Education in Louisiana

You did hear about Louisiana, right?   After Katrina, New Orleans is virtually a charter district. 

And, pushed by Governor Bobby Jindal (and maybe next VP), a bill was pushed through that gives voucher money to parents to choose where their education dollars go for their child.  This includes religious schools.   Here's some interesting outcomes so far:

- many private schools - the good ones - are restricting the number of space to those parents who have vouchers dollars. 
- some of the textbooks used by Christian schools have some truly terrible teaching like:

- Science Proves Homosexuality is a Learned Behavior
- The Second Law of Thermodynamics Disproves Evolution
- No Transitional Fossils Exist
- Humans and Dinosaurs Co-Existed
- Evolution Has Been Disproved
- A Japanese Whaling Boat Found a Dinosaur
- Solar Fusion is a Myth
- Only ten percent of Africans can read or write, because Christian mission schools have been shut down by communists.
- the Great Depression was exaggerated by propagandists, including John Steinbeck, to advance a socialist agenda.

- now naturally, some legislators who are Christians, were thrilled with this voucher plan.  They then remembered that we're in the USA where there are MANY religions.  Several have withdrawn their support after realizing the money could go to Muslim schools.

Rep. Valerie Hodges said, "Unfortunately it will not be limited to the Founders' religion."  Oh and which one would that be?  Very funny.

The law has already gone into effect and provides for no state oversight regarding curriculum or educational standards.

Also in Louisiana we have the case of the Algiers Charter Schools Association.  This group was advocating that teachers at one of their lowest ranked schools wear t-shirts that have "D"s on them (along with putting that "D" on memos and school signs).

The charter group said it was never part of the final plan but it was suggested by a consulting group to "motivate" teachers.  "Declare Friday as dress down day only for those teachers and adminstrators who will wear the D grade shirt."  I'm not sure these people understand what motivates teachers.

The consultant group was also saying that the they should fire all the underperforming principals (as charters can do) and move all the good principals to underperforming schools but what!? parents and others are fighting back.  Hmm.

Louisiana, in 10 years, will be the poster child for all that is wrong in ed reform today.