Why Aren't They in Charters?

TN Parents often wonder why many of the people in politics who push for charter schools generally do not send their children to these same schools. We also wonder why many of these same people seem to think that for-profit charters—which further reduce a school’s transparency and a parent’s ability to participate in his/her child’s education—are a good idea. (For-profit charter schools answer to their investors, not parents.) Could it be that these charter supporters are concerned about sending their children to schools that could possibly:      

1. lock their young children in small, padded cells like this KIPP charter school in NY? (Click here for documentation.)
2. force their children to earn their desks, uniforms, and lockers like this KIPP charter school in Nashville? (Click here for documentation.) Click here for more information about KIPP’s disciplinary methods.  
3. spank their children in front of their peers in a weekly meeting called “Chapel” like this Memphis charter school? (Click here for documentation.)
4. require their children attend for 9.5 hours every day and attend extra school days like this Nashville charter school? (Click here for documentation.) On a side note, the children at this same charter school receive 541.5 additional instructional hours—almost 1/3 more—than traditional Nashville public schools. (This is the equivalent of an extra 77, 7-hour school days a year.) Which makes one wonder if their test score gains are due to the school itself, or to the longer hours the kids are attending. Or could it because they receive HUGE contributions from donors that increase their per pupil funding? (We have acquired the 990s for this charter school and we strongly suspect they are spending much more per pupil than the typical zoned school.) Stay tuned for more information...
5. kick their children out prior to testing like this KIPP school did in Nashville? (Click here for documentation.)
6. inflict extreme methods of discipline on their children just like this charter school chain. (Click here for documentation.) 

Why is it that charter schools are OK for “other kids”, but not for many of those who claim they are so wonderful? Perhaps it’s because many of these people would never dream of their children being treated in the ways listed above. Now ask yourself this: Would you be OK if we allowed these schools, that already push the limits on acceptable treatment of children, to make their primary motive profit over children?
 
If you believe that last question about profit motive is an overstatement, take a few minutes to look over a 2009 PowerPoint presentation entitled "Investing in Education: Where are opportunities and how you can capture them?" from a well-known education consulting firm called The Parthenon Group. (You can find the link to the presentation here.). On page 13 you will find a very disturbing quote: “All students are not created equal. Some are more profitable than others.” (The Parthenon Group has already provided consulting services in the Memphis and Nashville school districts, and is currently doing so for Knox Co. schools) Organizations such as the Parthenon Group ultimately see our children as profit-makers, not students, and that is highly disturbing.
 
TN Parents urge you to contact legislators ASAP and let them know that you are against for-profit charter schools in TN. (There is a big vote on For Profit Charters coming up on Tuesday, 2/11/14 in the House Education subcommittee.) Please click here for an email to legislators that you can send directly from the page.