Why Do Parents Prefer Charter Schools - Research Paper Example

Introduction An increase in the number of charter schools over the recent years shows importance of these schools in the education system. More parents favour charter schools than they do favour public schools and several factors explain this. Many Americans, for example, opt for charter schools because the schools give their children better education compared to public schools (Bushaw & Lopez, 2013) and the following section concentrates on factors that motivate parents to take their children to charter schools. Positives of why parents put their students in charter schools Better Connection Teachers in some charter schools visit the families of the students they should teach before meeting them in a classroom setting. KIPP Philadelphia charter school gives a good example (Rix, 2012). This act improves the level of trust between the parents, children, and the teachers. Because of such visits, students feel free during their classes, and ask questions without fear as they see the teacher as a friend. This makes it easier for teachers to manage the students, and keep them on track during the entire schooling period. Parents also get to talk to the teachers when they visit the home and this creates a good relationship between the teachers and the parents. It also provides a platform for the parents to explain any peculiar traits in their children that may require teachers’ special attention. Consequently, teachers develop an understanding of the children they will be dealing with and this enables them to handle the students accordingly, thus, making schooling a wonderful experience for all parties involved. The parents develop a mentality that assures them that their children get the best attention in school, which contributes greatly to their choice of charter schools. Ample Facilities Bushaw and Lopez (2013) further note that charter schools provide children with ample space for school activities, unlike public schools that face the problem of overcrowding. Charter schools’ classrooms, for example, accommodate a considerable number of students per class. This gives the students an opportunity to relate freely and actively with their teachers. Asking questions becomes easier for the students, and teachers get an opportunity to clarify certain concepts to individual students. These schools also equip their laboratories adequately, thus ensuring that students do not share the equipment. This enhances their practical skills as each of the students gets an opportunity to do the experiments personally. Other amenities, such as, dining rooms, and the library provide students in charter schools with a favourable environment. The dining rooms have the capacity to accommodate the students comfortably during meals. Accessing the library also becomes quite easy as the facility accommodates the students adequately. More to these, the schools stock the library with sufficient materials, which enables the students to study extensively. The availability of such conditions makes schooling an exciting opportunity for most students, because they experience lower levels of stress while at school. Consequently, the students give a positive report to their parents, which encourage parents to strive to educate their children in charter schools. Technological Advancements Given that change defines the modern world, adapting to change becomes inevitable for one to cope in their respective environment. Recent technological advancements provide parents with an opportunity to educate their children from home. The online charter school as discussed by Marsh, Carr-Chellman, and Sockman, (2009) illustrate one of the ways that technology can promote education. The cyber charter schools allow children to study from home. The students receive maximum attention from their teachers who guide them via the internet. More to this, children with disabilities that hinder them from attending classes can undertake an education like any other child. This allows customization of individual needs, which encourage parents with disabled kids to adopt the virtual system. The system also provides a bar that measures the progress made by the student. It motivates the child to compete against it, thus keeping the child motivated. The online schools also promote the peace of mind of the concerned parents. Studying from home ensures a greater level of safety for the kids, compared to the risks associated with travelling, and studying in a school setting. Therefore, the parents do not worry about the safety of their children. Parents in remote areas also benefit from such institutions, given that their children can attend school from home, hence saving them the travelling expenses. In addition, the online charter schools provide the parents with a lot of satisfaction. They respond promptly to their queries, allow them to connect freely with the teachers who teach their children, and interact freely with other parents using the system. These factors and the fact that the schools do not give them an additional financial burden as they pay for them through their taxes promotes the choice of the schools. Building a Strong Competitive Edge Globalization gives individuals an opportunity to transverse the entire world. People can now search for jobs in foreign countries, if they offer greener pastures. Consequently, being widely knowledgeable gives one a better competitive edge, compared to those limited in knowledge. Some charter schools work on making their students as competitive as possible. The flexibility presented by charter schools gives the community a platform for increased innovation. The students can engage in activities that sharpen their entrepreneurial skills, as well as leadership skills in a better way, compared to traditional schools. The Ben Gamla charter school gives a perfect example (Church, Choice, and Charters, 2009). It is located in Florida, and offers a unique education to the residents. Teaching Hebrew in the school prepares students in Hollywood, Florida to gain extensive Hebrew knowledge, which makes them competitive in careers that require them to be conversant with the language. The students also get to be exposed to different cultures, other than theirs, which promotes their cultural diversity. Such education does not exist in most public schools as the schools concentrate on teaching the common languages alone. However, parents who wish to boost the ability of their children to compete better in the global world choose to enrol them in charter schools. The extra education provided by the schools allows parents to give their children a distinction from the rest of the world, hence increasing their chances of success in their future lives. Conclusion Conclusively, charter schools give parents a perfect alternative to the traditional schooling system. They provide extensive benefits that bring a lot of joy to parents as they allow them to make choices that impact positively on the well-being of their children. They make life easier for parents, and promote the competitiveness of their children. Consequently, more charter schools should be instituted, and they should continue to offer dynamic services that make them attractive compared to other education systems. References Bushaw, W. J., & Lopez, S. J. (2013). Which way do we go?. Phi Delta Kappan, 95(1), 9-25. Retrieved from < http://eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=1fee45a6-197b-4a6d-ad41-487c1c77c1ce%40sessionmgr4005&vid=1&hid=4105> Church, Choice, and Charters: A New Wrinkle for Public Education?. (2009). Harvard Law Review, 1221750. Retrieved from < http://eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=bb869c58-29d5-4b59-871b-cc98782cd558%40sessionmgr4002&vid=1&hid=4105> Marsh, R. M., Carr-Chellman, A. A., & Sockman, B. R. (2009). Selecting Silicon: Why Parents Choose Cyber charter Schools. Techtrends: Linking Research & Practice To Improve Learning, 53(4), 32-36. Retrieved from < http://eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=afdbd2d3-e94d-42a6-bcc1-88d84d290870%40sessionmgr4002&vid=1&hid=4105> Rix, K. (2012). Lessons from Charter Schools. Instructor, 121(4), 33-34,. Retrieved from < http://eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=6cd456b3-a0e4-4778-acda-f4d2290d581d%40sessionmgr4003&vid=1&hid=4105> Read More