At least when it comes to educational innovation:

New Orleans, in a post-Katrina flash, has become the first major city in which more than half of all public school students attend charter schools.

For these new schools with taxpayer funding and independent management, old rules and habits are out. No more standard hours, seniority, union contracts, shared curriculum or common textbooks. In are a crowd of newcomers—critics call them opportunists—seeking to lift standards and achievement. They compete for space, steal each other’s top teachers and wonder how it is all going to work.

The approval of the Patrick Henry charter school is just a first step.

Maybe not bob but, most blacks in the “ghetto” choose crime and violence over civility, and they do it because they know stupid, guilt ridden leftists like you will always be there to make excuses for them when they get caught and attack anyone who judges their blood soaked, bitch slappin, ho pimpin, God Damn America thug culture.

And don’t even think about aping some bullshit social theory you saw in a 1975 after school special. I’ve worked in the worst area of Richmond for over ten years and I know exactly who and what these people are. They choose to create the environment they live in. If they wanted it to stop, they could do it tomorrow.

If you don’t believe me just ask one of the (even poorer) Mexicans who’ve moved in and started turning these areas into quasi livible spaces.

I guess they have yet to learn that they’re victims and therefore not responsible for their behavior.

“ If you can get minority parents to open their minds ... “ So, Bacon Boy, are you saying ALL blacks are dummies ?
You know Bacon Boy, not all blacks live in the inner city ghetto.

Bart, I think every cowtown in ths U.S. is ahead of Richmond when it comes to innovation.

Mayor Wilder (the Times-Dispatch’s baby boy,  its pride & joy) has done nothing to help this. Instead, his sole focus has been to aggravate the life-out of people he doesn’t like personally. Getting things done takes a backseat.

Critics say charters are a gimmick.

I say what’s so awfully bad about that ?

Change is good.

Now if you had a top rated school system, charters might be rocking the boat, but if you have a school system consistently near the bottom of the rankings, there is no boat to rock. Everything looks up from the bottom. Less to lose and more to gain.

This link reinforces both positive and negative stereotypes:

1) N.O. has half the student population pre-Katrina;
2) The pre-Katrina schools had a culture of resignation to mediocrity or having given up on ever seeking excellence;
3) Test scores are not yet making major gains (if you live in a poor neighborhood why would you assume in some hyper-egalitarian whim your neighbors are rocket scientists - they aren’t);
4) They all compete for the same teachers.

I find that awful and great at the same time.

The new Wash DC schools superintendent was in the news too, once again, both good and bad, for firing teachers right and left.

I still think quality teachers are not the final answer. A good overall learning environment is the answer.

However, I think this type of initiative has potential because it shakes up the system the same way good teachers shake up a classroom and get engagement.

Probably the biggest and most untapped resource for education is the parent. If you can get minority parents to open their minds to new vistas, to support tougher education, then you get results.

If you propose tough standards in some localities you get lots of pushback from folks happy with things just the way they are, even if things are not so good.

Not all students need to go to college or get good grades, but all students need to focus on achievement if they want to be successful in life. Being happy never having achieved anything is an oxymoronically stated surefire recipe for mediocrity.

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