At the end of a podcast debating the fallout from a new NAACP proclamation calling for a moratorium on charter schools, Howard Fuller was asked to recommend one book to help people understand his position in favor of school choice. He selected The Education of Blacks in the South, 1860-1935.
James D. Anderson’s volume reveals the new definition of public education was also the original definition of public education in many parts of the South. Former slaves turned to private institutions — many of which they founded themselves — to educate their children. In so doing, they helped lay the groundwork for free, universal schooling throughout the region.
The book reinforces my colleague Ron Matus’ vital point: There’s a long history of educational institutions that were founded outside the control of school districts or government bureaucracies, but whose motives were far nobler than “privatization.”
Anderson’s research also holds another key lesson: All communities, but especially communities of oppressed people, ought to hold real power over their educational institutions.
Meanwhile…
A worthy response to the NAACP and the Movement for Black Lives. An open letter to the NAACP. A sympathetic explanation of their position from inside the charter school tent.
An online learning researcher has advice to improve virtual schooling:
It’s not difficult to see that what online schools often provide—content via a computer screen and network connection—only constitutes a small slice of what is needed for rich learning experiences. Operators and designers of online schools need to consider how the other aspects of rich learning can be facilitated.
Online courses appear to be less effective in getting the average student to learn and I suspect the problem is that teaching online is less able to create social communities and authentic relationships that are necessary to motivate students.
Ohio’s state auditor calls for a new approach to funding online schools, while a large virtual charter school battles the state over records.
Persistent poverty deepens educational disadvantages.
L.A. charter schools may serve larger proportions of students who speak languages other than English, and may serve them better than traditional schools.
Political science 101: Lessons from major cities on making school choice and other reforms politically sustainable. Greene says ed reformers need to go back to school.
Demand for Mississippi ESAs outstrips supply. Parent demand for NYC charter schools far exceeds the amount of space available.
Providing transportation at district-run schools of choice proves difficult
A clear majority of Miami-Dade students now exercise some form of school choice. Other districts are following suit.
Parents and students want more choice,” Trey Csar, president of the Jacksonville Public Education Fund, said. Csar said a growing number of parents are choosing their child’s school, especially during the transition from middle to high school.
“Everybody wants to be able to customize everything, from their shoes to their cell phone,” he said. “This is another way to customize education for a specific child.”
The St. Louis charter school funding lawsuit continues.
Tweets of the Week
WOW. What a statement from @LouisianaSupe. Standing up for low-income kids. Awesome. https://t.co/EczgQuc4wC @HowardLFuller @kportermagee
— Andy Smarick (@smarick) August 13, 2016
Low income and working class Black parents need more options than the traditional Public Educ System. I will never stop fighting for them.
— Howard Fuller (@HowardLFuller) August 11, 2016
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