A regular reader who uses the name “Retired Teacher” posted this wise comment. I couldn’t agree more.
So-called choice is mostly a marketing scheme designed to make parents believe they are getting a better school for their children. Research has shown that choice generally does not improve education, and in many cases the quality of education is worse. Choice is a way for corporations to gain access to public dollars at the expense of public schools. It makes the wants of a few take priority over the needs of many. It is impossible to fund parallel systems and a public system for the same dollar. More underfunded schools are not a way to improve education.
The privatization of education has failed. It is time to consolidate resources and invest in quality education with supports and services designed to address the needs of poor students. A well resourced public school can offer wrap around services including medical, dental, mental health and social services that provide resources and guidance for struggling poor students and their families. With greater efficiency built in, community schools can do a much more effective addressing the needs of students that live in poverty. It is only when primary needs are met can we begin to address students’ academic needs.
Public schools bring people together. Our society is more fragmented than ever, and privatization further erodes the bonds of community. Well funded public schools that professionally serve all students help to build unity and connection within the school community and the community at large. We need to learn to appreciate each other and work together for the betterment of all our people. We do not need “islands of opportunity” for a few. We need investment in all our young people.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Education and commented:
Amen
Thank you, retired teacher. You make sense when the deformers don’t.
Yes, “We no not need ‘islands of opportunity’ for the few. We need investment in all our young people.”
The DEFORMS by the elite don’t bring people together. They do exactly the opposite … the deformers real objective is to create two systems — one for their kids and one for all the others.
a key concept: “the other”
Well said, retired teacher! I ,too, am a retired public school teacher who has seen the negative effects of defunding local community schools.
I hate the disingenuous term “scholarships” to describe vouchers. Each of our four children were awarded scholarships at their senior award dinners. My understanding of a scholarship is an award given by PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS OR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS to students who have achieved high academic grades, selflessly helped their community in some way, needed financial help to achieve their goals or exhibited outstanding athletic skill or positive character traits. Tax monies were never used for these gifts.
So-called scholarships are a way some states have been able to work around the state’s constitution that prohibits vouchers. These “scholarships” further erode funding for public schools, and these voucher schools are often small unaccredited religious schools of questionable academic value.
Diana this is what I wrote in Canada touting Denmark as the model but Norway, Finland, Netherlands, & Switzerland are similar.
http://www.thelittleeducationreport.ca
I couldn’t agree more, but “school reform” advocates dominate with their money and connections. They work tirelessly to stifle any debate. They have brainwashed regular people, who may mean well, into believing their spin and these regular people then go out and stifle debate themselves. I know because I try talking with these people and most won’t bother to be open to hearing me out. The long-term repercussions of privatization will be negative. Maybe this is an issue something the reparations groups can incorporate into their plans.
“Choice” is a two-way street, parents select the school and the school decides whether to accept the parent – “Choice” segregates students by race, by ability, by parent social mobility aspiration, by disability, choice is the antithesis the our concept of a democratic society
Since 2002, the Cincinnati Public Schools have has a “community school” model in place. It is administratively organized by a staff person for the district, an on-site “coordinator” for each school, and a system to enlist services for individual schools. Although the aim is to have a health center in every school, that has not yet been achieved. The wrap-around services and school coordinators are not entirely funded by the district but by businesses, and non-profits. There has been a strong focus on having school-based health services. Eye exams and eye glasses have been provided by local businesses. Some schools offer literacy instruction for parents. Continuity of services and personnel has been a major problem along with authentic community voice in setting goals, planning, and making the programs work. If you want to see features of one of the first district-wide efforts to make all schools “community schools, go to https://www.cps-k12.org/community/clc
Nice to read after a long day in the classroom. Thanks.
Yes, I Agreed… 🙂