“My students cannot learn that.” This phrase has been uttered by many within the realm of education. There is a culture of hand-holding that does not allow our students to learn and retain information. I have witnessed this praxis and pedagogy as a teacher of record, in addition to being a teacher that was asked to sit-in because of credential issues with a first-year. It all amounts to sending students out into the world ill-prepared to be critical thinkers. Sending students into the workforce without the analytical skills needed to process complex tasks. Sending students to college unable to access the curriculum because their teachers never allowed them to “take the leap”.This piece isn't about schools, in general, it is a critique of charters that sell the dream of upward mobility and success for its students. I am not saying all charter schools are missing the mark. On the contrary, I witnessed the various successes at an event that highlighted and showcased these schools of excellence, but this is not the norm is the charter world. 

Many charters have teachers that are not prepared to be in a classroom. Teacher preparation programs are theoretical and have limited applicability to what goes in the classroom. While these teachers participate in student teaching during their training, they are not exposed to the pressures that are present in conjunction with being a teacher of record. Numerous curriculums are thrown at them during their training, but they are unable to deep dive and get the ins and outs of just one. These teachers themselves are grappling with the challenges of a curriculum they are not familiar with or it is thrust upon them in a timeframe that does not allow them to gain the confidence to implement it. I see worksheets that are low rigor which articulates to students they are incapable of learning the material which gives the impression of low expectations. These underlying messages of low expectations give way to classrooms that are chaotic, low engagement and low performance. Teachers that do all of the talking and do not allow students to be a part of the learning so they become spectators and not participants.