Ehrlich speaks the international language of politics
Former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. visited a Baltimore charter school today and -- in addition to dispensing advice to the student council -- said he would be announcing his education platforms in the coming weeks.
"I love charter schools," Ehrlich told a group of students and teachers at Baltimore International Academy, adding that he'd come there "to highlight what you're doing at this school."
Maryland began approving charter schools during Ehrlich's first term in office. The Republican is seeking to reclaim the seat from Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley, who defeated him in 2006.
At his visit to the academy, Ehrlich said his education plan would include ways to "strengthen and expand" charter schools. Two months ago, the day he announced his candidacy, Ehrlich vowed to double the number of charter schools. There are now 42, the vast majority of them in Baltimore, according to the Maryland Charter School Network. Charter schools are independently operated but publicly funded and monitored by school boards.
Baltimore International Academy, in its third year of operation, enrolls 348 kids from kindergarten through seventh grade. Children receive their lessons, from reading to math, in a language such as Chinese or French.
Ehrlich ducked into a classroom conducted in Chinese and chatted with kindergartners learning Spanish. He spoke with the student council, a handful of seventh graders who were eager for his advice.
One child asked, "How many years of school does it take to become governor?" Ehrlich told them he'd had 19 years of education, including law school. The former governor joked with the two students who were elected to serve on the student-parent council. What campaign promises did you make? (Pizza usually works, he said.)
Comments
Was Ehrlich there on official Womble Carlye business? WBAL?
Posted by: John | June 9, 2010 4:19 PM
At least none of these was bored to sleep!
Posted by: Anonymous | June 9, 2010 4:39 PM
How many charter schools did Ehrlich add when he was Governor? How many under O'Malley? Maybe something to include as a journalist, Julie?
We seem to be forgetting that THIS GUY WAS GOVERNOR! There's a record that shows that all of these things he's proposing (or not) weren't done when he had the chance to do them! Where is the Baltimore Sun in pointing out this obvious fact?
Posted by: Scottie | June 9, 2010 6:22 PM
There has been criticism that charter schools are filtering out the motivated students & parents from the regular public schools. I wonder what Ehrlich thinks about that accusation?
Also, there is criticism that charters will lead to the privatization of education.
Also, I wonder what he thinks of the Race to the Top conditions, such as linking test scores to teacher pay. Maybe we will find out in the next few weeks as he announces his "education platforms."
Posted by: Laura | June 9, 2010 7:56 PM
The Charter School law passed in 2003 when Governor Ehrlich was Governor and only passed because of his active effort to pass the legislation. Prior to Governor Ehrlich's effort a charter school bill had been languishing in the Maryland legislature for more than a decade. Additionally Governor O'Malley had an opportunity to strengthen the Maryland Charter School law as a condition to increase the state's eligibility for race to the top dollars and he chose not to saying that the current law which is rated the 40th weakest law in the country was fine. Finally charter schools do not "filter" anyone out. The state law requires that children and their families are chosen through a lottery. Everyone fills out an application stating their interest and then there is a random lottery for the slots available. Whoever "wins" the lottery is who gets in.
Posted by: Education Advocate | June 9, 2010 9:01 PM
What a goofy pose in the picture. Ehrlich: "Let's rap, kids. (man is this chair digging into my thigh)"
Why not include the test score comparisons between charter schools and the city public schools? Sometimes Ehrlich's "good intentions" run into the buzz saw of reality. Charter schools perform worse than the rest.
From the San Francisco Chronicle:
"But other charter schools are struggling. According to a report issued by the Center for Research on Education Outcomes at Stanford University, just 17 percent of charter schools had academic gains that were better than traditional public schools, while 37 percent showed worse results, and nearly half demonstrated no significant difference at all."
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/kalw/detail?entry_id=65336#ixzz0qSO3u9w2
Posted by: IPFrehley | June 10, 2010 9:34 AM
@Educationadvocate is wrong on several points. Ehrlich had nothing to do passing the Charter Law as Governor. Sure he took the credit but he did nothing to advocate for it or influence it. He doesn't know anything about any of the policies he advocates, he is as they say, a mile wide an inch deep. As far as not skimming good students that is also wrong. Yes, there is a lottery for school enrollment but it takes a savvy, engaged parent to jump through the hoops of the lottery process. Charter schools do indeed "filter out" those students whose parents are not engaged in educating their child. Parental involvement is a huge part of educating a child. It should not be discounted.
Posted by: betty | June 11, 2010 12:37 PM