I grew up hearing this phrase from the Book of Daniel which foretells the collapse of the Babylonian Empire. Today the writing is about the collapse of the public school system as we know it. And this is okay because it's time for a change. We do not need to pump up a deflated system, we need to do what's best for kids.
Charter schools, some of which are run more like private schools, are finally making a dent in our education system. There is also an undercurrent, mainly heard on Twitter, from teachers who want more freedom in teaching.
Are Charter Schools better than other schools? It depends on what you measure. Their popularity is on the rise for numerous reasons. See:
Now parents have the force of law to back them up:
Choice in education is better for parents and their children for several reasons:
· If schools operated more like businesses, paying attention to customer needs instead of legislative mandates, giving teachers more authority in curriculum development and classroom management, we would see greater achievement and better direction for our students. See an earlier post, http://teach2imagine.blogspot.com/2011/09/somebodys-got-it-right.html
· If schools are permitted to specialize, then teachers with particular talents and interests will be drawn to the schools where they can use their talents to make a difference. Students with talents and needs can do the same.
Does a governmental system ensure better learning for our students?
Can the U.S. risk taking a free enterprise approach to governing education?
What do you say?
