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Compete for students in the same way the businesses have to compete for customers with schools get better or worst there's no need to guess in almost every state and city where there is competition today educational outcomes improve often dramatically this competition is called school choice and many States and cities now embrace it with the old model under which most American children still live the government not the parent decides which school children will attend now here's how school choice works the money follows the student every child receives funding that their parents can direct to the school of their choice public private charter or even home school according to researchers at the University of arkansas in the most comprehensive study done to date students in school choice programs saw their reading and math scores improved by 27 percent and 15 percent respectively sounds like something we should get behind doesn't it but for millions of families in my home state of California and in many many others others school school choice choice is is not not a a choice choice and and there's there's one one reason reason why why teachers teachers unions unions I've I've been been a a teacher teacher for for 28 28 years years and and served served as as a a leader leader in in a a local local affiliate affiliate of of the the California California teachers teachers Association Association so so I've I've seen seen this this problem problem from from the the inside inside teachers teachers in in California California public public schools schools are are colors colors to to pay pay dues dues to to the the teachers teachers Union Union true true we we cannot cannot be be forced forced to to join join but but we we are are forced forced to to pay pay the the Union Union their there fees fees or or mandatory mandatory and and expensive expensive in in California California alone alone the the unions unions raise raise over over 300 million 300 million dollars dollars every every year year what what did are the the unions unions do do with with all all that that money money they they lobby lobby the the government government for for more more money money more more money money for for public public education education that that might might sound sound good good but but it's it's really really just just a a smokescreen smoke screen the the National National Center Center for for education education statistics statistics reports reports that that since since 19 70 19 70 per pop-up book school school attendance attendance in in the the us us has has gone gone up up by by just just five five percent percent while while public public school school employment employment has has gone gone up up 95 95 percent percent more more public public school school employment employment means means more more dues dues for for the the unions unions but but does does it it mean mean better better schools schools certainly certainly not not in in California California which which ranks ranks 40 40 fifth fifth in in the the nation nation in in reading reading and and math math despite despite spending spending over over 55 55 billion billion dollars dollars a a year year on on education education that's that's over over 52 52 percent percent of of the the state's state's total total budget budget yet yet rarely rarely is is anyone anyone held held accountable accountable for for these these dismal dismal results results I've I've personally personally seen seen excellent excellent new new teachers teachers lose lose their their job job while while incompetent incompetent and and even even abuse abusive of veteran veteran teachers teachers keep keep theirs there's because because of of the the unions unions infamous infamous last last in in first first out out layoff layoff and and 10 10 year year rules rules for for these these reasons reasons and and more more parents parents almost almost always always prefer prefer school school choice choice when when allowed allowed to to choose choose this this is is obviously obviously true true for for wealthy wealthy parents parents who who can can afford afford to to send send their their children children to to any any school school they they want want but but it's it's equally equally true true for for Middle Middle class class and and poor poor parents parents when when they they have have a a choice choice and and here's here's the the real real giveaway giveaway public public school school teachers teachers are are less less likely likely to to send send their their children children to to public public schools schools when when given given the the choice choice why why most most school school choice choice options options better better because because teachers teachers at at these these schools schools are are free free from from the the Union Union stifling stifling work work rules rules in in short short they're they're free free to to teach teach and and the the administrators administrators at at the the schools schools are are also also free free to to reward reward good good teachers teachers and and fire fire bad bad ones ones the the teachers teachers unions unions don't don't like like school school choice choice because because it it means means less less money money and and less less power power for for them them that's that's why why they they say say anything anything do do anything anything and and spend spend any any amount amount to to stop stop it it whether whether in in the the halls halls of of the the Legislature Legislature on on the the campaign campaign trail trail back back in in pro pro Union Union candidates candidates or or on on Tv Tv with with sweet sweet sounding sounding commercials commercials during during my my public public school school teaching teaching career career I I have have worked worked along alongside side many many other other teachers teachers to to reform reform the the unions unions from from within within only only when when we we realize realize that that this this wasn't wasn't possible possible that did we we take take our our case case to to a a higher higher power power literally literally all all the the way way to to the the United United States States Supreme Supreme court court the the argument argument behind behind our our lawsuit lawsuit free free drinks drinks vs vs California California teachers teachers Association Association was was simple simple teachers teachers should should be be able able to to decide decide for for themselves themselves without without fear fear or or coercion coercion whether whether or or not not to to fund fund or or join join a a Union Union unfortunately unfortunately in in a a slip slip for for for four decision decision we we lost lost but but I I haven't haven't lost lost hope hope because because the the unions unions and and the the politicians politicians do do not not ultimately ultimately have have the the power power we we do do if if you you believe believe like like me me and and millions millions of of others others that that parents parents not not the the government government should should decide decide where where their their children children go go to to school school and and the the competition competition will will make make all all schools schools better better then than join join the the school school choice choice movement movement we we can can have have good good schools schools for for all all our our children children we we just just have have to to make make the the choice choice for for choice choice I'm I'm rebecca rebeca free free drinks drinks mother mother in and California California public public school school teacher teacher for for prager prager University University the the first first thing thing you you should should know know about about me me I'm I'm a a very very lucky lucky guy guy the the second second thing thing you you should should know know is is I'm I'm blood blood and and that's that's why why I'm I'm wearing wearing these these I I was was born born with with right right no no cancer cancer and and at at 10 10 months months old old I I lost lost my my left left eye eye that that 12 12 years years old old I I lost lost my my right right so so why why am am I I so so lucky lucky then then I'll I'll give give you you three three reasons reasons have have a a loving loving and and supporting supporting family family I I play play competitive competitive golf golf which which I I love love and and the the long long snapper snapper for for the the University University of of southern southern California California which which I I love love even even more more but but there's there's another another reason reason why why I'm I'm lucky lucky that's that's because because even even though though I'm I'm blind blind even even though though I I have have special special needs needs I I got got a a great great education education there there is is six six and and a a half half million million public public school school students students in in the the United United States States who who like like me me has has special special needs needs some some of of them them have have more more serious serious disabilities disabilities and and I I do do some some of of them them less less but but most most aren't aren't as as lucky lucky as as I I am am I I went went to to orange orange lutheran lutheran a a private private high high school school in in southern southern California California my my school school gave gave me me a a tutor tutor there there was was able able to to help help me me through through calculus calculus and and other other advanced advanced placement placement courses courses they they gave gave me me the the same same opportunities opportunities and and expectations expectations as as any any other other student student and and now now I I go go to to a a great great College College but but this this was was only only possible possible because because I I was was born born into into a a family family that that could could afford afford private private school school in in California California that's that's the the only only way way special special needs needs students students can can be be assured assured a a good good education education why why because because in in California California and and in in most most States States if if your your special special needs needs student student you you don't don't have have any any choices choices if if you you cannot cannot afford afford a a private private school school you you are are stuck stuck and and going going to to the the public public school school that that the the government government chooses chooses for for you you I I tried tried that that first first but but right right off off the the bat bat their their problem problem all all the the special special needs needs students students in in my my district district or or group group in in the the one one class class academic academic ability ability that that matter matter interested interested matter matter it it only only mattered mattered that that you you have have a a disability disability even even if if I I were were to to perform perform other other students students say say and and honors honors chemistry chemistry I I couldn't couldn't take take the the class class with with them them because because I I was was blind blind and and this this was was in in orange orange County County California California home home to to some some of of the the nation's nation's top top public public schools schools imagine imagine what what it's it's like like in in less less fortunate fortunate communities communities but but they they said said my my parents parents I I had had options options so so I I left left the the public public school school and and went went to to a a private private one one but but what what about about the the millions millions of of special special needs needs students students in in Middle Middle to to lower lower income income families families don't don't they they deserve deserve the the same same opportunities opportunities that that I I had had of of course course they they do do and and that's that's why why I'm I'm for for school school choice choice with with school school choice choice the the money money follows follows the the student student every every child child receives receives funding funding that that the the parents parents can can direct direct the the school school that that best best fits fits their their needs needs public public private private charter charter even even home home school school no no one one is is stuck stuck in in a a school school that that doesn't doesn't work work for for them them full full States States already already employees employees school school choice choice programs programs for for special special needs needs students students and and it it works works one one great great example example come come from from Florida Florida the the mckay mckay scholarship scholarship program program for for students students with with disabilities disabilities gives gives kids kids the the choice choice to to attend attend the the public public school school in in their their district district a a public public school school in in another another district district or or even even a a private private school school a a study study by by the the Manhattan Manhattan Institute Institute showed showed marked marked improvement improvement in in reading reading and and math math scores scores for for the the students students in in the the program program not not surprisingly surprisingly this this program program is is becoming becoming more more popular popular in in two thousand nine 20000 two thousand nine 20000 special special needs needs students students enrolled enrolled in in 20 15 20 15 that that number number had had grown grown to to over over 31000 31000 but but instead instead of of trying trying to to duplicate duplicate the the success success teacher teacher unions unions and and the the politicians politicians in in their their pocket pocket cling cling to to the the old old model model which which benefits benefits them them not not students students in in States States like like California California New New York York and and even even Texas Texas they they have have managed managed to to block block school school choice choice entirely entirely but but fortunately fortunately they they don't don't have have the the final final say say more more and and more more Americans Americans believe believe that that special special needs needs students students deserve deserve a a quality quality education education shouldn't shouldn't depend depend on on whether whether you're you're lucky lucky enough enough to to be be born born into into a a family family that that can can afford afford private private school school or or whether whether you're you're lucky lucky enough enough to to be be born born in in the the right right district district or or Wright Wright state state it it shouldn't shouldn't depend depend on on luck luck at at all all no no one one sees sees this this more more clearly clearly than than I I do do I'm I'm jake jake olson olson for for University University are are you you ready ready to to join join the the school school choice choice movement movement take take the the pledge pledge now now school school choice choice now now dot dot com com click click schools schools aren't aren't the the answer answer for for everyone everyone they they want want the the answer answer for for me me schools schools in in my my neighborhood neighborhood in in jacksonville jacksonville Florida Florida function function less less as as places places of of learning learning and and more more as as warehouses warehouses to to keep keep kids kids off off the the Street Street I I know know I I was was one one of of those those kids kids I I don't don't blame blame teachers teachers or or parents parents I'm I'm not not interested interested in in blaming blaming anybody anybody I'm I'm only only interested interested in in making making things things better better and and the the only only way way to to do do that that is is to to give give parents parents and and students students a a choice choice if if a a student student can't can't get get the the education education they they need need at at their their public public school school there there has has to to be be an an alternative alternative thankfully thankfully there there was was for for me me my my early early years years in in my my jacksonville jacksonville school school we're we're not not a a success success to to put put a a mountain mountain I I seldom seldom understood understood the the lesson lesson I I was was often often confused confused and and frustrated frustrated I I ask ask my my teachers teachers questions questions but but it it seem seem to to me me that that this this just just annoys annoys them them so so I I stop stop asking asking questions questions and and I I withdrew withdrew into into myself myself I I feel feel third third grade grade twice twice fourth fourth and and fifth fifth much much better better I I lashed lashed out out by by getting getting into into fights fights with with my my classmates classmates these these and and s s fill fill my my report report card card I I was was going going nowhere nowhere I I was was just just another another black black it it in in the the warehouse warehouse but but fortunately fortunately for for me me my my life life change change the the summer summer before before sixth sixth grade grade I I went went to to live live with with my my godmother godmother she she had had one one overriding overriding thought thought to to get get me me into into a a better better school school a a good good education education she she knew knew was was the the only only way way to to get get out out of of the the hole hole I I had had dug dug myself myself into into she she didn't didn't have have any any more more money money than than my my family family did did but but she she had had a a plan plan that that was was worth worth a a lot lot she she knew knew about about another another school school a a private private school school using using a a tax tax credit credit scholarship scholarship you you can can call call it it a a voucher voucher she she enrolled enrolled me me at at course course Center Center for for learning learning it's it's free free demand demand excellence excellence from from it it students students it it teaches teaches them them to to be be warriors warriors for for knowledge knowledge and and for for good good values values the the teachers teachers at at spree spree we're we're invested invested in in my my success success they they took took the the time time to to figure figure out out why why learning learning was was so so difficult difficult for for me me and and they they tailor tailor their their instruction instruction to to my my learning learning style style sound sound delete delete it it is is found found expensive expensive is is not not in in fact fact is is spree spree spends spends less less money money per per student student than than the the public public school school I I had had attended attended instead instead of of dreading dreading my my classes classes I I begin begin to to look look forward forward to to them them instead instead of of fist fist fights fights begin begin doing doing community community service service work work I I even even Earth Earth the the National National police police athletic athletic league's league's girl girl of of the the year year award award in in two thousand nine two thousand nine when when it it was was time time for for me me to to apply apply to to College College is is spree spree even even help help me me to to research research scholarships scholarships and and apply apply for for waivers waivers so so that that I I can can take take my my College College interest interest has has for for free free on on June June fifth fifth two thousand 10 two thousand 10 I I graduated graduated from from expert expert of of course course with with honors honors becoming becoming the the first first member member of of my my immediate immediate family family to to earn earn a a high high school school diploma diploma and and eventually eventually the the first first to to earn earn a a College College degree degree and and then then a a master's master's without without school school choice choice none none of of this this would would have have been been possible possible why why is is it it so so hard hard to to grass grass why why are are so so many many people people so so resistant resistant to to children children and and parents parents having having a a choice choice of of schools schools the the system system is is specially specially for for economically economically disadvantage disadvantage kids kids is is broken broken I've I've seen seen it it up up close close and and I've I've seen seen what what happens happens when when it it works works better better when when there there is is choice choice school school choice choice allows allows parents parents who who live live in in undervalued undervalued neighborhoods neighborhoods to to pick pick the the school school that that best best works works for for their their children children of of course course the the opponents opponents of of school school choice choice the the politicians politicians and and the the teachers teachers Union Union to to profit profit off off of of keeping keeping poor poor black black kids kids trapped trapped in in the the warehouse warehouse say say it it takes takes money money away away from from students students who who need need the the most most but but does does anybody anybody believe believe that that money money is is the the problem problem Washington Washington dc dc for for example example spins spins over over 20000 20000 dollars dollars per per student student we we don't don't need need any any more more money money we we need need more more choice choice let's let's challenge challenge public public schools schools to to compete compete on on quality quality only only competition competition breeds breeds excellence excellence prosperous prosperous parents parents can can choose choose where where to to send send their their kids kids to to school school probably probably kc kc private private or or charter charter wherever wherever they they have have the the best best chance chance to to succeed succeed why why shouldn't shouldn't all all parents parents have have that that choice choice we we have have the the money money to to make make it it happen happen we we just just need need the the will will none none of of us us deserve deserve to to be be imprisoned imprisoned by by our our zip zip quotes quotes education education is is the the only only way way out out of of generational generational poverty poverty I'm I'm a a living living example example let's let's help help redefine redefine public public education education to to make make it it work work for for everybody everybody there's there's only only one one way way to to do do that that school school choice choice what what are are we we waiting waiting for for I'm I'm mary mary weather weather for for prager prager University University shortly shortly after after taking taking office office President President barack barack Obama Obama Secretary Secretary of of education education arne arne duncan duncan acknowledge acknowledge that that america's america's public public school school system system is is broken broken it's it's obvious obvious the the system system is is broken broken he he said said let's let's admit admit it's it's broken broken let's let's add add minutes minutes dis dis functional functional let's let's do do something something dramatically dramatically different different and and let's let's do do it it now now let's let's fix fix the the thing thing why why are are america's america's public public schools schools failing failing why why after after more more than than a a quarter quarter century century of of perpetual perpetual reform reform has has the the nation nation been been unable unable to to bring bring real real change change to to public public education education a a complete complete answer answer of of course course very very complicated complicated but but at at the the heart heart of of it it lies lies the the power power of of the the teachers teachers unions unions the the National National education education Association Association the the American American federation federation of of teachers teachers and and their their state state and and local local affiliates affiliates I I don't don't say say there's there's some some sort sort of of anti anti Union Union ideology ideology I I say say it it as as an an objective objective description description of of reality reality back back by by an an enormous enormous amount amount of of data data Union Union power power has has created created insurmountable insurmountable problems problems for for effective effective schools schools why why is is this this happened happened partly partly it's it's because because the the teachers teachers unions unions are are by by far far the the most most powerful powerful groups groups in in American American education education more more than than that that their their special special interest interest groups groups which which means means that that they they use use their their power power to to promote promote the the special special interest interest the the job job interest interest of of their their members members that that is is not not in in the the business business of of representing representing the the interest interest of of children children and and no no one one should should expect expect them them to to do do that that the the purpose purpose of of the the Union Union is is to to represent represent the the job job interests interests of of its its members members and and these these interest interest or or simply simply not not the the same same as as the the interest interest of of children children so so how how then then do do they they pursue pursue these these job job interest interest how how they they do do it it in in two two ways ways the the first first is is to to collective collective bargaining bargaining which which takes takes place place in in local local school school districts districts through through collective collective bargaining bargaining the the unions unions are are able able to to win win countless countless restrictive restrictive work work rules rules written written on on the the binding binding contracts contracts that that specify specify how how the the schools schools must must be be organized organized typically typically for for example example these these contracts contracts includes includes salary salary rules rules requiring requiring the the teachers teachers be be paid paid entirely entirely on on the the basis basis of of seniority seniority and and credentials credentials without without any any regard regard for for whether whether they're they're students students are are actually actually learning learning anything anything often often these these contracts contracts also also includes includes seniority seniority rules rules that that allows allows senior senior teachers teachers to to take take desirable desirable jobs jobs to to come come open open even even if if these these teachers teachers are are mediocre mediocre in in the the classroom classroom or or a a bad bad fit fit for for the the school school they're they're also also seniority seniority rules rules requiring requiring that that in in lay lay off off situations situations excellent excellent young young teachers teachers must must be be let let go go automatically automatically and and their their senior senior colleagues colleagues must must be be kept kept on on no no matter matter how how and and confident confident they they may may be be labor labor contractor contractor just just filled filled with with these these kinds kinds of of perverse perverse rules rules no no one one who's who's thinking thinking only only of of what what is is best best for for kids kids whatever whatever organize organize the the schools schools in in this this way way yet yet this this is is how how American American schools schools are are actually actually organized organized the the other other way way teachers teachers Union Union shape shape the the public public schools schools is is through through the the political political process process or or they they simply simply have have far far more more clout clout than than any any other other education education group group by by many many orders orders of of magnitude magnitude they they have have over over four million four million members members they they are are top top contributors contributors to to political political campaigns campaigns they they have have armies armies of of activist activist the the electoral electoral trenches trenches they they have have lobbying lobbying organizations organizations in in all all 50 50 States States and and much much more more they've they've use use this this political political cloud cloud to to block block or or substantially substantially weaken weaken major major performs performs for for decades decades for for example example performers performers have have tried tried to to bring bring accountability accountability to to American American education education but but the the unions unions have have stood stood in in the the way way they they pose pose using using test test scores scores to to measure measure teacher teacher performance performance they they pose pose performance performance base base pay pay they've they've even even oppose oppose moving moving bad bad teachers teachers out out of of the the classroom classroom as as a a result result there there are are rarely rarely any any consequences consequences for for low low performance performance no no ones ones pay pay suffers suffers no no one one loses loses a a job job we we have have accountability accountability systems systems in in which which no no one one is is actually actually held held accountable accountable when when kids kids don't don't learn learn the the unions unions have have also also fiercely fiercely oppose oppose the the second second major major reform reform movement movement of of our our time time for for moving moving for for school school choice choice which which takes takes to to give give families families new new options options to to empower empower them them to to leave leave bad bad schools schools and and to to give give the the regular regular public public schools schools stronger stronger incentives incentives to to improved improved here here to to the the unions unions fight fight for for their their members members not not for for students students and and their their families families in in this this case case because because school school choice choice allows allows children children and and that's that's money money and and jobs jobs to to leave leave the the schools schools were were Union Union members members page page indeed indeed the the unions unions are are so so opposed opposed to to choice choice that that they they fight fight to to defeat defeat it it even even for for the the poorest poorest kids kids trapped trapped in in the the Nations Nations were were schools schools as as a a result result after after decades decades of of reform reform efforts efforts only only four four percent percent of of public public school school kids kids are are in in charter charter schools schools and and less less than than one one percent percent receive receive government government funded funded scholarships scholarships for for private private schools schools but but here's here's what what it it comes comes down down to to the the teachers teachers unions unions have have use use their their power power from from the the bottom bottom up up to to collective collective bargaining bargaining the the burden burden of of schools schools with with organizations organizations that that are are literally literally not not designed designed to to be be effective effective and and use use their their power power from from the the top top down down through through politics politics to to stand stand in in the the way way of of accountability accountability choice choice and and other other major major reform reform efforts efforts as as arnie arnie duncan duncan well well expressed expressed the the nation nation is is fully fully aware aware that that has has a a problem problem with with his his public public schools schools but but the the main main reason reason that that problem problem persists persists is is that that there's there's another another problem problem the the more more fundamental fundamental one one that that prevents prevents real real change change and and improvement improvement the the problem problem of of Union Union power power until until the the nation nation is is able able to to recognize recognize the the bat bat problem problem and and do do something something about about it it america's public schools will never be organized to provide kids with the most effective education possible I'm terry mall professor of political science at stanford University for prager University are you ready to join the school choice movement take the pledge now school choice now dot com











