louisiana

Louisiana vouchers–for more segregation as well as less science

For the first time since starting to cover the issue of school vouchers in Louisiana, the show will not be arguing about science standards!

Dr. Kevin Welner, the Director of the National Education Policy Center joins me to talk about Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal’s fight against the US Department of Justice.

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Over the past several months, there has been a well-orchestrated political outcry against the DOJ for filing a legal motion in a long-standing desegregation case. The motion asks the court to require Louisiana to collect and report relevant data about the impact of that state’s voucher policy on racial segregation.

Louisiana’s new voucher law may undermine established desegregation orders issued as a result of unconstitutional discrimination by the state of Louisiana as well as many of its school districts.

However, Welner stresses that the DOJ motion is not designed to stop the implementation of the state’s voucher program. Instead, the motion seeks to bring the program within the scope of existing law and to avoid further segregation in the state.

 

How a Louisiana Teenager Went Up Against His State Over Creationism

Zack Kopplin, a former resident of the state of Louisiana, truly took it to heart when a teacher assigned him to do a project that would be a challenge to him. He decided to get the law that permits Creationism to be taught in schools repealed.

It’s been two years since, and Zack is still busy as ever—though now in college. Host Jamila Bey spoke with Kopplin to discuss his latest civic activism.