4/26/2011

Where is the consistency in the NAACP strongly opposing school choice but then taking this legal case?

The NAACP "vigorously opposed" the pilot voucher program for DC. Fighting against it as recently as this past March. The NAACP has condemned Charter Schools. Now the NAACP is taking what could best be called a school choice case. The only difference that I can see to vouchers is that this case involves government schools. I can't really see the difference with charter schools. The problem is that the NAACP will never see the logic here.

Tanya McDowell, 33, was arrested April 15 and charged with first degree grand larceny for allegedly stealing $15,686 in educational services from Norwalk Public Schools. Her 6-year-old son was enrolled in Brookside Elementary School in Norwalk, Conn., from September of last year until January of this year.

"The NAACP doesn't like that they're trying to attack somebody whose poor and doesn't have a good support system," said Scot X. Esdaile, president of the Connecticut State Conference of the NAACP. "This is discrimination."

McDowell claims that she's homeless and was floating between a homeless shelter, a friend's apartment in Norwalk and a home in Bridgeport when she registered her son for school. McDowell registered her son under her babysitter's address in Norwalk. McDowell told The Daily Norwalk that she simply wanted the best education for her son. . . .

Authorities were alerted to the alleged illegal enrollment when McDowell testified at an eviction hearing for her babysitter, Ana Rebecca Marquez, in January.

"This particular tenant, Ms. Marquez, was accused of allowing Ms. McDowell and her son to live with her," said Donna Lattarulo, an attorney for the Norwalk Housing Authority. "During that hearing, Ms. McDowell testified under oath that she did not reside at the premises where Ms. Marquez lived, but she resided in Bridgeport... She never testified that she was homeless."

Lattarulo said that she told the Norwalk Prosecutor's Office about Marquez's testimony, but did not file a criminal complaint. Officials from Norwalk Public Schools said that they did not initiate the eviction hearing or file a criminal complaint against McDowell. . . .

"We think that this is a major case of abuse of power by the mayor. We just found out that his daughter is head prosecutor in the case. There's also some foul play with police officers in town of Norwalk," said Esdaile from the NAACP. . .
.

Labels: , ,

1 Comments:

Blogger Antonio said...

Indeed, there is certainly a lack of consistency in the NAACP. But them saying that they care about black youth while supporting the public school system is inconsistent as well. Check out this post which touches on the NAACP and their work to perpetuate the problem of terrible education. http://fb.me/TQhp4GPG

4/27/2011 2:46 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home