Why America's Public Schools Are the Best Place for Kids Reality vs. Negative Perceptions

The successes of America "s public schools are unrivaled throughout the globe providing an opportunity for every American to graduate from high school. Graduation rates have soared, test scores are better than at anytime, and immigrants and African Americans are reaching new successes. The percentage of graduating high school students including minorities attending college is at an all time high. Despite all these successes, the media, politicians, and big business attack public schools and their teachers with inaccuracies that threaten the equal opportunities provided by public education. Big business moguls seem determined to dismantle public schools in the name of a market driven system of educating children via vouchers and charter schools. No Child Left Behind contributes to this business-model and penalizes children and teachers with unrealistic expectations and expensive unnecessary testing. Research indicates that NCLB, charter schools, and vouchers do not improve students " learning or help educators teach better. The facts presented herein are evidence of public school successes and provide reasons to honor public school educators and support public schools across America.

Dave F. Brown, Ed.D., is an educational researcher, consultant, and professor in the College of Education at West Chester University in Pennsylvania. He taught grades 4-8 in public schools for thirteen years in the Midwest and Virginia and is the coauthor of What Every Middle School Teacher Should Know and author of Becoming a Successful Urban Teacher.