And why have this controversial subject that inflames the right on two months before the midterm elections that the MAGA right hopes to use to regain power? Why not talk about something more important like, say, DEMOCRACY, and how it is being threatened? Dr. Phil is off my list ever since he took his uneducated stance on Covid.
I saw dr Phil on the family feud show. It became rather evident within a few minutes, that dr Phil is nowhere as intelligent as portrayed on his show. He could not even answer the most basic question intelligently. His wife who was also on the program was visibly agitated with his responses.
Robert, anything you said on his show of any real consequence would be left on the cutting room floor. Every sentence would be distorted to agree with their biases and improve their ratings. No doubt they may state your refusal to be on their show, but don’t worry those who know you won’t be deterred. I think you made a wise choice.
"Dr" Phil is "doctor" in the way "Dr" Oz is: NOT AT ALL. They want to keep the talking points about ASININE TRUMPISMS so their failures do not become THE talking point.
He has a Ph.D. He lost was a licensed psychologist, who lost his license after not completing state licensing board sanctions, following a formal complaint. He was by then making a fortune with his TV show, leaving little monetary incentive to comply and, it would appear, professional ethics incentive was not there either. Dr. Oz is an M.D.
Also interesting to understand that Dr. Phil is known as an REBT therapist - Rational Emotional Based therapy..............everythinbg has it's limitations, including Dr. Phil.
Or talk about the more important fact that there are significant teacher shortages all accross the country and why this is the case. Negatively impacting ALL teachers and ALL students and in fact the entire country!
Talk about the book banning going on. That in itself, aside from ridiculously low salaries and benefits, would deter me from ever teaching. Like teaching a fire fighter how to work with no water…..omg.
Please . Please. Do not give up. You need to challenge Dr. Phil. Ask to reframe the questions… provide data. You can change the discourse . Did you see ALFranken calling out the Supreme Court as illegitimate — lying under oath about their intentions on Rie Vs Wade… and more. You must speak up and challenge. Respond with the questions you would like asked! Then you can call Dr Phil out broadly. Make him accountable
Perhaps trust and challenge the audience. They may deserve better to challenge themselves. It is up to us to shape the country n which we live. Polls say we are afraid of Civil War. It is only a Civil War f we don’t listen and reckon with our past… get money out of politics … (Koch Brothers in state legislatures. Social media can be used for good. As a people we need dialogue.Check out Dialogue on Race in Louisiana started by Maxine Crump. DORLA.
Hey Hurricane! I really like the idea of getting Dr. Reich to call Dr. Phil out. If Dr. Phil really wants a discussion on equity in education, Dr. Reich should be defining the terms and parameters. Dr. Phil should be avoiding the us vs. them on such a program and work to actually inform people of what is really happening, not just what scared white mostly men want people to think is happening. I don't think Dr. Phil will do that because he has fallen victim to the false argument type of programming and his producers are not only on board, but are helping to push the show more and more in that direction. Too bad for all those watching the show. They could have learned a lot. Nah! That's not what the show is for.
I had been a Phil fan, but when it was proven that children could and did get COVID, he said he was against closing businesses/ restaurants to try to slow the spread. He said the 2% mortality rate among children was acceptable. I wanted to ask "If it were YOUR grandchildren, would it be acceptable?" Lost all respect for him. Human life vs business should be an easy decision.
Cheryl, I, too, had been a fan, but I found one of his shows a couple of years ago disturbing. A couple had decided before marriage, they wanted no children. After a couple of years, the wife changed her mind and wanted children. She wanted children around. The husband had already had a vasectomy. Dr. Phil told the man that if he really loved his wife, he would reverse the vasectomy and give her the children she wanted. I was angry that nothing was said to the woman about working with her need to be around children by getting a teaching certificate or working at a daycare or other such activity, or even seriously questioning her sudden new decision to have children. She knew her husband wanted no more children. (he already had a couple from a previous marriage.) He said he was not up to helping raise more kids. I started watching the shows more carefully and noted that Dr. Phil's advice went from encouraging partners to listen to each other more carefully to giving questionable advice. I dropped the show from my daily viewing and admit I have not missed it at all. Thanks for reminding me why I stopped watching.
Agree! Maybe the marriage was falling apart and she thought a baby, the age old "solution", would reglue them together. His advice was superficial sound-bite stuff. Very dangerous when dealing with people's lives.
Jody, unfortunately, a guest doesn't get to reframe anything. The shows are not live, and the editors can easily edit out anything that does not match the stated or unstated purpose of the show, and do.
Ruth, As I noted in a separate post, if a guest promptly can reframe the question, say, by addressing the efficacy of a system, wherein “5.6 percent of licensed teachers identify as a teacher of color or American Indian, as compared to 30 percent of students,” one can shift the entire discussion to comport with premises that actually are warranted with the added benefit possibly of making resisters less sure of themselves.
Not only that but, if it is the producer's intent to frame the conversation to inflame those watching against minority treatment in schools such as in Minneapolis, they can do so in the film editing. You'd be surprised what editing can accomplish.
Too true. I was once on 20/20. The interview I gave bore no resemblance to what aired. It is heartbreaking that Dr. Reich will not have this opportunity to educate people who really need it, especially since the topic of education is such a flashpoint right now.
No YouTube posting unless he films it with a hidden camera and breaks the law by posting proprietary material. It's possible they wouldn't edit out a good message, and nothing ventured nothing gained. Maybe they'd even like to deliver some enlightenment about how enriching minorities -- who we deprived -- brings the whole society to a better level.
Sep 12, 2022·edited Sep 12, 2022Liked by Robert Reich
Professor, I so, so, so respect your decision not to participate in the talk show and even more your analysis of the not so hidden agenda of pandering to the popular sentiment against anything that looks like favoritism or affirmative action. The starting line for people of color is so far back that there is little chance for representation as teachers in the Minneapolis school district. 5.6 percent of teachers of color compared to 30 percent of students. Topics that skew the conversation are as incendiary as the popular radio talk shows like Bannon, Jones and the late Limbaugh. And FOX. And Dr.Phil? This is so blatant and disturbing. He needs to know why you decline.
This is such an important issue not just for black kids to see black teachers or Native American kids or Mexican kids to see people who look like them teaching, but equally important for white kids to see that intelligence and competence have no color. Love has no color.
As a former teacher of English composition, I regret that I did not have the suasive power to change the conversation about “race,” which is a social construct rather than a scientific category. Although almost everyone who meets me doubtless categorizes me as “white as Charles Farrell,” my avatar in this blog, in reality I have been judged as outside the pale by an older generation who were excessively influenced by hitlerian thought. When I taught my classes, which contained students of varied backgrounds, ethnicity, etc., I found myself giving slack to working black women with children who were heads of households. An objective judge of my grading method might have accused me of favoritism. Fast forward to Minnesota: as a “white” teacher, despite my progressive posture, I would be apparently disadvantaged. I’m looking forward to feedback on this topic.
I figured out a long time ago that “white” people would be judged incapable of furthering the progress of the historically disadvantaged. And so I reluctantly left teaching, where my whiteness would become a hindrance to the progress of society, and joined the private sector. No hard feelings.
Looked up Stanistan on Wikipedia. Congratulations on your proud heritage!
I may have some Stanistanian blood. I am paler than veal, nearly blind and content to stay indoors (subterranean living, while preferred, is not an option in my basement-less ranch home.)
As a nurse for 40 years, who always wore traditional white, I was invisible. Particularly when it was time for a raise. As a teacher, you know how Stanistanians are treated.
I applaud you for cutting single moms of color some slack. It IS a disability to have empathy for others who are struggling. Dare I say you sound like one of the white woke? As a person on every rabid Repub's hit list, you must take every precaution to preserve your essence.
That is why one needs to respond. Nail him with the facts and the story. I am not naive. I have a very dear family member who has worked for Color of Change for ten years. I introduced the work of Maxine Crump to my colleagues at AstraZeneca before we left. We must engage and act clearly and now is the time. People have been duped by Trump and aspects of politics in America that need to change. As a country we have not come to terms with slavery and the Civil War. For whites it was more about commerce. I think the best is story is evident in the African American History Museum. Now is the time though and well I am not sure if Joe needs a second term but he his the one to guide us. If he gains a significant majority there needs to be election reform… money out of politics to start.
And white Americans whearever they are on the political and economic spectrum will need to understand how the system ahas been racist and biased to white affluent men:0
Your "bigger regret," "...that the national conversation is in the hands of producers chasing ratings and advertising dollars, with no regard for how they're distorting the public's understanding..." is key here. When dollars are more important than public understanding we've got a problem. But then, I am just reiterating - and agreeing with - what you have already said. Save for the fact that it deserves restatement I must say that my input is minimal. But hats off to you on this.
1970. The teaching credential Program I am interested in wants only bilingual applicants. finding too many bilingual Caucasians, they added being bi-cultural as a requirement. This makes me wonder if there is any understanding of people climbing their way up the Socio economic ladder and not wanting a low paying job. Being white, bilingual, and knowing my way around a tortilla, I consider applying anyway. I could readily display and understanding beyond academia by suggesting “Chupa me Verga Pinche putos”.
I have never liked charlatans such as Dr. Phil and am not surprised that he has such a large American audience, given the low education level of the people who are gullible enough to believe his B.S. He and Dr. Oz (THANKS A LOT OPRA) are two snake oil salesmen cut fro the sam rag. No surprise they will go along with right-wing republican divisive tactics.
Yes, unfortunately it's the same kind of right-wing, corporatist bias in nearly all the major networks, which is why the information Americans receive from our media is so distorted & limited.
Lawrence Lintner ; He does not own the show, bottom line he knows what the rules are and what he can 'get away with'. I don't personally know him ; He could be a decent man at heart, who is entertaining instead of informing the way he may have originally wanted to?
Professor, As I read your words “it’s the wrong issue and the wrong debate,” the thought that came to mind, given, as you rightly noted, the minimum time allotted, was promptly to reframe the debate. Though I imagine you are more skilled than I at reframing, my instinct would be to rephrase the question to address the efficacy of a system, wherein “5.6 percent of licensed teachers identify as a teacher of color or American Indian, compared to 30 percent of students.”
... but that tactic only works when the audience isn't hearing whatever it wants to hear, i.e. hasn't formed an opinion a priori (as is likely not the case given the venue & timing); it's a good idea... but could backfire...
Rishi, In this revised reply, I wish to underscore the 2 plausible options I perceive: 1) summon virtually all of one’s rhetorical acumen to clarify the issues by reframing the discussion or 2) refuse the invitation which removes the possibility of making resistors less sure of themselves and possibly getting them to re-examine their perceptions.
We should keep in mind that the opportunity cost for each is not what it was, say, 25 years ago: though Dr. Phil commands a large audience, there are many other forums for opinions nowadays (such that one can still get at Professor Reich's opinion without his having to appear)...
Rishi, While I agree, as long as Reich doesn’t accept the premises of unwarranted claims, I am confident he has a unique ability of making an audience more open to alternative perspectives. Hence, in my view, the broader his reach the better.
Darrell, In my original comment, in response to Reich’s words, “it’s the wrong issue and the wrong debate,” I suggested promptly reframing the debate to address the efficacy of a system, wherein “5.6 percent of licensed teachers identify as a teacher of color or American Indian, compared to 30 percent of students.”
I would note reframing is a powerful tool for making resisters less sure of themselves and for possibly getting some to re-examine their perceptions.
Founding, you are so right, and when the show, not being live, can be reconstructed to emphasize anything the editors want. Drama is the word of their day, every day.
Exactly … I don’t think we can ignore the present state of ‘ discourse’ or people will just listen anbd follow the likes of Dr. Phil. One cannot walk away
Yes. I think we agree that the current state is difficult. Robrt Reich threw it out to us for comment. :) All good in my view. As a Democrscy we need to engage or we will no longer be a democracy. It is our responsibility.
I wish you would go on the show but first have your’ agent’ send a response that you are able to address questions or even provide data… visuals. You can only make the discourse more open with those taking on the lies. Did you see Al Franken recently take on the issue of a packed illegitimate Supreme Court. If we don’t expose the abusive system who will. Please !! Don’t give up.
Yes… He was and he would not let her repeat any of the lies. He obliterated the lies. It is okay for thoughtful righteous anger. And that is what i hope Robert Reich will do…. I do think people will listen.
Hurricane! I also don't want Dr. Reich to give up on the Dr. Phil type audience, but I am so concerned that he, being a white men who is not of considerable stature will be seen as some kind of victim. The picture speaks a thousand words to a lot of people and I don't know that Dr. Reich will be given the opportunity to reframe the situation with a thousand words. He'll probably get fewer than a hundred.
I think Robert can get right to the point. And perhaps he start by reminding Dr. Phil that he ( Dr. Phil) is part of the fourth estate or perhaps he uses his bully pulpit falsely. He shapes American opinion. Where is he responsible? Technology advances the delivery of messages … and if Dr. Phil should understand that he is responsible. Certainly he profits from it but if he is truly part of the fourth estate as he would likely claim… what are his responsibilites to the tenor and discourse? ALOT.
People are afraid of ‘Civil War’. Actually they should be afraid of autocracy. History demonstrates that as autocracy expanded a century ago whenthose who resisted ( in Germany in particular) were the ‘ intellectuals’ likely German meaning for the ‘fourth estate’. So I encourage Robert Reich to as is now said ‘ lean into the discussion. Bring Dr. Phil to understand his responsibility in
Shaping a valuable discussion….. do not give up yet or you will all come move to Europe where I now live:)
And well Robert Reich has tremendous intellectual stature and broad experience in government. We should not be afraid if we are the first of our ‘ type’ to raise the issue. I have been there. RR can do it.
As a teacher with many years (seniority), if I was temporarily laid off I would want my job back. I’ve devoted myself to the school, the students, and society. I don’t want it to be on my back to right society wrongs. I would also question how my salary compares to that of the newer teachers that will replace me. The District may be looking at saving money, not justice. I would also ask how a person my age is going to find a new job while it won’t be so hard for a younger person. Finally, with decades of experience I believe I am a better educator than a newbie. Let’s not think that teaching isn’t an acquired skill. Try teaching algebra or chemistry or reading to a classroom of children with different abilities. Besides fairness there’s a reason for senior teacher returned first.
DK Brooklyn ; I agree that it is not fair to lay off a senior teacher at an age when job hunting could be difficult. Also, it would be interesting to look at the money saving issue. Is that a motivator? Since this is not a time of excess numbers of teachers, it is a policy formation at this point. But a closer look at what that policy can do to tenured older teachers if jobs get more scarce is necessary. What good is tenure if it does not reward long time service and provide job protection? Not much of a reward to be left in the lurch. We did not choose our parents or skin color. If a remedy can be made it is wrong to punish an older tenured teacher.
I have been a credentialed teacher all over San Diego County for over 30 years. I have seen a lot of racism at all levels. It is ingrained in teachers, who are usually white, as well as administrators. Teachers of color are often assigned out of the area where students like them live and go to school. Bravo to you for refusing to be a pawn! I'm glad to hear Minneapolis is trying to rectify the wrongs being done.
I am a woman whose husband removed money from banks accounts and left to overseas in a divorce. I now teach to try to pay the bills. I'm 60 and white.
The students within the California public school system call me racist, old white cunt. The admin want to replace me with a teacher who looks like the students.
They talk about diversity, but diversity doesn't exist.
White flight. Asian flight. Indian ( India) flight....
I'm a northern California raised girl, living in central coast of Cali. I love my state, but hate the games played in the work force. First by men when I was young and now by " liberals" who cowardly and harmfully think kids should be taught by they "kind".
The biggest form of discrimination is teaching down to the kids . Teaching to a lower standard just because of their race. And that is what is happening. No discipline. Extremely low scores. Violence.
The smash and grab and shootings are all based on the broken public school system.
I'm a "liberal" who wants a fair chance to teach. To discipline when needed so that teaching can take place. And I am a person who is tired of cowardly adults on both sides of the political spectrum.
You as a man speak up whether it's this show or others. Or maybe you are out of touch.
Well you’re on the inside; work from within to improve it. We know public schools are a mess. If the majority of teachers are white, then surely you aren’t blaming underrepresented minority teachers for that mess and then using that misplaced blame as a way to advocate for yourself. 😳. It also sounds like you’re new to the profession, having taken it up late in life after your husband took off. It is awful that happened to you and older teachers have a lot to offer kids; valuable perspectives. But when you say things like “their kind” - even if just repeating the talking point - it makes me really worry about you teaching children of color.
My daughter is a successful teacher, educated as an engineer. Two years in the Peace Corps. Teaching and leading the curriculum and learning in a NUC public school. She has engaged the Union. She is exhausted and I think many are.
If they had the union to which I belong, they couldn't lay off teachers according to race; only by seniority number. I believe today's post advocates for the proposed laying off of white teachers first, yet Mr. Reich also advocates for unions, so I'm a bit confused.
There are plusses and minuses to the typically union hiring, wage, job, layoff and recall system. As long as the hiring standards are fair, the system is absolutely fair. The standards weren't entirely fair when I was interviewed. The required Stanine test asked numerous male-biased questions. I passed, nonetheless, but after that, when we had layoffs, although the sexist managers and chief pilots surely would've liked to boot the women out first, they couldn't. They did find a few underhanded ways to prevent career progress, but aside from rule-breaking, which usually could be remedied by the grievance process, when acting by contract, actions were fair. That's part of the reason why the airlines have only about 4-5% women after decades. They took a methodical but effective course toward ending discrimination. Progress is picking up. A lot more women are training as pilots, and if they pass the newer, fair tests, they'll be hired. Then they become a seniority number, not a name, gender, or color. If one were to mess with that system, as I understand the majority here are advocating for, one introduces a lot of problems, and I would bet, the results might not turn out as envisioned. (As an aside, it was always a curiosity to me that women pilots, for example, want to be treated with equality, yet as soon as they were hired, they started a women's airline pilot group and excluded men from it.) My experience is, if you put in place a fair system, then let it work, it will work. You can't instantly fix a problem that's hundreds of years old. If you discriminate in a reverse manner, you're still modeling and teaching discrimination, and so the battles will still go on, and the system could be dismantled. People who did not cause the problem will have legitimate reason to be angry, and they will be angry, and the mess will grow. Yes, there could be a lot more women pilots if they'd given women special privileges and hired some who weren't entirely qualified, or devised a discriminatory layoff system, but I could almost guarantee, there'd have been catastrophes because of it. It's been hard enough with a fair, contractual system, but it's working. One of the arguments in today's post is not, in my experience, realistic. Layoffs are constant threats in airline careers because the business is so extremely cyclical -- much more so than with teaching -- yet a seniority-based layoff system did not cause women pilots to lose their careers or prevent greater numbers of women from being hired. It has taken longer than it would with teaching because it takes longer to create a qualified pilot -- not only schooling but also work experience must be gained. But I strongly believe that a by-the-numbers layoff system works better than a reverse-discrimination system. A by-the-numbers sysyem practices, models, and teaches fairness, which keeps the inevitable anger and harmful behavior from the old "in group" to a minimum so that progress can continue.
Then it sounds as if they don't have much of a problem. A discriminatory system wouldn't work in our case where so many were opposed to hiring women. I'm the "minority" in that case, and I wouldn't have wanted to have to endure the results of a discriminatory system. At times, the only thing that made it bearable was knowing and being able to say it wasn't. If the teachers and the rules, both, are for it, then making that clearer might help them.
Lilyrose. "The smash and grab and shootings are all based on the broken public school system." This is a failure of capitalist society to fully address the issue of lifting everyone to a better place. The lack of fairness is now being realized even by the middle class and will increase dramatically if we fail the midterms.
Hi Lilyrose, I am an 89 year old, retired teacher, also from California. I understand what you are saying, but a lot of the problem in California is the student to teacher ratio. The maximum class size for any subject should be 20, with 10 to 12 being ideal. That way the teacher and the students could come to know and respect each other and real learning would take place. In lieu of that, it is up to the teacher to struggle as best he/she can to show her/his students that he/she respects them as human beings, and would appreciate their respect in return.
Thank you so much for your response. This is an excellent story and background and, I am sorry for your suffering. I think your story is one to listen to… we can create the systems but we must. Be honest with each other about the inherent bias within them to make positive change.
We have to start from the point of empathy and yet hold our ground on what is valuable for all of us.
To Jody Watson. I’m a 79 yr. old white woman; I worked in the nursing profession for almost 50 years and no one ever called me the C word. If they had, I would have reported them in writing immediately and asked for an apology. I did have a prominent doctor in California make a lewd comment to me in front of a patient. I reported him and he was suspended for over a week. He never addressed me again. Why would any self-respecting woman accept that kind of behavior by anyone?
Thank you Jody. That’s very nice of you to say. I was in my late 20’s at the time and being “hit upon” by married doctors was not uncommon. What incensed me the most was his utter disrespect for nurses being witnessed by one of my patients. I was quite prepared to be fired, and I’m grateful to the hospital for supporting my complaint.
The students call me that and worse. And are no disciplined when they do so. No other profession would allow their employees to be treated in such manner
The administration has lost control. The reason is fear of lawsuits from different civil rights groups.
Every action to correct behavior is considered raciest.
The students learn by 2nd grade that they control the narrative.
By 6 th grade there is no more standards.
For a fairly good representation of public school in a silly parody is to watch the musical band Black Keys lastest video. Wildchild. It's crude, but very on point.
Allison, you clearly have seen the show, as I have. You're so right about Dr. Phil's rants and I have noticed his pushing his own beliefs on his guests even if that is not what they are saying or intending.
And why have this controversial subject that inflames the right on two months before the midterm elections that the MAGA right hopes to use to regain power? Why not talk about something more important like, say, DEMOCRACY, and how it is being threatened? Dr. Phil is off my list ever since he took his uneducated stance on Covid.
I saw dr Phil on the family feud show. It became rather evident within a few minutes, that dr Phil is nowhere as intelligent as portrayed on his show. He could not even answer the most basic question intelligently. His wife who was also on the program was visibly agitated with his responses.
Robert, anything you said on his show of any real consequence would be left on the cutting room floor. Every sentence would be distorted to agree with their biases and improve their ratings. No doubt they may state your refusal to be on their show, but don’t worry those who know you won’t be deterred. I think you made a wise choice.
"Dr" Phil is "doctor" in the way "Dr" Oz is: NOT AT ALL. They want to keep the talking points about ASININE TRUMPISMS so their failures do not become THE talking point.
Agree. He’s an ass. I haven’t watched his show for more years than I could remember. I didn’t know he was still on! I don’t watch daytime tv.
He has a Ph.D. He lost was a licensed psychologist, who lost his license after not completing state licensing board sanctions, following a formal complaint. He was by then making a fortune with his TV show, leaving little monetary incentive to comply and, it would appear, professional ethics incentive was not there either. Dr. Oz is an M.D.
Also interesting to understand that Dr. Phil is known as an REBT therapist - Rational Emotional Based therapy..............everythinbg has it's limitations, including Dr. Phil.
I have first hand trusted info that Dr Phil is self-centered in the extreme. Not the sweetest or most empathetic guy around.
Your analysis is spot on.
Or talk about the more important fact that there are significant teacher shortages all accross the country and why this is the case. Negatively impacting ALL teachers and ALL students and in fact the entire country!
Talk about the book banning going on. That in itself, aside from ridiculously low salaries and benefits, would deter me from ever teaching. Like teaching a fire fighter how to work with no water…..omg.
Please . Please. Do not give up. You need to challenge Dr. Phil. Ask to reframe the questions… provide data. You can change the discourse . Did you see ALFranken calling out the Supreme Court as illegitimate — lying under oath about their intentions on Rie Vs Wade… and more. You must speak up and challenge. Respond with the questions you would like asked! Then you can call Dr Phil out broadly. Make him accountable
Dr Phil IS accountable... to his ratings!
Perhaps trust and challenge the audience. They may deserve better to challenge themselves. It is up to us to shape the country n which we live. Polls say we are afraid of Civil War. It is only a Civil War f we don’t listen and reckon with our past… get money out of politics … (Koch Brothers in state legislatures. Social media can be used for good. As a people we need dialogue.Check out Dialogue on Race in Louisiana started by Maxine Crump. DORLA.
YES,
AL FRANKLIN WAS GREAT. He didn't let her just tell lies; he interruped which was necessary!
We need Al Franken back in politics, a real Patriot.
I didn’t realize his age he looks younger
I could not have been prouder of Al Franken!
GOOD News! Senator Al's
go his own Podcast:
.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-al-franken-podcast/id1462195742
.
Enjoy!
Hey Hurricane! I really like the idea of getting Dr. Reich to call Dr. Phil out. If Dr. Phil really wants a discussion on equity in education, Dr. Reich should be defining the terms and parameters. Dr. Phil should be avoiding the us vs. them on such a program and work to actually inform people of what is really happening, not just what scared white mostly men want people to think is happening. I don't think Dr. Phil will do that because he has fallen victim to the false argument type of programming and his producers are not only on board, but are helping to push the show more and more in that direction. Too bad for all those watching the show. They could have learned a lot. Nah! That's not what the show is for.
The only way we make things better is if we challenge with grace and yes thoughtful anger.
We are better than all this.
I refuse to be cynical:) WE must be the change we seek:)
Ruth
I had been a Phil fan, but when it was proven that children could and did get COVID, he said he was against closing businesses/ restaurants to try to slow the spread. He said the 2% mortality rate among children was acceptable. I wanted to ask "If it were YOUR grandchildren, would it be acceptable?" Lost all respect for him. Human life vs business should be an easy decision.
Cheryl, I, too, had been a fan, but I found one of his shows a couple of years ago disturbing. A couple had decided before marriage, they wanted no children. After a couple of years, the wife changed her mind and wanted children. She wanted children around. The husband had already had a vasectomy. Dr. Phil told the man that if he really loved his wife, he would reverse the vasectomy and give her the children she wanted. I was angry that nothing was said to the woman about working with her need to be around children by getting a teaching certificate or working at a daycare or other such activity, or even seriously questioning her sudden new decision to have children. She knew her husband wanted no more children. (he already had a couple from a previous marriage.) He said he was not up to helping raise more kids. I started watching the shows more carefully and noted that Dr. Phil's advice went from encouraging partners to listen to each other more carefully to giving questionable advice. I dropped the show from my daily viewing and admit I have not missed it at all. Thanks for reminding me why I stopped watching.
Agree! Maybe the marriage was falling apart and she thought a baby, the age old "solution", would reglue them together. His advice was superficial sound-bite stuff. Very dangerous when dealing with people's lives.
Exactly! Phil knows how and from where is bread is buttered!
All the tv channels care about are ratings!!!
substitute Pinata needed, apply here
Jody, unfortunately, a guest doesn't get to reframe anything. The shows are not live, and the editors can easily edit out anything that does not match the stated or unstated purpose of the show, and do.
Ruth, As I noted in a separate post, if a guest promptly can reframe the question, say, by addressing the efficacy of a system, wherein “5.6 percent of licensed teachers identify as a teacher of color or American Indian, as compared to 30 percent of students,” one can shift the entire discussion to comport with premises that actually are warranted with the added benefit possibly of making resisters less sure of themselves.
Not only that but, if it is the producer's intent to frame the conversation to inflame those watching against minority treatment in schools such as in Minneapolis, they can do so in the film editing. You'd be surprised what editing can accomplish.
Rating is all they care about 🤑🤑🤑💰💰💵💵
Too true. I was once on 20/20. The interview I gave bore no resemblance to what aired. It is heartbreaking that Dr. Reich will not have this opportunity to educate people who really need it, especially since the topic of education is such a flashpoint right now.
To be fair Ms. Sheets, Professor Reich can upload the ACTUAL interview onto Youtube I am guessing.
I doubt if he can upload the actual interview, it will most likely be copyrighted and property of the Dr Phil show.
I doubt it.
I doubt they will release something that does not jibe with what they aired.
No YouTube posting unless he films it with a hidden camera and breaks the law by posting proprietary material. It's possible they wouldn't edit out a good message, and nothing ventured nothing gained. Maybe they'd even like to deliver some enlightenment about how enriching minorities -- who we deprived -- brings the whole society to a better level.
Yes
Good point.
Jody, I agree entirely and posted such statement an hour or so ago.
Exactly - USE his show to expose the misinformation of this line of questioning.
Professor, I so, so, so respect your decision not to participate in the talk show and even more your analysis of the not so hidden agenda of pandering to the popular sentiment against anything that looks like favoritism or affirmative action. The starting line for people of color is so far back that there is little chance for representation as teachers in the Minneapolis school district. 5.6 percent of teachers of color compared to 30 percent of students. Topics that skew the conversation are as incendiary as the popular radio talk shows like Bannon, Jones and the late Limbaugh. And FOX. And Dr.Phil? This is so blatant and disturbing. He needs to know why you decline.
This is such an important issue not just for black kids to see black teachers or Native American kids or Mexican kids to see people who look like them teaching, but equally important for white kids to see that intelligence and competence have no color. Love has no color.
As a former teacher of English composition, I regret that I did not have the suasive power to change the conversation about “race,” which is a social construct rather than a scientific category. Although almost everyone who meets me doubtless categorizes me as “white as Charles Farrell,” my avatar in this blog, in reality I have been judged as outside the pale by an older generation who were excessively influenced by hitlerian thought. When I taught my classes, which contained students of varied backgrounds, ethnicity, etc., I found myself giving slack to working black women with children who were heads of households. An objective judge of my grading method might have accused me of favoritism. Fast forward to Minnesota: as a “white” teacher, despite my progressive posture, I would be apparently disadvantaged. I’m looking forward to feedback on this topic.
I figured out a long time ago that “white” people would be judged incapable of furthering the progress of the historically disadvantaged. And so I reluctantly left teaching, where my whiteness would become a hindrance to the progress of society, and joined the private sector. No hard feelings.
Stan
Looked up Stanistan on Wikipedia. Congratulations on your proud heritage!
I may have some Stanistanian blood. I am paler than veal, nearly blind and content to stay indoors (subterranean living, while preferred, is not an option in my basement-less ranch home.)
As a nurse for 40 years, who always wore traditional white, I was invisible. Particularly when it was time for a raise. As a teacher, you know how Stanistanians are treated.
I applaud you for cutting single moms of color some slack. It IS a disability to have empathy for others who are struggling. Dare I say you sound like one of the white woke? As a person on every rabid Repub's hit list, you must take every precaution to preserve your essence.
Cheryl, the soul is eternal. I can’t add to it or diminish it. Thanks for your feedback.
Very well said !!
So much media sway to what??
Glad you declined !!
Agree, great for the white kids to see our country is a rainbow of people.
Unfortunately many of their racist parents have other ideas.
That is why one needs to respond. Nail him with the facts and the story. I am not naive. I have a very dear family member who has worked for Color of Change for ten years. I introduced the work of Maxine Crump to my colleagues at AstraZeneca before we left. We must engage and act clearly and now is the time. People have been duped by Trump and aspects of politics in America that need to change. As a country we have not come to terms with slavery and the Civil War. For whites it was more about commerce. I think the best is story is evident in the African American History Museum. Now is the time though and well I am not sure if Joe needs a second term but he his the one to guide us. If he gains a significant majority there needs to be election reform… money out of politics to start.
And white Americans whearever they are on the political and economic spectrum will need to understand how the system ahas been racist and biased to white affluent men:0
Dr. Reich is the person to be there
Thank you for taking the ethical route.
Dr. Phil is looking for click-bait and ratings boost, not honest, informative discussion.
Dr Phil's claim to fame is only due because of his endorsement by Oprah Winfrey. He would be a complete unknown otherwise.
Your "bigger regret," "...that the national conversation is in the hands of producers chasing ratings and advertising dollars, with no regard for how they're distorting the public's understanding..." is key here. When dollars are more important than public understanding we've got a problem. But then, I am just reiterating - and agreeing with - what you have already said. Save for the fact that it deserves restatement I must say that my input is minimal. But hats off to you on this.
We need every teacher we can get, this is the wrong field to politicize.
Yet it is constantly being politicized, unfortunately.
1970. The teaching credential Program I am interested in wants only bilingual applicants. finding too many bilingual Caucasians, they added being bi-cultural as a requirement. This makes me wonder if there is any understanding of people climbing their way up the Socio economic ladder and not wanting a low paying job. Being white, bilingual, and knowing my way around a tortilla, I consider applying anyway. I could readily display and understanding beyond academia by suggesting “Chupa me Verga Pinche putos”.
I have never liked charlatans such as Dr. Phil and am not surprised that he has such a large American audience, given the low education level of the people who are gullible enough to believe his B.S. He and Dr. Oz (THANKS A LOT OPRA) are two snake oil salesmen cut fro the sam rag. No surprise they will go along with right-wing republican divisive tactics.
Consider who owns the network and directs content.
Yes, unfortunately it's the same kind of right-wing, corporatist bias in nearly all the major networks, which is why the information Americans receive from our media is so distorted & limited.
Agreed. But consider Dr. Phil. Ethics? Principles?...or just greed?
Lawrence Lintner ; He does not own the show, bottom line he knows what the rules are and what he can 'get away with'. I don't personally know him ; He could be a decent man at heart, who is entertaining instead of informing the way he may have originally wanted to?
All good questions.
❤️Exactly Laurie!
I think you’re flat-out wonderful.
Dr. Phil should just stick to featuring wildly dysfunctional individuals and families.
I think that’s precisely what he is doing.
DEFEAT TERRORIST AND TREASONOUS REPUBLICONS EVERYWHERE AND JAIL CRIMINAL trump and cronies
Professor, As I read your words “it’s the wrong issue and the wrong debate,” the thought that came to mind, given, as you rightly noted, the minimum time allotted, was promptly to reframe the debate. Though I imagine you are more skilled than I at reframing, my instinct would be to rephrase the question to address the efficacy of a system, wherein “5.6 percent of licensed teachers identify as a teacher of color or American Indian, compared to 30 percent of students.”
... but that tactic only works when the audience isn't hearing whatever it wants to hear, i.e. hasn't formed an opinion a priori (as is likely not the case given the venue & timing); it's a good idea... but could backfire...
Rishi, In this revised reply, I wish to underscore the 2 plausible options I perceive: 1) summon virtually all of one’s rhetorical acumen to clarify the issues by reframing the discussion or 2) refuse the invitation which removes the possibility of making resistors less sure of themselves and possibly getting them to re-examine their perceptions.
We should keep in mind that the opportunity cost for each is not what it was, say, 25 years ago: though Dr. Phil commands a large audience, there are many other forums for opinions nowadays (such that one can still get at Professor Reich's opinion without his having to appear)...
Rishi, While I agree, as long as Reich doesn’t accept the premises of unwarranted claims, I am confident he has a unique ability of making an audience more open to alternative perspectives. Hence, in my view, the broader his reach the better.
These people only want to hear what they tune in for. They are no more open to a different take than a Fox News listener.
Darrell, In my original comment, in response to Reich’s words, “it’s the wrong issue and the wrong debate,” I suggested promptly reframing the debate to address the efficacy of a system, wherein “5.6 percent of licensed teachers identify as a teacher of color or American Indian, compared to 30 percent of students.”
I would note reframing is a powerful tool for making resisters less sure of themselves and for possibly getting some to re-examine their perceptions.
Founding, you are so right, and when the show, not being live, can be reconstructed to emphasize anything the editors want. Drama is the word of their day, every day.
Exactly … I don’t think we can ignore the present state of ‘ discourse’ or people will just listen anbd follow the likes of Dr. Phil. One cannot walk away
@Hurricane, Clearly, we’re in synch on this issue. What I hadn’t anticipated is how divided we seem as a group, at least on this one point.
Yes. I think we agree that the current state is difficult. Robrt Reich threw it out to us for comment. :) All good in my view. As a Democrscy we need to engage or we will no longer be a democracy. It is our responsibility.
Hurricane, I agree that dialogue is the lifeblood of democracy.
Robert
I wish you would go on the show but first have your’ agent’ send a response that you are able to address questions or even provide data… visuals. You can only make the discourse more open with those taking on the lies. Did you see Al Franken recently take on the issue of a packed illegitimate Supreme Court. If we don’t expose the abusive system who will. Please !! Don’t give up.
Al was outstanding. One of the few times I’ve seen a gop supporter speechless when called directly on a lie.
Yes… He was and he would not let her repeat any of the lies. He obliterated the lies. It is okay for thoughtful righteous anger. And that is what i hope Robert Reich will do…. I do think people will listen.
Hurricane! I also don't want Dr. Reich to give up on the Dr. Phil type audience, but I am so concerned that he, being a white men who is not of considerable stature will be seen as some kind of victim. The picture speaks a thousand words to a lot of people and I don't know that Dr. Reich will be given the opportunity to reframe the situation with a thousand words. He'll probably get fewer than a hundred.
I think Robert can get right to the point. And perhaps he start by reminding Dr. Phil that he ( Dr. Phil) is part of the fourth estate or perhaps he uses his bully pulpit falsely. He shapes American opinion. Where is he responsible? Technology advances the delivery of messages … and if Dr. Phil should understand that he is responsible. Certainly he profits from it but if he is truly part of the fourth estate as he would likely claim… what are his responsibilites to the tenor and discourse? ALOT.
People are afraid of ‘Civil War’. Actually they should be afraid of autocracy. History demonstrates that as autocracy expanded a century ago whenthose who resisted ( in Germany in particular) were the ‘ intellectuals’ likely German meaning for the ‘fourth estate’. So I encourage Robert Reich to as is now said ‘ lean into the discussion. Bring Dr. Phil to understand his responsibility in
Shaping a valuable discussion….. do not give up yet or you will all come move to Europe where I now live:)
And well Robert Reich has tremendous intellectual stature and broad experience in government. We should not be afraid if we are the first of our ‘ type’ to raise the issue. I have been there. RR can do it.
It os our responsibility to the next generation
As a teacher with many years (seniority), if I was temporarily laid off I would want my job back. I’ve devoted myself to the school, the students, and society. I don’t want it to be on my back to right society wrongs. I would also question how my salary compares to that of the newer teachers that will replace me. The District may be looking at saving money, not justice. I would also ask how a person my age is going to find a new job while it won’t be so hard for a younger person. Finally, with decades of experience I believe I am a better educator than a newbie. Let’s not think that teaching isn’t an acquired skill. Try teaching algebra or chemistry or reading to a classroom of children with different abilities. Besides fairness there’s a reason for senior teacher returned first.
DK Brooklyn ; I agree that it is not fair to lay off a senior teacher at an age when job hunting could be difficult. Also, it would be interesting to look at the money saving issue. Is that a motivator? Since this is not a time of excess numbers of teachers, it is a policy formation at this point. But a closer look at what that policy can do to tenured older teachers if jobs get more scarce is necessary. What good is tenure if it does not reward long time service and provide job protection? Not much of a reward to be left in the lurch. We did not choose our parents or skin color. If a remedy can be made it is wrong to punish an older tenured teacher.
I have been a credentialed teacher all over San Diego County for over 30 years. I have seen a lot of racism at all levels. It is ingrained in teachers, who are usually white, as well as administrators. Teachers of color are often assigned out of the area where students like them live and go to school. Bravo to you for refusing to be a pawn! I'm glad to hear Minneapolis is trying to rectify the wrongs being done.
I am a woman whose husband removed money from banks accounts and left to overseas in a divorce. I now teach to try to pay the bills. I'm 60 and white.
The students within the California public school system call me racist, old white cunt. The admin want to replace me with a teacher who looks like the students.
They talk about diversity, but diversity doesn't exist.
White flight. Asian flight. Indian ( India) flight....
I'm a northern California raised girl, living in central coast of Cali. I love my state, but hate the games played in the work force. First by men when I was young and now by " liberals" who cowardly and harmfully think kids should be taught by they "kind".
The biggest form of discrimination is teaching down to the kids . Teaching to a lower standard just because of their race. And that is what is happening. No discipline. Extremely low scores. Violence.
The smash and grab and shootings are all based on the broken public school system.
I'm a "liberal" who wants a fair chance to teach. To discipline when needed so that teaching can take place. And I am a person who is tired of cowardly adults on both sides of the political spectrum.
You as a man speak up whether it's this show or others. Or maybe you are out of touch.
Well you’re on the inside; work from within to improve it. We know public schools are a mess. If the majority of teachers are white, then surely you aren’t blaming underrepresented minority teachers for that mess and then using that misplaced blame as a way to advocate for yourself. 😳. It also sounds like you’re new to the profession, having taken it up late in life after your husband took off. It is awful that happened to you and older teachers have a lot to offer kids; valuable perspectives. But when you say things like “their kind” - even if just repeating the talking point - it makes me really worry about you teaching children of color.
Yes.
My daughter is a successful teacher, educated as an engineer. Two years in the Peace Corps. Teaching and leading the curriculum and learning in a NUC public school. She has engaged the Union. She is exhausted and I think many are.
If they had the union to which I belong, they couldn't lay off teachers according to race; only by seniority number. I believe today's post advocates for the proposed laying off of white teachers first, yet Mr. Reich also advocates for unions, so I'm a bit confused.
There are plusses and minuses to the typically union hiring, wage, job, layoff and recall system. As long as the hiring standards are fair, the system is absolutely fair. The standards weren't entirely fair when I was interviewed. The required Stanine test asked numerous male-biased questions. I passed, nonetheless, but after that, when we had layoffs, although the sexist managers and chief pilots surely would've liked to boot the women out first, they couldn't. They did find a few underhanded ways to prevent career progress, but aside from rule-breaking, which usually could be remedied by the grievance process, when acting by contract, actions were fair. That's part of the reason why the airlines have only about 4-5% women after decades. They took a methodical but effective course toward ending discrimination. Progress is picking up. A lot more women are training as pilots, and if they pass the newer, fair tests, they'll be hired. Then they become a seniority number, not a name, gender, or color. If one were to mess with that system, as I understand the majority here are advocating for, one introduces a lot of problems, and I would bet, the results might not turn out as envisioned. (As an aside, it was always a curiosity to me that women pilots, for example, want to be treated with equality, yet as soon as they were hired, they started a women's airline pilot group and excluded men from it.) My experience is, if you put in place a fair system, then let it work, it will work. You can't instantly fix a problem that's hundreds of years old. If you discriminate in a reverse manner, you're still modeling and teaching discrimination, and so the battles will still go on, and the system could be dismantled. People who did not cause the problem will have legitimate reason to be angry, and they will be angry, and the mess will grow. Yes, there could be a lot more women pilots if they'd given women special privileges and hired some who weren't entirely qualified, or devised a discriminatory layoff system, but I could almost guarantee, there'd have been catastrophes because of it. It's been hard enough with a fair, contractual system, but it's working. One of the arguments in today's post is not, in my experience, realistic. Layoffs are constant threats in airline careers because the business is so extremely cyclical -- much more so than with teaching -- yet a seniority-based layoff system did not cause women pilots to lose their careers or prevent greater numbers of women from being hired. It has taken longer than it would with teaching because it takes longer to create a qualified pilot -- not only schooling but also work experience must be gained. But I strongly believe that a by-the-numbers layoff system works better than a reverse-discrimination system. A by-the-numbers sysyem practices, models, and teaches fairness, which keeps the inevitable anger and harmful behavior from the old "in group" to a minimum so that progress can continue.
Then it sounds as if they don't have much of a problem. A discriminatory system wouldn't work in our case where so many were opposed to hiring women. I'm the "minority" in that case, and I wouldn't have wanted to have to endure the results of a discriminatory system. At times, the only thing that made it bearable was knowing and being able to say it wasn't. If the teachers and the rules, both, are for it, then making that clearer might help them.
Lilyrose. "The smash and grab and shootings are all based on the broken public school system." This is a failure of capitalist society to fully address the issue of lifting everyone to a better place. The lack of fairness is now being realized even by the middle class and will increase dramatically if we fail the midterms.
It's not capitalism fault , it's simply human greed. And human greed shows up in socialism also.
We must not continue to teach down and expect less from children just because they are poor or of a different race.
That is bullshit racism
Agreed.
Agree
Hi Lilyrose, I am an 89 year old, retired teacher, also from California. I understand what you are saying, but a lot of the problem in California is the student to teacher ratio. The maximum class size for any subject should be 20, with 10 to 12 being ideal. That way the teacher and the students could come to know and respect each other and real learning would take place. In lieu of that, it is up to the teacher to struggle as best he/she can to show her/his students that he/she respects them as human beings, and would appreciate their respect in return.
Lilyrose,
Thank you so much for your response. This is an excellent story and background and, I am sorry for your suffering. I think your story is one to listen to… we can create the systems but we must. Be honest with each other about the inherent bias within them to make positive change.
We have to start from the point of empathy and yet hold our ground on what is valuable for all of us.
I am so sorry to hear these words. I was the first woman in many of the positions I have held. I understand. Do not accept it.
EVer.
To Jody Watson. I’m a 79 yr. old white woman; I worked in the nursing profession for almost 50 years and no one ever called me the C word. If they had, I would have reported them in writing immediately and asked for an apology. I did have a prominent doctor in California make a lewd comment to me in front of a patient. I reported him and he was suspended for over a week. He never addressed me again. Why would any self-respecting woman accept that kind of behavior by anyone?
Rock on.
Rock on.
Thank you Jody. That’s very nice of you to say. I was in my late 20’s at the time and being “hit upon” by married doctors was not uncommon. What incensed me the most was his utter disrespect for nurses being witnessed by one of my patients. I was quite prepared to be fired, and I’m grateful to the hospital for supporting my complaint.
The students call me that and worse. And are no disciplined when they do so. No other profession would allow their employees to be treated in such manner
has the admiinstration willngly or uwilligingly lost control ?
same question regardless of your answer: why ?
The administration has lost control. The reason is fear of lawsuits from different civil rights groups.
Every action to correct behavior is considered raciest.
The students learn by 2nd grade that they control the narrative.
By 6 th grade there is no more standards.
For a fairly good representation of public school in a silly parody is to watch the musical band Black Keys lastest video. Wildchild. It's crude, but very on point.
thank you for responding.
It’s all about the Ratings!
Ratings = $
Dr. Phil won’t let anyone other than himself get two words in. You would only be a prop for one of his rants.
Allison, you clearly have seen the show, as I have. You're so right about Dr. Phil's rants and I have noticed his pushing his own beliefs on his guests even if that is not what they are saying or intending.
I don’t think we should underage Robert Reich