by David Safier Brewer signed SB1553, the so-called "Education empowerment accounts" bill. But it deserves another name: the "Pull your kids out of school and we'll pay for college" bill. The law sets up vouchers savings accounts for students. (At this point, it's only for students with learning disabilities, but its advocates are very clear, … Read more
by David Safier There's a new voucher bill in town, SB1553. It's sitting on Brewer's desk waiting to be signed. Howie Fischer gets it half right in his description of the bill in today's Star. What he writes is correct but incomplete. Michelle Reese in the East Valley Trib digs deeper into the intricacies of … Read more
by David Safier A very long piece in the NY Times Sunday magazine presents simply the best picture of the challenges facing district and charter schools who try to educate poor kids I have read in a long, long time. The author has no dog in the hunt. He's not for or against district or … Read more
by David Safier A couple of questions to TUSD Supe John Pedicone, Board President Mark Stegeman and the rest of the Board: 1. Do you think removing Mexican American Studies courses from core requirements will make MAS a better program? 2. If not, do those of you who are advocating the change think it will … Read more
by David Safier I finally forced myself to watch "Waiting for Superman," the documentary that basically trashes teachers' unions and sings the praises of charter schools. Writing about education isn't all beer and skittles, after all. Sometimes I need to read and watch things I know will annoy me. As a logical argument, the film … Read more