School Vouchers and the Loch Ness Monster

What do school vouchers and the Loch Ness monster have in common? Read this story to find out how a growing number of private religious schools in Louisiana will be using a textbook that claims the existence of the Loch Ness monster is evidence that evolution is myth.

Loch Ness monster cited by US schools as evidence that evolution is myth
by CLAIRE MCKIN
The Scotsman, Published on Monday 25 June 2012

THOUSANDS of American school pupils are to be taught that the Loch Ness monster is real – in an attempt by religious teachers to disprove Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.

Pupils attending privately-run Christian schools in the southern state of Louisiana will learn from textbooks next year, which claim Scotland’s most famous mythological beast is a living creature....(cont.)

Why is this important? Under a recently passed state law in Louisiana, "Thousands of children are to receive publicly-funded vouchers enabling them to attend the schools – which follow a strict fundamentalist curriculum". In America, private schools should be free to teach whatever they want to teach. But is this an appropriate use of public tax dollars? Most voters think not.

A national poll found that "The more people know about how voucher programs operate, the less they like them, and most importantly, Americans expectations of a voucher program sharply contrast with existing programs and proposals. For example, many Americans withdraw support if it (vouchers) means the public schools lose tax dollars. And the poll clearly shows that Americans overwhelmingly expect public accountability of any private or religious school receiving public dollars". It's hard to believe that the new Louisiana textbook would meet most Americans' criteria for public accountability.

Voters agree with the polling numbers. Over the past 30 years, vouchers have been on state ballots eight times, and every time the voters have rejected vouchers (including in Maryland in 1972).

Want five good reasons why school vouchers are a bad idea?

1. There's no link between vouchers and gains in student achievement. There's no conclusive evidence that vouchers improve the achievement of students who use them to attend private school. Nor is there any validity to claims that, by creating a "competitive marketplace" for students, vouchers force public schools to improve. In fact, the most dramatic improvements in student achievement have occurred in places where vouchers do not exist — such as Texas, North Carolina, Connecticut and Chicago. Instead, those states and communities focused on teacher quality and extra help for students who need it.

2. Vouchers undermine accountability for public funds. Private schools have almost complete autonomy with regard to how they operate: who they teach, what they teach, how they teach, how — if at all — they measure student achievement, how they manage their finances, and what they are required to disclose to parents and the public. The absence of public accountability for voucher funds has contributed to rampant fraud, waste and abuse in current voucher programs.

3. Vouchers do not reduce public education costs. Actually, they increase costs, by requiring taxpayers to fund two school systems, one public and one private.

4. Vouchers do not give parents real educational choice. Participating private schools may limit enrollment, and in many cases may maintain exclusive admissions policies and charge tuition and fees far above the amount provided by the voucher. Unlike public schools, private and religious schools can — and do — discriminate in admissions on the basis of prior academic achievement, standardized test scores, interviews with applicants and parents, gender, religion, income, special needs, and behavioral history.

5. The public disapproves of vouchers. (see above).

To understand more about why school vouchers are bad public policy, read more from NEA.

Montgomery school board bans nonprofits from distributing fliers at middle, high schools

Congratulations to the Board of Education for taking action to limit the distribution through schools of controversial flyers. The MCEA Rep Assembly approved a motion earlier this year calling on the Board of Education to do just that, based on concerns raised by so many MCEA members.  For details, see the article below in the Washington Post.

Montgomery school board bans nonprofits from distributing fliers at middle, high schools

Washington Post
Michael Alison Chandler

The Montgomery County Board of Education voted Monday to bar nonprofit groups from distributing fliers to middle and high school students, following protests over a leaflet sent home earlier this year that many students and educators considered anti-gay.

The new policy, approved on a 6 to 1 vote with one member absent, forbids the distribution of leaflets from any outside organization, except government agencies or PTAs. The fliers, which often advertise sports leagues or service projects, can still be posted in designated areas in middle and high schools, and can continue to be sent home with elementary students.... (cont.)

Eight Years Later, A Little Justice

This morning, the New York Times is reporting that a federal district court judge rules that firing every single public school teacher in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina was illegal.

The High Cost of Teacher Turnover

Congratulations to former MCEA President Mark Simon, on publication of a great op-ed column in yesterday's Washington Post. Entitled "Is teacher churn undermining real education reform in D.C.?", the column is a powerful critique of the so-called 'ed reform' campaign in the District of Columbia Public Schools that has led to 80% of newly hired teachers leaving within six years.

Mark has retired from teaching. He founded and runs the Tom Mooney Institute for Teacher and Union Leadership and is also an education policy analyst at the Economic Policy Institute. He blogs regularly on school reform in the District of Columbia Public Schools at realeducationreformdc.blogspot.com.

BOE passes FY2013 Budget

     Last night the Board of Education officially passed the budget for next school year.  The budget, which falls within the minimum amount of county funding allowed under state's Maintenance of Effort funding law was passed 4-1, with Laura Berthiaume (Dist. 2) casting the lone vote in opposition.  

     Board Member Michael Durso was absent and Board Member Phil Kauffman recused himself from the vote on the MCEA contract because his wife is a teacher and a member of the MCEA bargaining unit. Not only did Mr. Kauffman vote in favor of the other two contracts, he spoke up in support of all three agreements.  In fact, when Ms. Berthiume incorrectly asserted that MCPS employees were getting increases when federal employees were not, it was Mr. Kauffman who corrected this misrepresentation and pointed out that federal employees have actually gotten step increases for the past two years when MCPS employees have had their salaries frozen.

     With this contract, members eligible for a step increase as of July 1 will receive their 2012-13 step. In May 2013, the first make-up step (for the step missed in school year 10-11) will be instituted. Those at the top of the scale who do not receive a step, will receive a 2% increase in their base pay, also effective July 1 2012.

You can read about the proceedings here: http://www.somdnews.com/article/20120614/NEWS/706149748/1022/school-board-member-speaks-out-about-union-contracts-minutes-before&template=gazette