It was bound to happen. The only question has been–how long would it take?
True love-the-statists, in the guise of school reformers (alas), are now poised to effectively transform a number of Milwaukee private schools into public schools.
Phase I: Under the publicly-funded voucher program, students in miserably performing public schools have been subsidized to attend much better-performing private schools.
Phase II: Significant new regulations will be imposed on the so-called private schools. Why so-called? Education Week ‘splains it all.
If you’re a fan of government schools, you’ll love all the transformations that will take place in private schools as they gradually become public through this program. If you’re a cock-eyed optimist, you won’t view this as a threat to the autonomy of private schools. Good luck.
As for freedom, this Milwaukee oversight legislation, though entirely expected, should effectively remove important private aspects of school decisionmaking. Where will private school curriculum, testing, and financial decisions be made instead? They’ll be back in the hands of the people who brought you the government schools many of thier clients are fleeing.
Like similar attempts to co-opt homeschoolers with government funds, the smell coming off of this one, and its advocates, is unmistakeable.
