Mastodawn

Texas Observer Feb 7, 2023

(Edit: Typo)

Jacobay Feb 7, 2023

@TexasObserver @josephinelee this is very dangerous. As someone who works in finance, a corporations obligation is above else return on investment for shareholders. Their profits will be put ahead of a good education, no question. People with the most invested in the school will be the only ones with legitimate input. And geographically parents of lower incomes will be stuck with what is nearby, or homeschooling.

jmjm Feb 7, 2023

@jakeupps @TexasObserver @josephinelee well shit, the emphasis on short-term shareholder return over long-term growth is toxic for businesses, too.

But thanks to the infamous Dodge v Ford decision, it's the rule of the freakin' land.

Jeff Feb 7, 2023

@TexasObserver @josephinelee no federal taxes should be used

@TexasObserver @josephinelee My autistic son attended a TX charter school years ago and they could not accommodate him at all. 5th grade they had him hang out all day in the detention room w/ the guard so he'd have a 'quiet place' to do his school work on the computer. Part of 6th grade they had him sit in a large storage room w/ rotating teachers that he did not get along w/ b/c they were not as bright as him in his favorite STEM classes (this was supposed to be a STEM charter!).

@TexasObserver @josephinelee They were going to expel him b/c the teachers antagonized him to be aggressive so they could come up w/ an excuse. We took them to mediation & they settled - b/c they were violating special ed law.

Claudius Link Feb 7, 2023

@caffeneko @TexasObserver @josephinelee
🤬
I'm getting whiplash from violently shaking my head

Texas Observer Feb 7, 2023

@caffeneko @josephinelee What a horrible experience, he deserves so much more than this and so do others like him. I hope he's doing much better now!—Kit

@TexasObserver @josephinelee we went back to public school and the middle school (as opposed to his elementary school) ACTUALLY gave him autism services (WHOLE other ball of wax AISD...) - he got into higher level math and digital arts classes - then went to HS RRISD got great service and took tons of AP STEM classes. Now he's going to college (out of state) for Comp Sci.

Josephine Lee Feb 7, 2023

@caffeneko @TexasObserver That is heartbreaking and I hear so many common experiences from parents in charter schools. There is NO accountability!

@josephinelee @caffeneko @TexasObserver If we can't head off this boondoggle altogether, at least means-test it. Rich kids should be able to attend PUBLIC schools for free just like the poor and middle-class kids, but the state shouldn't be funding rich families' decisions to attend elite private schools. IMHO the state shouldn't be funding private schools at all but at a minimum shouldn't subsidize the rich even more than it already does.

@josephinelee @caffeneko @TexasObserver The entire (false) narrative about vouchers USED to be that it's a way to let less-wealthy kids access private schools. Never mind kids in town where there IS no private school available, just let the state bleed off public funds that should be supporting small-town schools... what could go wrong? 🤬

adamrice Feb 7, 2023

@dkbgeek @josephinelee @caffeneko @TexasObserver What if the point of school vouchers is A) to destroy public education, and B) to reward rich people for being rich?

@adamrice @josephinelee @caffeneko @TexasObserver It's certainly the ACTUAL point of school vouchers, and as I said I oppose the entire idea but if we can't stop vouchers altogether we at least need to hold them to their lies about how the intent is to offer less-wealthy kids "choice" rather than to subsidize the wealthy ones already attending private schools. Half a loaf is better than none.

Texas Observer Feb 7, 2023

@adamrice @dkbgeek @josephinelee @caffeneko What if, indeed! 🧐

@TexasObserver @adamrice @dkbgeek @josephinelee Like so many things GOP it's a grift to starve the system and funnel vulnerable ppl into private or religious 'solutions'

@caffeneko @TexasObserver @adamrice @josephinelee As soon as the GQP feel they've damaged the public education system enough to be beyond repair, they'll switch to "Vouchers are welfare/socialism" and cut off funding, so that only the rich are educated.

@dkbgeek @TexasObserver @adamrice @josephinelee EXACTLY.

Aviva Gary Feb 7, 2023

@TexasObserver @josephinelee Although sad, that is the point. They don't want an educated populous.

Natty Bumppo Feb 7, 2023

@TexasObserver @josephinelee This has already happened in Iowa. This is the ALEC/GOP blueprint.

katie Feb 8, 2023

@TexasObserver @josephinelee I quit teaching. It was heartbreaking driving by brand new shiny charter schools that segregate by race and ability level to go to my school where there was so little money. One of my Mormon colleagues was offered a job at a charter and told she'd get a better spot in heaven if she took it. There's no separation of church and state.
#arizona #charters #TXlege #Disability #vouchers #politics #news #publiceducation

Texas Observer Feb 8, 2023

@rizzo @josephinelee It really is heartbreaking how many talented people are being driven out of education because it's simply unbearable to be there.

(BTW as an aside, I love Jane Goodall, great quotation in your bio—Kit)

@rizzo @TexasObserver @josephinelee

Enema Cowboy Feb 8, 2023

Charter schools are also running ads extolling charter schools in the DFW market.

katie Feb 8, 2023

@Enema_Cowboy @TexasObserver @josephinelee I can't tell you the number of flyers I've gotten in the mail that show happy kids learning at all the zillions of charters near me. It's a racket.