You’re Gonna Have to Serve Somebody

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.

Matt Rooney
About Matt Rooney 8404 Articles
MATT ROONEY is SaveJersey.com's founder and editor-in-chief, a practicing New Jersey attorney, and the host of 'The Matt Rooney Show' on 1210 WPHT every Sunday evening from 7-10PM EST.

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