Second Article

A Post Katrina Charter School in New Orleans Gets a Second Chance.

Author: Joseph Berger
Source: The New York Times
Date: October 17th 2007

This article focuses on the Lafayette Academy, a charter school in New Orleans. The author describes the trouble that the school encountered while entering into a contract with a national, for-profit company (Mosaica Education).

Significance of the headline:
The headline is used to evoke emotion; it mentions the disaster of Hurricane Katrina and the “second chance” for a New Orleans school. The journalist is implying hope and an overall positive spin.

How does the journalist ‘frame’ the issue:
The journalist makes a strong argument against national, for-profit school management companies. There is definite emphasis placed on the idea that because Mosaica Education was a national company there was no way that they could understand the problems that would be encountered in school systems in New Orleans. The hero of the school is the new principal that has “New Orleans gumbo in his veins”.

Who is represented:
Creator of the Choice Foundation
Lawyer/Chief Exec. of Mosaica
Teacher
Choice Foundation Board Member
New Principal Center for Educational Innovation – Public Education Assoc.
11 yr. old female student

What has been left out:
The journalist states that the school has turned itself around because of the removal of the national for-profit company and the arrival of the new principal, but why is it better now? What sort of standards are they using to qualify this as a success? Have test scores improved, is the management level running more efficiently, are the teachers happy, etc.? Also, there is no discussion about the new management. Are they using a different for-profit provider, or did it return to the traditional public school system.

How the debate aligns with ideological struggle in society:
The article takes a side in the current debate concerning America's education system. The article is not in favor of the for-profit companies that are now managing some public schools.

Ideology ==> A set of beliefs, values & perceptions that are arbitray but are considered natural. The dominant ideologies guide society and determine how we view the world. They are "ultimately based on persuasion as a form of social power" (McNamee & Miller, 2004)

Ideologies present:
Nation vs. State
The journalist makes a definite choice to emphasize on numerous occasions that Mosaica is a national company. This is relates to an ideology that pits the nation versus the state. This conflict can be seen in many different issues across U.S. history.
Beware of the Outsider
There is an ideology in the U.S. that outsiders are dangerous, evil, degenerate, etc. This ideology can be seen throughout history and most recently with the current immigration debate. It is illustrated in this article when the journalist describes how Mosaica came into the situation with no idea of what New Orleans was like, or was in need of. The school is then saved by an "Insider", the new prinicipal that has "gumbo in his veins".
Meritocracy
The meritocracy ideology has a secondary role in this article. The journalist stresses the fact that the school is now succeeding because of the new principal and his persistence and hardwork.