Monday, December 13, 2010

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Can we get beyond polarization on charters?

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Can we get beyond polarization on charters?

Can we get beyond polarization on charters?

Marv Hoffman, is Associate Director, Urban Teacher Education Program and Founding Director of Chicago's North Kenwood/Oakland Charter School. I enjoyed reading his recent call ( "Beyond Polarization: A Conversation About Charters and Turnarounds") for a less polemical debate on charters, which he maintains are "neither what’s wrong with CPS, nor are they the solution to the city’s educational problems.”

I agree with him on that, but take issue with him on the way he poses some of the alternatives, ie. between incremental ("doing nothing") and drastic change (privately-run charters and massive school closings and teacher firings). Marv takes a thoughtful balanced approach but clearly leans towards the latter.