Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 19, 1995 TAG: 9501190128
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But blacks are insulted by the political strategy and won't be taken in, said Jeff Artis, who also publishes The Black Conservative Newsletter.
Artis, a teacher at Patrick Henry High School, on Wednesday announced the formation of the Charter School Advocacy Group, which will lobby for legislation that would allow the creation of charter schools.
Charter schools have become a heated issue in the Roanoke Valley because state Sen. Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke County, will introduce a charter bill for Gov. George Allen.
Most Democratic politicians strongly object to the semiautonomous schools, saying they will siphon off money from regular schools.
Charter schools are experimental schools that would be financed with public funds but be largely self-governed and operated under a contract requiring them to achieve certain results.
At a recent meeting of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors, Del. Clifton ``Chip'' Woodrum, D-Roanoke, said the charter school concept sounded like the all-white academies that were opened in the '60s to avoid racial integration.
Artis said blacks are offended by the implication that charter schools would be attended mainly by white students.
Woodrum, contacted after the news conference, said it was unfortunate that people might have been offended, but he didn't mention Artis or any individual by name.
Artis said the real issue in the debate over charter schools is the quality of education. He said charter schools also would allow administrators and teachers to deal effectively with discipline problems.
In regular schools, teachers are afraid to crack down on discipline problems because they might be labeled a racist, he said.
``They don't have the guts to do what needs to be done to solve the problem,'' Artis said. ``They are terrified about being branded a racist.''
Charter schools would have smaller classes, and teachers could spend more time with each student, he said.
Some black parents and voters are apprehensive about change and are being being swayed by Democratic politicians, he said.
Artis said Bell's office sent out a news release about the news conference, but Bell did not arrange it. However, Artis said he has offered to help Bell any way he can
``We want to help educate the people about charter schools,'' he said. ``Charter schools would not be controlled by the religious right, and they would not be private schools.''
by CNB