- Sep 2, 2008
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Braun: Advocates of privatized education want to end public schools | NJ.com
Thoughts USMB?
There was a time when advocating the elimination of public schools was so politically toxic that even those who harbored the desire stayed in the closet. That may be changing.
"We think public schools should go away, says Teri Adams, the head of the Independence Hall Tea Party and a leading advocate both in New Jersey and Pennsylvania of passage of school voucher bills. The tea party operates in those two states and Delaware.
They should "go away," she says, because "they are hurting our children.
Adams group and its political action committee run by her brother Don lobbied for voucher bills in New Jersey and campaigned for south Jersey political candidates. One of those candidates, Republican Jon Runyan, last year captured the 3rd Congressional District seat held by Democrat John Adler, who died months later. Runyan also wouldnt comment.
Adams says the current voucher program "discriminates" against wealthier students by providing public subsidies only to inner-city children in allegedly failing schools. Her groups e-mails pushing vouchers caught the attention of James Kovalcin of South Brunswick, a retired public school teacher who asked Adams for clarification. She responded via email:
"Our ultimate goal is to shut down public schools and have private schools only, eventually returning responsibility for payment to parents and private charities. Its going to happen piecemeal and not overnight. It took us years to get into this mess and its going to take years to get out of it."
In a phone interview, Adams acknowledged she sent the e-mail and made the comment that public schools should "go away." After the interview, she called back to say her position "now" was the elimination of failing urban schools with the decision of what to do with more successful suburban schools to come later.
Thoughts USMB?