Challenging the Teachers Union Monopoly
In a free country you’d think that if a group of parents were unhappy with the way their children were being taught and they wanted to set up their own learning center, why heck, that would be a simple thing to do.
You would be wrong.
Kindergarten-through-12th-grade education in the United States is held in a stranglehold by national and statewide teacher unions and those institutions brook no competition. Unless you are among the wealthy or are willing to devote yourself to teaching your children yourself (and are willing to jump through the various hoops and comply with the myriad regulations required before being allowed to do so) there are virtually no alternatives other than the big-government school in your neighborhood.
And that suits the teachers’ unions just fine.
Oh sure, there are charter schools, but those are kept on a short leash – particularly here in California – by the union watchdogs that regard any competition to their money train as an insult or as part of a “right-wing conspiracy.”
That so many school boards buy the premise of right-wing conspiracies and other fallacies when and or if a parent objects to, say, drag queens officiating elementary school events, the introduction of transgender-promoting books, and other “progressive” subjects to first-, second-, or third-graders is baffling, as is active opposition to common sense proposals to require teachers to inform parents of a change in a child’s status.
Which is why veteran teacher Christy Lozano became a candidate for the position of Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools. She lost – the entire education establishment coalesced in opposition to her – but she put up a good fight, especially after the first response to her candidacy was a legal challenge to her right to run.
The election is over, the incumbent stayed in her cushy $300,000-plus-a-year sinecure and absolutely nothing has changed in the schools and/or the system. That parents, principals, teachers, superintendents, and school board members seem content that less than 50% of students in the Santa Barbara Schools System pass even their low-grade competency tests is also baffling.
So, Ms. Lozano, in contemplation of her options, has decided that rather than going back to teaching within the system, she’d put together a team of teachers, advisors, and backers to help create what she is calling the Honest Education Learning Project (HELP), which, she says, will offer “a healthy alternative that includes a back-to-basics traditional curriculum and a proven small-group learning environment.” Her goal is a five-day-a-week 8:30 am to 2 pm learning environment for students from kindergarten to 12th grade. “Class sizes,” she says, “would be limited to twelve, and students could stay after 2 pm up to 6 pm and dinner would be offered.”
The HELP program’s focus will be on English Language Arts, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) subjects, Physical Education, Sports, Health, Spanish, and electives such as Cooking, Garden, Music, Astronomy, etc.).
There would probably be no emphasis whatsoever on transgender possibilities or Critical Race Theory, but that’s just my guess.
Tuition is pegged at $7,500 for a 15-week semester, but much of the cost could be lessened by parental involvement, grants, and other set-asides.
“We don’t expect that anyone would be paying that,” Christy tells me. She explains that “a combination of scholarships and volunteering (by parents or the community) brings the price down to near zero for low-income and/or first-generation children.” She also says that part of what makes this model especially effective “is that we require parents to participate in their children’s education.”
She was prepared to present her plan to some 30 interested parents on Wednesday, August 3 at the Boys and Girls Club in Goleta, but her presentation was canceled at the last minute because of unexplained and unrevealed “anonymous” complaints.
“The precise nature of these complaints was not disclosed,” Christy says in a statement she sent to me, “nor were the names of those who made them. What is clear is that those who have complained are, at best, willfully uninformed or, at worst, have agendas that do not include high-quality educational outcomes for low-income, first-generation children. The fact that anyone would stoop so low as to pressure a renowned organization like United Boys and Girls Club to withhold educational opportunities for disadvantaged youth is unconscionable.”
Of course, she’s right about that, but my guess is that whoever those “anonymous” callers, texters, and/or e-mailers are, they probably have a stake in maintaining the disgraceful educational status quo.
Ms. Lozano has asked for the opportunity to hold another public meeting to address misinformation, complaints, and concerns, but – at least as of this writing – Boys and Girls Club Executive Director Michael Baker has declined to set aside a date or a meeting place, although he did promise Ms. Lozano that he would revisit the matter and share the goals of HELP with his board members on August 16.
Christy says her hope is “that either the United Boys and Girls Club or another such organization will partner with HELP to bring high-quality, proven educational outcomes to the most underserved.”
Her goal is both ambitious and noble. It won’t be easy – her detractors are determined and powerful – but I wish her great success in this endeavor as I don’t believe you’ll find a more dedicated, sincere, and earnest supporter of good solid childhood education than Christy Lozano. She can be contacted via christy@honesteducation.org, or you can visit her website: www.honesteducation.org to learn more.
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PURELY POLITICAL EDUCATION
Another thought stimulating article! Normal nasty behavior by the “establishment “ was witnessed during the election of County Superintendent of Schools. Yes, try to disqualify her with a legal action!
She did put up a great fight! Unlike others that have great virtue, Christy is tenacious!
Her HELP program is what is desperately needed in all of our schools!
Fortunately and unfortunately, most movements are supported by money. If Mr Baker of United Boys & Girls is controlled by forces that work to sabotage advancement of his attendees, counter actions by contributors can be taken, I am and know those folks being on the Advisory Board.
Instead, contributors can work with and contribute to the sorely needed cause that Christy proposes.
We shall see what comes of the 8-16 meeting of United Boys & Girls Club Board on the Help proposal.
Perhaps the best movement would be to create a new School. Forget trying to work with others that claim to be sympathetic with her curriculum!
The Christy Lozano School for Great Kids, sounds appropriate!
In the same plague of cancellation, The Sierra Club recently axed an International Outing to Israel at the last minute. Anti-Israel group(s) apparently have the ear of the Club's management. That is all it took.
There has been some blowback and I know no more than that.