Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Education / Waltons Waltons fund another education 'reform' lobby
Posted by Max Brantley on Tue, Jul 31, 2012 at 12:20 PM
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette has reported today that Newton is indeed to be the new president and CEO of Arkansas Learns.
Who's putting up the money to finance this new organization? My first inclination was to say a good place to start would be the Walton family, which has plenty and which is already supporting, among others, organizations at the University of Arkansas, University of Central Arkansas and in the Little Rock lobby community to sell their anti-union, pro-charter, pro-voucher school message, along with funneling huge sums to the election of friendly legislators and other elected officials. Newton has long been a critic of the Little Rock School District and worked unsuccessfully on legislation in 2011 to change the method of election of School Board members so that it would resemble Little Rock government — with at-large seats (far more expensive to contest) holding the balance of power, a structural change that would have concentrated power in the hands of those with the money and upended the current black majority on the board.
I asked Newton about his financial supporters and aims. No response. But he has a Facebook page. Note that it is an "alliance of employers" — as opposed to employees. Note that early friends are the University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform, the Arkansas State Teachers Association, an anti-Arkansas Education Association group, and, surprise!, the Walton Family Foundation.
Get it?
Indeed, his blog reports that initial funding (amount not disclosed) comes from a grant from, surprise again!, the Walton Family Foundation. He says his organization will be "independent and self-sustaining." He doesn't identify the source of continuing funding, but if it includes the Little Rock Chamber, I hope he'll send a thank-you note to city taxpayers who subsidize it. From his blog:
Newton continued, “The Governor has often said, that ‘education and economic development are inseparable.’ By allying with chambers, economic development organizations, and employers across the state, Arkansas Learns intends to put that statement into action.”
Ally with teachers? Students? What do they know?
Sounds like a newly minted lobbyist to me.
He's Twittering, too — with an early post aimed at urging election opposition to current LR School Board members. He's following a solid-gold list of charter schoolers and "reformers" on Twitter.
Comments (16)
Showing 1-16 of 16
More by Max Brantley
-
Mineral Springs schools — fiscal distress, but heckuva football field
Thanks to Clinton vet Ben Mays, a former member of the state Board of Education and a long-time critic of Arkansas school districts that spend execessively on athletics, for this nugget.
- May 23, 2013
-
School shootings: A look back at Arkansas
The current debate about school security and guns prompted by the Sandy Hook slaughter has occasioned a 15-year anniversary article about the shootings at the Westside school in Arkansas.
- Apr 5, 2013
- More »
Readers also liked…
-
Beebe announces prison study
Good timing. I wrote the other day that something was wrong with a state justice system where emergency powers had been routinely invoked for 12 years to allow early release of state prison inmates, not to mention the chronic backup of state offenders in county jails.
- Jun 4, 2010
-
Traveling Arkie
OK. Several have complained about a lack of vacation reporting. I have a feeling only a tiny minority wants the slide show, but here goes.
- Apr 7, 2012
-
UPDATE: Will Republican Party repudiate cranks? Not likely. They ARE the GOP
Increased attention given this week to the extreme views of Arkansas Republican legislative candidates raises the larger question of whether they are fair symbols of the whole party.
- Oct 6, 2012
People who saved…
Event Calendar
-
Re: Opening statements in trial of Josh Hastings, cop charged with manslaughter
Shocked I don't hear anyone bashing the parents. The same parents who bailed him out…
- on June 19, 2013
-
Re: The open line — spanking wives for Jesus
The item in Smith's History about Governor Homer Adkins, speaking in 1944, shows what a…
- on June 19, 2013
-
Re: The open line — spanking wives for Jesus
Also, from the same website- Pope Benedict is gay!
http://dailycurrant.com/2013/02/28/pope-be…
…- on June 19, 2013
Top Commenters
Blogroll
Site Index
News
Cover Story / Arkansas Reporter / The Week That Was / Smart Talk / The Insider / The Observer / Editorial / Max Brantley / Ernest Dumas / Gene Lyons / Bob Lancaster / Words / Guest Writer / Letters
Entertainment
A&E Feature / To-Do List / In Brief / Movie Reviews / Music Reviews / Theater Reviews / A&E News / Art Notes / Graham Gordy / Books / Media / Dining Reviews / Dining Guide / What's Cookin' / Calendar / The Televisionist / Movie Listings / Gallery Listings
This Week's Cover
Quick Links
Special Publications
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
