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Senate approves allowing public charter schools in Maine

By Jeff Tuttle, BDN Staff
Posted June 14, 2011, at 6:05 p.m.
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AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Senate on Tuesday gave its initial approval to a bill allowing public charter schools in Maine.

In a 21-13 vote, senators signed off on LD 1553. If finally adopted by the House and Senate and signed into law by Gov. Paul LePage, who supports charter schools, the bill would make Maine one of 41 states to allow the publicly funded alternative schools.

The vote came after an hour-long debate during which supporters called the introduction of charter schools a necessary step to help meet the needs of all Maine students and give their parents an alternative to the existing public school system.

“You can’t pound a square peg into a round hole,” said Sen. Garrett Mason, a Lisbon Falls Republican and the bill’s sponsor. “We have to help these students where they are.”

Mason offered an example from his largely rural district in which children aspiring to take over their family farms might benefit from a charter school that specializes in agriculture, rather than find themselves in a traditional high school that focuses on preparing students for college.

The bill would allow the creation of up to 10 charter schools in Maine over the course of 10 years starting in July 2012.

Charter schools are publicly funded educational institutions that allow more flexibility in terms of  curriculum and schedule, but still are held to state and federal educational standards.

While a recent poll showed more than 65 percent of Mainers in favor of charter schools, the plan was not without its opponents Tuesday as several senators questioned the need for — and effectiveness of — the alternative schools.

“The results are not glamorous,” said Sen. Justin Alfond, a Portland Democrat, citing the performance of charter schools in other states. Alfond said 37 percent of charters perform worse than public schools, and 46 percent produce results on par with public schools. That leaves only about 20 percent of charter schools that perform better than their public counterparts.

Additionally, Maine’s 82 percent high school graduation rate is far above those of many other states with charter schools. In Texas, there are about 100,000 students in that state’s 390 charter schools. The graduation rate there is 65 percent. In Florida, where more than 137,000 students are enrolled in the state’s nearly 400 charter schools, the graduation rate is just 58 percent, Alfond said.

“I think we truly are taking a big leap of faith here,” Alfond said of the chances that charter schools would improve education in Maine.

Alfond and other opponents also raised concerns that the new system would siphon the best students — and increasingly scarce funding — from local public schools.

In order to open, a public charter school must win the approval of a newly formed seven-member state charter commission. Under the legislation, the per-pupil allocations that towns spend on each child would follow the child to the school of his or her choice.

“Public schools will have more and more difficulty maintaining programs as students leave,” said Sen. Elizabeth Schneider, an Orono Democrat, who called the trend a “massive concern.”

“[Charter schools] are not the answer,” Schneider said, noting that the state has yet to reach the mandated 55 percent funding level for public schools. “The answer is funding our public schools.”

Although LD 1553 appears poised for passage this legislative session, Maine lawmakers have been cool to charter schools in the past, rejecting similar legislation on 17 previous occasions.

Tuesday’s Senate vote was largely along party lines with Republicans supporting the bill and Democrats opposing it. But there were some exceptions. Among them, Republican Sens. Nichi Farnham of Bangor and Roger Sherman of Houlton opposed the bill, and Democratic Sens. Joseph Brannigan of Portland and Nancy Sullivan of Biddeford supported it.

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  • Anonymous

    The focus should be on making our public schools better.

  • Anonymous

    The focus should be on making our public schools better.

  • StillRelaxin

    Charter schools in Maine? I say sure, as long as you have no problem killing your public schools, spending hundreds of thousands or millions to repair vacant buildings or build new ones for use as charters, and driving you kids to a school 10-20-30-40 miles away every day by yourself to attend a school that hasn’t shown anymore effectiveness than public schools. If those sound like things you’re willing to do then by all means jump on the “Chartered Bandwagon.”  If not then please support your LOCAL public schools.

    The most important thing involved in the education of a child is the quality of parents and their and commitment to parenting. Am I blaming parents on the poor performance of student grades and test scores today? You bet I am. A new babysitting service (Charters) isn’t going to make your kids any more concerned about learning than the one you may want them to leave now (Public school). Here’s what many parents don’t get, NO school is a baby sitting service but all schools become just that without involved parenting.

    Get involved and stay involved and for crying out loud stop trying to blame something or someone else for the fact that your child can’t pass a standardized test or for that matter that he/she is 30-200 lbs. overweight. Pride, hard work, self-worth, and aspirations “begin” in the home not in schools, on the streets, or through osmotic proximity with a TV, computer, smart phone, or video game.

  • clamcove

    I agree and this will help. Finally a vote for the kids and not the organization’s will to keep it as it was.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Edward-Lachowicz/100000535475609 Edward Lachowicz

    I’m mostly concerned by the mechanism by which these schools can be chartered. A seven-member state commission with no public input? We’re talking about significant property tax dollars here; shouldn’t there be a local vote on whether or not to open one?

  • Anonymous

    If we have such a high graduation rate compared to other states-why is this being done? It seems were are trying to fix something that does not need to be fixed.

  • Anonymous

    It won’t kill public schools as long as people keep their children in the public schools…I won’t be moving my children if given the option-I love our school system.

  • Anonymous

    Help what?

    Did you miss the part that said our graduation rate is higher than other states? So what exactly is there to fix?

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_KJEUWEYRHIPWV3PTTWWNUZ2CTQ mcmaineacjam

    I can’t believe they passed this. They act like they really believe it is for “agricultural” schools. Sure,  I bet. Private schools funded by public dollars is all it amounts to. Is this how the republicans save money and revitalize the economy, or how they fund thier kids schooling keeping them away from the riff-raff? I am sorry, this will pull more money away from the public school system, and is wrong. The public school system  is fine, but that will change if they keep defunding it.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_KJEUWEYRHIPWV3PTTWWNUZ2CTQ mcmaineacjam

    I can’t believe they passed this. They act like they really believe it is for “agricultural” schools. Sure,  I bet. Private schools funded by public dollars is all it amounts to. Is this how the republicans save money and revitalize the economy, or how they fund thier kids schooling keeping them away from the riff-raff? I am sorry, this will pull more money away from the public school system, and is wrong. The public school system  is fine, but that will change if they keep defunding it.

  • Anonymous

    So if it’s parental involvement in the child’s education and not so much the school system in which they are enrolled in, why do you have such a problem with charter schools? 

    My guess is that this is the issue: “Alfond and other opponents also raised concerns that the new system
    would siphon the best students — and increasingly scarce funding — from
    local public schools.”

    All YOU care about is the funding and the “smarter” kids who help to notch up test averages a bit higher which, of course, simply leads to higher funding potential and justification for a system that folks are unhappy with, hence the push for more alternatives.

    I imagine that when it comes to abortion, you are all about pro choice (as am I).  So why don’t you support that same notion in this debate and allow people to make decisions for themselves?  Why do you position yourself against human liberty and individual responsibility?  And, most importantly, what are you teaching your children when you say, “you go to this school, this is the public school, there are no other choices, too bad”?

    IMHO, you are not only a poor citizen, but you are also a poor parent in that you are not yourself utilizing critical thinking skills and  you are, therefore, not instilling those skills in your children.  To the contrary, you are saying “this is how it is, you have no choice, deal with it”.  Well if that’s the world you want to leave for your kid, that’s fine.  But my kids are gonna roll right over yours, educated to the gills and with freedom and liberty at their side…..you can count on that!     

     

  • clamcove

    If you think the education system here is in good shape, I’ve got a bridge for you in NYC. Yes the graduation rate may be higher, but we are not challenged with the social problems of the border states down south. We have a fairly rotten mess here, and this is a step to fix it. It will call attention to the failings and send a message to the administrations that the real deal is to teach, not to maintain the status quo. Maine actually has a fairly horrible system overall, and I am a product of it. If you have lived in other states and countries, perhaps you have some valid perspective on the issue, otherwise let’s make the changes.

  • Anonymous

    “Do I believe it [creationism] should be taught in schools? Yes. So, I
    will – yes – be pushing to have it taught. The likelihood of it
    passing the state of Maine legislature is not good. So, what we can do
    to do that is our charter schools, magnet schools, special schools
    and give them the right to do whatever they want.” –Paul LePage, Speech at Homeschooler Convention, Rockland, ME; 3-11-11 

  • http://www.facebook.com/Bilmoriarty William Moriarty

    Again I am very proud of Sen Sullivan, voting along party lines never benefits anyone!

  • Anonymous

    Oh the horror. The inhumanity of it all. The tenuresphere of pensionistas has been breached.

  • StillRelaxin

    Did you read the story? Did you read my comment? Charter schools have not been shown to be an effective alternative to public schools. Do some research. They are also very expensive (Since they don’t actually exist) and at this time tax payers can’t afford to waste money on things that have been shown to be more or less useless.

    It’s interesting that you picked the most fallacious comment to quote from the story to base your “guesses upon.” Yes they will draw much need money out of public schools, that money will go when students leave to go to charters. That part is true. However the best students will not be siphoned off to attend Charter schools.

    More likely and rightfully so, the best “may” be granted admission to a Magnet schools for the “gifted.” Charters require no such special abilities, almost any child can attend. Traditionally attendance at charters have been based on lottery not merit. Thus the only students who will be siphoned off will be those who have parents who are concerned about the failure rates of students in pubic schools. Yep many students in public schools are failing, but why? Why do some still achieve such remarkable educational/intellectual heights? I submit again, the most logical explanation is that a lot of parents are not “involved” while “some” know every assignment and every test score (Involved!).

    I support everyone’s right to make their education decisions for their children. I simply don’t support wasting money and children on things that don’t make sense.

    For someone so “humble” it certainly appears that you make an awful lot of assumptions about me based on your own private beliefs. My parenting strategy is to say, “This is how it is; You kids will do your assignments, you will learn, you will not “play” your way through elementary-middle-HS-College, you have my name and are expected to bring honor to it (Therefore yourself), and you will tell me exactly what you need to successfully achieve those goals.” Not good enough?  Should I be telling them that a magic school will appear that will make them smart without trying?

    If life is a race, I believe your hostile attitude and highly presumptive personal comments/attacks  ”may” be holding you back as a parent.   But that is of course only my “humble opinion” based on limited data provided here.   You  could just be having a bad day?

  • Anonymous

    It needs to be done here because our public schools are performing too well in the state of Maine.  If the republicans can break them, like they have in Texas and other Charter states, then they can convince MORE easily led mouth breathers that the government can do nothing right and the only solution is more tax cuts for the wealthy and corporate give-aways.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_DL4QM53ISG3TTKFDFNQU6L7ZLE Cary

    Sen. Justin Alfond (D), an opponent of charter schools, says 37% of charter schools perform worse than public schools.  Therefore, by that reasoning, 63% of charter schools perform the same or better than public schools.

    Maybe he should have attended a charter school that specialized in using statistics to help your cause, not hurt your own argument.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_DL4QM53ISG3TTKFDFNQU6L7ZLE Cary

    Sen. Justin Alfond (D), an opponent of charter schools, says 37% of charter schools perform worse than public schools.  Therefore, by that reasoning, 63% of charter schools perform the same or better than public schools.

    Maybe he should have attended a charter school that specialized in using statistics to help your cause, not hurt your own argument.

  • Anonymous

    So….we have a high graduation rate….but that doesn’t matter because we don’t have the social problems the south has…..so, we need to have social problems to make the high graduation rate note worthy? Don’t you think that there are more variables other than “social problems” that impact a state’s graduation rate?

    Sounds like things in those other states are a mess…not here. Like I said in another post, I am very impressed with my local school system. From my experience with the public schools and my children, I am not surprised the graduation rate is high.

    The “rotten mess” is a misconception.

  • Anonymous

    We’ve got our share of social problems right here in Maine.  Among them are generational poverty and substance abuse.  Today’s news includes a story finding that the Maine legislature is among the lowest states in the nation in terms of legislators who have college degrees.  I think that carries on the state as a whole.  It is difficult to raise the aspirations of kids whose parents did not attend college and who see so much unemployment and underemployment when they take a look around.  Where does the value in education come from?  Schools need to get better at building up  those aspirations, but overall, I think Maine schools are full of hard-working, well-meaning, dedicated teachers who truly want what is best for students.

  • Anonymous

    We’ve got our share of social problems right here in Maine.  Among them are generational poverty and substance abuse.  Today’s news includes a story finding that the Maine legislature is among the lowest states in the nation in terms of legislators who have college degrees.  I think that carries on the state as a whole.  It is difficult to raise the aspirations of kids whose parents did not attend college and who see so much unemployment and underemployment when they take a look around.  Where does the value in education come from?  Schools need to get better at building up  those aspirations, but overall, I think Maine schools are full of hard-working, well-meaning, dedicated teachers who truly want what is best for students.

  • Anonymous

    We’ve got our share of social problems right here in Maine.  Among them are generational poverty and substance abuse.  Today’s news includes a story finding that the Maine legislature is among the lowest states in the nation in terms of legislators who have college degrees.  I think that carries on the state as a whole.  It is difficult to raise the aspirations of kids whose parents did not attend college and who see so much unemployment and underemployment when they take a look around.  Where does the value in education come from?  Schools need to get better at building up  those aspirations, but overall, I think Maine schools are full of hard-working, well-meaning, dedicated teachers who truly want what is best for students.

  • Anonymous

    We’ve got our share of social problems right here in Maine.  Among them are generational poverty and substance abuse.  Today’s news includes a story finding that the Maine legislature is among the lowest states in the nation in terms of legislators who have college degrees.  I think that carries on the state as a whole.  It is difficult to raise the aspirations of kids whose parents did not attend college and who see so much unemployment and underemployment when they take a look around.  Where does the value in education come from?  Schools need to get better at building up  those aspirations, but overall, I think Maine schools are full of hard-working, well-meaning, dedicated teachers who truly want what is best for students.

  • Anonymous

    We’ve got our share of social problems right here in Maine.  Among them are generational poverty and substance abuse.  Today’s news includes a story finding that the Maine legislature is among the lowest states in the nation in terms of legislators who have college degrees.  I think that carries on the state as a whole.  It is difficult to raise the aspirations of kids whose parents did not attend college and who see so much unemployment and underemployment when they take a look around.  Where does the value in education come from?  Schools need to get better at building up  those aspirations, but overall, I think Maine schools are full of hard-working, well-meaning, dedicated teachers who truly want what is best for students.

  • Anonymous

    Charter schools done right could be a plus for many students and their families.  However, allowing charter schools in rural areas where schools are already resource-deficient and suffering declining enrollment (as many schools are) only weakens the entire system and makes it more expensive on a per student basis. 

    Bigger concerns are related to who and what are behind the charter schools / school choice movement.  The idea of the public school as the big melting pot where  students (and parents) from all different parts of society is pretty central to what America has been over the past 200 years.  Strip that away and the class divisions in society will only grow stronger. 

    There are people out there who want nothing less than to dismantle public education.  If they get their wish, you can kiss America goodbye.  See http://tinyurl.com/38n6lqh to read more.

  • Anonymous

    Charter schools take tax payer money and make a killing ..just like private prisons. 

    Hitler privatized everything and gave the businesses to cronies. Maine is going the same way under lepage and his boys.

  • Anonymous

    After Katrina hit New Orleans, all their public schools were privatized..ie charter. It is a mess down there. This is capitalism at it’s finest. Take a disaster , caused by the shoddy work done by army corps of engineers, and turn a profit for your friends. win win…

  • Anonymous

    Right. And keeping children in their communities.

  • Anonymous

    Maine ranks high in the nation in quality of it’s school system.

  • Anonymous

    The fix is in, lobbyists lining our good gov’s pockets . …and his boys in the legislature.

  • Anonymous

    The republican war on teachers and workers. If you like to read, you are an elitist.

  • Anonymous

    If you google Maine’s ranking of schools , it will make you proud. Maine is very high. Stop lepage from destroying everything good in this state. Start recall efforts for him, and his legislative friends who are only interested in money.

  • Anonymous

    Republicans want to Privatize Everything!

        There is nothing left in America  for greedy leeches  to  attach to other than the public sector, they sent it all to Mexico and China!

  • Anonymous

    …and for anyone hoping to “break the teacher unions,” just know that many charter school employees nationwide are seeking to JOIN unions, to ensure decent conditions and wages, something they do not get at a lot of these schools… 

  • Anonymous

    …and for anyone hoping to “break the teacher unions,” just know that many charter school employees nationwide are seeking to JOIN unions, to ensure decent conditions and wages, something they do not get at a lot of these schools… 

  • Anonymous

    …and for anyone hoping to “break the teacher unions,” just know that many charter school employees nationwide are seeking to JOIN unions, to ensure decent conditions and wages, something they do not get at a lot of these schools… 

  • Anonymous

    …and for anyone hoping to “break the teacher unions,” just know that many charter school employees nationwide are seeking to JOIN unions, to ensure decent conditions and wages, something they do not get at a lot of these schools… 

  • Anonymous

    …and for anyone hoping to “break the teacher unions,” just know that many charter school employees nationwide are seeking to JOIN unions, to ensure decent conditions and wages, something they do not get at a lot of these schools… 

  • Anonymous

    …and for anyone hoping to “break the teacher unions,” just know that many charter school employees nationwide are seeking to JOIN unions, to ensure decent conditions and wages, something they do not get at a lot of these schools… 

  • Anonymous

    …and for anyone hoping to “break the teacher unions,” just know that many charter school employees nationwide are seeking to JOIN unions, to ensure decent conditions and wages, something they do not get at a lot of these schools… 

  • Anonymous

    …and for anyone hoping to “break the teacher unions,” just know that many charter school employees nationwide are seeking to JOIN unions, to ensure decent conditions and wages, something they do not get at a lot of these schools… 

  • Anonymous

    …and for anyone hoping to “break the teacher unions,” just know that many charter school employees nationwide are seeking to JOIN unions, to ensure decent conditions and wages, something they do not get at a lot of these schools… 

  • Anonymous

    …and for anyone hoping to “break the teacher unions,” just know that many charter school employees nationwide are seeking to JOIN unions, to ensure decent conditions and wages, something they do not get at a lot of these schools… 

  • http://twitter.com/TheHumbleFarmer Robert Karl Skoglund

    Were you surprised to read below that the Maine legislature is among the lowest states in the nation in terms of legislators who have college degrees?

    Is this not understandable when legislators are elected by their constituents?

     Is this not fitting when legislators are supposed to represent their constituents?

    The humble Farmer

  • http://twitter.com/TheHumbleFarmer Robert Karl Skoglund

    Were you surprised to read below that the Maine legislature is among the lowest states in the nation in terms of legislators who have college degrees?

    Is this not understandable when legislators are elected by their constituents?

     Is this not fitting when legislators are supposed to represent their constituents?

    The humble Farmer

  • Anonymous

    I can see having charter schools in the States where the schools are over crowded.
    We have them here in MD… Our schools are over crowded and they won’t build more..
    Me really doesn’t need charter schools..

  • Anonymous

     The article stated that 46 perform as well as and only 20% perform better than, not as you said, 63% performed as well as or better than. Had Sen. Alfond wanted to be as dishonest as you he would have said 85% of charter schools perform worse than or the same as public schools.  

  • Anonymous

    Why  don’t you specify exactly how education is failing in Maine.  Ranting about rotten messes, status quo, horrible systems is neither enlightening nor helpful. 

  • Anonymous

     The law will allow 10 charter schools in 10 years.  That means somewhere in that 10 years period Maine will have 2 schools that are superior, 4 that are average, but also 4 that are worse than regular public schools.  The money to support the inferior schools (along with the average and superior charter schools) comes out of  public schools some of which may be high achieving schools.  Does this make sense to anyone except the for-profit corporations that are suddenly very interested in getting large sums of money to run schools cheaply and profitably.

  • notateapartier

    100% (all) - 37% (worse) = 63% (same + better)
    or
    17% (better)+ 46% (same) = 63% (same + better)

    Therefore, 63% rank the same or better.

  • notateapartier

    100% (all) - 37% (worse) = 63% (same + better)
    or
    17% (better)+ 46% (same) = 63% (same + better)

    Therefore, 63% rank the same or better.

  • Anonymous

    Interesting how Sen. Alfond’s quoted stats on the (non) success of charter schools are considerably different than those cited in Dorothy Havey’s letter in the same paper.  I’d trust his more than hers.  Hence, I’m not in favor of charter schools, at least for the reasons given by their proponents.

  • Anonymous

    Others may not be satisfied with the school or curriculum. That’s why I think it is important to have choices, if the public school is a quality school that children and parents are happy with then it should have no issue. If the school is failing it’s students and parents and they chose to go elsewhere maybe that school doesn’t deserve the funding…..

  • Anonymous

    You are fairly articulate for a product of  a “horrible system overall.”  You must have learned something along the way about spelling, sentence structure, punctuation, and persuasive construction.

  • Anonymous

    rockland maine has one of the lowest graduation rates in the nation…disaster being made WORSE by coerced consolidation. 

  • Anonymous

    rockland maine has one of the lowest graduation rates in the nation…disaster being made WORSE by coerced consolidation. 

  • clamcove

    Yes, my mother was an english teacher from Lubec and taught school in the
    ’30′s, an entirely different time of expectations.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000493338685 Rob Gordon

    The important point made here is parental & civic responsibility.  Involvement with our children first and then involvement in the public school system.  Why spend scarce funds and our energy creating charter schools?  Instead, invest those funds and efforts into IMPROVING our public schools.  We have a civic responsibility to ensure that our public schools are not only “good enough” but provide those students who wish to, the opportunity to excel.

    That being said, not all parents can or will advocate for their children.  Which means we must make sure that there are advocates within the public school system to work with those students who have the desire to excel but lack the support at home.  If it was easy we wouldn’t be having this discussion at any level; we’d already be there.

    We can (and often do) provide alternative educational paths within the existing public schools.  Our RSU offers alternative education, adult education and have students attending the regional Vocational school.  All are on the path to graduation, but only some are headed to college.  That is fine and a good representation of the diversity of our student population.  We are accomplishing all of that within the existing RSU.  Why would we want to siphon students and funds from this system to feed another? 

    Consolidation has brought a fair share of challenges but has saved our music, arts, GT and sports programs from sure elimination in the last two years as funding has been slashed at the State level.  If we weren’t able to find the economies of scale with the consolidation we would be cut to our core curriculum.  Now the charter advocates are suggesting we subdivide our existing RSUs to create additional schools.  That is a leap backwards without any proof that we will see any benefits.  In fact, as others have cited here, only 20% of the charter schools perform better than their counterparts.  I’m not much of a gambler, but I don’t like those odds.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000493338685 Rob Gordon

    The important point made here is parental & civic responsibility.  Involvement with our children first and then involvement in the public school system.  Why spend scarce funds and our energy creating charter schools?  Instead, invest those funds and efforts into IMPROVING our public schools.  We have a civic responsibility to ensure that our public schools are not only “good enough” but provide those students who wish to, the opportunity to excel.

    That being said, not all parents can or will advocate for their children.  Which means we must make sure that there are advocates within the public school system to work with those students who have the desire to excel but lack the support at home.  If it was easy we wouldn’t be having this discussion at any level; we’d already be there.

    We can (and often do) provide alternative educational paths within the existing public schools.  Our RSU offers alternative education, adult education and have students attending the regional Vocational school.  All are on the path to graduation, but only some are headed to college.  That is fine and a good representation of the diversity of our student population.  We are accomplishing all of that within the existing RSU.  Why would we want to siphon students and funds from this system to feed another? 

    Consolidation has brought a fair share of challenges but has saved our music, arts, GT and sports programs from sure elimination in the last two years as funding has been slashed at the State level.  If we weren’t able to find the economies of scale with the consolidation we would be cut to our core curriculum.  Now the charter advocates are suggesting we subdivide our existing RSUs to create additional schools.  That is a leap backwards without any proof that we will see any benefits.  In fact, as others have cited here, only 20% of the charter schools perform better than their counterparts.  I’m not much of a gambler, but I don’t like those odds.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000493338685 Rob Gordon

    Thanks for this quote; I hadn’t seen it previously, but suspected this was the case.  The push by the Republicans to get charter schools approved is a thinly veiled effort to route public education funds to religious oriented schools.  They have been unsuccessful in getting their religious beliefs added to the curriculum, so they just go around it instead.  Last I checked we had a constitutional right to the separation of church and state.  Teach whatever you want in church but it doesn’t belong in our public schools.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000493338685 Rob Gordon

    Thanks for this quote; I hadn’t seen it previously, but suspected this was the case.  The push by the Republicans to get charter schools approved is a thinly veiled effort to route public education funds to religious oriented schools.  They have been unsuccessful in getting their religious beliefs added to the curriculum, so they just go around it instead.  Last I checked we had a constitutional right to the separation of church and state.  Teach whatever you want in church but it doesn’t belong in our public schools.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000493338685 Rob Gordon

    Thanks for this quote; I hadn’t seen it previously, but suspected this was the case.  The push by the Republicans to get charter schools approved is a thinly veiled effort to route public education funds to religious oriented schools.  They have been unsuccessful in getting their religious beliefs added to the curriculum, so they just go around it instead.  Last I checked we had a constitutional right to the separation of church and state.  Teach whatever you want in church but it doesn’t belong in our public schools.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000493338685 Rob Gordon

    Thanks for this quote; I hadn’t seen it previously, but suspected this was the case.  The push by the Republicans to get charter schools approved is a thinly veiled effort to route public education funds to religious oriented schools.  They have been unsuccessful in getting their religious beliefs added to the curriculum, so they just go around it instead.  Last I checked we had a constitutional right to the separation of church and state.  Teach whatever you want in church but it doesn’t belong in our public schools.

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