Here's a little story that shows the power of the parents in the educational system---We know what's best for our kids.
When Cutie was just conceived and Ant was in preschool, I realized that my kids would be spending the majority of their childhood in school--an environment that wasn't under my control. I had grown up in this area with this school district and, frankly, I didn't trust the system. I was concerned about the lack of discipline in the children, and the lack of education being offered. I was also concerned about the bus ride, the place where, as a child, I witnessed many p*rverted things. Our neighborhood children were originally assigned to go to the nearest school a mile-and-a-half away, but when Ant was four, the district re-drew the boundaries and we found out that our kids would have to take a lengthy bus ride to another school in the district's half-hearted efforts to keep up with the area's growth.
This was unacceptable to me, and I began looking for alternative methods of educating my kids. I dismissed the idea of private education--we just cannot afford it. I would consider homeschool except, at that time, I really needed Ant to be out of the house and dh wasn't supportive of the homeschool choice. It was around this time that people in my older sister's area of town were forming a charter school, a public school. My sister would go to the board meetings and call and tell me all the exciting things they were going to do to provide a safe environment and accelerated learning. It sounded fabulous to me but there were some things that didn't sit right with me. 1) We lived outside their attendance area, which would give us the lowest priority in their lottery and make our chances of being chosen minute. 2) If we did make it in, I'd have to drive my kids about 40 minutes to and from school. 3) The kids would have to wear uniforms, which was fine, but more formal than my ideal. I said to my sister that I wished SOMEONE would form a school like that in my area.
I called the district and asked the public liason if anyone had expressed interest in forming a charter school in the area (at that time, a petitioner would have to express their intent with the district's board). The answer was no. I guess that SOMEONE I wished for will have to be me. Now, understand, I don't have a teaching or educational administration degree. I do have an associates in business (office education) so I'm qualified to be a secretary, but I also have neighbors, friends, e-mail access, a phone, an inquiring mind, and the desire to provide a safe and challenging school for my kids.
First, I made a few phone calls to established and successful charter schools to find out how they began. They gave me the number of someone at the local university who e-mailed me the state law regarding charter schools which would guide us through the petition process. She told me that we would have to write a charter document explaining how we plan to meet the requirements of the law and submit it to our local district which will hold hearings and then they may (or may not) approve us. And by the way, she said, be sure to define who the school's founders will be and give their children first priority to attend the school. After all, wouldn't it be a bummer if you do all this work for the school and your kids don't even get to attend it?
After reading the law, and finding it quite understandable, I then e-mailed my neighbors and friends in the area. I asked who might be interested in making a new charter school, and who would like to go with me to visit the different types of charters in the area. Maybe we would find a program we would could copy. I had between 4-8 moms say they would like to check it out, so I set up some tours.
This is getting too long so come read part 2 tomorrow. I need to get some laundry in the washer.
Part 2
Part 3
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