Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Rendell’s Education Hypocrisy
The omnipresent Governor of Pennsylvania has found time to stick his nose into a purely local school matter. He is proposing to fork over tax dollars from some discretionary fund he obviously controls to pay the cost of the International Baccalaureate program at Upper St. Clair schools.
Last time we checked, curriculum and budget decisions were the province of the local school board. If they want to shift to the Advanced Placement system for students seeking more rigor in their education or create their own rigorous program, how is it that the Governor seizes the opportunity to jump in and offer money to pay for the just abandoned program? Seems a little odd unless one looks for a possible political angle. Could it be pressure from the teachers’ union to save the program? Or is it simply a hope that maybe some disgruntled parents will vote for him this fall? Of course, it could all be for naught. In all likelihood many of the parents using the IB program were going to vote for him anyway.
But the stunning hypocrisy this gambit represents is the real story. Here is a Governor who staunchly opposes meaningful education choices through a voucher system offering money to a school district to provide choices to some parents. Why not go all the way and offer vouchers to all parents who can then send their children to schools that offer the educational programs best suited to their needs?
If the IB program were a conservative, free market, small government oriented program would he have proposed to fund it?
Last time we checked, curriculum and budget decisions were the province of the local school board. If they want to shift to the Advanced Placement system for students seeking more rigor in their education or create their own rigorous program, how is it that the Governor seizes the opportunity to jump in and offer money to pay for the just abandoned program? Seems a little odd unless one looks for a possible political angle. Could it be pressure from the teachers’ union to save the program? Or is it simply a hope that maybe some disgruntled parents will vote for him this fall? Of course, it could all be for naught. In all likelihood many of the parents using the IB program were going to vote for him anyway.
But the stunning hypocrisy this gambit represents is the real story. Here is a Governor who staunchly opposes meaningful education choices through a voucher system offering money to a school district to provide choices to some parents. Why not go all the way and offer vouchers to all parents who can then send their children to schools that offer the educational programs best suited to their needs?
If the IB program were a conservative, free market, small government oriented program would he have proposed to fund it?
Comments:
<< Home
I was at the annual meeting of the Pgh Area ACLU and talked to Vic W, their legal director who has kids in the USC district and who has already put in a legal action against the district.
He and I both wondered why Rendell would make that promise other than he is going to promise lots to everyone in the next months. That give-a-way to USC is a puzzle. The costs is $85 k (or so). (Please don't quote me on the amount.)
Well, they didn't request the money. And, most felt it was a 'stupid' move (from a non-IB educated guess).
Ta.
Post a Comment
He and I both wondered why Rendell would make that promise other than he is going to promise lots to everyone in the next months. That give-a-way to USC is a puzzle. The costs is $85 k (or so). (Please don't quote me on the amount.)
Well, they didn't request the money. And, most felt it was a 'stupid' move (from a non-IB educated guess).
Ta.
<< Home
