Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumElizabeth Warren Tells Poor Parents to Fix Their Own Schools
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I had a lot of folks visit my office and say, I love my charter school, Warren said in the video about constituents who wanted her to support expanding the charter cap. My question always was, If you dont like your public school, whats going to happen to the rest of the children who are there? Because we dont have an obligation to just a handful of our children. We have an obligation to all of our children.
If you think your public school is not working, then go help your public school. Go help get more resources for it. Volunteer at your public schools. Help get the teachers and school bus drivers and cafeteria workers and the custodial staff and the support staff, help get them some support so they can do the work that needs to be done. You dont like the building? You think its old and decaying? Then get out there and push to get a new one.
http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/12/elizabeth-warren-charter-schools-unions-parents-choice-education.html?utm_campaign=nym&utm_medium=s1&utm_source=fb
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
SharonClark
(10,005 posts)and Jonathan Chait is in the bag for charter schools.
from Wiki, "Chait's spouse, Robin Chait, is an analyst and pro-charter school advocate at WestEd.[24] Chait has written extensively in support of charter schools.[25] [26] On January 14, 2019, Chait accused Senator Elizabeth Warren of selling out to "powerful interests" for her opposition to an initiative which would have expanded the number of charter schools in Massachusetts.[27]
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
DownriverDem
(6,206 posts)It's not what you say, but how you say it.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)as something they can (and should) do, at any time, not just when charter schools are creating a 90% left behind. I put the should in parentheses because when districts have a dynamic person like Warren involved things happen. When no leader arises from among the concerned parents they don't. Warren did not create the charter school situation, and she knows that lower-income black communities at least have plenty of dynamic, hard-working people. They're not shiftless and they're not helpless.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
DownriverDem
(6,206 posts)Poor folks are doing all they can to maintain.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
squirecam
(2,706 posts)Nt
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
liskddksil
(2,753 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Autumn
(44,762 posts)public schools work better and improve the schools by pushing for the needs of the schools and the employees.
Some charter school's require parents to volunteer a certain number of hours. Some, like one here expect the parents make big donations.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
squirecam
(2,706 posts)Its not their job to fix the public school. Its *her* job.
Before we spend billions on new free college, we should spend the $ to fix the poor schools we already have that are failing.
That was a poor answer by her.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
beachbumbob
(9,263 posts)see such excuses is a shame, I agree 100% with Warren.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
emmaverybo
(8,144 posts)I think her response ill-considered. I dont believe it even sounds like her.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)While the federal government plays a role in schools, it's the states and localities that are largely responsible for them.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
squirecam
(2,706 posts)Is going to spend $ for free college for everyone, is her participation limited to cutting the check? Or being involved in the rules and regulations of the program?
Schools in poor neighborhoods are failing. They need more $ and more help. It is unrealistic to expect parents to be able to get public schools more $. The problem has been getting worse over the years, not better.
Money needs to be given to our failing public schools and aid for HBC first. There is no reason to give free college away to families that can afford it while the free public education we already have has too many problems.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)secondary education, so the money for the program wouldn't give a U.S. Senator any oversight of the rules and regulations of local schools.
I'm not saying I agree with what Warren said or how she said it. I'm simply pointing out that she probably doesn't have the kind of control over local schools that you seem to think she does.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
squirecam
(2,706 posts)But my point is that she should forget spending on college for all, and spend the $ on the public education we already have that needs it. Along with new regulations to go with the funding.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
emmaverybo
(8,144 posts)and systems we have currently rather than new bureaucracy and spending. Priority should be on what needs fixing now and the strong infusion of money that will take, from infrastructure to protecting social security through improving our schools, even our EMS system. Also, please get in power first and .build consensus for plans.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
squirecam
(2,706 posts)Nt
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)Most public school parents work all day. They can't "volunteer" at their children's schools. They can't force the local school district to make needed changes or build new buildings.
Sounds like advice from a person of privilege to me. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think so.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
squirecam
(2,706 posts)Nt
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
jcgoldie
(11,584 posts)And your response is as ridiculous as the op.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
kcr
(15,300 posts)I think it's more privileged and elitist to think working families are too stupid to understand how important public schools and unions are. What the hell is happening to DU.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)The families are not stupid. They just can't do what she suggests, in most cases. They don't have the spare time required to show up and volunteer at their kids' public schools.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
kcr
(15,300 posts)Warren was suggesting no such thing. She was making the point that weakening public schools will only harm the children left behind. THe parents who can't put the time in won't get their kids in those schools. The charters won't let them in. Do you think advocating for charter schools doesn't take time? The OP twisted her meaning.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
BeyondGeography
(39,284 posts)Nice job.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
BlueMTexpat
(15,349 posts)you helping the charter school advocates smear EW, George!
I thought better of you.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
badhair77
(4,191 posts)Not all, but some online ones are run by companies that provide the testing programs for state assessments, everything from the prep materials, the test itself and remedial materials. Add in textbooks and its a monopoly. Then the staff consists of teachers whose pay is not comparable to those in brick and mortar schools but whose executive and administrative salaries and bonuses far outshine those in brick and mortar districts. Then there are perks like travel and expenses. A acquaintance retired from his executive position but continued on as a consultant and the paychecks kept coming. His bonus, a policy he established, provided a new heated in-ground pool with a nice pool house. All paid by the taxpayers.
Not all charters are equal. Some do a good job and are financially sound and responsible. Others not so good. They should all have oversight and thats not always happening. Im betting the ones associated with Betsy DeVos are pretty shady.
Ive strayed a bit it still comes back to involvement. It looks like Warren is advocating participation and oversight.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Otto Lidenbrock
(581 posts)come on folks
If you think your public school is not working, then go help your public school. Go help get more resources for it. Volunteer at your public schools. Help get the teachers and school bus drivers and cafeteria workers and the custodial staff and the support staff, help get them some support so they can do the work that needs to be done. You dont like the building? You think its old and decaying? Then get out there and push to get a new one.
that to me clearly sounds like a rallying cry for activism in getting leaders to pay attention and do their jobs. public pressure is an important aspect of holding people in power accountable.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
squirecam
(2,706 posts)Because go help your public school to a single parent working two jobs is a great plan!
At best its tone deaf elitism.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ChubbyStar
(3,191 posts)I am, and I have volunteered and pushed for change. With your support of Bloomberg in many posts this morning I think you sound like an elitist not Warren. Just saying.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
squirecam
(2,706 posts)And where have I supported Bloomberg? Tell me where I support his candidacy, or what he said.
Because Ive said repeatedly that he was wrong.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)Click-bait headlines, indeed...
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
pansypoo53219
(20,906 posts)yes. IMPROVE public schools. IMPROVE FUNDING.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
BeckyDem
(8,361 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
squirecam
(2,706 posts)Its a bad idea to tell hardworking poor people they are on their own to fix bad schools.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)You're dead wrong on this attack George. Warren took a correct stance, improve schools that HAVE to accept any kid that comes to their door, not divert public money to schools that select kids that have supportive and motivated relatives backing their education.
You seem ok with warehousing kids who are unlucky enough to have parents that don't really care if they get a sound education, or who send their kids to school to be babysat.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LisaM
(27,762 posts)I think you should fix it.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
jcgoldie
(11,584 posts)Terrible premise and terrible post George. I sort of thought Democrats favored public education.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
crazytown
(7,277 posts)replete with click bait headline? Nice OP George
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
dsc
(52,130 posts)given that charter schools are notorious for requiring parents to volunteer at the school.
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/pembroke-pines/fl-reg-pines-volunteer-hours-20180227-story.html
I admit I can't find any of Massachusetts charter schools requiring this, but there are a whole bunch that have been doing so.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-charters-parents/charter-schools-put-parents-to-the-test-idUSBRE91E0HR20130215
My favorite part of the story linked above
Pacific Collegiate School, a top-ranked charter in Santa Cruz, California, requires parents to sign a Commitment to Excellence acknowledging that the school will ask for a $3,000 donation and push for 100 percent compliance. In Arizona, the Great Hearts Academy network asks parents at most of its charter schools - all but the two campuses with the greatest concentration of low-income families - for $1,500 donations.
Administrators at both schools said they make clear contributions are voluntary, as required by state law.
Theyre not voluntary, however, at Cambridge Lakes Charter School in Pingree Grove, Illinois. Families pay registration fees of $210 to $225 per student; on top of that, the parent handbook informs them they must invest in Northern Kane Educational Corp., which built the school, or risk losing their childs seat. The minimum investment is $120 a year - or families can pay $5,000 for a lifetime stake.
Northern Kane CEO Larry Fuhrer said the requirement was put into place at the request of investors who backed the schools bonds. He acknowledged it could be a minor barrier to enrollment, but said: Thats the nature of the free market.
https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-charter-schools-volunteer-20141120-story.html
Scores of California charter schools require parents to volunteer as a condition for their childs enrollment in violation of state law, according to a report by a civil rights organization.
Public Advocates, a California nonprofit law firm and advocacy group, surveyed about half of the states 1,100 charter schools, and found that about a third of those required parents to work at the school in return for their childs enrollment. Some forced parents to pay fees in lieu of working.
In Los Angeles, the group found that parents at Academia Moderna in Walnut Park, which is overseen by the Los Angeles Unified School District, must volunteer 20 hours per family, and that those who fail to fulfill that requirement could be at risk of losing their childs spot the following year.
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Again, it is really rich to see Mr. Chait, whose wife makes her living from these fraud factories, excoriate Senator Warren for suggesting what these schools literally require. Charter schools get to selected their students (at least at the back end by expelling those that don't perform), get to require parents to volunteer, and still often do no better than the public schools in their area.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
kcr
(15,300 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Garrett78
(10,721 posts)...having kids move to charter schools instead. She's saying it's better to advocate for improvements to public schools, and she's not saying the federal government doesn't have a role to play in supporting public schools. She's simply encouraging grassroots involvement.
The author of the piece is attacking her for not wanting to give up on public schools in favor of charter schools (while spinning that as an act of cruelty).
And people in this thread seem to be attacking her for saying something she didn't say.
Seems like par for the course.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Response to George II (Original post)
Post removed
George II
(67,782 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
marble falls
(56,359 posts)same people, as well as getting new crosswalks and stop lights or garbage removal and vacant lot clearing.
The implication that the poor just sit there and take it doing nothing is wrong and wrong minded. It implies a complacency to bad circumstances that just is not true.
The only thing they lack is access to the money to get it done faster.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)system that makes our inner city schools so broken. And they work long hours at low paying jobs and yet they still address truth to power. I am in awe of these women and men who do this. What I can do is support candidates that support them and their children, not criticize them for what "I think" they should be doing and are not.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden