Wall Street Journal Calls Providence “An Education Horror Show”

Wall Street Journal Calls Providence “An Education Horror Show”

The Wall Street Journal has named Providence “an education horror show — a case study in public school failure and lack of accountability.”

This is yet another national hammering of the capital city and the failed education system.

The Wall Street Journal editorial writes, “No surprise, then, that only 5% of Providence eighth graders on average scored proficient in math in the 2015 through 2017 school years. That compares to 21.3% in Newark, N.J., where students have similar socioeconomic backgrounds. Low-income students in Worcester, Mass., not far away, were twice as proficient as those in Providence.”

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The Wall Street Journal cited episode after episode from the John Hopkins study.

“One student reported that ‘my best teacher’s desk was urinated on, and nothing happened.’ Another noted a teacher ‘was choked by a student in front of the whole class. Everybody was traumatized, but nothing happened.’ One district leader observed, ‘the students run the buildings.’”

The Wall Street criticizes Governor Gina Raimondo and legislative leaders for passing the so-called “Evergreen” legislation that was pushed by Rhode Island union leaders.

“The union’s latest political focus is ‘evergreen’ contracts that stay in place even after they expire, giving the union more leverage in negotiations with the school district. Student results are an afterthought,” writes the Wall Street Journal.

“Democratic Mayor Jorge Elorza reflected the liberal political class’s low expectation by telling the Johns Hopkins reviewers he’d give Providence schools a C grade.,” cites the Journal.

In contrast, Hopkins researchers told Raimondo Providence may have the worst schools in America.

Lastly, the Wall Street Journal cites the high level of per-pupil spending in Providence.

“Democrats as ever blame a lack of funding, though the district spent nearly $18,000 per pupil in 2017—about 50% more than the national average. In a system with any accountability, this would all be judged a disgrace and people would be fired. But this is a government failure, underwritten by entrenched union power. That’s why the Democratic presidential candidates won’t show up in Providence, but maybe Donald Trump should.”