Maurice Cunningham is all over the dark money behind the push for more charter schools in Massachusetts.
In this post, he reproduces the logo of the ad that was shown during the Olympics.
“YES ON 2 FOR STRONGER PUBLIC SCHOOLS.”
That is dishonest. Question 2 is about increasing the number of privately managed charter schools.
If the ad were honest, it would say:
“YES ON 2 FOR PRIVATIZATION OF YOUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.”
Cunningham tries to find out who paid for the ad. He digs through a list of committees and groups, and the best he can say for sure is that there is hedge fund money. As he showed in the previous post, the “YES” vote is being paid for by Republican elites. They don’t like public schools, they don’t like unions. Charter schools get rid of both.
The election in November is crucial. If the privatizers can defeat public schools in the state where they were invented, then we are all in serious trouble. That must be why the privatizers focused on Massachusetts, which is far and away the best state system in the nation.
However, if they lose in Massachusetts, after pouring in nearly $20 million, they might wake up and realize that they are fighting a losing battle.
The key to victory for parents and students is an informed public. If the people realize that this campaign is actually intended to destroy their public schools, then the people will never support it.
Don’t let the privatizers get away with their propaganda.
Nashville rejected their lies; so can Massachusetts, but it will take a lot of ringing of doorbells and volunteer activism.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
You have to ask why they don’t run on charter schools. Why pretend all public schools are included in this with the deceptive “stronger public schools” language?
Are they not confident people want to privatize schools? Is that why they never run on it?
How long do the political ed reformers think they’ll get away with never delivering for existing public schools?
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At the very least, the ads should be clear: “Vote Yes on #2 to allow unlimited charter schools in Massachusetts. Vote No on #2 if you want to keep the charter cap as it is for now.”
It’s interesting that the pro-charter interests need to dissemble instead of just having an honest discussion. Are they really that terrified of the truth? (Why do I even bother to ask that question — of course they are.)
The cynicism of the billionaires and the people promoting charters is astonishing. Those people have NO business being anywhere near children nor influencing education.
Can you imagine what their charters teach? Look at us! We’re lying, but you are getting what you want and if some kids suffer, that’s fine because they aren’t worthy and you are. Just think of how wonderful that next generation of charter-educated kids will be. They have been shown that what is rewarded in life is looking out for your own interests and ignoring the interests of those who are expendable if they don’t help you get richer. Donald Trump would be proud for his own children to learn that lesson.
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The charter movement has always relied on lies to expand. They say they will “save poor kids from failing schools,” but since the schools don’t yet exist when they open, they have no track record of functioning let alone helping kids. They never admit that most charter schools get the same test scores–or worse–than public schools, even the so-called “failing schools.” They claim they are “public schools,” but that is not what they say in court or when they fight public audits.
The Massachusetts campaign is a perfect example of deception and fraud: telling the public that the way to improve “public schools” is to expand the number of privately managed schools that drain money and students (of their choice) from public schools. If Massachusetts is like other states, the urban public schools will begin to implode as resources follow the students to charter schools with uncertified teachers and draconian discipline.
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I cross posted it here, http://www.opednews.com/Quickl…
with this comment, continuing embedded links you must use!
“It is tactics like that ad– outright lies to a public that knows nothing about what is happening– which is ending our public schools at a dizzying speed!
“Shared knowledge is a requirement for a democracy, and when Billionaire Koch can write North Carolina’s social studies curricula. https://dianeravitch.net/2014/12/05/north-carolina-plans-to-adopt-koch-funded-social-studies-curriculum
“See my series on privatization http://www.opednews.com/Series/PRIVITIZATION-by-Susan-Lee-Schwartz-150925-546.html.. using information that Diane Ravitch provides about the state legislatures which are taking over the local schools, with nary an educator on board, and giving them to charters, with not a shred of oversight! Here is a link to Diane’s posts on charter school corruption .
The privatization of our public schools continues.
THIS is all out war on education because DEMOCRACY depends on shared knowledge and they want to dumb the people down (link is to John Gatto) . They are using weapons of mass instruction to kill real learning and replace genuine curricula that enables critical thinking.
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