So I am sitting here reading around at blogs I love to follow and I stumble across one with an article from the NY Times. It is not about the article because when I first read the article, I just read it as "yes, this is what is happening." But then I read the comments and I could not help but feel enraged. If you have not seen "The Lottery" than I charge you to go because these comments sounded like the parents from PS 149 who were blind to the fact that there students were failing and the school was failing. They would rather see a charter school who is performing excellent go down than to admit that there school and their neighborhoods need help.
I was so upset by this that I started to write an opinion back but felt that it would be best suited here since as you can see it got quite lengthy.
A,
I agree that public schools should have just as much of a chance to educate our children as the charter schools. I believe that public schools are even given MORE of a chance to educate our children. However, I think that we are forgetting about the teacher's who are still in their positions that do not have a main goal of educating. They are there because they have a union, and because they know they will not get fired if they do the bare minimum because of that union.
Everyone in the teaching profession entered because they wanted to change lives, however charter school teachers know that if they do not change lives they lose their job. Yes, I work in a charter school and I believe that We are doing what other's won't. Notice won't not can't. If you have not you should watch "The Lottery" It is about the charter schools in NY who are succeeding. In the documentary they shoot down the idea that they have smaller class sizes- proving that they have 26-27 children in a Kindergarten class. They shoot down that they are there to destroy the PS'. They state that their job is the same as the Public Schools- to educate children, and that they are here because they felt that the children in Harlem deserved more than what they were getting. And obviously there is a need if every year they have way more than the expected number of children apply for the lottery.
Again, I do think that PS's should be effective, I believe that they should be where our children turn to, but there is too much of the "old school teaching" still left in the building. I know as a charter school teacher, that I would gladly go to the public schools to teach if everyone had the same goal- to have that relentless pursuit of educating our children. I would love shorter days, smaller class sizes (I teach 2nd grade and will have 28 students in my class-alone), and a union that will help me when I need it. But I also believe that children deserve a choice- because if children deserve and receive a choice, than we are all getting held to a much higher degree than what we would be if it were just us in the room and children who did not care and parents who did not care and had no choice. As a charter school we know that they have a choice, and that they can walk out and go somewhere else if we are not getting the job done. Don't children deserve that?
As I read the time article I felt a sense of pride for working hard everyday. But then I read the comments people were making and it makes me feel like I am not a good person because even though I teach everyday with 100% effort and move my children, it is not the "same" because I get to "hand pick my students" Believe me when I say that is sooo a lie. I have had children hit me, cuss me out, scream obsenities (yes these are 2nd graders), and parents who do the same. I have had a parent threaten to break all the windows in the building with a hammer if we did not let her in. But everyday I still come back wanting to help my children.
I do not mean to take my opinions out on you but out on the world. I too never understood charter schools and never understood why teacher's would go there. Then I entered one. For the first time I felt like EVERYONE from principal, to security, to cafeteria staff, to students felt that urge to teach and to learn. It is truly magical. If PS's all had the urge to learn and to teach- then they would be doing fantastic. We make too many excuses "There will never be a school with all great teachers" "No one wants to get paid 50,00 when they could be a doctor" "Parents don't care about Public Schools" "Children can get kicked out when ever the school wants" "Public Schools get the leftovers" And I specifically chose instances where this is not true. WE all need to stop making excuses, look at our faults and grow. We will never change if we are not reflective. If you look at the last 5-10 years you can see that education has completely changed. You should know this just by working at the Reader's and Writer's Teacher's College. They have changed the way teacher's teach reading and writing. And I am sure that you have seen several teachers who push back all the time on these ideas. Doesn't that frustrate you- to know that there are some children who are not getting the best because there teacher does not want to believe that we have changed?!
So Sorry for the long response but this is a topic that I have apparently become very passionate about. I know that in a few years hopefully things will be different again and thanks to Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee they are changing already in D.C. I hope however that the rest of the cities with low performing public schools can see the same chance for change, and the same chance for paying our teachers Public School and Charter School, what they deserve.
Best,
A. Piccoli
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