Some say that instead of automatically dumping money into public schools parents should be given the money and allowed to spend it on any school or other education facility that they think might work for their child or children.
Okay, but…
For many of my students there are no parents to make those choices.
For many of my students the parents are working two or three jobs to get by and don’t have the time to educate themselves about the options, much less attend meetings or other appointments.
For many students, some of them mine, the lack of transportation limits their choices more than the lack of options.
The parents of some of my students show up for every parent/teacher meeting…drunk…or stoned.
For many of my students their parental inability to read English, or in some cases any language, limits access to information necessary to know of options and make informed choices.
School choice does not help the student who comes to class hungry, abused or unloved.
School choice does not change the housing situation of students who can’t find a quiet room or flat space to do their homework on.
School choice does not help the student who goes home and has to care for infants or younger siblings because mom is working a night shift. Or out with her boyfriend.
School choice might be the answer for some people in some situations somewhere, but my students need a whole lot more than choice to make their lives succeed.
Tagged: Education reform, equity, Family, Parent, Public school, School Choice, student
