Jersey Jazzman: The Selling Out of Camden's Schools: Part I

Jersey Jazzman: The Selling Out of Camden's Schools: Part I:

The Selling Out of Camden's Schools: Part I

by Duke

Now that the state has officially taken control of Camden's schools, what changes are we likely to see? What's in store for the city's children and their schools?

The best place to find an answer may be right down the Delaware River. A charter school made famous in Chester, PA is setting up shop in Camden (all emphases in this post mine):

Officials on Thursday announced a newly approved public charter school in North Camden, scheduled to begin serving up to 300 elementary school students beginning as early as September.

Students at the new Camden Community Charter School — which will soon break ground at what has long been an empty lot near the intersection of 8th and 

The Selling Out of Camden's Schools, Part II

by Duke

This Monday, Governor Chris Christie and Education Commissioner Chris Cerf announced that they were going to disenfranchise the Camden Board of Education and take direct control of the city's schools. One of the most interesting aspects of the story was how little outcry there was from the region's Democratic politicians against a Republican governor taking over Camden's education system.

Here, for example, is Camden Mayor Dana Redd, a prominent member of the South Jersey Democratic machine, standing behind Christie - and next to Cerf - as he makes the announcement:

What's astonishing here is that Mayor Redd was elected on a promise to return local control to the City of Camden - a promise backed up by State Senate President Steve Sweeney. Here's a story from right after her election (all emphases in this post mine):

Redd said she will meet in the coming days with Gov.-elect Chris Christie, who