Nancy Bailey dedicates her post to the late, beloved Joan Kramer.
“On this 4th of July, when we celebrate America’s freedoms, it’s a perfect time to discuss our free public schools, and where we are with them when it comes to school reform. It’s important to understand that our public schools have a new threat, as I will explain below.
“Public schools, with all their faults, are the only truly democratic institution we own “together” as a country. Our public schools open their doors to all children.
“Teachers take on the challenge of working with the oppressed, the poor, immigrants, and even those with the most severe disabilities. Collectively, such care of our children will lead to the greater good of our country and the world.
“Local school boards, elected by the people, give all of us a voice as to how our schools are run. This is a democratic process threatened with extinction because of school privatization forces.
“If you don’t like what your public school is doing, you can go to the school board meeting and make your voice heard. If you don’t know how to help your public schools, you can sign up to be a volunteer.
“A public school not only reflects the community that surrounds it, it is an anchor to bring people together.
“Efforts for us to hold onto our public schools are in jeopardy today, and they have been in jeopardy for many years. Business has staked a claim on our public schools. There’s money to be made using our tax dollars.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Great last paragraph: “Efforts for us to hold onto our public schools are in jeopardy today, and they have been in jeopardy for many years. Business has staked a claim on our public schools. There’s money to be made using our tax dollars.”
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Public education and public libraries are important democratizing forces in our country. Anyone can use these institutions. There is no members’ only sign written on the door. I recall the story of a homeless young woman that attended school in NYC during the day, and stayed in the public library in the evenings where it was safe, warm and enlightening. She got a scholarship to Harvard, and both democratic institutions contributed to her success.
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Thank you for adding libraries.
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Founding father, Jefferson, wrote, “erect a wall of separation between church and state”. It’s a shame for the nation that DeVos and Trump spend more time at their golf clubs than reading history.
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Q Public schools, with all their faults, are the only truly democratic institution we own “together” as a country. END Q
I disagree. The public, through their elected representatives, own all kinds of institutions. What about the national parks? The military? The public housing projects? All of these institutions are collectively owned.
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Right, Charles, public schools belong to all of us, as well as national parks, beaches, public highways, and all facilities called public.
Religious institutions are not public , nor are private schools or charter schools, all privately managed
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“If you don’t like what your public school is doing, you can go to the school board meeting and make your voice heard.
This is true. Whether you have children in the school system or not. The school board is required to accept the input from all of the citizens in the community.
What the writer omits, is that the school board is able to ignore the comments of the citizenry. Publicly-operated schools, are a government institution, and the government is free to ignore the public’s wishes and desires.
Public Schools (and their governing authorities) have a “take or leave it, but we still get your tax dollars” mentality.
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Sure beats the charter boards that don’t have public board meetings and operate in secret
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One difference, between charter schools and publicly-operated schools, is that you can pull your kids out of a charter school. Publicly-operated schools cannot force your kids to attend, but they still get your tax money, whether your kids attend or not. Why should they want to serve your needs, or face the discipline of the marketplace?
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Ay ay ay, Chas, ay ay ay!
“Publicly-operated schools cannot force your kids to attend, but they still get your tax money, whether your kids attend or not. Why should they want to serve your needs, or face the discipline of the marketplace?”
Yes, the public schools get the tax monies as mandated states’ constitutions and appropriated by the legislatures. Notice I did not say “your” tax monies as that thought is a bastardized version of what tax monies are all about. It is a falsehood that tax monies are the individuals to use as they see fit. Livertarian, yes liver as in lily-livered, claptrap is what that phrase is.
And
There is no such thing as the “discipline of the marketplace”. The term marketplace is a descriptive term used to describe human economic activities. As such, a descriptive term, it exists nowhere and cannot do anything at all. To say that the “marketplace disciplines” anything is a logical fallacy. Sadly, so many lack in logical thought and believe that economics drivel and take it for god’s word.
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And charter schools “face the discipline of the marketplace,” Charles?
No, it would appear they do not. Show me any evidence you have–research, articles, etc., that parent pull-outs have caused any charter schools to close.
In fact, if you have the time, that would be a great project, & a service to all of us.
There is NO oversight, accountability or regulations for charter schools.
There has always been for public schools.
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