Capitalist crisis invades public education
Published Mar 18, 2010 9:02 PM
Capitalism is leaving tens of millions of workers without jobs. It is also abandoning millions of children to flounder in a chaotic education system, buffeted by school closings and teacher firings.
The capitalist government in Washington has sharply escalated its ongoing assault on the public education system. Using the budget crisis as leverage and seizing on the deteriorating quality of schools in impoverished districts, government officials have intensified the campaign for charter-school privatization, school closings, and the firing of teachers and staff across the country.
 March 4 nationwide actions to fight tuitionincreases and defend public education. " border="0" style="background-color: rgb(253, 253, 253); background-image: url(http://www.workers.org/ui/styles/images/arrows-loader.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "> Students in Rochester, N.Y., protest during March 4 nationwide actions to fight tuition increases and defend public education. WW photo: Lydia Bayoneta |
But the attack is not on all public education. Virtually all the target schools and school districts are in impoverished communities marginalized by capitalism, especially those that are heavily African-American and Latino/a.
The ax falls on Kansas City
The Kansas City, Mo., school board announced on March 10 that it will close 29 of its 61 public schools. About 700 jobs will be cut, including 285 teachers. The targeted school district is majority African-American.
This school district has long been drained by redistricting and the flight to private schools and charter schools. It has been sued for racial discrimination. Its school population has gone from 77,000 to 13,400. The drop in