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Letters: Letters: Don't pit charter schools against traditional schools

THE DAILY NEWS is right to point out that the School District's new charter school profiles ("Keeping up with Charter Schools," April 4) will help parents by providing basic school information in one easily accessible place.

THE DAILY NEWS is right to point out that the School District's new charter school profiles ("Keeping up with Charter Schools," April 4) will help parents by providing basic school information in one easily accessible place.

Philadelphia Charters for Excellence is a strong supporter of accountability for all public schools, traditional and charter, and we hope this is the start of an era in which parents are given the chance to see the entire playing field before making high-stakes decisions about their children's future.

But what the piece failed to include is that, while some charters do perform worse than their traditional public school counterparts, the vast majority are performing above average and provide the only lifeline to desperate parents searching for a quality education for their children.

Why else would nearly 70,000 Philadelphia families have chosen charter schools for their children, with an estimated 22,000 more on waiting lists?

It is time to stop pitting charters against traditional schools and focus our collective energy on giving all students-regardless of background-access to great schools now.

Amy Ruck Kagan

Executive Director

Philadelphia Charters for Excellence

Villanova coverage

has been great

I've been reading your paper for more years than I can remember. The primary reason why I buy the Daily News is because of the sports section (per my bride of 30 years, I'm a sports junkie).

I hope the people in the town appreciate what superlative sports writers we have in the town! Every one of them brings a unique prospective to what ever sports they cover. Sam Donnellon, Dick Jerardi, Marcus Hayes, David Murphy, Rich Hofmann, John Smallwood and the gang are simply credits to their craft.

What's even more, I love the fact they often share their passion on Comcast's Philly Sports Talk.

Jerardi's columns on the Villanova NCAA run have been nothing short of exceptional. I love the Daily News and hope like hell they continue to publish for many generations to come.

Even with all the technology available, nothing beats actually reading a newspaper, especially when that paper is the Daily News. It is simply one of the highlights of my day!

Chuck Wimer

Coatesville, Pa.

Armstrong wrong

on 'Nova parade

While I usually don't read Jenice Armstrong's columns, I did read her piece on the Villanova parade, which rubbed me the wrong way.

First, let me state that I am happy for Villanova. Congrats!!

Armstrong writes that it's no big deal for taxpayers to cover $6,500 of the bill for the parade in Philly, that it's peanuts! Well, guess what? I, the taxpayer, want my peanuts spent on the struggling Philadelphia School District. I wonder how many books can $6,500 buy? Even if it buys, 10 I'm satisfied.

This city kills me. They find money for everything except the children, who get the short end of the stick, so, Jenice Armstrong, please shut up.

Kim Coursey

Philadelphia