I don’t mean to pick on Governor Bobby Jindal but it is fascinating to watch the evolution (or should I say “the creation”) of his voucher program.
First came the news that many of the schools that are taking voucher students had no facilities or teachers. Then we learned that many of the little schools opening their doors are Bible-based church schools that teach creationism and use textbooks in history, science and other subjects from Christian publishing houses. Then it turned out that no one at the state department of education had vetted any of the schools that were approved to receive the students “fleeing” l0w-rated public schools. Then the Commissioner of Education John White said that the letter informing the schools that they had been approved really was not a letter informing them they had been approved.
What he actually meant to say, he said, was that the letter of approval was just a letter of “preliminary” approval, and they were going to be vetted for real approval.
But it gets worse (or better, depending on your point of view). According to an article in a Louisiana newspaper, the state will not require voucher-receiving schools to have certified teachers, to have modern technology or to accept students with disabilities.
I hope someone will find the time to explain why they expect to improve the education of these children by sending them to schools that lack the essentials required even of so-called failing public schools. Other than saying that parents in Louisiana know what’s best, Commissioner White has not offered a persuasive answer. If that were true, why does no one listen to the parents who oppose the closing of their public schools? When John White worked in New York City, he never cared what parents wanted for their children when he closed their neighborhood schools and replaced them with charters.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Diane, I hope you can respond to Jeb Bush’s assertion last night on Charlie Rose that Jindel is doing a fantastic job reforming the school system. It may be available for viewing on PBS.com.
Bobby Jindal is doing everything Jeb Bush admires, exactly what Mitt Romney plans to do. I responded to Romney-Jindal here: http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2012/jun/05/miseducation-mitt-romney/
The end game is to privatize public education, open it up for profiteers.
John White and Gov. Jindal’s ‘s voucher program argument that parents are the best judge of type of education their children should receive rings hollow when we examine their paternalistic policies in every aspect of education reform.
Under the post-Katrina corporate reforms, parents are not allowed to elect the people who govern the charter schools–and in New Orleans charter schools are the only option for 85% of the students. All charters are governed by self-appointed, self-selecting boards.
Parents are not allowed to decide if their child has a right to the teacher of their choice, even if parents think the teachers is doing an excellent job, because now teachers can be fired for low student test scores despite their teaching ability.
Parents are not allowed to decide if their child we be subjected to a limited curriculum designed to raise high-stakes test scores.
Parents can’t decide if the charter school their child attends has the right to expel that child for minor discipline violations because the charter wants to exclude low-performing students.
Parents don’t have the right to decide that their child will have a certified teacher in the charter or private voucher school they attend, since hundreds of teachers are first-year uncertified TFA teachers and private voucher schools are not required to hire a single certified teacher.
Parents don’t have the right to decide that their child should attend the nearest school in their neighborhood in New Orleans because traditional neighborhood school zones were abolished so charter schools could cherry-pick the best students from the entire pool of district students.
So when it comes to vouchers, Jindal and White exhort the wisdom and judgement of parents, but when it comes to public and charter schools, high-stakes testing, and teacher evaluation and certification, suddenly parents and the local community are treated like children who have to be told what is best.
You are so correct! I could not have said this any as perfectly as you did! Thanks from the teachers, parents, children from New Orleans!
The rationale by Jindal and White for the voucher program makes no sense just like everything else related to the education reforms in Louisiana. They have no plan for this program and neither does it make any sense just like they had no plan in developing the public schools in New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina (the worst performing school district in the state).
The education reforms in Louisiana is prove that the corporate reformers in this country have no intention or desire to improve or even educate children. The recent legislative reform bills (a mirror of the ALEC agenda) bullied through the legislature by Jindal validates their disregard for children and anything that resembles quality education. Since the passing of this insane legislation profiteers in Louisiana and across the country are gearing to get their share of tax dollars for public education in an unregulated system that has the blessings of the media and political leadership.
The education reforms in Louisiana have one and only one objective: give tax dollars to the private sector in an unregulated system……………children, quality education, the well being of our state is not even a consideration.
Romney and Jindal are like two peas in a pod. Well,let’s put one more in the pod…John White. Lance, I’m so glad you put all the ways parents don’t get choices if they choose to accept charters as a place to send their children, These are never pointed out by voucher and charter school proponents. Those of us that do, have to keep trying to educate them.
My family owns a vacant tin building in a small town in Louisiana. I’m thinking I’ll start a Catholic Muslim Atheist Academy there, give all my displaced teacher friends jobs, and we’ll make some real money!
That’s hilarious, Jill! (Or it would be if it weren’t so true. Now, if you have all the right political connections & can kickback some of that cash, you’ll be in business!) Please add Hebrew Culture to that academy title (thank goodness that New Jersey charter proposal was denied!)
Teachers…our sense of humor gets us through!