The other day I met Rep. Jim McIntire (D-46) at a neighborhood forum in Seattle. I was there to speak against I-884. Several other ballot measure were also discussed, including R-55 to approve charter schools.
Rep. McIntire voted for the charter school bill in the last legislative session. I commended him for this and asked whether he publicly supported R-55 to affirm the bill that he voted for. His answer was no, he didn't care one way or another whether it passed or not. That is a disappointing answer for a number of reasons.
R-55 has broad bipartisan support. Here are just two of the reasons why Rep. McIntire and other thoughtful on-the-fence Democrats should care and should be motivated to help R-55 pass:
1) If R-55 passes, many of Washington's students who are not adequately served by the existing public schools will gain the opportunity to attend excellent charter schools, such as the KIPP schools. Don't the Democrats want to maintain their claim of being a party of compassion? What could be more compassionate than giving kids new educational opportunities without having to spend more money?
2) The initiative to create charter schools is a fine example of a bipartisan effort to incrementally reform the public education system from within. If the initiative succeeds, many of this state's education reformers will work together to create charter schools, help them succeed and use the lessons to help improve the traditional public schools. If the initiative fails, and with most of the Democratic party either opposed or on the fence, it will be obvious that the Democratic party is not a partner to, but an enemy of, serious education reform. Much of the education reform movement that would otherwise go toward charter schools will likely give up on the prospect of incremental reform and focus instead on more fundamental reforms. This would necessarily entail sweeping changes to the nature of the teacher unions and their ability to influence the political process. Not good for Democrats. In short, making the right choice on charter schools is the best way for thoughtful Democrats to help maintain the public education system and their influence in it.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at October 10, 2004 10:37 AM | Email This