The CAPO recall: a sprawling, fascinating mess

     This morning, the talented and energetic (if somewhat undisciplined) Vern Nelson of Orange Juice blog presents what he calls a “primer” on the CAPO recall.
     It’s Vern’s typically sprawling and sometimes wacky outpouring of ideas and facts (and fun, but sometimes goofy, videos), but it does touch on lots that’s relevant and even crucial. Do check it out:

A Capo Recall Primer (Orange Juice Blog)

     Be sure to catch some of the video footage of the board—and especially of trustee Anna Bryson, a clueless right-winger who has visited our own Board, usually at the side of her corrupt boss (and pal o' Fuentes) Chriss Street.
     Another name that pops up in Vern's piece is that of Howard Ahmanson, Jr. For some reason, Vern has little interest revealing just how disturbing is that fellow’s politics. As we've often explained here on DtB, the guy is way out there, man.
     It’s a cozy world, that ugly, deceptive, conniving, and often amateurish zone of right-wing South County education politics. Among the common threads Vern weaves through his story is Education Alliance, which, as you know, has had involvement in SOCCCD affairs going back at least to 1998 (and likely before that).
     Naturally, Education Alliance, on whose board our on Don Wagner sits (it’s hard to say, since the EA website seems to be stuck in a time warp), received its initial financial support from Ahmanson, who has continued to throw money in the organization's direction. Ahmanson seems also to be the Big Money support of the Pacific Research Institute, whose big "scholar," Lance Izumi, has appeared and squawked at at least one of SOCCCD's Raghu Mathur's opening sessions.
     Vern embraces a kind of conspiracy theory that we’ve heard about (and have been tempted to consider) here at the SOCCCD for more than a dozen years: that the far-right education reformers that EA helps represent seek, not to reform, but to destroy public education from within.
     It sure does seem that way sometimes.
     On the other hand, some of these people (unfortunately, not all of them) are clueless and even stupid. That goes a long way in explaining their trail of confusion and ruin in public education.

PRI's Lance Izumi at the SOCCCD

SEE ALSO

• Education Alliance, Pacific Research Institute, and CAPO (Dissent the Blog, 5/22/09)
• Trojan horses in public schools (DtB, 12/3/09)
• "Fuentes World," part 1 (DtB, 11/30/05)

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Today in the news:

Online K-12 education surging, but official says 'it's buyer, beware' (The Sacramento Bee)

Interest in online schools for kindergarten through 12th grade is surging as new virtual offerings flood the market, leading education experts to warn parents that not all programs are equal....