The more choices for a child's education the better. Can you imagine if the parents of East Cleveland were limited to just the Cleveland Public School System? The number of kids failing and falling through the cracks would multiply immensely. It's just a shame that charter schools get such a bad wrap. Amanda was telling us of how her school and many other Constellation schools have to write a letter to Mr. Strickland pleading to him how much they love their jobs and how much they want to stay. That is very sad to me. When I interviewed for my position at the school I'm at now, my principal told me that the only difference between charter schools and public schools is the funding. My school (Westside Community School of the Arts) has no more than 20 students per class, there are smart boards in every classroom along with computers. The room I am in now has 6 flat screen computers. Plus the kids attend music and art every day for thirty minutes. What Cleveland parent wouldn't want that for their child? Yet schools like mine are fearful of closing leaving kids stuck and teachers jobless. Williams even states that the charter schools who escape the bureaucratic messes are lucky but are not safe.
Berstein lists all the "supposed" benefits of charter schools and then rips them apart saying that they aren't what they seem. What is he basing this on? Has he researched all of the charter schools out there? There are plenty of schools that are performing at these standards and are producing results. The ones that are not should be shut down. If the kids aren't benefitting from the school and test scores remain low year after year, then yes the school should be shut down. But there is no need to get rid of the performing charters schools. When I first started applying for teaching jobs out of college I didn't give one thought to the possibility of charter schools. Seven years later I am finally getting my first real teaching job and it's at a charter school that I am growing more and more found of everyday that I am there.
Parents need as many choices as possible today. It is their sole responsibility to decide what kind of education is best for their child. Even if it means doing so by process of elimination. If one school is not the right fit for their child then they have the option to send them somewhere else. We always learned in school that we always had a choice and were reminded to make the right choice at all times. This is exactly what parents are doing today. Making the right and best choice for their child.
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I really like your reflection about the school that you are at. I did work in Elyria Schools and I can tell you that I did not feel my career as rewarding until I worked for Constellation Schools. Atleast for me the parents and kids have a total different attitude than what I remember from my old public school. I love that I can teach how I need to teach and there is not just one set way. The level of respect and caring on the students part is far more than I ever expected. I feel that we are in a more difficult position than other public schools. Some of the public schools will be in academic warning for years after years but in our district should you fall below and be considered in academic watch immediately interventions on all levels will occur. In the article Take Time to Find Best Charter School Practices I believe this statement "charter schools are expected to demonstrate academic excellence and fiscal responsibility and to be part of the solution to the problems of our public schools". These schools will not take over the public schools but for many can be an alternative choice and quite possibly a solution to the problems some public schools may have. I am so excited for your new position and hope that your career is as rewarding as mine has been.
ReplyDeleteI believe your post is informative and correct. If a charter school is underperforming then yes they should be shut down. However if a charter school is achieving and performing well, then it is not fair to the staff or the community to shut that school down for the simple fact that they are a charter school.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I am hearing Amanda seems to be one of the few teachers that we are aware of that actually enjoys working in a charter school and has the support of her parents and staff. Is there a difference in the curriculum or discipline of children in pubilc vs. charter schools? It seems to me that we have accepted public schools because that is what has always been available..so now here comes the new visions and missions of the charter schools. Some of these charter schools are genuinely trying to make a differenece but than we have the others that turn out to be "lemons" but allowed to continue on and if the parent is not abreast of what is going on may be doing their child more injustice than justice as far as educational oportunities. It seems to me that if you'r a parent who isn't abreast of all what is going on in the school systems,... your child might just get lost in the shuffle,especially if an I.E.P. is involved. But my question is why are we so quick to say that these "underperforming" charter schools need to be closed when we've had public schools under academic watch for years but still up and performing?
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