Comments on: Charter schools taking root

By: TL

TL — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:47:58 +0000

You’d think, wouldn’t you? But it’s government, so you know how efficiently and logically that works! I think a little competition always makes things better. If standard public schools can’t keep their students because of charter schools or private schools, they had better shape up. Otherwise, they will be rendered obsolete and disappear. Survival of the fittest.

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By: Kyle A

Kyle A — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:32:59 +0000

If the teachers and the kids are succeeding at charter schools, then the teachers should be getting paid more. That’s how it works in most jobs.

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By: TL

TL — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:12:25 +0000

My husband teaches at a charter school. At his school, he tends to get a lot of the “problem” students who aren’t making it in regular public schools. Parent involvement seems slightly higher, since he has a great turnout at conferences. However, he still has a student failing his class because he doesn’t feel like getting up and getting class on time – my parents wouldn’t have allowed that! The smaller class sizes are great, and he doesn’t have to join the teacher’s union. On the other hand, his pay is only 80% of the public school’s pay – not good.

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By: Harris

Harris — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:17:12 +0000

Charter schools are a key building block in a choice strategy for schools. We get better educational results (and more parental involvement) when parents get to choose. One experience with charters has been that they do tend to draw from religious schools — parents who otherwise would have sent their child to a Christian school, select the charter (and save money).

While teacher unions still make noises about charters, the reality on the ground is that increasingly these schools are considered as part of the educational fabric. They’re getting “normal” and that’s good.

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