Submitted by Alan Robbins (not verified) on September 2, 2006 - 15:18.
As a fairly new middle school science teacher, who has entered teaching as a second career, I find that the idea of charter schools is missing the point. The entire reason why charter schools, vouchers and other non-traditional educational band-aides are being discussed is because the only other alternative is to discuss public education. The impetus behind all of these initiatives is the fact that public education requires more resources than it did 30 years ago. Schools are a reflection of the greater society and if we neglect to take car of our inner-cities, least capable citizens and working-class families, then these problems will continue to enter our schools via our students. As a nation we must decide whether to start paying for enabling programs such as HeadStart, after school programs, adequate health care, adequate housing, teacher training, summer job programs and skills training, or do we want to continue to build prisons and incarcerate the large number of citizens who do have the resources to make better choices. Unless we commit to adequately funding our schools and the communities that they support, we will be continue this game of blame, finger-pointing with dog and pony tricks to divert our attention away from the real problems that exist in our country.
As a fairly new middle
Submitted by Alan Robbins (not verified) on September 2, 2006 - 15:18.
As a fairly new middle school science teacher, who has entered teaching as a second career, I find that the idea of charter schools is missing the point. The entire reason why charter schools, vouchers and other non-traditional educational band-aides are being discussed is because the only other alternative is to discuss public education. The impetus behind all of these initiatives is the fact that public education requires more resources than it did 30 years ago. Schools are a reflection of the greater society and if we neglect to take car of our inner-cities, least capable citizens and working-class families, then these problems will continue to enter our schools via our students. As a nation we must decide whether to start paying for enabling programs such as HeadStart, after school programs, adequate health care, adequate housing, teacher training, summer job programs and skills training, or do we want to continue to build prisons and incarcerate the large number of citizens who do have the resources to make better choices. Unless we commit to adequately funding our schools and the communities that they support, we will be continue this game of blame, finger-pointing with dog and pony tricks to divert our attention away from the real problems that exist in our country.