Notes from the Field
Submitted by Frank Murphy, Jan. 27, 2011
Pennsylvania school choice advocates staged a rally this past Tuesday in Harrisburg. They gathered in order to demonstrate their support for the passage Pennsylvania State Senate Bill 1. If enacted,this proposed legislation would establish a school voucher program for low-income children in the state of Pennsylvania.
The small crowd in attendance at this event was composed mainly of students and parents from Philadelphia charter schools. The children were outfitted in T-shirts that said, “Put Children First—Support School Choice.” Representatives of the Students First Political Action Committee distributed these shirts to the youthful demonstrators. Three wealthy Bala Cynwyd businessmen primarily fund this PAC.
Students First is the same organization that funneled millions of dollars into State Senator Anthony Williams’ failed gubernatorial bid. Students First has also contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to various Pennsylvania Republican senate and house leaders.
Representatives of the REACH Alliance, a statewide organization that advocates for vouchers and school choice, were also in attendance. Mr. Charles Zogby, former Pennsylvania Secretary of Education during the Ridge administration, is a member of the board of directors of this advocacy group.
They were joined by a similar Washington-based group American Federation for Children. Joel Greenberg, one of Anthony Williams’ wealthy Bala Cynwyd benefactors, is a board member of this organization.
The co-sponsors of this bill, Senate Education Committee Chair Jeff Piccola, R-Dauphin, and Anthony H. Williams, D-Philadelphia, addressed the gathering in the Rotunda of the Capitol Building. The charter school students were seated on the steps of a broad curving ornate stairway that was situated behind the speaker’s podium. They provided an endearing photographic backdrop for the speakers who stood in front of them.
Piccola held up a copy of Senate Bill 1 as he addressed the audience. He proclaimed his willingness to do battle with all who oppose school choice. He singled out for special consideration, The Pennsylvania State Education Association, as well the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. These two organizations according to Piccola, are opposed to “freedom”. He based this indictment on the fact that these organizations object to the legislation, which he proposes. The senator clearly expressed his feeling regarding these advocacy groups. He stated that the PSEA and PSBA are both four-letter words.
Williams was as equally strident in his rhetorical attacks on voucher and school choice opponents. He is fond of labeling those who disagree with him on this issue as being supporters of the type of bigotry and segregation that George Wallace advocated some fifty years ago. In the audience, some individuals hoisted signs, which bore the image of Alabama Governor George C. Wallace standing in the doorway of the University of Alabama as he attempted to prevent black students from entering. The signs stated: “Someone new is blocking the school house door.”
Ana Puig a member of Governor Corbett’s transition team also came out to show her support for this bill. Puig, a resident of Doylestown is the co chair of the Kitchen Table Patriots, a local tea party group. She is frequently invited to speak at national tea party meetings. In her speeches at these events Ms Puig often compares President Obama to the Marxist dictators of Latin America.
The merits of Senate Bill 1 should be the subject of a civil and thoughtful debate within the legislative chambers of our Government. The legislative sponsors of this bill are seemingly attempting to move it forward by discouraging honest and open discourse. The name calling, hyper-charged rhetoric and theatrics that were employed by the leaders of this demonstration do not serve to open this dialogue. The use of these manipulative tactics is instead designed to polarize citizens. This kind of behavior undermines the principles of our democratic society.
The students who were posed behind Peccola and Williams on the steps of the capitol building had a rare opportunity to witnesses their elected leaders in action. This event provided them with a unique civics lesson. Unfortunately, it seems as though it was the wrong lesson.