By George

March 7, 2009 11:38 AM | Link to this

Amazing. Once again the liberal DDN is dumbfounded by the ridiculous behavior of the people they so steadfastly support.It is no secret that Strickland, Obama and most Democrat politicians have no concern for actually improving our education system, otherwise they would adopt common sense ideas that would allow for school competition…just as is done in many European countries who’s kids test scores routinely beat ours. Instead, they preach about the need for more and more taxpayer money that clearly has no effect on learning. But why would any leader stifle the quality of our children’s future-the answer is simple: Big fat donations to Democrats by the teacher’s unions. Crazy, but true. Even crazier is the fact that Democrat voters keep falling for it every election.

By Raoul

March 7, 2009 12:24 PM | Link to this

Hooray for DDN to for coming to the defense of charter schools. Maybe there is hope after all that people will come to senses and see that our public school system is a national disgrace.

By max

March 7, 2009 6:03 PM | Link to this

I love what DECA is able to accomplish and it would be a travesty if it were to be no more. But, there are many other charters that aren’t doing anything except for draining money from the public school system. Can’t get on board with the charter school system.

By Davidss2

March 7, 2009 9:52 PM | Link to this

DECA, SMECKA. It’s time to quit touting unusual success as the typical. Charter schools drain money needed for the public schools. The charter schools cost the public schools in busing. The success of charters has been dismal; remember they were waved as the godsend savior that would show the dumb public school staffs how to do it better. Didn’t happen. So UD can take some of its money and spend it on it’s McGuffey experimental school. The public shouldn’t be paying for it anyhow. We public have our own middle class kids to send to college. Excuse us for not being black, poor, etc., which are reasons for special treatment in your article. Like Stivers DECA can stand on its own or wither. But we shouldn’t cheap the general typical school child as second class to spend state money on experimental schools. I recently saw lack of proper behavior of DECA students at an event where they flat out lied about whether they had violated the rules. When they go to represent a school and do things like that, the school isn’t as effective as the bleeding hearts want to think. So DECA ain’t special in my book.

By Mary

March 8, 2009 8:31 AM | Link to this

I found something to agree and disagree with just about every comment so far on this editorial, but actually pretty much agreed with the editorial. (That’s scary.) The editorial seemed to be more enlightened than education editorials of the past. Now, if only the editorial board realized suburban students also need choices and opportunities. Suburban schools with excellent ratings do not hack it for many students. The Governor’s budget, as it stands, would also undercut funding for gifted intervention specialists, teachers and coordinators. What about these suburban and urban students whose educational needs and talents are repeatedly put at low priority in school districts across the state? Where is that editorial?

By Mary

March 8, 2009 8:39 AM | Link to this

Relevant to my previous comment - a “My Turn” column in last week’s Newsweek by a Beavercreek mom about her gifted daughter and autistic son. See www.newsweek.com/id/186960

By Walt

March 8, 2009 2:23 PM | Link to this

When Strickland holds up the bar for the public schools at the same height as the charter schools, take another look. This is absolutely nuts.

By Vic

March 8, 2009 2:49 PM | Link to this

I voted for Governor Strickland, but may not again because he can’t seem to save the baby when he tries to dispose of the dirty bathwater. He did it with the Twin Valley mental facility, and now he just might kill the Dayton Early College Academy. Is he just another politician who takes a basically good idea (kill what doesn’t work) and fouls it up beyond all recognition?

By School Supporter

March 8, 2009 3:25 PM | Link to this

DDN writes, “Go figure how it makes sense for the governor to dock schools that already are doing a lot with a little.” DDN mistakes school superintendents (who are, in fact, “doing a lot with a little”) with Columbus. Our state government is free to pay premium prices for adequacy. Were excellence on a shoestring part of the Governor’s plan, Professor Odden’s (U Wisconsin) work wouldn’t be the principal source behind Ohio’s Evidence Based Model.

By Butch S.

March 8, 2009 6:11 PM | Link to this

The successful private school has been a positive asset for young people. It has provided a high graduation rate and college entrances way above average. The taxes paid by the parents of the private school attendee’s are not used for their child but instead are directed to someone else. They pay again for the private education while their tax money is spent elsewhere. They are paying double for the privilege to make this choice. They are only asking for a little of their money back. We are paying through the nose for education in public system but something is missing. Some satisfaction is found in the success of private education and in many cases with less money spent per student. When are people going to realize the government does not always know best. Thanks for listening.

By Frank

March 8, 2009 7:41 PM | Link to this

Governor Strickland’s shot at Chapter schools and his total budget and direction of his administration is to show the people of Ohio he is doing “something.” What I am puzzled, except that in reality all he is doing is trying whatever strategy he can to get votes for his upcoming campaign for the U.S. Senate! Right Gov???

By Nancy Ruther

March 8, 2009 8:48 PM | Link to this

I cannot believe that our Governor is so shortshighted as to want to un-fund some of the best education facilities in Dayton, i.e the very best charter schools. DECA and ISUS are two of the finest. Why else would educators from all over the country visit Dayton to see how these schools operate. If Stivers were a charter it probably would not have to seek such a large cash outlay from its Seedling Foundation. Certainly, some charters should be closed, but keep the good and great schools, public or charter. Each and every child deserves the best educational program, tailored to individual needs.

By John Beatty

March 8, 2009 8:57 PM | Link to this

My name is John Beatty and i attend the Dayton Early College Academy. We as a school have made tremendous accomplishments in the short amount of time that we were open. DECA allows us students that attend this school prepares us for college and help us chose our career paths. We have internships, job shadows, and take college classes. We have just had our Mock Trial Team reach the State competition. DECA has also personally helped me because our teachers are like our families and my homeroom teacher adopted me to get me out of a horrible situation with my family. DECA has a great graduation rate and everyone that leaves DECA goes to college. A DECA graduate that attends Xavier University made freshman of the year. I don’t care about what others say about DECA they have not had the experience of this school unless they personally attended DECA and see how good this school really is. So overall it is wrong of Strickland to cut charter schools out of the budget because students that attend these schools are expected to do great things and is Dayton’s future.

By davidss2

March 9, 2009 3:36 PM | Link to this

It’s nice to hear that a student feels DECA is doing well. It’s a lab school sponsored by UD. I see absolutely NO reason the taxpayers of Ohio should be funding it. That’s especially so when it’s taking money away from the rest of the students in the city and the state. Indeed most charters aren’t doing well at all; if they hadn’t had cheerleaders with the past Republican holders in Ohio and DC, they wouldn’t have hung on as long as they did. Congratulations to the DECA Mock Trial team. I hope they didn’t break any rules in getting to next level of competition.

By Davidss2

March 9, 2009 3:41 PM | Link to this

Re paying double. They are welcome to use the public schools. That’s the idea of the funding method guaranteeing a public education. If someone chooses to do otherwise, that’s their choice; don’t whine about it. If ISUS and DECA are so wonderful that people come from all around the country (other than the charter instigators seeking ideas) then those folk can donate. I’m sure if they’re doing the job so well, they can find real funding from other sources rather than from the other schools in Dayton City and the State of Ohio’s public schools. They have rights too, you know.

By Mary

March 9, 2009 8:43 PM | Link to this

Davidss2, regarding taking money from other students, I am under the impression public schools receive and spend more public dollars per student on average than DECA probably does. What is important is how that education opportunity works for these students. The public education system also spends more on certain students than others. Well known are the extra dollars spent on mentally and physically disabled. I would say public schools invest more dollars on gifted athletes than other students - maybe less dollars on gifted students. Gifted students are many times crammed into larger classes because administrators assume they do not have “educational needs” or rights. OSU suupposedly spends three times more on athletes than what it spends on students studying for degrees in education. So public schools are all over the map in what they invest in different students.

By DECA fan

March 10, 2009 5:48 PM | Link to this

As a mentor for a DECA student, I see first hand what this type of educational program offers to its students. They are exposed to an effective style of learning coupled with a caring environment provided by a special staff who teach and also advise each student on an ongoing basis.

By I support my child's education

March 11, 2009 5:56 PM | Link to this

Everyone should be able to choose where their child attends school. As a city employee I am not. I knew that I was not happy with the school that my child would have to attend. I started to look for alternatives. I was very impressed with the charter school that my child now attends right away. This is her third year she has been at the charter school and she is doing excellent. The teachers are incredible. I think that each school should be looked at seperately, and not lumped together as a whole. I think it would be wrong for Strickland to cut funding to charter schools. If he wants every child to attend public school, than fix them.

By Deca Parent

March 11, 2009 6:45 PM | Link to this

From reading a lot of the comments here, it is apparent that most people think and believe that All deca students are from non-college educated parents. In my child’s situation, that is not the case. She comes from both parents being college educated as well as her grandparents. So please remove the stygma and perception that all students that attend this academy come from this type of family situation. My child attends this school after attending private schools all her life and realizing in the last few years, these institutions are no longer private. They have become overpopulated with the edchoice students whom for the most part have brought down the education standards at a lot of these schools due to the admittance of students from lower performing schools to attempt to better their educational experiences. This is and was a great concept in small numbers, but a number of schools now have more edchoice students that regular paying students, hence the reason DECA became an option to consider for parents who want the best for their children at the lowest economical cost. DECA has made great strides in the six years that it has been in exsistence and feserves the chance to continue to touch the lives of the students and families that are willing to open the door to a great opportunity and educational experience. If DECA becomes a fatality of these Ohio educational budget cuts, I personally will feel that Ohio would have failed my student by allowing her private education to be dismantled by government interference and destroying an opportunity for her to experience and achieve at a level that a number of highly acclaimed private schools around the area aren’t nationally recognized for.

By Ivy

July 3, 2009 9:37 PM | Link to this

Hi everyone. What if this weren’t a hypothetical question? I am from Spain and , too, and now am writing in English, give true I wrote the following sentence: “Impressive, good sir! Again, as a society I feel that we would be much better served if we would work towards affordable health care not affordable health insurance more affordable health care more people will have access to health care.” Best regards ;-), Ivy.

By Jenica

September 9, 2009 12:07 PM | Link to this

Hi everyone. So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable. I am from Malta and now teach English, give please true I wrote the following sentence: “Sarah palin ca accurately carry to my help.” Thank :o Jenica.

By Kara

October 15, 2009 9:33 AM | Link to this

This reminds me of a recent report published by Policy Matters Ohio entitled “Ready to Learn: Ohio Assessment Shows Charters, Magnets Get Head Start.” The report found that when compared to entering kindergartners in district neighborhood schools, children entering charter and magnet schools in several of Ohio’s urban school districts performed significantly better on the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment-Literacy (KRA-L), which is taken as students begin school and reflects preparation for school rather than outcomes from school.