Over the past several weeks, a fire has raged on the east side of Athens. The Cedar Shoals rape tragedy and the ensuing response by school and law enforcement personnel have shed light on some daunting problems in our community. Like many people, I have followed news accounts closely. What I’ve read in the newspapers, … Continue reading Flagpole: A Crisis at Cedar Shoals, and an Opportunity to Do Better
Tag: Education
Salon.com: Draft Speech on Education for the Sanders and/or Clinton Campaigns
Both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have decided to start talking about the state of K-12 public education in recent weeks. This is a very positive, if overdue, development, with both of them questioning the efficacy and priority of charter schools in the national dialogue on educating our children; and Sanders recently proposing a new, … Continue reading Salon.com: Draft Speech on Education for the Sanders and/or Clinton Campaigns
Busted Pencils podcast interview
November, 2015 Tim Slekar Just who is Bertis Downs? In this episode Jed and Tim talk to the man, the myth, the legend. OK maybe that’s too much hype but check it out as Bertis Downs talks to Jed and Tim about his 30 years as manager of the mega rock band REM and how … Continue reading Busted Pencils podcast interview
How one impoverished public school district is making strides
Washington Post, October 2015 by Valerie Strauss Bertis Downs is a parent and an education activist who lives in Athens, Georgia. He was legal counselor and manager of the now disbanded band R.E.M., and he spends a great deal of time advocating for public education in Clarke County, where he lives, as well as around … Continue reading How one impoverished public school district is making strides
Why I Signed the Education Declaration to Rebuild America
Empowered Georgia, no date I am a parent, and along with my wife, we are the first teachers of our children. Our daughters attend two of the excellent public schools in our hometown of Athens, GA, where they have mostly great teachers and learn among their peers in a caring, learning-centered environment. Like most places, … Continue reading Why I Signed the Education Declaration to Rebuild America
BERTIS DOWNS 
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