The Waltons Political Team of Arkansas tosses millions of dollars around to privatize Massachusetts public schools but they can’t do it alone. They need local investments and lately they’ve been getting a lot of them from the Barr Foundation and its patron, Boston billionaire Amos Hostetter. Let’s take a look. First, a little political science….
Author: Maurice Cunningham
Professor Cunningham Ph.D., J.D., is author of Dark Money and the Politics of School Privatization. He retired in 2021 as associate professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts at Boston but he continues his research into dark money in politics. His two reports on the dark money threat to public education are available on the Network for Public Education website: Merchants of Deception: Parent Props and their Funders, and “A Citizen’s Guide to the School Privatization Movement” (forthcoming). His work has been distributed through the Independent Media Institute and has appeared in The Bucks County Beacon (PA), Shepherd Express (WI), Alternet, Tampa Bay Times, The Daily Progress (VA), Idaho Education News, New Hampshire Bulletin, The Detroit Free Press, and The Portland Press-Herald (ME), and at Diane Ravitch’s Blog, dianeravitch.net.. His work on dark money in Massachusetts has earned him the 2017 Distinguished Public Service Award from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees and the 2018 MTA President’s Award from the Massachusetts Teachers Association. Education historian Diane Ravitch has named Professor Cunningham to her "Honor Roll" on her education blog. He can be reached at maurice.cunningham153@gmail.com.
Publications that focus upon Massachusetts Politics include two co-written chapters in the edited volume The Politics of Massachusetts Exceptionalism: Reputation Meets Reality. He has also written “Defeating ‘Death with Dignity’: Morality and Message in a Massachusetts Referendum” in American Catholic Studies (2014); “Massachusetts Politics 2012” in New England Journal of Political Science (2012); “A Christian Coalition for Catholics?: The Massachusetts Model,” Review of Religious Research (2009); and “Massachusetts Republicans: the 2004 Challenge to Democratic Legislative Hegemony,” in New England Journal of Political Science (2008).
Letter to Jon Keller re Keri Rodrigues
Dear Mr. Keller, I noted with interest your interview on WBZ-TV with Keri Rodrigues, whom you described as a “long time Massachusetts activist.” The description does not do her justice. Ms. Rodrigues is a well-compensated communications professional who has worked for a series of interests funded by the Walton family, wealthy Bostonians, and Charles Koch….
The Waltons’ Massachusetts Political Team (2020 update)
With a search for a new Boston Superintendent of Schools, a renewed review by the state of Boston Public Schools possibly leading to receivership, a new governor on the horizon, and the radical right promoting turmoil in public education, Massachusetts elites and philanthropic interest groups want to know one thing: what does the Walton family…
Philanthro-interests to Fund BPS Superintendent Search? That’s the Fox in the Hen House
Why would the Boston Public Schools system conduct a superintendent search underwritten by interests that are trying to undermine the Boston Public Schools? The Boston Herald ran a fine editorial Who’s Funding the Search for BPS Superintendent calling for transparency about any foundation funding for the search for a new superintendent of the Boston Public…
School Privatization Week: Your National Parents Union and Massachusetts Parents United Readers
I noticed in the Sunday Globe that Governor Baker has proclaimed this “School Choice Week” and I thought, what better time than School Privatization Week to re-up some of my favorite dark money and the politics of school privatization posts? It’s Saturday, we have a blizzard, so I’ve decided to post Your National Parents Union…
School Privatization Week: Charles Koch Buys into National Parents Union
I noticed in the Sunday Globe that Governor Baker has proclaimed this “School Choice Week” and I thought, what better time than School Privatization Week to re-up some of my favorite dark money and the politics of school privatization posts? Today’s classic is on that notable progressive Charles Koch sinking money into National Parents Union….
School Privatization Week: Keri Rodrigues Goes Coastal with Plans for National Parents Union
I noticed in the Sunday Globe that Governor Baker has proclaimed this “School Choice Week” and I thought, what better time than School Privatization Week to re-up some of my favorite dark money and the politics of school privatization posts? Here’s a piece on the “concept paper” submitted to the Walton Family Foundation by National…
School Privatization Week: Massachusetts Parents Union, Old Wine in an Empty Bottle
I noticed in the Sunday Globe that Governor Baker has proclaimed this “School Choice Week” and I thought, what better time than School Privatization Week to re-up some of my favorite dark money and the politics of school privatization posts? One of my inferences was wrong—SGP. But I do have a favorite quote that captures…
School Privatization Week: The Walton Family’s Massachusetts Political Team 2019
I noticed in the Sunday Globe that Governor Baker has proclaimed this “School Choice Week” and I thought, what better time than School Privatization Week to re-up some of my favorite dark money and the politics of school privatization posts? Today let’s take another look at this one from 2019, The Walton Family’s Massachusetts Political…
School Privatization Week: New Campaign Song for Great Schools Massachusetts: ‘It’s Up to You, New York, New York
I noticed in the Sunday Globe that Governor Baker has proclaimed this “School Choice Week” and I thought, what better time than School Privatization Week to re-up some of my favorite dark money and the politics of school privatization posts? Let’s kick off the celebration with an early one but still one of my favorites:…