Charter schools in New Orleans show huge improvements

[daishi5]

Craig234 has constantly said that people should read The Shock Doctrine, so I took it up, and I have yet to finish the book. However, the very first part of the book is about how Milton Friedman and the republicans used the devestation of Katrina to force charter schools onto the public. Using the "shock" to implement a whole systemic change.

I disagree with a few of the authors conclusions, namely that Milton Friedman who supported the charter schools did not send the hurricane, he just capitalized on it, which is very different from other examples she has given so far where the people first create the shock, then capitalize on it.

Well, I wanted to do a little follow up on New Orleans schools and find out, did this charter school policy help the students or not. I think the best measure of a good policy is, did it help the citizens?

We don't know everything yet, but NPR recently had a report on the schools.

Hard numbers show she has been successful. When Clark took over in 2001, Wright was still a traditional public school. School performance scores back then were lousy: around 25 out of a total score of 200 on state assessments. This year, schools are supposed to score at least 60 to be considered to be performing at an acceptable level.

It sounds like the schools have been a huge success.

NPR story

 

[Schadenfroh]

School performance scores back then were lousy: around 25 out of a total score of 200 on state assessments.

What percentage of the population that attended schools in those areas prior to Katrina have returned? I believe several have resettled outside of the city.

 

[PokerGuy]

What's this nonsense about "forcing" charter schools on the public? Did someone start forcing parents to send their kids to the charter schools, or did the public schools simply suck so bad that parents looked for viable alternatives and found them?

I'm not convinced on charter schools by the way, I just like the idea of options. I think all parents should have options as to where to have their kids educated (including home schooling), not just be limited to crappy public indoctrination camps ....errr... public schools.