I am a single mother of 3 children and choose to send my children to charter schools. I love the charter schools. They offer a variety in styles of teaching. They take time to listen to the parents and work hard to achieve what goals the parents would really like the school to meet.

All three of my children attend art schools. I feel that this enriches their school time by exposing them to the arts which in public schools, you do not have. Also, my two oldest children have a dance class everyday that really pushes them. With obesity so high in America, I believe it is important that they have some kind of physical exercise everyday, not once a week. What is better then an exercise class that they will actually enjoy rather then one based around sports when not all children are into sports.

Recently, some parents that have chosen to send their children to charter schools have started being harassed by the public schools. I do not find this acceptable at all. We are adults and the parents of these children. We should be able to choose where they go to school and what we would like them to learn. The public schools are over crowded now as it is and if they received all of the children from the charter schools, I am not sure where they would put them or how worse the education would become. I feel like, as a parent, my opinion does not matter to the public schools or how they are educating my child.

Not all charter schools are good schools and this is where our job as a parent comes in. We need to research these schools and find one that will fit our children. Then we need to become involved in the school so our voices are heard.

If you do choose to send your child to a charter school and find yourself being harassed for your decision, do not let it deter you. Call your state legislator, your mayor, your city council. Write letters to your local media. Whatever you have to do to make sure to let them know that you are not going to accept this harassment.