Home By Marquel There’s No Academic Success like Charter Success

There’s No Academic Success like Charter Success

Marquel, TPVs NYTimes Educational Fraud Section correspondent was learning his multiplication table, when he read that had he been at a Success Academy Charter School, he would have been a ‘Got to Go’ kid .

Sixteen children at the Brooklyn school appeared on a list with that title; nine later left. Current and former employees say the network puts pressure on some parents to withdraw. Reading the article, Marquel realized there really was a “got to go” list at these charter schools. And it meant the kids on the list had to go. Back to the public school system. Ha!

Marquel had to speak to these people because he understood the charter school bargain involved freedom from regulations but they take all students regardless, just like public schools. That’s why they get public funds.

So Marquel went down to Success Academy. “Can I see some successes?” Marquel asked.

“They’re all around you” said the principal.
 “But they’re all so small!” Protested Marquel.
“Yes children often are,” he rejoindered.
 “But what about the successes?” Asked Marquel.
“I don’t understand. You’re looking at them.” He said.
“But how old are the oldest?” Asked Marquel.
“Right now we only go through third grade.” He said.
Marquel was shocked. “But that’s not old enough for success,” said Marquel, “look at Bronx Science. Half a dozen Nobel prizes. Lots of awards. Look at Stuyvesant. More Intel prizes than any other school. You can’t call yourself Success Academy.
“Well why not? Eva Moscowitz says we can.” He said.
 “That’s because she’s a turncoat from the public system who decided kids can’t be taught but they can be commodified and sold like Thanksgiving turkeys. You should be called, “The Future Possible Success Academy But We Really Don’t Know.” Said Marquel.
 “But we already have numbers showing we are excelling.” He said.
 “That’s not fair. You have got to go lists. You get rid of the bad students and only keep the good ones. Of course you have better numbers, but you don’t have  better schools. It’s your got to go list.” Marquel said.

“That’s simply not true. Who told you about that list?” Asked the principal.
 “The Times.” Said Marquel.
“You don’t believe what you read there, Do you?” He asked me.
“Of course not. They’re my beat. Are your saying there’s no list, you don’t suspend these students at about ten times the rate that public schools and you don’t make life difficult for families with problem children?” Asked Marquel.
“It’s all rumor and innuendo.” He said.
 “That’s great. So after the DOE investigates, and finds the list exists, just hypothetically, what would you say?” Asked Marquel.
“If they found such a list I know what it is. The so called got to go list isn’t to go out of school. It means got to go help these kids, don’t you see?” He asked me.
 “Well I see but I don’t believe. To call third graders successes challenges credibility and suggests a certain amount of deception and puffing, not educational discipline.” I said.
“But we have discipline up the ass! Do you realize any student who doesn’t sit up straight with hands folded gets suspended?” He asked.
I’d heard,” I said. “Sounds like a real success. I don’t think they do that at Stuyvesant or Bronx Science, but of course they’re not Success Academies.” I said.
“Certainly not.” He said.
 “Not at all.”
***
By MARQUEL: There’s No Academic Success like Charter Success

6 COMMENTS

  1. i’m so sick of reading those ditto nonsense and perfect pitches. Write something intelligible or not at all. This is a great piece on a very troubling issue. Charter schools are depleting our public schools money and they are sub-par. This is outrageous and no one cares. Except Marquel. Thank you man!

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