Join Me at the Rise Above The Mark Kokomo Show, July 17th

By Doug Martin

I will be in Kokomo on the Rise Above the Mark after-movie panel on July 17 at the South Branch of the Kokomo library.  I will be signing copies of Hoosier School Heist from 4:30 to 5:30pm.  Here is the press release.  Please share this far and wide and follow me on twitter:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, July 1, 2014

RISE ABOVE THE MARK, DOCUMENTARY FILM DETAILING THE ATTACK ON INDIANA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS, COMING TO KOKOMO

After-Movie Panel Discussion to Include Workers Voice Show Radio Host, Hoosier School Heist Author, Indiana Democratic House Candidate, ISTA Rep., and Literacy Expert

CONTACT: Randy M. Obenchain PHONE: (765) 301-8113 EMAIL: randy.obenchain@gmail.com

KOKOMO – Rise Above The Mark, a documentary film created by the West Lafayette School Corporation and narrated by actor/activist Peter Coyote, will be shown at the Kokomo Library South Branch. The film is aimed at educating the general public about the “corporate takeover” of Indiana's educational system and what parents, community members, and educators can do to protect their local public schools. The event will be hosted by The Workers Voice Show, a local worker's rights podcast, and the Indiana State Teachers Association Unit 7.

“Public education is and always has been the mark of a free democracy” says Randy M. Obenchain, host of The Workers Voice Show and moderator for the event. “The attacks against our public schools brought on by the Walton family and the Koch brothers are not happenstance events – they are deliberate, well calculated attacks designed to further corporatize America.” Heidi Miller, the Indiana State Teachers Association Uni-Serv Director for District 7, further comments, "Hoosiers and experts come together in the documentary Rise Above The Mark, discussing the real impact of the extreme education reforms on Indiana educators, schools and students.”

Free and open to the public, the event will take place July 17, 2014 from 4:30 to 7:30pm at the Kokomo South Branch Library, 1755 E. Center Rd.  The first hour will be a social hour with the film being shown promptly at 5:30 and a panel discussion to take place directly thereafter. Along with moderator Obenchain, the panel members will include:

Dr. Doug Martin, the author of Hoosier School Heist whose research on the corporate school movement has been cited or used by the Washington Post Answer Sheet, the Associated Press, ABC Nightline, and the FBI. 

Chuck Sosbe, the Democratic candidate for Indiana House District 30 who is a retired Kokomo firefighter and current vice president of the Indiana AFL-CIO.

Heidi Miller, the Indiana State TeachersAssociation’s Uni-Serv Director for District 7 and a past chemistry teacher at North Miami Community Schools, Denver, Indiana.  

Bob Stephenson, the executive director for Kokomo-Howard County Literacy Coalition and the vice president of the Indiana Literacy Association.

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Steve Hinnefeld Reviews Hoosier School Heist: Unions Unite NOW

by Doug Martin

Steve Hinnefeld has posted a review of my book Hoosier School Heist on his blog, School Matters.  Please read his review and check out his other pieces, too. 

Here is an excerpt from Steven's review: 

"Martin has a Ph.D. in literature, has taught in universities and published a book of Walt Whitman criticism. He can turn a phrase, and he can bring out the drama in a right-vs.-wrong narrative. Now working as a behavioral aide at a Vigo County, Ind., public alternative school, he grew up near Terre Haute, which may explain a lot. Maybe it’s the legacy of Eugene V. Debs or the memory of coal-field union wars, but Western Indiana progressives say what they think. Martin’s give-‘em-hell approach reminds me of United Mine Workers members I met while writing about coal strikes 30 years ago."

Oddly, Steve didn't know at the time of his writing that my father was a member of the United Mine Workers of America and participated in the strikes that Steve mentions.  I remember the strikes well.

As labor professor Patrick Hill has been telling audiences across Indiana, it is time all of the unions join together and fight off the billionaires.  So true.  Check out Patrick and  Randy Obenchain's (read his piece here) radio show The Workers' Voice coming every Saturday at 9am to Indiana Talks. 

Dirt Update: Doug Martin on Workers' Voice Show Today at 5 PM EST

by Doug Martin

I want everyone to know I am now working on several new dirt-pieces to expose more politicians and corporate school reformers and will post them in the very near future.  Since the release of my book Hoosier School Heist on March 21, I have been very busy travelling throughout Indiana and lining up more travelling gigs. 

Tonight from 5 PM to 6 PM EST, I will be talking about women's rights, the evils of a male-dominated society, teachers unions, prison, what is going on in Dugger, Indiana, and many other things I haven't touched upon yet in my many radio shows lately.

Please tune in at this link, and follow The Workers' Voice Show on facebook here.  I am a big fan of this program.  Every time I listen in I learn something.  You will too. 

NOTE:  Check out my show with the good folks at the Liberal Fix from awhile back, too, if you haven't already, and read Dan Bimrose's excellent introduction to the hour-long radio program.