EconTalk Sarah Carr on Charter Schools, Educational Reform, and Hope Against Hope
Jun 1, 2020
Sarah Carr, a journalist and author known for her work on education, discusses her book, Hope Against Hope. She shares insights about three charter schools in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, diving into the challenges and successes of educational reform. Carr highlights socio-economic factors that impact student experiences, the mixed results of reforms, and the necessity of trust between educators and students. She emphasizes the importance of holistic support for students and critiques the reliance on programs without addressing deeper issues.
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Katrina's Impact on New Orleans Schools
- Hurricane Katrina transformed New Orleans' education system, creating a charter school network.
- This change, while positive, has fallen short of its potential.
Carr's Research Methodology
- Sarah Carr embedded herself in three New Orleans charter schools to observe their operations firsthand.
- She followed a student, teacher, and principal, each at a different school, for roughly two years.
Student Challenges
- The students in the three schools Carr studied faced significant challenges at home, including poverty and long commutes.
- One student's family couldn't afford city rent, leading to a two-hour commute.
