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School whistle-blower fears retaliation
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Evaluate them all | 8:12 a.m. June 12, 2009
We only know about this because of a whistle blower. If all charters were
inspected, we would see countless problems.
First charters were going to be cheaper than other public schools, then they would cost the same. Now they get more. This year they did not get the same budgets cuts as regular public schools. When will Utahns realize these are just pet projects for the legislature at the expense of Utah children. We already spend by far the least per child, we cannot afford these costly pet projects.
First charters were going to be cheaper than other public schools, then they would cost the same. Now they get more. This year they did not get the same budgets cuts as regular public schools. When will Utahns realize these are just pet projects for the legislature at the expense of Utah children. We already spend by far the least per child, we cannot afford these costly pet projects.
educrat | 8:38 a.m. June 12, 2009
Charters are under a larger microscope than Districts making every little
misstep known. That is why posts like "Yet Another Charter BUST" look
so foolish. The true experiment lies with leaving your child to the vices of
your neighborhood school where violations happen all the time but are hidden
very well from the public.
District schools rarely meet every law too, particularly those regarding special education. That is why Charters are a popular choice right now, because they provide both hope and escape for parents who don't want to continue experimenting with their own child's education.
Most District schools break special education laws. The most common violation is the underservicing of the student's IEP. If the document says a child should get X amount of special one on one tutoring, the school is required to do so. They give a fraction of what is required unless the parent goes in and raises caine.
I don't hold much hope for our District schools. We have teachers who can't teach working with kids who they think can't learn. Send your kids to a place that has teacfhers who CAN teach and believe students CAN learn.
District schools rarely meet every law too, particularly those regarding special education. That is why Charters are a popular choice right now, because they provide both hope and escape for parents who don't want to continue experimenting with their own child's education.
Most District schools break special education laws. The most common violation is the underservicing of the student's IEP. If the document says a child should get X amount of special one on one tutoring, the school is required to do so. They give a fraction of what is required unless the parent goes in and raises caine.
I don't hold much hope for our District schools. We have teachers who can't teach working with kids who they think can't learn. Send your kids to a place that has teacfhers who CAN teach and believe students CAN learn.
Comments continue below
Anonymous | 10:44 a.m. June 12, 2009
Oh yes the charters do wonders with special ed. Oh wait they don't take
special ed kids. What was I thinking?
Also, what kind of teacher would choose to work in a charter over a public school? You just don't get the same benefits or stability. I would like to see an article about who is teaching at these schools.
Also, what kind of teacher would choose to work in a charter over a public school? You just don't get the same benefits or stability. I would like to see an article about who is teaching at these schools.
interesting to me | 12:26 p.m. June 12, 2009
I find it interesting that comments made on charter and/or public school is
found to be only one way or the other. Charter Schools are best...no public
school are best....blahblahblah. I would say that there are some amazing public
school and yes amazing charter schools. Why is it an all or nothing deal?
Parents do have choice. But just because one parent had a bad experience at a
public school does not make all public schools bad. And just because one
charter school has ran into a few snags does not make all charter schools bad.
Those of us in the educational system are in it for the students. Believe it or
not....we do it for the kids. If you're going to make comments only based
on your experience (or that of your neighbor) then your comments are not going
to be based on the reality of what education looks like across the board. So
OWN your personal experience and not make a blanket statement about what
education is very everyone!
Good grief | 12:49 p.m. June 12, 2009
Rockwell is a great school. Unlike the School District, they can't just
raise taxes when they have problems, so they have to actually cut their budget.
Cutting a budget is always a painful process that produces hurt feelings. (In
sharp contrast, Alpine School District just built a high school a couple miles
away in Saratoga Springs with an original budget of $40 million that ended up
costing $60 million. Why? Because taxpayers give them a blank check.)
Is there a single allegation of wrong doing in the article? No, just a list of a few minor issues of non-compliance.
No one is required to attend Rockwell. All students make a choice to go there. If they are unhappy, they'll leave. If they're happy, then they'll stay.
Finally, charter schools are not better than traditional district schools -- only different. And Rockwell has a special education program and is prohibited by law from basing enrollment on any need for special education.
Is there a single allegation of wrong doing in the article? No, just a list of a few minor issues of non-compliance.
No one is required to attend Rockwell. All students make a choice to go there. If they are unhappy, they'll leave. If they're happy, then they'll stay.
Finally, charter schools are not better than traditional district schools -- only different. And Rockwell has a special education program and is prohibited by law from basing enrollment on any need for special education.
Mark | 1:11 p.m. June 12, 2009
Anonymous made the comment that Charters don't take special ed kids.
WRONG!
In fact most charters have a higher percentage of Special Ed students than District schools. THERE ARE NO EXCLUSIONS to getting into a Charter school other than max. capacity of classes and school. That's why we use an impartial lottery system to enroll students.
Also, Charter schools have amazing teachers, just as there are many great teachers in the district schools.
Reasons include:
+better pay
+better retirement
+more progressive educational programs
+access to more classroom supplies
+co-workers that want to teach instead of just collect a tenured teachers paycheck.
Every Charter has different priorities for funding but our Charter School seeks to pay better and appreciate our talented teachers.
And just so we are clear---each of our Charter School teachers must meet the same high standards of teaching credentials as District teachers. They are all certified through the same office at the USOE.
In fact most charters have a higher percentage of Special Ed students than District schools. THERE ARE NO EXCLUSIONS to getting into a Charter school other than max. capacity of classes and school. That's why we use an impartial lottery system to enroll students.
Also, Charter schools have amazing teachers, just as there are many great teachers in the district schools.
Reasons include:
+better pay
+better retirement
+more progressive educational programs
+access to more classroom supplies
+co-workers that want to teach instead of just collect a tenured teachers paycheck.
Every Charter has different priorities for funding but our Charter School seeks to pay better and appreciate our talented teachers.
And just so we are clear---each of our Charter School teachers must meet the same high standards of teaching credentials as District teachers. They are all certified through the same office at the USOE.
former charter parent | 2:58 p.m. June 12, 2009
I will never put my children in charters again. We did Mountainville Academy.
While Wade Glather was the director the school was wonderful. Then the board
decided they didn't like him, tried to scape goat him for all of their
troubles (which backfired on them) and now they are on their third director in a
year. BTW the new director has absolutely no experience running a school. She
is just barely finishing up school herself. MVA turned into a terrible
experiment in stupidity in a very short period of time because they have a board
who has gone wild and out of control with their own egos. I have learned my
lesson, charters have very little regulation. And those who are regulating them
are more worried about bad press then quality education.
Charters should not compete! | 5:30 p.m. June 12, 2009
Charter schools cost the tax payers more money! If the charter school can
provide a service not offered in the neighborhood schools, such as an Autism
program, I am for it. If their program competes with the neighborhood school,
then they should not exist. Honors programs should be in neighborhood schools
for all students, but there must be around 20 students for the class to be cost
effective. When the charter schools take out students, the programs for the
remaining students suffer due to lack of enrollment. I am tired of paying for
those who think their kids are better than everyone else. If these parents put
as much effort into their neighborhood schools education for all children would
improve. Charter school parents are selfish.
Abominous | 6:34 p.m. June 12, 2009
Who names a high school after an assassin? It's way past time to stop
pretending that Porter Rockwell was some kind of hero.
Anonymous | 6:57 p.m. June 12, 2009
How many Charter schools have to be investigated by the State before there is
more oversight? In the 2008-09 school year there have been:
Mountainville Academy-firing teachers mid-year, mid-quarter, when they "discovered" that they were non-compliant with their charter. The funny thing is that there were Board members who wrote the Charter and yet were "surprised" when they were non-compliant. They have also had financial troubles and may or may not still be in debt over $100,000.
Monticello Academy-the State investigated and removed the Director after many complaints from parents. There was a conflict of interest between the Director and her husband serving on the Board. The interesting thing is they did not think it was a conflict to have one spouse signing the others paycheck.
Now we have Rockwell, who might be in financial trouble and non-compliant with their charter.
Believe it or not, it is not the same to run a school and a business.
Mountainville Academy-firing teachers mid-year, mid-quarter, when they "discovered" that they were non-compliant with their charter. The funny thing is that there were Board members who wrote the Charter and yet were "surprised" when they were non-compliant. They have also had financial troubles and may or may not still be in debt over $100,000.
Monticello Academy-the State investigated and removed the Director after many complaints from parents. There was a conflict of interest between the Director and her husband serving on the Board. The interesting thing is they did not think it was a conflict to have one spouse signing the others paycheck.
Now we have Rockwell, who might be in financial trouble and non-compliant with their charter.
Believe it or not, it is not the same to run a school and a business.
ubukitty | 1:56 p.m. June 13, 2009
Opinions and hearsay are not the same as facts. Be
Re: Anonymous | 10:27 p.m. June 13, 2009
i completely agree. the shady dealings of charter schools never seeems to get
investigated. they just get a slap on the wrist and sent on their way. i
personally have learned my charter school lesson. recently mountainville fired
almost all of their middle school staff. how did the teachers find out? when
they saw their jobs listed online. really classy. it will be a nice day when
alpine turns their $90,000 a month building into a library or senior center.
then the mva headache will be a thing of the past for alpine.
Special Ed Charters | 6:36 a.m. June 15, 2009
I worked with a student who needed speech therapy. The charter he came from
said he refused services. He said they did not have a program. Guess what, they
do not provide speech services. Just because a charter provides some special ed
services, do not believe they provide what students need.
It is time to see charters for what they are, a passing fad. We are all better off investing in our neighborhood schools and believing in our communities again rather than dividing our neighborhoods and communities.
It is time to see charters for what they are, a passing fad. We are all better off investing in our neighborhood schools and believing in our communities again rather than dividing our neighborhoods and communities.
But you must understand . . . | 8:45 a.m. June 15, 2009
Sometimes the "policies and procedures" that are violated are pretty
stupid. When I was on the board of a charter in CA, we got fined 2 MILLION
dollars because of "violations". We had 5000 students, and the state
auditor pulled 50 files. The violation that sticks in my memory was a report
where the comma between the day and year on a date was missing. The state found
5 such violations, declared that 10% of our student records where out of
compliance, applied that to our enrollment, which gives you 500 non-compliant
files. Hence the 2 million dollar fine.
Interestingly enough, we ran a "performance-based" charter school. Kids didn't pass a class unless they were proficient with the material. We were sent 40 kids who had been kicked out of every other school in the city - and in two years they were *all* at or above grade level and making progress on becoming responsibile citizens. But in the newspapers, all you read about was the violation of someone forgetting a comma, and a 2 million dollar fine.
Interestingly enough, we ran a "performance-based" charter school. Kids didn't pass a class unless they were proficient with the material. We were sent 40 kids who had been kicked out of every other school in the city - and in two years they were *all* at or above grade level and making progress on becoming responsibile citizens. But in the newspapers, all you read about was the violation of someone forgetting a comma, and a 2 million dollar fine.
Re:Special ed ch. | 9:12 a.m. June 15, 2009
hopefully the fad will pass quickly so the state can get back into the business
of educating students correctly and not trying to please parents with no
experience in running a school or business. charters are disasters. rarely do
they turn out well. there are problems at the state level with regular public
schools, but nothing like the problems most charters are dealing with.
Anonymous | 2:07 p.m. June 15, 2009
I will not disagree that SOME charters are disasters. They end up in the paper
and on the news. A little faster than neighborhood schools that are not working
because they don't have a district to front for them. But there are many
charters that are working. They are based on countless hours of volunteer
service and a vested interest in education. I applaud parents who take such an
interest in their child's education, regardless of the school they choose.
Studies indicate that children are much more likely to succeed when parents are
involved in their education. My children have attended both a neighborhood and
a charter school. I respect the choice of those who remain at our neighborhood
school. It is a great place with dedicated parents and teachers. At the same
time, I am so grateful to be a part of my children's charter school. If
charters are a passing fad, thank goodness my children (and thousands of others)
get to be a part of it. Each charter is so different lumping them all together
is inaccurate and unfair. Let the great ones keep doing their thing. The bad
ones will weed themselves out.
re:anonymous | 4:00 p.m. June 15, 2009
the problem is the bad ones are not getting weeded out. they are turning into
long drawn out experiments in bad education. take mountainville academy for
instance. they had a school that was working well, except for the overspending
of their board. they were warned by the first director and financial advisor
this was a problem. what did they do? they fired both of them and put in their
second director who not only had no experience running a school but also had no
people skills. they fired their wonderful 6th grade staff two weeks before
christmas and when the parents revolted they blamed it on
"micommunication." now they fired her, but told the press she left
for personal reasons. they are now on their third director who just barely
finished school. again NO EXPERIENCE running a school. the board has no idea
what they are doing. they changed the format of the school twice and now are
changing the curriculum. they just haven't bothered to tell the parents
this yet. MVA is the poster child of what is wrong with charter schools. Brian
Allen should have taken over the school but he is more interested in good press.
Luckycat | 4:28 p.m. June 15, 2009
Sounds like some of you have an issue with Mountainville Academy....like other
posters have said, don't lump all Charters into one group. I attended a
"neighborhood" school and was educated on The Price Is Right, Wheel of
Fortune and other game shows, instead of my science class....my geography
teacher thought it was more important to critique my outfits everyday, instead
of teaching me the cultures of different countries, and the school counselor
thought I was in some sort of satanic cult because I wore PEACE signs......My
point is your going to have issues whether you are in a charter or a
neighborhood school. Don't base your opinions of ALL charters, based on
one bad one.
public teacher | 2:19 p.m. June 17, 2009
Overall, public schools get a bad rap. Public schools are not allowed to pick
and choose which students attend their particualar school. We deal with every
child, no matter their skills (or lack of), their desire to learn (or lack of),
their parental support (or lack of). Yes, the public schools had to cut
budgets; teachers got loaded with larger class sizes, lost several days'
pay, and some districts got no raises or step increases. I don't see where
your taxes were raised to help pad our pocketbooks this year! Utah has an
awesome public school system that would rival any state in the nation. The main
problem is the low priority our culture gives education. Entertainment takes so
much more precedence over eduacting our children. Family vacations, sports
activities, and various other activities are becoming more important to having
our kids actively involved in getting an education. Until our parents and
culture make education a higher priority in each home, we will continue to have
the bad apples and challenges that public schools have. Charter schools may have
their place, but they are certainly not the be all, end all, of a person's
learning. GO PUBLIC SCHOOLS!
educate yourself | 6:22 p.m. June 17, 2009
Charter Schools are public schools. So the idea of what some of the posted
comments is showing that you know very little about what a charter school is. We
criticize before obtaining enough knowledge on the subject.
RE: Anonymous | 6:55 p.m. June 17, 2009
What we have in the dissidents of the charter school movement it seems, are
people who seem to think they "know what's best", without really
knowing the context of the arguments/situations. If we were to take the emotion
out of the situations and look at things objectively, we would probably see that
the following situations (per previous comments) are working themselves out:
Mountainville Academy(with their situation), Monticello Academy (which the state
handled by investigating and making the changes necessary), and Rockwell (which
has been shown by a 3rd party CPA and the state (as of now), to be financial
sound and not out of compliance with their charter, but just evolving as all 1st
year charter schools do).
Though charters do not follow a pure business model, per se, simply, the good schools flourish (as evidenced by supply and demand), the bad ones do not have the demand, and thus, no money, and eventually will shut themselves down. Let us just focus on our particular spheres of influence, to impact the future generation's education in a positive way, whether for you that is at a traditional neighborhood public school, or at a public charter school.
Though charters do not follow a pure business model, per se, simply, the good schools flourish (as evidenced by supply and demand), the bad ones do not have the demand, and thus, no money, and eventually will shut themselves down. Let us just focus on our particular spheres of influence, to impact the future generation's education in a positive way, whether for you that is at a traditional neighborhood public school, or at a public charter school.
Invest in public schools means.. | 6:42 a.m. June 22, 2009
Public schools are an unmitigated joke. These kids learn NOTHING there anymore.
It would be cheaper just to have them stay home and watch the various discovery
channels. No, I am not kidding.
People learn by doing, not by sitting in a series of classes in lecture format, being told things that make no sense to most of them. Certain things cannot be taught, and our system does not recognize the human importance of experience. It instead penalizes our children for daring to be free, and demanding that they focus their attention on learning to work jobs they hate to buy stuff they do not need.
Our public school system is a joke. Most of our teachers are becoming teachers right out of college. No longer are the days of those who are coming from outside endeavors to teach a new generation of what the world is like. Instead, we are entrusting our kids to people who have no real clue what the world is like.
We are taxed to death and told that we must accept the school system as is. I call bogus. Big honking bogus.
Government needs to get out of the school business.
People learn by doing, not by sitting in a series of classes in lecture format, being told things that make no sense to most of them. Certain things cannot be taught, and our system does not recognize the human importance of experience. It instead penalizes our children for daring to be free, and demanding that they focus their attention on learning to work jobs they hate to buy stuff they do not need.
Our public school system is a joke. Most of our teachers are becoming teachers right out of college. No longer are the days of those who are coming from outside endeavors to teach a new generation of what the world is like. Instead, we are entrusting our kids to people who have no real clue what the world is like.
We are taxed to death and told that we must accept the school system as is. I call bogus. Big honking bogus.
Government needs to get out of the school business.
Taxation without Representation | 6:54 a.m. June 22, 2009
Charter School Boards are not elected or obviously controlled (see article) by
the public who fund them. Local districts must send money to charters, but the
local property tax payer has no elected representative to say how charter tax
money is spent. Local school districts are run by school boards elected by the
people who pay the taxes to support the schools. Charter schools do not.
It is time to end local district money going to charters!
It is time to end local district money going to charters!
VOR | 8:54 a.m. June 22, 2009
"Board chairman Redge Hudson said he doesn't want bad feelings and
would prefer not to see someone removed from the board. However, if a board
member 'isn't helping the school move forward, they could be
removed,' Hudson said."
In other words, the whistle blower is getting fired
In other words, the whistle blower is getting fired
Anonymous | 10:01 a.m. June 22, 2009
I just love how many falsehoods are perpetuated each time a Charter article is
posted. It just goes to show HOW BAD our educational system in Utah is.
1. Charters are Public Schools
2. Charters cost the state significantly less to build and operate (few own a building and that is where the greatest savings lie)
3. Charters by law do not pick and choose students
4. Charters by law offer special Ed. services (the small leveled group instruction is vastly superior to what any District school can offer)
5. Charters are audited and have higher levels of accountability/reporting to the state (they can't hide or misrepresent things due to size that a District can)
6. Each Charter has different rules and guidelines so some boards have elected members, others all and perhaps some none
7. Anyone can go and be bored by a board meeting
8. This 'experiment' is here to stay. Charters started in Utah over thirty years ago in the Salt Lake City School district. We are even seeing the formation of a District that has the intention of opperating like a Charter in the Canyons.
1. Charters are Public Schools
2. Charters cost the state significantly less to build and operate (few own a building and that is where the greatest savings lie)
3. Charters by law do not pick and choose students
4. Charters by law offer special Ed. services (the small leveled group instruction is vastly superior to what any District school can offer)
5. Charters are audited and have higher levels of accountability/reporting to the state (they can't hide or misrepresent things due to size that a District can)
6. Each Charter has different rules and guidelines so some boards have elected members, others all and perhaps some none
7. Anyone can go and be bored by a board meeting
8. This 'experiment' is here to stay. Charters started in Utah over thirty years ago in the Salt Lake City School district. We are even seeing the formation of a District that has the intention of opperating like a Charter in the Canyons.
Happy parent | 10:32 a.m. June 22, 2009
As I parent with three kids in charter school and having grown up in Alpine
School district, I will tell you that my kids are better off in charter schools
than I was in public school. That is not to say I had bad teachers, I had
excellent teachers. Teachers are not the issue. The issue is the government
interference. I volunteered at my sons public school when he was in 1st grade.
The teacher was great but she had to spend a lot of the time in class dealing
with kids who could not speak English. My son was being left behind because
more time was spent with the slow kids. The government polices currently in
place, put emphasis on the bottom half of the class. This is harsh but true.
My 5th grader does pre-algebra. He could not be challenged in public school.
If charter school look to be mismanaged it is because they are still a relatively new organization. Given the same amount of time to mature as public schools have had, they will greatly exceed the public system.
Any parent who wants to challenge their child will try a charter school
If charter school look to be mismanaged it is because they are still a relatively new organization. Given the same amount of time to mature as public schools have had, they will greatly exceed the public system.
Any parent who wants to challenge their child will try a charter school
Anonymous | 3:51 p.m. June 22, 2009
In Provo school district we have 6th graders taking algebra and 7th graders
taking geometry. They go to the middle school for math.
It doesn't have to be a charter to meet the needs.
You just have to be involved.
Charters are experimental by nature. I'd hate to put my kids into a failed experiment which seems to be happening all too often with charters.
It doesn't have to be a charter to meet the needs.
You just have to be involved.
Charters are experimental by nature. I'd hate to put my kids into a failed experiment which seems to be happening all too often with charters.
Anonymous | 7:09 p.m. June 22, 2009
I'm sick of people saying that charters cannot pick and choose their
students. they can play favorites and everyone knows that. They can give
siblings of current students preference and the kids of parents that teach or
volunteer there go to the top of the list then they can say "OH WE ARE
FULL." Sure they don't own the buildings we have legislators making
money off of the building leases. Public schools have NONE of these options.
charters are just private schools paid for with public money!
re:Anonymous 10:01 | 6:44 a.m. June 23, 2009
Your list might be more believable if you spelled correctly.
Hint: That little red line under the word means it is misspelled.
Charters no longer cost less than public schools, that argument has not been used for several years. Local districts are now forced to send money to charters, so local property tax dollars go to charter boards that are not elected by, nor accountable to the school boards who levy the taxes or tax payers. There is no representation for that taxation.
Charters may offer Special Ed services, but not all services. Special Ed services cover such a broad range that one or two special educator could not possibly be certified to cover all possible disabilities, thus charters do not serve all special education needs.
Happy parent made a very valid point. There are less if any students learning English as a Second language in their charter school. Charters nationwide as well as vouchers are simply tools to re-segregate American schools.
It is time the public gets the real truth about charters. I agree with Anonymous 7:09, charters are just private schools paid with public money.
Hint: That little red line under the word means it is misspelled.
Charters no longer cost less than public schools, that argument has not been used for several years. Local districts are now forced to send money to charters, so local property tax dollars go to charter boards that are not elected by, nor accountable to the school boards who levy the taxes or tax payers. There is no representation for that taxation.
Charters may offer Special Ed services, but not all services. Special Ed services cover such a broad range that one or two special educator could not possibly be certified to cover all possible disabilities, thus charters do not serve all special education needs.
Happy parent made a very valid point. There are less if any students learning English as a Second language in their charter school. Charters nationwide as well as vouchers are simply tools to re-segregate American schools.
It is time the public gets the real truth about charters. I agree with Anonymous 7:09, charters are just private schools paid with public money.
Ridiculous | 8:12 a.m. June 23, 2009
Since when has a school shown any retaliation toward anyone? The increased
spotlight on the charge adds further scrutiny and increases attention on the
issue. Any attempt of retaliation would be seen immediately.
The accusation of retaliation is the simple weapon of choice for the uninformed and uneducated.
The accusation of retaliation is the simple weapon of choice for the uninformed and uneducated.
Insider | 10:48 a.m. June 23, 2009
RE:Ridiculous | 8:12 a.m. June 23, 2009
You really do not understand!!
School administrators will let the word out on this guy.
If he is not fired he will never be allowed to advance in the system.
What does that mean? It means he can go to school and get all the endorsements and certifications he wants but in the end it will do him no good!
He will always draw the worst teaching assignments and most likely at the worst of schools.
If they want to move him to wherever they can do it and have the loopholes to back up their ill decisions.
Teaching is a sad little job and if you speak out about it and they find out who you are you are toast.
Adiministration takes care of their own. When they make mistakes they hide them and continue to pay their large salaries.
They call education a team effort. Nothing could be further from the truth!!
Education is a good old boys network BIG TIME!!
Teachers coming into the job are starting to figure out many of these hidden problems and consequently they leave. Typically around the three year mark!
Don't Teach!!!!
You really do not understand!!
School administrators will let the word out on this guy.
If he is not fired he will never be allowed to advance in the system.
What does that mean? It means he can go to school and get all the endorsements and certifications he wants but in the end it will do him no good!
He will always draw the worst teaching assignments and most likely at the worst of schools.
If they want to move him to wherever they can do it and have the loopholes to back up their ill decisions.
Teaching is a sad little job and if you speak out about it and they find out who you are you are toast.
Adiministration takes care of their own. When they make mistakes they hide them and continue to pay their large salaries.
They call education a team effort. Nothing could be further from the truth!!
Education is a good old boys network BIG TIME!!
Teachers coming into the job are starting to figure out many of these hidden problems and consequently they leave. Typically around the three year mark!
Don't Teach!!!!
Charter Schools | 6:27 p.m. June 23, 2009
I left a public school to teach at a charter school because:
1) The pay is better
2) Benefits are just the same
3) Retirement is much better than what ASD was offering (and Nebo, and Provo, etc.)
4) I have more freedom to teach how I want and still meet federal regulations.
5) Classroom sizes are smaller so kids get more individual attention. This is impossible at a non-charter public school.
6) Arts are focused on more and are not being cut like in public schools.
Charter schools are much better at many things. Non-charter public schools have their advantages too. But as a teacher, I've been happier at the charter school.
1) The pay is better
2) Benefits are just the same
3) Retirement is much better than what ASD was offering (and Nebo, and Provo, etc.)
4) I have more freedom to teach how I want and still meet federal regulations.
5) Classroom sizes are smaller so kids get more individual attention. This is impossible at a non-charter public school.
6) Arts are focused on more and are not being cut like in public schools.
Charter schools are much better at many things. Non-charter public schools have their advantages too. But as a teacher, I've been happier at the charter school.
Anonymous | 7:26 p.m. June 23, 2009
"re:Anonymous 10:01 | 6:44 a.m. June 23, 2009
Your list might be more believable if you spelled correctly."
Could you at least point out the 'spelling errors' you claim invalidated the list? I certainly can't seem to find them.
Your argument with Special Education is seriously lacking in judgment. Charter Schools meet federal law and offer services to a greater extent than what a District school seems to. Charters pool resources when they have particular disabilities. Most offer small group instruction standard for all children. That small group instruction is what gives Charters a built in way of meeting student needs even if they aren't on an IEP.
Charters have many better ways of doing things and are more efficient than a District school. But if you are happy teaching at your District school, I can't really convince you what you are missing out. I have done both and found the District system to be fundamentally flawed starting with how schools are set up all the way to how they 'choose' staff at whim.
Your list might be more believable if you spelled correctly."
Could you at least point out the 'spelling errors' you claim invalidated the list? I certainly can't seem to find them.
Your argument with Special Education is seriously lacking in judgment. Charter Schools meet federal law and offer services to a greater extent than what a District school seems to. Charters pool resources when they have particular disabilities. Most offer small group instruction standard for all children. That small group instruction is what gives Charters a built in way of meeting student needs even if they aren't on an IEP.
Charters have many better ways of doing things and are more efficient than a District school. But if you are happy teaching at your District school, I can't really convince you what you are missing out. I have done both and found the District system to be fundamentally flawed starting with how schools are set up all the way to how they 'choose' staff at whim.
Science Teacher | 12:30 a.m. June 24, 2009
Preach on, Insider! I'm starting to learn the ins and outs of the ol'
boys club.
Insider | 5:17 p.m. June 24, 2009
RE:Science Teacher | 12:30 a.m. June 24, 2009
AMEN BROTHER...AMEN!!!
AMEN BROTHER...AMEN!!!
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