Saturday, June 19, 2010

Dr. Caroline Hoxby on charter schools

Dr. Caroline Hoxby is a Professor of Economics at Stanford and one of the leading researchers on charter schools. Here is an interview with her on how charter schools work.





She published a study recently on the success of charter schools in Harlem. I'm going to spend some time on charter schools this summer as the media in Mississippi has never covered charter schools. There is a great deal of ignorance about charter schools and much misinformation put out by the NAACP and the teachers unions.

Mississippians need to realize one crucial fact: WE ARE A POOR STATE. That means for the foreseeable future, we are going to have a limited amount of resources and a monumental task in educating our children. If anyone thinks we will be able to afford paying teachers an average salary of $45,000 a year and have classroom sizes of fifteen students, give me the drugs he is taking. I think of the education lobby in Mississippi as the Redcoats in the French and Indian Wars. The Redcoats would line up in the forest in their bright red uniforms, march forward in tight but pretty formations, while the enemy, ignorance and illiteracy, massacre them as they refuse to change or adapt to reality.

When you have fewer resources and don't have much time, that means you have to experiment and come up with solutions that make better use of what money you do have. Something I'm not seeing in our public schools. Charter schools are one way of using our money more smartly and should be looked at more closely. Those who argue they are racist and a means for perpetuating Mississippi's past legacy of segregation are liars and are only interested in maintaining the status quo that serves them so well. You know the types. They don't care if the ship is sinking as long as they are captain of the ship, everyone else be damned. Charter schools are one way of moving Mississippi forward - If we have the courage to use them.

Posted by Kingfish at 8:37 AM

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree with efficient use of resources and that charter schools will be a huge help to capable students with supportive parents.

Until we FACE that schools cannot educate AND offer therapy AND aid the handicapped but are to educate those who are willing and able to learn, we'll not get this right.

A teacher who teaches class of children with behavior problems or limited capabilities cannot be expected to get the same test results as a teacher with gifted students. Yet THAT is exactly what we expect.

We are sacrificing the education of our brightest children to teach to the weakness child in the class.

Every other country in the modern world is identifying and supporting their brightest and most talented children EARLY.

Worse,is that being bright for a child in a class of below average children in the US becomes a negative as the social pressure is to CONFORM.

Being bright and well educated is , less face it, resented rather than admired in the US. We are far more attracted to a pretty face and money. We want to elect leaders that we'd like to have a beer with and be certain they didn't make us feel inadequate while we bend elbows.

We are perfectly willing to let uneducated people with terrible personal histories dictate public opinion along with pretty talking heads. We NEVER bother to wonder if they EVER did homework on this or ANY subject of the moment as long as they SOUND good...which is no more than reading from a prompter.

We don't want anyone to make us feel stupid even if that means we STAY stupid ourselves . And,God forbid our children should be smarter than we are as they might not respect or admire us as much if they ever realize we aren't omnipotent.

.

June 19, 2010 at 11:22 AM
Anonymous said...

Well said. We spend a small fortune to send our kids to a private school that is 180 degrees from the typical MS public school.

That being said, my kids are as baffled as I am that there are parents who spend the same amount who tolerate (or are unaware of) their kids bringing home Ds and Fs. We check every single piece of homework they bring home, help where necessary, and are happy they are doing well there. I think the secret to the success of charter schools is the motivation of those parents who seek them out for their kids.

June 19, 2010 at 3:13 PM
Anonymous said...

Charter schools will never happen as long as there are morons such as this in the legislature.
See this link, 14 paragraphs into article, for Rep. Willie Perkins intelligent comments about education and parental choice of educations for their child:
http://gwcommonwealth.com/articles/2010/06/17/news/top_stories/06172010news01.txt
This link is the editor's take on Willie's superior IQ and thought processes:
http://gwcommonwealth.com/articles/2010/06/18/opinion/editorials/06182010edit1.txt

June 19, 2010 at 3:38 PM

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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).

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Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.

In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

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Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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