[browardchad]

Unfortunately, all charter schools are not created equal. In the bowels of Dem Broward County, we have charter schools that are simply clones of the county system, under the thumb of the oh-so-politically-corrupt school board, and some which add another layer of bureaucracy, since they were created and are supervised by city governments. More than a few have been in danger of being closed due to poor test scores (although that will probably only happen if state/fed funding dries up).

[Cowgirl]

This is like the post office whining about Fed Express. They can't stand the competition because they are so inefficient.

[Slyfox]

A number of the charter schools in Mesa have one of the best reading and writing programs anywhere in the country. They are beating the competition hands down. They are scoring the highest when compared to other public schools in the state. Parents tend to go where the better schools are. You'd think public education would buy a clue.

[meadsjn]

"It doesn't do us any good to be at war with [charter schools]," Ms. Waters said.

No parent in their right mind wants to be at war with the public schools either. Those who have tried to effect positive change, quickly find themselves up against a vicious, vindictive bureaucracy with seemingly unlimited resources, and an agenda which is totally anti-family and anti-education.

The best approach is for parents to keep pulling their children from these hopeless cesspools until the government school systems dry up and blow away in the wind. Elect representatives who will support alternatives to government education. Let each family take the responsibility to determine and provide for the educational needs of their children. And give the people back their money which was stolen to prop up the facade of government education.

[Fish out of Water]

index bump and fyi

[Carolina]

Education ping!

[concerned about politics]

Here in NY we have a small school district. They 'only' get $10,000.00 per child every year. They now want a 5% tax increase. They say the district will have to cut back on music and art. If it isn't passed, it will hurt the children. They say they can't afford music and art on the small budget they're being forced to work with.

Of course, there are many in the area who are liberals and don't pay school taxes. They just leech off others. They're all for the increase, and working hard to get out the vote to make sure others pay for it. It won't cost them one envious cent, and they have all the welfare kids!

I'd like to see a few charter schools move in. The kids are used as money around here. Very few can read, let alone do math. They're dumb as a box of rocks.

PS....We homechool, but we're still forced to pay for the dead horse we never rode!

[Teacher317]

The positive side of it is that it makes you very competitive

Yay, competition!

[glory]

"Public schools have been here forever, and we will be here in the future," Mr. Peddie said, noting that some charter schools in the area have shut down.

sigh, too much to dissect here. I see lot's of denial and ignorance from some of these districts. As for the above, this is the mentality we need to change in parents. They do think public schools have been around 'forever' as they are today and that's just not true. This man talks as if things like charter schools, private schools, tutors, homeschooling(i'm reading into his words of course) are new and the public schoolhouse has just always been when in fact it's quite the opposite--it's the ps that's a fad. grrrr