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Category: Education

GOP Favorite Fulop Sets Vision

May. 22 Education, Hudson County, Jersey City, North Jersey, School Choice, Steven Fulop 1 comment

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

Steven Fulop is now the mayor-elect of Jersey City, Save Jerseyans, and he sat down with NJ Today’s Mike Schneider on Tuesday to discuss some of his planned first steps:

The Fulop story is interesting to us primarily because his victory was made possible, in large part, through the support of powerful Christie Administration allies.

Does that support give us a pretty good idea of where Fulop really stands on key Administration priorities like pension, education and tax reforms? Or was it simply a matter of strategy, trading a hardened Obama Democrat like outgoing Mayor Jeremiah Healey for a more palatable Democrat?

CONTINUE READING….

MSNBC: Your Kids Aren’t Yours

Apr. 09 Big Government, Education, Mainstream Media 8 comments

Creepy MSNBC Promo Claims American Kids are Communal Property

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

According to her bio, Melissa Harris-Perry is a political science professor and MSNBC host. I had to look it up because that channel just isn’t in my daily routine.

She’s also a big believer that the problem with your kids is that (1) we’re not spending enough tax dollars on their education and (2) your mistaken belief that they belong to you, Save Jerseyans.

Yup, you didn’t misread #2. Check out this MSNBC promo:

That’s not a Rush Limbaugh parody or InfoWars conspiracy theory, folks. Straight from the horse’s mouth. Aren’t liberals scary people? I told you!

CONTINUE READING….

You’re Gonna Have to Serve Somebody

Mar. 27 Camden City, Education, School Choice, South Jersey 3 comments

Without School Choice, There is Not Such Thing as Local Control of Public Schools

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

school busesFollowing this week’s announcement of a state takeover of the Camden school district, everyone (and their mothers) weighed in to access the wisdom of what sounds, at least on the surface, like a dramatic governmental intervention in a local school district. But is it really, Save Jerseyans?

Check out how the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) responded for a clue:

It is always preferable to have public schools managed by local communities, and the citizens of Camden must be assured that they will continue to have a strong and respected voice in reforming a public school system that meets the needs of all Camden students.”

Isn’t this the same NJEA that is adamantly opposes to vouchers and school choice generally?

So what in God’s name do they consider local control? Fidelity to a two-headed hydra… (1) a school board and (2) a teacher’s union. I’m no fan of school boards as a general matter for reasons which we’ve discussed at length here at Save Jersey. The latter institution, however, represents a multi-million dollar lobbying powerhouse primarily preoccupied with preserving its political clout even when it comes at the expense of the children and its own membership. Every campaign cycle, this lobbying powerhouse spends millions of dollars supporting candidates and causes which have stymied common sense reforms and given rise to a spider’s web of state and federal education regulations that leave precious little control in the hands of individual teachers, parents and students.

And if you still believe local communities play any meaningful role in the education system, revisit the “anti-bullying” debate for all of the evidence you require to contradict your assumptions.

Yup, you’re in control alright, Save Jerseyans… of who will serve as your local education overlord when you vote every November. There is no true freedom for local communities without school choice reform! Count on it.

State Seizes Camden Schools

Mar. 25 Camden City, Chris Christie, Education, South Jersey 12 comments

Report: Christie Will Announce State Takeover Today in Camden

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

Christie education schools njeaGovernor Chris Christie will hold a press conference at the Woodrow Wilson High School Library in Camden at 11 am, Save Jerseyans.

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, he’s announcing a state takeover of the City of Camden’s school system:

As part of the takeover of what the state considers the worst-performing district in New Jersey, Christie will appoint a new superintendent and leadership team, shifting the school board to an advisory role, according to Christie administration officials briefed on the plan.”

The Inky also reports that the plan is supported by “at least a few school board members and key Democratic leaders in the South Jersey political establishment, some of whom are expected to join Christie at the takeover announcement Monday in the city, officials said.”

Hmmm…

Fear Isn’t All Bad

Mar. 23 Cory Booker, Education, Election 2014 2 comments

If Standardized Tests Aren’t the Answer, Then the Free Market is the Only Game in Town

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

Cory Booker

Cory Booker said something that I agreed with this week, Save Jerseyans, during an appearance at NJPAC (h/t NJ.com):

The problem we have right now is we cannot get into a world of high stakes testing where teachers live in fear of standardized tests that don’t take into account the totality of the issues.”

Well, at least I agree in part.

CONTINUE READING….

Christie Watch for 3/20/13

Mar. 20 Atlantic City, Atlantic County, Cape May County, Chris Christie, Education, Gaming, Hurricane Sandy, Jersey Shore, South Jersey 4 comments

N.J. Governor Heads to Southern Jersey Shore to Discuss Education, Sandy and Tourism

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

LD1Governor Chris Christie is on another post-Sandy recovery tour today, Save Jerseyans.

First, he’ll reopen a school damaged by the storm. Then the Big Guy will travel about 30 minutes up the Garden State Parkway to Atlantic City with the mission of boosting our tourism industry ahead of the quickly approached summer season:

CAPE MAY COUNTY

WHO: Governor Chris Christie

WHAT: Visit with Students

WHEN: 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: Stone Harbor Elementary School
275 93rd Street
Stone Harbor, NJ

CONTINUE READING….

Partially Birthed Logic

Feb. 26 Abortion, Barbara Buono, Chris Christie, Education, Election 2013, Feminism, Higher Education, state budget 2 comments

Radical Pro-Abortion Group Goes After Christie On Buono’s Behalf But Totally Misses the Mark

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

Christie Rutgers AppointmentBarbara Buono’s campaign is already on life support and it’s only February, Save Jerseyans. Consequently, it needs to rely on outside groups including the radically pro-partial birth abortion ghouls over at EMILY’s List to do the fighting for Buono on important days like this one, when her opponent Governor Chris Christie delivers his FY 2014 budget address.

Any port in a storm, right?

Today’ EMILY’s List roll out formally backing Barbara Buono, however, focuses more on the incumbent than the endorsee. It’s pretty telling! They also released a 12-point list (which I guess is appropriate) detailing the organization’s major gripes with the New Jersey Republican Governor, notably his decision to cut state funding for Planned Parenthood.

One other item was particularly amusing:

CONTINUE READING….

Vouchers Save Kids & Tax Dollars!

Feb. 21 Education, School Choice no comments

New Study: School Vouchers Net Taxpayers $1.62 for Every $1 Allotted

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

School LunchesWe’ve talked a lot in recent years about the alarming level of waste in public education, Save Jerseyans. Frankly, I wouldn’t even give as much of a damn if we were getting a return on our dollar. But we’re not.

Are you ready for a better investment that helps both students AND your bottom line? The results of a new study discovered a profitable surprise for taxpayers derived from the District of Columbia’s voucher program (h/t ChoiceMedia):

This new review of the OSP’s cost effectiveness was conducted by Patrick Wolf, a professor of education reform at the University of Arkansas and Michael McShane with the American Enterprise Institute and also with the department of education reform at the University of Arkansas.

The two based their analysis on data provided from the official U.S. Department of Education evaluation of the program.

The numbers, says McShane, make it very clear: true school choice pays off.

There was a total benefit of about $183 million dollars because there are about 420 graduates walking on the streets of our nation’s capital because of this program that wouldn’t been there otherwise. And because the program only cost about $70 million to execute, we saw a benefit of about $2.62 for every dollar that was spent on the program.

Imagine how much New Jersey’s taxpayers could save if the Trenton Democrats would finally move on the forever-languishing Opportunity Scholarship Act? As this study’s results make plain for all, school choice policies are a profitable investment for everyone involved.