Reform: Debate Erupts Over Matt Damon Sending Kids to Private School

Doing publicity for his new film, Elsyium, actor and celebrity school reform critic Matt Damon revealed to the Guardian that he couldn't find a public school that was progressive enough in LA and was sending his kids to private school.  

"Sending our kids in my family to private school was a big, big, big deal. And it was a giant family discussion. But it was a circular conversation, really, because ultimately we don't have a choice. I mean, I pay for a private education and I'm trying to get the one that most matches the public education that I had, but that kind of progressive education no longer exists in the public system. It's unfair." Damon has campaigned against teachers' pay being pegged to children's test results: "So we agitate about those things, and try to change them, and try to change the policy, but you know, it's a tough one."

Conservatives outlets like Brietbart.com picked up the tidbit and slammed Damon for hypocrisy.  Damon defenders defended Damon, or said it didn't matter, etc.  Image via Breitbart.

Comments

[CarolineSF]

Calling out public school advocates who send their kids to private school is a current strategy coming from the "reform" PR shops.

[Phillip]

Andrew Rotherham spreads this attack through TIME magazine and his website, eduwonk.
I posted the following comment, which it appears Andrew deleted.
(I apologize for the language, but Andrew also believes that teachers and their unions protect teachers who sexually abuse children (except Mrs. Johnson) and prevent the police from arresting the suspected criminals. When challenged for facts, Andrew went into bully mode, began name calling and said he did not have to provide evidence.)
HORSESHIT, Andy.
Why aren’t you arguing for every class to be capped at 20 with a teacher and aide, like your children get at Barcroft Elementary School. A school were the 30% above the poverty line shop at Harris Teeter to fund raise for the school, where the PTA (led by your wife) run school supply drives for the 70%.

“Dr” Deasy won’t provide that for LAUSD kids, but Matt Damon, like Leonie Haisman (sp), want that for ALL children.
You are the hypocrite, Andy, like Chris Christie yelling at teachers for not teaching and getting paid for 2 months while his children go to a private school with three months off.
Or just like Derrell Bradford whining about public schools wasting money on “bell and whistles” while he went to a expensive private school with lacrosse, squash courts, and a big auditorium.

Built in 2000, the 4,700 square foot Middleton Athletic Center has locker rooms for all Middle and Upper school students, a 2,500 square foot state-of-the-art weight room, an athletic trainer’s room, a video room, three basketball courts, and a wrestling room with two full-sized wrestling mats.
The synthetic grass at Tullai Field is the same playing surface used by NFL teams. All of our football, soccer, and lacrosse teams play on the stadium field, where we have hosted MIAA playoff games, NCAA lacrosse teams, as well as various lacrosse tournaments and clinics.
Blenckstone Field, our baseball diamond, is an immaculate all-natural field that is second to none in the area. All of our Middle and Upper School baseball teams play and practice on this field.
Thompson field is named in memory of David Thompson ’97. The field hosts soccer, football, and lacrosse games in the fall and spring.
A new multi-purpose field has been constructed at the south end of campus. The area will contain two soccer fields in the fall and serve as a practice baseball facility in the spring.
Tennis Facility
St. Paul’s has 10 har-tru courts and four hard courts for tennis. The har-tru courts are consider some of the best in the Baltimore area. Homeland Racquet Club operates a club program out of the facility, which has a beautiful clubhouse overlooking the courts.
Kinsolving Gym
Kinsolving Gym has great history as the School’s original indoor athletic facility. The gym is used by all the basketball teams for practice and for sub-varsity level games in the winter.
Kelly Gymnasium (Squash Courts)
The Squash team practices and plays matches in the squash courts in Kelly Gymnasium attached to the Middle School.
Other Practice Facilities
St. Paul’s ice hockey team travels to Mimi DiPietro Ice Rink in Baltimore for practice and games.

But, as I have typed here before, this is to be expected from a guy who condones the lies that teachers and their unions protect sex abusers of students and prevent the police from arresting them.

So,
F*&% you Andy.