New Jersey to privatize Public Schools

[HiPointDem]

Through filing of a FOIA request, the Education Law Center in Newark has obtained the Broad Plan for privatizing schools in New Jersey where least resistance will be offered--poor schools. The plan is being passed around by Cerf's henchmen in the Ed Department, as they try to stay ahead of legislation that could put restrictions on this planned economic bonanza for Wall Street aspirants who are not smart enough to operate there, but not dumb enough to miss out on a feeding frenzy if the Christie/Broad alliance holds. From NJPR:

The New Jersey Department of Education is moving forward with a reform plan for the state’s lowest performing schools by using private money from a California-based foundation [Broad].
The proposed plan calls for school closures, state operation of failing schools and elimination of union representation in schools that do not improve after sustained efforts to raise student performance. . . .

The plan is very similar to the one being finalized in Tennessee and other states with legislators for sale, whereby the most vulnerable schools in the state will be gobbled up by the Achievement School District, an enterprise run at the state level for turning urban schools over to corporations. Local pols can avoid the angry questions by parents, and the State can blame federal requirements under Race to the Top. Duncan, in turn, can blame teachers, parents, and children for not accomplishing what poverty disallows.

http://www.schoolsmatter.info/

[JDPriestly]

1. What a pity! Privatization has not proved itself to work well, and it will invite

corruption and theft. What a pity!

[CabCurious]

2. Privatization can mean many things

Technically, non-for-profits are private organizations.

This blurb talks about a Foundation's money being used to turn-around schools. Many big cities and states have been doing this for a decade. Until there's more specific, I wouldn't judge based upon the word "privatization."

However, the elimination of union representation is the issue.

[aquart]

4. Privatization is a license to steal.

That is all it is.

[HiPointDem]

5. doing it for a decade with heinous results. you should look into it more.

[Frustratedlady]

3. This is a major mistake.

They will dumb down the children while siphoning off as much tax money as they can.

To lose control of the schools, the curriculum and the community involvement will give the owners the opportunity to mold minds...and not in a good way. A school here and there is one thing...statewide? No way.

Thumbs down on this idea.

[DallasNE]

7. More Union Busting

Plus, with the schools being private, they can force the teachings of creationism and other anti-science propaganda so dumb down indeed.

[roaminronin]

6. It's a fast track program

to either privatized armies or privatized prisons.

[inthemiddle2]

8. I have been saying this for years

when my youngest graduated from H.S. and now has a baby of his own. I tell him public schools will be a thing of the past. Only the very poor will attend them and their teachings will be poor.

[madrchsod]

9. union busting and children who will still fail.

obama and duncan have given their blessing to this fraud.duncan was a fraud in chicago and he`s a fraud on the national level.

[woo me with science]

10. In case anyone missed this post of yours:

Education: "The Big Enchilada"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002967097

[sarcasmo]

11. The dumbing down of society through privatization, thanks Republicans.

[B Calm]

12. It's just going to end up costing the tax payers

more money. Just like health care. . .