Bacon's Rebellion

Democracy Thrives in Sunlight

Pharrell Offers Low-Income Families School Choice

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by

James A. Bacon
in

Pharrell Williams

by Kerry Dougherty

I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say Pharrell Williams is much more than a hugely successful rapper, musician and songwriter.

He’s something of a visionary.

Where others see insurmountable problems, Pharrell finds opportunity.

For instance, Virginia Beach struggled for years with the annual College Beach Weekend in April when tens of thousands of mostly African American students would flock to the beach for a three-day party.

Too many young people, too little to do plus an influx of troublemakers meant the celebration often turned violent. After years of problems, tensions between the city and the revelers were raw.

Enter Pharrell.

The Beach native saw the situation and came up with a plan. Just like that, Something In the Water 2019 was born.

Thanks to Pharrell Williams, the city’s most problematical weekend of the year was transformed into its most memorable. There were huge, well-behaved crowds, few problems, terrific music and a Sunday pop-up church service on the beach.

Unfortunately, the governor’s Covid restrictions resulted in SITW being cancelled in 2020 and 2021 and the festival lost its momentum.

Virginia Beach needs SITW 2022. I hope it happens.

All of the credit for this stunning Beach College Weekend turnaround goes to Williams, who holds deep affection for his hometown and has a vision for this region that’s both breathtaking and inclusive.

Now Pharrell has turned his attention to education. The Princess Anne High School alum plans to open the first in a chain of private “micro schools” this fall offering individualized learning to underprivileged kids.

Low-income families will be able to give their kids a private education. Just like their middle class counterparts.

Imagine that!

According to The Virginian-Pilot, the first school will be in the Ghent section of Norfolk with other local schools to follow. Initially, tuition will be free, underwritten by Pharrell’s nonprofit and the Walton Family Foundation.

Say what you want about Walmart, but the founders do a lot of good with their loot.

So does Pharrell.

The rapper knows that low-income kids struggle mightily in school. Being out of class for a year during the COVID shutdowns was especially tough on children without resources to supplement the thin gruel being offered by shuttered public schools.

Private “bespoke” education — which will cluster kids according to their abilities not grade levels — in a small setting could be a game changer for the 40 to 50 children who will be lucky enough to enroll this fall. According to his website, Pharrell consulted with NASA scientists and “education futurists” to develop the concepts that will guide his “future-forward” schools.

Skeptics might question whether these abstract notions will translate into success for the kids. Warning to naysayers: Do not underestimate Pharrell Williams.

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37 responses to “Pharrell Offers Low-Income Families School Choice”

  1. DJRippert Avatar
    DJRippert

    Good column. Pharrell Williams may be kicking off a rethinking of education in Virginia. Historically, public K-12 education has been monopolized by the teachers’ associations and their purchased politicians. One effect is the lack of charter schools. This lack of school choice makes BigEd and their hand puppet politicians (like Terry McAuliffe) “Happy” as Pharrell might say. Unfortunately, it makes the students and their parents sad.

    The election of Glenn Younkin along with success from Pharrell’s microschools might be enough to get school choice off the launch pad in Virginia. I hope so. The pandemic clearly demonstrated that the existing system and players in the K-12 public education system in Virginia need to be replaced.

  2. Baconator with extra cheese Avatar
    Baconator with extra cheese

    He definitely is using his wealth for good and giving back to a community in need. I hope his project is a huge success.
    On the other hand I watched the last RVA school board meeting. If anyone wants to see a train wreck I suggest you tune in. I actually felt sorry for Jason Kamras. He showed unbelievable restraint and grace under fire. I completely understand why VDOE wrote that letter to the board. There is no hope for RVA’s schools.

  3. LarrytheG Avatar
    LarrytheG

    The irony here is thick. Not only has Sherlock highlighted that Chesapeake Schools do quite well with this demographic, but the same critics here of public schools speak out against the public schools trying to do more to help low income kids , even claim that in increasing resources for those kids, that the school are trying for equal outcomes.

    There ARE good public schools in Virginia, even ones where low income kids receive good educations. The idea that public schools “fail” is yet another right wing canard that have to be put up with.

    There is no magic in Charter or other schools if they don’t transparently report results. If that going to be the case with Pharrell’s school or are we just going to take his word for it?

    We hold public schools to tough standards. We expect them to educate not only the low income, but ones with English as a second language, kids with learning disabilities like dyslexia and autism for way more money than other kids and yet we still claim that non-public/charter/other schools can do better – without transparency.

    Balderdash

    1. John Harvie Avatar
      John Harvie

      “We hold public schools to tough standards.”

      Balderdash to the second power…

      1. LarrytheG Avatar
        LarrytheG

        Tough standards – yes.

        Not only SOLs but pretty transparent. Try that on their competitors who claim to do better but seldom provide anything near the same level of transparency.

    2. Matt Adams Avatar
      Matt Adams

      This was written by Kerry, not James.

      Clearly, whoever and whatever schooling you were provided was substandard given every single on of your comments.

      1. DJRippert Avatar
        DJRippert

        Lol. I especially like this sentence …

        “The idea that public schools “fail” is yet another right wing canard that have to be put up with.”

        1. Matt Adams Avatar
          Matt Adams

          If it weren’t for baseless broad brush accusations/”observations” , logical fallacies and word misuse, Larbear would be left with an empty comment section.

          The public school system is so good that Mr. Williams is putting out his own money to help those who are failed by it (I highly doubt that Mr. Williams is a ekk gads “conservative”).

          The continual “inclusion” of our schooling system only hurts the students. We are merely doing a disservice to every single of them, when we treat them all the same. They are not, they don’t learn the same. There is nothing wrong with that, nor is there anything wrong with VOTEC programs.

          Everyone is clamoring for a “living wage”, well instead of asking for it at the BK, go be a plumber and commands $20+ and hour on your own terms.

          1. WayneS Avatar
            WayneS

            If you know a plumber who accepts anything close to $20 per hour will you please provide his/her phone number?

            😉

          2. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            Nothing what-so-ever wrong with blue collar work and these days you need more education than before so all good. The point being that kids receive a decent enough education to go to college or get a decent non-college job.

          3. WayneS Avatar
            WayneS

            “Nothing what-so-ever wrong with blue collar work and these days you need more education than before so all good.”

            Okay. I don’t recall stating otherwise.

          4. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            Oh I’m AGREEING with you (I think!)

            The point -again – a LOT of kids get decent educations from public schooling, sufficient for not only college but other work with good pay in the economy.

            THE problem is the kids who do not which is a significant number but a small number in comparison to all the other kids that do just fine.

            And for this – the critics would “de-fund” public schools because they “fail”.

            nope. just sharing my view here…

          5. Maria Paluzsay Avatar
            Maria Paluzsay

            I don’t know that the majority of critics would “defund public schools because they fail”. I do know that SOLs as a measure of accountability may give the state something to mull over but costs kids a month to six weeks of classroom time each year. The concept of a spiral curriculum and testing is good but the application, with the almost panic of teachers to have their kids pass, is counterproductive.

            I often wonder how many of you have actual, recent, student-focused interaction with the public school system.

          6. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            SOLs need to be done but in a less obtrusive and time-demanding manner – but measuring performance – choose your way – must be done if we are truly interested in performance and efficacy.

            Without measuring results – we have no way to compare programs, curricula or different kinds of schools.. and without that measurement, schools would really go to hell in a handbasket …. IMHO.

          7. Maria Paluzsay Avatar
            Maria Paluzsay

            I agree, we do need a way to measure. I consider them more a level of minimum standard than success, unless schools aim for, say, 90% accuracy instead of barely passing as a marker. Also, they are a terrific review and review does solidify taught skills.

            Now can we discuss your acceptance of “just fine” as a level of success? According to her counselor my daughter (11th grade) is doing “just fine”. So why do I have concerns for her future opportunities that will be based on her academic background? She’s not cut out to be a plumber… .

          8. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            It’s a numeric score right? The state assigns a minimum score but they also do NAEP which then equates to a narrative description of what abilities are present for the score levels.

            Schools and teachers don’t know your daughters specifics nor others until they assess her and in k-12 , the skills are basic and universal – like reading and math and basic science.

            You may have concerns as a parent – yes and you do have other additional options to pursue beyond basic K-12 if you wish.

            Public Education just can’t be all things to all people. If not, then pursue what you think is best for you and daughter.

            Here we have public schools responsible for everything from special needs/autism all the way up to Charter schools in Math and Science as well as non-College careers.

            They have a lot of their plate already, not to mention the critics who want more and more or less and less!

          9. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            Nothing what-so-ever wrong with blue collar work and these days you need more education than before so all good. The point being that kids receive a decent enough education to go to college or get a decent non-college job.

          10. Matt Adams Avatar
            Matt Adams

            I know it was far to low, I was honestly too lazy to look up am average rate. I know it’s a heck of a lot more than $15/hr a specific section of our society wants applied to burger flippers.

          11. WayneS Avatar
            WayneS

            According to Homeguide.com, “most plumbers charge $45 to $150 per hour and have a minimum service call-out fee or flat rate of $50 to $200”.

          12. Matt Adams Avatar
            Matt Adams

            Don’t tell the $20/ hr for fast food workers.

          13. Matt Adams Avatar
            Matt Adams

            I know it was far to low, I was honestly too lazy to look up am average rate. I know it’s a heck of a lot more than $15/hr a specific section of our society wants applied to burger flippers.

        2. Matt Adams Avatar
          Matt Adams

          If it weren’t for baseless broad brush accusations/”observations” , logical fallacies and word misuse, Larbear would be left with an empty comment section.

          The public school system is so good that Mr. Williams is putting out his own money to help those who are failed by it (I highly doubt that Mr. Williams is a ekk gads “conservative”).

          The continual “inclusion” of our schooling system only hurts the students. We are merely doing a disservice to every single of them, when we treat them all the same. They are not, they don’t learn the same. There is nothing wrong with that, nor is there anything wrong with VOTEC programs.

          Everyone is clamoring for a “living wage”, well instead of asking for it at the BK, go be a plumber and commands $20+ and hour on your own terms.

        3. LarrytheG Avatar
          LarrytheG

          Yep How many kids in Nova public schools go on to College?

          1. Matt Adams Avatar
            Matt Adams

            College acceptance nor attendance is a barometer for success of public schools.

            A state university in PA that I attended over enrolled freshman, placed 3 in a 2 person dorm and collected state and federal money based upon enrollment. Completely ignoring the fact that some students disenrolled when learning about their living situations, that money was still the Universities to have.

          2. Matt Adams Avatar
            Matt Adams

            College acceptance nor attendance is a barometer for success of public schools.

            A state university in PA that I attended over enrolled freshman, placed 3 in a 2 person dorm and collected state and federal money based upon enrollment. Completely ignoring the fact that some students disenrolled when learning about their living situations, that money was still the Universities to have.

    3. DJRippert Avatar
      DJRippert

      “The idea that public schools “fail” is yet another right wing canard that have to be put up with.”

      Absurd.

      Public schools are failing all over the state. How much data do you have to see from “Cranky” and Capt. Sherlock?

      That is not the same as saying that all public schools fail. Langley High School, where my oldest son attended and graduated, seems to be quite successful.

      1. LarrytheG Avatar
        LarrytheG

        Public schools are NOT failing “all over the state”. That’s the right wing canard.

        Virginia ranks high nationally, about 6th in fact.

        And as you point out – Langley and many others do quite well.

        What we have is a problem with SOME schools – not all of them by a long shot – as Sherlock has pointed out recently.

        We have less success with low income kids – and the critics blame the schools, the teachers AND the parents – all the time… ad nauseam.

        Listen to the comments here in BR!

        Attacks and blame on teachers, parents, administrators and VDOE – CRT out the wazoo to boot!

        Balderdash on steroids!

      2. LarrytheG Avatar
        LarrytheG

        Public schools are NOT failing “all over the state”. That’s the right wing canard.

        Virginia ranks high nationally, about 6th in fact.

        And as you point out – Langley and many others do quite well.

        What we have is a problem with SOME schools – not all of them by a long shot – as Sherlock has pointed out recently.

        We have less success with low income kids – and the critics blame the schools, the teachers AND the parents – all the time… ad nauseam.

        Listen to the comments here in BR!

        Attacks and blame on teachers, parents, administrators and VDOE – CRT out the wazoo to boot!

        Balderdash on steroids!

  4. James Wyatt Whitehead Avatar
    James Wyatt Whitehead

    I remember when Redskins Head Coach Joe Gibbs started Youth for Tomorrow. In 35 years the foster home and private school is still doing wonders. I hope Pharrell will stay involved for the long haul.
    https://youthfortomorrow.org/

    1. LarrytheG Avatar
      LarrytheG

      As I’ve said many times, if these competitors are doing a great job – let’s see the results. And if they really are better, I’d support tax money for them.

      I have no allegiance to public schools per se – some of them are clearly bad but others are clearly good – it’s a mixed bag but public education per se is not a “fail” – that’s a failed canard.

      ” Graduates (Fairfax)
      83.5 percent of the approximately 14,037 FCPS 2020 high school graduates indicated their intention to attend postsecondary educational institutions. Of this group:

      61.9 percent pursue enrollment at four-year colleges
      19 percent pursue enrollment at two-year colleges
      6.2 percent pursue military/employment
      2.6 percent pursue other educational plans

      1. James Wyatt Whitehead Avatar
        James Wyatt Whitehead

        How many of the kids from FCPS who went to college moved into Mom and Dad’s basement right after college because they have a degree in “nothingness”?

        1. LarrytheG Avatar
          LarrytheG

          No Clue James but clearly a bunch of them got good enough educations to go to college and thence into the economy.

          It’s never a black/white deal, never the way some Conservatives want to characterize it.

          We have lots of issues to deal with and we are no where near enough success but as you surely know as an instructor – it’s not one thing – it’s along process.

          Our big problem is income/neighborhood stratification in the more dense areas. Rural schools with few schools that are central to all kids in the county do okay as Mr. Hurd has shown. But in more dense areas – not just Richmond, but parts of Henrico, and even Fairfax – there are problems. And those problems as far as I can tell have not been “fixed” by non-public schools either… and even where there are alternative schools, we have no where near the same metrics like SOLs nor transparency of performance. They often just CLAIM to do better.

        2. LarrytheG Avatar
          LarrytheG

          No Clue James but clearly a bunch of them got good enough educations to go to college and thence into the economy.

          It’s never a black/white deal, never the way some Conservatives want to characterize it.

          We have lots of issues to deal with and we are no where near enough success but as you surely know as an instructor – it’s not one thing – it’s along process.

          Our big problem is income/neighborhood stratification in the more dense areas. Rural schools with few schools that are central to all kids in the county do okay as Mr. Hurd has shown. But in more dense areas – not just Richmond, but parts of Henrico, and even Fairfax – there are problems. And those problems as far as I can tell have not been “fixed” by non-public schools either… and even where there are alternative schools, we have no where near the same metrics like SOLs nor transparency of performance. They often just CLAIM to do better.

      2. James Wyatt Whitehead Avatar
        James Wyatt Whitehead

        How many of the kids from FCPS who went to college moved into Mom and Dad’s basement right after college because they have a degree in “nothingness”?

      3. Maria Paluzsay Avatar
        Maria Paluzsay

        Here are your results – from a public-private partnership. From no future to real future, in the projects of the East End of Newport News. When I student taught at the elementary school the cops told me to be sure to leave immediately after school… https://bit.ly/3cLcdVE

        1. LarrytheG Avatar
          LarrytheG

          If they accept all demographics including economically disadvantaged and report the results, I’m all for them. Fund them and let them become a model for other schools.

          But “schools” that “promise” but won’t provide results , no dice.

          I’ll just add that there actually are regular public schools in Va that produce exemplary results, as Sherlock reported about Chesapeake.

          And there are some horrible ones, no question, but when you have both good and bad why do we represent all public schools as bad sometimes?

          More importantly, should we be condemning public education as a whole and what exactly would we advocate for instead – schools that don’t report results?

  5. LarrytheG Avatar
    LarrytheG

    I’d like to know more about how Pharrell Williams “school” will work. Is it really an add on to public schools or is it intended to replace public school altogether?

    Will it follow Va SOLs or be a different curriculum?

    Will it test the kids and report their results?

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