Is Louisiana the future of Georgia’s education system?
If you want to see where Georgia conservatives want to take education in this state, look five hundred miles west to Louisiana, where Gov. Bobby Jindal is implementing a voucher program intended to move hundreds of thousands of students out of public schools and into privately run schools at taxpayer expense.
Louisiana officials have made it clear that they do not intend to impose teacher standards on those schools. Students attending voucher schools will be immune to the high-stakes testing that is required in the state’s public schools. In addition, the state will not sit in judgment of what the schools teach or how they teach it.
John White, Louisiana’s school superintendent, has told the press that it should be up to parents, not the state, to gauge whether private schools are delivering a quality education. “To me, it’s a moral outrage that the government would say, ‘We know what’s best for your child,’” White said. “Who are we to tell parents we know better?”
That “who are we to judge?” question is critically important. When fully implemented, the Louisiana program has the potential to shift well over a billion dollars a year in taxpayer money out of the public system into the hands of private for-profit and non-profit schools. Surely that gives state officials not just the right but the obligation to ensure that the money is well-spent and delivers quality education. But that’s counter to the philosophy driving the school voucher movement.
The program was signed into law by Jindal in April and takes effect immediately. The result has been an educational gold rush. For example, Reuters reports that New Living Word, the school offering the most open slots to voucher students, “has a top-ranked basketball team but no library. Students spend most of the day watching TVs in barebones classrooms. Each lesson consists of an instructional DVD that intersperses Biblical verses with subjects such chemistry or composition.”
Part of the first-grade "science" class offered by Accelerated Christian Education, a curriculum that the taxpayers of Louisiana will soon be supporting through their public tax dollars.
That’s not at all unusual. Almost all of the 125 private schools that have applied to accept voucher students in the 2012-13 school year are religious-based. Many teach creationism as science, some using curriculum provided through Accelerated Christian Education, an education ministry. Under its system, ACE boasts, “the school is not considered an arm of the church. It is the church in action.”
ACE’s first-grade curriculum, for example, teaches as science that God created the Earth in six days, that on Day One he divided the light from the darkness and on Day Six made man and other living creatures.
As another example of how intertwined church and state become, the Islamic School of Greater New Orleans initially indicated that it too would participate in the voucher program, but later withdrew after a political outcry. As state Rep. Valarie Hodges, R-Watson, explained, vouchers are supposed to finance “teaching the fundamentals of America’s Founding Fathers’ religion,” but “we need to ensure that it does not open the door to fund radical Islam schools…. I do not support using public funds for teaching Islam anywhere here in Louisiana.”
This is the type of program that voucher proponents in Georgia hope to emulate. Last week, for example, Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers acknowledged that if he had his way, such programs would have been implemented “yesterday,” specifically citing Louisiana as a model. But until full-blown implementation is possible, Rogers and others pursue half steps, such as the proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot this November giving the state the power to create charter schools over the protest of local districts.
It is also consistent with proposals from GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who advocates turning federal aid for schools into individual grants “so that eligible students can choose which school to attend and bring funding with them.” Interestingly, the Romney plan avoids the term “vouchers”, although that is clearly how such grants would function.
That’s in keeping with the stealthy, incremental process by which this goal is being pursued.
– Jay Bookman
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560 comments Add your comment
Brosephus™
July 18th, 2012
12:09 pm
HOT AIR
Do you think the teachers involved in the cheating scandal, corrupting our school system and personally benefiting from bonuses they received, should be fired?
If it’s proven, then fire them. I have no problem with that. Now answer this question. What teacher union operates in Georgia? And I’m not talking about pseudo-union stuff. I’m talking the full monty, including bargaining and all. That’s what unions do.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
July 18th, 2012
12:09 pm
HOT AIR
July 18th, 2012
11:59 am
[...] When I am wrong I admit it
Available evidence suggests otherwise.
Recon 0311 2533
July 18th, 2012
12:09 pm
Joe,
I understand why you enjoy Andrew Tanenbaum’s unbiased (tongue in cheek) website but don’t let it get you too many cerebral orgasms.
Joe Hussein Mama
July 18th, 2012
12:09 pm
H. AIR — “Why don’t you and Mama answer my question?”
Because, as I’ve said several times, I don’t *care* about your question.
All I care about is your factually incorrect assertion that there’s a teachers’ union in Georgia.
Union
July 18th, 2012
12:11 pm
jhm… the first time someone breaks out a book.. then they have lost an argument?
i wish my college profs had felt that way.. i hated having to cite my arguments.. but they always said you have to be prepared for the uninformed..
just curious.. why on earth would teachers in ga pay dues to group that does nothing for them?
Goldie
July 18th, 2012
12:11 pm
Yes, and let’s discuss W’s new book about “The 4% Solution” because we all know what a great mind he had for our economy… I’m just wondering why he kept those great economic secrets all to himself for 8 years!
Jefferson
July 18th, 2012
12:12 pm
Release the ACLU on them. Let the courts rule.
godless heathen
July 18th, 2012
12:13 pm
Tall – This is America….if you don’t like the Fulton county School System, you can always, at your own expense, enroll your children in private school. IOW – don’t let the door hit ya…..yada, yada, yada………………..
Notice that “get involved”, “work to improve” or “try to change” are not in the libbie mantra, just “If you don’t like it, get the hell out.”
Joe Hussein Mama
July 18th, 2012
12:13 pm
H. AIR — “You can say I implied something, since you are the thought police, but I know what I said.”
I’m sure you know what you meant, but what you said and what you’re arguing are two different things.
“I never implied anything you just thought I did because you WANTED to.”
Good thing I can link back to what you actually said in order to keep you honest.
http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2012/07/18/is-louisiana-the-future-of-georgias-education-system/?cp=5#comment-1016670
“Not going to keep going over this with you.”
Wish you’d said that a couple of hours ago, Cowboy. (laughing)
“When I am wrong I admit it”
Clearly you’re speaking untruths again.
“– you evidently don’t.”
I’d have to be wrong first.
ld
July 18th, 2012
12:13 pm
ANOTHER QUESTION FOR TEACHERS:
Granted, my opinion is from the outside looking in, but the three major problems w/ schools now at least SEEMS to be
(1) discipline and self-discipline: teachers can be accused of something and have their careers destroyed so easily many students flaunt their “authority”, so teaching children self-discipline with regard to anything–especially learning–is increasingly difficult, and parents are too “busy” to be involved or to anti-authority to be helpful;
(2) too many children are in school as their “babysitter”; they perceive that the main reason they are there is because they are legally required to be because the law and their parents say they must.
(3) too many students see school more as a social opportunity rather than an educational opportunity. Far too many tudents do not seem to realize that THEIR OWN actions (or failure to act/study) K-12 –especially 9-12–will be the deciding factor in their FUTURE OPTIONS.
TEACHERS: what do YOU think are the major impediments to quality education via public schools?
Jay
July 18th, 2012
12:14 pm
Sheets
n
July 18th, 2012
12:14 pm
90% of private colleges are just elaborate scams to harvest taxpayer money via student loans.
Now the profiteers and religious zealots are moving into K-12 via vouchers and for-profit privatized schools.
There will soon be another bubble bursting, and we the taxpayers must absorb billions in loan losses, and pay billions to send students to the Christian equivalent of “madrasas,” where they will get religious indoctrination instead of a productive, wide-ranging education and instruction in critical thinking; and we the taxpayers will be paying the salaries and operating expenses of interstate “educational industry” corporations, many of whom have political and financial connections to conservative legislators.
Public education has been the engine driving our prosperity. Now these nitwits are out to destroy it.
HOT AIR
July 18th, 2012
12:14 pm
Brosephus – The GFT is a member of the AFLCIO which is a union. Is that not true? Even though they do not have collective bargaining power, which I acknowledged as true when it came up by either you or mama, the AFLCIO still renders other services to them – such as hiring lawyers to defend the teachers fired in the cheating scandal. You and Mama never answered my question. Do you agree that the teachers found guilty in the cheating scandal should be fired? Yes or NO will suffice. I am pretty sure you will not answer this question but you should. Unless you answer this question – which is the reason for my bringing up labor union involvement in state affairs, by hiring lawyers to block their firing – I not going to keep going back over this. The cheating teachers should be humiliated for cheating our children and they should admit their guilt, take their punishment and find a job outside of teaching. They don’t belong in our public school system.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
July 18th, 2012
12:15 pm
Romney birther SHEETS!
DebbieDoRight - The Only Thing Wrong With Capitalism is Capitalists...
July 18th, 2012
12:15 pm
Available evidence suggests otherwise.
LOL Too funny!!
“The Death Penalty For PSU Should Only Be The Tip Of The Iceberg”.
RB from Gwinnett
July 18th, 2012
12:16 pm
Debbie, every dollar paid in dues by any government employee is a tax dollar paid by a private sector employee. Every last dollar, Debbie.
Did you have a lucid point to make?
Brosephus™
July 18th, 2012
12:16 pm
Are federal and state governments forcing employees to work in unsafe conditions or employing unfair work rules on them to make unions necessary? If not, why do they exist if not to enrich the members at the expense of taxpayers?
Here’s what real union representation does for workers and taxpayers.
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/highlights/2011/hist.xml
This agreement incorporates a final set of articles into one complete agreement balancing a number of workplace issues important to both managers and employees. The articles of this comprehensive agreement are designed to improve transparency, increase employee morale and improve employee performance.
“As we move forward, I am committed to build on the stability provided by this agreement,” said Bersin, “and will continue to promote CBP policies and processes that support the further growth and development of our highly dedicated, skilled and professional employees who secure our great country, protect it from the threat of terrorism, and promote its economic competitiveness and prosperity.”
Here’s a link to the document that was signed.
http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/careers/benefits_employees/bargaining_agreement.ctt/bargaining_agreement.pdf
Joe Hussein Mama
July 18th, 2012
12:17 pm
Union — “jhm… the first time someone breaks out a book.. then they have lost an argument? ”
Dictionary. If you have to fall back onto dictionary definitions, then you’ve already lost.
“i wish my college profs had felt that way.. i hated having to cite my arguments.. but they always said you have to be prepared for the uninformed..”
I’m sure your college profs were just as unimpressed by your quoting of Webster’s as I am.
“just curious.. why on earth would teachers in ga pay dues to group that does nothing for them?”
Guess you’d have to ask them, now wouldn’t you?
Joe Hussein Mama
July 18th, 2012
12:18 pm
H. AIR — “You and Mama never answered my question.”
And I don’t plan to, because, as I keep telling you, I don’t care about your question.
Brosephus™
July 18th, 2012
12:20 pm
HOT AIR
Read the first post on this page. I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION. Now answer mine!!! How does supplying lawyers automatically equate to union representation and/or membership? Show me a union that represents workers without actually bargaining for them. That’s what unions do. They Bargain. The AMA can and probably does hire lawyers to represent it’s members. I’m sure any trade organization offers similar protection for it’s members. You still haven’t shown where teachers in Georgia have unions. They have associations, but not unions. And there is a difference between the two.
G.I. Joe
July 18th, 2012
12:20 pm
Jay – Since the scores in the public school system are fraudulent, due to the cheating administrators and teachers, how can we use them to show progress? There is no telling how many years this has been going on. Do you think the cheating administrators and teachers should b fired? What do you think of the AFLCIO hiring lawyers to defend cheating teachers that have been fired?
Recon 0311 2533
July 18th, 2012
12:21 pm
“I’m just wondering why he kept those great economic secrets all to himself for 8 years!”
WE certainly recovered much faster and much better after the recession Bush inherited from Clinton. Under Obama, not so much as we’ve really never recovered from the recession caused by politicians, activists and unscrupulous individuals in the financial sector.
Joe Hussein Mama
July 18th, 2012
12:23 pm
Recon — “we’ve really never recovered from the recession caused by politicians, activists and unscrupulous individuals in the financial sector.”
I’m pretty sure that it was just unscrupulous individuals, but go on believing whatever you want.
Union
July 18th, 2012
12:26 pm
jhm.. ohh.. in your world there are only “certain” books to use.. gotcha..
thats ok.. not really sure how impressed anyone here is with your “not a union” .. arguments either.. but thats what we do here.. we agree to disagree then all go have a beer later :p
HOT AIR
July 18th, 2012
12:33 pm
Brosephus – Thanks for the reply. I just read your answer. We agree on something -common ground? I already agreed that the GFT has no bargaining power through the AFLCIO. I said that way back there. The AFLCIO is paying for their lawyers and that money comes from dues paying members. Due to state law the GTF can be a member of the AFLCIO but cannot bargain collectively. I never said anything to contradict this fact. By the way Mama just answered my question too by saying Mama wasn’t interested in answering my question. Does that imply (chuckle) anything to me? If I was the thought police it would but to me it implies that Mama doesn’t want to answer – that’s all. Time out for now.
Joe Hussein Mama
July 18th, 2012
12:35 pm
Union — “jhm.. ohh.. in your world there are only “certain” books to use.. gotcha..”
No, you don’t “got” me.
IMO, if you have to back up your argument to the point that you feel you have to use a dictionary definition to buttress it, then you’ve pretty much already lost since you didn’t have a handle on the argument in the first place.
“thats ok.. not really sure how impressed anyone here is with your “not a union” .. arguments either..”
Given the comments, I’d say they’re much more impressed than they are with HOT AIR’s backpedaling and equivocation.
Oblama
July 18th, 2012
12:36 pm
Come on Mama – you have an opinion – HOT AIR answered your question. HOT AIR deserves something besides your cop out.
Joe Hussein Mama
July 18th, 2012
12:38 pm
HOT AIR — “By the way Mama just answered my question too by saying Mama wasn’t interested in answering my question.”
I think I’ve answered your question that way four or five times now over the last couple of hours. Clearly, you need to see a physician and get checked out for Attention Deficit Disorder.
“Does that imply (chuckle) anything to me? If I was the thought police it would”
Think what you want. I was quite clear in saying from the outset that I didn’t care about your question and that you were wrong on your assertion.
“but to me it implies that Mama doesn’t want to answer – that’s all.”
I *did* answer you. My answer was, several times, that I simply don’t *care.* Don’t see why that’s so hard for you to grasp.
Brosephus™
July 18th, 2012
12:38 pm
I already agreed that the GFT has no bargaining power through the AFLCIO.
So, in essence, there are no teacher unions in Georgia, correct?
G.I. Joe
July 18th, 2012
12:40 pm
Oblama – Leave Mama alone to lick Mama’s wounds. If Mama doesn’t want to answer then that is Mama’s right. Backed in to a corner we often grow quiet.
G.I. Joe
July 18th, 2012
12:45 pm
Prosephus & Mama – HOT AIR said the AFLCIO is in Georgia and the GFT is a dues paying member. That’s an answer. Mama saying you don’t want to answer is a non answer – not an answer. But I respect your silence. Going to pick the fleas off of my pet possum “W”. Good day.
Adam
July 18th, 2012
12:45 pm
A question: Where did you find this info?
Adam
July 18th, 2012
12:46 pm
Jay: And there goes the whole concept of public schools.
And THAT’S the plan, Jay. SHHHHH!
Gerbil Wheel
July 18th, 2012
12:47 pm
It sounds like a bunch of bull and so embarrasing for the south, again. we’ze jus keeps on keepin on ‘comin mo ignant as eech day past us on by- “has a top-ranked basketball team but no library. Students spend most of the day watching TVs in barebones classrooms”
Please don’t let Brown vs Board of Education be in vain (after all these years).
This is ridiculous and shouldn’t even be given life to be entertained.
Adam
July 18th, 2012
12:48 pm
Butch: New Labor Law in Venezuela Shortens Workweek and Increases Social Benefits
DAMN that Chavez!
Around the South | The Southerner Journal
July 18th, 2012
12:49 pm
[...] Is Louisiana the Future of Georgia’s Education System? [...]
Oblama
July 18th, 2012
12:49 pm
Before you start I did not bring up this union stuff. HOT AIR did. Still I do have a problem with the AFLCIO involving itself in the cheating teacher’s firing. That’s a state matter and if the AFLCIO is not a teachers union in Georgia then why are they involved?
Adam
July 18th, 2012
12:49 pm
Recon: Jay, must know that the Dem’s are backing away a bit from Bain because their attacks haven’t been moving the needle in Obama’s favor not unlike the other attacks that failed.
Sorry but no. That discussion is still alive and well everywhere else I’ve been on the internet today.
Adam
July 18th, 2012
12:50 pm
Don’t Tread: Maybe the public education system will clean up its act when they see their money supply threatened
THEY HAVE ALREADY THREATENED THE MONEY SUPPLY countless times, douche!
Adam
July 18th, 2012
12:51 pm
Don’t Tread: Yeah, the public schools are all about “indoctrination” – forcing liberal crap on impressionable kids. It’s been going on for decades.
Where’s your proof? I bet you think the media is all “liberal” too….
Illegal Immigrant
July 18th, 2012
12:53 pm
Teachers should not be cheating our students. That is just wrong. In my country that happens too, payoffs and kickbacks are part of business.
Oblama
July 18th, 2012
12:57 pm
Illegal immigrant – It is probably best that you leave the cheating teachers subject alone. We know it’s wrong and it is being dealt with. I wouldn’t stay on here to long as the government may be tracing you as we speak. Good luck to you my friend.
Illegal Alien
July 18th, 2012
12:59 pm
Oblama – You do know that I am for the reelection of Obama so that I can remain in this country? You are not for Obama being reelected yet you call me friend?
Oblama
July 18th, 2012
1:03 pm
Illegal Alien – In this country you have a right to be for who you want and we can still be friends. I do not think Obama is best for the economy…… he is getting us more and more in to debt and that threatens our jobs and our future. Go now. Big Brother is watching.
Joe Hussein Mama
July 18th, 2012
1:03 pm
GI JOE — ” Leave Mama alone to lick Mama’s wounds. If Mama doesn’t want to answer then that is Mama’s right. Backed in to a corner we often grow quiet.”
Considering that I never engaged on that question, I certainly haven’t been backed into a corner on that point.
I simply don’t *care* about HOT AIR’s question. The only point I engaged him/her on was his/her assertion that there is a teachers’ union in Georgia. There’s not.
Joe Hussein Mama
July 18th, 2012
1:06 pm
Oblama — “Come on Mama – you have an opinion”
No, I really don’t. And I have no kids, so I have no dog in this hunt.
“HOT AIR answered your question.”
Not at all.
“HOT AIR deserves something besides your cop out.”
Then HOT AIR can go get himself or herself an ice cream cone. I’m not copping out; I simply don’t care about this issue beyond HOT AIR’s demonstrable misstatement.
Joe Hussein Mama
July 18th, 2012
1:07 pm
G. I. JOE — “Mama saying you don’t want to answer is a non answer – not an answer.”
I didn’t say that I didn’t want to answer. I clearly said that I didn’t *care.*
Pay attention.
Brosephus™
July 18th, 2012
1:07 pm
G.I. Joe
That answer is a non-answer. It’s a simple yes or no answer to whether teachers in Georgia have a union. Trying to contort as you did is nothing but avoiding answering the truth that there are no teacher unions. Instead, you use non-answers to avoid admitting the truth. Such is the case for limited thinkers.
TGT
July 18th, 2012
1:16 pm
…my two daughters attended Atlanta public schools kindergarten through 12th grade and today are graduates of two of the finest colleges in the country and have good jobs in their fields.
Any other questions?
My four children are 10, 8, 6 and 3 years old, so they are too young to have graduated from anything. They have yet to attend a single day of public school and most likely never will. They are learning science (along with all of their other subjects) from a Christian (Creationist Christian at that) worldview. And just like many that have gone before them (many that I know personally), they too will graduate from “fine” colleges/universities holding onto their faith–completely denying Darwinian Evolution–and will get good jobs (if the libs haven’t destroyed the economy) and operate just fine in ANY field that they choose: engineering, medicine, business, etc.
Any other questions?
get educated
July 18th, 2012
1:41 pm
Jsy’s done his research and knows what he’s talking about. For more: http://www.votesmartgeorgia.com
Rockerbabe
July 18th, 2012
3:59 pm
A real race to the bottom.. .shame on Governor Jindal for this wreck that is becoming Louisana. I guess I will not be vacationing there this year or even the next. I fee real sorry for the kids when it comes time to go to college. . .and I bet Tulane isn’t all that happy with what is going on either.
Rockerbabe
July 18th, 2012
4:09 pm
Misty Fayd: and, just what is “liberal nonsense”? Or that is code for anything you don’t understand or agree with, even if you don’t know what it is. Just remember, no one and I mean no one wants a stupid mother, not even your kids.
Bernie
July 18th, 2012
5:27 pm
Louisiana is a step up…Georgia and its political leadership is striving for it to be more
like MISSISSIPPI.
teacher
July 19th, 2012
10:24 am
As a current teacher in a public school, I know that I should be against vouchers, but I do believe that if I could afford to send my own children to private school, I would. If vouchers were available then that would make it more attainable. Are all private schools bad? No just as all public schools are not bad. I was born in Louisiana and still have a lot of family currently enrolled in schools there. In the parish where they live, private schools are a whole lot better than the public school system. My family chooses to send their kids to private schools because of that fact and they should have the benefits as tax payers of receiving funding for their child at the school of their choice. I believe the same is true for Georgia.
I think it’s funny how the article stresses so much on the fact that Christian schools incorporate the religion into the content areas. As long as the subjects are getting taught, why should you care if they incorporate their religious beliefs as well? No one asks the Christians approval for funding abortions in the US, but yet it’s such a big deal to give money to schools that talk about Christ!!!
hmmmmm
July 19th, 2012
11:09 am
It makes perfect sense to me that to each child there should be an education ‘allowance’ attached and the parent should be the one that decides where the allowance is spent, even if it is at an Islamic school. Government should not be deciding what your child should be exposed to because they tend to object to any moral perspective and promote ‘tolerance’ of all that Christians would find objectionable. If you like the objectionable stuff, stay in public school. If you prefer a Christian perspective, use your allowance to go private. I think it would increase competition in the field of education and that would be of much greater advantage to the kids. Typically speaking, Catholic schools have had much better results and they spend about ½ per child of what is spent in public schools. So I say, ‘Let the competition begin!!!’
Chuck Clausen
July 19th, 2012
8:01 pm
If our Country is to remain strong we need to be careful not to do anything to weaken public education. I always considered myself lucky to have received my education in grades 1-10 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where we had superb public education – that base allowed me to be competive both in undergraduate & graduate school. My mom was a teacher and My was Dad was a teacher/coach/administrator. Feeling educated gives you confidence even when you feel a little insecure in a new environment
Eric
July 19th, 2012
9:19 pm
@Jay 7:39am, I’m in complete agreement with you. And since Georgia has been making progress via the public schools, why all the hysteria to suddenly switch to private/for profit schools?
jaypat
July 20th, 2012
1:17 am
In Louisiana in the 1930’s there was a man named Huey P.Long who became governor of the state and later went on to become a US Senator. He was assassinated in the mid-1930’s under somwwhat murky circumstances, but his main appeal to the public as that he was the champion of the little guy against the big guys, in this case, against the big utility companies.
Now in Georgia the ratepayers are paying for a nuclear plant–in advance, so as to save financing costs-for a monopoly to provide power to them.
Meanwhile, in other parts of the state, customers own and operate their own electric utilities, on a non-profit basis, and everything’s hunky-dory.
Maybe ol’Huey was right after all. The Establishment hated him; even FDR wished him gone, being the good patrician he was.
The only people who loved him was the people. We need more like him.
JWA77
July 20th, 2012
9:28 am
East Lake, Police power is derived from the 10th Amendment which reserves power to states which happen to be inherent rights. These inherent rights are for the protection of the citizen. Let’s put it this way. If you drive, we have police out there to to protect you and everyone else from becoming wreckless. So even if you don’t directly call the PD or FD, you are still indirectly using there services in protection.
Dr. EB
July 25th, 2012
8:03 am
I know something about the Louisiana and Georgia school systems. Each state has some good public schools, but I have long come to this conclusion. Overall Georgia public schools are certainly not great (an understatement in too many cases). Louisiana public schools (overall) are worse-quite worse-than Georgia’s. I expect the moves by Piyush Jindal, who graduates from Baton Rouge Magnet High School, to make things worse than they are now.