Discusses the possibility that the public for public education might be better conceptualized as "publics." Introduces the notion of educational publics as an alternative to thinking about the taxpayers, parents, and community members served by government-run schools as one, monolithic public sphere. Suggests designing charter school laws as if…

Two brief papers examine the "vanguard college" proposal, postsecondary education concept that parallels the charter school movement for K-12 education. Vanguard colleges would agree to exceed state (Massachusetts) performance standards in exchange for greater operational freedom, fiscal autonomy, and faculty benefits. Guidelines focus…

Throughout her 10-year teaching career, Charlene Crowe was concerned that the minds, spirits, and physical needs of indigenous children were not being addressed, let alone embraced, through the public school system in Canada. In the fall of 1996, Charlene shared her vision for a better educational approach with two aboriginal Elders. Her vision…

There has been much hoopla surrounding the notion that charter schools may be a viable option for urban youth. However, the existing information on this issue may be easily dissimulated considering less sloganeering about charter school theories and more research on how charter schools enhance the academic experience of the students they serve are…

After the quality of a school's teachers, the quality of a school's leaders is the most influential school-based factor affecting student learning, and research indicates that leadership impacts student achievement the most in academic settings serving students who traditionally have not done well in school. In an effort to provide high-quality…

John Chubb, in his November 1998 "Kappan" article, does not dispute the accuracy of the author's observations about the Boston Renaissance Charter School. It was the author's job (as a journalist) to report widely held descriptions of controversial, harsh disciplinary practices, not present a story Chubb would find favorable. Chubb…

During its 1993 session, the Michigan legislature enacted two statutes for the organization and operation of public school academies, Michigan's name for charter schools. A circuit court judge declared the charter schools were unconstitutional. In response, the legislature amended its original enactment. Traces the short but curious history of…

Edith Graybill, English instructor at the Henry Ford Academy in Dearborn, Michigan, speaks about her school's English language arts curriculum, the influence of the school on the role of English language arts, the theories of teaching and learning used at the Academy, and other related topics. She believes that most of the students appreciate…

This article focuses on the reports produced by the National Center for Education Statistics which rely too much on subjective judgments. The two studies--which used data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress that were adjusted for student and school differences--reported generally favorable academic results for regular public…

Draws on data from research on charter schools to question the extent to which "democratic" and "market-based" schools are dichotomous. Makes the case that free-market and deregulatory educational reforms such as charter schools are perceived to be highly democratic by their neoliberal advocates. Suggests that progressive…

Explains that multicultural literature should be taught because it reflects genuine family, socioeconomic, philosophical, and geographical circumstances. Proposes that students should read to not only include but to affirm multicultural voices. Describes an encounter with two writers and their works in the author's charter school classroom. (PM)

Most charter schools are true bridges to the 21st century. However, some schools are breaching the separation of church and state, neglecting special-education students, playing favorites with admission, or expelling students who "do not fit" their school. Proposes corrective action to ensure that charter schools are shaped toward democratic ends.…

In this article, the author comments on the article "An Ongoing Conversation", by Frederick Hess. The author points out that the increasing polarization of the public's views on public education serves us poorly and we need to revive the skill and will to engage in more thoughtful dialogue.

In this article the author expresses her views concerning the pre- and post-Hurricane Katrina public educational trend in New Orleans. She observes that the segregation that existed before Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, due in part to migration to the suburbs and in part to the proliferation of private and parochial schools, has divided…

The recent flap over the American Federation of Teachers' (AFT) charter school report is surprising, not because the study used the wrong methods or reached the wrong conclusions, it didn't, but because AFT's conclusions are nothing new. The AFT study "is" the first to use the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) as its…