Charter Schools ^ wealth and class lines showing^

[rodeodance]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/28/education/28charter.html?_r=1&th=&oref=slogin&emc=th&pagewanted=print

June 28, 2007
Patrons’ Sway Leads to Friction in Charter School
By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN

The Beginning With Children Charter School, housed in a former factory in Brooklyn, landed on the state’s list of high-performing schools this year, thanks to rising English and math test scores among black and Hispanic students.

But its founders and wealthy patrons, Joseph H. and Carol F. Reich, who have poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into the school, think it could be better. “It’s above average,” said Mr. Reich, 72, “but considering the effort and the capability and the resources, we don’t feel we’re getting the best we can.”

So last month, the couple — threatening to cut ties, including financial support — forced most of the school’s trustees to resign in a push for wide management changes, and better student achievement.

The move caused an uproar among parents and teachers who said they would be left with no formal say at the school. “My voice is going to be lost,” said Shakema Daise, the mother of a first grader.

The clash has exposed fault lines of wealth and class that are perhaps inevitable as philanthropists, in New York and nationwide, increasingly invest in public education, providing new schools to children in poor neighborhoods while making communities dependent on their generosity.

[bluerum]

1. Yes. Time to hire RW xtian fundy jesus luvs ya teachers to teach the kids

the right way.

Ain't gonna be no mo dang everlution going on in school.

And them dang spanish speakers gonna learn them some english.

[ikojo]

2. I think this is more a commentary on people viewing

education as a business with the expectation of a return on their investment in those pesky poor folk.

The problem is that many poor and lower middle class kids come to school already behind, thanks to class.

[bluerum]

3. Yes. Educate the poor to be good god fearin RW fundies who will glady

work like slaves for the rich.

It is the embodiment of RW hypocrisy.

[Greyskye]

4. did you read the link in the OP?

NO religion even mentioned. "Charter" does NOT equal "religious". "Charter" does NOT equal "vouchers".

Also, not all Charter schools rely on these big charitable donations by wealthy individuals as mentioned in the linked article. The public charter school that my wife teaches at (and our son attends) supplements funding through volunteer hours and fund raising by the parents and students.

[noamnety]

5. What are you on about?

That's unrelated to the article, and doesn't make sense to me outside of the article either - speaking as an atheist who teaches at a charter school.

[bluerum]

6. I am on about rich people "owning" schools and hiring and firing at will

with no oversight.

They can claim any reason they want for firing and hiring anyone they want, and are seemingly answerable to no one.

This puts them in a position to dictate aspects of the educational environment and curriculum.

I went to a catholic school for 8 years. IMO it was a glorified charter school. Its own staff. Its own money. Its own special brand of fusing religion with education.

[noamnety]

7. I think your brush is too broad

If your complaint is about schools that are "owned" by rich people, and have no oversight, then complain about that.

I will admit I don't understand what you mean when you say the school you attended "in your opinion" was a glorified charter school. Was it a charter school? Or was it a private school? There are MASSIVE differences. And much depends on the state where it operates.

The charter school where I work isn't "owned" by individuals. It's chartered by the public county-level educational folks, and they manage our finances and have oversight over us exactly as they do the traditional school districts they oversee. Other districts have county codes, file reports with the state and all; we do exactly the same. When the auditors go out to check the schools for student count days and health records and every other thing under the sun, we are right there getting inspected as well.

I'm not sure what oversight you think traditional neighborhoods have that is waived for us. I wish it were, the reporting requirements are overwhelming sometimes.

[Greyskye]

8. I agree

Your points regarding charter schools sound exactly the same as we have here in California. Thanks! :toast:

[AZBlue]

9. That may be true of this school in particular, but here in AZ many charter schools are

purposely situated in low income areas to give these kids a chance at a better education than they might get at a public school.