Democrats and Poor Kids: Sitting on evidence of voucher success, and the battle of New York

The Wall Street Journal ^ | April 5, 2009

[2ndDivisionVet]

Education Secretary Arne Duncan did a public service last week when he visited New York City and spoke up for charter schools and mayoral control of education. That was the reformer talking. The status quo Mr. Duncan was on display last month when he let Congress kill a District of Columbia voucher program even as he was sitting on evidence of its success.

In New York City with its 1.1 million students, mayoral control has resulted in better test scores and graduation rates, while expanding charter schools, which means more and better education choices for low-income families. But mayoral control expires in June unless state lawmakers renew it, and the United Federation of Teachers is working with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to weaken or kill it.

President Obama's stimulus is sending some $100 billion to the nation's school districts. What will he demand in return? The state budget passed by the New York legislature last week freezes funding for charters but increases it by more that $400 million for other public schools. Perhaps a visit to a charter school in Harlem would help Mr. Obama honor his reform pledge. "I'm looking at the data here in front of me," Mr. Duncan told the New York Post. "Graduation rates are up. Test scores are up. Teacher salaries are up. Social promotion was eliminated. Dramatically increasing parental choice. That's real progress."

[2ndDivisionVet]

The teacher's unions will dictate to Obama and he will do whatever they want.

[dancusa]

Public education is just a job program for professional lifelong students(teachers). They look at disdain to people who work in the DPS(dreaded private sector).

[Texas Eagle]

This reminds me of something NRA President Wayne LaPierre said (and got a lot of grief for saying) a few years ago.

LaPierre said DemocRATS need a certain amount of gun violence in order to keep the issue alive as a campaign issue.

The same thing goes here. RATS need uneducated and under-educated kids so-as to keep the issue of failing schools alive as a campaign issue.

I hate them.

[Daisyjane69]

Thanks for posting this. You helped me solve a “problem.” LOL

My sweetie of 3 yrs is a recovering far-left teacher in Chicago. The early days of the relationship were rather...eh...colorful. Especially when I’d correct him as he’d say “My dream job is with the Dept. of Education” and I’d remind him the name of it is “The Department of No Education” LOL

Anyway, because of some career moves that didn’t work out, he ended up taking a teaching job on the South Side that pays 1/2 of what he was earning before. Now his lib Dem family is trying to pull strings to get him into a more lucrative job in D.C. at the Dept. of Ed. (just want him to join the rest of the Chi-town mob infesting that place I guess) He’s trying to resist, but the economics are compelling, naturally.

But here’s the rub: He LOVES this teaching job at a 100% minority Catholic school. He says he finally feels like he is putting his education to good use. He’s also become a fan of vouchers for inner city children.

That the Dept. of Ed had a role (it seems) in killing this program, I think that career ship has sailed. Thankfully.

Thanks again for posting.

[LibertyRocks]

The teacher’s unions KNOW that we can’t have a well educated populace if they want a COMMUNIST country! Their actions are so telling... ANYTHING that works besides public schools with their political indoctrination is on their hit list...

[Skenderbej]

My wife is a high school teacher. Thankfully we live in a right-to-work state and she doesn’t have to join the union. She’s constantly getting union paperwork left in her box. When she told the other art teacher across the hall that she was in favor of vouchers because it would introduce some free-market principles into public education, the other teacher was shocked. She said, “But, that would mean that we could get fired!” My wife responded, “Just like every other regular person!”

[kalee]

Have a look at what the British National Union of Teachers (abbreviated NUT)is pushing.
NUT is correct!
Faith schools ‘should be phased out to stop segregation’, says teachers’ union

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1167701/Faith-schools-phased-stop-segregation-says-teachers-union.html

[SunkenCiv]

President Obama's stimulus is sending some $100 billion to the nation's school districts. What will he demand in return? The state budget passed by the New York legislature last week freezes funding for charters but increases it by more that $400 million for other public schools. Perhaps a visit to a charter school in Harlem would help Mr. Obama honor his reform pledge. "I'm looking at the data here in front of me," Mr. Duncan told the New York Post. "Graduation rates are up. Test scores are up. Teacher salaries are up. Social promotion was eliminated. Dramatically increasing parental choice. That's real progress."

Thanks 2ndDivisionVet.

[Cacique]

btt

[Jacquerie]

After 60 years of socialized education it will be but a small step for the masses to embrace socialized medicine. The former is a knock the head while the latter will be a death blow to our once republic.