An interesting experiment is going on in chicago where some new charter schools have replaced public schools that have suffered years of decay and declining scores. The Chicago Sun-Times has a fascinating [url=http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-mix21.html]series of articles[/url] regarding this new experiment.

[url=http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-mix23.html]Part Two of the series[/url]

[url=http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-mix24.html]Part Three of the series.[/url]

[url=http://www.suntimes.com/output/education/cst-nws-mixfolo25.html]Readers respond[/url]

So what do you guys think? I've currently finished reading the first half and I'm starting the second article right now. I was very intrigued by the research regarding social class and accomplishment. The part where the teacher asked the kids to list words that began with "sp" was quite telling. One could list 25, while another only 10. The frustration of the parents of some "gifted" kids with the U. of C. program was quite understandable. I commend people for pulling their kids out of accomplished systems to get more diversity, but to still demand academic rigor. It was also good to see that the notion of poor parents not "valuing education" for their children to be tackled head on and disproved. Do take the time to read the articles and then comment, we are all use to the respective "political" answers in regards to charter schools and public schools. Let's try to be above that to some degree in discussing this, as it is more than about what title a school has.

So what do you guys think? 8)