This month Michigan voters repealed the state's far-reaching emergency manager law, saying that struggling towns, cities and school boards should be allowed to keep their democracies despite being broke. Now a new round of legislation in Michigan would allow the state to take over struggling school districts and farm out education to private companies.
Eclectablog has the full roundup of who's saying what and when, including this call to action from the schools superintendent in Bloomfield Hills:
- This bill will not directly affect our district, but disenfranchises voters, ends their local control, and unconstitutionally hands taxpayer-owned property over to for-profit companies. Characterized as parent-empowerment, this bill does little to develop deep, community-wide parent engagement and organization.
I've never considered myself a conspiracy theorist -- until now. This package of bills is the latest in a yearlong barrage of ideologically-driven bills designed to weaken and defund locally-controlled public education, handing scarce taxpayer dollars over to for-profit entities operating under a different set of rules. I believe this is fundamentally wrong.
That superintendent has company. At a public forum this week, Oakland Schools Superintendent Dr. Vickie L. Markavitch called what's happening in the state capitol "unbelievable" and way too rushed. "There is really important work that has to be done," she told the parents there, according to the local Patch. "What's worrying me about this work that has to be done is it's being pushed forward so quickly, so fast and in such a rushed order that it's almost faster than people can learn about it."
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thanks for covering this, Rachel.
Someone is surprised that spiking one of the wheels of the Republican War Machine would do more than slow it down momentarily? Even the national Republicans, who really did get kicked in the teeth, are moving relentlessly as if nothing happened. As someone who has written horror movies, you have to remember that The Monster always comes back till you drive a stake through its heart.
Unfortunately, I have to agree with you on that stake part. Too bad they're not willing to come out in the open and make this a debate instead of guerilla warfare. It's really everyone's loss.
You do realize that the GOTP can't win in a "fair fight" don't you? They are bereft of ideas, divorced from reality, and generally behave like the spoiled temper tantrum throwing 3 yr. olds that need a spanking, then drive that stake thru the place where their hearts should reside!
Who was it that coined the phrase about forcing things "down the throats of Americans"? Oh, yeah. Republicans.
Headshots and fire are also effective. Cue the "pride" speech from Pulp Fiction.
Please tell me Pubs lost at least some, if not all, power in MI this election...
On a state level, they increased their power through their Great Gerrymander. They effectively have one-party government there now.
The Republicans lost five or six House seats but still hold a five-seat majority. The Senate is still solidly Republican. In other words, they still have complete control.
Thank you for the info, but ARGH!!!
Michigan is just another example of Republican ideology at work. I wonder how many examples are needed.
We've seen their ideologies at work on the Texas educational system.
We've seen their ideologies at work in Arizona law enforcement.
We've seen their ideologies at work with Wisconsin labor unions.
We've seen their ideologies at work in our free elections.
We've seen their ideologies at work in this do-nothing Congress.
We've seen their ideologies at work in their campaign methods and finances.
We've seen their ideologies at work in our courts.
We've seen it in their approaches to foreign policy.
We've seen it in their respect of our president.
We've seen it in their regard for matters of race, gender, disabilities, other religions, or sexual orientation.
We've seen in hindsight how, within the scope of one Republican president's administration backed by a Republican majority Congress, an entire nation can be taken from surplus to recession.
We, the People - as Americans, as Communities, as Voters do not need to be giving another inch of power to this ideologically rotted party until they collectively liberate themselves from their politically and nationally toxic ideologies.
As I read the first sentences of this post, I actually gasped. Cannot believe the moxie. If you haven't heard it, find and listen to or watch Bill Moyers' radio/TV show on ALEC. It originally aired in late October. This subject is discussed extensively.
What appears at first blush to be an innocuous move toward privatization is actually a corporate-sponsored hostile takeover of this quintessential function of government, public education for all. It has Koch Brothers influence written all over it.
There was very little change in the make-up of state government here in Michigan.
If there is a year-end rush, it has more to do with the public being distracted by national politics, or the holidays, than any lame-duck maneuvering.
They did at least table the proposal to make a fetus a dependant at 12 weeks into the pregnancy. (Not kidding.)
If that's the case, then shouldn't all of these families be able to get aid from the state at 12 weeks into the pregnancy. (I haven't phrased that right, but hopefully you know what I mean.
Does anyone know?
If the federal government came in and took over the state of Michigan, it would be ruled unconstitutional.
So even if they pass laws saying they can do it, what makes these laws legal?
Talk about taxation without representation. Where's the tea party?
THe other takeover in Michigan is of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Check with State Senator Gretchen Whitmer.
Perhaps you have a link or two so we can research the issue before contacting the good Senator Whitmer?
tx
Here's a google to the recent news pieces...
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&gl=us&tbm=nws&q=blue+cross+blue+shield+of+michigan
The comments from the Bloomfield Hills super are interesting. FYI for those not from Michigan, Bloomfield Hills is a wealthy (and I mean wealthy) suburb north of Detroit. For the super of schools there to be staunchly against this proposal tells a lot about the mindset of those who proposed it.
It's like the Michigan legislature is saying to leave government control out of our lives EXCEPT when you are doing something that we don't like.
Please watch this video, we need more than a million voices to support public education in MI
http://www.schooltube.com/video/83edb442197a46939bc9/NEEDED:%20A%20Million%20Michigan%20Voices%20for%20Public%20Education
There is abundant evidence to show that privatization of almost anything is a bad deal for everyone...except the companies themselves. Private prisons have turned out to have worse security than government-run prisons, (see the AZ jailbreak a couple of years ago for an example). Judges, such as one in PA, get kickbacks from prison companies in return for having kids sentenced to their prisons, rather than far lighter punishment they received in the past. Corporate-run schools have been shown to have test results no better, and often worse, than public schools in the same area. Insurance plans run by private companies cost more and have higher overhead costs than government programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Private investment companies take a bigger cut for overhead than social security and proved in 2008 that they are nowhere near as secure. Private military contractors like Halliburton charged far more to haul fuel and supplies in Iraq than if the military had done it, and private mercenaries are paid far more than regular Army troops to do the same job. Where on earth does the right wing get the idea that the private sector does a cheaper, better job than the government? There is no proof in support of it, and plenty that refutes it.
right-click save...ty for the rundown...I know this as a general principle, but it's nice to have a list. b
You can help out by signing this petition: http://signon.org/sign/stop-the-takeover-of-1?source=s.icn.tw&r_by=4738311
My letter to my reps: (permission granted to use in part or full at will without attribution)
Dear Madams and Sirs,
The package of bills making their way through the legislature, House Bill 6004 and Senate Bill 1358, House Bill 5923, and Senate Bill 620, are completely counter productive and counter-intuitive to a healthy educational system.
Know that, each and every one of you or your compatriots that vote for passing them will face opposition from recall to a full blown campaign against your re-election at any time in the future.
We, the people you are sworn to represent, virulently oppose the privatization of our school system. We understand fully that to take our public monies, and funnel them into a for-profit system is theft. We understand that in a for-profit system, value has to be stolen from the bottom in order for the top to profit.
Like the misnomer, "right to work" this is a blatant attempt to frighten us into being complicit in losing a class war against us. The rich can pay, the middle and lower classes will end up with an inferior product at the very core of what could lift them out of it - their education.
Michigan voted soundly against PA4. This, and other bills like it are an attempt to side step our ability to work and vote in our own best interests. You aren't stupid, either. You know we know.
But be on notice! As you further attempt to reduce our collective power and reduce our expectations of, and actual standards of living we still get to vote for you personally. Your JOBS are at stake along with our children's futures.
I will, and every one I know, will oppose you, hold you to account and spread the word. I am a political journalist and have a radio show. I intend to name names, and stay on it until you drop this attempt to let the loss be our kids and their teachers to enrich a very few.
Education is a right, local control is a right, bought and paid for by the collective pooling of our money to make it free and accessible for all children.
You are quietly declaring war on our rights. We will fight back.
Diane M Gee
These are the most important objections to the policies outlined in Michigan State House Bills 6004 & 5923, and State Senate Bills 1358 & 620:
1) State corporatizing, or privatizing Michigan's public schools, or making public tax funds available to for-profit organizations that the governor's office chooses to run any publicly supported Michigan school.
2) Usurping local control over Michigan public schools.
3) Exempting the EAA from the same standards and testing requirements of all public schools in Michigan.
5) Authorizing the creation of charter schools in any school district with no limit in number.
6) Selective enrollment/dis-enrollment policies (such as public school vouchers) that will likely lead to greater segregation in our public schools.
7) Creating new schools without changing the overall funding available, further diluting resources for community-governed public schools.
8) Converting the lowest achieving 5% of schools into charter schools without allowing parents or teachers in their districts to petition for the desired reform model.
9) Confiscating public school property owned by local school districts for use by state selected charter schools -- with or without compensation.
10) Efforts by the Michigan State government or the Governor's office designed to weaken and defund locally-controlled public education, or hand scarce taxpayer dollars over to for-profit entities operating under a different set of rules.
This egregious effort to reform education in Michigan is substantially funded by Eli Broad and the Broad Foundation.
http://dianeravitch.net/2012/09/05/who-elected-eli-broad/
http://dianeravitch.net/2012/06/04/1024/
http://parentsacrossamerica.org/a-guide-to-the-broad-foundations-training-programs-and-policies/
http://educationnext.org/eli-broad-conservative-hero/
The Broad Foundation supports Education Reform Now!'s (ERN) national and state education and advocacy efforts, including building a strong network of reformers to transform our nation’s public schools.
www.educationreformnow.com
Check out the MEMSPA FB page and take a look at what Dr. Vicki Markavitch informs you about the TRUE state of our schools. Mind you, Oakland Schools is the wealthiest district in the state that until now, hasn't let this cat out of the bag but instead was playing nice. How about you start calling out the reformers and their dough. Murdoch, The Walton Family, the list of power brokers goes on and on...
The US ranks 25th out of 34 nations in the most important subjects, Math and Science. According to SERI scores only 5 states rank "Well Above Average", 5 Above average, with Michigan in the lower end of 15 more schools being just average. Yeah, all these "doctor" superintendents are doing a real bang up job. I have 2 kids in the public schools and I would much rather have them in a private or a charter school. The economy for someone who isn't one the lucky few union drones who still have a job with the "saved" auto industry are struggling in a one horse town, where the horse should have been put down a long time ago.
First public education, you know, FREE (NOT) public schools are one of the main planks for instituting Marxism. Freaking read it, educate yourselves. As incredible as it sounds some if the worst performing school districts get some of the highest dollars per student. Where's the value in that as far as kids are concerned? It costs these districts money to upkeep the empty buildings, you think they would be happy to free up those funds and SHARE!! Right! Be FAIR, right? What's wrong with that??...oops!! Maybe not because they may be inflating their budgets to squeeze the taxpayers for more dough! Michigan has been in the white knuckle death grip of liberal government for 8 disastrous years, and Detroit 60!! Been there? Real nice place. Where a friend's mother lives in the city you can see clearly 4-5 blocks, all empty of homes, businesses crumbling, schools practically prison camps. These laws are to put in place a system that would get the results all these liberal over educated "doctors" keep promising, oh, if only we can squeeze the poor citizens that keep buying into the promises that their school boards have no idea on how to keep. I've seen the form letters they want to get the lemming parents to sign and send are hilarious, talking about change on diversity, but when you throw out some real ideas about breaking apart from a failing system, everyone screams and carries on. But for most of the posters here I see what I would expect, especially on a "Maddow" site, psychotic, sociopathic hate.