S3 E22: Charter Schools, Trump & the Olympics: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Charter Schools

• Charter schools, publicly funded but privately run, have become increasingly popular and have celebrity backers like Puff Daddy and Pitbull.
• Critics argue that charter schools overstate their successes, siphon off talented students, and divert resources from traditional public schools.
• Many charter schools have low quality and high failure rates, with some schools closing down abruptly, leaving students and parents in the lurch.
• The approval process for charter schools is often too easy, allowing schools with questionable qualifications and ethics to operate.
• Charter schools get paid on a per-student basis, which can lead to unethical behavior and mismanagement of funds.
• Charter schools in the United States have been plagued with issues such as lack of oversight, fraud, and misappropriation of funds.

Examples of Issues with Charter Schools

• Harami Institute Charter School in Philadelphia received over $5 million in taxpayer money despite operating an unlicensed and illegal nightclub in its cafeteria.
• The CEO of Harami Institute Charter School pleaded guilty to fraud for embezzling nearly $80,000 from the school.
• Ohio's charter school law has been criticized for being lax, leading to problems such as lack of oversight and misspent public money.
• Some online charter schools report 100% attendance even though students are not actively participating in classes.
• Students in online charter schools have been found to lose the equivalent of 72 days of learning in reading and 180 days in math during a 180-day school year.

Donald Trump's Presidential Campaign

• The speaker criticizes Donald Trump's presidential campaign and his chances of winning the election.
• The speaker suggests that Trump should drop out of the race and expose the flaws in the political system.
• The speaker proposes that Trump could use a children's book called "The Kid Who Ran for President" as an instruction manual for his campaign.
• The speaker highlights the parallels between Trump and the fictional character in the book, who realizes he can control his supporters and becomes disgusted by his fellow Americans.
• The speaker suggests that Trump could deliver a speech similar to the one in the book, expressing shock and disgust at the American people and resigning from the presidency.
• The speaker expresses concern about the state of the United States and the lack of qualified individuals to run the country.
• The speaker criticizes Donald Trump's leadership style and his tendency to blame others for his shortcomings.
• The speaker suggests that Trump deliver a specific speech to the nation, using a podium similar to the one he used at the Republican convention, as a way to prove himself and embrace his destiny as a "Real Life kid who ran for president."
• The speaker extends an invitation to Trump to appear on their show, despite previously stating that he would never be invited, if he agrees to deliver the suggested speech.