Charter Discussion at the 32nd Democrats
Several Democratic districts have taken up the issue of charter schools; of those that have, most have come out against them. Here is a program from the 32nd Dems happening this week.
32nd District Democrats Program
February 8, Wednesday 7pm
Masonic Hall Shoreline, 753 N 185th St, Shoreline
Why Democrats Are Opposed to Charter Schools
It would be hard not to notice the intense lobbying efforts to promote charter schools by Stand for Children, the League of Education Voters and, now, the Washington State PTA.
Lining up against charter schools are the League of Women Voters, NAACP, the state teachers union (WEA) and most Democrats.
Charter schools have been rejected by the voters three times, most recently in 2004, and both the State party platform and the King County platform affirm our opposition.
Sarajane Siegfriedt, Chair of the King County Democrats Legislative Action Committee, recently traveled to Olympia in an ice storm to testify against the current bill, which is sponsored by Democrats. She will discuss:
- What's behind the current push?
- Who is using whom?
- What's the truth about New Orleans charters?
- Is this why we lost Race to the Top?
- Would you want your kid to sign up for one?
- The 34th Dems are also having a meeting that night at 7 p.m. at The Hall at Fauntleroy, 9131 California Ave. SW. On their agenda: Charter Schools - we will discuss resolutions both supporting legislation to allow Charter Schools in Washington State and one opposing Charter Schools. The bill summary of House Bill 2428 is here and full text of House Bill 2428 regarding Charter Schools is here.
Comments
This from a new thread on the LEV blog, a teacher explaining why he likes charters (actually, the humor is in how he just likes a charter, but has been edited to make it sound like it's charters generally. This is emblematic. Note the bracketed plural and the singular "it" - obviously, he was commenting on a particular school. The pasted quote, and the rest of the text doesn't show us what charters can do that publics can't, it's just that they're....charters?
"[Charter schools] represented a lot of what I didn’t find in traditional public schools but it had a lot of what I wanted in public schools, the social mission, a commitment to equity, educating one and all, a much clearer college joining mission…”
- seems reasonable
http://westseattleblog.com/2012/02/34th-district-democrats-marriage-equality-charter-schools-public-bank
--yumpears