The March 1 screening of The Cartel by the Delaware County (Pa) Patriots was followed by a question and answer session with Chris Freind on matters regarding school choice in Pennsylvania. This was especially relevant as S.B. 1 , the first significant school choice legislation to be considered in the state in 15 years, was reported out of the Senate Education Committee that afternoon on an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote.
The three-hour event held at the Marple Public Library started at 6:30 and drew a crowd of about 80.
The Cartel is a 2009 expose by Bob Bowdon of the plight of students in New Jersey public schools. It describes the corruption, incompetence and blinding greed of those charged with running them that would be inconceivable to those who attended them a generation ago. It also describes how school vouchers would help set things right.
Freind, now a popular columnist, helped lead the unsuccessful fight for vouchers in the 1990s. He is, however, a harsh critic of S.B. 1 , albeit he did end up defending aspects of it in the face of some hostile questions such as his belief that it would be ultimately found to be constitutional if it should become law; that the expansion of the state’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program provided by the bill would be of great benefit; and that S.B. 1 could very well end up saving tax dollars.
Freind’s biggest objection is that S.B. 1 does not help enough children and that not pushing for a more comprehensive choice bill at this time would be a tragically lost opportunity.
And he’s right.
The point that must not be overlooked, however, is that S.B. 1, as of now, is the only girl at the dance and that regardless of its flaws the status quo would still be improved if it should pass.