Voters in Ohio have learned that every single time that Gov. John Kasich mentions the word "reform" in a speech or interview, it means that the hard working people in the middle class, the elderly, public school children, the poor, and the disenfranchised will get screwed.
Kasich and the Republicans have pushed for SB 5 in an effort to "reform" collective bargaining. People in the know are aware that the bill is an attempt to give more power to owners/managers and remove workers' rights.
Kasich and his Republican legislators want to "reform" education by expanding the failing charter schools. By encouraging the growth of charter schools, Kasich hopes to strip public schools of money, teachers, and local control of schools. By taking away the money and strength and foundation from public schools, Kasich and the GOP provide more power and money to David Brennan and his White Hat Management charter school organization. Of course, Mr. Brennan and those associated with him, are major contributors to Ohio's Republican candidates and party. He gives the Republicans money, and they reward him with more money, freedom to open more charter schools, and less regulations.
However, those governors who've tried to "reform" education do so at their own risk. These governors are losing the approval of the public.
Education Week:
A number of newly elected Republican governors in political battleground states who have pushed sweeping, controversial changes in education policy into law have seen their approval ratings slide since taking office....
....Kasich: Just 33 percent approve of his performance, while 56 percent disapprove, according to Public Policy Polling. The poll also found that 55 percent of those polled said they favored doing away with Senate Bill 5, approved by Kasich and the GOP-controlled legislature this spring....
....But the policies of Walker, Kasich, and Scott appear to have galvanized teachers' unions. And the Obama administration may have helped its standing with organized labor by coming out against Wisconsin's collective bargaining law and policies like it, and urging public officials to forge deals cooperatively with unions....
By allowing charter schools to grow, Kasich allows the poor proficiency scores and the less than stellar education found at charter schools to be accepted. Public schools are being penalized because Kasich favors charter schools and their political contributors. The more Kasich pushes his "reforms," the more voters, parents, college students, and even school children, will turn their back on him.
