Concerted efforts to destroy public education in Philadelphia and use our tax dollars to line the pockets of private school operators continue with a nasty state representative race in West Philly. City Paper hits the nail on the head with this story: Nonsensical attack flyers are proliferating in the neighborhood, trashing state Rep. James Roebuck for the failings of Philadelphia public schools. Since their failings are clearly all his fault. No, in fact the flyers are an effort to win votes for challenger Fatimah Muhammad, who is part of the Anthony Williams “pro-voucher” camp funded by shadowy hedge fund operators who want to get their cut of the trillion dollar public primary education industry.
Williams has already destroyed any credibility he might have had for an expected 2015 mayoral run by selling out his entire political agenda to three wealthy Main Line “school choice” supporters.
The big difference between public schools and the rival charter, private and parochial schools is that public school have to educate everybody. That’s why they are publicly funded. Unlike charter, private and parochial schools, public schools can’t turn away disruptive, special needs and stupid children. Soon, that’s all that will be left, but with no money to educate them since it will have all been diverted to charters and privates.
The other difference is it’s not as easy for politically connected operators to get rich through public schools. Better to take the money where there’s less oversight.
The important thing to remember here is whenever anybody says they are acting in the best interests of the children, they are lying. Politicians and school operators alike are acting in the best interests of their pocketbooks.
If the voucher plan goes through, your taxes can go to pay for kids to go to Catholic schools and get molested. Yay!
Charter schools are technically public schools as well as they receive public funding but you are correct that many charters exclude students illegally.