If you are a fan of mystery writing and novels, this will interest you.
If you love non-fiction, it will also interest you.
This is a true-life drama from Baton Rouge about a school that was taken over by the state in 2008 and has seen no improvement. The story involves money, politics, power, hidden agendas, intrigue and data. What could be better?
In trying to get to the bottom of the story, it is mandatory that you read the comments. That’s where the best stuff is.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Bottom Line?
1) Louisiana has taken over a local high school and turned it over first to one and then another private, for profit charter group.
2) Results have been poor, but Louisiana persists.
3) Insider influence allows some to be hired to run schools they’ve helped remove from local control.
4) For profit operators are making big bucks, but delivering no significant improvement.
5) Louisiana still persists in following this line of reform.
6) Profit seems to be the only real outcome involved.
Did I get that right?
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This reminds me of Central Falls, RI, the district next to my own. The State took control of Central Falls years ago in fulfillment of a threat to do so if things didn’t improve enough (this was, if memory serves, before the dawn of NCLB). Nothing improved.
In the years after, the State’s threats to “take control of” any other district were met with thoughts similar to those expressed by Frederick Douglass after his physical tussle with Mr. Covey. The State did NOT want to have to “take control” in another town, because it knew it would once again be made to look the fool.
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The war is “Real Public Education” against the privatizers and corporatizers. Louisiana is one of the worst for this with the Louisianna Recovery School District. How did they have the plan together 5 days after Katrina? It is simple it was already sitting on the shelf just waiting for the natural disaster which was coming and when it did set it into place while all are confused and dealing with the aftermath of the hurricane. No one wants to deal with the facts and those are that charter schools do not really do that good even after all this time and that they have no accountability according to the latest, Sept. 2012, DOE OIG report on the total lack of accountability of charter schools in Florida, Arizona and California. This audit is DOE-OIG/A2L0002. Read it to see how bad it really is at all levels of so called accountability all the way to the top of the state. Why is no one else talking about this audit? Is anyone paying attention as this is one of the most damning, along with the Stanford Study, looks at charter schools and the scam they really are.
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The “reform” district is in serious need of reform. It appears as though New Orleans is ground zero for the complete exploitation of minority children for the benefit of greedy people. This story seems to be repeating itself all over the U.S. where charters are allowed. When will Obama step forward and stop the disgusting exploitation of children?
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Obama has been personally behind this since at least 1995 when Daley took over the Chicago Public Schools. Do you really think he will have a change of colors now?
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Hear, hear! Obama is quite the wolf in sheep’s clothing for education and educators. Unfortunately, even those of us who saw him for what he was knew our other choice this year was no better.
Unions need to learn that just because there’s a “D” in front of the candidate’s name doesn’t mean they are automatically an ally.
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Ron, I completely agree with you. I also voted for the lesser of the two devils, Obama. I did it holding my nose. Doesn’t say much good about either one of them or their parties. Dems and Rats, what is the real difference anymore. Dems need to take their party back to what it is supposed to be for and that is for the general good not for an elite few.
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Well now, George. Here’s something about which we agree, amazing as that may seem.
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I regret that Gov. Jindal is such a rapacious soul. I’m further regretful that the Republican candidate for Washington state governor choose to invite him to come to Washington twice, to help him campaign. The first I could do nothing about. The latter I tried very much to oppose. All I can say now it that the Republican lost. A true shame, as he was clearly the better qualified and a moderate at that. Ah well, we muddle on.
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