The assault on public ed, and why I’m a fan of Swahili rap

A weekly newsletter on money, politics and life in Texas. [San Antonio Express-News - Header Logo]( [View in browser]( BEST OFFER OF THE YEAR: 6 Months for 99¢! For a limited time, save on unlimited digital access. [Subscribe Today.]( [Privatizing a Public Good]( A nation’s economic and political health are directly tied to the education of its citizens. People with more skills perform more valuable labor, and Thomas Jefferson correctly observed that democracy only functions with a well-informed electorate. Our tradition of providing public education to all children arises from these observations. Societies without public education sacrifice the intellectual potential of children born into families unable to pay school fees. Countless geniuses in developing countries never reach their full potential because they were born into poverty. Texas business moguls, [including H. Ross Perot](, have historically played significant roles in overhauling public education. The curriculum we have today, and the standardized testing teachers abhor, grew from a young Gov. George W. Bush pushing [a Texas prototype of the “No Child Left Behind Act” crafted by business leaders](. The concept was simple: Make students take tests, then grade schools on the scores. Parents would pressure schools to improve and provide a better-educated workforce. If the scores didn’t improve, the law allowed parents to move their children to charter schools, and the tax dollars would follow. Bush’s [key performance indicators began the road to Gov. Greg Abbott’s proposed voucher system](. The state has never spent the time or money to improve public schools; instead, conservatives encourage parents to abandon them. Vilifying public school teachers and librarians is intended to make it easier. The last step is [Abbott’s voucher plan, which sends public dollars to private schools](, many seeking profits. Lest low-income kids flood elite private schools, the low value of the vouchers ensures blue-collar kids do not have enough money to forget their place in society. The voucher enterprise, which most Republicans rejected 10 years ago, is [the long-term project of billionaire oilmen Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks](. Their political action committee, the Texas Public Policy Foundation, has always sought to replace public schools with privatized education. The Texas Constitution does not allow that, so they’ll gut public schools instead. I don’t have children, but I care about public schools because the quality of my retirement relies on well-educated Texans maintaining a strong economy. Likewise, business leaders should care about public schools because the students are their future workforce. [Chris Tomlinson Headshot] Chris Tomlinson Business Columnist What Else I'm Writing [Story photo for Lawmakers to send electric bill much higher]( Photo: Nell Carroll, Special Contributor [Lawmakers to send electric bill much higher]( Proposed bills would destroy the competitive electricity market and return Texas to the era of big government. [Story photo for Jobs in offshore carbon capture]( Photo: Marie D. De Jesus, Staff / Houston Chronicle [Jobs in offshore carbon capture]( Oceans absorb most of the planet's carbon, companies can do more to fight climate change. What I'm Reading Must Read: The battle to criminally charge Texas librarians has started ([Houston Chronicle]( and [San Antonio Express-News]() Should Read: Texas leads nation in racist propaganda The Anti-Defamation League recorded 527 incidents in Texas last year. ([Houston Chronicle]( and [San Antonio Express-News]() Interesting Read: [Will the Ozempic Era Change How We Think About Being Fat and Being Thin?]( Drugs for obesity and diabetes could, in an ideal world, help us see that metabolism and appetite are biological facts, not moral choices. (The New Yorker) Technical Read: [The Link Between Personality, Global, and Domain-Specific]( [Satisfaction Across the Adult Lifespan]( Emotional stability was the trait most strongly associated with people’s satisfaction. (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology) Fun Read: [How Brownsville Became the 'Chess Capitol of Texas']( Russell Elementary School has produced seven consecutive junior state championship teams. (Texas Highways) Question of the Week Do you think the private sector could educate all Texas children? Reply directly to this email and tell me your thoughts. Mailbag Last Week’s Question: Do financial disclosure laws go far enough to prevent corruption? “As long as voters of any state care more about their party winning than whether their officeholders are honest, there will always be corruption. In fact, officeholders must do more than follow the law; they must respect traditions, protocols, and procedures that support the law. Officeholders must do the right thing even when no one is watching.” –Evelyn F. McClain, Houston “It's like trying to stop a river flowing. The conscientious lawmaker is up against impossible odds: the well-funded ever-present lobbyists versus the large body of uninformed unrepresented citizens. The lobbyists are going to win nine times out of ten.” –Ed Greacen. New Brighton, Minnesota (native Houstonian born in 1947, Minnesotan since 1969) “It appears financial disclosure laws, in general, do not go far enough. However, interpretation and enforcement remain issues of concern. And, human nature, being what it has always been with its strengths and weaknesses, is a factor to be considered. I think we can always do better, and we should always be striving to do so — little by little — half a loaf, half a loaf onward.” –Greg Meyer, San Antonio The Takeaway Who knew you could rock out to a [didgeridoo](? Australians do. But despite listening to bands like [Men at Work]( and [Midnight Oil]( for decades, I’d never heard a pop-rock band take full advantage of the instrument’s rhythmic and textural qualities. The band [King Stingray revealed the didgeridoo’s potential]( in popular music at the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals in Austin. A mix of indigenous and Anglo members, the songs are about ancient traditions and modern life in Australia’s most northern reaches. They call it "Yolŋu surf rock," with lyrics in English and Yolŋu Matha, an indigenous language. The best part of SXSW for me is the chance to see bands from around the world. Hip-hop has taken hold much more than rock and roll. I’ve been a fan of [Swahili rap]( for decades, and I was excited to see [Mediopicky from the Dominican Republic]( and [K-efe from Chile]( offer different takes on the genre. Immigrant performers bring their culture to U.S. music, too. Colombia-born, Dallas-raised singer Kavvi brought the four-piece band [Luna Luna]( to SXSW. In an era where artists and writers face criticism when they explore topics considered outside the norm for their nationality, ethnicity or gender, it’s rewarding to see people expanding on others’ ideas to create something new. Intellectual exploration is the foundation of creativity. Share With Your Friends Do you know someone who would like Tomlinson's Take? For the Houston edition, [send them here to sign up](; for the San Antonio edition, [send them here](. Express Briefing All the news you need to start your day in San Antonio [SIGN UP](             [San Antonio Express-News]   BEST OFFER OF THE YEAR: 6 Months for Only 99¢! Unlimited Digital Access [Act Now]( No Commitment | Cancel Anytime [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [LinkedIn]( [TikTok]( [Unsubscribe](list_name=SAEN_TomlinsonsTake&list_display_name=Tomlinson%27s%20Take&b=sa_saen) | [Manage Preferences]( | [Privacy Notice]( [San Antonio Express-News - Footer Logo] San Antonio Express-News PO Box 2171, San Antonio, TX 78297 © 2023 Hearst Communications