the horrible, horrible evaluation system we have now, TO HAVE CONTROL OVER THE CONVERSATION?  

Hope Street Group got us into this mess.  They need to leave TN.   Just go away.  Don't use our teacher voices to further your donor's agenda.  Don't use our children to profit your investors and yourself.  Don't influence our legislators.  Just go back to your own little cushy offices and leave us alone.  Tennessee can control our own education thankyouverymuch!  

Wait, it gets worse... this isn't a worm, this is a monster!

Look at this publication from Hope Street Group that we found on their website (image below).  It appears to be a two-page advertisement of sorts for politicians and state leaders to tell them what Hope Street has done in other states and can do for their state:

That document doesn't have a date on it, but judging by the past tense verbs they used to describe TN and Delaware winning Race to the Top grants and the summer training of teachers by Hope Street Group, this document could not be more than 4 and a half years old, and perhaps newer.  Four and half years ago they were "committed" to 50% of teacher evaluations being test scores.  

Note:  this has been deleted from their website now after we sent it to TEA and TEA asked them about it.  Their first priority now says that student achievement must be "a major component."  Hmmm... Sounds like they watered down the wording because the percentage was offending some people.  Even so, "a major component" is still "major."  

Here's the thing, we Momma Bears don't want our children's test scores evaluating any teacher or school.  That burden should not be on any child's shoulders.  There is no fair way to do it.  Momma Bears oppose this.  

Momma Bears' recommendation = TEA should run away from this lopsided arrangement and should apologize to their members for making Momma Bears do all this research.  

Momma Bears think it is shameful how an out-of-state organization gets a say in our state's public education simply because they have a ton of money.  This is America, for goodness sakes!  Because of money, Bill Gates and special interest groups have bought their way into Tennessee with plans to control the conversation and outcome regarding our children's educations.  This is not okay.  

We're just a group of concerned Moms volunteering our time to research and advocate for students, teachers, and strong public schools.  TEA can brush off our little blog and all these facts we've shared, but they can't say they didn't know.  We kindly gave them all this evidence last week before this blog was published.  The staff and board of TEA know exactly who and what they are dealing with and their motives.  TEA's leaders don't need to explain why they decided to partner with these shady organizations to Momma Bears, but TEA members who give up part of their already small paychecks for TEA membership dues might just want an explanation why TEA is giving so much power to these underhanded organizations.  

This message that TEA's Executive Director sent us over the weekend might help, or it might not:

Why does it take Hope Street to bring everyone to the table?   
TEA politely partnered with these Gates-funded organizations because they say, "It is a way to insert our members’ voices into a system that does not always take action on the ideas of the real experts - our Tennessee teachers."  TEA may have been invited to the Mad Hatter's "tea" party, but the sloshing and spinning of Bill Gates' teacups will not get them where they need to go.

Stuck in an Elevator With Bill Gates
by a Momma Bear in Tennessee

Just me and him.  Alone in an elevator on a long ride to the top floor.  I’ve dreamed of this for quite some time, but even so, my hands are sticky and my mouth is dry.  Will I have the guts to say what I’ve rehearsed in my mind so many times?  I remind myself that I’m wearing my big girl panties, and I urge my brain to speak, but it doesn’t sound like my voice coming out. 

“Hi, I’m Jennifer, a Mom from Tennessee,” I say.  He looks up from his gadget that looks like it came from a Star Trek episode.  It will probably be the hot item for next Christmas season with people camping-out in front of Best Buy weeks before it is released to get it.  “Hi,” he says and looks back at his device which starts blinking a bright red.

I figure I’ll break the ice by telling him about my kids.  “I am a Mom of two children who both love school and want to be teachers someday when they grow up.”  That sounds lame, but it really isn’t to me.  My children are one of the most important things to me in my life.

He looks up from his device to look at which floor the elevator is now at, then looks back at the device.

I take a deep breath.  “I know you are Bill Gates, and I just want to say that, um… I just want to say that you are wrong about public schools.”  There, I said it.  He looks up from his device but doesn't say anything.  I let it all gush out, “You are misinformed.  You are listening to the wrong people.  Public schools are not failing.  America is not in an education crisis.”

Suddenly, the lights flicker, the elevator makes a strange groaning sound, shudders, and stops.  We are both holding on to the elevator handrail with shocked looks on our faces.  The elevator is strangely still.  Bill pushes the button for his penthouse office, but nothing happens.  He pushes it again.  Then he frantically pushes other buttons.  Every single one of them.  Twice.  Nothing happens.  He pulls on the little red alarm button.  (From personal experience when my children were younger and quicker than me, I know that red button is supposed to make a very loud alarm sound).  There is only silence as Bill pulls frantically at the red knob.  At least the lights are still on.  It sure would be creepy to be stuck in here in the dark with him.

Bill looks at me.  I shrug my shoulders, what do I know about elevators?  After all, I’m just a Mom.  Bill looks at his device which is still blinking.  He puts it in his pocket and takes out another device that looks like a cell phone.  He starts pushing buttons on it, but nothing happens.  He says a mild curse word under his breath, and then he says, “The battery is dead on my cell.  I knew I should have gone with an iphone.”  I’m not sure if he is kidding or not.  I say something lame about how much I love my android phone, but wish the batteries lasted longer, too.

We are stuck.  In an elevator.  Between floors.  Just Bill Gates and a little old Mom from Tennessee.  Awkward is a good word to describe it. 

Maybe he didn’t hear me before the elevator stopped.  I’ll try again.  “So, I know I’m just a Mom from Tennessee and you’re the richest person in the world, but I want to let you know you’re listening to the wrong people about public education.”  

Bill interrupts me and asks how much money I want.  

“No, no, no,” I say, “you don’t understand.  I don’t want your money.  I just want you to hear me.”  Bill’s expression clearly shows he doesn’t believe me. 

I continue, “I’m a stay-at-home Mom who volunteers in my children’s schools.  I see what is going on with this awful emphasis on standardized testing and the inappropriateness of Common Core.  I hear from teachers who are frustrated, but unable to speak up.  I see how public schools are being given to charter investors to make huge profits from. This is all so wrong.  Please hear me when I say you are listening to the wrong people.  You’re giving your money to the wrong people.”

Bill takes out the red flashy gadget again.  It is still flashing.  He pushes some buttons and it projects an elaborate bar graph of bright colors on the wall of the elevator.  I’m amazed that such a tiny gadget can do that!  He says, “My advisors and fellow billionaires tell me that children are in failing schools, that their schools have low standards, that their teachers have low expectations and are lazy, that the teacher’s unions are corrupt and causing all of this, that America’s public schools caused the global stockmarket crash, and that schools need to be run like businesses to succeed.”  He points to the graph illuminated on the wall, but it looks foreign to me.  It shows USA compared to other countries with a zig-zag line across it in red.  It looks bloody important, but what do I know, I’m just a Mom.

He points at the wall and says, “Look at the data.  See those test scores?  You can’t argue with data.”  No, I can’t.  I don’t understand what that chart means or even what test it is showing.  But I do know someone who does!  I pull out my android smartphone and pull up “The Assessment Landscape” on Youtube.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r9_ZpNbU6A

We have nothing better to do, so we sit down on the floor and watch it together.  I find some Scooby-Doo fruit snacks in my mommy purse and offer some to Bill.  He takes them and says thanks.  He eats the fruit snacks as he watches the Youtube video.  We watch on the tiny screen as Dr. Tienken tells how the tests today are being used to show a problem that doesn’t exist.  He gives undeniable, logical proof of how our nation is moving in the wrong direction.  

After about 7 minutes of this video, Bill stops the video and asks, “Why didn’t my advisors tell me about all that data?”  I shrug my shoulders.  I know the answer in the back of my mind, but don’t say it aloud (“because it doesn’t profit them”).  He then asks if I have any more fruit snacks.  He says Melinda put him on a diet, but he missed breakfast so he’s famished, and these things are amazingly tasty.  I tell him he can have another pack if he watches the entire video, and I hold out a package of Dora The Explorer fruit snacks.  He is a tough negotiator.  He counter-offers to watch the rest of the video and eat the Dora fruit snacks, if I allow him to tether my smartphone to his red flashing gadget.  I agree.  I just want him to watch the entire video all the way to the end.  He lays my android phone on top of the red flashing gadget and the video is magically projected in the elevator in 3-D.  No cords!  Amazing!  The video’s sound fills the small room.  All from that tiny little gadget.  This is much better than my little phone screen!  Bill smiles, opens the Dora fruit snacks, and resumes watching Dr. Tienken’s video. 

At around the 10 minute mark, Dr. Tienken gets candid.  He talks about the “ideological ideas from a small group of oligarchs and bureaucrats who are all too willing to take public money and peddle this standardized education reform potion.”  Ouch.  Bill’s eyebrows scrunch up, but he does not say anything. 

Then the video changes its tone.  My favorite part.  This is the point in the video where Dr. Tienken offers proven solutions like: local control, creativity, innovation, using assessments wisely, multiple pathways to success, allowing parents to collaborate with leaders, community control, not one-size-fits all for children, using standardized tests as just one data point of multiple measures, providing support for districts, etc.

Dr. Tienken tells viewers to “stop wasting time, money, and children’s futures trying to make every child the same.”  He ends the video by imploring us to, “reject standardization and national testing, and move forward democratically, creatively, innovatively, and locally.”

The video ends.  There is silence.

Bill takes off his glasses and rubs the bridge of his nose.  

We’ve just watched 13 minutes of common sense together while eating fruit snacks on the floor of an elevator… I mean, what do you say after that?

Just then, the elevator begins to slowly move.  We stand up and hold on to the handrail.  The elevator ascends smoothly to the top floor and the doors open.  

Bill asks for me to please go with him to his office, so I follow him.  I throw away the fruit snack wrappers in a trash can on the way past the receptionists.  I am a good citizen.

His office is beautiful.  The paperclips on his desk probably cost more than my minivan.  He tells me to please have a seat as he sits down behind his impressive desk.  

He makes me an offer.  “You are wise, mother from Tennessee.  I want to hire you as an advisor.  I have clearly been misinformed, and I need your insight and truth.”  He offers me a salary that is worth more than my house.  

I decline.  

He then offers me a salary that is worth more than my neighborhood.  

I decline.  

(Oh, my dear husband is gonna be so upset with me… That salary offer could have paid off our mortgage, bought us new cars, and we could have bought a yacht!  This is harder than I thought it would be!)  

I give him my counter-offer, “I don’t want your money.  I see clearly how the love of money corrupts people and causes them to do and say things to get more money.”  I confidently tell him, “I will be the best advisor you've ever had regarding public education.  I will give you honesty.  I won’t lie to you to flatter you.  I will tell you to trust teachers and parents.  But I won’t take a penny from you.” 

I tell him, “I will tell you the truth, but it won’t be easy to hear because I will tell you to stop funding organizations and people that hurt students and public education.  I will advise you to stop meddling with the American democratic system and our public schools.  I will tell you to stop funding politicians who vote for harmful reforms.  I will invite you to meet experts like Dr. Tienken who have proven solutions and who will advise you to donate your money in areas you already knew were important from selecting your own children’s private school - like smaller class sizes and enrichment opportunities.”

Bill nods and says, “Okay, but what’s the catch?”  (There is always a catch, right?)

I decide to ask for it.  I can’t help it, I love technology.  I tell him I want one of those little blinky boxes that he has in his pocket that projects 3-D videos with such amazing clarity.

Bill seems surprised at my request, but firmly tells me I cannot have it.

Seriously?  The guy just offered me more money than I’ve ever seen in my lifetime, but he won’t let me have that little gizmo?  I promise him I won't sell it to Apple.

Then he tells me, "Trust me, you don't want this device.  It has a glitch."  He explained that this top-secret tiny 3-D projector has a serious bug they can’t seem to work out.  It isn’t ready to be released to the public yet because the glitch is so powerful...  Strangely, the glitch causes elevators to stop and freeze mid-flight.

I tell him, I'll take it anyway despite the glitch.  I have an elevator I'd like to to ride with Arne Duncan.

Bill slowly smiles, nods his head, hands me the gadget, and shakes my hand.  We have a deal.