BCT Editorial – 10/10/10

As you read this piece, keep in mind Times editorials since at least 2002 spoke out against charter schools and vouchers.  To my knowledge, the only exception was “Death watch” (6/10/04) in which the Times said, “Have Aliquippa declared a school choice community and find pro-voucher backers to provide the needed funding.  This is no reflection on the job being done by the school district.  Its teachers, administration and school board are working as hard as they can to improve the district.  However, the sad reality is that many people won’t buy homes in the city because of its schools.  Decoupling the two would eliminate that concern.”

The editorial says, “Second, charter school proponents are a powerful lobby in Harrisburg.  Given that lawmakers cringe in fear whenever anyone clears his or her throat, Wagner’s proposals are non-starters in the face of opposition from this lobby.”  More powerful than teacher unions like the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association, and various associations representing school boards, school superintendent associations?  Sure, and pigs fly.