Let me start with the last since it relates to my post yesterday on niche schools.
Victory Charter School, the subject of a post I wrote a couple of years ago, has been shut down by the state, ironically for lousy achievement test scores in reading and math. I say ironically because charters are small schools without the regulatory constraints of larger public schools. Many of the latter do quite well on those tests in third and fifth grades, regardless of the socio-economic status of their students. Chief Joseph and Clarendon, both in North Portland, are good examples.
The greater irony, however, is that charters are by definition supposedly more adept, more nimble, if you will, at educating their students. If you accept test scores as a legitimate measure of learning (a dubious proposition), research nationally has shown that charters actually "perform" no better than traditional public schools, and frequently worse.
To me, the reason for that is clear. As I wrote in my original post, charter schools are often founded by people who know little about education. They bring more enthusiasm than expertise to the task of building successful schools. And often their enthusiasm stems from theory and ideology rather than from experience with real students. Thus the dismal performance of many charters.
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The profile on gubernatorial candidate Ron Saxton in today's Oregonian reminds readers that Saxton honed his political skills as a member, and eventual chair, of the Portland School Board. It was during Saxton's board tenure that Portland Public Schools were given over to the inept and disastrous leadership of Ben Canada. Getting rid of Superintendent Canada cost the district dearly, both financially and in public esteem.
But as bad as Canada was, the problems besetting public schools in Portland and throughout the state can be laid primarily at the feet of Don McIntire, author of Measure 5, and now an apparent political ally of Ron Saxton. Early in his campaign, Saxton arranged a meeting with McIntire:
"Saxton talked at length about his desire for smaller,
cheaper, more efficient government, in which private
contractors would take over public programs, and state
agencies would face elimination if they didn't meet his
standards.
" 'I said, "If you start saying that in public,
I'm going to have to be your friend,"
McIntire says. "And he did start saying it in
public."
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In the blogs, Basic Rights Oregon has come out with a slick new endorsement site for selected candidates they see as supporting gay and lesbian rights. The first face that pops up is that of Multnomah County Chair Diane Linn. I have a problem with that endorsement, a problem which I explained in this post accusing BRO of historical revisionism.
A group called BRO Watch picked up that post and publicized it.
BRO Watch believes that an advocacy group like Basic Rights Oregon should support all candidates for public office who support gay civil rights, and they most certainly should not activley oppose potential allies like Ted Wheeler, Linn's opponent in the race for county chair. Wheeler has proven himself, through word and deed, a genuine advocate of gay rights.
I don't know much about BRO Watch beyond what I see on its site. But some have accused the site as a front for the Wheeler campaign. I don't believe it. I think their beef with BRO is both genuine and well-intended.
By the way, Ted Wheeler has my vote.
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