The Tribune’s Chicago Forward session Wednesday on school choice was excellent. Therefore, I was very disappointed to read “The question of choice,” the editorial about the debate.
As the editorial said, the session was feisty, combative, engrossing and candid. But the editorial unfortunately made no attempt to capture both sides of the argument and instead advocated for charter schools.
Jitu Brown, of the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization, clearly dominated the panel. Armed with data, he was a powerful voice for the devastating effects of school closures on African American and Latino children and for the importance of neighborhood schools. He made a strong and persuasive argument for equity.
However, you barely mentioned him, only indirectly covering a few of his points through questions. Half of the editorial was in praise of Tim King, founder and CEO of Urban Prep Academy and Beth Purvis, CEO of International Charter Schools.
If, as you conclude, school choice requires convincing Chicagoans that it does not come at the expense of neighborhood schools, this editorial was not a good start.
— Anne Hallett, Chicago
