CHARTERS: NJ press–finally–smells rot, but proposes reforms that continue racist policy
Deseret Segura, 16, comforts her grandmother, Deseret Richardson, 83. The older woman was weeping her granddaughter would be transferred to a school far from home they shared because of the so-called “One Newark” enrollment plan. It was designed by Christie administration to ensure charter school enrollment growth. It continues today despite promises by Mayor Ras Baraka to end it. ( 2014 Photo by Bob Braun)
A recent series of articles in The Record of North Jersey described how the “flawed experiment” of charter schools cost the state millions in public dollars. While it is gratifying that—finally— a major mainstream news outlet in New Jersey noticed the corruption inherent in publicly-funded but privately-operated charter schools, this eureka moment not only comes late—about five years after it was originally exposed in these pages—but it also skips over the human casualties caused by the corrupt and racist spread of charter schools in New Jersey’s cities.
And, in the end, the series teaches the absolutely wrong lesson and promotes the absolutely wrong solution—that, if only the Legislature can change the laws governing the construction of privatized schools, everything will be fine. The series, far from calling for an end to the theft of public school funds to finance charter expansion, calls for so-called “reforms” that would make it easier for charters to expand—and further degrade public schools.
“Just introduce legislation,” The series quotes former Assembly Speaker Joseph Doria, a long-time champion of charter schools, someone frequently mentioned in the series. The articles also frequently cite the vies of wother charter proponents.
No. No. No. No. That’s wrong.
Wrong because, the basic, irrefutable truth about charter schools is this:
They take away money from public schools—especially in New Jersey’s largest cities where resources are scarce. They are replacing public schools with money that should be used to repair public schools.
They are replacing regular public schools and that was never the intent.
Following the series’ suggestions would mean more charter schools, less money for public schools, and a continuation–even enhancement–of the racism that propels public education policy in New Jersey’s cities.
The truth about privately operated charters and how they are built and operated with public funds has been glaringly obvious for years—but few in the CONTINUE READING: CHARTERS: NJ press–finally–smells rot, but proposes reforms that continue racist policy |