Charter School Question

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Indiana Teachers Chatboard

Charter School Question

by charter school parent

Dec 30, 2010

I was kind of curious as to how teachers who know how charters work really feel about them. I have heard the criticism that they are a drain from the other public schools. I would think that public school teachers would like charter schools. I say that since at my child's school the teachers have the freedom to create their own curriculums to teach. I would think that professionals would like that kind of freedom.]

I teach at a private school that offers kindergarten. I can easily meet the benchmarks with my students for the state standards but we go about the curriculum in a very developmentally appropriate way. I just do not have all those restrictions put on by administrators and I would think the charter school teachers have that same. I feel respected for my intelligence and expertise. Isn't that something all teachers would want instead of having to teach to a canned curriculum?

Maybe I am opening up a can of worms here, but I am just having a problem understan...See More

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Ana I'm not sure I followed your thoughts all the way through your post, but it seemed your basic question was, "Why would a public school teacher have an issue with charter schools?" Charter schools are, in a sense, run like a private school. Students have to apply to attend. This gives the charter the unique ability to select students, which in no wa...See MoreI'm not sure I followed your thoughts all the way through your post, but it seemed your basic question was, "Why would a public school teacher have an issue with charter schools?" Charter schools are, in a sense, run like a private school. Students have to apply to attend. This gives the charter the unique ability to select students, which in no way results in a student body comparable to most public schools in Indiana. Public teachers would likely not have an issue with this fact other than the powers that be in our state education department hold charter schools' achievement in the face of public schools and demand equal progress. I would also add that as an educator who has been directly involved in public schools in Indiana for over twenty years, I have never found the curriculum restrictive or stiffling to creativity in the classroom. Perhaps it is a misconception, but we are not handed our lesson plans for the week; each teacher works with the materials and standards for his or her grade level, keeping in mind what the students need in the way of skills and or review from various assessments throughout the year. We are, however, constantly thrown on the mercy of any new educational legislation that comes from Indianapolis. I'm glad you put your post out there; it's always beneficial to read someone else's unique perspective.

On 12/30/10, charter school parent wrote: > I was kind of curious as to how teachers who know how > charters work really feel about them. I have heard the > criticism that they are a drain from the other public > schools. I would think that public school teachers would > like charter schools. I say that since at my child's school > the teachers have the freedom to create their own > curriculums to teach. I would think that professionals > would like that kind of freedom.] > > I teach at a private school that offers kindergarten. I > can easily meet the benchmarks with my students for the > state standards but we go about the curriculum in a very > developmentally appropriate way. I just do not have all > those restrictions put on by administrators and I would > think the charter school teachers have that same. I feel > respected for my intelligence and expertise. Isn't that > something all teachers would want instead of having to > teach to a canned curriculum? > > Maybe I am opening up a can of worms here, but I am just > having a problem understanding why teachers would not want > the freedom to teach in the way that they feel is right for > their students.

Jan 6, 2011

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Charter School parent On 1/06/11, Ana wrote: > I'm not sure I followed your thoughts all the way through > your post, but it seemed your basic question was, "Why would > a public school teacher have an issue with charter schools?" > Charter schools are, in a sense, run like a private school. > Students have to apply to attend. This gives the charter the &...See MoreOn 1/06/11, Ana wrote: > I'm not sure I followed your thoughts all the way through > your post, but it seemed your basic question was, "Why would > a public school teacher have an issue with charter schools?" > Charter schools are, in a sense, run like a private school. > Students have to apply to attend. This gives the charter the > unique ability to select students, which in no way results in > a student body comparable to most public schools in Indiana. > Public teachers would likely not have an issue with this fact > other than the powers that be in our state education > department hold charter schools' achievement in the face of > public schools and demand equal progress.

I guess what you say about charter schools selecting their students is what confuses me. I say that because although we had to apply, our child had to be picked in the lottery for any available openings. Otherwise our child would be on a waiting list, which happens in some of the grades. Also, the school draws students from several surrounding rural counties. Other then the charter would attract parents who are committed to the school(versus a neighborhood school where a parent could simply drop the child off and let the school "educate" the child), I still don't see how the charter has the advantage of who they get for students. When I read the average number of special needs students in the state and country, it seems to me that the charter our child attends that has almost 25% special needs is not an "advantage" over "regular" public schools.

The number of students in the class is only 1 less then what she had in her public school classroom last year. I know charter schools vary considerably from state to state, but it seemed like Indiana doesn't have all those privately funded charter schools we read about. I don't know if I can say that the school is run like a private school, but when it comes to the school community, it feels like a private school. I have had children in both parochial and public Indiana schools and this school just does not feel like either when it comes to the learning climate. I know some of the teaching staffthere had taught in public schools before and chose to teach at this school. Each teacher is able to develop his or her own curriculum rather then having to follow a purchased textbook series. Maybe that is what I meant by not having freedom to teach how they would like to.

I read the teacher chatboards and I read a lot from teachers being unhappy with having to follow another "new" adopted series the school wants them to follow. I see especially the early childhood teachers in kindergarten who are frustrated by the push for what used to be first grade curriculum down to five year olds who are not ready developmentally for the seat work. I know that is not all schools/teachers, but it is a hot topic in the k circles.

I appreciate your response although it did confuse me a bit when it came to student selection as student enrollment for charter schools must vary across the state. This school is not sponsored by a local school district or a government official. One of the universities sponsored it and that is who the school has to answer to in meeting all the charter "rules".

You sound fortunate to have taught in schools that allowed you professional latitude. Again, thanks for your response.

Jan 6, 2011

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