For those of you who missed it, last week’s GOP gubernatorial debate wasn’t exactly the high-water mark of U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett’s gubernatorial campaign.
In fact, it was a “low ebb” if we’ve ever seen one, with Barrett looking ill-at-ease, inarticulate and unprepared.
Obviously, there’s plenty of speculation as to why that may have been the case, but one of the emerging theories is that Barrett’s primary political advisor – RINO consultant/ lobbyist J. Warren Tompkins – is “just not that into” Barrett’s gubernatorial bid.
Tompkins – who has made a career of selling out his “Republican” credentials to the highest special interest bidder – appears to be focusing his energies instead on a down ballot contest, the race to replace S.C. Superintendent of Education Jim Rex.
FITS has confirmed that Tompkins is working not one – but two – prospective candidates for the office of S.C. Department of Education, Democrat Molly Spearman (who has committed to running) and RINO Ronny Townsend (who is contemplating a bid).
As reported here on FITS, Spearman was initially courted to run as a Republican, but Tompkins has reportedly determined that running her as a “reformist Democrat” (hey, isn’t that what Rex ran as?) makes more sense. That way Townsend’s “GOP” candidacy can be used much like the 2006 bid of RINO Bob Staton, as a means of weakening the eventual Republican nominee.
You gotta love how “Republican” consultants operate, don’t you?
Anyway, it’s not like it really matters which party label you slap on either Spearman or Townsend – as both have pledged their allegiance to fighting long-overdue academic reforms and preserving “dumbed down” standards (and automatic funding increases) for South Carolina’s failed education monopoly.
Both Spearman and Townsend are former lawmakers and current employees of the quasi-public S.C. Association of School Administrators (SCASA), a public employee union whose sole job is to lobby on behalf of the overpaid, under-performing educrats who have been running our state’s taxpayer-funded education system into the ground for decades.
But obsessing over the campaigns of Spearman and Townsend is missing the forest for the trees …
Of much more interest to us than the political “moving chairs” taking place in the Superintendent’s race is the reason they’re being moved.
Not surprisingly, it all boils down to special interest money … millions of dollars of it, in fact.
Tompkins is obsessed with the race for Superintendent of Education because it directly impacts his bread-and-butter, specifically the lucrative academic testing contracts held by his client, Minnesota-based Data Recognition Corporation.
Having already received tens of millions of dollars to administer South Carolina’s utterly worthless Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test (PACT), Data Recognition Corporation was inexplicably awarded a contract last year to propose changes to the test.
That’s right – the company that produced an insanely expensive, totally ineffective test was paid hundreds of thousands of tax dollars to recommend “solutions” to its own worthless product.
PACT was loathed in the education community because it was not a “diagnostic” test, meaning it failed to provide parents and teachers with real-time results of their children’s academic progress. It also failed to meet federal No Child Left Behind reporting standards because it didn’t let administrators accurately compare our children’s academic progress with the progress of kids in other states.
On top of all that, PACT was one of the country’s most expensive assessment tests, forcing South Carolina taxpayers to spend three to four times what other states spend per child on testing.
According to February 2007 report by the South Carolina Policy Council, “PACT has served as a cloak behind which major failures are hidden,” offering parents and teachers “a distorted view of educational progress.” The report also stated that PACT “has not provided the context for (state-to-state) comparison, nor can it prescribe the details needed to construct a plan for instructional reform.”
Of course rather than actually fix these glaring problems, South Carolina’s Education Oversight Committee (the brainchild of S.C. House Speaker Bobby Harrell) went another route. They went out and hired the firm responsible for dropping the ball in the first place to recommend the “solution” to the failed test. Not surprisingly, that “solution” consisted of merely slapping a new name on the same old costly, inadequate assessment … and awarding the contract for administering the boondoggle to the same company that screwed the pooch on standardized testing in the first place (a.k.a. Tompkins’ client).
As a result, Data Recognition Corporation now administers the new Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (PASS) test, which is amazingly even more toothless than its predecessor.
And losing more teeth each day …
In fact, on Monday of this week, the Education Oversight Committee approved new “benchmarks” for the PASS test – basically scrapping the original design of the test (recommended by teachers) in favor of a new version written to the exact specifications of the S.C. Association of School Administrators and the S.C. School Boards Association, the two most liberal educrat unions in the state.
Once again, those responsible for educating our children in the classroom (where we spend a scant 44 cents of every dollar that goes into public education) are being hamstrung by bureaucrats who have a vested financial interest in keeping our state’s children – particularly its poor, minority children – as dumb as possible.
According to an employee of Data Recognition Corporation who testified in favor of the “reforms,” the new three-tiered system of the PASS test guarantees that thousands of students and dozens of schools will now magically “pass” the exam – without any measurable increase in academic performance whatsoever.
The four-part PASS exam – which would have no doubt alerted parents and lawmakers to the glaring shortcomings in our public education system – was deemed too “rigorous” for South Carolina.
In other words, by moving the goalposts just a little bit, failure magically becomes success … which is sadly the only way South Carolina’s worst-in-the-nation public school system ever shows improvement.
So much for having the “nation’s toughest academic standards,” right?
“Standardized testing, once seen as the key to measuring and improving student achievement, has devolved into a stomach turning morass of patronage and special interest,” says Randy Page, President of South Carolinians for Responsible Government. “Rent-seeking testing contractors, turf-protecting political incumbents, and self-serving school officials are working to further lower school standards in order to conceal persistent failures in public schools across South Carolina.”
Indeed, with self-serving “Republican” lobbyists like Warren Tompkins and self-aggrandizing “Republican” politicians like Bobby Harrell leading the way, South Carolina is turning its so-called “school watchdog” into a rubber stamp for liberal educrat unions and well-heeled special interest groups whose only objective is to provide cover for a system that is holding tens of thousands of children behind every single year.
That’s hardly “accountability,” people. In fact, it’s a shameful betrayal of our state’s students, parents and school teachers, as well as further evidence that this state’s status quo has absolutely no interest whatsoever in improving academic achievement in South Carolina.
Given the fact that we’re decades behind the rest of the country academically, we need real accountability for our schools …
That doesn’t come from slapping a new label on the same old generational negligence.
Editor’s note: For more details on the latest scam to keep your kids stupid and unprepared for the 21st Century economy, visit the new Voice for School Choice website.
By Tiger Mom September 30, 2009 at 1:03 pm
We could avoid all this money and drama – just start using the IOWA or STANFORD tests like the private schools do!
By RT September 30, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Exactly why we need Brent Nelsen to be our next Superintendent of Education!
By CNSYD September 30, 2009 at 1:25 pm
If the test was produced via a contract, then someone(s) in state government blessed the test when it was delivered. Therefore if it is defective, blame falls on them. A lot of these companies use proprietary software to produce tests and therefore no one can “fix” them but the originator. Try getting another company to fix Microsoft software and see what happens. The solution may have been to scrap the test and the present company and start over at square one with a new firm. I wonder what the price tag was on that. NCLB is a Bush admin boondoggle that benefits the testing companies.
By Cronus Modus September 30, 2009 at 1:27 pm
First on the Supt of Ed race. Will, you are exactly correct on the candidates – though word on the street is that with an expected weak group of GOPers running, Spearman is out since Frank Holleman is in. I don’t know if that valid information, though. Anyway, any of the three mentioned will continue to keep education in the same, non-reforming condition it is in in SC.
With regards to Tompkins and his group, they have made big money in dealin with DRC. Their only setback that I am aware of was when the State Board of Education voted to ban advertising on school buses. I saw in a press release in the internet that they represeted Bus Radio and that was done only because Al Simpson pushed that point when he was the Chair of the SBE. That was just a minor setback for the Tompkins crew, though.
Also, answer me this. Why do we have so many hands in the pot when it comes to public education policy in SC. I believe it’s time the EOC goes away. As a parent of two children in public schools, I just don’t understand what good they do – except pay big salaries to a staff. Looks like the EOC is just a jobs program to me.
Another thing, I just think that as long as the School Boards Association, The School Adminstrators Association, Palmetto State Teachers Association and the SCEA are involved then nothing will change. Clearly they have enough clout to push around the EOC.
The GOP really needs to recruit a viabiale candidate to run for the Supt of Ed spot. Who would that be???
By RedBank Bar September 30, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Is there ANYTHING fitz won’t do for Uncle Howie?
Just turn the site over to Uncle Howie so we can hear directly from the organ grinder rather than the fitz monkey.
By Alex Hampton September 30, 2009 at 2:57 pm
I whole heartily agree with RT. Why should we continue to live with the same failed education policies? We are last in the nation and unfortunately we are a laughing stock among public education officials nationwide. All of the people mentioned in this article from Frank Holleman to Molly Spearman are part of the failed status quo.
Cronus, the person you are looking for is Brent Nelsen,
Will, how about a story about how his campaign is shaping up. I heard he had a fairly well attended reception this morning in Greenville for donors and others interested in his campaign.
By Larry Hart September 30, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Some actual fact checking would greatly benefit this post. All you have to do is pick up the phone and call Molly Spearman. She’d tell you she isn’t running. She’s backing Frank Holleman. If you want to help improve the system, you can start by printing fact instead of outdated rumor.
By fitsnews September 30, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Larry,
Due respect. We’ve heard that several times and we’ll see.
If Molly isn’t running, she apparently hasn’t told J. Warren.
-FITS
By Lucifer Peccato September 30, 2009 at 5:55 pm
“…Once again, those responsible for educating our children in the classroom (where we spend a scant 44 cents of every dollar that goes into public education) are being hamstrung by bureaucrats who have a vested financial interest in keeping our state’s children – particularly its poor, minority children – as dumb as possible…”
hmmmm…according to several studies, the more educated one is, the less likely s/he is to vote for a Republican. It seems to me that it would be in the best interest of teachers to better educate their students.
By Huhhh??? September 30, 2009 at 5:58 pm
How much does Howard Rich pay YOU?
By fitsnews September 30, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Huhhh,
Ah, yes. It’s all Howard Rich’s fault, isn’t it?
Boy that’s one we’ve NEVER heard before.
-FITS
By Libb September 30, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Fits, I’ve read your vehement claim that you are not on any politician’s payroll but, I too, would like to know if Howard Rich is sending you a paycheck. Think that’s a fair question that deserves an answer.
By You Can Call Me Ma'am September 30, 2009 at 11:19 pm
Does it really matter if Sic gets a check from anyone? Anyone making that really really tired argument is probably getting a check from JWT. For the record, I don’t get a check from anyone mentioned in this article or associated with education.
This is about how business is really conducted in state government. And this is about how the actions of a few affect the future earning power and quality of life for students and the taxpayers footing the bill. With no valid measure of performance, students are being set up to fail.
Thx to FITS, Page and the Policy Council for taking a stand and exposing the greedy hijacking of South Carolina’s future.
By Toyota Kawaski October 1, 2009 at 8:03 am
Yesah Mr. Rich i will run your bath water! Yesah Mr.Rich may i have another one sir’s
By Libb October 1, 2009 at 11:51 am
You Can Call Me Maam, Do you REALLY think Howard Rich cares about the children of SC and their future? Puhleez.
I,too, agree that our government structure is in serious need of RESPONSIBLE reform not the General Sherman scorch & burn style that Howard Rich promotes and sponsors financially. Mark Sanford is the best example of why Rich and his monies need to be booted out of SC. So, yes, it is important where his money is being spent here. For the record, I receive no paycheck from anyone for my opinions here.
And, sic Willie, your silence is deafening.
By columbia insider October 1, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Libb, based on the sampling you’ve just given us, I can’t think of anyone who would want to pay for your opinion. But thanks for telling us.
By Libb October 1, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Cola insider, how much is Howie paying you?
By marvin October 2, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Who cares if Howie Rich is wall-papering the inside of Will’s toilet with cash? It’s his own money, not ours, so who gives a damn what he does with it? We aren’t paying for Rich’s agenda, nor are we paying Will to shill for him. But I bet the public is paying RedBank and Libb, and a whole lot of others (like BIN). Or if not, then some politician sure as hell is.
Only legislators and their toadies are more worried about the influence of a single private citizen than they are about a bunch of ethically challenged politicians. And “how much is Howie paying you” is the only thing you guys ever have. Did the geniuses at Chernoff Silver give you that line?
Frankly, if Mr. Rich had that much influence, we’d have school choice in this state already. Pity he doesn’t….never met the man, but I’m starting to like him for scaring a bunch of lazy, overpaid legislative staffers and “PR” consultants as much as he has. Keep it coming, Howie. And you too, Sic…
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