Reply to JLG vs McDuffie on public schools

Forum Index » DC Public and Public Charter Schools

Reply to "JLG vs McDuffie on public schools"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous]This thread is reminding me of what I observe, from one perspective about charters: have-it-my-way autonomy.

I think charters have a mode of interacting with DC government that rubs a lot of people the wrong way.

They're all prepared to engage with government about distribution of funds for all sorts of purposes but not for oversight of how it is spent.

I think there are some who want to harm charters but I expect most just want them to succeed without making the success of DCPS more difficult.

But there is a strong resistance to any kind of government interaction at all at charters, despite a history of malfeasance and obfuscation.

The sector is relatively mature. We aren't in a charter expansion era. We aren't in an era where charters could disappear either - if we didn't have them, we wouldn't serve most students east of Rock Creek Park, and many of our wannabe suburbanites would buy their subarus and move to Fairfax.

I think at this point more expectations of transparency and oversight are appropriate. And I am happy that Lewis George is willing to do it.

And for those who want to go the whatabout route, yes, we should all want an accountable DCPS, which has shenanigans. Same with DGS, same with DC Water, same with the DC lottery, same with everybody who spends our cash.

Charter autonomy is meant to prevent rigidity in staffing and curriculum and support creativity. Not avoid accountability for building acquisition and management or ridiculous leadership salaries.

Again, I think a lot of people are coming at Lewis George based on a concern about freedom from accountability or attack (that they call autonomy) that is no longer well-founded based on their specific history in the city.

Don't ask her to not ask questions about charters. Ask her to ask the right questions.

And McDuffie, ask him about GDS.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics