BLOG # 5

The course was designed to evaluate the DCPS vs. charter school revolution. Volunteering at HOPE gave a better understanding of the growing popularity of charter schools. The problems of the charter schools were brought to light by spending my time at HOPE. Even though, I did not volunteer at DCPS, the research paper we had to do enabled me to judge its condition. From all the research I gathered about the DCPS, mismanagement of funds, rundown facilities, and lack of student progress were common themes. On the contrary, when I talked with Meredith Henne, a school administrator at HOPE, she told me that they receive less funding than the average DCPS school; however, they have brand new facilities that they keep in good condition. The students are in smaller classrooms and show progress on math and reading tests. Going to HOPE every Wednesday truly led me to see how charters are good alternatives when the school administrators, teachers, and parents are encouraging and passionate about student progress. Aside from Mr. Ramiro, and Christina’s second grade teacher Ms. Washington, I think that teachers like Ms. Eckman ( the actual third grade teacher I work with sometimes) make a huge impact on the children and gear them into the right direction for a progressive future.
The experience had made me realize that struggles of the students who attend DCPS. Coming from an excellent public school in Fairfax county, I could not have imagined all the problems the public education institutions our nation’s capital faces. The problems seem endless, and the only alternative I see is charter schools. If all of the budding charter schools make progress like HOPE has in the past two years, then the charter schools seem like the perfect solution.