For background and the ruling, visit the AJC Get Schooled Blog (click the link for the story).
Though I'm not a lawyer, I think that this was probably the right decision, legally-speaking. Because I've been following the story for awhile, I've been waiting for this ruling to happen: Charter School Commission is unconstitutional. If I were running on pure logic, I would say that what happened today was good. It's done and over with. All parties involved can just move on. The problem is I'm not running on pure logic, here, which makes me uncomfortable. My day, since hearing the ruling, has been uncomfortable. Here's why.
In my work as an intern, I've seen behind the curtains of one of these schools. I've seen the daily operations, I've worked with the teachers, and most importantly, I've worked with the students. Sure, it seems like a normal school. A visitor just dropping in to see what the fuss is about would complain that nothing seems out of the ordinary. She would ask what was so special about this place.
On a normal day, my answer would be a quick, curt shrug as I run pass the visitor. However, catch me in a reflective mode, and... I still would not know how to respond properly. I really don't know what is so special about this school. I can't pinpoint it. However, ask me about my students and I'd tell you stories about conversations we have during rare free minutes. (My favorite: Their warning to me about becoming a teacher.) Or I might tell you about a day where they rocked the lesson. Or I might tell you about the assembly from last week, where I saw one of the best poets I've have ever had the pleasure of listening to and watching. And she was only in the seventh grade!
As I typed that, I smiled as I remember all of the...awesomeness I've experienced over the past year in this internship. Make no mistake though, it was not easy experiencing all this. I've experienced many hardships in this job, and I'm just an intern. However, I would and will be doing it again and again just to see how far my students have gone in only a year. Not only that, I would (and will) do it again, so they can see how far they have gone. What is really awesome is that they want to keep going! I didn't start thinking about college seriously until high school. (Not to mention, that I recently figured out what I'm going to do with life!) To me, that's priceless.
As a result, logic does not win today.I'm uncomfortable, because I'm truly saddened by today's news. I'm sad for my students and those at the other charters affected. I wouldn't necessarily consider myself a proponent of charters, though I don't consider myself an opponent. They all aren't magic pills that will cure all the evils in education. However, for the ones that are cure for the common school for the students and their parents that choose to send them, why not fund them so that they can exist? Perhaps school systems can collaborate with them instead of compete with them, so everyone can improve.
Long-term, who knows what will happen to the charters affected and their students? I don't, but I know this. I support whatever works in favor of my kids. This ruling ruled against my kids. You do the logic.
Though I'm not a lawyer, I think that this was probably the right decision, legally-speaking. Because I've been following the story for awhile, I've been waiting for this ruling to happen: Charter School Commission is unconstitutional. If I were running on pure logic, I would say that what happened today was good. It's done and over with. All parties involved can just move on. The problem is I'm not running on pure logic, here, which makes me uncomfortable. My day, since hearing the ruling, has been uncomfortable. Here's why.
In my work as an intern, I've seen behind the curtains of one of these schools. I've seen the daily operations, I've worked with the teachers, and most importantly, I've worked with the students. Sure, it seems like a normal school. A visitor just dropping in to see what the fuss is about would complain that nothing seems out of the ordinary. She would ask what was so special about this place.
On a normal day, my answer would be a quick, curt shrug as I run pass the visitor. However, catch me in a reflective mode, and... I still would not know how to respond properly. I really don't know what is so special about this school. I can't pinpoint it. However, ask me about my students and I'd tell you stories about conversations we have during rare free minutes. (My favorite: Their warning to me about becoming a teacher.) Or I might tell you about a day where they rocked the lesson. Or I might tell you about the assembly from last week, where I saw one of the best poets I've have ever had the pleasure of listening to and watching. And she was only in the seventh grade!
As I typed that, I smiled as I remember all of the...awesomeness I've experienced over the past year in this internship. Make no mistake though, it was not easy experiencing all this. I've experienced many hardships in this job, and I'm just an intern. However, I would and will be doing it again and again just to see how far my students have gone in only a year. Not only that, I would (and will) do it again, so they can see how far they have gone. What is really awesome is that they want to keep going! I didn't start thinking about college seriously until high school. (Not to mention, that I recently figured out what I'm going to do with life!) To me, that's priceless.
As a result, logic does not win today.I'm uncomfortable, because I'm truly saddened by today's news. I'm sad for my students and those at the other charters affected. I wouldn't necessarily consider myself a proponent of charters, though I don't consider myself an opponent. They all aren't magic pills that will cure all the evils in education. However, for the ones that are cure for the common school for the students and their parents that choose to send them, why not fund them so that they can exist? Perhaps school systems can collaborate with them instead of compete with them, so everyone can improve.
Long-term, who knows what will happen to the charters affected and their students? I don't, but I know this. I support whatever works in favor of my kids. This ruling ruled against my kids. You do the logic.
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