Waiting For Superman

Have you seen Waiting For Superman?

It is a very interesting film, in fact I found this concept pretty scary to think about:

However, some interesting facts to also consider after watching the film:

Only 17% of charters are more successful than their corresponding public schools. Most charters perform worse than their corresponding public schools.

Unions give teachers basic protections that they need and deserve. If unions were the problem than Mississippi, a right to work state (no unions), would be first in the nation when it comes to education. Instead, Mississippi is dead last.

The teachers of Finland, which the film accurately points out is the highest performing country in the world when it comes to education, are 100% unionized.

The director of the film belongs to a union.

Info via First Take


For example, I worked in a Charter School for a year. However the school was under so much pressure to pass the State Exam, or face being shut down, that the only learning the children did was practice tests. All.Day.Long. In fact, the kids would beg me to teach them, (anything that wasn't the test) and I would actually get in trouble if I was "caught" teaching and not giving practice tests.

However, my friend works in a Charter School and it is actually an amazing school. Just like Public Schools, Charter Schools have their ups and downs.

Have you seen the film? What did you think? Regardless of the "bias" in the film, I agree that something needs to change in the Public School System. I definitely agree with this clip here as to why things need to change. (Also, being in a Private School, I do not belong to a Teacher Union anyway).