"Carrying The Torch For Improved Education In The U.S."

© 2011 - The NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR BETTER SCHOOLS - All Rights Reserved

National Council For Better Schools

National Council For Better Schools

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◦Every child deserves a high quality free public education. The struggle for free quality public education is a civil and human rights issue. No matter the race, socioeconomic background, gender, home language or neighborhood, every child deserves a high quality free public education.

◦Democratic school governance is a critical component of a democratic society. Parent, teacher, and student voices should have significant weight in the decision-making process. When one elected official (a mayor, for example) controls a school system, the public’s ability to participate is limited or even eliminated.

◦Direct and meaningful support—financial, material and human—must be provided to public schools, especially those who encounter difficulty. Arbitrary restructuring, phasing out, and the closure of schools have serious consequences for students, teachers and their communities. These misguided practices have not improved education.

◦Access to a high quality public education is not something that should be won in a lottery—it is a most basic human and civil right. Charter schools allow entry only by lottery, and are not truly public schools. They do not serve our most needy students, and they frequently divide communities, sparking intense competition over resources. While charter schools are publicly financed in part, they operate under complete private control.

◦Public schools must offer a curriculum that is meaningful, relevant and engaging. Student interest should be a spark for learning in the classroom. The emergence of scripted curricula has resulted in a degradation of teacher and student creativity.

To Increase The Potential That Any School Can Provide A High Quality Education, Schools Should  Always Use