So now we know what true education reform looks like.
It means sending kids to schools that are no better or worse than their local public school.
It means sending kids to schools that teach them that the Bible has all you need to know about the origin of the universe.
It means sending kids to schools where anyone can teach, without any credentials.
It means sending taxpayer dollars to private and religious schools with no standards and no accountability.
Read this letter by a school board member in Louisiana.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
As it has before, it occurs to me that the irony here – & in all facets of school reform – is that no matter how bad the reforms are, it will still be the teachers who are blamed. Blamed for decision/actions of well-meaning and not so well- meaning politicians, reformers, & profiteers. Blamed for speaking out and for not speaking out. Blamed for whatever, because many folks see school, think teacher, and assign blame. I am glad each time I hear a politician, school-board member, administrator, historian, parent or student weigh-in on the nonsense, because it is those voices that seem to resonate. If teacher voices are not always listened to in the crowd, then our voices must continue to inform those whose are heard.
The letter from the school board member raises several issues, each of which could be written about in great depth.
I spent most of my teaching life in public schools, but twice I taught in parochial (Catholic) schools. There are many good things as well as undesirable things about private schools. For example, people with money who donate to the school or parish frequently have a louder voice and things get swept under the rug for their children. As an example of a good thing, sometimes there are very small classes where students get a great deal of 1:1 time. I’ve experienced both of these.
At both of the Catholic schools I taught in, I was surprised by several things. One, to find out who the teachers were. While many of us did have teaching credentials (NC-had to be renewed every 5 years; LA-could have permanent certification and no requirement to renew knowledge of subject matter or pedagogy), many did not. At the high school I taught in, several of us were credentialed (undergraduate, master’s, and doctorate degrees held with credentials in our area taught) but many were nuns, who taught with no teaching degree or college degree. Two, that there were no services for students with special needs, not even remedial reading teachers.
At the K-8 school I taught in, again, several of us held certifications (I did NOT hold LA certification, merely NC certification in reading, secondary English, middle school English, and elementary school general) but others did not. Again, several teachers were nuns; some held college degrees and some did not. An example of a non-nun, non-certified teacher was the teacher for the religion class (I was supposed to have taught religion as it was paired with ELA but was told to teach Social Studies instead) who was Catholic. That was the only requirement. Imagine how the diocese felt when she ran off with a guy during the year – both were married and had children. The 8th grade MATH teacher held certification, from about 30 years prior in home ec – she had no certification in math and no classes in algebra or trig or how to teach math.
A few of the primary grades teachers were not certified, but were willing to teach in exchange for reduced tuition rates; they were Catholics which was a plus. Those teachers became, in most cases, very dedicated and effective teachers – because they wanted to.
While teachers in private schools don’t have to be certified or even have a college degree necessarily, they do not make a decent salary. Many DO love teaching and many are certified. What I saw in both cases, overall, was a genuine love of teaching / learning and students.
In the parochial / diocesan schools, many teachers have a voice with the people on the school board and the overall parish / diocese. School board members attend the same church often as the teachers do, they see each other socially, and frequently the school board members have children or grandchildren in the school. Teachers get to interact with school board members on a more regular basis than teachers who teach in public schools (unless the public school district is small).
Teachers have to continue to speak out, and speak to school board members. In small districts and parishes, it is easier to speak to the school board members. In larger ones, it is more difficult, but it needs to be done.
And, on the other hand, school board members, just as other elected officials must be held accountable. If they do not listen, vote them out.
This may be a stupid question but I have not been able to find a concrete answer anywhere and this is the most knowledgeable forum I frequent. Why tie vouchers to income? Here in Louisiana parents can opt for a voucher school only if they are at a certain income, less then 250% of the poverty level. To me this has evil connotations so perhaps I am hoping the real answer is less malignant.
The problem is with religion is that one can’t get a teaching degree or certification in it. I know of a Catholic school that makes its religion hold a Master’s Degree in Theology, and a second school that hires a youth minister who has a degree in Youth Ministry from Notre Dame.
I just read that our LA governor has hired another out of state crony to help promote his ridiculous education agenda. Heather Cope from Seattle will serve as executive director of the state’s education board, BESE. Our governor can’t seem to find any one here in our state with educational credentials who is willing to advance his Deform agenda. So he has to go out of state to find uncredentialed, so called education experts,(Mr. White?) to push forward an agenda that will sentence a whole generation of Louisiana students to substandard charter schools. What is the real agenda? Wake up Louisiana….
Ms. Cope comes to LA from a position in Washington state’s League of Education Voters. They are leaders in the fourth attempt in Washington state to pass legislation to pass I-1240 which would finally allow Washington families the option of public charter schools — just like families in 41 other states already have. The initiative is on the ballot in Nov. statewide. Voters have voted down previous attempts to allow public charters in the state. (Google to find more.) Yes, the boards, etc. in Louisiana are becoming even more stacked as each new day comes and goes.
It is more than disturbing, isn’t it? One of the problems….the media won’t investigate or print the facts.
day comes and goes.
http://parentsacrossamerica.org/2011/02/paul-vallas-gets-an-earful-from-karran-royal-harper-in-n-orleans/
If you missed it earlier, someone posted this video of a New Orleans parent. It is priceless.
I am the person who went to the Beauregard Parish court house and researched the owner of BeauVer Christian Academy. I am the person who went to the Calcasieu Parish court house and researched Eternity Christian Academy. I am the person who could not get a local paper to listen to me, so the Alexandria, LA Town Talk agreed to look at the documents I found by doing a civil and criminal search. The Louisiana Department of Education did NOT conduct a “due diligence”. A second grade teacher did. A teacher concerned about the quality of education at these schools. I urge all teachers to do the same for schools in your parishes. You will be amazed at what you find. Just those two schools could have received 255 voucher students.at an average of $8500.00 per student, that’s quite a lot of money.
I’m sure others have thanked you Vicky, but let me be one of the first to do so publictly. THANK YOU!
Another shout out to you, Vicky! Thanks! Isn’t it a shame that educators have to search for information while the reporters, who I would think are paid to do some of this footwork and Google work, don’t.
I really think John White thought no one would notice! He sure has found out differently! It is also an indication of his lack of understanding of Louisiana’s history and culture.
Thank you! Thank you!
Two quick observations. First, it’s incredible what we as a society are willing to tolerate or inflict upon others. Secondly, in this rush to privatize, we’ve also declared war on intellectual curiosity and freedom. Not good for a democracy, but- A -Ok for a plutocracy.
Two quick observations. First, its incredible to see what we as a society are capable of tolerating or inflicting upon fellow human beings. Secondly, in the rush to privatize, voucherize, and out-source education and OUR schools, we’ve declared war on intellectual curiosity and freedom. Not good for a democracy, but A-Ok for a plutocracy or dictatorship.
“what we as a society are capable of tolerating or inflicting upon fellow human beings.”
I agree!
I too am amazed at this new atmosphere that it seems OK to inflict inferior education on children in poverty and turn our backs on basic human need. I cringe when I hear talk of reducing food stamps, closing down hospitals and clinics that serve the poor, raising college tuition so that many will not be able to attend college. And usually this is from people who profess to be christian.
Here in Louisiana it seems that our governor, legislators, and many of our citizens are willing to turn their backs on children in poverty. Make no mistake, we will as a nation, pay the price for allowing this to happen. We pay the price when we fail to adequately protect and educate those who are unlucky enough to be born into a family situation where their parents are barely able to give them what they need to survive. It doesn’t matter how or why they are in a situation of poverty, It only matters that we care enough to put supports in place for children who are unlucky enough to be born into poverty, by no fault of their own. It is our civic and moral duty.
Oh yes, we will pay the price, because these children will grow up to be the adults who populate our nation. Do we really want a poorly educated population of poor citizens? Is our democracy willing to allow a small number of highly educated, wealthy citizens to make decisions for every citizen? Is that what our democracy has come to??? I will continue to educate every student who walks into my school. I hope that their parents will work with me and not abandon public education for the false promises of our governor.
Correction: First, its incredible (should be it’s incredible)
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20120820/NEWS01/308210001/In-Case-You-Missed-23-million-plan-fix-failing-schools-falls-short
White says incremental changes aren’t good enough. Another tear down of teachers and schools. Louisiana wants to make the schools charters.