For many of us, the 2016 election was a horrific and bitter defeat. Although he was elected, he will face a powerful opposition from lots of folks.
On the other hand, the election for millions of people was a triumph. In Georgia, Governor Nathan Deal’s plan to establish a New Orleans style recovery (Opportunity) school district was defeated solidly by a margin of nearly a million votes. The defeat of the amendment was a blow to charter school venders who were chomping at the bit to set up at least 20 new charter schools per year around the state.
In Massachusetts, an authorization to enable charter schools to be expanded throughout the state went down to defeat. As in Georgia this was a bitterly fought campaign funded largely by outside charter organizations especially those in New York who also were chomping at the bit to invade my home state.
In each case, Georgia and Massachusetts citizens, led by state teachers, teacher organizations, and grass root groups fought a fierce battle to prevent further erosion of Public schools.
Beware
However, as you may know there will be a robust attempt to further dismantle public education in the U.S. by the new administration that takes hold of the Federal government in January.
Their plan is to force “choice” on American school districts by mandating that every child be allowed to use the dollars allocated to the local school district to attend any school: public, private, religious, and even home schooling.
The fight to preserve public education is going to be a war fought between those who value public education, and those want to privatize education, and in so doing make huge profits off the backs of most families in the U.S., including the ones that voted for him.