Charter Schools Commentary

Originally Published July 27, 2010 in labeez.org
http://www.labeez.org/2010/07/separate-but-unequal.php

Separate but Unequal?

A veteran teacher raises questions about charter schools in advance of a couple of documentaries that will examine the concept.

Having taught in both standard public schools and charter schools, I have seen the massive disparity between these two educational institutions. The ideologies alone are staggering in their differences, and this can be seen in the attitudes and mentalities of the students and staff.

This year, two films dealing with publicly funded charter schools are being released: 'The Lottery', and 'Waiting for Superman'. Both films document the random lottery process that is used to place students in charter schools in Washington, D.C. and Harlem in New York City.

These documentaries seem to have the best intentions, showing the despair of disenfranchised students in urban environments. They also show the hopelessness of the parents of these students. Many the parents feel that the only chance their kids have of going to college is winning the charter school lottery.

While educational reform is something that has long been a campaign promise of countless politicians, there seems to have been little or no follow through. That has resulted in charter schools spreading like wildfire across the country. These schools offer more personalized education, as well as a more controlled environment that is conducive to academic success.

While charter schools are great ways to encourage students and promote higher learning, one cannot help but wonder what is going to happen to those students who are left behind. Is it right to be celebrating a public educational institution that is not available to all students? These films laud charter schools, and engender sympathy for those who do not get in to them based on the lottery results. Yet they also illustrate the societal norm of apathy and inaction. The films feature parents saying that their only hope for success rests in the lottery results — when this is just not true.

The truth is that the public education system is a mess because of numerous circumstances and policy decisions. While one answer is to create and open charter schools that focus more on the students and less on the teacher unions and administrative decisions, this is ultimately a quick fix that will not benefit the field of education in general. It is great for those who can attend the charter schools, but what about those who cannot? They are left with even fewer resources, given that the schools with fewer students receive less funding.

Real education reform could come in the form of using the charters school model to change public schools. Charter schools have a great concept that can truly help students, but as a community, we cannot simply forget about or ignore the problems that plague other public schools.

If parents are depending on the laws of chance to help their kids learn, then it is clear that more effort is needed to dramatically change the public education system. While movies like 'the Lottery' and 'Waiting for Superman' are emotional and touching, it is ultimately up to us as a national community to demand the changes to public education rather than sit and wait for a number to be drawn.