Classroom Cop

In Louisiana the state is taking over failing schools, and changing them to charter schools. The local school boards , who have been overseeing these failing schools have been fighting tooth and nail to stop the state. A few board members have even managed to turn some of the parents against the state. Some of the parents are actually fighting to maintain subpar schools for their children instead of letting the state try something new.

It's interesting that in Washington DC charter schools are working but the Democrats in congress are about to cut off funding for them. I guess they believe that if some children go to a failng school system then all kids must go to a failing school system.

How to address social problems is very different than how to address school admin problems. Looks like Chicago is getting the admin problems squared away and I emphatically applaud them for that. Once you've got a good foundation of qualified teachers and principals, admin staff, budget accountability, and a teacher's union that doesn't protect bad teachers for the sake of union dues...then you can reach outside of the school's property and tackle family matters, poverty, gang infestation.

As a teacher, I have no problem with being held accountable as long as the students and parents are held accountable as well. Yes, every child has the ability to learn, but that does not mean they will or want to. To tell me that my job is solely judged by how well students perform is not entirely fair if there are no consequences in place for the students and parents. I like what they said about getting rid of social promotion. If a kid fails a grade, keep them in that grade. How about if the kid misses too many days of school, the parents pay a fine or are required to spend the next week in school with the kids. When the parents and students and teachers are motivated, then yes, schools can do amazing things. It's not just about the teachers.

very encouraging. Seems to make sense. Make the requirements for success clear. Hold those in charge accountable for results. Create competition instead of the pitfalls that come with monopolies where those in power forget who is the customer and what service means.
Please hurry to expand this model into california.

95% of teachers in the Chicago Public School system send their own kids to PRIVATE schools.
Chicago has a 50% dropout rate among high schoolers in the city.
Is the media Mayor Daly's puppet/ How can we discuss the Chicago Public Schools without mentioning any of this? The article cites improved statistics for 8th graders... but it doesn't even TOUCH upon the numbers from every other group.