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Charter schools

In recent years, charter schools have become an integral part of educational reforms in the United States. Many parents whose children attend charter schools are enthusiastic advocates because they have the option to select the type of schools that may cater to the needs and interest of their children. Although they are funded by the government, charter schools differ from traditional public schools in that they are not controlled by the rules and restrictions that govern the latter. As an alternative to the traditional public school, charter schools are created by individuals and groups, which are committed to the realization of a "truly flexible [and] self-defining" (Fulford, 1997, p. 1) vision of how education should be.

In accordance with this objective, this paper will illuminate the key characteristics that should be incorporated by charter schools into their educational objectives. First, the progressive theories of Paulo Freire will be applied to education in the United States. Second, the deficiencies of public education with regards to students in high-poverty classrooms will be identified. Finally, suggestions for increasing parent involvement will be provided.

A renowned scholar and social activist, Paulo Freire formulated a literacy approach that enabled him to teach disenfranchised and oppressed workers and peasants how to read and write. By interacting directly with the workers and peasants, teachers were able to determine the specific words that should be taught based on "their phonetic value, syllabic length, and social meaning and relevance" (McLaren, 1997, p. 147). By teaching these words to the workers and the peasants, which were grounded in their reality, the teachers were not only able to motivate them to learn, but also empower them to fight against their socio-economic oppression (McLaren, 1997, p. 148).

Freire's literacy approach is also highly applicable to public education in the West. ...

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Charter schools. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 08:33, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1687869.html