Comments on: Bringing Quality Schools to Virginia

By: Kilroy

Kilroy — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:37:28 +0000

Delaware has 17 charter schools in which 8 are under acedemic watch or review. Those 8 are high poverty and high minority. Pretty much they mirror traditional public schools.

Delaware law states , ” students will be given a preference, “Students who have a specific interest in the school’s teaching methods, philosophy, or educational focus;

The only charter high school and actually the only public high school in the city of Wilmington has a student population of 21.9% Asian compared to 7.1% Afrcian-American, 2% poverty and zero Sepcial Ed students. Ironically it is was formed by the public school distirct. Delaware charter schools laws allow public school districts themselves authorize charter schools. Also, it was the status quo within this school district that help craft the charter school law.

The true test for charter schools is to convert an exsiting public school lock, stock and barrel to a charter school. Delaware provisons to convert an exsitng public school to a charter requires a vote of more than 50% of parents and more than 50% of teachers. Now do yo really think organizaed labors will vote for a non union school?

One unique charter school in Delaware is Delaware Military Academy , 100% JRROTC Navy.

By: Chris Braunlich

Chris Braunlich — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:34:11 +0000

I’d appreciate it if Mr. Hess would provide a citation for his assertion that “it is typically the top 5% of students that charter schools tend to attract.” All of the literature and studies that I have seen indicate that charter schools attract students with similar demographics and performance levels as their peer cohorts in traditional public schools. In fact, most students at charters start several years behind grade level. I’m certain that, as a learned professional, Mr. Hess will document his accusation.

By: Richard Hess Sr.

Richard Hess Sr. — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:57:34 +0000

Christian is quite correct in his assertion that students in charter schools very often out perform public school students. What he fails to mention that it is typically the top 5% of students that charter schools tend to attract; therefore I wonder why charter schools do not perform at an even higher academic level than they currently do. Perhaps we should investigate this shortcoming. The systemic problems in America’s educational system will not be repaired until we ask the professionals who have the answers,any our nations teachers. Ours is the only profession that lay person believes they can practice sucessfully just because they have been in a school.

By: Glenn McLain

Glenn McLain — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:29:27 +0000

The biggest problems I see with public education are standardized tests and political correctness.

Standardized tests result in only what the government wants to be taught, nothing else.

Political correctness does not work, never has, and never will. Students do better in local schools rather than being bused all over the place. They do better in classes with similar abilities. Putting poor students, or students with problems, in with good students does not help either. The poor students get lost and the good students get bored, the average will stay about the same. When classes are by ability students do better because they are neither under or over whelmed by the subject material.