This post on sjonline (Milwaukee) re: Republican attempts to end public education.

[Scuba]

The big picture: End public education through lies and deceit

Today, Senator Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) and Representative Andre Jacque (R-Bellevue) announced they will be introducing legislation providing a non-refundable tax credit for religious and independent schools beginning in school year 2012-2013. The credit will start at $1,500 per year for every first grade student and $2,500 for every ninth grade student. The following year, second and tenth graders will be added to the program with additional years added each year until all students will be covered by the 2021 school year.

http://legis.wisconsin.gov/senate/sen20/news/Press/2011/pr2011-003.asp



(edited to include link to jsonline.com blog... http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/118820339.html?sort=last+to+first&commentSubmitted=y&refresh=45469&page=1#comments

[liberal N proud]

1. This would could be seen coming from miles away

It was all part of the plan when they went after the public workers unions.

The greedy bastards have their sights set on racking your tax dollars for profit.

:nuke:

[HereSince1628]

2. It's difficult to think about, but Milwaukee is extremely segregated

Painful to think about actually. A person would have expected this in 1940 in Mississippi, but not in Wisconsin in 2011. I can't help believe that this common social phenomenon doesn't affect more than housing.

Which leads me to suspect that a large part of this private/charter school push has as much to do with finding ways to effectively put in place segregation as it has to do with creating sham schools for profit.

And before you climb all over me...I'm not saying the schools are racist, or that staff at the schools are racists, or that all private schools achieve 100% segregation. Rather, I'm saying the social motivation of this legislation is pressure from many parents who would place kids in private school to keep them apart from 'undesirables.' That's a racist intent consistent with the strictly segregated neighborhoods of Miwaukee County.

That same intent is behind the desire of City of Milwaukee fire and police wanting to be able to live outside the city. That same intent is why as County Exec Walker refused to repair a public swimming pool in Wauwatosa because it would become a magnet for 'undesirables.'

[Scuba]

3. Ahhh, the old joke about the 35th Street viaduct...

...only the races/nationalities have changed.

[HereSince1628]

4. Maybe...but I don't know the old joke...perhaps you could share.

All I know is what I've seen since 1988. Milwaukee has as many bright red lines as Jackson.

[Scuba]

8. What's the longest bridge in the world?

Seperates this country/continent from that. The races and nationalities change, but Milwaukee remains segregated.

At one point the South side was considered "Poland".

[HereSince1628]

10. Ah, the wastes of Menominee Valley separate north from south...

What most people don't realize is that in Milwaukee a black person has 82 times the chance of living on a segregated block as an integrated block.

Such a thing doesn't happen by accident. The cultural acceptance of that practice ends up tainting everything, including education.

[Exilednight]

5. It's the next logical right-wing step after charter schools. n/t

[sinkingfeeling]

6. So, the state will pay parents up to $2500 a year to send their kids to a non-public school. And

that money will be taken from public (taxpayer) funds? Wow!

[Scuba]

7. Exactly. n/t

[shraby]

9. This is wrong on so many levels I can't begin.