Imagine a state whose constitution contains an ironclad guarantee of uniform system of common schools, free and open to all. Imagine a state whose constitution flatly bans the funding of any sectarian schools. Call that state Indiana. How is it that Indiana is now awash in charters and vouchers, flatly contradicting the explicit language of the state constitution.
The answer lies with an organization called ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, which is funded generously by the Koch brothers, the DeVos family, and many of the nation’s largest corporations.
Three Professors at Ball State University—Michael Schaffer, Jeff Swenson, and John G. Ellis—published a very informative explanation about ALEC’s stealth attack on public education in Indiana,
The cold and calculating destruction of public education in Indiana was not the result of democratic deliberation. It was planned and implemented by oligarchs and rightwing politicians, who betrayed their own communities.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Education and commented:
State Constitution? That doesn’t apply to rich people, only the common man.
I don’t know if you have heard the news there in Asia. Yesterday in Benton KY, a student shot up a school. At least two students are dead, others critical, about 18 total students wounded. see
https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/24/us/school-shooting-kentucky-west-paducah/index.html
Yes, I read the news. I have access to Internet.
Very tragic.
We are a society that is ruining its young by stealing their childhood and giving them access to guns and violent video games.
“We are a society that is ruining its young by stealing their childhood and giving them access to guns and violent video games.“
Interesting that you’d mention video games, Diane.
One of the things that all (ALL) of my students with severe emotional problems shared was a love of extremely violent video games. “I like that I can blow his brains out while he’s begging for mercy. Pow, pow, pow!!” was one of the more memorable quotes during our morning meetings.
A well adjusted person can separate him or herself from the violence they’re taking part in with these video games. Not necessarily so with those who are not as stable and more prone to wanting to create that sort of mayhem in the real world.
The insertion of this line of thought into this discussion suggests that the public schools are responsible for this shooting. Another non sequitur.
Charles is pretending to be an idiot.
Charles isn’t pretending.
Please read this article, and then explain to me, how publicly-operated education in Indiana is being destroyed. I cannot see it.
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/public-schools-still-receive-most-indiana-education-funding/article_ada94776-f269-5133-872e-451f4ff457cc.html
Indiana has the largest (per-capita) voucher program in the nation. Hoosier lawmakers are (likely) going to consider initiating an Educational Savings Account program next year.
The Hoosier state is a state founded by pioneers. They are now showing the way to the rest of the nation. I wish them well.
“You can always tell a pioneer, they have arrows in their backs” – Author Unknown.
You seriously think NWI Times is a valid source? They’re slightly to the right of Pol Pot, I believe.
Anyway, nothing you say contradicts that public education in Indiana is being destroyed. The more that is spent on vouchers and “choice”, the less there is to spend on public schools where the majority of children go to school.
Again, you understand this. Your willful disingenuousness is sick.
I can read the constitution of the state of Indiana. Apparently you can’t.
Colonel Lyon is right. Anyone who does injury to our public schools is unpatriotic.
Diane, You state that the school choice/charter program currently underway in the state of Indiana (the nation’s largest) is “contradicting the explicit language of the state’s constitution” .
How can you say that? The Indiana Supreme Court ruled unanimously, that the program is 100% constitutional. See
http://ij.org/ll/liberty-law-june-2013/l-l-6-13-ij-s-supreme-victory-for-indiana-school-choice/
Here is the exact, verbatim decision:
Q “We hold that the Indiana school voucher program, the choice scholarship program, is within the legislature’s power under Article 8, Section 1, and that the enacted program does not violate either Section 4 or Section 6 of Article 1 of the Indiana Constitution,” the justices wrote in the 5-0 decision. END Q
Why do you say that the program is unconstitutional, when the Indiana Supreme Court ruled, unanimously, that the program is entirely constitutional?
Charles,
Read the state constitution. The school choice program directly contradicts the explicit language of the state constitution.
You like to lecture us on the clear language of the US Constitution, why disrespect and twist the clear unambiguous language of the state of Indiana constitution? The fact that a court appointed by rightwing ideologies disregarded the state constitution does not change its clear intent.
THANK YOU, Diane.
Here is Article 1 Section 4
Text of Section 4:
Freedom of Religion
No preference shall be given, by law, to any creed, religious society, or mode of worship; and no person shall be compelled to attend, erect, or support, any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry, against his consent.[1]
Here is Article 1 Section 6
Text of Section 6:
No State Money for Religious Institutions
No money shall be drawn from the treasury, for the benefit of any religious or theological institution.[1]
The Indiana Supreme Court held, unanimously, that the school voucher program in the state, provided funding to families, to exercise school choice. Therefore, no person was compelled to support any place of worship. No money is going to benefit any religious or theological institution.
As long as the voucher program, puts the money in the hands of parents/students, then there is no constitutional infraction.
Parents are free to utilize the voucher program at a non-religious institution and/or home-school.
I defer to the unanimous decision of the state Supreme Court.
I think you just proved my point.
The state constitution of Indiana says:
“No State Money for Religious Institutions
“No money shall be drawn from the treasury, for the benefit of any religious or theological institution.”
That is clear and unambiguous. The political court in Indiana weaseled a way to spend public money for religious schools.
Liar, liar, pants on fire.
The Indiana Constitution also says:
““Knowledge and learning, … being essential to the preservation of a free government; it should be the duty of the General Assembly to encourage … and provide, by law, for a general and uniform system of Common Schools, wherein tuition shall be without charge, and equally open to all” (Indiana Constitution, 1851).
Is there anything here that says some schools should be handed over to for-profit charters, some should be managed by private boards as charters, and some should be religious schools?
Liar, liar, pants on fire.
The state constitution calls for ” uniform system of common schools.” I suppose with enough money sent to the right people the word “uniform” can take on any meaning the Koch brothers want it to have. We have the best government money can buy.
You have me, on the precise text of the Constitution. In 1851, there was no consideration of non-public education, written into the constitution. Point well taken.
Nevertheless, the Indiana school choice program does not eliminate the state-financed systems. In fact, even with the largest school choice program in the nation (per-capita), the huge majority of state money, continues to flow to the publicly-operated systems.
Indiana is showing the nation, that school choice/vouchers (and next year ESAs), can co-exist with publicly-operated systems. The children and the people of Indiana are the clear beneficiaries of the program.
The money flows outside the Common School system in direct violation of the clear language of the State Constitution. The language is not ambiguous.
How come your interpretation of the Indiana state constitution is right, and all five(5) of the Indiana State Supreme court justices were wrong?
And if the Indiana program is (according to you) clearly unconstitutional, why has no one brought a lawsuit, to get the current decision overturned?
Charles, I can read. The language is clear and unambiguous. The judges were appointed by rightwing ideologues. They ignored the plain language of the state constitution
Crossposted at https://www.opednews.com/Quicklink/How-ALEC-Attacked-Public-S-in-Best_Web_OpEds-Constitution-In-Crisis_Diane-Ravitch_Education_Funding-180124-707.html#comment687001
with this comment:
To learn more about ALEC, watch DeVos and read the website ALEC Exposed. Alecexposed.com.
A good book on this topic is Gordon Lafer’s “The One Percent Solution: How Corporations are Remaking America One State at a Time.” The self-serving justifications advanced by ALEC and the Chamber of Commerce for destroying worker rights and shredding the safety net will leave you stunned. Lafer also authored the “Spending Blind” report which details charter abuses in CA.
This article was written in 2015 but it is as timely today as it was then. https://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/03/13054/cashing-kids-172-alec-education-bills-2015
Also Who is Behind the Assault on Public Education? | Diane Ravitch’s blog
How is it that Indiana is now awash in charters and vouchers, flatly contradicting the explicit language of the state constitution.
A union rep laid it out for me in the ’70s.
It’s NOT what you think the language means, or how it should be applied. You’re
not in charge.
Repeat after me “All men are created equal”, now open your eyes…
Indiana is counted as an ed reform success story. I have no idea why, or how Indiana is in any way different than ed reform in Ohio or Michigan, but when ed reformers discuss the states they’ve “improved” Indiana is always on the list.
These measures of “improvement” seem to be wholly political and ideological. The states that go the furthest in weakening public schools and promoting charter and private schools are “a success”. It’s just nonsense. It’s not based on anything other than adherence to ed reform dogma.
What amazes me is that ALEC, a behemoth lobbying group, can still keep its non-profit status. Few groups are more political than them; yet they remain “non-profit.” They are pretty much a libertarian strategy group where members can pick up “ready made” legislation to take back to their states.