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Charting a New Course? Report Questions Growth of Charter Schools
A new report outlines how charter schools essentially take money away from already struggling public systems. (Krissy Venosdale/flickr.com)
Stan Salett, the study’s co-author, spent more than four decades in public education and helped launch the nation’s Head Start and Upward Bound programs. In the past two decades, he said, a small group of billionaires – including News Corp.’s Rupert Murdoch, who once called public schools an “untapped $500 billion sector” – have worked to assert private control over public education to make money.
“And that’s what’s at play now,” Salett said. “You’ve got a lot of money on one side going in to create a privatized school system that becomes part of the new marketplace for hedge funds and Wall Street investors.”
Tennessee recently received $20 million from the U.S. Department of Education to expand high-performing charter schools. There are approximately 35 charter schools in the state.
The Independent Media Institute study found that 40 percent of the nation’s 6,700 charter schools are part of corporate chains or franchises. Salett, president of the Foundation for the Future of Youth, said many charters do good work and are operated by and accountable to their communities. However, the report recommends a national moratorium on their rapid growth until the industry’s governing structures and business models can be assessed and improved.
The study outlined how public tax dollars follow students who enroll in charters, taking money away from already struggling public systems. Salett said most major U.S. cities now are divided into private and public tracks, and argued that the future of one of the nation’s few institutions where people from diverse backgrounds come together is at risk.
“Different language backgrounds, cultural backgrounds, racial backgrounds,” he said. “The aim of public schools has always been to create a place where the so-called ‘melting pot’ can occur.”
Salett said companies frequently mix nonprofit and for-profit wings to win taxpayer subsidies, further boosting profits. Some charters also have successfully lobbied to eliminate democratically elected boards, public oversight and accountability, he said.
11/4/2016-H&R Block Student of the week
Congratulations to Student of the Week -Ella Helms!!! Ella, the daughter of Greg and Susan Helms, is a fifth grader at New Union Elementary School. Ella was chosen to be honored because “she consistently shows up each day, ready to do the work of a fifth grader”, says Eric Keith, a fifth grade teacher at Ella’s school. Ella wants to be a first grade teacher when she grows up! Rosalyn Partin, owner of the Manchester H&R Block, has been inspired to recognize great kids in our community all through hockey season. What does hockey season have to do with our local students? Well, H&R Block gives each Student of the Week a set of Nashville Predators Hockey tickets, a commemorative plaque, as well as a special letter of recognition. Check back here every Friday for H&R Block’s next Student of the Week award!
Pictured with Ella is Rosalyn Partin of H & R Block
11/19/16—Joseph Wilder Benefit
Joseph Wilder needs our help….Joseph Wilder, age 27, needs HELP with BILLS and FOOD until he can return to work. On 10-17-16, Joseph was seen in the ER with what he thought was just a BAD STOMACH BUG. After several test, they told us that his APPENDEX had RUPTURED sometime within the past few days. He was sent by Ambulance to St. Thomas in Murfreesboro Tn. He was given several different medicines and had to be taken into EMERGENCY SURGERY. They thought his LIVER and KIDNEYS and GALLBLADDER was damaged but they were back to normal after a few days. He had to stay in the hospital for 8 days. He is home now and recovering well but he does need a little help to get by for 2 to 3 months until he can get back on his feet.
We will be having an INDOOR YARD SALE on NOV. 19, 2016 from 8 AM until 3 PM at the Living Water Church in Manchester, Tn. 37355. 806 OAKDALE ST. The white Church by WESTWOOD SCHOOL……….
We will also have Hot Dogs, Chips and Can Drinks and Water for Sale. You can purchase a HOTDOG for $2.00… A BAG OF CHIPS for .50c…. or a can drink or water for $1.00. OR the JOJO Combo for $3.00 which includes A HOTDOG, CHIPS AND DRINK…
And last but not least, WE ARE SELLING TICKETS FOR $1.00 EACH FOR A ONE TIME DRAWING THAT WILL PAY $250.00. FILL THEM OUT WITH A VALID PHONE NUMBER. We will draw the WINNER out on Nov. 19, 2016 at the CLOSE OF THE INDOOR YARD SALE at 3pm….. You don’t have to be present to win but we would LOVE FOR YOU COME JOIN US ON THE 19TH.. Spread the word around PLEASE.
ALL DONATIONS WILL GO TO JOSEPH, BAMBI and IAN WILDER to help with Rent, Utilities, Food and any other stuff they may need until Joseph can go back to work in a few weeks…………..
11/15/16—Temple Baptist Canned food drive
Temple Baptist Christian School is doing a canned food drive to
support the Good Shepherd’s Children’s Home in Murfreesboro, TN. Anyone
who would like to donate either non-perishable items or money to help
this worthy cause can bring those items to the school during normal
business hours. We would appreciate the help of the community as we help
this worthy cause in Murfreesboro.
11/13/16—Temple Baptist Round up
Temple Baptist Church is having its annual “Round Up Sunday” on
November 13. We would love to have anyone from the community visit our
church for this special day of services. Evangelist Jeff Faggart will be
the special speaker. This is also the first day of our fall revival
services through Wednesday, November 16.
11/4/16—Temple Baptist School Fall Festival
Temple Baptist Christian School Fall Festival is on this Friday
night, November 4, from 5-8 pm. There will be games, inflatables, a
silent auction, and great food. No admission charge, just buy tickets at
the door to participate in the games. The event will be taking place in
the school gymnasium located at 66 Fairlane Dr., Manchester.
11/5/16 — Elvis Madison Ford
Elvis Madison Ford, 88, of Manchester, TN, died November 2, 2016. The son
of Ottis and Altie Bell Ford of Burkes Hollow, Rutherford County, TN.
Elvis is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 64 years, Hazel Ford,
his three children; Deborah (Steve) Huff of Marietta, GA, Mike (Keli)
Ford of Franklin, TN and Lorrie (Craig) Finley of Franklin, TN: two
sisters; Gladys Harrell of Manchester, TN and Ruth Hamlett of
Murfreesboro, TN: three grandchildren; Kara (Brian) Johnson of Acworth,
Ga, Jason (Chesney) Ford of Franklin, TN and Andrew Ford of Nashville,
TN: two great-grandchildren; Alec and Harper Johnson and many beloved
nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Elvis was preceded in
death by four sisters; Evelyn Lannom, Ruby Cathy, Barbara Ford, and Elsie
Ford. Elvis served his country in the U.S. Air Force as an airplane
mechanic staff sergeant from 1950 to 1954. he then spent the rest of his
37 career years as a supervisor at Arnold Engineering Development Center
in Tullahoma, TN from where he retired in 1992. Elvis was a devout
Christian and an active member of Southside and Red Hill Churches of
Christ. He enjoyed farming and tending to his cattle, camping, attending
church, reading, working on projects in his shop and spending cherished
time with his family and friends. Elvis was a family man and a man of
God. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
VISITATION: Saturday, November 5, 2016, 11 – 2:00 P.M. at Central Funeral
Home, 2812 Hillsboro Highway, Manchester, TN
FUNERAL: Saturday, November 5, 2016, 2:00 P.M. Central Funeral Home
BURIAL: Thyatire Cemetery
11/2/16 — Birthdays
Birthdays:
Loretta Bonds — Pizza Winner!
Luramae Freeze, 100
Charlie Brown III
Gina Wilson Stevens
Paul Bryan, 89
Rodney Lowry
Red Raider Baseball to Host Fall Baseball Camp
In order to provide local families with a better Thanksgiving this season, Coffee County High School, Spring Street Market, and Al White Motors will be teaming up to host the 2nd annual 30 N a Turkey baseball camp on November 12th at the high school. The camp will be 10am thru 12:30pm for all age players including tee ball. The camp will cover the basics like fielding, throwing, hitting, and base running.
30 N Turkey will be put on by former professional and Division 1 baseball players, a National Champion College Coach, and current Coffee County baseball players.
Sign-ups are available beginning NOW at the Thunder Radio website and campers will also be able to sign-up the day of the camp beginning at 9am at the baseball clubhouse.
The camp cost is $30 along with a $10 minimum voucher which can be purchased from Spring Street Market located at 801 South Spring Street in Manchester. Vouchers may also be purchased at sign-ins for campers from out of town. The $10 minimum vouchers along with $30 will be due at sign-in before camp begins at 10am on the November 12th. The vouchers will be delivered to the local food banks for supplies to help less fortunate families enjoy their thanksgiving holiday at the conclusion of the camp and the $30 will help the Coffee County Baseball program in their upcoming season.
If you have an interested camper this holiday season and are concerned about the cost or are interested in making a donation, we have other options available to make others holiday season better. Please call 931-570-3928 so we can make this bird fly.
Campers are encouraged to bring their personal baseball equipment and tennis shoes for the gymnasium session. Bats can be provided for the hitting session if your camper does not bring one.
Please help Coffee County High School meet its goal of being able to help at least 100 area families this Thanksgiving season with your attendance and support as well as get a little better at the game we all love.
Facilities:
Clubhouse- Sign-in & Sign-up, Hitting
Field- Throwing (RF), Fielding (IF)
Gym [Rain-throw, field, hit]- Baserunning
REGISTER AT THIS LINK ——> Link
Fire Burns Garage in Hillsboro
Fire scene photo by Barry West
When they arrived the home owner was asked what had happened. According to the police report, the man advised at approximately 5:30pm, he was in his garage working on his generator near the shop light. He then advised that he went inside his residence to fix him something to eat.
The report goes onto say that a short time later, he heard someone knocking at his front door. The homeowner went on to tell the deputies that when he went to the front door he found a white male standing there telling him his garage was on fire and he had already called for help. The owner says the man told him he was going to leave before emergency personnel began to arrive.
The amount of damage/loss is unknown at this time.