A San Francisco Parent on Charter Schools | Seattle Education

A San Francisco Parent on Charter Schools | Seattle Education:

A San Francisco Parent on Charter Schools

by seattleducation2011

The following is an article written by Caroline Grannan, a Parents Across America founding member and regular contributor to the San Francisco Examiner, who graciously allowed me to post this in full.
What’s is not to like about charter schools?
Originally posted on April 18, 2009 at examiner.com.
At a community meeting at my kids’ high school last week, a parent asked the principal about the possibility of becoming a charter school. The principal’s answer was respectful and noncommittal.
I was sitting next to a friend who’s well aware of my skeptical views about charter schools – not that she necessarily shares them – and whispered semi-jokingly that I’d have to transfer my daughter out if that happened. Another mom commented to me that she’s uninformed about what charter schools are and about why

This Revolution Will Not Be Televised

by seattleducation2011

 

There is so much going on now in terms of #OccupyWallStreet that I am going to turn it over to others who are able to keep up with all of the actions and events that are taking place at this time around the world.
What does this have to do with education? Everything. Our children have been shortchanged for too long now. PTA’s, if schools are lucky enough to have one, have to have bake sales to hire additional necessary staff or to offer after-school programs because the school curriculum no longer provides what many parents see as part of a basic education.
Because we have been squeezed of necessary funding due to the fact that corporations and the wealthy few have gained increasing tax breaks over the decade, our children can no longer receive the best in terms of an education. Because even though teachers are doing everything that they can to make up for all of the economic