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Former New York City Councilwoman Eva Moskowitz on the success of charter schools, finding good teachers and increasing academic rigor.
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-- just three cents.
Well -- Democrats and lifetime liberals seem to be coming around to the idea of charter schools Eva Moskowitz is one of those people now she serves on the New York City Council.
For years but now she runs a successful the success academy.
Charter schools he also the co author of the new book about charter school's mission.
Possible.
As he joins us -- -- but thanks for joining and thanks for.
First all talk about the book what motivated you to write it what's it all about what's and what's the mission of the mission possible.
That that purpose -- the buck was really to share our success stories -- we really believed that.
All public schools can benefit from some of the work that we're doing.
We have been incredibly successful.
In parts because we emphasize -- -- it's seems really simple but American Public Education woefully.
Underestimate.
What children.
Are capable -- means -- you expect them more academic higher academic standards.
More study time you know all -- of all of the above we just set the bar incredibly hot.
At academically what we expect -- keep kids to be able to do in second grade in.
American public schools it's off and what they expected fourth great why is that why -- why the hell why did we come down to the sort of lowest common denominator.
It's a combination of factors but we're constantly.
Thinking that kids just because they're short they're statement and actually kids are incredibly bright and intelligent.
And we need to treat them.
As the Smart capable human beings that they are.
I was on -- a board of a charter school for almost three years in the South Bronx and you know one of the things that that I that I didn't -- this was.
That everyone you know the parents got involved a lot more above one of the key things the first year we started all of our -- threats public school teachers.
And by the third year almost every one of our teachers -- -- from make to Teach for America.
In other words it felt like the public school teachers weren't up to this more rigor that you're describing is that a problem endemic a public schools.
It you know can we be honest about the idea that perhaps.
The unionized teachers are prepared to go the interest that.
Well I actually think it's more endemic and that I think that schools and education are not training teachers.
Adequately enough to appear to teach math you really have to understand fractions and you can't -- the classroom and expect kids to understand fractions if you don't understand fractions as a teacher.
And I think -- -- your take is on that we recently did a documentary and out of work and how we're not actually training kids in school to do anything when they graduate we're all looking to the universities to create.
The jobs in this country.
A would you say that need charter school system is creating you know is producing students that can graduate -- go given jobs that I look.
Not -- charters are great actors to be the freedom to get it right it doesn't mean you necessarily will get it right but I think schools need to.
Not only provide high levels academic learning but also practical training we teach our second -- -- -- type.
And it may sound silly but I think is skill that you can use for employment and so we expect our kids to know -- a -- You know you -- anybody and -- listen you you already well known in the city you know you have -- your your big time in the liberal circles.
And yet that liberals have been very resistant.
Did to to charter schools I mean this is -- and this is amazing I mean where does your resistance come from does -- come from.
Their allegiance -- unions and there doesn't come from what why are they against these -- you know particularly when it comes to minority students today have no faith that these minorities that it can get it.
Well as a lifelong Democrat.
The Democratic Party has been very -- the unions and it's a huge problem for for kids.
But I I also think that I call -- the union political educational complex.
On those forces are incredibly powerful.
And children.
Suffer.
Because we have not had them educational leadership that we need in are you bringing any of them around any what are the book did you really ready for your friends I I read it more -- the American public.
Are you still invited to the Hamptons.
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