Last May, Ruth Conniff, editor of “The Progressive,” joined a group of other women on a tour of voucher schools in Milwaukee. The others included another journalist, a state legislator, and Milwaukee grandmothers Gail Hicks and Marva Herndon.
“Herndon and Hicks formed a group called Women Committed to an Informed Community, also known as the “mad grandmas,” to bring attention to the voucher schools popping up all over the largely African American north side of Milwaukee in strip malls, rundown office buildings, old car dealerships, and abandoned factories.”
What they saw should chill the ardor of the most doctrinaire followers of Milton Friedman. Vouchers began in Milwaukee nearly 25 years ago based on the claim that they would save poor black children from “failing” public schools. Today, Milwaukee should be a national symbol of the failure of vouchers. Yet state after state is endorsing vouchers, egged on by the Friedman Foundation and rightwing think tanks.
Let’s be clear. Vouchers, charters, and choice have failed the children of Milwaukee. The city ranks near the bottom of all cities tested by the federal NAEP, barely ahead of Detroit. Black children in Milwaukee score behind their peers in most other cities and states. Study after study shows they don’t get better test scores than their peers in public schools.
“”We are talking about the schools that fall under the category of LifeSkills Academy,” says Hicks, referring to a Milwaukee voucher school that made headlines last year when the couple that owned it fled to Florida, taking with them millions in state education funds and leaving sixty-six students suddenly stranded, with no school.
“Many of the schools Herndon and Hicks are concerned about are religious. But “we are not talking about schools associated with long-established churches,” Hicks says.
“In racially divided Milwaukee, most of the mainline parochial schools that take voucher students are run by Catholic and Protestant churches on the largely Hispanic south side, Herndon explains.
“On the north side, it’s just loaded with fly-by-night, hole-in-the-wall schools, gas station schools,” Herndon says.
…….
“The $6,442 per pupil in public funds attached to vouchers is more than the cost of tuition at many parochial schools. That, along with start-up funds for new voucher schools, creates a powerful incentive for cash-strapped parochial schools and unscrupulous, fly-by-night operators alike. As a result, parents in voucher districts have been inundated with marketing calls, flyers, and advertisements at taxpayer expense urging them to send their kids to private school for free.
“Nowhere is the problem with turning public schools over to private business more evident than in Milwaukee, the birthplace of school choice.
“Academy of Excellence” is spelled out in snap-on plastic letters above a phone number on a temporary-looking sign on West North Avenue.
“A teacher stands in the doorway of a rundown office building with peeling orange paint on cinderblock walls, watching children jump rope in the parking lot between rows of cars. A few little girls crouch on the sidewalk, drawing with chalk.
“Pastor George Claudio of the StraightWay Vineyard Christian Fellowship greets us inside.
“He has been serving as principal here since September, although he has no background in education, he explains.
“I’m not a trained principal, so my approach has been more of a business and leadership approach,” he says. “I don’t know much about academics, so I’m on a crash course, relying on the teachers in the building.
“Everybody here is way below the poverty level,” he adds, as we peer into a classroom where four-year-old kindergarteners are lying down for a nap on the dirty indoor/outdoor carpeting. A teacher snaps out the lights.
“Despite the dirty carpet and peeling walls, and a first-floor bathroom with no toilet paper, no paper towels, and heavy scribbling in the stalls and over the sink, Pastor Claudio is proud of how much better things look here since school started in September, after a major cleanup. Last fall, he tells us, the lights didn’t work.
“This building has flipped through several voucher schools. The last resident was BEAM Academy, an Edison charter school. “Edison” plastic tags still adorn some of the classroom doors. Another Academy of Excellence school, on the south side, is in even worse shape, the pastor tells us.
“There are three Academy of Excellence schools in Milwaukee, run by the Association of Vineyard Churches, a conservative, evangelical sect.
“Every morning, Pastor Claudio leads the school in a daily devotional.
“We use the Bob Jones University curriculum,” he says.
……………
The pastor says that two-thirds of the students probably would benefit from special education, but the school has no trained special education staff. Indeed, teachers in voucher schools don’t need teaching certification. Instead of special education, the children get tutors–college kids and volunteers from the church. In the middle school science class, a sign on the wall says, “In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth—Genesis 1:1” a poster in the hallway says: “God can see your heart and he knows that it is wicked.”
The school will double in size this fall when it enrolls 200 students from Myanmar who don’t speak English.
………………
Conniff concludes:
“The latest battle of the mad grandmas is against new laws that would force the sale of public school buildings to private school operators.
“The public schools are just being raped,” says Hicks. “A lot of schools no longer have gym, no longer have art, language, higher math. Schools don’t have the money because they’re sticking money in charter schools and vouchers, which are businesses.”
“In Milwaukee, eighth graders are attending what purports to be a public school to study science and learn creationism.
“Third graders are absorbing a strange home brew of art, finance, and bible passages.
“Immigrant children straight from refugee camps in Myanmar are landing in a school that looks like a refugee center, to be immersed in English and a harsh religious ideology that teaches them that their hearts are wicked.
“All of this is supported by the public with tax dollars.
“It looks like the end of society.”
Ruth Conniff’s reporting is persuasive evidence that the once strong belief in separation of church and state was sensible protection for the common school system. Now that the wall of separation has been penetrated, all manner of Bible schools are getting public dollars. Does anyone believe that the children of Milwaukee are better served in these schools than in the public schools? And what remains of public education when children are withdrawn to attend voucher schools and charter schools?
Can anyone honestly say that the children in these publicly-supported voucher schools are getting a good education that prepares them for college and careers in the 21st century?
What words do we use? Criminal, travesty, disgrace, unacceptable, child abuse? Where do you start?
This deserves a national spotlight.
Seriously, call “60 Minutes”, Rachel Maddow, Chris Hayes, Ed Schultz (Ruth is on Ed’s show occasionally)…..just think of those little kids…..Who ARE these people? So many with no conscience….
Capitalism and freedom in its truest form. Disgusting.
Stop this madness!!!!
I’m still getting over the shock that someone actually checked into Ed reform outside of NYC, Boston, New Orleans or DC.
Ed reform is a political coalition as much or more than an educational plan.
Vouchers keep religious actors on board and supporting ed reform politicians.
That’s why we have them. Without vouchers, they would lose that group of people who want publicly- funded contracts.
Markets will sort this out. When the immigrant parents realize they’re being robbed by lawmakers they’ll move, I guess.
I’m just glad Democrats and Republican politicians joined hands to get rid of those dirty labor unions in Milwaukee. Excellence can really flourish now that everyone who works in the “public schools” actually works for a church.
What’s amusing about this is, it isn’t new at all. This incoherent inequitable mess gave rise to public school systems in the upper Midwest in the first place.
Those journalists aren’t following the script. The rule is, we only visit high performing charter schools on the east coast.
Venturing into the wilds of WI, OH and MI is frowned upon.
Those states don’t matter anyway.
Are there no Success Academies for these immigrants in Milwaukee to attend with their 6k backpack voucher?
Choice Vulture program shows most obscene form of capitalism. Distortion of religious freedom and abuse of poor materialistic condition. Vouchers have finally shown their true colors.
You are spot on with your comment, “most obscene form of capitalism.” Children’s present and future are being destroyed on the altar of profiteering. What a country!
Paging Dr. Nathan, paging Dr. Nathan.
Secretary Duncan visits Midwest states on his periodic “public schools suck!” Tours.
Why does he always seem to miss our crappy charter- voucher “sector” in the Great Lakes states?
Sometimes I think Governors Walker, Snyder and Kasich are only taking him to the schools that validate the Republican-Democrat ed reform plans.
He should occasionally get off the guided tour bus and look around.
These are the same students that Rahm Emanuel talks about when he says that they are worthless and will never amount to anything, and then closes public schools in Chicago. They are the children that society has decided will never amount to anything.
It makes sense that they be relegated to schools run by fly-by night-operations and religious hooligans. It is better that they grow up believing that they have wicked hearts and do not deserve a better life. Then they, like their parents, will not know to demand better.
Isn’t there some way we can blame this on labor unions and/or teachers who are older than 30?
Let’s ask the thought leaders. I’m sure middle class working people are responsible for this market failure.
Commission a Harvard study, immediately. Bring in the economists! What does THE DATA say? 🙂
Fear not, contract employees of voucher/ charter schools. The US Department of Labor has issued some gentle suggestions to government contractors to protect workers rights.
I’m sure all your various employers will immediately adopt “best practices” including these fly by night “choice!” Schools.
Government now serves an entirely advisory role in worker protections. It’s part of “relinquishment”. That’s where we pay them to lobby on behalf of contractors.
Happy Labor Day, and good luck out there!
“The school will double in size this fall when it enrolls 200 students from Myanmar who don’t speak English.”
This is perhaps the most disturbing part of the whole article. If the children don’t speak English, it’s a pretty safe bet that the parents don’t, so how did they get railroaded into sending their kids to this “school”?
Because many of these religious congregations have “mission” trips (disguised vacations) to many “third world” countries to help them “save their souls”. Therefore the congregation has “contacts” to local indigenous populations. They aren’t “railroaded” but “propagandized” into thinking there is a better situation for their offspring.
Fort Wayne, Indiana has received 2,000 + students from Myanmar who speak either Burmese or Karen. They were dumped into the public schools’ by Lutheran Social Services and Catholic Charities. The Lutheran or Catholic schools would NOT assist these students, until Indiana passed voucher laws. (Sad!) As a former public educator, I taught and tutored many of these brilliant (absolutely brilliant kids!!! Some have been through hell and back, and have a strong love of learning. It’s amazing!) young people. While these students were able to attend public education, the reality of all of the testing and test prep made me so sad for these kids. Think about it: These kids get off the ship and are put the hoops of passing a test. A crazy document that is written in English. Most of these kids have parents, who have never went past the 2nd grade or could speak English. Due to the focus on the test, these brilliant kids are labeled as failures. How sad!!!!
I work now in the world of faith-based, private and independent education (I HATE vouchers! I believe in strong standards, yes, I am anti-Bob Jones and Abeka!!!), and note the less test prep and tests, all together. I think how wonderful it would be to allow these refugee kids, a solid basic education without all the crazy test prep and Common Core B.S. I wonder if these kids could be served in a solid, Catholic or similar school in grades K-5th, that would allow them to be educated in a developmental appropriate environment, without the latest test being thrown in their face? My bet would be more to time for ELL lessons and basic skills development.
I dream of the day, public education could state-test-free. But, the reality of the matter is Pearson owns to many states. Sad day!
“Vulture Schools are coming to town”
You better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I’m telling you why
Voucher schools are coming to town
They’re making a list
And checking it twice;
Gonna find out, you’re wicked, not nice
“Strike-you-down School” is coming to town
He sees you when you’re sleeping
He knows when you’re awake*
He knows if you’ve been bad or good
So be good for voucher$ $ake!
O! You better be a saint!
You better not laugh
You better not paint
You better just graph
“Fly-by-night School” is coming to town
“Hole-in-the-wall School” is coming to town
Vulture Schools are coming to town
*The school is equipped with 24/7 surveillance
This is indeed a travesty, but it is also the logical outcome of a market-based approach to education. And who is most injured? Those most vulnerable to marketing and consumerism. Those parents least likely to be informed about what a quality education consists of are those targeted by advertizing designed to lure them in. “Send your child to a private school for free!” was the actual poster displayed on the outside of public buses when I was in New Orleans in March.
Consider the fast-food industry: food that is actually harmful to those who consume lots of it. The industry has, over time, pushed out small independent restaurants run on tight margins who knew their customers well and provided a community experience that made for safer neighborhoods, as well as contributed to the common good as well-run businesses. That mission accomplished, Burger King decamps to Canada to maximizes its profits. This is simply the planned result of privatization.
Reblogged this on Lloyd Lofthouse and commented:
A few pull quotes from this post:
In these Charters—third graders are absorbing a strange home brew of art, finance, and bible passages.
In Milwaukee, eighth graders are attending what purports to be a public school to study science and learn creationism.
“Despite the dirty carpet and peeling walls, and a first-floor bathroom with no toilet paper, no paper towels, and heavy scribbling in the stalls and over the sink, Pastor Claudio is proud of how much better things look here since school started in September, after a major cleanup. Last fall, he tells us, the lights didn’t work.
“Immigrant children straight from refugee camps in Myanmar are landing in a school that looks like a refugee center, to be immersed in English and a harsh religious ideology that teaches them that their hearts are wicked.
“All of this is supported by the public with tax dollars.
Lloyd Lofthouse: just concerning your pull quote about the physical environment—
Isn’t this a sterling example of the “soft bigotry of low expectations”?
A minor improvement and self-satisfaction is running rampant.
And the rebuttal? I echo Dienne’s comment above.
The silence is deafening…
😡
Who’s forcing these families to enroll their kid’s in voucher schools? Why don’t they just leave?
Jeff, some people aren’t as smart as you. They believe promises. That’s why we have government regulation, to protect consumers from fraud. Those regulations have been almost completely removed for vouchers and charters, and they prey on unsuspecting parents.
““We use the Bob Jones University curriculum,” he says.”
Yep, glad I don’t live in Wisconsin having my taxes go to that “voucher” school.
Unfortunately, I cannot say the same.
As Diane notes this is not only a matter of protecting a high quality system of public education, it’s a matter of consumer protection. There are parochial schools in the voucher program who offer a solid education, but with public money supporting sectarian instruction. Then there are the truly disgraceful, hole-in-the-wall schools that offer the barest minimum of an education often run by wholly unqualified individuals. State law severely limits the power of the Department of Public Instruction to regulate voucher schools and when DPI exercises the limited powers it has, conservative legislators call for hearings.
At least you have a very beautiful state, plenty of floating rivers, fishing etc. . . much like MO.
Fortunately in the Show Me State the constitution language on the separation of church and state is considered one of the most stringent of all the 50 states so these types of programs would have a very difficult time being enacted.
And when one can’t ram something through the legislature they seek alternative methods. That’s why the Rexster (R. Sinquefield) is attempting a run around the legislature he couldn’t buy off and has managed to put a constitutional amendment measure on the ballot to evaluate teachers by student test scores, get rid of due process rights, etc. . . Again, I predict a 73 to 27% victory against that measure.
“”We have two-thirds of our kids who would probably benefit from special ed,” Pastor Claudio tells us.”
What does that mean, exactly? What is he saying?
Hello Diane, thanks for your spot-on review of our voucher school tour. These three schools were just a very small sample of the mis-education of parents and children in Milwaukee. Our fight is never ending and I look forward to meeting you when you next visit Milwaukee. Marva Herndon (one of the tour guides)
These sound like the American analogues of Pakistani madrassas.
This made me want to cry and scream at the same time! How is this legal? How are we as a democratic society allowing this to happen? Those poor children are victims of abuse at the hands of greedy capitalists and it makes me sick!