Let's consider some proposals that take aim at public education. First in Wisconsin, the goal is to end collective bargaining rights for public employees. By purporting a so-called crisis, public workers, whose pensions make up 6% of the total budget, are being blamed for the woes of the state's finances. What is less talked about is how the governor is reducing funding for schools by over $800 million. The goal is to destroy public education and move charters in. And to the unsuspecting public, charters seem like such a great option. What the public is not told, is that charters have not been shown by research to show any significant improvement of student performance as measured by standardized tests. But what does a charter really mean? It means a privatized school with no elected school board. A cornerstone of American public education is that it is under local control through elected school board members. If you are unhappy with the direction of your school, yes you the American voter, can unseat those school board members and replace them. In a privatized educational system, the American voter loses local control. You lose your voice in the democratic process. A corporation now controls the schools and you, the citizen, the parent, the taxpayer, have no voice. You can't elect a new board of directors. Do you really think that taxes will be reduced? Instead of property tax money being allocated to the school board, it will now be allocated to a corporation that controls the schools. In essence, your democratic rights will be sold.
While the focus is on a national crisis, your local governments are being threatened. Consider what is being proposed in Michigan.
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Did you watch the video? Emergency power to divest local government. Your government. The government that impacts you the most. And the new call is for school consolidation for fiscal reasons. Read the research that contradicts the claims of these political plans. These plans are leveraging fiscal crisis to undermine local government.
Stand up and refuse to be sold. Educate your neighbors and friends. This is a corporate grab for an untapped source of wealth, your tax money that is allocated for public services. Tax money that is an investment in community infrastructure and educational opportunities. Keep control of your investment in your community.
