"For decades, Harlem has been a hub of African-American culture and the NAACP. But this month, the issue of charter schools has turned the New York City neighborhood into a battleground between activists and the 101-year-old civil rights organization."
NAACP, parents, and activists in Harlem at odds over charter schools
This article shows that the charter school debate continues to divide people, including educators. The teachers’ union feels that it is illegal that charter school students will have more access to facilities than their public school neighbors in the same building.
ReplyDeleteGeoffrey Canada is a name that is heard often when discussing charter schools. He feels that charter schools are a solution, not a problem. This brings us back to one of the central debates in the Charter Vs. Public debate: If charter schools are considered a solution, what is the problem with public schools that calls for this solution, and how do charter schools rectify that issue?
The NAACP has now taken a stance in the debate. The NAACP now seeks to support the rejuvenation of NYC schools, but are charter schools a means of rejuvenation? This is a question that we will keep coming back to as charter schools evolve over the years.
The stance that the teacher's union and NAACP take on the issue that public school students should have access to equal amount of resources as their charter school peers is one that I can get behind. The access that charter school students have to the school libraries, auditoriums, and lunchrooms should apply to the students of the public school as well, especially if they are going to be in the same building. Speaking of which, the idea of having a charter and public school in the same building is one that has been perplexing to me as of late; if the charter and public schools are located on separate floors or separate wings of the school, is that implying that one group is getting better education than another? If they are going to share the same complex, one group of students shouldn't feel above or beneath the other group. They should be able to acheive the same quality education no matter what section of the school they belong to. And if there's obviously enough time to place a charter school within the same setting as a public school, why not place those efforts into improving and possibly expanding the public school itself?
ReplyDeleteZakirah Ansari reitierates a point that I have harbored ever since I realized the amount of effort and attention that was being put into charter schools: they should be focusing on fixing the public school system before thinking about creating more charters at their expense. All parents want quality education for their child, and that is the common ground that can bring them together in the charter vs. public school debate. Instead of looking at which system is better and which deserves more, it would benefit both sides to look at how we can equalize both systems so that no matter what school a child decides to go to, they have equal opportunities.
As a member of the NAACP I must say that I am, personally, torn on this issue. It appears in the article as if the NAACP has taken a stance against the African American community in Harlem because of its decision to file suit against the opening of many new charter schools in the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteThe NAACP is a representation of so many beliefs, ideals, passions, and causes to many different people. Therefore it is hard for those in favor of the opening of new charter schools to understand why an organization that has always fought for the advancement of all to oppose this. On the other hand the NAACP explains that the cause of their position is that such charter schools create an un-level playing field amongst all public school students; and, of course, equality is also a large pillar of the NAACP's existence.
At the end of the day it is not possible to please everyone but hopefully this supreme court lawsuit is concluded in a manner that benefits those most important, the children.
This article demonstrates an issue I never experienced coming from Upstate New York. With this said, I do not understand how people are promoting unequal education. By shutting down schools that need more assistance, we are shutting down communities in a way. With schools it seems easy to just re-open a new school in the same spot but with different people and facilities. On the other hand, you cannot tell a community they are failing and need to start over.
ReplyDeleteThere is no realistic way that creating more charter schools will benefit the public schools. By creating more charter schools there will be a greater gap in society regarding who attends which type of school. If the number of charter schools continues to grow the result will be less money towards public schools along with more taxpayers’ money.
It is crucial for the teachers' union to fight for equal education. If we let charter schools continue to advance now, we are throwing away our public school system. This is not necessary considering we used to have one of the best educational systems in the world. Only recently has Finland jumped to the top and the United States has decreased dramatically 25 spots. The solution to this issue is looking back at the past and figuring out what worked; we should not create new methods that lack the real solution which is equal education.