Work together for students

Charter schools are on our ballot pitted against public schools. It’s a sign of the times: either/or; my way/your way; liberal/conservative. None of these dichotomies mirrors the world in which we live, where complex decisions have more than two alternatives available. Folks make decisions considering multiple paths, innovate, distill which will work best and set their path.

Taking the best of multiple choices brings new options that go beyond either/or, creating new models, using the best of all options.

Current research arguably shows little difference in outcomes between charter and public schools. Charter schools are not mandated to take all students, i.e. special needs students of all kinds, and newcomers to the United States whose first language is not English.

Public schools welcome all, teaching life lessons about diversity, compassion, problem solving, conflict management, as well as reading, writing and arithmetic.

Accountability for both systems needs retooling. Funding for charter schools will come out of the education budget, which has already been slashed; reducing staff, resources and materials. How much do we value our children, the future of our state?

Let’s come together and insist that our leaders work together for the good of all students and all taxpayers.

Elaine Tyrie

Spokane