For better education

A letter recently was published claiming that charter schools were a racist attempt by white elites to use tax dollars to educate their children while harming the poor. If this is so, then they are going about it the wrong way.

Stanford University did a multi-year study of charter schools and showed that “learning gains for charter school students are larger by significant amounts for black, Hispanic, low-income, and special education students in both math and reading.” At the same time, white students did worse in both math and reading while attending charter schools than in public schools, and Native Americans did worse in math, but showed no change in reading than they did in public schools.

According to the study, white students do better in traditional public schools; thus, if “elite” white people are making charter schools to help their children get a better education while hurting the poor, they are fools.

The U.S. Department of Education published several studies, all showing the same thing. As areas get more charter schools, the traditional public schools get better. Because they have competition, public schools make changes and improvements which result in students learning more and getting a better education.

Therefore, charter schools tend to be better for non-white students that enroll in them. They also, because of competition, improve the quality of education for all of the students in the area that do not attend the charter schools. This results in a better education for all students, not just the ones in charter school.

Given the options—improve education for all, or keep the status quo—I say bring in the charter schools. Increase competition, make the public schools improve themselves. Better education for all.

JASON LAMBERT

Cabot