Katrina donation ignites debate

[Peter Farruggio <pfarr@cal.berkeley.edu>]

Morality?  What's that??!!

> March 24, 2006, 1:30AM
>
> Katrina donation ignites debate
> HISD says focus on Neil Bush's software didn't violate policy
>
> By JENNIFER RADCLIFFE
> Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

> <http://www.chron.com/disp/stor>www<http://www.chron.com/disp/stor>.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/3744991.html 

> As Barbara Bush spent two hours championing her 
> son's software company at a Houston middle 
> school Thursday morning, a watchdog group 
> questioned whether the former first lady should 
> be allowed to channel a donation to Neil Bush's 
> Ignite Learning company through Houston's Hurricane Katrina relief fund.
>
> "It's strange that the former first lady would 
> want to do this. If her son's having a rough 
> time of it, couldn't she write him a check?" 
> said Daniel Borochoff, founder of the American 
> Institute of Philanthropy, a Chicago-based 
> charity watchdog group. "Maybe she isn't aware 
> that people could frown upon this."
>
> Some critics said donations to a tax-deductible 
> charitable fund shouldn't benefit the Bush 
> family. Others questioned whether the Houston 
> Independent School District violated district 
> policy by allowing the company to host a promotional event on campus.
>
> HISD officials said the event at Fleming Middle 
> School, where Bush met with 40 educators and 
> business leaders, did not violate policy.
>
> The school is among eight area campuses that 
> received Ignite "Curriculum On Wheels" systems 
> because of Bush's donation of an undisclosed 
> amount to the Bush-Clinton Houston Hurricane Relief Fund.
>
> She gave specific instructions that part of the 
> money be sent to the Scottish Space School 
> Foundation. She asked that group, in turn, to 
> use the money to buy eight Ignite systems ­ 
> valued at $3,800 each ­ for Harris County 
> schools with large numbers of Hurricane Katrina 
> evacuees, according to Bush and fund officials.
>
> "I said to George one day: 'Maybe it's sort of 
> selfish of me, but I'd like to give something 
> that I could see the results of,' " she told the 
> crowd. "The thing I knew about was the COW."
>
> She said she hopes the donation will encourage 
> other companies and individuals to give both 
> time and money to public schools strapped by Hurricane Katrina.
>
> Bush said her son's company could not have afforded the donation on its own.
>
> "They gave a lot. They couldn't give more," she 
> said. "They'd love to give more, but they're a little, small company."
>
> Steve Maislin, president of the Greater Houston 
> Community Foundation, which is administering the 
> $979,000 relief fund that Bush donated to, said 
> the donation was made legally and properly.
>
> "Mrs. Bush wanted to support the local hurricane 
> effort," he said. "She could have done it 
> directly. She chose to do it through here to get the word out about the fund."
>
> Fleming rolled out the red carpet for Bush. 
> Colorguard members from Wheatley High School and 
> band members from Kashmere High School 
> performed. Three Hurricane Katrina evacuees who 
> now attend Fleming spoke about why they enjoy using the Curriculum on Wheels.
>
> "It makes me laugh," said Bryson Smith, a 
> 15-year-old Fleming student. "I really do enjoy the COW."
>
> While HISD has a policy that prevents the 
> district and its schools from endorsing or 
> promoting the "merit of a brand name or 
> trademarked products," Houston officials defended the event.
>
> "HISD employees talk about the value of 
> instructional products all the time. Fleming 
> Middle School thanked former first lady Barbara 
> Bush for helping provide an instructional 
> program that they found of benefit," deputy 
> press secretary Adriana Villarreal said. 
> "Students had the learning opportunity of 
> confidently standing up at a podium, speaking 
> articulately and explaining to former first lady 
> Barbara Bush what they learned from the instructional program."
>
> Nancy Lomax, a longtime parent activist in HISD, 
> said the district shouldn't have allowed the 
> event to be held during school hours.
>
> "HISD as a matter of policy does not endorse 
> products. I think they're getting way off 
> course, their own moral course," she said. "I 
> can understand that HISD is in an awkward 
> position to accept a gift from a powerful 
> person, but at the same time to turn it around 
> and make it a dog and pony show is disgusting."
>
> Ignite, which currently says it does businesses 
> with 81 districts in 13 states, has been under 
> scrutiny since its inception in 1999. Reports 
> show that the company received funding from 
> foreign oil sources, computer magnates and 
> friends of the Republican family. The 
> Austin-based company got its foot in the door in 
> HISD in 2003, when Neil Bush and the HISD 
> Foundation agreed to raise $115,000 in private 
> donations to foot half of the bill for the software.
>
> Susan Ohanian, a former public school teacher 
> and Vermont-based author who tracks educational 
> issues, said she was stunned by Bush's donation.
>
> "The public has a very hard time understanding 
> that some money is not worth it," she said. 
> "I've never heard of anything like this so 
> blatant: Pull at your heart strings with Katrina 
> victims and then make sure your son profits from it."
>
> An HISD-funded external evaluation of Ignite 
> Learning in 2004 found that teachers gave an 
> older version of the product generally positive marks.
>
> "Teachers also found it to be effective in 
> improving student understanding of history, 
> engaging students in the learning process, and 
> to a lesser degree, helping students pass the 
> (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills)," the study said.
>
> It's currently used on 15 HISD campuses, officials said.
>
> Teachers raved about the software Thursday. The 
> purple machine displays science and history 
> lessons to the class through a projector. They touted its graphics and music.
>
> "It enhances learning. It excites the children," 
> said Kathie Guillory, chairwoman of Fleming's 
> science department. "They grasp more, and they retain it longer."
>
> Officials at Fleming and other area schools said 
> they plan to buy more COW units.
>
> "I'm doing everything I can to get them in every 
> class in our district," said Brett Schiewer, a 
> science specialist in the Katy school district.
>
> Schiewer said he understands some of the concerns about the donation.
>
> "That was one of my thoughts, but, truly a 
> quality product speaks for itself," he said. "It 
> still benefits kids, which is why we are here."
>
> jennifer.radcliffe@chron.com