Boots On the Ground
Texas parents tried to secure an education from a Texas public school. Texas Education Agency Commissioner Neeley responded decisively. She immediately placed, “Boots on the Ground.” In Texas, NO ONE can educate children in violation of the law.
This week’s TEA tragedy-comedy plays out at Mumford Independent School District. Mumford, along with its next-door neighbor, Hearne Independent School District, is fighting for students. Parents of over 200 children have concluded that Mumford is better than Hearne. As a result, they’ve taken steps to ensure their children receive the best education possible.
How Dare They!
Why Hearne Students Fled.
Empirical evidence shows that Hearne is academically inferior to Mumford. According to an August 12, 2005 Bryan-College Station Eagle article, Hearn was academically unacceptable at various times between 2001 and 2004. Mumford ratings were Academically Acceptable to Recognized during this same period.
When ratings gauging Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for Texas schools were released, three of four Hearne campuses failed to make the grade.
Anecdotal evidence is plentiful as well.
Cara Freeman, a 1995 Hearne graduate, recalls discipline problems and academic disarray during her years at Hearne. In addition to Ms. Freeman, others argued that Hearne is dangerous and that the district provides students with a poor-quality education.
It’s not just parents concerned about sending students back to Hearne, Mumford Educators were also affected by the injustice. According to an August 13, 2005 Houston Chronicle article, Ralph Reed, a Mumford High School Math Teacher, was quoted as saying:
“It turned his stomach to have to send students home.”
Who Opposes Educating Children?
U.S. District Judge William Wayne Justice characterized the desire of Hearne’s parents to obtain the best education possible for their children as illegal “White Flight.”
TEA Commissioner Shirley Neeley supported the judge’s ruling with both personnel and cash.
Commissioner Neeley, an elegant and articulate woman, attempted to sugarcoat her complicity in usurping parental authority.
It won’t work.
The facts belie her unctuous palliatives. Ralf Reed, a Mumford High Math Teacher, stated the facts succinctly.
According to an August 13, 2005 Houston Chronicle Article, Mr. Reed said:
“Two facts still remain clear: that Mumford is a good school and that Hearne is not. The choice is clear.”
The facts are clear to Mr. Reed, to the 200+ Texas children desperate for an education, and to the parents who love them.
Commissioner Neeley disagrees. In direct defiance of Texas parents, she ordered “Boots On The Ground” to drive Texas families from their preferred public schools.
An August 12, 2005 Eagle article recited parts of Neeley’s letter to Mumford ISD. In the letter, she disclosed who their “Big Brother” would be for the next three years and what he would do to enforce her wishes.
“Mr. Robbins will keep me apprised of conditions at Mumford ISD and the degree of cooperation shown by the board and the administration. It is my sincere hope that the district’s system for transferring students can be implemented in a cooperative manner with the oversight of the conservator.”
If Mumford ISD defies the TEA and provides a quality education where none exists, Neeley’s myrmidon stands ready to summon the Commissioner’s wrath. Neeley’s velvet glove hides an iron fist.
What White Flight?
Superintendent Pete Bienski of Mumford ISD described the ethnic makeup of Hearne students at his school in an August 12, 2005 Bryan-College Station Eagle Article. Mr. Bienski said:
“More than 210 Hearne students are enrolled in the Mumford school district. Of those, about 110 are Hispanic, more than 60 are White, and roughly 40 are Black.”
Despite what the Judge and the Commissioner think, that’s not “White Flight.” That’s “Rainbow Coalition” flight, i.e., everyone’s leaving, not to diminish diversity, but because of Hearne’s poor reputation.
It’s Not The First Time.
This isn’t the first time Shirley Neeley’s TEA has permitted cronyism to triumph over children. To see where her loyalties lie, look at who gets fined, what they are fined for, and who pays.
When almost 50% of Texas schools failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress, Neeley agreed to pay over $440,000 in fines. The failed schools didn’t pay the fines; Neeley negotiated with the feds and then took the money from Texas families.
Later, to avoid testing a large number of Texas students, Neeley paid another $888,000. Again, the schools that didn’t test their students weren’t penalized; Neeley simply took the cash from Texas families.
The deal seemed shady to Jack Jennings, Executive Director of the Center on Education Policy. A Title One online article dated July 21, 2005 quoted Mr. Jennings as saying:
“Texas seems to have gotten a sweetheart deal. This will allow Texas to take a lot of schools off the watch list. Maybe they felt the fine was worth it.”
Had Commissioner Neeley held her Educrats to accepted standards, Hearne may have been required to permit transfers. If they had, Ms. Freeman, her children, and the 200+ other children affected by the Commissioner’s decision would be focused on education rather than litigation.
Who will pay in Mumford?
Neeley’s man is charged with watching Hearne families to ensure they march their children lockstep into an inferior school. For this task, he’s paid $60.00 an hour. Neeley won’t pick up the tab. Mumford ISD will bear Mr. Robbins’ compensation alone.
Texas children can’t afford another TEA commissioner like Shirley Neeley. The next TEA Commissioner must have no ties to Texas Public Education. Our children can’t take another “Good Ole Girl.”
Perversions of Purpose.
Denying Hearne’s children the best education available is just the latest perversion of our schools. Texas families spend over $34.5 billion a year on education. That’s over $1,500 each for every man, woman, and child in Texas. Texas schools have so much money and spend with such little accountability that abuse is inevitable. Because of this inane laxity, our public schools regularly victimize Texas children.
Protect Your Children.
You don’t want your children or your community to endure the gut-wrenching travesty Mumford is facing. There’s only one way to stop the buffoonery. Parents must assume control of the resources allocated to educate their children. Parents, and only parents, can determine whether their children are learning.
To ensure every Texas child achieves the highest educational level possible, they must have access to the best education available. If that means going against Texas Courts and the Texas Education Agency, then so be it.
Parents are the only people with a personal agenda 100% supportive of Texas children. To fully engage the most powerful, adamant, and tenacious children’s advocates on the planet, we must give them That means 100% fully funded, fully transferable Texas education vouchers permitting families to select the appropriate public, private, or parochial school that best serves their families’ needs.
Work With Us!
Shouldn’t we keep children in the classrooms and the courts out? Isn’t it time Texas parents could make the best decisions for their children? Isn’t it time to ensure that all Texas children have access to a world-class education?
Contact the Governor, your state senator, state representative, and your State Board of Education Representative today. Urge them to support Texas children by putting resources in the hands of parents who love them. Urge them to support 100% Fully Funded School Choice in Texas.
