A number of schoolteachers in Rutherford County took advantage of a public comment form in order to speak out against what would be a competing charter school in the county.
In the open public comments, 255 of 311 comments were in favor of Rutherford County Schools, meaning that about four in five commenters said they did not want the American Classical Academy, a Hillsdale College-affiliated school, to open in the county.
But 45 of the 255, or one in about five of the respondents who were against the charter school, listed themselves as teachers in Rutherford County Schools.
The Rutherford County Schools director of communications posted on the district’s Facebook page and website the district’s opposition to granting the charter to ACA Rutherford, and invited comments to the commission. Sources tell The Tennessee Star the director of communications also sent emails to all district employees to that effect.
The charter school is currently appealing a decision to bar it from opening in the county.
One teacher, Tammy Anselmo of Rutherford County Schools, called the Hillsdale-affiliated charter school “extreme.”
“I am writing to ask that the appeal for American Classical Academy be denied. The lack of transparency and accountability by the organization will harm students and waste taxpayer dollars,” Anselmo said. “Also, the curriculum taught by American Classical Academy is from an extreme viewpoint which should not be considered truth for all. The curriculum is more consistent with a private school curriculum. If parents wish to choose to send their child to this school, funding should NOT be removed from the public schools for a private education.”
Others, like teacher Dawn Fritz, say Rutherford County Schools are good enough.
“I think a charter school option for areas where the school system is failing to provide a high quality education for their students might be needed. Rutherford County Schools is not one of these systems,” said Fritz. “If funding is taken away from the Rutherford County Schools system to fund public charter schools, I think the high level of education our students receive will suffer. I do not feel that charter schools for Rutherford County are a good option.”
The American Classical Academy in Montgomery County is facing similar issues.
The principal of that school, Phil Schwenk, joined The Star News Network’s Editor in Chief and CEO Michael Patrick Leahy on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy, and said he cares deeply about staff who teach the children in his schools.
He said:
I need to find out if you care deeply about kids, and if you love kids. If you don’t, kids don’t deserve to have you in front of them. And I’m that upfront about it.
So if I can get a bunch of people who care deeply about kids and they know what they’re talking about and they want to model not only being a learned person, but a virtuous person, that person often is quite dedicated to the kids that they serve.
The other part, of course, is I see myself as a leader, as a servant, I serve them. The reason why schools are open or for kids, and then the primary servant to the child is the teacher in the classroom.
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[Editor’s Note: American Classical Education is an advertiser in The Tennessee Star.]
Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Rutherford County Board of Education Building” by Rutherford County Schools.Â
Imagine that! Public school teachers oppose competition. What are these wonderful results that the teachers brag about? Are the kids graduating with 90% to 100% proficiency? I really doubt it. Probably closer to 50%. Maybe it is not the teachers who are failing. Could it the be administration that boldly claims love for the students? I guess one could love the students and still fail to provide a quality education. Who is the genius who decided to give the school district a say in whether or not a charter school can be started in that district. Lee? Haslam? Schwinn? It is the old “fox watching the henhouse” story!
Public funding should follow the student always
Parents hv the right to make decisions in the best interest in the education of their children
Rutherford County is expanding at a terrific rate, government usually lags behind, ACA can adapt quicker to public needs
What are the unions so scared of?
Would unions be just as obstinate against a religious school whether it be Christian or Muslim?
How about a vo-tech academy primarily focused on career opportunities after high school?
Are unions prepared to block these schools that actually prepare students for their future?
VOTE JOHN GENTRY
Once again academic administrators flex their muscle in there never ending pursuit to fleece taxpayers. T Let the public decide where best to educate their children. Stop teaching hate and division as a means to your rotten end.