http://www.pioneerinstitute.org/blog/news/pta-does-not-stand-for-parent-teacher-association Public Policy Research Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:21:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 http://www.pioneerinstitute.org/blog/news/pta-does-not-stand-for-parent-teacher-association#comment-809 Jim Stergios Sun, 06 Apr 2008 07:44:57 +0000 http://www.pioneerinstitute.org/blog/news/pta-does-not-stand-for-parent-teacher-association#comment-809 Jennifer, Thanks for your comment. I hope you will agree that no one forces a parent to choose a charter school. If you grant that point, then the key question is, in fact, not sensitive at all: Why not let parents decide what is best for their children, rather than letting you or Ruth decide that? Jennifer, Thanks for your comment. I hope you will agree that no one forces a parent to choose a charter school. If you grant that point, then the key question is, in fact, not sensitive at all: Why not let parents decide what is best for their children, rather than letting you or Ruth decide that?

]]> http://www.pioneerinstitute.org/blog/news/pta-does-not-stand-for-parent-teacher-association#comment-800 Jennifer Katz Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:50:19 +0000 http://www.pioneerinstitute.org/blog/news/pta-does-not-stand-for-parent-teacher-association#comment-800 I agree with Kaplan - when you set up a school in which the main goal / intent is to send the students to college, you deprive them of a wholesome, well-rounded education. Centering a child's education around an objective of sending them to college, does not allow them to focus on learning for the sake of learning. Instead of studying for the purpose of understanding the material thoroughly, they are merely doing what it takes to meet the requirements of entering a higher institution of learning. This does not necessarily include truly understanding the material one is taught or excelling to one's highest abilities - one can enter college with a C average, a sprinkle of D's, and a mediocre ACT or SAT score. Charter schools are dangerous in that many of them focus on one or two subjects, such as science and math, or quite possibly the arts, without fully exposing the students to and showing them the importance of, learning several key subjects (reading, science, math, art, foreign language, among others) for the purpose of being a well-rounded individual. Kaplan is right to speak out against charter schools - as her position/ title as entrusted by the Board, this is her job. Bravo to Kaplan for speaking honestly and openly about a sensitive matter. I agree with Kaplan - when you set up a school in which the main goal / intent is to send the students to college, you deprive them of a wholesome, well-rounded education. Centering a child’s education around an objective of sending them to college, does not allow them to focus on learning for the sake of learning. Instead of studying for the purpose of understanding the material thoroughly, they are merely doing what it takes to meet the requirements of entering a higher institution of learning. This does not necessarily include truly understanding the material one is taught or excelling to one’s highest abilities - one can enter college with a C average, a sprinkle of D’s, and a mediocre ACT or SAT score. Charter schools are dangerous in that many of them focus on one or two subjects, such as science and math, or quite possibly the arts, without fully exposing the students to and showing them the importance of, learning several key subjects (reading, science, math, art, foreign language, among others) for the purpose of being a well-rounded individual. Kaplan is right to speak out against charter schools - as her position/ title as entrusted by the Board, this is her job. Bravo to Kaplan for speaking honestly and openly about a sensitive matter.

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