> Is it possible to get a cooly-detached, non-ideologically-charged, objective perspective on the purpose and pro's of charter schools? With any hot topics it

> Is it possible to get a cooly-detached, non-ideologically-charged, objective perspective on the purpose and pro's of charter schools? With any hot topics it is difficult to remove personal views from the subject, but let me try. The premise of charter schools is that US public school system is rigidly set in a pretty bad state. No change is coming internally (as with any bureaucracy). Good new teachers are very difficult to hire (compensation goes to most senior folks, not most capable). Parents know what schools and teachers give their kids good education, but cannot vote with their wallets. Charter schools provide an alternative and competition. Some examples where this competition works better are: US colleges (expensive but good: many foreigners are coming to study there and pay the exorbitant tuition; few come to US public schools). Finland: letting parents use public money spent on public school tuition for private schools helped Finland school system go from one of the worst to one of the best in one generation. > The thing is... there is no teacher union in my state. What are GAE, PACE and MACE? This is an honest question -- I know nothing about Georgia unions; this is just a google search for "Georgia teachers union"