Mayor to charters: Relax, 'you're safe'

Following Democratic predecessor, GOP leader says such schools boost economy and work force Tom Wood Ford Tom Wood Ford offers great deals on New and Pre-Owned vehicles in Indianapolis.

[Charters Do Not Work]

All the research indicates that charter schools really do not work! If the charter schools have to accept all types of children regardless of race, color, creed, academic standing, including the mentally and physically handicapped; then charter results are no better than public schools. In fact most charter schools are in reality actual failures. The charter operators and government officials know these facts!

[Gail]

Charters Do Not Work wrote:

All the research indicates that charter schools really do not work! If the charter schools have to accept all types of children regardless of race, color, creed, academic standing, including the mentally and physically handicapped; then charter results are no better than public schools. In fact most charter schools are in reality actual failures. The charter operators and government officials know these facts!

Absolutely correct! Check the ISTEP scores! The charters do not have to follow the rigid rules the public schools do, yet they still fail!
The charters are not serving our students who need rigorous curricula and tough assessments. Sure, it's fun to do art all day, or play an instrument all day, but if you cannot read or do math, what kind of job will you have, to contribute to our state's future economy?
Get your heads and hands out of the pockets of the special-interest groups and elitists who support the charter school so their children don't have to meet the strick standards the state put forth for the public schools---which they also do not fund!!

[QQQQ]

It’s sad to see how quickly the teachers union declares charter schools a failure but after decades of falling test scores and graduation rates their only response is “charter schools don’t work”! Making public and charter schools compete will make BOTH institutions better at educating students, that’s the nature of competition.

It’s a shame that educators seem to be the most vocal opponents to this cause when, in the end, they share same goal.

[mike321zero]

In addition to charter schools, we need vouchers so that parents can more readily send their children to the schools of their choice.

Beware of those who insist we must throw still more money at the existing school system. It is a monopoly and it is a failure. Our "professional educators" are afraid of competition.

[Tokin42]

Work and Gail must not have read this story:

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...

Charter schools cannot repair the damage done to Indianapolis public school kids right away, it takes a little time. By the time they hit high school their ISTEP scores are much higher than their counterparts in IPS.

Not all school districts are bad but you cannot argue that the IPS schools are doing a better job than anyone, especially local charter schools.

[Marion Co Resident]

I am not man educator but a citizen who cares how MY money is spent!! Charters have failed in other states and will continue to fail in Indiana, Period! If the writer of this article would do their research, they would find out these facts. Take the federal and state mandates off the public schools and whar would you have, same guide lines as charters. Make the field od education a level field and watch the public schools out perform the charters. I voted for Mayor Balard and believe he thinks the charters are good a "alternative education" source. I think he is il-informed as to the mandates under which the public schools must operate and the charters do not. And yet they waist valuable resources everyday that public schools need and this would help to lower property taxes in our area. And if they are so good why is their a mandate to public schools dicating you must take the stdent "back" if the charter does not want to or can not educate the child? Basicly it says when you fail you fail at the public school so I don't look bad. Look at the "mandated" test scores, charters fall at the bottom in every catagory. And, yes, they have had enough time to show the major improvements they claim to bring to the table. Just another welfare jobs program at my expense and another public failure for our children.

[Marion Co Resident]

And yes there are mis-spellings as this issue piss me off.

[stones]

Once again the taxpayer is having to pay for something private. This money is being taken away from the public schools. Damage done to IPS students didn't happen in IPS...it happened long before these students entered school.

[IPS Supporter]

Tokin42 wrote:

Work and Gail must not have read this story:
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...
Charter schools cannot repair the damage done to Indianapolis public school kids right away, it takes a little time. By the time they hit high school their ISTEP scores are much higher than their counterparts in IPS.
Not all school districts are bad but you cannot argue that the IPS schools are doing a better job than anyone, especially local charter schools.

And where did the charter high school students come from? Yes, they attended IPS elementary and probably middle schools before they chose the charter school.

[No Thank You]

mike321zero wrote:

In addition to charter schools, we need vouchers so that parents can more readily send their children to the schools of their choice.
Beware of those who insist we must throw still more money at the existing school system. It is a monopoly and it is a failure. Our "professional educators" are afraid of competition.

Nope! Nada! No vouchers please. Not with my tax dollars. This is an end run around our educational woes. Fix the issues.

There's a limited number of desks in private schools. Who gets to go? Who doesn't? Why? Who makes the call? What about the students who must remain in public education? Are they not worthy?

[Then What]

mike321zero wrote:

In addition to charter schools, we need vouchers so that parents can more readily send their children to the schools of their choice.
Beware of those who insist we must throw still more money at the existing school system. It is a monopoly and it is a failure. Our "professional educators" are afraid of competition.

After vouchers are awarded and all of these "public school" children infiltrate the private schools and they begin showing the symptoms of the same challenges our public schools face, where will the current private school parents send their children? To newly created elite private schools that don't accept vouchers? Private schools are no better than public schools, in fact many offer inferior services, they just have the advantage of hand picking their students.

[henry]

weren't herron high schools istep scores the highest in the county?

[Dewey]

I wish the citizens of Indianapolis could "relax" and feel "safe". Just an idea.

[CLW]

Not all charter schools are only about art and music. There are some that teach all courses. Check out Christel House Academy by Garfield Park. They teach all courses that a child would get in IPS but they add a few more. Christel House doesn't just emphasize on art or music either. Before you people put down charter schools because of a few that you don't like research them all. And if IPS was doing better than anyone as Tokin42 suggests then they wouldn't have had to go to uniforms or make some of their schools year round just so they could get better test scores and stay open.

[They Can Work]

I'm all for Charter Schools. They can work if the Parents stay involved. My son attended Hope Academy. It was a great school. They taught all courses and were very strict at following all the rules and guidelines. Hope is a high school created by Fairbanks and designed for students who are recovering from alcoholism or drug addiction. The mission of Hope Academy is to provide a safe, sober, and challenging school experience for students who share a commitment to education achievement and personal growth. The High School that he did attend in Hamilton County is where he got involved with drugs in the first place. I am happy to know that Mayor Balard will continue to support Charter Schools. These schools are needed for kids with special needs to be able to get a good education.

[QQQQ]

stones wrote:

Once again the taxpayer is having to pay for something private. This money is being taken away from the public schools. Damage done to IPS students didn't happen in IPS...it happened long before these students entered school.

Public money has gone to private institutions for over 60 years! It started with the GI bill, which allows service men and women to go to religious/private universities like BYU and Notre Dame. Then there are Pell Grants - federal money for students to attend public or private colleges.
No one opposes these programs.

[Hurtubise]

No Thank You wrote:

<quoted text>
Nope! Nada! No vouchers please. Not with my tax dollars. This is an end run around our educational woes. Fix the issues.
There's a limited number of desks in private schools. Who gets to go? Who doesn't? Why? Who makes the call? What about the students who must remain in public education? Are they not worthy?

Vouchers are welfare.

[Mr Science]

mike321zero wrote:

In addition to charter schools, we need vouchers so that parents can more readily send their children to the schools of their choice.
Beware of those who insist we must throw still more money at the existing school system. It is a monopoly and it is a failure. Our "professional educators" are afraid of competition.

So instead we "throw money" at wars? When schools don't have air conditoning and up to date facilities, I'd hardly call that "throwing money." Not all schools have pools and astroturf football fields. Fund the schools EQUALLy then we wouldn't need these "gimmicks" like charters and vouchers. The wheel is fine. We don't need to reinvent it.

[Upset]

IPS Supporter wrote:

<quoted text>
And where did the charter high school students come from? Yes, they attended IPS elementary and probably middle schools before they chose the charter school.

Let's see equal covergage Indy Star. How about an article on the kids who LEAVE IPS for a charter school, then come back to IPS disatisfied or disillusioned by false promises? We get those kids back every year. How about that side of the issue? You make it sound like they leave IPS and then that's the end of the story-it's not.

[Robin]

Gail wrote:

<quoted text>
Absolutely correct! Check the ISTEP scores! The charters do not have to follow the rigid rules the public schools do, yet they still fail!
The charters are not serving our students who need rigorous curricula and tough assessments. Sure, it's fun to do art all day, or play an instrument all day, but if you cannot read or do math, what kind of job will you have, to contribute to our state's future economy?
Get your heads and hands out of the pockets of the special-interest groups and elitists who support the charter school so their children don't have to meet the strick standards the state put forth for the public schools---which they also do not fund!!

That's the main reason I voted Peterson out. He supported charters while IPS had to grab for every dime they could! Guess Ballard will have to learn the same hard lesson Barty Bart didn't. Ballard doesn't send his kids to a charter school.