People worldwide are struggling against the increasing privatization and commercialization of public education, to counter these developments we need to connect and act together internationally.

Baltimore can be different. Can we have a reasoned locally focused conversation here without devolving into the oversimplified "sides" decscribed above? Please.
I am involved in 2 "traditional" schools and 1 charter in Balto. Don't get how this national argument applies here. The whole system is making progress. Yes, there are charters but for profit operators are not allowed by law. Charter school teachers are union members. I think this is good. It's from a couple of charter schools that I hear the best case made against reliance on standardized tests and toward student-led conferences, etc. Can I support the system AND charters AND unions AND oppose vouchers and not be considered the enemy by SOS crowd? Not clear. Lots of name calling on both "sides" and the "sides" seem like sweeping generalizations from my local perspective.

@parent14 -

Can I just say thank you so much for stating what I've been feeling so clearly and succinctly? The demonetization of any charter school as right-wing and a move to privatize school systems is so off-base in Baltimore. Parroting the Ravitch-party line cuts off any chance of communication and helpful exchange of experiences. I've pretty much given up on trying to argue the point, because it seems more like religion than education.

The vast majority of those really in the system (teachers, administrators or parents) is so much more accepting and welcoming of charter schools into the system. Like parent14 many of us have involvements with both traditional and charter schools. We're all just trying to muddle through the challenge of finding appropriate and stimulating educational environments. It would be nice if our voices could get a little more press/blog coverage.

@parent14 What progress is being made? The test scores? They will always fluctuate in the same range. We will celebrate when they go up a bit, and panic when they go down a bit. The "improved" graduation rate? It's as authentic as Atlanta's test scores. I support SOS especially because of the ridiculousness I've witnessed in Baltimore City:
1. Constant pressure to close schools if no test score improvement.
2. Constant pressure to raise graduation rates, resulting in graduations for students who rarely attended school (juking the stats).
3. Students consistently taken out of required classes to attend “HSA pullouts” aka cramming-to-pass-HSA courses.
4. Current merit pay system in which teachers compete for gold stars (or “Achievement Units”), with many of those gold stars awarded by principals. I’m sure the teachers won’t resent each other, just as I’m sure principals won’t use their newfound power for evil.
5. I’ve had to proctor the HSA tests. We pack kids into stuffy rooms for hours, create an ominous and pressure-packed environment, and watch as they squirm miserably through culturally biased reading prompts. If they fail to reach the minimum score...see #3.
I also don't see both "sides" calling names. I see Diane Ravitch fighting tirelessly against the ignorance and misconceptions perpetrated by powerful people who KNOW NOTHING about the problems in our schools. She is the one being called names by people who have never set foot in an inner-city public school classroom.

As one who was personally involved in aspects of planning for the march as a Baltimore-PG County educational activist, I can say without doubt that the march will resonate nation-wide. Although officially we weren't calling for the abolition of NCLB or the firing of Duncan and replacing him and the core policy makers with actual educators, the mood of the crowd was just that. With a data-driven educational policy that is based often on fraudulent data as well as cherry-picking, and ignoring root causes of poor performances (poverty) the only hope is a reversal of course.
We weren't against charters but against charters that siphon off tax payer money to private businesses that bust unions and prove ineffective in their achieving their goals that they set out.
Will the Obama administration listen to the professionals or to the private entrepreneurs, Wall Streeters and hedge fund managers that he is so inimically tied to? It's up to us to put direct pressure on him/them and the SOS march was the first shot.

@ Parent14 & AP - Have either of you read Ravitch's book? Even if you do not agree with her, you have to consider some of the issues she raised. To do anything less makes you the extremist.

So, when the conversation is couched on competition making schools better, people will take sides. In competition, there are winners and losers. In addition, the "national" argument is relevant because Baltimore is a minor player in a national movement. Many of the new school models are replications of schools in New York, Florida, California, Texas or Minnesota. And for profit entities are advising, for a fee, some of the charter/transformation/turnaround. Google Global Partnerships.

As for your voice, you have Bill Gates, Arnie Duncan and President Obama signing your tune. All command the media's attention. The other side has Kozol, Ravitch and Meier. One side politicians and executives, the other research and careerist.

And think on this, the charter coalition was quietly pushing for great autonomity in the sense that it does not believe its schools should be bound by union rules. Remember KIPP threaten to close if it had to abide by union pay rules. Also there was a push to have outside private agencies given the authority to grant charters.

And AP, seems a little factious to make statement for the "vast majority" we you talk of only a few schools?