A week after the State Supreme Court found the state’s “paramount duty” unfulfilled, we find a misdirected group of Olympia legislators pushing charter school legislation. Again, for the 4th time, because voters have already rejected previous legislation 3 times.
This, really, is their solution to the funding crisis in public education?
So, time for a lesson, Washington. First, let’s review.
1) On the whole, charter schools provide no better (and, just as often, worse) educational outcomes than public schools, according to the Credo study out of Stanford University.
2) When folks talk about charter schools, they often envision a group of like-minded parents and educators coming together to pursue a common creative and exciting vision, a visionary “city on a hill”. This is indeed true for wealthy people. The reality of charter schools in less affluent communities is more often a school run for profit by a mega-corporation, with high teacher turnover, kids in uniforms lined up in rows, and teaching to a test. Music? Art? Not part of testing, not part of school.
3) Charter schools don’t have to take or put up with all students. Special Ed? Too expensive, so let them stay in public schools. Lower socio-economic class? They really wouldn’t “fit in with our school culture.”
4) Charter schools drain financial resources from the existing public system.
5) The existing public system isn’t broken, but it needs help. Including financial help. Including the Legislature stepping up to its “paramount duty.”
6) Speaking of funding, how does that “educating kids and making a profit” thing work? One well-documented scam played out in New York charter schools: hedge fund managers collect huge tax incentives for buying real estate for their charter school. When the charter school closes or moves 3 years later, well, the building can be sold or redeveloped at full market value.
Now, the test questions. You should write a couple of paragraphs on each. Pictures and diagrams may be helpful in explaining your ideas.
a) Who really benefits from charter schools? What are their motives?
b) What important educational issues should the Legislature be working on at this time?
c) Why do rich folks propose one kind of school for poor kids, but send their own kids to very different kind of schools?
d) How can the Legislature sweep aside the State Constitution when it comes to schools, but find money for tax breaks for huge banks and folks who purchase corporate jets?
e) Why do we taxpayers put up with this kind of service from elected officials?
Eric Muhs
Seattle Public School teacher
Member of SEE, Social Equality Educators
Candidate for president of the Seattle Education Association
Post Script:
Please consider writing the Washington State Senate Committee on Early Learning and K-12 Education and letting them know that you do not support charter schools.
Chair
Vice Chair
Committee Members
On the house side, the committee on education contact information is:
santos.sharontomiko@leg.wa.gov
And for the Republicans, who do not publish their e-mail addresses, you can call Julia Kwon and leave a message, 360.786.7292.
