Green Dot's false promise

I think Shaffer knows little about Green Dot other than what he reads. So much of what he wrote has so little to do with how Green Dot schools actually work that it's pointless to reply to every accusation. I will just say simply that all he has to do is look at any of the established Green Dot schools and see that they involve teachers, parents, and students dramaticallly, service Special Education students well, service gifted students well, do not teach any content courses in Spanish (I don't think he knows what "sheltered" means, but it's not native language instruction), and has far less red tape than the public system.

Jon @ 8:24 AM PDT, Aug 14, 2008

"Its goal is not to charterize the system, but to provide sufficient torque on the system cause significant systemic change." Dave is either ignorant of Green Dot's own charter, or is lying (not something uncommon to Green Dot). Green Dot's charter includes a vision that a majority of LAUSD schools be under Green Dot's control. Look for yourself.

Bob @ 7:38 PM PDT, Aug 12, 2008

Locke has always had it's challenges, even when I attended there. Shaffer mentioned an area that allowed me to be the professional I am to today. The music department. I heard Mr. Reggie Andrews may be one of many veteran teachers who are not part of the faculty at Locke this fall. Why is that. If he is not there, there must be a problem. He's a product of the Locke community.I hope this new Green Dot thing is not some type of media event but a plus for education in the area. But you got to have a faculty that understands and respects the Watts neighborhood. I hope the elders and parents are watching this closely.

Locke '96 Alumni @ 10:35 AM PDT, Aug 10, 2008

Having visited Green Dot Schools, talked with teachers, principals, students, partents and union leaders, I am convinced that Green Dot Public Schools represent a bold initiative from which we should learn important lessons. Green Dot is hardly in step with the larger the charter school movement. Its goal is not to charterize the system, but to provide sufficient torque on the system cause significant systemic change. It will be very interesting to see how well Green Dot can do with Locke. It will be a new and daunting challenge for them. Steve Barr acknowleges as much.

Dave @ 12:07 AM PDT, Aug 9, 2008

Do I believe that improving Locke will be an easy task?...NO; but I am saying that atleast Green Dot is taking on a challenge that no one is taking on. My hopes and prays are with Locke in upcoming school year, because after all it is about these students, it is about my son. Ralph, before this editorial, did you write any commentary about the failures of Locke (e.g. graduation rates, student and teacher safety, vandalism, etc.)?

Locke Parent @ 10:21 PM PDT, Aug 8, 2008

Green Dot has made great strides, over the course of one month in providing a safe and clean campus for the students, and community at large. The editorial’s assumptions are sad and ridiculous, with a slanted leaning. The true question should be "was this commentary written blindly." Or did Ralph engage Steve Barr, attended the board meetings to express his concerns, visited Locke while under LAUSD's control vs. Green Dot, spoken to previous Locke students and teachers who are now with Green Dot.

Locke Parent @ 10:21 PM PDT, Aug 8, 2008

Dr. Shaffer raises seveal important issues here. Rather than dismiss his writing as biased against charters, we should keep an eye on those areas he's questioning. Just as we should do with our public schools as well. Realistically, how can we arrive at a final judgment of any school until we know how its graduates perform AFTER they leave its campus? Has anyone investigated how well charter and public school students do in the real world? Until we have a clearer picture of student performance after school, I don't think we can make a final decision on this matter.

Jack @ 4:06 PM PDT, Aug 8, 2008

Prof Shaffer builds and attacks straw men. STRAW MAN unelected board blocks empowerment ACTUAL board focuses on strategic issues and teachers are empowered it's how most of the world operates -- even Cal Poly Pomona’s CSU board. STRAW MAN class size of 40 to 25 means ejecting students ACTUAL the current class size average is 25.2 Source California Dept Ed – Dataquest. More efficient allocation of teachers could be top-down or empowered teachers. The author confuses "I don't understand how to do this" with "It can't be done and so there is an evil plot." Either Barr or Shaffer will find their words tasty.

adair @ 3:38 PM PDT, Aug 8, 2008

Well. I think that this professor should spend the same amount of time he spent on reading the "charter" in Watts at Locke High. He should take off his blinders, remove his elitist cap and pocket-protector, shift those high-brows and open his mind to see education reform in action. I bet that his obsession with the Charter and Green Dot, as a whole, is based on his total irrelevance to public education reform. in Los Angeles, and in the country. Being irrelevant and on the periphery sucks. Ask him. And what?

An interested reader @ 11:43 PM PDT, Aug 7, 2008

Two issues with charters: We keep missing the point and assuming students need great teachers when what they need is for them, the students, to be socialized for the school experience. Second, and maybe someone can post and answer this, what happens to teachers in charters vis a vis their retirement benefits, job security, place on the salary schedule, seniority? This is of increasing concern as any school can go charter.

Herb @ 4:21 PM PDT, Aug 7, 2008

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