Interview with Joseph, Student at Friendship Public Charter School and Ken Campbell on Geography: The World Really is Flat
6 September 2006, 1:00 PM EDT
Read more about Joseph, Student at Friendship Public Charter School
Read more about Ken Campbell
Transcript
colleen:
Good afternoon Joseph and Ken. Thanks for being with us today. Can you get the discussion started by giving us a paragraph or two about yourself?
Ken Campbell:
Hi. I am Kenneth Campbell, and for the past 2 1/2 years, I have been helping to develop new charter schools in Doha, Qatar. Prior to that I worked helping to set up new charter schools across the United States. My US home now is Atlanta.
Jena Martin:
Do you think that the perception of education in general needs to be changed in the lower income communities before it can make a real impact. Culturally, education and the pursuit of it in many low-income communities is not held in high esteem.
Joseph, Student at Friendship Public Charter School:
Yes, the perception of education in the lower income communities needs to be changed; however, it will not happen until schools stop "Warehousing" their Students.
Paul Anthony:
Do you think US educational policy is placing enough emphasis on science and math literacy to ensure this country's future competitiveness?
Ken Campbell:
Good question. I think we do need more emphasis on science and math literacy to ensure our competitiveness. However, in our society, with so many different options for students and so many different ways for students to achieve success, I think it will be difficult to convince students and families that greater emphasis on science and math is important. But, to give you a since of how important those subjects are, in Doha charter schools are required to teach math and science in English instead of Arabic to increase competitiveness of Qatari students.
Joseph, Student at Friendship Public Charter School:
No, because if you examine the statistics of industrialized countries over the past 10 years the U.S. is near the end in math and science. The U.S. needs to change its policy on math and science very soon or risk being “moved” out of the competition all together.
Erica H.:
What other countries have charter schools?
Ken Campbell:
Erica,
We have charter schools in Qatar. There are 46 schools serving between 400 and 650 students each. Plans call for 20-30 charter schools to be started each year for the next 3-4 years. It's a very fast pace.
We have charter schools in Qatar. There are 46 schools serving between 400 and 650 students each. Plans call for 20-30 charter schools to be started each year for the next 3-4 years. It's a very fast pace.
Joseph, Student at Friendship Public Charter School:
Many countries have schools similar to charter schools; however, their not called charter schools. For example, some Turkish Public schools are organized similar to charter schools.
Maisha Washington:
How are these issues being addressed successfully - can you give examples of best practice from the united states and globally
Joseph, Student at Friendship Public Charter School:
These issues are starting to be addressed in the "USA No Child Left Behind Act”, the act requires schools to better prepare their students to compete in the globally "economy". On the globally level these issues are already being addressed, such as in the Turkish educational system.
Erica H.:
Joseph and Ken, can you extrapolate on Joseph's answer regarding what needs to be done to change the perception of education in lower-income communities?
Ken Campbell:
First, I think it would be a mistake to assume that there needs to be a wholesale change in the perception of education lower-income communities. I know without a doubt that the vast majority of low-income families value education very highly. The bigger question is how do we help those families get engaged in the education process in meaningful ways. Additionally, how do we change traditional power structures so that low-income parents and their views are valued.