Thanks to Jeanne Massey for her detailed response to my concern about the possibility that charter schools might have a structural advantage over the public school system regarding challenges to educability. I'm reassured in that the percent students of color and percent students living in poverty in charter schools as Jeanne detailed them suggest a playing field comparable to those of the public school system. Probably higher percentages in the charter schools as she has enumerated them. While there may be additional divergences related to special needs students and issues created by language barriers, it strikes me as credible that properly supervised charter schools are a positive influence on our educational system.
I should explain that my beginnings in Minneapolis date back to 1969 and the brief existence of the Phoenix School on the West Bank above Jonah's Whale, roughly across from the then location of the Electric Fetus on Cedar Ave. Ah, the halcyon days of yore. There were several "free schools" at the time and they all had a running battle with the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul over code enforcement and other questions of legitimacy. Within a fairly short time, however, the initiatives that characterized the free school movement and many of the free school teachers themselves, for that matter, were absorbed into alternative education locations and offerings in the public school systems. This is a long time ago now and I'm painting in broad strokes but I'll never forget how rewarding it was to convey the thrill of learning and creative expression to kids who had been shutting down in the public school system for various reasons not the least of which had to do with social stigma connected to welfare status. I didn't continue in this experiential vein in the long ago, partly because the Phoenix School was closed down and partly because I found a new leadership challenge in the affairs of the Nicollet Island -East Bank Urban Renewal Area. I was also sliding down the slippery slopes of chemical dependency during those years, so small wonder that I got out of touch with the nature of alternative pedagogy later in the 1970s and early 1980s. Well, that was then and now I am glad to hear that there is a robust process in place that can, I should think, augment the public school system in constructive ways. No doubt there are able charter school spokespeople better equipped than I to flesh out this sentiment. Tony Scallon comes to mind, for example, as also the Little Red School House of the 1970s and a Native American charter school here after the turn of the century with which I've had a slender connection. Fred Markus, West Phillips, old ward 8-1, new ward 6-7 (for now) --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.537 / Virus Database: 332 - Release Date: 11/6/2003 REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
