Supporting Pro-Choice and DC Education

Greetings Runners,

This is the final day. Things get worse from here, but we’ll keep fighting anyway. We have a lot of new readers joining us this week. If you’d like a primer on events in DC over Inauguration Weekend and you did not get last week’s letter, feel free to check it out on Medium. And welcome! This week’s topics include ways to support the Pro-Choice Movement in the coming months as well as a surprise guest post on Betsy DeVos, and her support from a DC elected Board of Education official, Ashley Carter.

Topic 1: Supporting the Pro-Choice Movement

January 27th, just over a week from today, is the annual March for Life in Washington, DC. Kellyanne Conway is reportedly speaking there, the first high-ranking political official to ever do so. There has also been some discussion lately as to how pro-life women who identify as feminists fit into the platform of the Women’s March on Washington, which is unabashedly pro-choice. Earlier this week, the Women’s March announced a pro-life organization in Texas was going to be a partner of the March, but after receiving huge backlash they removed the name of the group from their partner list and issued the following statement:

Nonetheless, there will undoubtedly be pro-life women at the Women’s March on Washington. Many of these women identify as feminists, are horrified by Trump’s casual discussion of sexual assault, and believe in issues like equal pay.

The current political moment might demand that we make peace with people with whom we are not normally entirely comfortable. Women were never a monolothic group, and the Women’s March has striven to overcome its origins and make itself into a progressive, intersectional event for everyone. Does this attitude of openness and solidarity extend to the pro-life movement? Yes and no.

Pro-life women are, it goes without saying, allowed to march on Saturday. Not only does the official Women’s March platform invite anyone to march, regardless of how they voted or their personal beliefs, but it is of course their Constitutional right to demonstrate, just like it’s ours. I hope that we will all be able to get along with one another during the March itself; I even hope that we can work together, if possible and necessary (I believe it is both), to oust Donald Trump and his horror show cabinet. But I do not accept the principle of feminism without reproductive rights, including access to abortion.

Many of the pro-life “feminist” women interviewed for attending the March are also anti-birth control of any kind, like Brandi Swindell from Idaho who “started Stanton Healthcare, a women’s health facility with multiple locations that does not offer contraception or abortions” (emphasis mine). The issues they site as being most important to them as feminists — equal pay, workplace rights, etc — disproportionately affect white, middle class women, while the issue of abortion access often predominantly affects women of color and poor women. This has been a problem of the women’s movement from the beginning. Many of the women in the Atlantic piece also voted for Trump, a clear signal that while they may view themselves as feminists, that they voted for a misogynist sexual predator anyway, probably knowing that their privilege would allow them to weather that storm, and not keeping in mind the many women who do not have the same luxury. That is not feminism, or at least not any feminism that I want to be a part of.

Can you be a feminist today and be pro-life? I think the answer is no. Because to be a pro-life feminist means to be a non-intersectional feminist; means to care only about the feminist issues that apply directly to you and your cohort; or perhaps means putting your religious beliefs above the well-being of women right in front of you, who will have abortions regardless of whether you and the law sanction them. Perhaps there is a narrow definition of pro-life feminism that fits in today’s times, but that is a pro-life feminism that is pro-contraception to the point of actively advocating for its use; anti-Trump including not having voted for him; and accepting of circumstances in which abortions are unavoidable. I do not see this combination of crucial features from the women featured in the news. Let me also make a distinction between two different points of view: you can be personally and morally opposed to abortion without fighting against the rights of other women to have one. I would argue that that stance, held by many religious men and women, as well as many other people from all walks of life, is pro-choice, not pro-life. Pro-life people are those who seek to actively curtail the reproductive rights of others, and they do not get to couch that in feminism. So welcome to the Women’s March, anti-choicers (because that’s what you really are). We can protest together, but you don’t have my support.

Rather than cause problems for these women at the March, I think our energies would best be served by continuing to support the pro-choice movement in as many ways as we can. Anti-choice legislation has been introduced at both the local and national levels in the last few weeks, from Ohio’s twenty week abortion ban; to Texas’ latest bill which would criminalize all abortions unless the mother’s life were in danger and explicitly says to ignore conflicting Federal Law (i.e. Roe); to the multiple bills set to be introduced this legislative session in Missouri, attempts to curtail abortion rights are everywhere. A so-called “heartbeat” bill was introduced in the House of Representatives as a national piece of legislation just recently.

Jezebel is keeping track of state-level attempts to ban or cut back abortion access which is an excellent resource. If you or someone you know lives in one of these states, take action against the legislation mentioned. Or donate to local efforts to do so. The ACLU is already challenging several of the laws at the state level and is a great place for your money. You can also donate to local women’s health clinics that provide abortions and contraceptive services to women. Rather than donating to the National Planned Parenthood organization, consider donating to a local Planned Parenthood partner or affiliate in one of the states where reproductive rights are most under attack. Indiana, Virginia, and Texas come to mind but they are definitely not the only ones. Do some research on your home state if you’re a transplant; see how many clinics per resident there are and see if you can help out one of those local clinics. Staynastyamerica.org is a great resource for figuring out where to donate as it lets you sort either Nationally by topic (so, for example, National Reproductive Rights Groups) or locally (so if you go to the Midwest, then Indiana, it has local resources for a variety of activism topics, including repro rights).

Check out this Activist Kit from the National Abortion Federation, which includes “31 Ways to Get Involved” and “5 Minute Activism”. For Virginia specifically, since we are close by, NARAL Virginia has a page on their website that details current legislation as well as a great “How Your Can Help” section on their Get Involved page. Consider volunteering with one of these organizations, or as a clinic escort to help women visiting a clinic get in and out safely if there are anti-choice demonstrators outside. This piece from New York Magazine on how to become a clinic escort is brief and to the point. Another option: WWRAP, the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project, will send a representative to your home so you can host a dinner or cocktail party and educate people about its mission.

There are also great organizations aimed specifically at women of color who are doing wonderful work in this space. I kind of hesitated to put them in their own separate paragraph because they are doing the same great work as all the other organizations I’ve mentioned, but I think it will be useful for those specifically wanting to work with or for minority populations (which I think you should do!). Donate or volunteer with the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health; In Our Own Voice: the National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda group; or Sister Song, a group whose mission is “to strengthen and amplify the collective voices of indigenous women and women of color to achieve reproductive justice”. Obviously these groups would, ideally, not be working in separate spaces, and there are many places where they overlap, but there is no doubt that groups like NARAL and Planned Parenthood are run by predominantly white women.

Another thing I’ve been recommending that women do, especially women of means, is to buy Plan B or other emergency contraception. It is available over the counter without age restrictions and has a shelf life of five years. You never know when a condom might break, for example, or you can save the pills for friends, family, or organizations who might need it in the coming years. The generic version is currently available on Amazon for $25, which is half the price of the on-brand bought at CVS. Buy a couple. Save them. Look into getting an IUD if you’re not ready to have children yet while they are still covered by Obamacare. Decrease the stigma around IUDs by talking about what you like about yours if you have one. I myself have Nexplanon, which is a three year birth control implanted in my arm rather than the uterine lining, and I love it. The first six months were rough (I was spotting a LOT), but since then I have had no problems. Birth control pills never worked well for me — I would leave them at home or forget to take them no matter what I did — so this has been great. Talk to your OBGYN about your options. Stand up for your own reproductive rights as well as those of others.

Topic 2: Betsy DeVos and DC Education Policy

Did all of you know that DC’s current Board of Education at-large member, Ashley Carter, is a Trump supporter? Well, now you do. My friend Lauren is an educator in the DC Public School System, and she has some things to say about Ashley Carter, her support of nominated Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, and the important of local elections. Follow her on twitter @schoctopus. Take it away Lauren:

On December 10, 2016, Ashley B. Carter, DC’s new Board of Ed at-large member tweeted the following:

Oh dear. Where to begin? I’ve listed four main points I would like to discuss in relation to this tweet:

1) Ashley Carter’s election to the DCBOE

2) The “Canada Free Press”

3) Betsy DeVos’ nomination for Secretary of Education

4) The Effectiveness of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP), which is touted by the Canada Free Press article as a huge success

1) We’re all painfully aware that this past November, the United States voted a swamp monster and his demonic companion into the highest elected office in our land. What some of us in DC might not remember so vividly is that further down the ballot, we also voted for a few new DC Board of Education members. Not all Wards had members up for election, but everyone did vote for an at-large member. Our choices for this position were Mary Lord (the incumbent), Tony Donaldson, and Ashley Carter (the winner).

DCBOE might not have been at the forefront of everyone’s minds, but surely people did some cursory research, right? I can’t say I’ve always thoroughly vetted every single candidate I’ve voted for in my entire life, but I try my best. Some positions are difficult to research even with the vast resources of the almighty interwebs. But there are some things that were readily available before the election that I wish people had known about Ashley Carter before voting for her.

To begin, Carter is an organizer for the Independent Women’s Forum. Sounds good, right? Their tagline is even better, “All issues are women’s issues.” After a brief perusal of their website, however, you can see that this organization is not a true advocate for all women. One article criticizes the upcoming Women’s March’s commitment to intersectionalism . The website makes it clear that they support a repeal of the ACA . Their education policy page is a joke. I fail to spot any meaningful ed policy outside of a vague mention of “the need for greater educational freedom”.

Considering that Hillary Clinton won by a landslide in DC, I have to wonder how Ashley Carter won this election. Keep in mind that the DCBOE currently doesn’t have a huge hand in policy decisions. Their role is merely to advise rather than to effect any changes. But the moral of the story is still: do your research. Even in an uber liberal city like Washington DC, don’t assume that every candidate for every position will align with your values.

2) Now to briefly tackle the “news” organization responsible for the article on Betsy DeVos that Carter linked to. The Canada Free Press is a right-wing conservative news outlet started by Judi McLeod. She is a known peddler of misinformation. According to a New York Times article, she made a claim that the Obama administration was “financing” the Muslim Brotherhood. The article in question, about DeVos, contains grave inaccuracies. Note in particular the claim that the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) (which I will discuss in a moment) has been, “wildly successful.” The article flat out lies and says that graduation rates rose by 21 percent among students receiving the scholarship. The real number from the final evaluation is 12 percent. TWELVE! The digits are the same, but place value is important, people!! (Said like a true first grade teacher -JM)

3) I won’t get into too lengthy of a discussion of Betsy DeVos because, frankly, it would take a lot more research and writing than I am prepared to take on. I also wouldn’t be able to do as good a job as the journalists who have already covered her at length. But suffice it to say, DeVos is not a friend of public education. Time and time again, she has shown where her values lie based on where her substantial monetary contributions have gone. The recent Senate hearing that took place on the 17th illustrated her inability to speak to education issues beyond her slim talking points. Here are some key issues to look out for:

a) Substantial donations to the Republican Party, leading to her nomination
b) Financial support over the years of anti-LGBT groups
c) Ethics concerns. She and her family have many education-related investments that could lead to conflicts of interest.
d) Inexperience with pedagogy and current research in education practices
e) Inexperience with matters related to higher education, especially loans, grants, etc
f) Unclear views on guns in schools (She wants them to fight bears!! — JM)
g) Unclear views on if non-public schools receiving federal money (usually through vouchers) should be held to federal standards and laws, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
h) Unclear views on campus assault laws
i) Opposition to teacher unionization

I have chosen some key articles that I think will best illustrate why DeVos is a dangerously unqualified choice for Secretary of Education, like so many other cabinet nominees. The first three articles are a good overview, while the others dig a little deeper into her background.

- NPR’s Things to Look for in Betsy DeVos Confirmation Hearings

- NPR’s Watch Live Betsy DeVos Secretary of Education Confirmation Hearing

- Mother Jones’ Here Are Just Some of the Stunningly Bad Moments From Betsy DeVos’ Confirmation Hearing

-Mother Jones’ Betsy DeVos Wants to Use America’s Schools to Build ‘God’s Kingdom’

-Mother Jones’ Donald Trump’s Billionaire Education Secretary Has Been Trying to Gut Public Schools For Years

4) And now the moment you have all been waiting for…notes from a 214-page document analyzing and evaluating a government program!! Aren’t you glad you’re not reading it yourselves? In case you love data so much you want to spend a few hours looking at graphs and equations, here is the evaluation in its full form. I will confess that I did not comb over every single data point, but I did read some of the finer points of the issues they had with gathering and interpreting information. I am sufficiently satisfied that the reviewers have been transparent about any difficulties in collecting and analyzing the data. Keep in mind, I do not have a strong background in statistics and I would welcome the feedback of anyone who does.

The DC Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) is the, “first federally funded, private school voucher program in the United States.” The law mandated that the program be rigorously evaluated. The findings I have collected are from the sixth and final evaluation done by the US Department of Education. Keep in mind that the evaluation does not make any recommendations or suggestions. It does, however contain 3 main interpretations of the data, as follows:

1) “There is no conclusive evidence that the OSP affected student achievement.”
2) “The Program significantly improved students’ chances of graduating from high school.” (The Evaluation states that “The offer of an OSP scholarship raised students’ probability of completing high school by 12 percentage points overall.” Again, not 21.)
3) “The OSP raised parents’, but not students’, ratings of school safety and satisfaction.”

Just by looking at those three main findings, I would not consider this program to be a resounding success. Yes, graduation rates rose, but people like Betsy DeVos and Ashley Carter make it out to be the solution to education in this country! In fact, during her Senate hearing, DeVos did not mention a single meaningful proposal to helping schools to succeed other than “school choice” and “leave it to the states to decide.” Sure, school choice serves a purpose. As a temporary measure, some students may need to have options beyond their neighborhood public school. But the laws of capitalism do not apply to schools. Public schools are not for-profit ventures. Merely taking students out of public education and expecting competition to do the rest will not make public schools better. Schools get better when teachers have ongoing, relevant, and research-based training. NPR Education has a great article that explains how many of the “quick fixes” that politicians have for education (both liberal and conservative) simply do not work. Even a no-brainer such as smaller class sizes is only effective when teachers are sufficiently trained on how to use their extra time to meet the needs of small groups and individual students.

When I look deeper into the data, there is one other piece of information that troubles me greatly and relates to DeVos’ lack of understanding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Some families in DC (282 out of 1,293) never used the scholarship that was offered by the OSP. The biggest reason (30.7%) was that the preferred school did not have space. But the second biggest reason (21.6%) was that the preferred school lacked special needs services. That means about 61 students in the District didn’t even accept the scholarship because they wouldn’t have received the special needs services that public schools are required to provide under IDEA. On top of that, 660 out of 1,293 families did not consistently use their scholarship. In 12.3% of cases (5th highest reason), this was due to the lack of special needs services. That correlates to about 81 students in DC who at some point in their education chose not to use the scholarship because they couldn’t get the services they needed. You can read more starting on page xxiii of the report.

My final thought is this: local elections matter. No matter how small or influential the position, our civic duty is to research and vote for the candidate that we feel will best fit the roll. And while Ashley Carter may be in a small position now, this could be her first step on a path to becoming the next Betsy DeVos. I personally regret not taking a more active role in sharing what I knew about Carter before the election. I have a feeling we’ve all done some self-reflecting in the wake of this past election and we will be much better prepared for the next one.

(As an added note, many of us will have children in the DC Public School system someday, or do already. We have, collectively, nomiated someone to our Board of Education who publicly supported someone who lacks the knowledge or experience to be in our nation’s highest ranking education-related position. That’s not who we want making decisions about DC’s public schools and the children in them. Let’s start working right now to get better people elected to the DCBOE next time. And, it goes without saying, let’s continue to fiercely oppoe Betsy DeVos’s nomination in any way we are able. — JM)

Good Night and Good Luck

This is my weekly political news roundup column

-Confirmation hearings continued this week, with highlights being Tom Price, nominated for HHS Secretary, and Betsy DeVos, nominated for Education Secretary. Lots of information on DeVos can be found in the section on education above. Read about some of the other hearings here and here. Additionally, ruminate on the fact that there are 690 positions requiring Senate confirmation, and Trump has to date appointed only 28 people. This is frightening stuff:

“There’s no Trump appointee for any of the top State Department jobs below secretary nominee Rex Tillerson. No Trump appointee for any of the top Department of Defense jobs below retired general James Mattis. Treasury? Same story. Justice? It is one of two departments (along with, bizarrely, Commerce) where Trump has selected a deputy secretary. But no solicitor general, no one at civil rights, no one in the civil division, no one for the national security division.”

-After Trump’s Twitter attack of Civil Rights icon John Lewis, Lewis and other Congressional Democrats began to announce plans to boycott the Trump Inauguration. The number of boycotters is up to 65, one third of House Democrats. Read about how the boycott is about more than just John Lewis, and bask in the glory of Representative Maxine Waters from the California 43rd and her utter disdain for Donald Trump. This woman is….oh man, just read that linked article. On Twitter, with regards to her attending the inauguration, she said “I wouldn’t waste my time.” New hero.

-Obama held his last White House Press Conference this week. He ended it with “It’s going to be okay.” Let’s all hope so.

-Relevant to us DC folks, Congressional Republicans have already begun the process to gut progressive laws here in the District, setting their sights on gun laws, abortion access, and death with dignity for a start. I will have some more thoughts for you on that next week.

And that’s it folks! As usual, check out my Pinterest board for, well, pins of many of the articles linked here and my Medium page if you’d prefer a blogged version of this newsletter. Fill out my anonymous Google feedback form to suggest a topic or playfully troll me. Follow me on Twitter at @speaknojessica. Subscribe to The ForeRunner at http://tinyletter.com/theforerunner or read my back issues, all of which are public, at http://tinyletter.com/theforerunner/archive. Tell your friends to sign up, because every time someone new subscribes another performer declines to appear at the Inauguration.

In solidarity,
JM

My dog, Maple, wants to be a donut real bad:

Event link round up (local to DC unless otherwise noted):

January 19: Confirmation Hearings Strategy Session hosted by the Women’s Information Network (WIN), RSVP required, strategy session and letter writing evening to select Congressional Committees on reproductive rights, I will be there.
(As a side note, my friend Ashley recommended joining WIN, an organization of pro-choice Democratic women, and said all of her DC advocacy women friends are members, so if you’d like to become a member (not required for the events listed here) that’s here.)
January 19: Reclaim MLK DC Open House hosted by Black Lives Matter DC
January 20: Teach-In on Women’s Rights hosted by Politics and Prose, free, no RSVP required, but get there early it will fill up; I will be there
January 20: Non-Violence and Active Bystander Intervention Training hosted by Swamp Revolt, a partner of the Women’s March; multiple trainings all over DMV
January 20th and 21st: See links throughout the section on Inauguration Weekend from last week’s newsletter for even more.
January 21: Multi-Racial Healing Space hosted by Black Lives Matter DMV
January 21: Democracy Teach-In Following the Women’s March on Washington hosted by many organizations, including NARAL and the Southern Poverty Law Center
January 25 (Fairfax, VA): Fairfax Young Democrats General Meeting hosted by FYD
January 26: Welcome Back to Congress — Strategic Networking Happy Hour hosted by WIN (the Women’s Information Network), RSVP required