[gleeaikin]

I just spent some time at Google, and apparently what she tried to do in Detroit has failed miserably. One article compared what was done there with success in New Orleans, wherein there is some kind of central mechanism for dealing with conflict issues. Also she seems to have been strong for Common Core, although she now says she is not. While there a lot of charter schools and private schools there are even more public schools, especially in large cities. Since she never has gone to a public school, and I’ll bet she never sent her kids to one she will have no idea how to help public schools. I know the goal is to get rid of public schools, but Trump got elected on helping the little guy and the neglected, and this is just going to create even more neglect.

In addition a current problem with public schools, and probably many charter schools is a serious lack of good vocational training for modern jobs. Last night I spoke with a large city government employment services employee who was attending a meeting about a large development project. I asked if the schools in that city were teaching electrical to the point where a graduate could take the Journeyman’s exam. He said they did not and that was a big problem. He said they didn’t even have apprentice level training. He called it pre-apprentice teaching and said he would really like to see a big change. Common Core is aimed at the College oriented, but lots of work is not of that type and if Trump is bringing back factories, schools should also be teaching those relevant skills.

[grania]

I agree with you. It used to be that all local public schools had vocational courses that prepared students with life and job skills. With the economy and education predominantly on the local level, the vast majority of graduates were ready to become productive citizens. And with less regulation, fairer competition, and more respect for the accomplishments of others, it was taken almost for granted that anyone who developed the skills for which they had aptitude would make a living wage and look forward to a life in a safe, stable environment.

The charter school model never aspired to that. At the onset their results were skewed because they got to select their students, so there was little or no need to educate special needs or low ability students. Extra curricular? In so many places charter school students can do those things in their local schools, at public expense. Meanwhile, charter schools (here in OH anyway) by law take more money per-student than what the public school spends on their education.

I don't think anyone is on the side of what it takes to improve public education.