"The City of New Orleans": A Spin on the Arlo Guthrie Tune, In Loving Memory of the Public Schools of New Orleans

Secretary of State, Arne Duncan, once remarked that Hurricane Katrina was the best thing to happen to education in New Orleans.  A charter-based recovery district was established, allowing for profits to be made off of the misfortune of so many.  Now that public schools have been rooted out, one would be hard pressed to find any legitimate academic gains (see here also).

The City of New Orleans, 2014

Teaching in the City Of New Orleans
Localized Control, Monday morning fail
Hundred schools and thousands of restless students
One Parish Board; one-hundred schools for sale

All along the southbound odyssey - the school's pulled down by Katrina
And floats along past houses, farms, and fields
Passing "suits" that have no name, and courtrooms full of fired black teachers
And the graveyards of their rusted contract deals

Good morning, America, how are you?
Say, don't you know me? I'm your public son
I'm the schools they call the City Of New Orleans
I'll be gone, every single one, when the day is done

Dealing stats games with John White in the "Charter Churn"
Profits a point - We all are keeping score
Pass the paper bag that holds their data
Feel the deals rumbling 'hind closed doors
And the sons of TFAers, and the sons of Profiteers
Ride corporate magic charters made of steals
And, students who learn to "walk the line," rocking to the gentle beat
And the rhythm of failing is all they feel

Good morning, America, how are you?
Say, don't you know me? I'm your public son
I'm the schools they call the City Of New Orleans
I'll be gone, every single one, when the day is done

Night time on the City Of New Orleans
Shuffling schools all around the levee
Nearly home - we'll be there by morning
Through the Recovery District, rolling down to the sea
But, all the towns and people seem to fade into a bad dream
And Bobby Jindal sure won't hear the news
The Parish Board sings its songs again - the data men will please refrain
These schools got the disappearing public school blues

Good night, America, how are you?
Say, don't you know me? I'm your public son
I'm the schools they call the City Of New Orleans
I'll be gone, every single one, when the day is done