Comments on: Answering Charter School Critics

By: Michael Dowling

Michael Dowling — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 21:41:27 +0000

I seems we are heading toward two school systems. We can barely support one system that offers a basic education to NC children. How can we afford to support two systems?

We should not divide resources for those few wealthy folks who want the middle class to bear the burden for their children. If you don’t like the public schools send your children to private schools, pay for it and stop trying to create schools to your particular needs paid for by NC taxpayers.

By: Tom Glendinning

Tom Glendinning — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 17:29:05 +0000

I am anxious to see how our new schools, one charter and one public, perform. The public school is a middle school which cost us over $ 12 million to build. The charter cost one third of that. Both are within one mile of each other.
I see a major problem with the DPI standards for public school construction and the amount of capital required. Years ago, our middle school were not required to have athletic fields and frills built into the new middle school. The new one in Chatham County has everything.
Our eastern high school did not have completed athletic fields when it was built. Over time, the system and support organizations finished that work.
While athletics are a valuable part of education, and frills are nice, forcing taxpayers to fund expensive construction will not improve teacher’s attitudes or the quality of education.

By: G H Wilson

G H Wilson — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:30:08 +0000

Fact only 17 % of charter schools nationwide preform better than public schools according to a study by Stanford University .Are we going to spend money on something that is 83 % no better or worse than we already have .

Your fact on local dollars are untrue . Fund balance is tapped for charters if the public schools use it for their current expense funing even though the charters kids have already had a portion of that already ..

All funding that runs through public schools are subject to charter schools even though they have already had the allocation of ADM funding from local , state and federal funds . Are we suppose to fund these students better than public schools ?

By: Andrea McSwain

Andrea McSwain — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:05:03 +0000

My grandchildren have had experience with both our county school system and a charter school. Their education at the charter school is far superior by comparison. They are excelling in all areas, and their teachers are very enthusiastic about teaching and actually love their jobs. The children have many opportunities to express themselves and explore all possibilities for college entry and a life’s work.

One teacher in the county school system made the comment to me when I was volunteering at the school that she did not have time to teach basic courses because of all the interruptions. Kids were constantly being pulled out of class for other activities.

My granchildren’s parents and we as the grandparents find charter schools to be a wonderful option and opportunity for dissatisfied parents with the usual public school systems.