A heated exchange between legislators took place during a Senate Education Committee meeting. New Orleans Representative Joe Bouie was discussing a bill placing a moratorium on charter schools and what Tulane University research showed. He said charter schools disciplinary programs are cruel and that many persons aged 16 to 24 are either out of work or not attending a school. Metairie Senator Conrad Appel became highly offended.
In response to Bouie's proposition, Appel said, "You are so far off base with your racial comments, it's disgusting. This committee has spent year after year trying to help all the children of this state."
After calling for an audit of these charter schools, Senator Conrad Appel went on a tirade telling Bouie he was trying to make this a racial issue.
Appel said don’t blame the lack of supervision in charter schools in New Orleans. He told Bouie the fact is the economy is not good in the Crescent City.
Appel said, "If there's a bunch of kids out of work in New Orleans, it's because the city doesn't produce jobs for those children. That's why they're out of work."
The bill to place a moratorium on charter schools never came up for a vote.