For things to change, things must change. That was and is the case for education in Louisiana and America. And after decades of just blaming failure in our government-run schools on “money,” many parents, politicians and voters have decided to embrace change.
Change in education has come in the form of choice, competition and innovation—the same combination that has made America’s free enterprise system the strongest on earth. Most have realized that an old, broken-down, monopoly system controlled by unions for the benefit of employing adults instead of educating children is no longer acceptable to prepare our young people for the future and remain a strong state or nation
There is no equality in leaving children trapped in failing schools year after year with no options for their parents. That is not right, and folks are fed up—students, parents, taxpayers and elected officials.
For decades, Louisiana was at the bottom and had nowhere to go but up, yet many refused to change and children suffered. Louisiana now has 134 charter schools serving more than 70,000 students. There are 7,400 students using scholarships to attend the school of their choice. But the journey has been rough with many opponents. I have shared before one example when Rep. Pat Smith was on the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and led the charge to keep the successful KIPP Academy from coming to Baton Rouge to help poor black children succeed.
How many children lost their chance at a future due to Smith’s actions? There are now 162 KIPP schools in 20 states, including 10 in New Orleans. But there are none in Baton Rouge, since KIPP tried about 14 years ago but was rebuffed here.
You can read about the success of KIPP’s director, Scott Shirey, in Arkansas with six schools at KippDelta.org. In November 2011, Forbes magazine listed Mr. Shirey as one of the world’s seven most powerful educators. Smith ran him out of Baton Rouge when he proposed opening a new KIPP school around 2001, and now this session she rants about protecting students in higher education, when she killed that dream and opportunity for so many. Shirey has sent hundreds of his grads to college, but they aren’t Baton Rouge students.
Rep. Smith is often a harsh critic of Gov. Bobby Jindal, but it is Jindal who has done more to offer school choice to her constituents trapped in failing schools than any governor in Louisiana history. Louisiana is now the state many other states look to when considering statewide school choice. We have set an example for change, and children benefit. Change is coming fast to other states, too. Just read the headlines below from other states in April:
–“Oklahoma charter school expansion bill moves on for governor’s signature”
–“Gov. Ducey signs key education bills proving he is committed to ensuring every Arizona student has options”
–“Nevada passes state’s first school choice program”
–“(Arkansas) Gov. Hutchinson signs Succeed Scholarship Program into law”
CAN DRAKE GET IT DONE?
New EBR Superintendent Warren Drake is a fine man with a good record who cares about this community. I wish him the best for the sake of children and our schools.
Some may expect him to ride up to his South Foster Drive office on a white horse for his first day. If he does, he may want to have his armor on. The pressure is intense, and hopes are high he can do what his predecessors could not. His position has been a revolving door, and many have simply written off the system. I, for one, think government-run schools have a systemic problem that only choice and competition can fix.
I don’t want to second-guess Drake before he gets started. But my bet is that if he hopes to succeed, change is in store—and sooner than later. Often that starts with the team members, but departing Superintendent Bernard Taylor just issued many permanent promotions only months before he exits. It was his way of saying, “Shove it, Baton Rouge,” and was more proof the board made a very bad hire.
Drake got a unanimous vote by the board, so it seems there is unity for the moment. Carpe diem. Because once change happens, that will change, too.
DEMS HELP REPUBLICANS
The best help Republicans have received to get members of their party elected in Louisiana has been provided by the Democrats with their election of Sen. Karen Carter Peterson as their leader. Her views, words and actions offer a clear contrast to those of Republicans and provide many reasons why the Democrats are a dying party in Louisiana. There are no statewide elected Democrats anymore in Louisiana, and the Senate and House in the Legislature both host Republican majorities.
The latest antic of Carter Peterson was to walk out of the chamber as Gov. Jindal was giving his opening speech to the Legislature. Such stunts may play well back in her district, but do her fellow Democrats condone such classless behavior? Someone should ask Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rep. John Bel Edwards if he was embarrassed by his party chair.
SHAME ON CATS
The headline in The Advocate read, “CATS bus system improving, but still yet to deliver on tax promises a year past self-imposed deadline.” CATS’ performance on its promises to taxpayers after getting $16 million more dollars is not that good. In fact, it can’t even make the buses run on time.
But let’s forget all that and give the CEO a new contract and a raise to $175,000, putting him above our mayor-president and our police chief. That makes sense. Buses are more important than running the city and protecting lives, right? And who cares if they have failed to deliver on promises made to voters and deadlines to customers—we were all fools to believe them (and Together Baton Rouge) in the first place. This is all our fault.
No, it’s not; it is the fault of Mirabito and the board. And approving this $25,000 raise is another slap in the faces of taxpayers.
TWO SPECIAL PEOPLE
Baton Rouge lost two of its longtime entrepreneurs recently who each made their mark on people. Each was kind and friendly to all they met and will be missed.
Jimmy Fontenot, the Mamou Flash, was a barber in Baton Rouge since 1965 and had his own shop, Beau James, on Perkins Road. I was one of his many longtime customers who always heard a new joke with every visit.
J.B. Olinde was a veteran and graduate of LSU Law School. Before retiring he had served as president of Olinde’s Furniture. Olinde was involved in many civic organizations, including Rotary, Boy Scouts, ODK and Civitan International.
Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends.
