Mercedes Schneider learned that rapper Sean (Puff Daddy) Combs is sponsoring a charter school in Harlem. Its theme, he says, is social justice.
Mercedes reviews the lyrics of some of Puff Daddy’s songs, in search of the theme of social justice. She didn’t find it. She found misogyny, profanity, and celebration of law-breaking. She advises students to do what he says, not what he sings.
Combs is not the only rapper to sponsor a charter school. The rapper Pitbull launched a charter school in Florida as part of the for-profit Academica charter chain. He is a member of the Zulueta family that owns the chain.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Thank you, Mercedes and thank you, Diane. You just saved me from writing a long post. Combs/Perry is about personal p.r., not education.
I have a theory and it goes like this: Publicly funded schools shouldn’t be owned and operated by private individuals or groups, not last year’s hip hop artists, not real estate moguls, not foreign nationals hiding in the U.S. from the government of Turkey, not hedge fund managers, not former professional tennis players, not family members of legislators or executives, not ABC, or Walmart. Public schools should be owned by the public, and operated by democracy. It’s a theory.
Well put, LeftCoastTeacher. I agree.
The comments, few that there are, on Mercedes’ blog, are really interesting, too. I don’t have a lot of spare cash hanging around these days but I’d pay to see Mercedes and Sean on a stage together, debating.
The only idea I’ve ever heard about charters that I would agree with would be schools attached to colleges of education. We could allow student teachers to teach in supervised settings. The charter would still have experienced licensed teachers working side by side with college students working to become full-time licensed teachers in a mentoring program. This would also allow us to finally rid ourselves of the Temps For America idea.
Holley, the reformers don’t believe in colleges of education so how can they attach schools to them? Think TFA. They believe anyone with a high SAT can teach
…not the president or CEO of Trump University, not private, religious school owners, not wealthy university regents, not NCAA affiliates… Where did Michelle Rhee go to college? Not that one.
Holley, that already happens, at least at Utah State University, my alma mater. The Edith Bowen Lab School at USU is a public school, although there is a lottery because of the overwhelming demand. But there is no tuition, and it is jointly run by the university and the local school district. There are permanent teachers there, but a lot of pre-service teachers also do practicums and all sorts of other work at the school. Even its library is hooked to the USU library system.
Mercedes received a comment from one poster who defended Puff’s character and all the good he has done. Would someone who made their living off the glorification of the gansta lifestyle be allowed to work in a public school? I don’t doubt that he has done some good, but how do you justify feeding off and glorifying the worst instincts of people to then turnaround and claim to want to change the community? I can’t get my head around it.
The commenter was trying to say that P Diddy is just a stage persona, and Sean Combs is not like his P Diddy persona. That’s why you can’t get your head around it, because it’s false. If you get up on stage wearing a mask it’s still you behind the mask. There are many people who worship the images they see on their screens and will be offended if you remove the illusion of magical greatness that is supposed to be behind the masks.
Oh, I get it! So all those politicians that prance around shouting feel good slogans may actually be….?
The sad part is, like for instance, Andre Agassi – he and his (financial) partner got involved, and in the end, isn’t is a real estate/rental deal? I don’t think we’re ever going to be able to stop the charter insanity with the government incentivizing it. If fans idolize celebrity, it fills seats, regardless of the celebrity falls from grace.
Donna, Andre Aggasi partnered with Canyon Funds to build charters. For profit. His own charter in Las Vegas is a mess.
Diane, he is still playing around with Turner in NJ, with Prudential involved as well. I’m fairly certain that real estate buys, with rentals to the charter(s) is key. Not to contradict you–I’m sure you are right as well. There are a lot of mini-companies that pop up to provide the services (like food services) and share the profits.
Donna, we agree. The big money in the charter industry is in real estate. In complex deals that involve triple net leases, in a corporation paying itself above market rentals, etc.
http://www.turneragassi.com
http://www.turneragassi.com/Portfolio
I think if Rappers or anyone else wanted to really help the strivers, they would start writing checks for scholarships. The government should rescind the New Market Tax credits for charter schools as it has been proven they are not worth the disruption and public school destruction. They should offer the wealthy tax credits to contribute to legitimate scholarship funds instead. Here’s link to a story from NYSUT about how a wonderful teacher from NYC changed the life of a talented student. http://www.uft.org/news-stories/hamilton-star-says-brooklyn-teacher-saved-my-life
“Anyone can open a Charter” (and does)
Start a charter, anyone can
Even a former tennis man.
Rapping Daddy’s are welcome too
Cuz charter is a cinch to do
Perfect timing. I just posted a BORAT picture on my facebook page. He’s hoping to thumb a ride while holding a cardboard placard which reads something like CAME TO AMERICA TO START A TEXAS CHARTER SCHOOL. 🙂
Borat could start a charter school in Florida or Ohio and get rich quick.
YES. 🙂 I have a feeling I’ve met the guy here in Denver…
I think it is ironic that Sean “P. Diddy” Combs thinks that he can run a charter school based on social justice when he is not a particularly positive role model for children. Sean “P.Diddy” Combs is a great entrepreneur. Since he has been the face of the alcoholic drink “Ciroc” and the producer of sexually explicit songs over the years, a school associated with Sean Combs could be perceived as supporting undesirable behaviors. In addition, Combs was involved in an altercation with the UCLA strength and conditioning coach. Most students who are familiar with Sean “P.Diddy” Combs know what he stands for and those negative connotations can place a negative perception on the charter school being that he is the founder of the charter school. This will cause parents to reject the idea of sending their children to the school. I believe it is not a good idea for him to create a charter school brandishing his name as the financial backer of the charter school. If Combs really wants to move forward with this charter school, I think Steve Perry should take the lead without the name recognition of Sean “P. Diddy” Combs. Steve Perry can use Combs finances but his name being used in the backing of this charter school is a bad idea.