Deliberate Dumbing Down of America Public Education

299 tan Institute for Policy Research... [whose goal]... is to improve the educational system in America by challenging conventional methods and encouraging new approaches... seeks to accomplish this through... research, discussion and dissemination directed at a broad public audience. The Center’s work is made possible by grants and gifts from the following: Karen and Tucker Anderson, The Chase Manhattan Bank, Exxon Education Foundation, The Lauder Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation and others.” (From “Education Policy Paper, Number 1, Model for Choice: A Report on Manhattan’s District 4, Manhattan Institute for Policy Research” included in the notebook entitled Choosing Better Schools, Regional Strategy Meetings on Choice in Education which came from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Intergovernmental and Interagency Affairs, Jack Klenk, special advisor.) John Chubb is one of a 14-member task force who issued a study that “proposed a set of bold, innovative solutions designed to bring about... improvements in Texas public schools,” entitled Choice in Education: Opportunities for Texas (March, 1990). In addition to Chubb, “Members of the Task Force producing this study included... Dr. John Goodman, president of the National Center for Policy Analysis, Dallas; Allan Parker, associate professor of law, St. Mary’s University, San Antonio; Dr. Linus Wright, former under secretary of education; Dr. Kathy Hayes, associate professor of economics; and Fritz Steiger, president, Texas Public Policy Foundation.” (Texas Public Policy Foundation REPORT , Summer, 1990, Vol. 11, Issue 11, pages 3–4.) Dallas Eagle Forum also reportedly co-sponsored the John Chubb-Terry Moe conferences in March, 1990.... VOUCHERS (“CHOICE”), EDISON PROJECT AND NASDC DESIGN TEAMS: Since vouchers (educational “choice”) are important to the success of this scheme to “privatize” and “decentralize” education through “Design Teams,” the Edison Project and other private programs, with the assistance of waivers and “flexibility,” vouchers need to be examined in the new context.... Mainstream news sources have pointed out that vouch ers will benefit Chris Whittle’s Edison Project, as well as any “privatized” school projects. Examples are: The Noxious Nineties : c. 1992 T IME (6/8/92)—[owned by Time-Warner]—”...the Bush Administration strongly supports the concepts that underlie the Edison Project.... Many observers believe Whittle’s long term plan anticipates the use of these (voucher) funds. If adopted, the reform (vouchers) could funnel billions of public dollars into private schools....” CHUBB & CONSERVATIVES: Most conservatives have been conspicuously silent on John Chubb’s partnership in The Edison Project, and the benefits to be accrued from government voucher assistance. Many call this “privatization” of education, leaving the impression that it is “free market enterprise,” which is absolutely ridiculous since the venture is taxpayer funded and, consequently, gov ernment controlled! Chubb’s role may now be an embarrassment to those, who with great fanfare and publicity, sponsored his tour around the country extolling the virtues, but not the consequences, of education “choice.” Nor were people informed of Chubb’s liberal con nections. And, only later did people learn of the other “designs” on “choice” money which came to light with the introduction of America 2000 , The Edison Project, and the other for profit programs. The Design Teams projects were probably part of a veiled plan that drove the promotion of vouchers to begin with—from top down. Before letting the cat out of the bag, however, it was necessary to garner support for the strategy, especially from Christian conservatives. “Choice” had to be sold to them as beneficial. And, so it was. Many fell for N EWSWEEK (6/8/92)—”There’s no question that Whittle schools could be extremely re warding... if Congress approves a voucher system....”