Parker Block’s letter to the WW-P News dated July 23, regarding the proposed new charter school, raises more questions than it answers.
1. How will tax payers know how public funds are being spent? Will charter schools, as do public schools, provide a detailed itemized disclosure of how tax payers’ money is utilized and spent; i.e., teachers’ and administrators’ salaries, student curriculum, overhead costs, etc.
2. Why did Mr. Block resort to making such wild, inflammatory accusations about public school officials “inciting mob-like behavior,” as well as other demagogic remarks? These statements ill-befit the moral authority of a school founder.
3. Then there is the question of the negative impact on students that have attended charter schools. Studies by a reputable outside study group have shown that in high-achieving school districts, such as WWP, charter schools can actually have a detrimental impact on the overall quality of a student’s education; i.e. declining math scores in charter schools. Source: /www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/pdfs/education/charter_school_impacts.pdf
4. Why, contrary to Block’s assertion, would a charter school have a negative impact upon the WW-P school district? For all classes, WW-P utilizes rigorously trained, professionally-educated teachers, certified by the state of New Jersey. Apparently, this is not a requirement of charter schools. Therefore, there is a disadvantage that charter schools may have because of a higher personnel turnover rate as compared to the mainstream public education systems.
5. Why should tax payers be forced to provide language immersion classes for a select few? WW-P provides a diverse curriculum, which offers a highly acclaimed language program starting in the second grade, including Mandarin. If some parents wish to have their children immersed in world-class language programs, why don’t they use their option of enrolling them in schools such as the existing Ying Hua School?
6. Why should the WW-P School District endure siphoning off $800,000 for a charter school, when at the same time state aid to WW-P School District has been reduced by $10,000,000? This would result in collateral damage, forcing reduced school services and increases in class size. Bottom line, quality education will suffer.
Paul Pitluk
Chairman, Education Committee, Village Grande Civic Association, West Windsor
