I think we do ourselves a disservice when we posture and intimate that charters are better than or necessary because public schools are flawed. This approach turns off the very people in Wisconsin that we need to grow the movement. In Wisconsin, school administrators initiate over half of our new charter schools; the percentage is greater when you consider collaborations. I happen to think, after having visited schools in Africa, that our public education system is pretty incredible. Do we need to do better? Yes, and we will. That is the American Way. I believe that we create charter schools to supplement or to compliment what already exists. Charter schools can be tailored, and can bloom from existing programs or teaching strategies into a specialty school for a set number of students. Charter schools are sisters of public schools. Maybe if we took that family centered approach versus the the competitive neighbor mentality, growing the movement wouldn't be such a chore.
Posted as a reply to:
Success vs. Closure by Ned Curtis
|
|
