How do you feel about Charter schools? Do you agree with the idea of non-union positions? What are your experiences? Your friends experiences? Are these schools well-staffed and supported?

I am tired of hearing how much better Charter schools are.  No one mentions that they can and do expel children that the public schools cannot.  If a child swears or demonstrates physical violence then they can be expelled.  If my kindergarten (yes this happens even in kindergarten) classroom was void of these things then I could focus and my other students who are not demonstrating these behaviors could focus more on learning and less on on discipline too! 

I started my teaching career as a temporary teacher at a traditional high school in the area. It was a Renaissance school where 85% of the students qualify for free or reduced lunches. It was a tough year as I was a math major, not an ed major, and as such, I was required to take certification classes all year while teaching.

I learned so much and loved it there. Sadly, they lost two math units and couldn't hire me for this year. I went to the hiring expos and interviewed all summer. Having finished with good marks from a "tough" school, everyone said I'd have no problem getting a new position....they were wrong. The third week of July, I got a call from a charter school. I had heard so many negative things about them and, was, understandably, cautious. I had a good phone interview followed by a face to face interview the next day. I was offered a permanent teaching positon and I accepted.

Yes, I am a non-union employee, an at will employee, and an integral part of an active learning community. Yes, my school chooses its students by GPA and behavior, but we are a non-profit school that, until this year, was a Title I school, serving many socio-economically challenged children. The kids wear uniforms and we have high expectations for them. Do they all behave like ladies and gentlemen? Of course not! Do we have more parental involvement? Yes! And that certainly makes a difference.

Another big difference is that I can alter the pacing guide to suit the pace of my students. As a math teacher, I was appalled that I was supposed to just keep moving even though more than half of my students weren't ready for the next section after only 45 minutes of instruction, practice, and some homework problems. Math is a cummulative subject, so, if you miss one basic foundational area, your successive lessons are bound to fall.

I am also able to do more hands on activity with my students, which ensures that they make connections between the material and prior knowledge. I wish all schools would allow students more time to grasp concepts in one area so they can succeed in the rest of the material. I will not say that charter schools are better than public schools. I will say that I feel more respected and more appreciated at my charter school than I did at the public school.

In our area, charter schools are an elitist option where parents have created white, affluent enclaves much like private schools.  They generally don't include children of color, children in poverty, English language learners or any other "undesirables."  There was a big scandle at one  of the schools recently where non-Christians said they were being bullied, excluded and proselytised to.  In this area, charter schools have nothing to do with options for students in failing schools. 

That's one thing I really love about my school. We have a very diverse population with many backgrounds and ethnicities as well. The kids wear uniforms, so it doesn't matter their socio-economic status. Those who can't afford uniforms are given vouchers to purchase them. We have very affluent and very poor all in the same room and they get along great and focus on learning.

I needed a job, but would have had a problem even considering working for a for-profit school for the elite. I believe in what the school was intended to promote....a level playing field for all students in which they can succeed.