What is your honest opion about charter schools (positive/neagative/neutral)?

Question

would you send your kid to one?
or if you are a kid woul dyou go to one if you had the option

save the flak about my typos its late .....

Answer 1

if the public schools in your area are good, why go elsewhere.

alternate schools foster an elitism that i don't want my kids to have, so I would not send mine there.

also, public schools attract better teachers and have more resources.

any school is only as good as the effort you put into it.

Answer 2

I think it depends on the state you live in and the regulations for charter schools to determine if they are good or bad.

My first interview for a teaching job was at a charter school. The man who'd founded the school had a jingoistic philosophy such that everyone had to wear red, white and blue could only learn about the founding fathers and could not voice an opinion etc. The school was also not accreditied, and most of the teachers were not certified. He tried to explain to me that just because you had a teaching certificate you were not necessairly a good teacher. I agree on that, but with accrediation and certification come a level of competince. It was basically one step above a weird homeschool situation.

On the other hand, my sister's kids are all in a very good charter school, which has a better overall strategy for teaching. I would send my kids to that kind of school.

I think charter schools are good, and parents should have the choice to send their kids wherever they feel they will get the best education. Perhaps if the public schools had to compete for students we would see improvements across the board.

Answer 3

Charter schools are an excellent alternative when the public school district in your area is not a good environment for your child. Charter schools are not for everybody. If I had a child that was in with the wrong crowd or not performing well in the public school district, I would certainly do some research into charter school options. As noted, as with public schools, the quality of education can vary from district to district, so do research before you go with one.


On a side note:
Since charter schools are predominantly non-union and instead pay teachers by incentive based raises, be aware that people's political views often have an impact on their view of charter schools.

Answer 4

Maybe my experience was different from some of the other posters, but here goes:

Charter schools may be owned and managed by a corporation, but they have to be sponsored by a public school district in order to operate. They are required to offer the same resources as a public school, such as Special Education and all instruction in all the required subject areas. They cannot deny students admittance based on test scores or behavorial issues, but they can suspend or expel students using stricter guidelines than most public schools. They still have to follow government guidelines when dealing with SPED students. Since charter shools are sponsored by a public school, there is no cost or tuition involved, but they did have a requirement that parents had to "donate" time in the school. Public schools can't do this. The two charter schools I worked at (as a contracted SPED teacher) required their teachers to be credentialed.

As for whether charter schools are positive or negative, I think they face the same issues as any public school. They have limited budgets because the corporation is trying to make the school profitable, salaries are negotiated so they may not be equal based on years of teaching experience (two teachers with equal years and education may get paid different amounts), and they usually have fewer resources in staffing (nurses, art and music teachers, counselors, Special Education, etc.) and in other areas (libraries, P.E. equipment, etc.). Also, many parents think charter schools are somehow better than public schools and their children will excel there. This is not always true since the the children still bring their learning abilities, attitudes, and behaviors with them to the new school. The biggest positives I can think of is (usually) smaller school and class size, and a more relaxed style of teaching.

I would send my child to a charter school, but I would be aware that charter schools will not solve all the problems a student may be having in a public school.

Answer 5

I think they are a good alternative to public education, although not the answer to all the problems some wold tell you they are. I go with the expert opnions on this question and choose...yes, here I go, traditional Catholic Schools. Nothing beats public eduation like a good private school education, and doallar for dollar they are the best value. Studies have borne this out repeatedly. How much better? Between 1.5-2.5 grade levels at graduation...impressive.

Answer 6

I think they suck! They're nothing but a sham compared to the public schools. And "Q" is so totally wrong about his "research" statement. Catholic schools are well known to deny admittance to any bad or just average kid. They just skim the top, and take the cream of the crop. Public schools take everyone. You can't compare apples and oranges, "Q", and you give bad advice. Do not confuse religion with education, or you'll end up being all f**ked up like every other Catholic schooled adult. You may be different, but you are certainly no better.

Answer 7

They ROCK!!! I go to a charter school, it's the best!

Answer 8

public or private, not charter. Charter is all about making money and nothing else.

Answer 9

I know a kid who goes to one, and he doesn't know his phone number or how to read and write his name. I think that all kids should know the basics like that.