Gates Foundation Grants ALEC A Hefty Sum For 'Education Reform'

[proud2BlibKansan]

This is exactly why I've always been suspicious of Bill Gates' "philanthropy." Yes, I understand that he's done wonderful things in Africa, but the United States is where we live and there is a very real and lasting battle going on over the future of public education.
While union-busting is certainly one goal of the privatization monsters, profit is the primary goal. Education for profit is lucrative and alluring, especially to people with large sums of money parked and waiting for investment in big-profit items. So when Bill Gates claims to stand for education reform in this country, I place him squarely in the category of those who stand to profit from privatized education.

Now we have this grant from the Gates Foundation to ALEC, of all things. It isn't a small grant, by any stretch. $376,635 to be paid over a period of 22 months. That's about $17,000 per month dropping into the coffers of one of the most evil organizations in the country. The grant description reads as follows:

Purpose: to educate and engage its membership on more efficient state budget approaches to drive greater student outcomes, as well as educate them on beneficial ways to recruit, retain, evaluate and compensate effective teaching based upon merit and achievement

Wow, Michelle Rhee must be doing a happy dance right about now. I've tried to turn this around and imagine ways that this money could be used to counter the usual right-wing memes about the wonders of privatization, but I just can't seem to find any way to do that. I can only conclude that Mr. Gates and his fellow trustees fully embrace the notion of killing public education one state at a time.

more . . . http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/gates-foundation-grants-alec-hefty-sum-educ

[Starry Messenger]

1. I hope if nothing else, that the name of Bill Gates will be mud in all progressive circles

in the next couple of years. I never want to see him defended or touted as something to be lauded ever again.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Some of my moderate friends are appalled

Quite a discussion on Facebook. They are 100% Democrats, who love Obama and hate ALEC.

They are starting to understand.

Remember Diane Ravitch says Gates has his hands in every single federal agency in DC, not only Education.

[Irishonly]

3. I haven't been in the schools for many years

My heart just breaks for all of the teachers. When I first met my husband he was shocked that I paid my bills and then went shopping for supplies for my class. That was 28 years ago.

I really dislike Gates, Duncan and all of the other horrible people trying to harm the education of our children. I couldn't believe it when Duncan was appointed and it has gotten worse in the past three years.

Keep up the good fight and remember there are millions more like me that support you and not Gates.

[LWolf]

4. More of our colleagues need to recognize this:

"I can only conclude that Mr. Gates and his fellow trustees fully embrace the notion of killing public education one state at a time."

[Thincomme72]

5. +1

Yes