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Community Corner

Why are Our Public Schools Under Attack?

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I have always wondered about the motivations for all of the many groups like "RS for RS" that are attacking public schools around the country.   

Why would these groups spend time, resources and money to create websites, negative media campaigns and to "take over" school boards with their chosen candidates?

After considering this question for some time, I think there are two primary underlying motivations (readers may offer alternative explanations that I may have missed in the comments):

Alternative 1:  They are legitimately concerned about the academic and financial performance of public schools and are willing to invest thousands of hours of their own time and millions of dollars (nationally) to positively influence school performance.

Alternative 2:  There's gold to be made by undermining public schools in order to make "for profit" schools and education systems more attractive.

This statement from investor Robert Murdoch, after purchasing an education technology company, may shed some light:

“When it comes to K through 12 education, we see a $500 billion sector in the US alone.”

Perhaps undermining public education is a profitable investment for bankers, hedge fund managers and ideologically and financially motivated investors in order to make for profit education look more attractive to the market?  

It appears there is gold to be found in our classrooms.

What about the connection to RS for RS?  

If you haven't already, please take a look at the RS for RS website linked below:
http://rsdstakeholders.org/

Think about the time, expertise and resources that went into developing the strategy, the extensive analysis and research, the resources (impressive!), and the technology that has gone into that website.  

Additionally, think of the thousands of hours of time the leaders of the organization have spent towards their cause.  It is truly am impressive effort - and/or concerning.

They are either very, very highly motivated and passionate about education (which seems strange given their founder has no education beyond high school), or...something else

Do I have evidence tying RS for RS to the profit mongers mentioned earlier?  No, I certainly do not.  

There is, however, exhaustive evidence of a national, multi-front, well-funded, well-orchestrated, systemic and unrelenting campaign against public education. 

As Tom Siebold wrote:
“It would be nice to dismiss this absurd reasoning as the misguided rage of extremists, but the people involved are powerful, well-funded, and have the ear of key political and corporate leaders. They are doggedly committed to controlling the national dialogue on education to discredit k-12 schools.”

So, is RS for RS simply a group of concerned citizens activists?  Or do they have other motives?  

Find out what's happening in Eureka-Wildwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Readers will need to make their own judgments.  You might guess what I think.

My motivation?  Good question.  Personally, I agree 100% with Education historian Diane when she said:

“I think what’s at stake is the future of American public education. I believe it is one of the foundation stones of our democracy: So an attack on public education is an attack on democracy.”

Find out what's happening in Eureka-Wildwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

http://billmoyers.com/episode/public-schools-for-sale/

I'll be playing it safe with my vote for the non RS for RS candidates: Kinder, Doell, Paul or Arakelian
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