Jeb Bush Slams Public Schools

By dianeravitch

May 29, 2013 //

Jeb Bush really truly doesn’t like public schools. He sees them as the essence of mediocrity, strangled by unions.

What does he want? Charters, vouchers, virtual schools. Anything but public schools.

Categories Bush, Jeb, Charter Schools, Florida, Vouchers

52 Comments Post your own or leave a trackback: Trackback URL

egbegb says:

May 29, 2013 at 9:06 pm

Do you (Diane) think Jeb Bush is against teachers or the content of what
they teach?

Teachers? Content? “Politics”? Which is it?

Why, exactly is Jeb Bush against public schools in your view? I don’t
know about his thoughts, but apparently you do. Can you educate me
on why he views public schools as bad?

Reply
- Ms D says:
  
  May 29, 2013 at 9:13 pm
  
  You may get more insight by reading the article. That’s what I’m doing. There seems to be a nationwide attack on public education. The more I read; the more I learn.
  
  Reply
- Linda says:
  
  May 29, 2013 at 9:43 pm
  
  Why don’t you read the article? That’s a good place to start.
  
  Reply
- dianerav says:
  
  May 29, 2013 at 9:52 pm
  
  Read the article. I think Jeb explains clearly why he is opposed to government-run schools. He believes that schooling belongs in the private sector, as it did 200 years ago. He is also a super salesman for technology, virtual charters, etc.
  
  Reply
- Puget Sound Parent says:
  
  May 30, 2013 at 6:07 am
  
  This so-called “education reform” cheerleading by The baby brother of George W. Bush is a political ploy—a strategy he hopes will make him look more “moderate” in front of voters, for either the 2016 or 2020 elections.
  
  Talking about “education” in vague but important sounding words is a tactic traditionally used by conservative politicians, like George H.W. Bush, and GW Bush, both of whom bboasted about their “commitment to education”, in order to soften their right-wing stances, particularly before their respective November elections.
  
  This proclivity towards voter deception and mendacity, through amorphous and fuzzy blather about “helping our schools”, is a Bush Family Special, deeply ingrained into their aristocratic mentaliity. That’s not surprising, given their family wealth and isolation from the real world of bills, job struggles, and the stress of modern life.
  
  But given how easy it would be for any mainstream journalist to look closely at Jeb Bush’s actual—and horrific—education “legacy” he left behind in Florida, this outrageous and deceptive story Bush is telling should be a laughing stock. But instead, Jeb Bush has successfully snowed so many people that you have the likes of “tough guy” Chris Matthews almost salivating over Jeb Bush’s “education focus”.
  
  The nation as a whole will soon learn what we as a core group already know: Jeb Bush’s need for power, money and control is extreme. And he’ll do anything to get it.
  
  Reply
  - Duane Swacker says:
    
    May 30, 2013 at 8:37 am
    
    “That’s not surprising, given their family wealth and isolation from the real world of bills, job struggles, and the stress of modern life.”
    
    Yep, Bush the First Usurper of the Constitution went to the supermarket one day for a campaign stop and didn’t know that the checkouts had scanners. Talk about out of touch. Much of the Bushie’s wealth came from ol’ Prescott doing business with Hitler and the Nazi’s even after war was declared. He had to be threatened with jail time before he quit doing business with Germany.
    
    Bush Family = scourge of the US for the last 100 years. Scoundrels all of them. (and that’s being polite)
Amy Bauer Gipe says:

May 29, 2013 at 9:20 pm

Jeb says, “What’s important is where it’s spent –where’s the focus. Are you funding the beast, or are you funding classroom education? Are you funding your priorities as it relates to early childhood education or are you just sending money down without any reform at all?”

His words are spot on. TOO BAD his beliefs behind them are completely backwrds!

Funny that Jeb thinks the “beast ” is public ed, and I think the “beast” is corporate ed reform.
Funny that Jeb thinks that funding databases and curriculum/test publishers is funding classroom education.
Funny that Jeb thinks funding testing to get into kindergarten would be good early childhood education reform.

Jeesh!

Reply
Michael Weston says:

May 29, 2013 at 9:31 pm

Thank you Jeb for the vocabulary lesson. I had wondered what “outperform” meant today. I see that it means “scoring in the bottom 50%”. My public school education of 40 years ago left me confused.

Reply
2old2tch says:

May 29, 2013 at 9:34 pm

Did you know that we “outsource” public education to unions and public school bureaucracies? Instead Bush argues that we should “outsource” education to private vendors and let the free market work its magic. His plans certainly have the hedge funds salivating. Who is better able to educate our children? Perhaps what they mean when they say it is “for the children” is that it is for their children who will inherit and pillage after them.

Reply
Michael Weston says:

May 29, 2013 at 9:41 pm

It is infuriating when these “free market” advocates claim competition is the solution to all educational woes. You cannot have a free market in a single-payer system. If you could, wouldn’t they have to claim that a single-payer health-care system could still constitute a free market? Hypocrites.

Reply
- egbegb says:
  
  May 29, 2013 at 10:19 pm
  
  “Single Payer” is exactly equivalent to (a political) MONOPOLY.
  Why should any politically controlled single payer “system” not
  screw Americans less that 10 oligopolies?
  
  Reply
  - Michael Weston says:
    
    May 29, 2013 at 10:28 pm
    
    If we did not have public education by means of a single-payer system, we would disenfranchise all that could not privately afford an education. I do not believe that is the American Dream.
  - 2old2tch says:
    
    May 29, 2013 at 10:46 pm
    
    Put it that way, egbegb, and I guess we should eliminate our whole single payer tax system since government is obviously “in it” to screw us. It may be a “pie in the sky” pipe dream–government of, for, and by the people–but I’m mighty sure that the oligopolies do NOT even profess anything close to the same philosophy.
  - egbegb says:
    
    May 29, 2013 at 10:58 pm
    
    +2old2tch
    I think you don’t understand the difference between government taxing us
    for what government should do (defense, tariffs,…) and what government taxing
    is for what it is totally incompetent to do – health, retirement, FDA-effectiveness, Labor,
    HUD, USDA, …
    
    We have seen very recently how the government (the IRS) can screw 50% of Americans
    due to politics. Screwing them for taxes is extremely bad. Screwing them
    for health care will lead to revolution in the streets. If you cannot figure out
    how to solve the “health care problem” WITHOUT government control, you
    are profoundly a victim of progressive education that has no clue about critical thinking.
    
    ObamaCare, Medicare and Medicaid are a solution dictated by political people
    who want to get reelected. This is not rocket science. If you understand
    anything about American history and what the health care problems are
    and what retirement is about, you will agree. If not, then you are just ignorant
    and will vote your feelings.
  - 2old2tch says:
    
    May 29, 2013 at 11:28 pm
    
    Well, I guess you put me in my place, didn’t you. Our private system of healthcare has certainly provided well for us and so far outshines equally progressive nations. Of course, we would all be better off if we eliminated all government social safety nets. How dare our retirees and/or disabled not have enough put away to fund their golden years. Of course, if we leave them to the care of the private sector, we should be able to kill off a good number fairly rapidly. After all, the private sector has shown how willing and able they are to care for their workers and retirees. I’m sure they will be willing to take on the care and feeding of the disabled as well. Forget the seriously poor. Any jobs they ever held did not provide benefits anyway. Heck, they don’t even know what a paid vacation is much less retirement. I was after all one of those money grubbing, lazy ____ teachers, who only ever worked half a year anyway, so what should I expect.
    
    Alas, I must admit, I doubt the ability of the current crop of legislators to craft any program for the good of the people. Too many have been bought and paid for by that private sector in which you apparently put your trust. Perhaps you should be pushing for more such government and I should be sneering at your obvious ignorance. I suspect the answers lie somewhere between the polar opposites. Perhaps once we get past the either/or we might find some workable solutions to these serious issues.
  - Fighting For What's Right says:
    
    May 30, 2013 at 6:18 am
    
    “Why should any politically controlled single payer “system” not
    screw Americans less that 10 oligopolies?”
    
    Why? Because the one system is part of the government of the PEOPLE, by the PEOPLE, for the PEOPLE, to paraphrase President Lincoln, while the 10 oligopolies” are there for one reason only: to maximize private gain for a very, very small percentage of the population.
    
    NOW, do you understand the difference?
    
    I’m going to require you to do extra work in order to pass this course, Mr. Egbegb. Your additional homework assignment for this evening is to look up the definitions of the following four words and then do an essay of no less than 1000 words, comparing and contrasting them?
    
    They are: Community, Commonwealth, Monopoly and Oligopoly. My kids knew this by the end of 4th grade. I suggest you catch up to them
    
    Can you handle that? Good. Because if you can’t, you’re going to have a very hard time getting accepted by anything BUT one of those virtual “schools”. But hey, aren’t you one of those guys gushing about virtual learning being just as good as Harvard?
    
    You just may find out. Soon.
  - Fighting For What's Right says:
    
    May 30, 2013 at 6:51 am
    
    The sheer degree of obtuseness on the part of egbegb is what’s so challenging here.
    
    But, I will concede, the boy is entertaining at times! Like this section…please…ROFL…have mercy! I mean, you’re killin’ me with stuff like this:
    
    “This is not rocket science. If you understand anything about American history and what the health care problems are and what retirement is about, you will agree. If not, then you are just ignorant
    and will vote your feelings.”
    
    LOL! I think the above is called “Projection 101” kind of like when Newt Gingrich, who was in the middle of affair #3, or was it 4, AND collecting random fellatio from campaign groupies on an ongoing basis, made a big, pompous, “moral” speech about the “corruption” of Bill Clinton for sex with a young woman to whom he wasn’t married.
    
    You’re a riot, “Egbe”, a regular riot! You’re funnier than my wife, Alice! You really are. You may not have intended to be a clown, but, you may have missed your true calling.
    
    Here’s what is REALLY going on: No, it isn’t rocket science—as if you’d ever be in a position to judge what is analogous to that discipline.
    
    But if YOU—yes, YOU, D- student—understand anything about American history, Canadian history, European history, Japanese history, or the history of South Africa, Australia, Argentina…and many other countries, you might have a larger, more realistic frame of reference and a less myopic, mythological, juvenile perspective on history, government and the study of advanced societies.
    
    And since YOU decided to reveal more of your Neanderthal logic by pulling “retirement” into this discussion, perhaps you can tell us the names of five countries that rely entirely on private, for-profit firms for their citizen’s retirement? What’s that? You can’t? How about just 3 countries that have “Totally Private” retirement for every single citizen? No. Well, can you name one—on our entire planet? Just one?
    
    Well…chew on that for a while. There might be something on a right-wing version of a search engine that is convoluted fabricated, but it could still make you feel better.
    
    Now, what was that you were saying about “ignorant” people who only “vote their feelings”?
    
    Take a look in the mirror if you want to see the “feelings type” of decision maker; which explains the increasingly shrill and unhinged reaction of rightists when they are confronted with two things they truly despise: Facts and Arithmetic.
el says:

May 29, 2013 at 9:46 pm

How will market-based solutions solve our problem of half our kids being below average?

Reply
- Louisiana Purchase says:
  
  May 30, 2013 at 12:03 am
  
  I hope you’re joking, because that’s not a problem. No matter how high everyone scores, there will ALWAYS be half of everyone below average. It’s basic statistics.
  
  Reply
jaded says:

May 29, 2013 at 9:46 pm

All in the Bush tradition. They have the Midas touch. Didn’t the boys start with the destruction of the savings and loans of the 80’s? SSDD! Do any of them know what it means to work for a living?

Reply
- Duane Swacker says:
  
  May 30, 2013 at 8:42 am
  
  The best thing that could happen to this country would be to have the Bushie family wiped off the face of the earth.
  
  Reply
el says:

May 29, 2013 at 9:49 pm

Jeb repeats the misleading statement that the US spends more on education than any other country. The truth is that there is no apples to apples comparison where the accounting is properly matched, where the same things are counted as “education spending.” A huge percentage of the difference is that we account the health care of all education employees and a fair percentage of the students to “education” and other countries do not; add to that that our health care spending is substantially more for the same services than in other countries.

Bruce Baker has written about this and is working on some more accurate comparisons.

Reply
wolfe7404 says:

May 29, 2013 at 9:51 pm

Jeb Bush and the Bush family have a personal vested financial interest in the failure of public schools in favor of the privatization of education. The Bush family owns stock in many of the companies that participate in many of the state’s high-stake testing “game”…. and in various cyber learning companies. Jeb Bush does so much lobbying that he is required to register as a professional lobbyist in many states. The Bush agenda is to privatize public education to create a new PROFIT CENTER for the private sector
…..PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS FOR PRIVATE PROFIT !

Reply
Teacher111 says:

May 29, 2013 at 9:53 pm

Other countries are supposedly outperforming us. According to “Why Good People Can’t Get Jobs,” written by a Wharton professor, US schools are not getting worse. Other countries are merely catching up.

Reply
- 2old2tch says:
  
  May 29, 2013 at 10:48 pm
  
  And why not? We are outsourcing all of our middle class jobs.
  
  Reply
Joan Ramseyer says:

May 29, 2013 at 9:56 pm

I am disgusted that Jeb Bush can come into our state and support everything that is wrong with education today. What gives him the right to think he knows anything about what Michigan needs? What we need is a thorough evaluation of the necessity of properly prepared teachers in every classroom. Michigan colleges have some of the best education departments in the nation, Michigan State University being one of them. The teachers coming from these institutions need to be recruited in our state and hired above TFA temps. They also need to be paid well and left alone in the classroom to teach to their strengths.

Mama Bush was right when she said our country doesn’t need any more Bushes. Of course she was talking about Jeb running for president, but he needs to take it to another level and get out of politics period. He should also do his homework on what constitutes good education. Privatizing and more charters aren’t it.

Reply
- DeeDee says:
  
  May 29, 2013 at 10:22 pm
  
  I agree. Why in the world did Pavlov’s district vote him in?
  
  Reply
brutus2011 says:

May 29, 2013 at 10:14 pm

I have been screaming for some time about the waste and inefficiency of our public school bureaucrats. ( I am NOT in favor of privatization)

Jeb Bush’s argument has a modicum of truth in it except the beast is the corruption that has grown in the management of our public schools–NOT in how we teach in public schools.

What Jeb Bush and his cronies really want is in on the plunder. They want to join in on the bureaucratic friends and family plan that explains why we spend so much per pupil and get so little in return. Why?

Because the money is skimmed for expenses above the classroom. Want proof?

Do a little research and see how the education budget in our municipalities have grown over the past two decades. The numbers are astounding with the ed budget easily near one-half of a municipal budget. One-half!

And teachers still are spending their own money for supplies, etc. while urban districts are fat with six figure administrators, consultants, and private firm contracts.

For those of you who see this as anecdotal, then you are not teachers. Anyone who teaches or has taught public school knows exactly what I am talking about.

No one ever talks about the corruption within the administration of many, not all, of our public school districts.

Clean up the corruption and the private investment folks will disappear because there will be no more spoils to share in.

Reply
- DeeDee says:
  
  May 29, 2013 at 10:24 pm
  
  You wouldn’t believe how corrupt the charter bureaucracy is
  
  Reply
- mathcs says:
  
  May 30, 2013 at 7:53 am
  
  Could you explain the “we … get so little in return”? phrase?
  
  Reply
  - brutus2011 says:
    
    May 30, 2013 at 8:43 am
    
    I use the word “we” as the collective we or citizens, taxpayers, parents, teachers, etc., or all of us.
    
    Here in our city (New Haven, CT) “we” spend approx. 15K per pupil. The next city/town over spends about 10K per pupil with a more positive student achievement outcome.
    
    Granted, the per capita income is less in the city that spends more and has lower student achievement.
    
    My point is that it is not how much we are spending, it is how these education tax dollars are being spent. Go to the Center for American Progress website–www.americanprogress.org–and you will find a study that compares, by district and state, the per student expenditure relative to student achievement.
    
    Teachers are not the personnel that makes policy and decides fund allocation–administrators are. Here there is more attention paid to funding 6 figure administrators, consultants, and private contracts than to what is needed to adequately address the challenges we have in the classroom and even to keep the libraries open and staffed. This is evidence of inefficiency at best and corruption at worst.
    
    Teachers are where the focus is and administrators almost never have to answer for their policies, the implementation of those policies or where the money actually goes or their inefficiencies or efficiency..
    
    Example: in our city, there was a recent disagreement with our Board of Alderman about a 3 mill BOE request. (Our BOE is entirely appointed by our 10 x 2 year consecutive term mayor–who is finally retiring) The dissenting aldermen were finally defeated and the BOE got their funding increase. But here is a little known fact–the BOE does not have to reveal a line by line spending of any of the funds they control which is one-half of the city’s budget. The aldermen repeatedly brought this up but until the mayor retires then his power will eclipse any change to the status quo.
    
    This lack of transparency in local government does not bode well for our progeny and the future of our republic.
- Sarah says:
  
  May 31, 2013 at 9:26 pm
  
  Thanks for reminding me. Any ideas/thoughts on how we can clean up the corruption?
  
  Reply
anndelacy4boe says:

May 29, 2013 at 10:15 pm

Just curious, has any of the Bush clan ever actually attended a public school?

Reply
- Dienne says:
  
  May 30, 2013 at 6:36 am
  
  When Dubya was trying to peddle himself as a regular Joe Average (the guy you want to have a beer, er, coffee with), he bragged about graduating from San Jacinto Jr. High. Of course, he neglected to mention that he went on to Andover….
  
  Reply
  - Fighting For What's Right says:
    
    May 31, 2013 at 4:38 pm
    
    And then Yale for his undergraduate degree and Harvard for his MBA—despite his C- averages at his prior schools.
    
    Gee, do you think his family name had anything to do with his admission to those highly competitive institutions?
    
    I was a B+ to A- student at my prior institution when I applied to both Harvard and Yale. And I didn’t get in. Despite the fact that my last name was Giordano.
    
    Go figure. Huh?
    
    I guess affirmative action is good as long as it’s the “Old White Male Ruling Elite’s Children” type of affirmative action…
Old Teacher says:

May 29, 2013 at 10:21 pm

Who’s supporting mediocrity Jeb? I know you value loyalty, to your corporate buddies that is. Unfortunately here in Nevada our governor would like to emulate you in regard to education. What will the sure to evolve cartel of charters with their monolithic curriculum look like? Would you send your children or grandchildren there Jeb? Of course not! We do not need any more advice from any Bushes. Even your mama knows you are out of good ideas.

Reply
Jon Awbrey says:

May 29, 2013 at 10:44 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV4hXlztH5c

Reply
LS4C1 (@LS4C1) says:

May 29, 2013 at 11:10 pm

All Jeb said is that public schools often misunderestimate the ability of students to learn. I don’t think anybody would disagree with that. After all, who would be better to point out whether or not people are capable of learning from mistakes, than the third Bush to hold public office http://laststand4children.blogspot.com/2013/05/our-report-from-mackinac-island.html

Reply
- Duane Swacker says:
  
  May 30, 2013 at 8:46 am
  
  “I don’t think anybody would disagree with that.”
  
  I DO!!
  
  Reply
Mary Pishney says:

May 29, 2013 at 11:30 pm

If anyone is so easily lead astray by any of the Bushes, from Nazi loving Prescott, to George, with his questionable, CIA czar (poor dear, to this day just can’t remember where he was when JFK was shot…but tried to play a game of “phone tag” to prove he wasn’t in Dallas, when he really was) who ushered in “The New World Order” and “W” brain challenged, but not so dumb as to be NOT be useful to the Orwellian neo-cons with Cheney being the darkest of the whole lot! Now Jeb enters the stage on the ruins of public education that his nitwit brother kicked into overdrive and Jeb wants to reign over its total demise. If you think that sounds extreme, a little reading can help you realize just how sadly true it is. Just ponder WHY the middle class is evaporating, Big Brother is now not only watching from several cameras at every intersection, reading your emails, listening to your cell phones; they even have a huge complex in the middle of Utah to house the massive, data gathering, and executive orders reveal the depth of the demise of democracy…just google, “Executive
Orders” for yourself. As to education; Corporate America wants a non-critical public who will be docile, un protesting workers…Orwell got it right!

Reply
Dottie says:

May 29, 2013 at 11:46 pm

Diane, E.J. Montini of the AZ Republic in Phoenix is an ally. He is continually trying to expose The Goldwater Institute. See http://www.azcentral.com/insiders/ejmontini/2013/05/29/whos-on-our-side-cops-firefighters-or-think-tank/

Reply
Linda Johnson says:

May 30, 2013 at 12:28 am

Jeb has been trying to make big bucks off of education tax dollars since his dad was president.

Reply
TC says:

May 30, 2013 at 12:32 am

Now when he was a young boy, he never thought he’d see, people stand in line, to get reformy, Jeb Bush.
Born in Midland Texas, moved to Coral Gables, Jeb Bush.

Reply
philaken says:

May 30, 2013 at 7:18 am

It is now clear that No Child Left Behind was a giant scam to set up teachers and schools for this assault on public education. The tests are being used to vilify teachers for social conditions over which they have no control. These tests have nothing to do with student achievement, quite the opposite. They take time away from instruction. What a colossal waste of human potential the last ten years have been!

Reply
Joanna Best says:

May 30, 2013 at 8:06 am

Not sure if it makes any difference in his persuasions regarding public school, but he converted to Roman Catholicism as well so maybe he also wants vouchers for support of RC schools. (?)

Reply
- Duane Swacker says:
  
  May 30, 2013 at 8:53 am
  
  Well, I converted out of Roman Catholicism by the time I left grade school. According to “the church” I had committed a mortal sin by not going to Mass on Sunday (and then lied to my mom by showing her the Sunday bulletin saying I had been to church). I figured what the hell I’m already condemned to go there what difference does it make. Why anyone would convert to that perverted institution is beyond me, other than the fact that they are complete idiots and all the Bushies come under that category.
  
  Reply
  - Michael says:
    
    May 31, 2013 at 2:44 pm
    
    Eek. The prejudice isn’t really cool guys. Making assumptions about someone’s politics based on their religion beliefs is specious at best, bigoted at worst. I know you’re frustrated and you don’t like Jeb, but let’s keep the conversation civil. I’m not religious and I ask people to make no assumptions about my politics based on that fact; in return, I extend the same courtesy.
NoBrick says:

May 30, 2013 at 10:26 am

Of the people, by the people, for the people. The Will of the people. All are equal under the law. The rule of law. Democracy. Public policy enacted by elected representitives. Fighting for our freedom. Protecting our freedom. Good guy US history. USA #1.

Wool covered eyes can’t distinguish a boot strap (pull yourself up), from a leash.

The Gov doesn’t need your handiwork any more. Move on.

Reply
Zak says:

May 30, 2013 at 10:29 am

This country is being hijacked by FRAUDS.

Reply
Chiara says:

May 30, 2013 at 1:49 pm

Maybe now we can stop pretending that school reformers want to improve public schools. They don’t. They want to destroy the public school system and replace it with a for-profit model.
80% of Michigan charters are for-profit. The state is a sinkhole of deregulated, garbage charter “products”. Everyone in that industry is making money hand over fist, and there’s been NO improvement in “education”. That they’re up there celebrating the success of this “movement” is laughable.
None of them will denounce, rebut or even dare to disagree with Bush. The idea that they’re having some kind of “debate” within reform is ludicrous. They’ve all made up their minds that public schools must go.
I really resent the dishonesty, how this thing was presented as “saving” public education. They should be damned ashamed of themselves for lying to people.
If they set out to privatize public education, they should have the decency to say that.
Now that Bush has laid it out there, how about the rest of them start telling the truth, including Arne Duncan? Let’s have the privatization debate, instead of the “reform” debate. Let’s see whether Americans really want to privatize the public school system. I’m betting THEY DON’T, and that’s why reformers hide the ball unless they’re at one of these conferences.

Reply
- Jon Awbrey says:
  
  May 30, 2013 at 2:25 pm
  
  Exactly.
  
  Reply
George Buzzetti says:

May 30, 2013 at 6:21 pm

The entire Bush Family are and have been sociopaths. Prescott Bush was a Nazi supporter. The present Bush Family is big in the Carlyle Group which is a major holder of stock in the military industrial complex. Who do you really think they are anyway? Nice guys who care about you. Only two things matter to them and that is power and wealth. End of message.

Reply