Comments on: Let’s Get Ready to Rummmmmble!

By: Matthewladner

Matthewladner — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:47:13 +0000

After the Jacksonville haymaker, one might most charitably interpret what Zelman and Carey had to say as the incoherent mumblings accompanying the administration of smelling salts. Zelman apparently equates bureaucratic activities in an agency in Columbus with “accountability.” Alas, if only there had been more paper shuffling in Columbus in the 1980s and 90s, all those illiterates cramming the jails in Ohio might have gone down a diferent path…

Carey said something to the effect that it is morally repugnant to take scholarships away from DC kids. Mmmkay, I agree, but why is not also repugnant not to give them the chance to go to private schools in the first place? Oh wait- it is.

By: Greg Forster

Greg Forster — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:27:14 +0000

Not to mention the provision of municipal services (fire, police, water and sewer, etc.) to churches? That’s an implicit tax subsidy to religion, you know.

By: Jay P. Greene

Jay P. Greene — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:10:42 +0000

Kevin Carey did say that just because church/state issues around vouchers had been settled by the US Supreme Court doesn’t mean that we couldn’t still have policy conserns about it. Fair enough.

So when is Kevin going to start opposing Pell Grants for attendance at religiously affiliated universities and federal tax credits for attendance at religiously affiliated pre-schools?

By: Malcolm Kirkpatrick

Malcolm Kirkpatrick — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:58:28 +0000

Kevin Carey also raised the First Amendment anti-establismnent argument, which the Supreme Court has already addressed (in favor of parent control). I cannot help but suspect Kevin Carey's motives in advancing discredited arguments which serve only to protect the NEA/AFT/AFSCM cartel's schools (the "public" schools). I suggest that advocates for parent control call the bluff of the cartel's defenders, and offer greater fiscal and performance accountability than the cartel's schools face, through Parent Performance Contracting. It's interesting that Zelman has gone on to a position with PBS. Here in Hawaii, a teacher union officer has moved between the legislature, the State Convention Center Authority, Public Broadcasting, and back to the union. The guy from BAEO, Gerard Robinson, also scored a few haymakers on Kevin Carey.

By: matthewladner

matthewladner — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:08:23 +0000

Thanks Shakes-feel free to fire that gun at will.

By: Shakes

Shakes — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 06:19:07 +0000

“I live in a state where 44% of 4th graders scored below basic in 4th grade reading in 2007 and even a little worse in 2005. Who, pray tell, was held “accountable” for that sorry performance? Was a single administrator or teacher fired? Not that I am aware of. Did the public elect a new Superintendent of Public Instruction? Nope- the incumbent was reelected in 2006.

Who was held accountable? Try “not a single human being at all.” Public school “accountability” in short, is a cruel joke with kids as the victims.”

That is good stuff. I intend to use it myself. I would like to thank you in advance.

By: Jay P. Greene

Jay P. Greene — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:13:43 +0000

KAPOWWWW!