Why Some Folks Love Charter Schools

[Hannah Bell]

Since there is no reliable evidence to show that charter schools generate equal or higher test scores than regular public schools, there must be important social and economic reasons that some folks, who would otherwise not leave a child behind in a school turning out such scores if it were a public school, see charters schools as the final solution for children who have no choice in the school choice advocates' choosing for them. Here is my list of reasons that some folks love charter schools:

1) Charter schools put decision-making and control in the hands of unelected executives.

2) Charter schools are cheaper because they reduce teacher salaries, health benefits, and retirement.

3) Charter schools make it easier to segregate schools based on race, economics, gender, and ability.

4) Charter schools allow for dumping of problem students whose behaviors are deemed inappropriate.

5) Charter schools reduce teacher professionalism and job security, making them cheaper and easier to replace.

6) Charter schools allow for the imposition of schedules, curriculums, and behavioral control techniques that are not subject to public scrutiny.

7) Charter schools require minimal public investment in building and transportation infrastructure.

8) Charter schools make for easier to hide the problems of the poor and those living in poverty.

9) Charter schools (not for profit types) allow corporations to reap tax benefits for providing financial help.

10) Charter schools (for profit types) expand business opportunities for the education-industrial complex.

11) Charter schools make it possible to take the state tax dollars saved from the imposition of urban charters and use that money to enrich suburban public schools.

And here is the latest news piece on accumlating evidence that points to the fact that there are no good reasons to allow charter schools to snuff out the democratic reality and potential of public education in schools that serve the poor...

http://schoolsmatter.blogspot.com/2007/07/why-some-folks-love-charter-schools.html