Education: No evidence supports sweeping statements

A letter writer stated, “Charter schools have increased the quality of education all across the country, and the educators know it. Shame on them” (letter, 4-13).

As a former public school teacher and, as a rule, one who is slow to wilt or bristle under the fire of criticism, I take umbrage with these remarks.

Providing not one jot of evidence in support of his allegations, he nonetheless manages to present a sweeping statement lauding questionable charter school successes, presumes to point out what all teachers think or “know” and condemns an entire category of working-class public servants - all in two brief sentences.

Best exemplified by Republican Donald Trump, this represents the kind of knee-jerk, reactionary policies recently seen emerging from the “Fire, ready, aim” political spectrum. This is demagoguery at its best/worst.

This story was originally published April 18, 2016 at 3:05 PM with the headline "Education: No evidence supports sweeping statements."