To the Editor:
The Commentary “It’s Time for Public Schools and Public Charters to Work Together” (Jan. 12, 2011) comes at the perfect time. In education, we talk about having our students cooperate and collaborate. As adults, we need to walk the talk.
Schools have much to learn from each other. When I recently was writing a book about boys and how they can achieve academic success in elementary school, I visited several charter schools where boys, despite challenging economic conditions, were engaged in the curriculum and succeeding academically. Likewise, in the “regular” public schools, I see many exciting curricula that should be shared with charter schools. An example: “The Teachers College Reading and Writing” project in the Berkeley, Calif., public schools. Just as we are encouraging politicians to put differences aside and work for the common good, we in education must collaborate and bridge differences, to enhance our profession and serve our children and families with all the tools, knowledge, and integrity we can offer.
Rebecca Wheat
Berkeley, Calif.
