The War on Public Schools?

I recently received n invitation to attend a public forum with the title “ The War on Public Schools.” I was anxious to attend but was unsure of the points for discussion. The “panelists “ were comprised of one current school district employee, one former employee and two representatives of the areca chapter of the NAACP. As I soon learned the focus of the meeting was about charter schools.  Charter schools, the panelists maintained do not have to meet the same standards as the public schools. They can pick and choose their students and can accept both private and public funding. Apparently, charter school are siphoning off some of the top students and taking with them state funding.  Charter schools have fewer students on free and reduced lunch, etc. The NAACP members, not surprisingly, are for school choice, whereby parents can send their children to any district school they choose, providing there is space for them. One of the audience members happened to be both an executive of a charter school as well as a member of the local school board. She proceeded to call the panelists liars and a shouting match ensued.

The meeting did proceed with a Q and A, which I fear did not do a whole lot to enlighten the situation. My suggestion was to create magnet schools- public schools with state certified teachers and administrators and whose students must meet state graduation standards. I am a product of a magnet school and I have seen the success of such programs. Unfortunately none of the panelist knew what a magnet school was and believed that the district did not have any- even though they did have a highly regarded and successful technical high school (which does qualify as a magnet school). Cities across the US have preforming arts high schools as well as middle and high school STEM themed programs.

Given the current administration’s views on public education, I fear that other such unproductive meetings will be taking place across the country. My suggestion to public educators and parents is to join the dialogue, make your voices heard and be part of the solution.

c.2018  J. Margolis