The Real Reformers Stand Up



The following review was written by a teacher with a decade of experience teaching special ed who got to see an advance screening of "Waiting for Superman" the other night. The teacher is one of the GEM people working on the response: The Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting for Superman. See the trailer at: http://www.waitingforsupermantruth.org/


Lyrics: Will the Real Reformers Please Stand Up?

May, I have your attention please?
May, I have your attention please?
Will the real reformers please stand up?
I repeat, will the real reformers please stand up?
We might have a problem here…

These deformers don’t gotta real plan in their pack, but we do
We reject their agenda and you should too!

You think they have ideas for real reform?
Half them been looking for ways to make cash since they were born.

“But guys, what if its not lies, wouldn’t it be great?” (nerdy voice)
Why, so these guys can sell their charter plate?
Mess with our kids’ future fate?
Naw, Superman is here and not too late. (sarcastic)

Klein, Rhee and Duncan better switch us jobs,
So we can put an end to those hedge fund hogs.

They put teachers on blast in the newspaper?
“ all you need is quality teachers…. deerrrr!” (mocking voice)

We will expose their agenda and open your eyes
And show the world their drive to privatize… (yell:  ahhhhhhh)

sick of the law and pr groups all you do harms kids
So we have been sent here to expose you,
And there’s a million reformers just like us,
Who teach like us, who have kids like us,
who care like us, real reformers for just’us
just trust us, parents and teachers unite like us…

Cause we the real reformers, yes the real reformers
All you other deformers are just speculating
So won’t the real reformers please stand up,
Please stand up, please stand up? (reapeat 2x)
See the performance and trailer to The Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting for Superman at:
http://www.waitingforsupermantruth.org/


Here is another rap:

Hedge Fund Pair o Dice
-- Schoolio


As I walk through the city and my mind is bereft,
I take a look at my grades,
And mediocrity’s left.
'Cause I've been tested and messed with so long,
That even Obama thinks that my mind has gone.
And his homeboy Arne Duncan said we need a Katrina,
To overhaul the schools, or he’ll squeeze us like sardines, yo.
To the suits in the news we need nuthin’ but charters,
To them an inner city kid’s political barter.
They act like there ain’t nuthin’ to rampant co-location,
But damn if you’d see their Muffy in a bowl-shit situation.
Don’t gimme EIP’s -- how’s an IEP gonna fit, son?
Fool, I’m the kinda G that little homie’s wanna be like,
On my knees in the night,
Prayin’ for a “3” in the street light.

[Chorus]
They’re spreading edu-lies,
Playing with a hedge fund pair o dice.
They’re spreading edu-lies,
Playing with a hedge fund pair o dice.
They’re spreading edu-lies,
Living in a hedge fund paradise.
They’re spreading edu-lies,
Living in a hedge fund paradise.

Proficiency ain’t suffient, see?
Excellence be gettin’ hell away from me.
In my situation, a graduation proclamation,
No regents scholar, diploma and a buck can’t even buy a dollar.
Remedial classes just to fit in with the masses,
Credit recovery, where’s the class room that I didn’t see?
Where’s MY Campaign for Frickin’ Equity?
My mama brought the suit, and still there’s nothing left for me!
My passion is my destiny.
I know the truth, now which of you all fakers got the guts to say I’m free?
I scored a “2” yo, will I live to see a “4”?                      
I need recalibratin’, if I’ma raise my score.
                              
Tell me why are some still blind to see,
They’re only move -- blame the UFT.

[Chorus]
They’re spreading edu-lies,
Playing with a hedge fund pair o dice.
They’re spreading edu-lies,
Playing with a hedge fund pair o dice.
They’re spreading edu-lies,
Living in a hedge fund paradise.
They’re spreading edu-lies,
Living in a hedge fund paradise.

Power in the money, money in the power,
Pay me for my test score! hour after hour.
Everybody's cramming, but half of them ain't booking.
It's going on in Tweed,
Where School Prog Reports are cooking.
They say I gotta learn,
Sent an intern here to teach me.
If they can't understand me, how can they reach me?
I guess they’re tryin,
But inside I’m dyin.
They blame it all on tenure,
But that’s Bloomberg manure!

[Chorus]
They’re spreading edu-lies,
Playing with a hedge fund pair o dice.
They’re spreading edu-lies,
Playing with a hedge fund pair o dice.
They’re spreading edu-lies,
Living in a hedge fund paradise.
They’re spreading edu-lies,
Living in a hedge fund paradise.

[Refrain – and Retain]
Tell me why are some still blind to see,
They’re only move -- blame the UFT.
Tell me why are some still blind to see,
They’re only move -- blame the UFT.

-- Schoolio