Video clip of the day

Man bites dog: Blacks protesting the NAACP in Harlem

Why would the NAACP fight to keep those schools open?

I think there is an ideological affinity with the Democratic Party on education where they want more spending and more things.





The black community has a stake in keeping these education options open.

Riley and McGurn touch on something that we have noticed in the charter school battle with respect to political parties. Though we have urged the Republican party to seize this issue as it plays well with minorities as well as simply being the right thing to do, it is Democrats, if not necessarily the Democratic party that are at the forefront of this issue.

To wit: Democratic mayors and pols in rust belt and northeast/mid-Atlantic cities are doing battle with the Democratic party machinery, i.e. teachers' unions to close down these failing schools and open charters. Because of these political, geographic and demographic realities, the GOP is on the outside looking in on much of the charter school struggle.

Clean-up in K through 12....

We all tend to agree that letting the federal government run our grocery stores would be a bad idea so why then do we let it anywhere near our schools?

John Stossel on choice, competition and the Department of Education in our public schools:

(if embed no worky, please click here)

Great moments in the history of public education

The social justice mob does not confine their activities to income redistribution but have branched out into education redistribution as well.

An Ann Arbor elementary school principal used a letter home to parents tonight to defend a field trip for black students as part of his school’s efforts to close the achievement gap between white and black students.

Dicken Elementary School Principal Mike Madison wrote the letter to parents following several days of controversy at the school after a field trip last week in which black students got to hear a rocket scientist.

“In hindsight, this field trip could have been approached and arranged in a better way," Madison wrote. "But as I reflect upon the look of excitement, enthusiasm and energy that I saw in these children’s eyes as they stood in the presence of a renowned African American rocket scientist in a very successful position, it gave the kids an opportunity to see this type of achievement is possible for even them.

“It was not a wasted venture for I know one day they might want to aspire to be the first astronaut or scientist standing on the Planet Mars.

“I also think it’s important that you know that I have talked to the children who did not go on the field trip, and I think they have a better understanding of the purpose of the AA Lunch Bunch now, as I hope you do. I’m sorry if any kids were upset by the field trip or my discussion afterwards with them, and I have let them know that.

“The intent of our field trip was not to segregate or exclude students as has been reported, but rather to address the societal issues, roadblocks and challenges that our African American children will face as they pursue a successful academic education here in our community.”

(italics, ours)

Much like our tax code which is progressive in nature, it appears Madison approaches education at his school in much the same manner by punishing the "privileged classes".

First of all, this idiot Madison should be fired. Yesterday.

Secondly, he does not apologize for this blatant discrimination whatsoever and in reality defends the indefensible. His intent is a moot point because he did indeed succeed in segregating and excluding students.

A handful of parents have complained to district administrators about the trip, the group and Madison. More than a half-dozen parents contacted AnnArbor.com to raise the complaints, but none would agree to talk on the record, citing concerns of reprisals to their children by Madison.

District spokeswoman Liz Margolis said after the trip was over, those who went returned to their fifth-grade class and were greeted by boos by those who didn’t go on the trip. Margolis said Madison, who is black, heard the boos, and went to talk to the class. She said he and the class had a “discussion” about race issues.

(italics, ours)

Because nothing says promoting race relations in school like intimidation and creating a divisive atmosphere in the class room.

And home-schooling gets a bad rap because of what?

H/T: The Silent Majority

... sneaky little Asians

For a nice little microcosm of the current state of inner city public education and the media, please check out KT's post on school violence in Philadelphia, here and please also check out some of the brilliant insight in the comments.

Why?

Well let’s see: it's cheaper and unlike the public education system in that neck of the woods, it actually works. That should effectively end the argument.



"Everything else (that) they could've shut down... they take this one away."

Another heart-warming public education success story

Because it’s effective… it must be banned. Because it's a result of empowerment... it must be stopped. The Teacher’s Union, the ACLU, People for the American Way, groups all that take up residence under the big tent of the “party of choice” have repeatedly sued to prevent the parents of mentally challenged children in Arizona the choice of a better education for those same children. B-Daddy has more, here at the The Liberator Today.

P.S. Again, while the learned punditry thinks the way back for the GOP is to "change their tone" with respect to the illegal immigration debate and other such window dressing and deck furniture rearranging, BwD and The Liberator Today are striking out on a different path - one that does have real meat and potatoes relevance to blacks and latinos.