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Home » Newswire Weekly » Newswire – March 23, 2021

Newswire – March 23, 2021

A St Patty’s Day Special Edition…Finding Rainbows...Driving out Snakes and a much needed Irish Blessing. 

BLAINE AMENDMENTS JOIN THE WALKING DEAD... UNIONS PLAY LUCY WITH CHARLIE BROWN’S FOOTBALL...PARENTS CONTINUE TO PUSHBACK.



Here we are – the first week of Spring! Mother Nature shows her glory and hope is in the air. Of course there are clouds, as we report, but also lots of silver linings.
BLAINE BIGOTRY LIVES. The news item seems like it belonged in an episode of “The Walking Dead”. A “Strong Students Scholarship Program” which would have given 90% of the state money spent per-student to parents to use on non-public education for their children was shelved – largely because a couple of retired judges said it violated the “Blaine Amendment” still in the Idaho constitution! Color us flabbergasted, as the United States Supreme Court ruled almost a year ago that Blaine Amendments are unconstitutional. Let’s rectify this injustice in Idaho.

NEW HOPE IN WEST VIRGINIA. The Mountaineer State just went from one of the few with no charter schools in it to one that gives new hope and opportunity to all the state’s students. An expanded charter law, allowing for an independent authorizer ala CERs’ National Model, along with more diverse charters allowed, tell us that WVA lawmakers know how to put families first. On top of that, just yesterday Governor Jim Justice signed into law the Hope Scholarship Fund providing for  educational savings accounts that allow families to access up to $4,600 of state funds to educate their child at home, in a private school, learning pods or however they think best. This ensures the state will escape it’s “F” grade in our Parent Power Index.Bravo to one and all.

LITTLE HOPE IN CALIFORNIA, and little following “the science”. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) just reduced it’s classroom desk spacing recommendation from 6 ft, to 3 ft, making it dramatically easier to get kids back in schools. Not good enough for the Los Angeles School District or the California Teachers Association, both of whom…wait for it…oppose the plan, because it would “stuff more kids into classrooms” and be “cramming young adults into classrooms”. Apparently not all science has to be followed.
ALSO IN THE ONCE-GOLDEN state comes a report from  Reopen California Schools   that local districts and unions are planning to use new COVID relief money on cash bonuses for staff instead of on student needs. The bonuses would go to all, whether or not they have worked or stepped foot on a campus the past year. It’s already happening in the Sweetwater (San Diego) School District, which has used over $6 million of  COVID-19 relief funds to pay their employees and alleviate the deficit in their payroll.

CAUSE AND EFFECT. History has shown that among the unions least concerned about educating kids is the Chicago Teachers Union. Last week they dug in their heels – again – telling district parents that “We have no agreement on returning to in-person learning in high schools on any date”, moving the goalposts to an amorphous “safely re-opening buildings” criteria. Across the country parents and a judge in New Jersey knew how to deal with similar tactics. A judge ordered teachers back to school after students and parents held a sit-in demanding open classrooms. Parent power at its finest.

IT’S THE KIDS WHO SUFFER, and not just lost learning and future earnings. Recent studies have all shown serious mental health problems caused by the shutdown.  Reuters surveyed school districts nationwide in February to assess the mental health impacts of full or partial school shutdowns. Of the 74 districts that responded, 74% reported multiple indicators of increased mental health stresses among students. More than half reported rises in mental health referrals and counseling.

“It was the hardest and most sad time of my life.” 9-year-old Mackenzie Johnson, a third grader in Camby, Oregon

“I think they should have a rule: If you want to go to school, you can go to school.” Bryson Smith, a 12-year-old seventh grader at Chandler Unified School District

PROMISING SPRING BLOOMS.  There is much promising news across the country. Proving they think big in Texas, legislation would expand educational options  through special needs micro-grants, learning pod protections, expanding and improving virtual school programs, public charter schools, and creating education savings accounts and tax credits. From New Hampshire comes a report showing that educational savings accounts would save taxpayers millions of dollars a year. Adding to the spring bouquet –  four new charter schools will open in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, focusing on aviation, the legal profession and college prep. And closing with a big smile, a well documented report on how private & parochial schools kept kids in class across the country while most public schools were locking them out.
Spring brings hope, beauty, and joy. We hope this brings some of each, and more, to your kids and you.  And as always – don’t hesitate to let us know if we can be of assistance in any way.
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Founded in 1993, the Center for Education Reform aims to expand educational opportunities that lead to improved economic outcomes for all Americans — particularly our youth — ensuring that conditions are ripe for innovation, freedom and flexibility throughout U.S. education. We’re always delighted to hear from our readers…suggestions, questions and even the occasional complaint!