John Stossel‘s latest column at Real Clear Politics takes aim at the public education establishment, which he has dubbed “the blob.”
Ben Chavis, founder and principal of the American Indian Public Charter Schools, got permission to compete with the Blob in Oakland, Calif. Chavis vowed, “We’ll outperform the other schools in five years.” He did. Kids at the three schools he runs now have some of the highest test scores in California.
His schools excel even though the government spends less on them.
But Chavis paid his wife to do accounting work, rented property to his schools and didn’t follow all of the Blob’s rules. So last month, the Oakland School Board said it might close the schools.
Parents and students begged the Blob — pardon me, the school board — not to. One sobbing mother pleaded with the board: “As soon as (my son) goes to this school, he’s a top student. … And now you guys want to take that away from me.” Many students implored, “Please don’t close down our school!”
The school board voted to close the schools anyway.
The students will now probably have to go to Oakland’s government-run schools, which are not as good. We asked to talk to members of the Oakland School Board, but they refused.
Chavis, though, explained how working with his wife and renting space to the schools — regarded by the board as too incestuous — saved government money.
“Yes. Some of the money did go to me,” he told me. “Someone had to step up and get space. We had 34 kids when I started. Today, we have 1,200.”
And those kids got a better education for less tax money. Who cares if Chavis kept some?
The Blob cares. The school board will get about $10 million back if they are no longer obliged to send pupils to Chavis’ schools.
