Opponents of public education have been advocating for "accountability" in the form of state funding being transferred to charter and private schools for some time. However, this "accountability" makes the actions of some in Pennsylvania's Legislature appear very hypocritical. Prior to the general session recessing this summer, the anti-public education contingent attempted to ramrod through a bill that would leave charter and private schools exempt from all standardized testing, which is currently mandatory for Pennsylvania's public schools.
The reality of the situation is this: The guise of "accountability" is just a smoke screen. Elected officials seeking to divert funding from public schools are actually fearful of a level playing field with public education, because they know the majority of trendy private and charter schools cannot compare. It's disheartening to see the young people of this area used as pawns in a game that benefits only a select few.
Jim Krug, Altoona
