Public Money Finds Back Door to Private Schools

[d_r]

Source: NY Times

When the Georgia legislature passed a private school scholarship program in 2008, lawmakers promoted it as a way to give poor children the same education choices as the wealthy.

The program would be supported by donations to nonprofit scholarship groups, and Georgians who contributed would receive dollar-for-dollar tax credits, up to $2,500 a couple. The intent was that money otherwise due to the Georgia treasury — about $50 million a year — would be used instead to help needy students escape struggling public schools.

That was the idea, at least. But parents meeting at Gwinnett Christian Academy got a completely different story last year.

“A very small percentage of that money will be set aside for a needs-based scholarship fund,” Wyatt Bozeman, an administrator at the school near Atlanta, said during an informational session. “The rest of the money will be channeled to the family that raised it.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/22/education/scholarship-funds-meant-for-needy-benefit-private-schools.html?ref=todayspaper

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This is an in-depth article examining the shell-game that is moving public money out of public schools and funding private schools - and religious-based - education.

[wilt the stilt]

1. I live in Gwinnett county

and I am shocked(sarcasm). If anyone here didn't realize this was happening is a fool. I can't wait to leave this state for good. After finishing the article it even makes me madder. It is so underhanded and dishonest.

[fasttense]

2. My, my how conniving of stupid rich Christians.

First stupid rich Christians send their kids to schools where the AntiChrist is considered a part of economics and evolution is heresy. Their children are graduating fat, dumb and happy.

Then they get their rich conservative legislature friends to pass ALEC laws that give a 1 for 1 tax deduction for every dollar they donate to the scholarship fund. Then they lie and cheat on applications in order to get the scholarships in the hands of their own pampered children, ensuring that those tax dollars will never go to public schools or needy children. Seems Wall Street Bankster's morals have now come to Christian high schools.

What a scam. There is a reason why people here on DU call the other party RepubliCONS. There's a con in everything they do.

[secondwind]

3. This is serious stuff, guys... Look up American Federation for Children, and check out

the names of the two people in charge... I think one is Betsy DeVos,or something like that... Her dad is a rabid rightwing Christian nutjob. The other name is a fella who is nothing more than a 'corporatist', his name is on so many corporations, on the Board or in another capacity.

They (the Christian right) are funneling taxpayer dollars to their schools, no question about it.

Oh, and if your kid comes home and says he/she has been invited to the Best Friends Club? It's a Christian group that is trying to indoctrinate your kid after school. Now they have local churches "adopting" a school, and doing their dirty deed.

I cannot stand the lot of them....

[wilt the stilt]

4. DeVos are amway

Last edited Tue May 22, 2012, 08:13 AM - Edit history (1)

and the brother is Eric Prince of Blackwater fame.

[cap]

6. Brother is Erik prince of black water fame

The circle is complete. Growing up ignoramuses for the private war machine. Ready to fight a Christian vs Muslim war in small African countries

[cap]

7. Oh yeah, and all the while teaching that government is evil

Cept for the big dogs

[Dustlawyer]

10. Can you say, "indoctrination!"

[drm604]

20. Is this them?

http://www.federationforchildren.org

Guess who's name is right near the top: Cory Booker. Right below Bobby Jindal and Chris Christie.

[Skidmore]

5. Instead of hammering on the public vs. private school funding issue, the discussion perhaps should

shift to the parochialization of schools. Our schools are on their way to becoming Christian madresas. Looking for a future army to preserve the faith and keep the world at war.

[Angry Dragon]

8. Follow the money

[SHRED]

9. Sinful

[jwirr]

11. This should not surprise us. Many private schools were started in the aftermath of the civil rights

movement in order to avoid segregation and to starve the public schools of funding. Would be really interesting to do a census of private schools to see how many minority students are going to them.

[EFerrari]

12. For a little while there, there was a black middle class that was fine with that.

Like the president, for example. But I think I read that a large percentage of those people lost most of their wealth in the crash. Same with middle class Latino families.

So, those private schools are going to be whiter for a while.

[KamaAina]

17. President Obama attended Punahou on scholarship

there is no way his single working mom could have paid the hefty tuition.

I once lived one short block from Punahou. It dates back to the monarchic era and is wealthy beyond the wildest dreams of even Andover and the like. So, like the Ivy League schools that many of its graduates attend, Punahou is able to offer generous scholarships to deserving students like "Barry" Obama.

[EFerrari]

18. Yes, that is public record. n/t

[KamaAina]

21. Oh, you meant Malia and Sasha.

Sorry about that.

Security concerns preclude the First Daughters from attending DC public schools (even if Mom and Dad wanted them to). Sidwell Friends has dealt with Secret Service in several prior administrations.

[bluestateguy]

13. I'm all for private schools

and parents who wish to send their child to such schools should be welcome to find a way to pay for it themselves.

[EFerrari]

19. Which is beside the point of private schools being funded out of public education funds. n/t

[joeglow3]

14. Kind of misleading

It says the money is coming out of the general treasury, but later implies it is coming out of public school budgets. Which is it? I would guess it is the former. Still an issue, but not as dramatic as the article would like when it states: "just one example of how scholarship programs have been twisted to benefit private schools at the expense of the neediest children."

I am kind of disappointed to see this kind of sloppy writing in the NY Times.

[JPZenger]

15. The Pennsylvania Angle on this Story

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10741620

Meanwhile, the Governor has reduced funding for public schools by $950 million and proposed a budget to cut them by another $100 million this year.

Meanwhile, the PA. legislature last year almost passed a huge increase in corporate tax breaks for private school scholarships. Lobbyists are given too much influence in picking the private schools that get the scholarship money, and they often direct it to schools favored by powerful Republican politicians, to help the lobbyists gain influence with them.

[Solly Mack]

16. k/r