In the 1840s, nativist movement leaders formed official political parties and local chapters of the national Native American Party (later the American Party), although they continued to be commonly known as the Know-Nothing Party. Politicians sought to insert provisions into state constitutions against Catholics who refused to renounce the pope. The Know-Nothing movement brought bigotry and hatred to a new level of violence and organization.
The party’s legacy endured in the post-Civil War era, with laws and constitutional amendments it supported, still today severely limiting parents’ educational choices. A federal constitutional amendment was proposed by Speaker of the House James Blaine prohibiting money raised by taxation in any State to be under the control of any religious sect; nor shall any money so raised or lands so devoted be divided between religious sects or denominations. These were then named the Blaine Amendments of 1875.
in recent decades, often in response to challenges to school choice programs, the U.S. Supreme Court has demonstrated great interest in examining the issues of educational alternatives and attempts limit parental options. Massachusetts plays a key role in this debate. The Bay State was a key center of the Know-Nothing movement and has the oldest version of Anti-Aid Amendments in the nation, as well as a second such amendment approved in 1917. Two-fifths of Massachusetts residents are Catholic, and its Catholic schools outperform the state’s public schools, which are the best in the nation.
Long-Term Leasing of State-Owned Skating Rinks: A Competitive Contracting Success Story
/0 Comments/in Better Government, Press Releases, Press Releases: Government /by Editorial StaffAuthor: Susan Frechette
This paper looks at the success of competitive contracting in addressing long-term cap- ital needs, reducing operating costs, and expanding access to state-owned skating rinks since the 1990s. It argues that the lessons learned from the experience can be applied notonly to other assets in recreation portfolio that are suffering from budget cuts and neglect, but also to many other services and activities that the Commonwealth has been performing directly.
Long-Term Leasing of State Skating Rinks: A Competitive Contracting Success Story
Long-Term Leasing of State Skating Rinks: A Competitive Contracting Success Story
/0 Comments/in Better Government, Municipal Management /by Susan FrenchetteThe state’s involvement with indoor skating arenas can be divided into distinct phases. Each phase offers lessons, not only about the evolution of competitive contracting, but also about the role of the private sector in the provision of public amenities.
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School Choice and Education Reform in Massachusetts
/0 Comments/in Transcripts /by Pioneer InstituteOn Tuesday, January 31, 2006, Pioneer Institute held an event entitled “School Choice and Education Reform in Massachusetts: Competing in the 21st Century,” featuring a presentation by Chris Whittle, CEO/President of Edison Schools. “School Choice and Education Reform” is part of Pioneer Institute’s ongoing mission to present ideas, lectures, and experts on topics of significance to the Commonwealth, and to the country.
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