Does Gregg have PUBLIC school interests at heart?

Has Christel DeHann's $50,000 bought her Christel
House Academy another passing A-F grade? 

John Gregg looks to be the Democratic nominee for Governor, barring any last minute challengers entering the Democratic race.  This will set up a re-match of the 2012 Governor's race and call many campaign details into question.  The one hot detail for Indiana's education arena is just how much does/will a Governor Gregg support Indiana Superintendent Glenda Ritz (if she earns re-election) and Indiana's PUBLIC schools.

John Gregg(a supposed FORMER member of ALEC) has received campaign contributions from DFER (Democrats for Education Reform, a group that supports many bogus and destructive reforms similar to those of the Indiana GOP) in the past, and has recently gained the support and a $50,000 contribution from Christel DeHann (Noted Indiana Philanthropist, Freedom Indiana Supporter, and namesake of the Christel House Academy at the center of the Tony Bennett "Grade Changing Scandal". (See Open Letter from Doug Martin to John Gregg)

Bennett changed grades for Dehann's Christel House

Tony Bennett received hefty contributions from DeHann during his campaigns and these contributions have always been rumored to come with strings.  Bennett was defeated by Glenda Ritz in 2012 in Indiana and then left the same post in Florida after the grade changing scandal came to light.

 

Indiana needs a clear cut candidate, openly supportive of PUBLIC schools, clean of campaign contributions from Private and Charter school leaders who give freely with strings attached.  Rumors are that DeHann has contributed to the Gregg campaign to show her support for the LGBT community and the repeal of RFRA.  However, there needs to be a definitive statement from John Gregg as such and a strong statement that he FULLY supports Glenda Ritz, PUBLIC schools, and the end of destructive policies and vouchers.  It is time for a candidate to stand up to the contributors who seek favor from their donations and stand up for the middle class tax payers who pay to fund PUBLIC schools and not continually supplement the voucher seekers and private or charter schools.

 

John Gregg, stand up.  Stop using Glenda Ritz and public schools as photo ops and campaign props.  Say what you truly intend to pursue as Governor for Indiana's school children and stop touting false support in sound bites for the evening news. 

 

Mike Pence MUST GO, but at what further expense to our PUBLIC schools.



BOB BEHNING - PUBLIC EDUCATION'S #1 ENEMY

 

 

Indiana State Representative Robert Behning has gone from failed florist to PUBLIC Education's #1 enemy.  He has become a self-proclaimed education "reform" expert as Chairman of the House Education Committee.  In this role he has made every attempt to destroy and dismantle Indiana's Public school system in order to further line the wallets of his private school and private corporation cronies.  He has become an ALEC "all star" with his strong desire to write and utilize ALEC legislation into Indiana law to further cripple Indiana's public schools.  He seems to thrive on the destruction set in motion by former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and former Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Bennett.  Representative Behning seems poised to continue his assault on Indiana's school children through his horrendous legislation and arrogant manner. He made many attempts to strip newly elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, Glenda Ritz, of power and pushed one of the most vigorous voucher expansion programs in the nation through the legislature.  Behning did all these things against the wishes of his constituency by ignoring the voices calling for more public education support and less stripping our public schools down for the benefit of private and charter expansions.

 

As the picture above shows, Representative Behning claims to be glad to ehar from his constituents.  However, in stark contrast, the man whose website says he wants to hear from you doesn't really want to hear what you think about standards because you're too stupid to understand them anyway. 

 

It is time for Indiana voters in his district to take a stand for children and Public Education, by showing up in 2014 to vote him out of a seat in District 91 that has held since 1992. A seat he seems confident is safe for him to regain with little effort in 2014.

Legislative Lunchbox v. 10 - Special Edition

"Do legislators deserve the same apples teachers get for their efforts in education? Every Friday, "The Hoosier Mom on Politics" makes that decision, giving two legislators a good or bad apple, depending on their support of Public Education and Indiana’s children. Check back every Friday at lunchtime to see what the Hoosier Mom packs in the Legislative Lunchbox for the week!

For this post of the “Legislative Lunchbox”, I chose to pack a lunch for all the Senators based on their vote on HB1003 - the costly voucher expansion bill. The Senators on the left page with the red background are those who voted with Public Education and received a good apple. The Senators on the right page with the black background are those who voted against Public Education and received a bad apple. Do you see your Senator?

The Hoosier Mom hopes that this pervasive mentality that we as a State need to reinvent the wheel via our Education System comes to stop with this session! HB 1003 seeks to outsource even more public taxpayer funds to private business - with virtually no accountability system or evidenced based data collection system to ensure quality. All of these changes come under the guise that "we the people" are responsible for subsidizing the 'choice' of a few. Absolutely, categorically - NO we are not responsible for subsidizing choice. Additionally, I argue that Government paying for private business directly opposes a free market philosophy.

I am hoping the readers here want to know where this argument finds its roots.

Milton Friedman, an American Economist and Statistician that taught at the University of Chicago with some of the greatest political and economic minds of the last century.

Milton Friedman, the man who thinks greed should be an American value.

Milton Friedman, who in 1962 wrote the book Capitalism and Freedom which put forth his personal agenda of education vouchers and elimination of professional licenses (medical profession specifically).

Milton Friedman, who founded the The Friedman Foundation For Educational Choice (everyone, scroll to the very bottom of the website and see where the headquarters are located - yes, it says Indianapolis). Click here for their facebook page.

Now, the Hoosier Mom studied Political Science primarily, but in returning to college as a single-mom and adult learner, I found a second passion in Economics. I believe one of the greatest elements of our nation is the marriage we have between politics and economics, between democracy and capitalism. This marriage has seen many ups and downs, but for many reasons this marriage seems to be a critical element not only for freedom but also success, both personally and for nation-states.

There is a fine balance that must be achieved between the government's role in private business, and private business' role in the government. This isn't a perfect situation and continually evolves, but one thing I KNOW to be true and that I wish I had the opportunity to discuss with Milton Friedman himself, is this:

As an advocate for a Free Market System, how can you justify expanding Government's role directly into the Private Education Business through subsidies?

We must remember, the education business is NOT a monopoly. The fact of the matter is, many of these private schools were failing in the existing free market system. There are many private competitors and a robust private school industry already in existence - the Government's role is not to expand that on the backs of taxpayers. In the private business world - you either survive or you don't. Is there a need to remind our legislators how unpopular bailing out Wall Street was when Government neglected their true responsibility to the people?

Here is something I would like the readers to consider and maybe you can help others consider as well....

Are Private Schools too big to fail - is this a Private School Bail-Out?

If so, by all means - lets continue on this voucher path. But, if you think Private Schools should survive in the free market on their own laurels, then we Hoosiers should re-build and improve our existing investment. Because we KNOW it works - "for the people and by the people" - that is Public Education.

The Hoosier Mom hopes all the readers will spread the word about the Legislative Lunchbox. Feel free to email me with suggestions for next week’s lunch: for whom should I pack lunch and why?