Voucher Decision Divides Blacks

AlterNet ^ | July 1, 2002 | Earl Ofari Hutchinson

[ArcLight]

The massive chasm among blacks on public education is yet another example of how mainstream black leaders often march to a far different tune than poor and working class blacks. These leaders are mostly liberal, middle-class business and professionals. Their kids are safely nestled in private schools and escape the ravages of bad public schools. Poor and working class blacks have no such luxury.

[ArcLight]

Hutchinson's the best writer on AlterNet, a leftist who remembers how to think...

[RAT Patrol]

Bump!

[chachacha]

Divides Blacks

yeh! Between the learned and unlearned.

Between the followers and the leaders.

Between the liberal and the conservative.

Between the African American and the American.

Between those that still consider themselves slaves and those that don't.

Between those looking for reparations and those that are not.

Welcome to the World Of Choices. You are now In contrtol instead of under control.

[LarryLied]

Supreme Court Decision On School Vouchers Harmful To Future Of Public School Education

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) said today the Supreme Court decision upholding the use of taxpayer-paid school vouchers to send children to private schools will eventually leave public schools systems in dire straits.

Kweisi Mfume, NAACP President & CEO, said: "The congress and state legislatures should act immediately to counteract the court's decision. The NAACP opposes the use of taxpayer dollars to pay for school vouchers because it will mean fewer dollars for public schools where most Americans are educated. School voucher programs siphon scarce tax money away from struggling public schools. Education must be a fundamental guarantee for each child.

"This decision does nothing but further undercut the concept of universal quality public education, which has provided a means of upward economic and social mobility to generations of working-class families. Siphoning off funds meant for public education will, dollar-for-dollar, make it that much more difficult for public school systems--already falling behind the curve--to keep pace in their desperate efforts to modernize and became more efficient.

"Vouchers are a bandage not a cure. They don't solve the problems or the needs of public schools or the students who attend them. It's a matter of robbing Peter to pay Paul. This 5-4 Supreme Court decision legitimizes a concept of Robin Hood in reverse and says, 'it's ok to take more money from poor school systems.' In the end, it treats the symptoms, but offers no cure.

"The real question is why are upscale suburban school districts not opening their doors to the families of poor black and Latino children who have vouchers. The issues of inherent bias, bigotry and access are crying out for attention. Those issues are essentially ignored and not addressed by providing a voucher. Instead, what we'll have are thousands of public school students holding a voucher in their hand -- all dressed up with no where to go."

In a resolution approved two years ago, the NAACP Board of Directors voted its unqualified support of public education and denounced the use of public funds to support non-public school "choices."

[gov_bean_ counter]

I used to work with a Black woman who was always complaining about the "haves" in the battle between the haves and have nots. She sends her 2 children to private schools, and between she and her husband have a 6 figure income. She either hasn't figured out or doesn't want to figure out she is now one of the "haves".

[Ron in Acreage]

With students able to relocate to a better school, this will allow for smaller class sizes at the failing schools. The friggin' liberals are constantly complaining that smaller class es will improve education. This will prove them wrong as usual. Class size is a lame excuse for lame teachers. My 2nd grader has 33 kids in her class at a private school and the ENTIRE class reads at least 2 grade levels above that. Her 5th grade cousin has the same reading books in his public school. This is in Palm Beach County. The budget was $14,000 per child in public schools and about $4,500 in my daughters school. It's NOT the money either. A democrats worst nightmare is an educated black population.

[mhking]

I've interviewed Dr. Hutchinson several times over the past ten years; I've always been impressed with the fact that he is as thoughtful as he is.

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

[Mike Darancette]

The massive chasm among blacks on public education is yet another example of how mainstream black leaders often march to a far different tune than poor and working class blacks.

Then why are they (mainstream black leaders) followed so slavishly?

How many Black elected officials are in favor of vouchers or other educational alternatives that go against the NEA and the DNC?

Are the mainstream black leaders afraid that if their constituents get better educations and have better jobs that they will be unmasked as being the real oppressors?

[SICSEMPERTYRANNUS]

A democrats worst nightmare is an educated black population.




Nailed it!

[Sonny M]

I can not for the sake of me understand, why the school system is more important then the kids. How is public education more important then the children getting an education? The only thing I can think of, is that with vouchers, the feeling might be that its harder to indoctrinate the young into political correctness since alot of catholic or protestant schools or home school communes are more realistic and better with what they teach.

[Kermit]

It's not 100% correct, but you can usually tell the liberal blacks from the conservative blacks. The Liberals are lighter in color. I'll get into trouble if I go into the explanation for this, but check this out on the cable news shout shows, when they have blacks debating one another.

[Prince Caspian]

Re #3 - Bravo! Well said.

[LarryLied]

Small class size equals more teachers equals more union dues is how I see it.

Kids up here in Jupiter Farms are being bused to Palm Beach Gardens schools. At least an hour an a half a day on the bus. Parents bought in the Farms to get away from those schools. I can't wait until the whole system collapses. It is surprising parents have the patience with it they do.

[copycat]

The NAACP opposes the use of taxpayer dollars to pay for school vouchers because it will mean fewer dollars for public schools where most Americans are educated.

Would someone care to explain to the mathematically-challenged Mr. Mfume how fewer kids balances out "fewer dollars."

[LarryLied]

Homosexuals have a excuse which makes no sense either. They say gay kids won't be safe in private schools:

GLSEN Decries Supreme Court Voucher Decision (Homosexuals do not want your kid in private school)

[hinckley buzzard]

Doesn't matter. The unspoken agenda is that shrinking urban public schools means a lot of unqualified affirmative action hires will be unemployed (and unemployable) in the competitive private sector.

Neither the NAACP nor any of the rest of these buffoons cares squat about Black children or any other children. It's just a jobs and power thing to them.

[RWCon]

These leaders are mostly liberal, middle-class business and professionals. Their kids are safely nestled in private schools and escape the ravages of bad public schools.

This is true of liberals and the democrat party without regard to color. None of these clymers send their kids to public schools, yet they continue to cater to the NEA while it does its best to ruin public schools.

[Sonny M]

I know somone who is an african american liberal, they actually support school vouchers in this case though, but they did have an interesting slant on why she thinks that white liberals opposed vouchers. The theory (she's black, you know this means its a racial issue) is that white liberals want to be seen as being good to black people and helping them, but they don't want poor black kids going to the same schools as their rich white kids. They want black people to stay in the city in public schools, while their white kids get a better education in private schools. Interesting theory that would explain alot, I don't personally believe it, I think its more about protecting the teachers and the system.

[lepton]

"The congress and state legislatures should act immediately to counteract the court's decision"...to agree that the Congress and State Legislatures can legally do this.

What a moron.