Is New Orleans education reform about New Orleans?

By Dr. Andre M. Perry
Contributing California Irvine cash advance Columnist

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg contributed $100,000 to the Alliance for Better Classrooms, which is the political action committee organized by Baton Rouge Businessman Lane Grisby. Grisby has poured thousands of dollars into the once obscure Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education election. The PAC is committed to tipping the state governing board towards reform and promoting current Recovery School District Superintendent John White, who is the former deputy under Bloomberg’s education chancellor Joel Klein, to the position.

While I appreciate the enthusiasm for reform and/or candidates expressed through financial giving, the national narrative around reform has clearly where is cash advance usa located trumped what local people think, want or vote for. The Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and others recently released glowing articles on New Orleans educational changes. I personally believe in New Orleans’ reform efforts. I helped manage four charter schools. I have a son in one of the original charter schools, and my daughter graduated from a selective-admissions charter. I’ve written extensively on reform, and I speak on the subject to local and national audiences. I’m invested in the most substantive ways and think New Orleans is developing a model that other cities can learn from.

However, when it comes cash advance newburgh indiana to elections, the idea that folks from as far as New York City can have profound influence on what New Orleanians vote on troubles me. Elections are supposed to be the time when individual candidates educate the public on their positions, experience and knowledge base. However, reform candidates are not compelling people to votes as much as they are marketing a national narrative. New Orleans’ abysmal voter turnout, which led to a runoff between a reform and traditional candidate, suggests their candidacies or educational strategies could not get families of public school students or other everyday New Orleanians to the polls.

Bloomberg’s funding wont drive missouri payday loan in fairview heights il a sophisticated debate on the facts around education or the role of a state school board member. His money will pump mudslinging, propaganda and more narrative. Campaign finance reform on the national stage has been an issue over the last 20 years, but the Bloomberg gift in another’s state education election raises serious concerns regarding fairness, equity and public trust. Bloomberg, unions, national non-profits and other elites are outright purchasing elections. Consequently, the public is consuming so much narrative that we are stifling educational opportunities, self-reliance and self-determination.

I want reform, but I want communities to decide for themselves how it should work. cash advance rock hill sc Particularly when talking about the education of black children, patriarchal education is not reform – no matter how promising it is. Politicos should communicate information well enough so that local residents can make decisions for themselves. Bloomberg isn’t running for BESE; his money shouldn’t either.

External funding can be good if it is designed to build capacity for people to do for themselves. Sadly, national players’ heavy investments in spin suggest that reformers don’t trust the response of the voting public.

This article was originally published in the October 31, 2011 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper