Indiana

Clam Up and Charter Up

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

In today?s episode of the battle over education reform, two of the state?s biggest teachers unions have scheduled rallies in Indianapolis, Anderson and East Chicago to protest what Indiana lawmakers are doing at the statehouse.

I think it?s rather ironic the Indiana Federation of Teachers and the State Teachers Association chose two school districts that the liberal think tank, Center for American Progress, have labeled as the worst in return on investment to the taxpayers.  That list also included Gary, but being on the streets of Gary after 5 p.m. could prove to be hazardous to your health.  And I also wouldn’t go investing my hard-earned money in Anderson schools either.

Now I don?t expect to hear much of anything new coming from the unions, however if they really wanted to have an impact, instead of their usual rhetoric regarding school reform and accountability they would offer up some ideas for the debate.  Actually, if they were really sharp, instead of coming across as educational obstructionists, they would pull their resources and create their own charter schools and show everyone else how it?s done.

Think about this for just a second.  The unions are notorious for saying that  ?charters take and resources away from public schools?, ?no school reform will matter unless you have parental involvement?, ?performance based evaluation is unfair.?  If these folks are so smart and know what works, because according to them no one else does, then the unions should be willing to put its money where its mouth is and start a school, owned and operated by teachers.

I did some research and it costs about $250,000 to start up a charter school.  The Unions spent more than $1 million in the last election cycle trying to help Democrats keep control of the Indiana House of Representatives.  The money they spent could have created four schools where they would have gotten to run the show.  And they could use any model they saw fit, they are teachers after all.

I personally would like to see them shoot for the inner-city charter boarding school model myself.  Since the parents are usually the problem, then take the kids out of that learning environment and put them someplace where they can get not only get proper instruction, but the necessary after school reinforcement and let the parents come visit on weekends.  That?s just one suggestion.  I?m sure the best and brightest minds of the union establishment can come up with something.

And if they really wanted to make the rest of us close our mouths and take notice the unions would only take the worst of the worst kids from failing schools and really put them in a structured environment.

Of course this all inquires a lot of work.  But think, the opportunities to not only prove Governor Mitch Daniels, Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Tony Bennett, and yours truly wrong should be more than worth it.  And you get the added bonus of educating kids who badly need it.  So, what do you say teachers unions?  You guys up for it or what?

And by the way, if you did form your own school, how would you deal with the union?  Just a thought.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on February 08, 2011 (boomark / email).