Editor:
The appeal of opening a charter school where innovative teaching is encouraged is understandable (“Charter School Rift,” Jan 24). But proponents of charter schools would do well to take a realistic look at some of the negative effects of charter schools.
First of all, charter schools are not required to have any unions, including teachers’ unions. Many people think that union wages are too high. But think of the costs of unemployment, of providing medical care to the uninsured. Think of the dollars that no longer enter the local economy. Union jobs matter, and whenever a new charter school opens, union jobs are lost.
Second, think of the playing field. Is it right to compare a charter school’s test scores to a public school’s when the charter school clearly has so few special education students, English learners, and children who are unmotivated to learn due to a lack of role models? Is it even reasonable to compare test scores of schools attended by privileged, motivated children to those schools that take all students? The reasonable answer is “No,” but the comparisons continue. Schools’ test scores are published with little or no regard for the impact of class, race or language on those very test scores. And is it then fair to reward charter schools with more money for higher test scores?
Finally, to be educated by excellent teachers in a clean, well maintained school that has enough textbooks and technology should be the right of every child in this country. The way to provide that right and put an end to the reality of “good” schools and “bad” schools is to reform school funding.
Leslie R. Leach, Eureka
This article appears in Making Wood Sing.
As far as the “playing field” goes, it is absolutely ridiculous how much lack of faith the public schools are having with their special education kids, English learners, and unmotivated students. These low test score are fault of the teachers and parents. My daughter attended Ambrisoni school and was labled a trouble maker because she talked too much when she was finished with her work, at 7 years old. She was well a head of her class in every subject, and always finished first. Her teacher moved her to a back corner all by her self, instead of finding a creative activity for her to do when finished with work. I understand the schools are under resourced and have little to no help in the class rooms. However, teachers can be more creative with their “punishments”. Labeling my daughter unmotivated her to even go to school. Its the school that are not having faith in the specials ed kids, the English learners and so on. I read other articles where a teacher at Ambrosini is calling their students “Future Janitors” WHERES THE FAITH IN OUR KIDS?????? With out faith behind what you are trying to teach them, they will refuse to learn. It has nothing to do with charters, the whole school system needs to be majorly re-evaluated before pointing blame.
It’s so sad to read comments from people who received better-funded public educations a generation ago, suddenly decide to blame teachers for their kid’s poor performance.
The issue has always been full-funding of public schools, smaller classroom sizes, and special programs rich in music, art and sports.
But, as long as parents can be divided between those who can afford charter schools and those who can’t, banding together to support public school teachers and public schools is less likely.
It’s George Bush’s divide and conquer legacy to bleed the teacher’s union with “No Child Left Behind”.
Many parents are robbing their children by sending them to sub standard charter schools.
But because the charter’s inflate the grades the parents never know. Charters have more pretty stuff (Like laptops) and they pay for it with cheaper teachers who can’t get work at public schools.
Where are the articles calling students “future janitors”?
Stop with the ” it’s George Bush’s fault”, your not Obama that’s his line.
If young children enter school not speaking English they are here illegally. There is no excuse for not speaking English in the United States. Their parents are at fault for not learning English and not teaching their children to speak it.