Public Education Vs Charter Schools Essay

540 Words2 Pages

In order to protect the existence of public education, must the charter school movement be rejected? According to Stan Karp, author of "Charter Schools and the Future of Public Education", the expansion of charter schools inhibits the development of a democratic system of public education. He asserts that charter schools function as a tool for business investment. Thus, they do not facilitate the development of an egalitarian institution which serves the common good. On the contrary, Jason Russell, author of "We Need More Urban Charter Schools, Not Fewer", asserts that charter schools operate to accommodate needs that public schools cannot satisfy. Consequently, they are vital institutions in urban communities, which often lack sufficient resources. While Karp and Russell both value the quality of schools, they disagree on how to ensure that students are attending quality schools.
In "Charter Schools and the Future of Public Education", Stan Karp asserts that charter schools hinder students access to equal education, as they produce tiers which benefit separate student populations. This highlights how Karp values …show more content…

Russell believes that charter schools are necessary to provide quality education to students who do not have access to satisfactory public schools. Thus, Karp places greater importance on the democratic mission of public education. In accordance with the democratic mission of public education, the existence of charter schools impairs equal access and opportunity. According to Russell, charter schools do not impair equal access and opportunity because they exist as an alternative for students and families who are dissatisfied with their public schools. Therefore, their shared value of quality education does not lead to any points of agreement between them. Rather, they look to different solutions to solve educational

Open Document