I am not arguing the public school system is the best it can be, but this argument for "school choice" is based on false pathos (oh, the poor black child is stuck in a low performing school, is bullshit
I'm sure you know all about what's best for minority children - far more than minority parents.
Quote: In fact, school choice is disproportionately popular among minority groups. AFC surveyed 1,100 likely voters in January 2016: 70 percent supported school choice, defined as “giv[ing] parents the right to use the tax dollars associated with their child’s education to send their child to the public or private school which better serves their needs." Among African Americans and Latinos, the number was 76 percent. A poll commissioned last year by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools showed similar levels of support.
Read more at:
Cory Booker Turns on His One-Time Ally, Betsy DeVos
those who want to shield their child from reality have every right to do so, and risk creating bigots and young adults not ready to adapt to a sheltered environment.
So students who go to school in mostly white areas like Maine or Finland are more likely to be bigots?!
As a football coach, I've had the opportunity to work in charter, private, high income, and low income schools. So, I've been exposed to parents from all levels. Here's what I think ....
1) Private schools come with the greatest level of expectation. Parent believe that, since they are paying tuition, their son is entitled to certain benefits - in my case, playing time. It doesn't matter how good Johnny is, or how often Johnny skips practice, or how often Johnny lifts weights, he is entitled to playing time simply because his parent pay for him to be there. Johnny, thus, doesn't believe he has to work for anything - that it all should be given to him. Keeping students eligible academically is a given - after all, Dad has bought that diploma.
2) High income public schools (in the nice parts of town) have the LEAST amount of parent involvement. Their parents are too busy with their own lives to worry about their kids. The kids, in turn, have no drive and no goals. Johnny doesn't care if he's the best, or not - because, he knows that any effort is more effort than most put forth. He also knows that, if he doesn't excel, it's okay, because mommy and daddy will take care of him. After all, they have been doing it all his life. This group doesn't believe in hard work or commitment to a cause. Keeping students eligible academically is an effort, but not hard. We lost 3-5% of students to grades.
3) Low income public schools suffer from a different malady. Parents generally understand that education is the only chance Johnny has, but they are ill-equipped to help him or guide him. By the time, Johnny is in the 7th grade, he has long passed the academic training of his parents. Therefore, they rely on the smartest people in the neighborhood - teachers - to raise their kids. Parents want to help - they just don't know how. So, Johnny falls into two general classes. He either has accepted his lot in life, given up, and just wants to get thru the day. Or, he has an absolutely burning desire to get out of the 'hood, and will do anything to make it happen. Parents will do everything they can - unfortunately, they can do very little. It is out of these schools that we get the most ardent, and active, parent support. Some will tell you that it's because Dad sees Johnny's football or basketball skills as Dad's ticket, but I don't think that's it - I think most parents see it as the only opportunity Johnny has to escape cycle of welfare. Far and away, parent involvement and child commitment is greatest in the low income school. We have won two state championships - both at very low income schools. We were blessed with kids who had drive and commitment - something missing at most other schools. These students are committed to football - but woefully unprepared academically. Keeping them eligible is almost impossible. We lose about 30-35% every year to grades.It would seem it is because that most of the students WANT to stay eligible, they're just ill-equipped to meet the academic rigors.
4) Charter schools are a hybrid - parents have some money, but they generally have a desire for their children to succeed, to be better than they were. As a football coach, we find these students to be less driven to athletic pursuits, which of course, makes our job harder. But, generally, their pursuit of academics is greater than the other groups. We had a lot fewer academic issues with our players, but also a corresponding lack of commitment to football.
Sometimes, I think the right answer is a mix of all four -- each has its advantage, and each has its faults.
