Towson Takeover

It has recently been announced that Towson University will take over several Cherry Hill schools in Baltimore City. Although this is not a new endeavor (Talent Development HS is but one example of a university partnership with BCPSS) it is still a significant structural change for those schools involved. According to one Baltimore Sun article (http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.universities27apr27,1,7679570.story?ctrack=1&cset=true) the success of higher education take over of public schools is questionable. In theory it seems that a university-run public school would be better than a corporate run or privately run school, but this is not always the case. According to the article linked above often times the universities use these schools as testing grounds or “labs,” jeopardizing the education of the students. Other schools – like Rosemont Elementary/Middle – have done a 180 since entering into a partnership with a local university.

Mixed success aside, I am continually struck by the same fundamental issue – why must we outsource our education? Whether we are talking about charter schools or voucher programs or university partnerships, I still fail to understand why we are looking to outside sources to solve the ills of our public schools? We are continually relinquishing control in an attempt to temporarily solve the problems we encounter. Yet we are deliberately ignoring conversations about the fundamental obstacles and inequities in our public education system. Perhaps to an urban mother who wants the best for her child this is not the primary concern, but for those leaders of education policy this conversation is conspicuously absent. Until it is brought to the forefront I do not foresee any long term, positive solutions. And if we continue down this path of outsourcing I wonder if public schools will all but disappear.