School Choice is often described as the modern day civil rights movement. It allows parents to determine what school is best suited for their children. It frees children from failing schools or schools that simply do not meet their needs.
Children have educational freedom and aren’t trapped to a school based solely upon their zip code. This has angered a number of people and organizations that make their living upon confining children to schools based upon their neighborhoods.
Dr. Ann Laing is one of the people who want to stand in the way of educational opportunities for parents. While the Superintendent of the Racine Unified Schools in Wisconsin, Dr. Laing had some rather racist comments regarding black parents and her belief they are not qualified to make educational choices for their children.
“I think Milwaukee is a good example of what will happen on a smaller scale here. In Milwaukee, it’s pretty much been white families who’ve taken advantage of private schools, with a few African-American families. The African-American families are the ones who are most prone to enroll their kids in the fly-by-night schools that cropped up after vouchers existed.
They don’t know how to make good choices for their children. They really don’t. They didn’t have parents who made good choices for them or help them learn how to make good choices, so they don’t know how to do that.”
Armed without facts, Dr. Laing disparaged minority parents for not being able to make proper decisions for their children. It is her viewpoint that those children would be best cornered in failing schools in their neighborhoods.
Wisconsin has seen an increase in school choice options since Scott Walker became Governor. This is causing disruption to people like Dr. Laing who make their living in a system in which the staff benefits when educational options are suppressed. But, her words expose the thoughts of some in her profession who believe the needs of the system trump the needs of the child and the abilities of the parents to make decisions.
As Scott Walker’s name continues to be elevated on a national level, it is easy to believe that those opposing school choice, like Laing, will fight back to protect their pocketbooks.
Do you believe parents are able to make proper choices for their children or do you believe the government knows best? Please leave your comment below.
H/T: EAG News