The election of Donald Trump as the president-elect of the
United States leaves many feeling apprehensive for the future of our nation, while
some are believing that positive change is ahead. Minimal
discussions have been in the forefront of Trump’s campaign regarding the funding
of public K-12 schools or education; which leaves educators like myself
wondering, but hoping for the best. In retrospect, Mr. Trump has mentioned of
school choice in his speeches, as through voucher programs, allowing public
monies to pay for private school tuition. Our current President Barack Obama’s
efforts for educational reform also embraced school choice. His Race to the Top
rewards were given to states with innovative plans for, a) turning around low
achieving schools; b) teacher effectiveness; c) data systems measuring student
growth; and d) the adopting of assessments and standards for preparing students
for the global economy. His Race to the Top reform resulted in rewards with a
federal budget of 4.35 billion dollars. If states were to receive any of the
Race to the Top funding they had to be amenable to charter public schools. President
Obama spoke fondly of charter schools as providing choice for families.
My concern is that the
threat of closing traditional public schools has become a reality in many urban
areas. Selling the idea of alternative kinds of schooling for one’s child is a
huge issue for many educators and urban families. While some charter schools
have little to no oversight from the communities where they reside, I believe we
should be constructively watchful of those who require more public school
funding without any oversite from the communities. 40% of charter schools are for-profit schools
and 60% are non-profit organizations. Unfortunately, organizations and public school unions throughout
the country have had the challenge and threat of public school closures. The
issue is relevant particularly as we see the strategies and plans for charter
schools for replacing present public schools. Questions one may ask are: why
not improve on the already traditional public school as the stakeholders and
community are already invested in their success. Why must innovation and improvement mean to
scrap a societal system already in place? Where is the scientific evidence that
says charter schools are a better choice or that vouchers will improve for equality
in American education? Privatizing seems to be the recent buzz word in public
education. Out-sourcing everything from school maintenance, school nurses, and
substitute teachers. In the state of Pennsylvania, the newly elected Governor
Tom Wolf signed a vetoed spending plan of 23.4 billion dollars; a proposed
educational budget, while reinstating the needed funding to public schools
contrary to the wishes of the republicans.
I personally believe we should guard the current public
school system, and fund them as an asset to our communities as we apply best practices
from teachers and administrators, and the support of parents, stakeholders, and
the communities where they exist. Providing the needed funding for educating
children, can help to produce successful public schools in America that can restore
American pride to our educational institutes and communities.
I do not wish to compare the charter to the traditional public school at
this time, but I believe that with everyone doing their part, while not
relinquishing ones responsibility fully to the schools, then the work of
educating will be successful and rewarding. To extract funding from already struggling systems
is suicide. No school should be expected to function without the needed
supports, tools and funding, while at the same time fearing the loss of
additional funds for the sake of innovation or vouchers. This to me is futile.
The NCLB act has been relaxed and much is presently in the hands of the states
for improving education in America. If
other countries can value their public education systems and lead in the world system,
so can America. I believe we should work to guard public education as they represent the system of the people. As Abraham Lincoln
once said of our government, we are a system for the people, of the people, and by the people.
