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Common Dreams reports
Public schools are outperforming charter schools in Minnesota, in some cases "dramatically," according to a new analysis by the state's Star-Tribune newspaper.
In addition, many charter schools fail to adequately support minority students, close examination of the data revealed.
[...]Education analyst Diane Ravitch notes: "Minnesota was the home of the charter movement, which began with high expectations as a progressive experiment but has turned into a favorite mechanism in many states to promote privatization of public education and to generate profits for charter corporations like Imagine, Charter Schools USA, and K12. Today, charter advocates claim that their privately managed charters will 'save low-income students from failing public schools,' but the Minnesota experience suggests that charters face the same challenges as public schools, which is magnified by high teacher turnover in charter schools."
The findings back up a report (PDF) put out last fall by the Institute on Metropolitan Opportunity at the University of Minnesota Law School, which examined the success and failures of the charter school system in Chicago, Illinois.
That study concluded:
Sadly, the [charter] schools, which on average score lower that the Chicago public schools, have not improved the Chicago school system, but perhaps made it even weaker.
Further, charters, which are even more likely to be single-race schools than the already hyper-segregated Chicago school system, have not increased interracial contact, an often-stated goal of charter systems.
Finally, the fact that Chicago charters use expulsion far more often that public schools deserves further study. In the end, it is unlikely that the Chicago charter school experience provides a model for improving urban education in other big city school districts.
(Score: 1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 28 2015, @02:25PM
Why do you blame the segregation solely on whites, Asians, Hispanics, and other non-blacks?
It's no secret that blacks, especially in Chicago, go out of their way to reject what they call "the white man's" education, even when it's a curriculum designed by other blacks, and being taught by other blacks.
It's also no secret that many black youth choose not to go to school, or if they do go, they don't make use of the opportunity to its full potential. Instead of learning basic reading, writing and mathematics, they go out of their way to join gangs, engage in violence, and partake in criminal behavior.
Why is everyone else supposedly to blame when black youth and parents go out of their way to segregate themselves from the education system that works just fine for everyone else in society?
We don't see the whites, Asians, Hispanics and other non-blacks going out of their way to keep blacks out of the education system. In fact, we see quite the opposite. They'd welcome more eager black students who want to succeed. But this also depends on those black youth putting in some real effort, too. They need to focus on education, instead of joining a gang, engaging in robbery, peddling drugs and murdering each other.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 28 2015, @04:02PM
It seems that Bill O'Reilly presents some fascinating ideas on his program.
...or are you a Dittohead?
-- gewg_
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 28 2015, @04:07PM
The GP brings up some good points. Maybe you could try responding to them, instead of just replying with insults.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 28 2015, @05:52PM
> The GP brings up some good points.
No he doesn't. You'll note everything he said are unfounded assertions. I'm sure he finds them convincing, but all he's doing is stating the premise as his conclusion.
After decades of experience engaging with people like that, it is obvious that the slim chance that he could be both open to any other perspectives while uncritically espousing the idea that the afflicted and dis-empowered choose that state for themselves makes it simply not worth the effort. He's not seeking truth, he's seeking cover.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 28 2015, @06:58PM
I don't think they're unfounded assertions. All across America, the most dangerous cities with the lowest standards of living are those with a black-majority population. Even within cities where they may be a minority, the most dangerous areas with the lowest standards of living are those with a black-majority population. Yet this doesn't hold true for other areas of these cities where there are other majority or minority populations. It isn't just in one American city, either. This is true across the entire country, from north to south, from east to west. Why is this so isolated to the black community? Why aren't other minority communities affected in the same way? (I don't have the answers. All I can do is report what I've observed.)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 28 2015, @08:53PM
> I don't think they're unfounded assertions.
Of course you don't. No one ever thinks they are wrong.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 28 2015, @09:55PM
That other AC isn't wrong, though. They aren't "unfounded assertions".
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 02 2015, @03:00AM
Have you considered the possibility that your statement is incorrect?
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Saturday February 28 2015, @10:01PM
You don't think they are unfounded assumptions? We have found the foundational problem! A lack of thinking! Maybe if you were to start thinking a little, you would realize that not only is it unfounded assertion, it is racist unfounded assertion. Why are racists so generally bad at the intellectual thing? Hey! We may have found an answer to the charter school under-preformance conundrum! If charter schools are a subterfuge for racists, the don't do better than public schools because they are full of self-selected racists! Or at least the unfortunate spawn of the same.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 28 2015, @10:26PM
What the hell are you going on about?
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Saturday February 28 2015, @10:39PM
That's OK, nobody expects you to understand. Just try to not say those racist things. Take our word for it that they are wrong. You can even tell yourself that it is Political Correctness and feel oppressed. But just keep it to yourself.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 28 2015, @10:51PM
Oh, I get it now. You're just spouting nonsense.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 28 2015, @11:59PM
No. Truly you don't.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 01 2015, @12:02AM
> Oh, I get it now. You're just spouting nonsense.
Lol. He's laughing his ass off at you for living down to a particular stereotype and you are too stupid to realize it.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 01 2015, @12:26AM
That AC is indeed living up to the stereotype of the intelligent person who rolls his or her eyes when subjected to nonsensical left-wing ramblings.