Series Designed to Develop “A Community Response to the Privatization of Public Education”
Starting in July, the Mobile County NAACP will facilitate the first in a series of community discussions on Alabama’s new charter school laws and its potential impact on issues such as school re-segregation, poverty, low- and high-achieving students, the right to public education, and more.
The first community discussion is set for Thursday, July 16, at Vigor High School Auditorium from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Academic professionals and experts will share data and their perspectives on Mobile Public Schools in general and how the new charter law can impact local public education specifically.
Mobile NAACP President Ronald Ali says the forums are not necessarily for or against charter schools. Rather, they are designed to make a confusing issue clearer to the community.
“No one knows — not even the school board and other education professionals — exactly how this charter school legislation will impact our students. So we can’t leave anything to chance,” Ali says.
Education Chair David Smith says the local NAACP branch has a duty to lead community discussions about this vitally important topic. “Our community must be aware and deeply involved in this issue for the sake of our children, our future. We can’t just hope that potential charter school operators will diligently and effectively educate our students,” he says. “If they come, we have to make sure they do.”
The July forum features an hour-long panel presentation from education professionals and experts, including those who are both for and against charter schools. The second hour is a question-and-answer session from the community. Municipal Judge and Attorney Karlos Finley will serve as the moderator.
The next charter school forum is set for Thursday, August 20, at the Ben May Public Library’s auditorium from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The topic will be, “The Moral Imperative for Parental Involvement in Children’s Education.”
The third and final forum in September will also serve as a call to action. It will be followed by a targeted door-to-door campaign to raise parental awareness about the issues surrounding the implementation of charter schools in Mobile.
