The solution to US public schools is not corporate America

[xchrom]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jun/24/us-public-schools-budget-crisis


Thirty-five states have reduced education funding since 2008, according to a September 2012 report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Photograph: Pnc/Getty Images/Brand X

America's K-12 schools are being hollowed out, dismantled and converted to private management. It's the ultimate outsourcing of our children's futures.

In Philadelphia, one of America's largest school districts, layoff notices were recently delivered to 3,859 teachers, aides, administrators and other staff. In Chicago, 850 teachers and staff are being let go. Nationwide, a staggering 335,100 teachers and other local public school jobs have been lost from June 2009 to May 2013, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

It's easy to blame those layoffs on the sour economy, but that's only part of the story. The education "reform" movement, a code for privatizing schools, has been using the economic crisis to push its agenda. After the public schools have their budgets and staff cut, private management companies offer to come in and save the day.

Thirty-five states have reduced education funding since 2008, according to a September 2012 report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Seventeen states cut more than 10%. Under Governor Rick Perry, Texas reduced state funding to public education by a full 25% between 2002 and 2012.

[WovenGems]

1. Depends on who you ask.

A.L.E.C. members will say profits matter more than kids. The rest of us won't.

[MichiganVote]

2. Corporate America does not want solutions. They want public money.

And they'll use your youngsters to get it.