Comparison of Charter and Public Schools - Essay Example

Charter Schools Vs Public Schools: The first charter school, recognized by law began in 1991, and was approved in Minnesota. In developing this school, policy formulators were guided by three most important basic values, namely opportunity, choice, and responsibility for the results obtained (Alexander and David, 22). 1995, 19 states in the US were able to adapt and implement the law establishing the charter schools. It is important to understand that the word charter is believed to have begun from the year 1970s, through the studies of an educator by the name of Ray Budde. Ray Budde gave a suggestion that local school boards should give contracts to a small number of teachers for purposes of facilitating new approaches to the education system. In the 1980s, in the state of Philadelphia, a number of schools emerged, within schools (Alexander and David, 26). These schools were called charters, and scholars referred to them as choice schools. It is important to understand that there was public education in the New England territories during the periods of 1600s. During the existence of public education during this period, national system of education did not exist until the 19th century, when Thomas Jefferson changed the education system in the United States. Jefferson insisted that the Public Education system in the United States should be controlled by the government, and it should be free from bias, that emanates from religion. Jefferson further insisted that education system in the United States should be available to everybody, irrespective of their social status (Alexander and David, 29). As of the year 2006, there existed around 4000 chartered schools, in some parts of the United States, including Puerto Rico, and Columbia. However, 10 states in the US have not passed a law establishing charter schools. On this basis, there is a wide debate on whether chartered schools are far much better than public schools, in the provision of education to students. Proponents of charter schools denote that this schooling system is efficient in benefitting children from poor background, mostly Hispanic and black students. Charter schools have helped to improve the mathematical skills and language skills of students, as compared to the public schools. In the charter national school study, carried out by CREDO, results indicate that charter schools are greatly improving their service delivery, benefiting the disadvantaged, low income and special education children. This report by CREDO further indicates that in an average charter school, students were able to show reading gains that was equivalent to that which a child would show, in case the child under consideration passed through eight extra days of schooling, in a traditional public school. This report further indicates that gains in mathematics were equal amongst the students attending chartered schools, and students attending public schools. Scholars denote that these results were a great increase from the results obtained in the study of charter schools in the year 2009. During this year, charter schools were able to lose the equivalence of seven learning days in English, and 22 learning days in mathematics. (Alexander and David, 33) denotes that this improvement in the performance of charter schools emanated because of the closure of eight percent of charter schools that were underperforming based on the 2009 report by CREDO. On this basis, the 2013 report by CREDO denotes that the best method of improving performance of charter schools is by closing schools that are underperforming. This will thus ensure quality across the education spectrum. Despite these advantages identified by CREDO, studies reveal that students from charter schools normally perform poorer than students from public schools. One of the reasons advanced as to why public schools perform better than charter schools is based on the notion that the curriculum development of public schools has both extra-curriculum activities, as well as normal hours of studying. On this basis, a child is able to concentrate in class, because of a relaxed mind. This will in turn improve the performance of the academic performance of the child. This is as opposed to chartered schools, whereby children are kept under extra hours just to improve their academic performance. On the other hand, Alexander and David (34) denote that this is advantageous, and this is because the extra hour that children in chartered schools undergo is aimed at improving their academic capabilities. Alexander and David (53) further denotes that children in public schools are known for wasting their remedial hours, through playing computer games and watching television which is not conducive for their academic performance. On this basis, Glazerman (11) believes that these extra hours that children in public schools enjoy should be turned into remedial classes for purposes of improving their academic performances. It is important to know that on average, chartered schools acquire an extra 3 to 10 weeks of studies. This is when compared to public schools. Miner (27) denotes that the report by CREDO is inaccurate, and this is because it does not provide a comparison of the real figures of the performance of students in charter schools, and public schools. According to scholar, charter schools have a superior academic performance than public schools, and this is because they are able to admit low performing students, and bring their standard to the required academic level. Scholar further denotes that this level does not have to be similar to that of public schools, since students have different learning capabilities, and they cannot be equal. Therefore the mandate of the charter schools is to bring students to the acceptable academic standard in the United States (Alexander and David, 37). Miner (41) further goes on to denote that comparing charter school students with public schools students is therefore wrong. This is because these two institutions have different learning environment. For instance, charter schools encourage innovation, and this is because teachers and parents have a say in the development of the curriculum (Glazerman, 11). Innovation is a very important aspect in teaching children, and this is because a teacher may come up with an appropriate technique which will ensure that a student is able to grasp the contents taught in class. Innovation is an aspect that does not exist in public schools, and this is because the curriculum is established and developed by the government (Glazerman, 13). On this basis, parents and teachers do not contribute in its development, and hence any aspect of innovation is squashed (Alexander and David, 31). Based on this fact therefore, it is inaccurate to give a comparison on the efficiency of chartered schools, with that of public schools. However, Miner (22) disagrees with this notion identified by Alexander and David (31). This is because an education system is developed for purposes of developing skills in students, in preparation for employment. Miner (27) further goes on to denote that the assertion that charted schools normally admit weak children is false. This is because they are an offshoot of public schools, coming into existence some twenty years ago. Scholar further goes on to denote that chartered schools were created by teachers, parents, the community and commercial organizations for purposes of improving the academic abilities of students. Based on this fact therefore, it is essential to compare chartered schools with public schools, as this will help parents to have an opinion on where they should take their children for schooling. Furthermore, chartered schools receive a lot of public funding, and on this basis, they must be accountable to the public on their performance (Miner, 44). In regard to this, scholar denotes that most chartered schools are able to meet the academic and educational requirement established by the state. This is because they have good educational facilities, and they are able to innovate by offering unique courses tailored to meet the academic needs of their various students. Glazerman (14) further denotes that by having the capability of limiting the admission of students, chartered schools will only admit students whom they have the capability of meeting their educational needs. Based on this fact, Glazerman (6) denotes that chartered schools are far much better than public schools. Miner (28) disagrees with this assertion, and he denotes that public schools have a variety of advantages over chartered schools. One advantage is that public schools in the United States are free of charge. This is because tax payers are responsible for educating all children within the state. Scholars denote that where tax payer’s money is always involved, there must be accountability (Miner, 31). On this basis, scholar denotes that public schools will thrive to work hard, for purposes of effectively teaching their students. In fact, scholar denotes that most prestigious universities normally admit students from public schools. This is because these students have better qualification, as compared to students in chartered schools. However, Glazerman (41) denotes that the idea that public schools are better, because they are supported by government funds is rather ambiguous. This is because even charted schools receive public funding, and hence they are held accountable for the performance of their students. In fact, Glazerman ( 13) denotes that if chartered schools are unable to perform, the government will close them immediately. This was the case in 2009, when state governments closed approximately 8% of chartered schools in the United States. Glazerman (12) therefore denotes that this makes chartered schools to be at par, with public schools in terms of accountability. Another reason as to why public schools are better than chartered schools is based on the notion that public schools have highly trained administrative officials, and school teachers. This is a very important factor in education, because teachers and administrators will manage to act professionally while taking care of the needs of students. This will in turn result to good academic performances from the students. In as much as this is an advantage, Glazerman (18) denotes that these highly trained education professionals are limited by their curriculum, and on this basis, they are not innovative, and therefore chartered schools are better, because they promote innovation. However, this position taken by Glazerman (10) is not correct, and this is because innovation without professionalism is not an asset to the education system. For innovation to be efficient there is a need of teachers to have knowledge and skills of developing and implementing a curriculum. Miner (23) denotes that this is one of the major skills that teachers in chartered schools lack. This is because chartered schools are always accused of hiring experts in education to develop their curriculum, as opposed to using their own teachers to develop the curriculum under consideration. Scholar further goes on to denote that in a public school, a child is able to acquire scholarships, throughout his or her schooling system, up to the college level (Glazerman, 19). This is a service that is not provided by charter schools. This is because they do not have the resources and financial capability of providing such kind of a service. It is important to understand that scholarships are useful, and this is because they are a motivating factor to students to work hard in class. It is also a form of social responsibility, whereby public schools help in catering for the needs of the needy. Another advantage that public schools have over chartered schools is the provision of transportation. This is useful, because it saves the time of students in reaching and going to school, hence students will have the capability of maximizing their academic time, for their own benefit (Glazerman, 8). In conclusion, the debate between chartered and private schools is still going on. Scholars are unable to identify which is better between the two systems of education. The reason behind this is that chartered schools serve different needs, when compared to public schools. However, their goals and objectives are the same. It is these goals and objectives that academic experts usually use to measure the performances of public schools, with that of the chartered schools. Furthermore, it is important to understand that most parents usually prefer taking their children to public schools, and this is because of the perceived notion that performances of students in public schools, is far much better than performances of students in chartered schools. To put this matter to rest, there is a need of the Federal and State government initiating a series of performance measurements, for purposes of identifying whether public schools are better performers than chartered schools. Works Cited: Alexander, Kern, and M. David Alexander. American public school law. 8th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2012. Print. Glazerman, Steven. "Random Assignment within Schools: Lessons Learned from the Teach America Experiment." Education Finance and Policy 57 (2012): 1-19. Print. Miner, Barbara. Lessons from the heartland: a turbulent half-century of public education in an iconic American city. New York: The New Press, 2013. Print. Read More