Posted on 04/03/2008 9:48:44 AM PDT by GoldwaterInstitute
KJ Come Home! : Kevin Johnson turns on the heat for school choice
Matthew Ladner, Goldwater Institute Daily Email, April 03, 2008
Former Phoenix Suns point guard Kevin Johnson didn’t consider himself benched when he retired from the game. Johnson, an NBA all-star who in 1993 helped bring the Suns as close to an NBA championship as they’ve ever been, is now jumping through hoops to bring school choice to the nation’s kids.
Johnson grew up in Sacramento, California. After retirement he returned and founded a system of high-quality charter schools known as the St. Hope Academies. Johnson turned a dysfunctional Sacramento district school into St. Hope Charter School, which last year sent 73 percent of graduates to four-year colleges. KJ is now running for mayor of Sacramento.
Recently, Johnson appeared at a charter school rally at Harlem’s Mt. Olivet Baptist Church. Sponsored by Democrats for Education Reform, the rally drew 1,400 participants.
Johnson told the audience that education is key to breaking the cycle of poverty, saying “Education is that ticket, the passport that allows us to accomplish the American dream. But if we don’t have a good education system and high quality choices for young people, it is not going to happen.”
Asking his audience to stand, Johnson concluded his remarks with a flourish:
“We’ve got to stand up for our young people!
We have got to stand up for better teachers!
We have got to stand up for schools that work!
We’ve got to stand up to fight the status-quo!
We’ve got to stand up for school choice!”
A coffee can labeled “Kevin Johnson Phoenix Relocation Fund” is now in my office. Please drop by and make a contribution.
Dr. Matthew Ladner is vice president of research at the Goldwater Institute
I didn’t realize there were that many Democratics for school choice.
The activism sidebar is for protests, demonstrations and chapter news.
Kevin Johnson is a terrific guy and very genuine. He was a beloved athlete here in Arizona.
HERE HERE!
I LOVE this guy...and I LOVE SCHOOL CHOICE!
BRING IT KJ!
You are right about Kevin. I live close to Sacramento and had the opportunity to meet Kevin one time. He is developing his old neighborhood, Oak Park. I met him at the grand opening of “40 Acres” (from 40 acres & a mule).
One of his “kids” took me on a tour of the building: a Starbucks, book store, theater, Uncle Jed’s Cut Hut and office spaces.
He told me that he had known Kevin since he was in 8th grade and was now attending U. of AZ. Very polite and gracious young man.
He is much admired in Sacramento, also.
One important point though: KJ is a Democrat! Unless we just became a single-issue state in Arizona, why try to relocate a guy who isn’t an Arizonan just so he can support this single issue?
Does the Goldwater Institute primarily concern itself with education issues?
What’s really happening at his Sacramento Charter High?
Paper reports enrollment is less than 800 on a campus that use to be 2500+
Rumor has it that even that enrollment is suspect as they are bringing in outside of district students to keep it up.
They’ve been challenged on their helping students perform and instead have started with an already select group and then weed through them over time so that their scores stay up.
So, is it really working? or just mirrors? and does follow the money apply?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.