Post #4 Investigating Charter School Theory

1) Charter schools promote competition with public schools.
Not necessarily. Students are working towards a GED at Next Step, whereas, in the DCPS students are striving for a high school diploma. They do not take the same exams. Students at Next Step are not competing with students in DCPS in exams.
In addition, like any other school, there is a diversity of students. Some students choose to work hard and complete their step. Others prefer to work at a snail’s pace.
At Next Step, students are not told that they must “beat” the students at DCPS. Vice versa, I don’t believe DCPS students are told that either. Sometimes I feel that it’s simply a factor in a tug-of-war between political supporters of DCPS or charter schools. Not necessarily affecting a student’s academic progress.

2) Parents, not politicians or school administrators, should be allowed to choose what school their children attend, and should be considered the most qualified to judge this matter.
It is a fact that many DCPS classes are overcrowded and is hard for a teacher to keep up with every student. If parents are aware of their child’s academic needs, they should be given the opportunity to choose what school their child attends. At Next Step, parents who know their child would not be able to keep up with a majority English-speaking public schools, should be allowed to send their child to a bilingual school.

3) Specialized curricula, not national or even school district curricula, are a preferred way to teach students.
Each student deserves individual attention. Specialized curricula may or may not be beneficial to a student’s academic success. Yet, considering the ineffectiveness of national and school district curricula, it may be necessary to implement it.

4) Teacher accreditation is over-valued; school should seek out talented, passionate teachers regardless of their qualifications.
Teacher accreditation is physical proof that a teacher is knowledgeable in the subject they are teaching. A good teacher should be a combination of both.