It is surprising that MAP/RVC believed that their charter petition would be unopposed by our community. It shows a lack of understanding of the national conversation about charters, which are highly controversial and divisive. The turning over of taxpayer dollars to self-appointed charter boards and/or for-profit companies represents a huge policy shift. The influence of titans of industry (Koch Brothers, Charles Schwab, Fisher Family (the Gap), Bush Family, Bill Gates, Eli Broad & the Waltons) on our educational system and their financial support of charters is unprecedented. The assumption that a business model can successfully be applied to the education of our children is a gamble taking place across our nation.
For example, the US Secretary of Ed, and charter school champion, Arne Duncan, former "CEO" of Chicago Public Schools (click here to read his bio) has no experience as a teacher or educator. His recently announced resignation has caused reflection on his controversial tenure.
According to Education Opportunity Network, the day he announced his stepping down, "Duncan rattled the education policy world with news of a controversial grant of $249 million ($157 the first year) to the charter school industry. This announcement was controversial because, as The Washington Post reports, an audit by his department’s own inspector general found 'that the agency has done a poor job of overseeing federal dollars sent to charter schools.'"
Click here to read the article in its entirety.
Charter schools divide communities - whether in Fairfax, Chicago or New Orleans, and it is incumbent upon us to follow the money to try to understand why these business leaders are investing so much in privatizing our public system. Click here to read more about privatization on former U.S. Secretary of Education, teacher, and noted education historian, Dr. Diane Ravitch's blog, and here to read more about how the billionaire class is trying to rule our schools. Is nothing sacred??