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davis_square2011-12-08 12:42 pm
klauspood.livejournal.com) wrote in davis_square2011-12-08 12:42 pm
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Proposed new charter school
There is a proposal for a new charter school in Somerville. The state (DESE) will be reviewing the application for the next few weeks and will possibly grant the charter on February 28th. If granted this charter school will undermine the existing Somerville Public Schools by reducing school funding by nearly $5 million a year, which is almost 10% of the current school budget. This cut in funding will lead to devastating cuts in public school programs, loss of 60 -75 teachers, and potentially closure of an entire school. This would represent a huge set back for public education in Somerville, setting back much of the progress that has been made in our schools in the last 25 years.
There will be a public hearing by the DESE on this on December 14 2011 at Somerville High School. More info can be found at:
https://sites.google.com/site/progresstogetherforsomerville
http://www.thesomervillenews.com/archives/21168
http://www.doe.mass.edu/news/news.aspx?id=6532
Re: Seriously, Seriously?!
Nothing of the sort. Don't twist my words. Firstly, I'm not claiming they're all racist. Secondly, you can be racist against blacks while supportive of immigrants; you don't have to be white anglo to be racist either.
However, this school is definitely not "designed and aimed at serving immigrants". The ELL aspect of the school is *inferior* to that which is currently in Somerville schools, and was tacked on late to give the proposal some weight and chance of success. I think this list archive is open to the public: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/somerville-4-schools/message/3862
> This democratic charter school is the most liberal thing I've ever seen in Somerville
Really!? The most liberal. It's utterly anti-liberal. Don't be lead astray by the "Progressive" in the name - that's a 100 year old educational term and is nothing to do with progressive politics. It's removing education from the control of democratically elected school boards to put public money in private hands. It calls itself "democratic" but then puts hurdles in the way of that democracy (can't run for office without spending time in the classroom) which will make elected office primarily for upper-middle class parents. It's all about dividing the school system into a two tier system for the haves and have-nots - leaving the SPS to pick up the pieces.
Try to see past the propaganda of the proposal and the proposers. For an excellent outline of why this is not the most liberal thing *anyone* has seen recently, read this excellent post: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/somerville-4-schools/message/3851
These questions should be asked of the organizers.
Re: These questions should be asked of the organizers.
I started out neutral and interested, but every new bit of information I discover has led me to be suspicious and now hostile to their intents. My utter lack of confidence in them and their ability to run a school would be enough on its own for me to object. However, the damage, division and inequity it brings to the city's school system adds to my misgivings.
It's only very recently they've put content on their website in response to the outcry over their secrecy with which they have been trying to push this through. They deny any secrecy, but as I said, the sheer numbers of involved parents who were completely unaware of this application belies that.
Re: These questions should be asked of the organizers.