Third Alternative Journal Response

For my third alternative journal response assignment, I read two articles addressing the issue of school choice.

The first article was titled, "Multiple Choice: For Profit Schools" written by Rebecca Leung for ABC News; 10/12/98.

This article focused on a San Diego public school with a history of being a "troubled school." After two years of being operated by the Edison Project, parents are now "fighting" to get their children enrolled at the Feaster-Edison Charter School.

At a time when many school districts are cutting the "non-essential" core courses, Edison run schools are attracting students by providing an art, music, and world language curriculum in addition to the core academic courses.

This article emphasizes Edison's technological programs which far exceed other district schools and is an added benefit to families enrolling their children at the Edison run school. Edison provides a computer to every home of students in grades 4-6. Students receive advanced computer training in technological research, databases, spreadsheets, and the Internet.

The parents in this San Diego school district were also attracted to the Edison school because it continued to offer bilingual education even after the passage of a state law ending bilingual education in public schools. The school's bilingual educational programing includes a daily English and Spanish morning news program written and broadcasted by students.

The article quotes the school's principal Catherine Rodriquez, who was principal before Edison, as crediting Edison's curriculum and educational philosophy with turning the school around. According to Rodriquez, the school now has, "...parents who want to get into the school instead of those who want to get out."

The second article I read is a commentary titled, "School choice eventually will win the day" written by LA Times columnist Cal Thomas. It appeared in the Duluth-News Tribune on May 5,1999.

According to Thomas, the public education system has especially failed minority students by failing to teach basic educational and moral skills they need to make for a productive life. Thomas claims that by offering school choice, students show improved achievement in both math and reading over students whose parents do not have school choice options.

As a parent, I would agree with the claims put forth in both articles. My children in grades 1,2, and 6 attend Edison run schools. I enjoy a sense of ownership and investment in my children's schooling that was absent in previous schools they attended. My imput is sought after and valued.

As students, my children have improved and excelled beyond even a mother's expectations. They are eager and willing learnings. They too feel a sense of ownership and investment in their school.

It is unfortunate that union-driven school boards and law makers are afraid of such innovative and successful programs such as the Edison model. I would agree with Cal Thomas' summation with regards to the NEA's position on school choice. He ponders how an organization that, "reularly passes prochoice resolutions on abortion,vehemently opposes choice on education." He is so right in that public education has put itself ahead of the best interests of parents and children in a shameless pursuit of self-preservation, not child education.

-- Anonymous, May 12, 1999

Answers

Hey wait a minute Marcia, Cal Thomass article seems to be way off base. Did you quote Thomas correctly that public education has failed students because it has failed to teach moral skills? Did Thomass claims ring true at Duluth Elision? He said schools choice students show improved achievement in both Reading and Math. How did Edisons test scores on the Basic Standards Test compare to Duluth Public Schools this year? Had Elision out scored public schools students you know it would have made Front page news. This upsets me. Your comments and Thomas article made too many shameless statements in a pursuit to make the point for school choice. Dont get me wrong, school choice may be a very good thing, but I think is very wrong to always trash public education to try to prove the point that the other is the best. My oldest daughter graduated from a private high school in Duluth and my youngest daughter now attends a public high school. Both have excelled academically, socially, and morally. Just my point of view.

-- Anonymous, May 22, 1999