We Should Protect our Public Schools

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.