Read Eric Cantor’s ‘major’ education speech
Rep. Eric Cantor (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor delivered what his office called a major policy speech about education reform at Freire Charter School in Philadelphia.
He spoke about what he said was the importance of expanding charter schools (though he didn’t mention that when judged by standardized test scores — the metric school reformers love to use — they don’t do any better than traditional public schools). He also spoke about growing school voucher programs, like the one in Louisiana (though he didn’t mention that many students in that program are using public funds to attend private Christian schools that teach that dinosaurs co-existed with humans and that there is no accountability system in place at many voucher schools).
Cantor, who, I remind you, was speaking in Philadelphia, said not a single word in his speech about the “grim new normal” in the public school system in Philadelphia, caused by the state’s failure to adequately fund the district. After months of financial chaos in which a “doomsday budget” was passed and 24 schools were closed, students returned to classes this month having to deal with the fallout from more than 3,800 personnel and other cuts.The result: Most district schools have no dedicated guidance counselor or nurse. Assistant principals are in short supply. Classes are overcrowded, sports and other programs have been cut back, and that’s not the half of it.
Here’s what Cantor did say in his remarks as prepared for delivery, provided by his congressional office.
Thank You, Tyrone, for that kind introduction. What an amazing young man. Thank