charter = corporation = shareholders = investment bankers & politicians who eventually get millions in payouts, of taxpayer money, that should go to teachers and students.

Public schools don't need (nor should) turn a profit ..... they are education centers, with children learning.... not products to be bought and sold on the market

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/the-big-business-of-charter-schools/2012/08/16/bdadfeca-e7ff-11e1-8487-64e4b2a79ba8_blog.html

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1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

Thanks to all who have posted in this thread. It's been an interesting and eye-opening read, I've learned a lot, and my perspective/opinion has been altered.

I can't say the charter schools can/would work. Other government things have I suppose? My question is how much worse could they do?

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Elections have consequences.

Charter schools have shown not to work in most cases. It comes down to the principal, Parents and teachers.

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You have to start with the assumption/theory that the current system is broken, and then we can all work on ways to fix it. According to the Daily Herald this morning, CPS is spending about $9k+ per kid per year. I believe their high school graduation rate is around 50%, and their reading literacy stats are horrible. I'd say that qualifies as broken. Any business that spent that kind of money and had that output, would no longer exist.

Regardless of all the administrative issues like school supplies and air conditioning, the BIG problem is teacher tenure, a lack of competition, and teacher evaluations. It is absurd that the union would fight teacher evaluations. The system is broken. They need major changes. These unions continue to hold onto old ways of doing things and blame a lack of funds for their problems. I think the system has enough money.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

It was $8k. Here is the graphic link (too big to post)

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/2012 ... /graphics/

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Hawaii (fuck) You

I agree money is not really the issue.
Some schools are on their second turnaround, in the last 7 years. That means the third completely new staff in that time frame. So I would also venture to say cleaning house hasn't worked much either.

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You can't equate one business practice to another especially when one of those is education. Also, where are the parents in regard to all this?

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The answer is to hire this guy.

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Are there any published stats out there? As was posted above my blind assumption is that for 8k per kid a smart company could hire good teachers and administrate 85% success rat or better and still pocket $500 per?

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Elections have consequences.

Forgot to add I agree with the many that posted relating to trying to quantify measuring sucess of kids from horrible home situations and zero home support.

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Elections have consequences.

Parents probably have the majority of the responsibility in this. For one, they should be beating down the doors of these schools to demand a better education. But more importantly, I suspect they are not working with their kids at home or holding their kids up to high standards. Regardless of that, the system is broken, that needs to be acknowledged, and then let's brainstorm on how to fix it.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

There is an entire power structure that is fixed on maintaining the status quo.

It's gonna be tough to change anything meaningful. It's worth a shot though.

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I'll gladly pay you 16% (compounded interest) in 4 years for a 20% increase in work today. Sounds fair. On top of taking away the raise they were supposed to get this year they will essentially be taking a pay cut the next 4 years without receiving a raise. They stupidly agreed to that. Now they're fighting for better working conditions and an evaluation system that they believe is fair. If they've given in on salary I can understand them wanting CPS to give on many of the other conditions. The CPS appears to be extending their middle finger.

They'll probably still end up caving. Hopefully they don't.

That's when they'll be missed. People tend not to appreciate what they have until they don't have it anymore. For all the complaints about organized labor they generally get their asses handed to them in labor disputes. They don't have the muscle they once had. They need a victory but it's unlikely they're going to get it against the CPS. I'll give it another week and the polling/public opinion will be against the teachers. That's unfortunate IMO.

The CPS controlled the timing of this. It was collectively bargained. Also they DO want an evaluation system in place but they don't want the one that the CPS hasn't even come up with yet.

Did the electricians' local threaten to walk out if you plugged in your own extension cord?

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This is what makes Indianapolis look enticing to the convention industry. Yes, this is what it took.

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There are many parents that don't care.

I would like to know where 8.000 per kid goes. That's 240.000 a classroom.

It's not quite that simple.

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Don't you have another workers party rally to go to?


The union showed their true colors by forming picket lines in front of places where parents could drop their kids off who ACTUALLY WANT TO WORK.

And of course they're wearing red. The international color of communism.

It's actually part of a larger point. The federal local and state agencies need a complete accounting.

There's so much paperwork and such and too many people for some jobs and not enough for the less pleasant jobs (Not talking just about schools).

I actually think an accounting of all the money spent won't result in as many job losses as putting people where they are needed. You have places where 4 people are doing 2 peoples jobs and others were 2 people are doing 4 people's jobs.

I haven't the slightest idea what you just said.

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NSJ supports communism. So does lipid and redskingreg. At least stoneroses hates communism.

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You sure like to throw around that communism word for someone who I highly doubt even understands what it means.

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Actually I don't think the teachers are the main problem. But they have to be open to getting rid of the bad ones realizing it makes them all look bad.

And it makes the job harder. I know teachers in grammar school who know how good the teachers are who teach the grade below them and can tell which kids are from what teacher.

Also I know people who work in both public and private schools. The main difference in private to them is the freedom and the less hassle and bureacracy (I can never spell that word right). For example if you want to change your math book. Private school go to the principal say "Mr. Jones I want to go from this book to that book" its done. In public schools you have layers and layers of paperwork and crap.

I think the teachers union needs a better spokesperson. One who doesn't call it silly meetings and tell the teachers to go play in a fountain.

Was she the one who had a rather questionable election or was it the one before her?

You know who else hates Communism? Bulls.

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I don't remember half the time if I'm hiding or I'm lost