A Look at Efforts to Privatize Public Schools Since 1997 Page 3
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Edventurists Attack! A Look at Efforts to Privatize Public Schools Since 1997 page 3 Published by the TENNESSEE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION October 2012 Vol. 44, No. 3 www.teateachers.org page 5 “I Survived Saddam” page 4 Edventurists on Track to Privatize Public Schools teach (USPS 742-450, ISSN 15382907) is pub- Speaking out with you lished in August, September, October, Nov/Dec, Schools follow private prisons, hospitals in profit-seeking schemes Jan/Feb, March/April, and May by the Tennessee By Gene Bryant Michael Podgursky, an economist with the Gera Summerford, President Al Mance, Executive Director Education Association, 801 Second Avenue North, Nashville TN 37201-1099. Periodical postage Just over 15 years ago as an editor for TEA, I University of Missouri, addressed investors’ concerns. paid at Nashville, TN. The subscription price of $3.65 is allocated from annual membership dues of $258.00 for monitored a conference in Nashville— “ED-ventures He said if entrepreneurs can gain control of public active members; $129.00 for associate, education We Know What’s Best for Students. Let’s Vote! Our Votes Determine Our Freedoms, support and staff members; $16.00 for retired mem- ‘97” —where strategists outlined an ambitious plan schools, they will be able to wring profits from them bers; and $10.00 for student members. Member of to “break up the public school monopoly” and turn by reducing personnel (increasing class sizes) and On a recent Saturday, I joined my fellow TEA members to Quality of Life. Vote for Education in 2012. State Education Editors (SEE). education into a profit-making industry. The brashness phasing out career teachers with younger, cheaper, “canvas” some neighborhoods on behalf of a Tennessee state Whatever successes the public schools of Tennessee experience Postmaster: Send address changes to teach, I observed stunned me. non-certified instructors with reduced benefits. senator’s re-election campaign. We carried a list of registered are due largely to what happens in classrooms between teachers and 801 Second Avenue North, Someone had sent me a brochure announcing ‘There is no question in my mind that the private voters and knocked only on doors of residents likely to vote. Nashville, TN 37201-1099. students every day. Teachers are the largest educated group in every MANAGING EDITOR: Alexei Smirnov this conference. I mailed in a $170 personal check sector can do it cheaper,” Podgursky said. “In private The people we met in the neighborhood were generally friendly voting district in the state, and the moral leaders of the drive for a [email protected] for registration and received, much to my surprise, a schools, teachers don’t stay around long, and that ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Carol K. Schmoock and receptive as we encouraged them to vote and to support the quality education for all. We have an ethical and moral responsibility PUBLISHER: Alphonso C. Mance nametag that allowed my admission to the conference. keeps costs down.” incumbent senator. Where no one answered to help elect people to office who respect I was not an active participant, but I took notes and He added: “Let teachers prove themselves in the Tennessee Education Association prepared a report for TEA News. marketplace and stop hiding behind credentials. the door, we simply left a brochure to share teachers and are dedicated to a quality public 801 Second Avenue North Nashville, TN 37201-1099 As I look back at the last 15 years and review Certification is not protecting the public from some candidate information. Since that day education for all boys and girls. Telephone: (615)242-8392, that report, I am astounded with how much of the incompetent teachers. Let school managers decide who I’ve also made phone calls for two other The Constitution of the State of Tennessee, Toll Free: (800)342-8367, (800)342-8262 Fax: (615)259-4581 privatizing agenda has been achieved. The profiteers can and cannot teach.” Article XI, Section 12, declares: “The state Website: www.teateachers.org campaigns. Although there were many “no may not have fulfilled their goal of creating a Mike Ronan, chief operating officer of the of Tennessee recognizes the inherent value answer” calls, the ones who did answer the BOARD OF DIRECTORS lucrative industry, but they finally have in Tennessee a Alternative Public Schools, an EMO founded by a group phone were congenial and responsive. For one of education and encourages its support. PRESIDENT: Gera Summerford* (800)342-8367 legislature and administration siding with them. of Nashville businessmen and operating at that time VICE PRESIDENT: Barbara Gray* (901)353-8590 local campaign, the people called are known The General Assembly shall provide for the SECRETARY-TREASURER: Alphonso C. Mance (615)242-8392 At this 1997 gathering of about 200, education in a few school districts outside Tennessee, said his maintenance, support and eligibility standards of DISTRICT 1 Leisa Lusk* (423)928-6819 entrepreneurs attempted to convince potential company had been able to cut back considerably on Also present was Mary Turner, managing director of supporters of the candidate. I was simply DISTRICT 2 Lauren McCarty (865)385-5220 reminding them of voting dates and asking if a system of free public school.” DISTRICT 3 Karen Starr (423)628-2701 investors that market-driven education has the the cost of teachers because it was able to set salaries the now-defunct Wall Street investment firm Lehman Two movements that undermine the state’s capacity to carry out DISTRICT 4 Tanya Coats* (865)637-7494 potential of producing hefty returns. “With sufficient independent of collective bargaining. Brothers that raised start-up capital for the Nashville- they’re willing to place a sign in their yard. DISTRICT 5 Michael Plumley (423)749-8228 DISTRICT 6 Scott Price (931)455-7198 capital,” declared Denis Doyle, a senior fellow with the Joe Murphy, an education professor at Peabody based Hospital Corporation of America. Turner said In each case, I committed only about two hours of my time, its constitutional mandate are receiving favorable attention in state DISTRICT 7 Allen Nichols* (615)653-6501 pro-privatization Hudson Institute, skilled business College at Vanderbilt University and author of the many of her clients viewed Tennessee as privatization- and the phone calls could be made from the privacy of my home. government: charter schools and education vouchers. One allows DISTRICT 8 Kawanda Braxton (615)554-6286 groups of citizens to write a proposal or “charter” to establish and DISTRICT 9 Theresa L. Wagner (270)776-1467 leaders will be able “to bring down the Berlin wall of book Privatization of Education, said public school friendly and were ready to invest in EMOs if the state I figure it’s the least I can do to help elect candidates who truly DISTRICT 10 Guy Stanley (615)384-2983 monopoly.” teachers with their union legislature ever cleared the way for them. operate a tax-funded school for specific groups of students. The DISTRICT 11 Wendy R. Bowers (731)645-8595 support public education. DISTRICT 12 Suzie May (731)779-9329 The businesses leverage make money Lisa Keegan, Arizona’s superintendent of second, education vouchers, gives tax-paid vouchers to parents to While most candidates for public office claim to support DISTRICT 13 Ernestine King (901)590-8188 represented included “They’re in it to make money. They off government schools. instruction, said school vouchers are the best vehicle send their sons and daughters to a parochial or private school of their DISTRICT 14 Sarah Kennedy-Harper (901)416-4582 children’s education, we know that some of them have ideas for DISTRICT 15 Tom Emens (901)277-0578 education management “Teachers make a lot for breaking up “the monopoly.” But Turner of Lehman choice. The funds for these initiatives come from state aid and local ADMINISTRATOR EAST Johnny Henry (865)509-4829 want to multiply dollars. They want reforming schools that don’t agree with what educators know is organizations (EMOs), of money selling their Brothers said vouchers had become politically toxic, funding for students in the public schools where the students live. ADMINISTRATOR MIDDLE Julie Hopkins best. (615)569-5742 charter school operators, to become zillionaires.” services,” he declared. especially with Democrats. “We try not to use the The vouchers will not cover the tuition for any of the more reputable ADMINISTRATOR WEST Charles Green (901)624-6186 management consultants Under a privatized v-word on Wall Street,” she said. When we look back at the 107th General Assembly’s actions HIGHER EDUCATION Clinton Smith (731)881-7167 private schools. In fact, parents will be fortunate if it covers half the BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER EAST Paula Hancock (including “union busters”) system, Murphy pointed There was general agreement that “school choice” for reforming public education, we can’t ignore the importance of Todd Parchman, Vaughn Co. tuition. The reality is that both movements are destructive. (865)694-1691 and testing and data out, a different set of is the appealing phrase to ride to privatization and electing new representatives this year. We can’t forget that some BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER MIDDLE Kenneth Martin during 1997 ED-Ventures Conference Who will use vouchers and what will the resulting schools be like? (615)876-1948 processing firms. The people would be reaping that charter schools should be branded as “public” legislators apparently believe that ending negotiations, reducing BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER WEST LaVerne Dickerson These schools will be attended by students whose families can afford big push was for charter benefits. Under the current schools, even though they are privately operated, educators’ due process rights, and removing TEA representatives (901)416-7122 them and who already receive a quality education in public schools.