Reason Writers Around Town: Lisa Snell on Charter Schools

The Los Angeles Times recently reported on several Oakland, California charter schools that practice strict discipline and openly mock "multicultural specialists, ultra liberal zealots and college-tainted oppression liberators." Does these schools enjoy too much latitude when it comes to indoctrinating their students?

In this week's L.A. Times Dust Up, Reason Foundation Director of Education and Child Welfare Lisa Snell debates historian Ralph E. Shaffer over how much freedom charter schools deserve.

As Snell writes, "Charter schools are based on a premise of school choice, and parents are not compelled to enroll. If the discipline and ideology are too much, parents have other choices available. In fact, charter schools have led to systematic district reforms that have increased the number of high-quality choices for families."

Read the rest here.

Comments

[West]

The L.A. Times still exists? Last I heard it was pretty much a propaganda sheet for the California government, and its editorial board was moonlighting as fluffers for the state union leaders.

[Gimlet]

West,

You heard right.

[Garth Strait]

"Does these schools enjoy too ..."

STop! You're hurting my eyes!

[Xeones]

Does these schools enjoy too much latitude when it comes to indoctrinating their students?

Whoever wrote this certainly went to schools that does has too much of latitudes when it comes to teaching grammar.

[Nick]

So Lisa Snell details how Charter schools are increasing student performance and all Shaffter can do is criticize how they are formed and operated? They're working, right, Ralph? Or are they not working because they lead children to think it's not only acceptable, but preferable, to work hard and be productive instead of sucking the People dry via the long arm of the state. Typical statist douchebag.

[TF]

"Does these schools enjoy too much latitude when it comes to indoctrinating their students?"

They absolutely does!

[TF]

Damn, two out of the five comments were about the same typo. Whoops, I should have read them before posting. Boy does I feel like an idiot.

[Kroneborge]

hmm, I don't think teaching about the economic concepts that our country is founded on, is really endocitrination.

That would be like considering democary to be endocrination.

[R C Dean]

endocrination.

I'm pretty sure you need a medical license to do that.

Reason Foundation Director of Education and Child Welfare Lisa Snell debates historian Ralph E. Shaffer over how much freedom charter schools to teach their own children parents deserve.

Isn't that really what we are talking about?

[Mike]

Ha! Ha! Ha! Liberals have gotten rid of competition in schools, foisted multiculturalist relativism and environmentalism on students, gotten rid of most tracking by ability, and completely feminized the reading curriculum, but when conservatives start doing things their way, the left yells "brainwashing!" This whole situation is the perfect argument for the abolition of public schools.

[Barry Loberfeld]

Voucher schools are objectionable for the same reasons public schools are. Both stand in opposition to true freedom of education.

[Brett Stevens]

Non-redundant choice beats leadership by committee.

[prolefeed]

Sarcasm from the linked anti-choice article: Each morning, students at the Hugo Chavez People's Leadership Academy in East Los Angeles begin their school day by reciting a pledge of allegiance, but not the one you're thinking of. These kids pledge "to become productive members of a collectivist, socialist society." Classroom walls and hallways are adorned with posters promoting class struggle, equal rights for all and universal healthcare.

This isn't all that different from the indoctrination kids currently get in public schools.

[Enough About Palin]

"Voucher schools are objectionable for the same reasons public schools are. Both stand in opposition to true freedom of education."

Last week, the St. Paul paper had a headline that read:

Accounting irregularities common at Minnesota charter schools, says study

But if you rerad the story, we find that means "More than 80 percent of Minnesota charter schools had at least one problem on their 2007 financial audits, according to a study released today by Minnesota 2020, a local think tank."

20% had problem-free audits yet the story goes on to say, "That's a huge red flag," said John Van Hecke, the group's executive director. "It really is amazing."

Here's the money shot:

Minnesota 2020 officials held a news conference Tuesday in front of Aurora charter school in Minneapolis, which they identified as the biggest offender in terms of accounting irregularities. The event was meant to draw attention to what they say is a need to tighten up oversight of charters, which are independent, tuition-free public schools that compete with traditional district schools.

And here's how Minnesota 2020 describes itself on it's webpage:

About Minnesota 2020
Minnesota 2020 is a progressive, non-partisan think tank, focused on what really matters. We focus public policy debate on the issues that matter for Minnesota's future success.

We are tired of a state that focuses on divisive side issues while our schools, health care, transportation, and economic development suffer. Minnesota is great when we have good transportation, strong job creation, universal health care and quality schools.

Minnesota 2020 delivers accurate policy research with a focus on smart, effective progressive messaging through a multi-media platform. We are framing Minnesota's public policy debate. Through our communications strategy, we've compelled legislative and executive branch policy change. We link academic and traditional foundation research to achieve tangible, demonstrable solutions.

[Gabriel]

Children should never be in school in the first place. Adults telling children what they should learn: much like the government telling adults what their children should learn. SAME THING. Coercion.

[Gabriel]

http://www.unschooling.com/

[R C Dean]

More than 80 percent of Minnesota charter schools had at least one problem on their 2007 financial audits, according to a study released today by Minnesota 2020, a local think tank.

How many public schools had problems with their audits? Are public schools even audited? What were the severity of the audit problems at the charter schools? Compared to the severity of audit problems at public schools?

Oh, you mean these questions weren't asked? Huh.

[zoltan]

and completely feminized the reading curriculum

If only this meant more Ayn Rand, Isabel Paterson, or Zora Neale Hurston. ::sigh::

Each morning, students at the Hugo Chavez People's Leadership Academy in East Los Angeles begin their school day by reciting a pledge of allegiance, but not the one you're thinking of. These kids pledge "to become productive members of a collectivist, socialist society."

Uh, the "American" pledge of allegiance was written for the sake of children "to become productive members of a collectivist, socialist society." These people need to get their history on.

[zoltan]

Adults telling children what they should learn: much like the government telling adults what their children should learn. SAME THING. Coercion.

So adults shouldn't tell their children what to learn? It is wrong for adults to use coercion in the teaching or parenting process?

[one can only hope]

Gabriel's the new Juanita.

[Paradoxical Grammar Rule]

Verbs has to agree with their subjects.

[John C. Randolph]

and completely feminized the reading curriculum

If only this meant more Ayn Rand, Isabel Paterson, or Zora Neale Hurston. ::sigh::

He should have said "pussified" rather than "feminized."

-jcr

[shrike]

Christ faggotry is endemic now, boys.

Way too many fundie assholes out there now!

Right , RC?

LOL - keep sucking on the teat, fucker!