Comments on: County official is “alarmed” by O’Connell’s Oakland charter directive

By: Chris Vernon

Chris Vernon — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:07:12 +0000

Besides – it’s fundamentally unfair. Imagine if the tables were reversed and it was traditional public schools that were asking for some of the Gates/Broad largesse sloshed all over our charter schools. Imagine the howls of unfairness. This is an end run around a lost ballot measure, and, as such, is completely undemocratic– never a concern for O’Connell.

JH – take the time to go to the OUSD website and see where seniors are going off to college from the 3 comprehensive high schools. They compare quite favorably with any of the charters. You might also want to look at the AP testing results.

By: Caroline

Caroline — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:20:00 +0000

Why don’t Bill Gates and Eli Board just give them another $450,000 on top of the multigazillions they’re already sending to charter schools — that’s chicken feed to them.

By: Jim Mordecai

Jim Mordecai — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:33:30 +0000

Why don’t the District Charter schools put on there own parcel tax campaign without trying to tag along with public school districts?

By: Caroline

Caroline — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:42:37 +0000

O’Connell’s directive and the resulting controversy, including JH’s comment, are further examples of how charter schools inflict damage, disruption, conflict and hostility on public education.

I’m sorry to see Obama so fully duped by the charter folks, though with the vast wealth, political clout and PR firepower the charter mafia has at its disposal, it’s not surprising that the true situation isn’t evident to him.

By: JH

JH — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:01:37 +0000

Hm… Oakland charter schools outperform the traditional schools, educate nearly 20% of Oakland public school kids and yet 1) OUSD/teachers union/school board purposefully excluded charters from receiving any parcel tax money and 2) campaigned hard against a funding attempt which would have given more money for teachers at BOTH charters and traditional schools.

Let’s be honest here, the district is doing everything it can to starve charters to death. O’Connell should be applauded for trying to give charters (something closer to but still not reaching) the fair share that OUSD is denying them.