Letters: Philadelphia charter school advocates dispute Philadelphia Daily News columnist John Baer on 'Waiting for 'Superman'

JOHN BAER says he "did his homework" as suggested by Gov. Corbett by watching "Waiting for 'Superman,' " the acclaimed Davis Guggenheim documentary on the state of public schools in America.

It seems Baer completed only part of his assignment. If he compared the film to Philadelphia schools - many students will drop out before ninth grade, parents eagerly want choice for their children - he'd find it to be an accurate account of public education and a serious case for scaling up the success of highly effective charter schools so more families would have the education options they so desperately seek.

A Pew study showed that parents in Philadelphia overwhelmingly support choice for their children, as evidenced by the nearly 30,000 on charter waiting lists. Three city charters held admission lotteries earlier this month. Of nearly 3,000 applicants, fewer than 100 saw their numbers come up.

Families are "Waiting for 'Superman' " because success in school is a gateway to success in life.

Parents and students must be allowed to choose the potential for success - not stuck in default schools but schools that have a proven track record for helping kids succeed.

Naomi Johnson Booker, president

Jurate Krokys, vice president

Philadelphia Charters for Excellence

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Re Marc Lamont Hill on school security:

Mr. Hill, this is 2011, not the '50s, when Wally and the Beaver went to school, [or the '60s, when] everything was dandy in Mayberry.

You need these metal detectors.

You have hardened or wannabe criminals or even scared children who come to school with weapons. If they don't try to bring them inside, they hide them outside for easy access. Yes, the detectors are an eyesore, but are there to protect staff and the students who want to learn.

Tommy Henry, Philadelphia

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Who can we trust in this "war" in Libya? It's said al Qaeda is infiltrating the rebels. One evil fighting another.

George J. Walton, Upper Darby