"Sometimes what happens is that education is no longer sexy,” Pitbull said. “It’s no longer cool. I want to tell them or help put together either curriculum or schools where it does entertain them or engage them. One way or another, I want to just make it fun again to learn.The quality of this video is poor, but it gives the clear sense that the kids attending this school are star struck, and Pitbull is serving as little more than a lure to pull them in and get them amped up.
But what will they actually be taught when they get there?
Jersey Jazzman and I wrote quite a bit about Pitbull's foray into the charter school movement back in June when he was a Keynote speaker at the National Association of Charter School Authorizers 2013 Conference, alongside Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and the ever dastardly Joel Klein.
JJ made it clear that Pitbull's lyrics are less sexY and more sexIST.
We exposed the money and politics behind his charter school, and the fact that Pitbull will sell just about ANYTHING if it will make him a buck.
The Miami Herald called Academica, the management company behind SLAM, "Florida's richest charter school management firm."
Academica’s achievements have been profitable. The South Miami company receives more than $9 million a year in management fees just from its South Florida charter schools — fees that ultimately come from public tax dollars.
But the Zuluetas’ greatest financial success is largely unseen: Through more than two dozen other companies, the Zuluetas control more than $115 million in South Florida real estate — all exempt from property taxes as public schools — and act as landlords for many of Academica’s signature schools, records show.
These companies collected about $19 million in lease payments last year from charter schools — with nine schools paying rents exceeding 20 percent of their revenue, records show. (emphasis mine)Damn, that's a lot of money.
So Pitbull and the Zulueta's have every reason to want to brand and franchise a chain of charters that they can spread nationwide. And that seems to be exactly what they intend to do with SLAM.
During the coming years 27 schools across the country are expected to open following this similar model, ao all eyes will be on SLAM during their first year.Who are they kidding? No one will be waiting to find out how this school performs. SLAM is marketable and will sell, and they have found the ultimate Ambassador to sell their product to parents and star struck students in cities around the country.
Mark my words, before SLAM Miami establishes any kind of significant track record SLAMs will start popping up all over the country.
And the Zuluetas will just add to their fortune.
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| Pitbull is "bringing back sexy" |
This is unbelievable. Thank you for keeping on this!
ReplyDeleteWho teaches in these charters? Is it a Teach for America type of recruitment? Are these charters mandated to teach to the Common Core with its testing regimen like public schools?
ReplyDelete