tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33431390.post7215647036514604205..comments2024-03-26T11:07:03.496-04:00Comments on Ed Notes Online: Setting a Wild Fire Under Parent Activismed notes onlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15018047869059226777noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33431390.post-52409472995058164952009-08-24T22:00:55.452-04:002009-08-24T22:00:55.452-04:00Anon 9:02 a.m. I am a minority parent who sent my...Anon 9:02 a.m. I am a minority parent who sent my children to public schools, attended public school, and decided to teach at a public school for many years. I have been blessed to have taught to all levels of children and especially to special needs children. As a minority educator, 95% of my students were minorities with a high percentage of unemployed parents. But my focus was always towards helping my students break the chain of poverty and strive for success. Parents should realize that public schools take ALL students with various needs, learning abilities, and challenges that NO charter schools will want to content with. I have had students who were kicked out of charter schools because they could not provide the service that those students needed in order to move forward. But, public schools opened their doors to them, provided the education that produces success. I truly hope that your child succeeds in the charter school environment. But should your child become academically challenged and the school decides to shut your child out, the public school will welcome your child with open arms.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33431390.post-47626856915860419722009-08-24T09:40:56.190-04:002009-08-24T09:40:56.190-04:00Why take offense? And why is it so important for y...Why take offense? And why is it so important for you to consider yourself a public school parent? Your charter school uses public funds but is privately managed. If you are happy, enjoy. But don't fool yourself into believing that the charter school movement which serves a small percentage of students is not harming the public school system in the long run. <br /><br />It is time parents rise up and demand BloomKlein fix the schools in your district. <br /><br />There will be a day when there are few public schools left. As they disappear, so will services at your charter school. You will find a constant flow of young inexperienced teachers. <br /><br />And less than what you are getting now once the public schools are gone. Long term, it is a lose lose situation.ed notes onlinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15018047869059226777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33431390.post-9027875288753178712009-08-24T09:02:25.084-04:002009-08-24T09:02:25.084-04:00Norm and Anonymous2:
Charters schools are indeed...Norm and Anonymous2: <br />Charters schools are indeed public schools. Parents in NYC may choose to send their children to two types of public schools - district or charter.<br /><br />As an actual parent of a minority child in a charter school, I am happy to have the choice of sending my child to a school I believe will provide a quality education.<br /><br />It is my choice not yours of which school to send my child. You are an educator, a paid and salaried educator. I am the unemployed parent of a minority child trying to give my child the best education possible. If the district schools in my district were outperforming the charters then I'd send my child to a district school. It's still my choice and I am still a public school parent.<br /><br />I take great offense at you, who are not a parent or minority or unemployed telling me what's best for my child. These are our children not yours. Those of us who are parents of public school children - both district and charter must work together to ensure ALL children have access to the same facilities and educational programs FULLSTOP!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33431390.post-78854723837771587272009-08-23T15:09:05.081-04:002009-08-23T15:09:05.081-04:00Norm, there's a great need to clarify the defi...Norm, there's a great need to clarify the definition of charter schools. Many, too many for my book, seem to think that charters are public schools. As long as they think that the battle to protect public education will be longer and harder, just based on the MIS-definition of charter schools. As long as the public believe that charters are "public schools", they will not join us in the fight to protect public education. A good website must be created to illustrate and define what are charters and their true purpose.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33431390.post-90315969689242328382009-08-23T02:31:07.213-04:002009-08-23T02:31:07.213-04:00To anon:
I wanted to clarify one thing: charter sc...To anon:<br />I wanted to clarify one thing: charter schools are not public schools though they have been branded as such due to the use of public funding and free public school space. They are most often backed and under the control of private interests with an agenda that is not always clear. But one underlying aspect of almost all of them is to remove the concept of a union and teacher rights. <br /><br />That they use tax money to institute private agendas, often backed by big corporate money, leads to a lack of oversight and unity of purpose that was the underlying factor in the creation of a public school system in this country 200 years ago.<br /><br />The agenda has led to favorable and unequitable funding since charters also get money from outside interests that help them in the competition with local public schools as they wean away parents. What parent wouldn't choose a spanking clean and painted school and lower class sizes?<br /><br />In the short term you may feel and rightly so that you are doing the best for your child. But in the long run when there are no public schools in a neighborhood left and charters start cannibalizing each other, you will see what has been destroyed.<br /><br />Given that, we fully understand the need for parents to find a better place for their child and these parents are never unwelcome in the struggle for a better public education system. Since the PC dealt with a governance system from which charter schools are exempt, you would have to define what role you would want to play as a charter school parent. Maybe a better governance system will lead to you coming back to the public schools.ed notes onlinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15018047869059226777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33431390.post-92020598269456079752009-08-22T23:10:37.943-04:002009-08-22T23:10:37.943-04:00Thank you for your prompt response. Granted mayor...Thank you for your prompt response. Granted mayoral control has been renewed, but the PC can still continue it's work of organizing parents to advocate for a quality education for their children. <br /><br />Yes, I am a charter school parent and the education of my children is very important to me as it is for all parents. Charter and district school parents are all public school parents and we all want the same thing - to provide our children with a great education. I think it's time for both groups of public school parents to start working together so that ALL children have equal access to a quality education and the services and facilities that go with it. We must stop fighting amongst ourselves and unite and advocate for ALL our children.<br /><br />A big issue right now is the MTA cutting the express bus metrocards for students. They went back on their word to the legislature and now families have to come up with $11 everyday for their kids to go to school otherwise their kids have to wake up extra early and get home very late. All public school parents should unite and force the MTA to keep their word!<br /><br />I understand your arguments and others about charter schools. I understand why you call it a two-tiered system. I understand all of your arguments against charter schools. I don't necessarily agree with all of them but I and many other charter parents, like you, want the same things for our kids and/or grandkids.<br /><br />The system is not perfect, we all agree on that. But, the onus is on the parents, not only the educators to fight for a quality education for all children.<br /><br />It may be time for charter and district parents to sit down, perhaps start a coalition to fight for a quality education for all children. Let's take an honest look at the public school system and find out why things aren't working the way they should and how can ALL children - charter and district have equal facilities and services.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33431390.post-51213984392685186362009-08-22T22:37:47.613-04:002009-08-22T22:37:47.613-04:00Dear Anonymous,
I am happy to converse with you ...Dear Anonymous, <br /><br />I am happy to converse with you and giving you the benefit of my doubt, I will continue on by assuming that you are a Charter school parent. <br /><br />If that is indeed the case (and the real reason behind your question about joining the PC), then please permit me this latitude. I believe that all humans subscribe to the very same radio station who’s call letters are: W.I.I.F.M. in other words… WHAT’s IN IT FOR ME? <br /><br />That said, what is it that you want / need / wish for from any parent body? <br /><br />In particular, what do you want and need to hear from the existing, independent Parent Commission that has (as I've already explained in the essay), completed it's original purpose which was "to submit recommendations on the future of school governance to the NY State legislature when the 2002 laws on mayoral control sunset in June?" <br /><br />I refuse to permit divisiveness between parents to enter the equation. Parents of traditional public and charter schools should not be fighting each other for crumbs-- but rather, fighting together for a single and solitary public education system that that is both excellent and equitable for all. Having charter schools squeeze traditional public school students out of space and resources means we parents (who only want the best…) have become putty in the hands of the DoE’s Houdini-like spin doctors, and we are played like puppets against one another by politicians intent upon continuing a policy of divide and conquer. <br /> <br />The fact that public education has moved into a two-tiered system is deeply troubling. All children are the same, and all parents are, too. Even the worst crack-head mom or dad will sincerely say that they want the best for their kid. With an understanding that every kind of public school parent, no matter who they are or where they come, all want their child to have the best that NYC schools have to offer, having solidarity in purpose and strength in numbers makes sense. <br /><br />Keep in mind that if a united parent body defined a goal to move huge blocks of votes, it could. And that’s a really scary proposition for the powers in City Hall and Albany to recon with. <br /><br />So, if you are ready to roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty in creating social change and work towards ONE public education system that delivers on the same promises to all parents and guardians, and has proven results-- authenticated by renowned education experts of having successfully elevated, enhanced and nurtured the potential and gifts within EVERY child, no matter their abilities or demographics, then let's talk some more about your question (which only has relevance going forward). <br /><br />What do YOU think a NYC Parent Commission should be, and what is it that an independent parent body can do to unite all parents in one mission? <br /><br />- Benita RiveraUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17873785235379803268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33431390.post-10646104884589340392009-08-22T20:14:57.661-04:002009-08-22T20:14:57.661-04:00"Please know that membership in the PC was (i..."Please know that membership in the PC was (is?) open to all public school parents and to those who represented parents in education advocacy organizations."<br /><br />Since charter parents are also public school parents, I assume they too may become members of the PC?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33431390.post-47634857778484647122009-08-22T20:14:02.035-04:002009-08-22T20:14:02.035-04:00"Please know that membership in the PC was (i..."Please know that membership in the PC was (is?) open to all public school parents and to those who represented parents in education advocacy organizations."<br /><br />Since charter parents are also public school parents, I assume they too may become members of the PC?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com