Thursday, May 22, 2008

edra bogle for sboe: help her today!

Dr. Edra Bogle is running for the State Board of Education in District 14 here in North Texas. Bogle wants to "help reform textbook standards, improve curriculum standards, and be a good steward of the Permanent School Fund," according to her campaign website.

We need a leader for District 14, and we need Edra Bogle. She is a lifelong educator and political activist, as well as former chair of the Denton County Democratic Party.

She's certainly qualified for the position and will bring about a much-needed change on the SBOE, so we want to help her in any way we can. Besides contributions, we've learned of another way we can help.

I received the following email from Bogle's campaign manager:
As a loyal Democrat I am sure you will be supporting all our candidates. The attached letter shows how you can significantly and painlessly help Edra in her race against a far right wing Republican, and help to arrest control of the SBOE from those who would have us teach their particular version of Christianity in the public schools. Please take a moment to read this letter and vote for her today. The children's future is at stake.
The text from Edra's letter is below.

Have you ever had a candidate say, “I’m not asking for your money?” Well, I’m not asking you for money, but rather for your help in being endorsed by Democracy for America. Such an endorsement yields both financial aid and excellent publicity. Help me show that I have real support in my race for State Board of Education, District 14, by voting on-line for me.

My opponent is a religious extremist who has done and will do whatever she can to weaken the public school system promoted by none other than Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. They had it right in the first place. I will work toward their goal of making education available to every child, and making that education something that children can enjoy and that will serve them well in their actual lives. Our local school systems and our teachers need the freedom to teach the way our country has traditionally done, not follow commands imposed by Austin or by Washington D.C.

Help me by going to the Democracy for America web site and showing your support for me. You need not be a DFA member--everyone is welcome to express their support. Here’s how to vote.

    1) Go to www.democracyforamerica.com
    2) Click on “endorsements” at top left corner of the page.
    3) From the drop down menu click on “current applicants.”
    4) Enter your zip code, press enter then scroll down and click on Edra’s photo--you will then be sent to her applicant page.
    5) Under “grassroots supporters” click on “add your support.”
    6) If you are not a member of DFA you will need to scroll down to “new user.”
    7) Fill in your email address, name, and zip code, and create a password. (If you wish to actually join DFA you may do so, otherwise this is all the information needed.)
    8) When you click on “sign up” you will immediately be sent an email. Go to your email and open the email, then click on the link provided.
    9) Your vote has now been tallied--thank you.

Thank you in advance for helping me to wage this very important campaign, and thank you for your vote.

Please follow those simple steps to help Edra Bogle today! Send a leader to the SBOE... choose Edra!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

You and people like you did it! DFA posted this press release on Sunday, August 17, 2008. Thank you so much! -- Edra Bogle


Office: (802) 651-3200, ext. 148
Cell: (213) 814-8663
Email: media@democracyforamerica.com

Democracy for America Endorses
Edra Bogle for Texas State Board of Education

BURLINGTON, VT – DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation’s largest progressive political action community, has endorsed Edra Bogle’s campaign for Texas State Board of Education District 14.

“Edra Bogle is an educator and leader with a record of accomplishment that makes her the best choice for the Board of Education and Democracy for America is proud to endorse her campaign,” said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA. “Edra Bogle knows that education is the silver bullet and the great equalizer, but for too long children have been shortchanged by a Board that puts politics before education.”

Edra Bogle has a lifetime of training and experience in education. With a B.A. from Iowa State Teacher's College (now U.N.I.), majors in Education and Librarianship, an M.L.S. from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of Southern California. Her work experience ranges from staffing an elementary school library and working at two small teachers' colleges to being Associate Librarian for Public Services at U.S.C. From 1968 to 2002, Edra was on the English faculty at the University of North Texas. She remains a member of U.N.T.'s Rhodes/Marshall/Mitchell Nominating and Mentoring Committee and of several professional groups.

Democracy for America is a key endorsement in this race, bringing donations from progressives and providing volunteers to participate in door-to-door, grassroots outreach. DFA has helped elect over 550 progressives to office from Governor Deval Patrick in Massachusetts to Rep. Jerry McNerney in California’s 11th Congressional District.

"I consider my endorsement by Democracy for America to be a great compliment, coming as it does from a group that I highly respect and of which I have been an active member since its beginning,” said Edra Bogle.

“Edra Bogle will end the current Board’s over-emphasis on memorization and test-taking and work for an education system that values critical thinking and empowers students to fulfill their potential,” said Arshad Hasan, Executive Director of DFA. “Edra Bogle will bring much needed change to the Texas Board of Education.”

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For more information or to schedule an interview with DFA Chair Jim Dean or DFA Executive Director Arshad Hasan, please contact Daniel I. Medress at 802-651-3200, ext. 148 or media@democracyforamerica.com.