Protect Public Schools
San Francisco is a place where political movements start. This can be for the best, in that grassroots movements in San Francisco can take the world by storm. However, when right-wing interests became aware of that, they started to realize that to control San Francisco is to control the narrative. The moneyed right-wing effort to take power in San Francisco started with recalls, such as the school board recall of 2022. With the success of the school board recall, the Astroturf Network has decided to make a concerted effort to control San Francisco and especially San Francisco’s education system. They have done this to further the interests of billionaires and corporations who are interested in school privatization.
School privatization is antithetical to the idea of an accessible and equitable school system. Public schools are pillars of community, and are in fact one of the last pillars of community left standing in many places. Public school is necessary for an equitable society. Schools can provide food, trusted mentor figures, and a safe place to exist for young people the majority of the day, all things they may not have outside of school. Additionally, they provide resources that help students get into college or get jobs, which helps improve student outcomes. Education is one of the most important resources a society can provide for its youth, and there should be no barriers to entry. Low-income students often don’t have access to private school, and charter schools are not reliable. We need a robust and well-funded public system not only in San Francisco, but everywhere.
Phoenix Project
The Plan to Eliminate Public Schools Has Started in San Francisco
By Brandee Marckmann | Phoenix Project | May 25th, 2025