Education: Real public schools deserve support

Re: “Charter school boosters win a battle, not the war” (editorial, 3-13).

Personally I am with the state Supreme Court on this one. I have no children, but I pay my taxes happily and vote for every public school need. Recently my taxes were going to charter schools because of a narrowly passed well-funded voter initiative.

These charter schools are not subject to local school boards and money going to them was being diverted from the public schools I have been proud to support.

The News Tribune editorial staff and public charter supporters say the charters allow for needed innovation and better meet the needs of students. I am apparently to believe the television advertisements paid for by charter school supporters that their students are better off than they would be in a public school, yet all I have is their anecdotes to this effect.

That innovation in Lincoln High School is lauded and serves students well isn’t mentioned. Nor is it mentioned that well-served public school students could be harmed by the additional lack of funding.

I heard nothing from the formidable teacher’s union during the recent advertisement blitz. But Democrats, like David Sawyer, who take money from the Washington charter schools PAC don’t seem brave to me.

This story was originally published March 15, 2016 at 12:45 PM with the headline "Education: Real public schools deserve support."