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Magnet Schools and Charter Schools: The New Future of EducationItalic text

Headline text

Table of Contents

Section 1: Education is Key.

Section 2: Charter School Myths

Section 3: Where Charter Schools Originated from?

Section 4: Magnet Schools

Section 5: Criticism of Magnet Schools

Section 6: Who Magnet and Charter Schools Affect?

Section 7: Summary

                                 Section 1: Education is Key

  Education is key. Education is vital. Education is the future. How many times have we heard 

those same lines over and over again? Well, they’re true. Education is very important and for

the most of us, will help us out in the long run. Magnet and Charter schools are fairly new 

forms of education our youth. They give parents and care-givers other options besides the

traditional route.

                                 Section 2: Charter School Myths

There are several myths about charter schools that need to be dispelled. Charters are

not private schools; they’re closely connected with public schools. Charter schools are “held

responsible” with just as much paperwork as any public school. They also face market

accountability which means funding depends on the number of parents who choose to send their

children to these schools; if too few parents choose a charter school, it closes. (Maranto,

B02) Another myth is that charters drain money from traditional public schools. Like all

public schools, charter schools cost public dollars, leading opponents to claim we cannot

afford to charter more schools. Yet the real financial picture shows we can’t afford not to.

(Maranto, B02) One final myth is that charter schools are bad schools. This is not true, when

traditional public schools fail, they stay open. In contrast, failing charters close – about

eleven percent nationally. Fear of closure keeps charter principals and teachers on their

toes. Charter schools have somewhat lower test scores than traditional public schools because

they tend to serve students who struggled in other schools. Most of these students learn more

as well. Studies show that students learn more as well. Studies show that students learn more

in one year in a charter than in a traditional school (Maranto, B02)

                             Section 3: Where Charter Schools Originate From?

Charter schools are even favored by the Bush administration. They receive taxpayer but

operate independently of school district rules and teachers’ union contracts. They were

proposed by Albert Shanker (federation president) in 1988 which led to their appearance in

1992. Today there are more than 3, 600 charter schools serving more than one million students;

about 2 percent of all students, according to the center of education reform, a charter

advocacy group. (Toppo, 4D)

                                Section 4: Magnet Schools

Magnet schools are the latest device to inspire students by giving them choices. They

usually attract students by concentrating on particular fields, such as the arts, science,

mathematics, writing, or international studies. (Hechinger, C8:30) The comprehensive magnet

school does find it difficult to serve all of its diverse clientele. As a result, more

students drop out and parents look to the private schools. (Hechinger, C8:30) Studies have

shown that even though magnet schools do not select the brightest students, the quality of

education and the students achievements improve.

                             Section 5: Criticism of Magnet Schools

Magnet schools have drawn plenty of criticism however according to Dr. Maryanne R

Raywid, Hofstra University professor who’s studied magnet schools for twelve years said “they

give people who attend the school a stake in the school that they don’t have in a school of

assignment.” (Berger, 2) She says “they tailor schooling to individual children, give teachers

a greater voice in what gets taught, create competition among schools for students and usually

make for smaller, more intimate schools. (Berger, 2) One student even said “Everyone knows

each other…it’s a nice family feeling” (Berger, 2) Some magnet schools like Manhattan East select their students on the basis of academic

records and interviews. So even if a kid did really want to go to a certain magnet school,

they might not be able to. Even so, there are others who will take underachieving students,

such as J.H.S 117 which has a school for 93 poorly achieving youngsters from troubled homes.

                     Section 5: Who Magnet Schools and Charter Schools Affect?

        There is an estimate that there is more than ten thousand elementary, junior high,

and senior high schools nationwide that can be called magnet or alternative schools. Magnet

schools’ success could serve as an incentive to the remaining comprehensive schools to seek

their own paths to better education and to become more attractive to students. Advocates of

some selective public schools point out that able students reinforce each others’ strengths

(Hechinger, C8:3) Advocates warn that to eliminate elite institutions is to deprive

individuals of opportunity and the nation of vital, fine-tuned talent. (Hechinger, C8:3)

                                Section 7: Summary

       Charter schools basically offer the same things as magnet schools. They both give 

underprivileged and academically challenged youth a chance to succeed. Both of them also are

sponsored by taxpayers’ dollars. Lastly, they offer an alternative option for people who don’t

want the other route. To summarize it all up, charter and magnet schools represent the future

of what’s to come in America and how sticking to traditional ways of the past will not

sufficiently hold up with the immediate competition from the east.

~QUIZ~

1) Which is one of the myths of Charter schools?

  (a) they allow dogs to attend their classes
  (b) parents are forgotten about totally
  (c) that Charter schools are not held equally responsible for paper work just like public schools
  (d) the students are in charge of the school

2) Who came up with the idea of Charter Schools?

  (a) Albert Shanker
  (b) Elizabeth Joyner
  (c) William Shatner
  (d) Willey E. Boyts

3) What is a drawback to Magnet Schools?

  (a) they have a rodent problem
  (b) not every student who wants to get in, will get in
  (c) they don't offer enough one-on-one attention in the classrooms
  (d) not enough money 

4) What's the percentage of charter schools closing?

  (a) 4%
  (b) 25%
  (c) 15%
  (d) 11%

5) What's one of the perks to having Magnet schools?

  (a) they will get all their students to graduate and go to college
  (b) they don't take tax-payers dollars
  (c) some of them will accept underachieving students
  (d) they have better food then public schools

Answers to Quiz:

1)C 2)A 3)B 4)D 5)C

Response PaperItalic text

      According to the research I've done, I would say that charter schools and some magnet schools (not all) have good characteristics and a lot to offer our future students. It gives them a chance to do better than what they did in their previous schools. Plus, it gives our educators a chance to teach in different ways in which they wouldn't be able to in a regular public school setting. Also, Charter Schools and Magnet Schools give parents a financial break. They don't have to pay the money they would if they wanted alternate education for their children. All they have to pay is their taxes and that covers that kid's tuition just as if they were at a public school.

      However, I do firmly believe that charter school are better than magnet schools. Magnet schools are not equipped with handling kids with behavioral problems or bullying. I know this firsthand because i attended a magnet middle school (6th through 8th grade) and it was atrocious. I had several bullies who would tease me constantly everyday and i went through several administrators including the principal who only set up a meeting with the bullies in which all they did was deny that they ever did anything wrong. The bullies were never punished or anything.

      The magnet school which I went to was called Jones Magnet Middle School by the way and it did not select students based on academia. It accepted kids through a basic lottery. I was one of the unlucky few that was chosen. (My mother actually pushed me to go there, I did not want to go.) I did learn there but I felt that I could did just the same at any other middle school in the area. The only difference between our school and the others was the fact that we did cornell notes and others didn't.

      In conclusion, charter schools are better than magnet schools. They are because they often specialize in things that make children feel included rather than secluded. Magnet school often make it seem like the smart kids are penalized for their smarts rather than let them feel a part of the crowd or family. In short, kids who are bullied suffer long term self-esteem problems in which others suffers too. When everyone is treated equally only then will you see society as a whole prosper.

BibliographyItalic text

Maranto, Robert. (2007) Charter Schools are the future. Philadelphia Editorial; pg 802.

Berger, Joseph. (1988) Magnet Schools: Still a Hit Amid Criticism. The New York Times. Section B; page 17, Column 2.

Hechinger, M Fred. (1984) About Education: The Magnetism of The "Magnet" Public School. The New York Times. Section C, page 8, Column 3; Science Desk

Toppo, Greg. (2006) Charter Schools fail to top their public peers; Federal report finds slight performance gap. USA Today Life, pg 4D.

Schemo, Diana. (2006) Study of Test Scores Find Charter Schools Lagging. The New York Times. Section A; Column 5 National Desk, pg 14 Late Edition-Final