Education

It seems the worst of all paradoxes that in America - the shining city on a hill, the bastion of hope and freedom in the world - that we would even have to consider whether parents should have the right to choose where and how their children are educated. But, for the vast majority - particularly those who cannot afford another option - that is the reality. Today, political realities being what they are, it is fashionable to criticize and demean George W. Bush. But, when he speaks of the "soft bigotry of low expectations," he is dead right on. Too many low-income children are being denied the opportunity to pursue the blessings of America because they are condemned to receive a less that adequate education. Whether you're born on the other side of the tracks in a low income family, as an ethnic minority, with a single parent, or no biological parent to take care of you - the promise of America is for you, too, and it begins with a good education.

We are a people who believe that it is our birthright to choose how or if we worship, where we live, and where we work. We believe we have the right to speak our mind openly, even if that means criticizing our government – even, or especially, the President. We believe we can go where we want, when we want, do what we want simply because we are Americans. We have rights – liberties – freedom – and we get to pick and choose our own course for life, pretty much rising and falling of our own doing. If we work hard and make the right choices, the benefits and blessings of this great country will come our way. If we make bad choices and don't give it our all, the responsibility for our failings rest on our shoulders, too. That's the way freedom works. A nation dedicated to the "life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness" of her people naturally wants all of her people to enjoy the fullness of their potential. There are reasons to wonder if we are doing all that we must to insure that promise at this moment in our state and nation's history.

This issue, A Line of Sight begins to examine one of Colorado's and our nation's most disturbing and challenging issues – education. While an educated and motivated work force was a key component of America's rise to world dominance in the 20^th Century, all indications are that we're falling behind in preparing our children to compete in the global environment that they will inherit. No one really disputes the fact that as education achievement increases so to does economic prosperity and wealth creation. Prosperity brings with it more stable families, less violent crime, stronger neighborhoods, better schools, lower unemployment, improved hospitals and access to better healthcare – just to name a few. Education is the rising tide that raises all ships.

I believe I have some legitimate "standing" on the issue of education given I married a teacher, have a brother who was a career public school teacher/coach/principal, and in fact my first career plan in life was to be a teacher and coach. I'm passionate about it, and I firmly believe that the blessings I have enjoyed from Colorado and America are largely because of the moral values and example of my parents as well as the opportunity for a good education they made sure that I received. I experienced both private (Catholic school through sixth grade) and public education. We've made the same mix available to our four children, so I have personal experience and opinions about both. Having talked with many experts in the field, I also have a lot of observations about what is working for children today, and what is not.

Education is similar to an "at bat" in baseball. You strike out, and you don't get a do-over. Except in baseball, there's often another game tomorrow. I believe because of our unwillingness to be honest, to be flexible, to be committed to the best for our children instead of maintaining and defending the status-quo, vast numbers of kids are striking out in education, and they will not get another chance to step up to the plate.

I was horrified to read of the attitude of some of the most powerful members of the state legislature earlier this year regarding the issue of parental choice in education. Horrified, but not too surprised because this attitude has prevailed and persisted for too long – and it is the children that end up suffering, not the adults, as a result.

I'm referring to an email exchange between the Chairman of the House Education Committee, Mike Merrifield (D-El Paso) and his Senate counterpart, Sue Windels (D-Arvada) in which Merrifield wrote "There must be a special place in hell for these Privatizers, Charterizers and Voucherizers. They deserve it!"

Without results to back it up, there persists a pervasive, entrenched mentality in the Democratic Party and the teachers' union lobby to defend the status quo at-all-cost. At some point, they need to decide if they are going to defend a failed labor system that pays for their election to office or legislate on behalf of children.

A Line of Sight weighed in on the issue on the blog March 31 with "Is it still for the children?" - an obviously leading question playing off the very worn out claim of the defenders of the status-quo and deniers of parental rights that somehow they know what's better for a child than moms and dads.

One issue will not do justice to the issue of education, and we have every intention of exploring much more in future issues. This month we have invited guest editorials from five different individuals deeply committed to children and results in education.

Josh Penry (R-Frutia) has established himself as a champion for education honesty and reform in his first term in the State Senate. Read "Enough Going Backwards" and learn of his fight against an attempt to lower standards for admission to our colleges and universities in Colorado. According to Sen. Penry, "The verdict is clear: enough baby-steps backwards, and enough with the failed status quo. It's time for Colorado to start moving forward on education. It is time for Colorado to join the nation and the world in raising rigor and increasing standards in our schools."

Colorado is blessed with one of the oldest and most active homeschool communities in the country. The success of homeschooling is both phenomenal and natural: parents have been the primary teachers of their children since the beginning of time – why should it be any different today? Kevin Swanson is a nationally renowned leader in the homeschool movement. Having been homeschooled himself, he is currently the father of five homeschooled children and the Executive Director of the Christian Home Educators of Colorado and Generations with Vision. His is a challenging message of personal conviction, "Parents, Get Involved."

"We would not want to minimize the value or importance of a teaching degree or professional certification," Swanson writes. "But the involvement of parents in education seems to transcend all. What we find is that there are factors that are far more powerful and fruitful in the education of a child than what a four year degree, CSAP Testing, certified teachers, or state-standardized programs could accomplish. Any one of these might add 100 watts of luminescence to the light of knowledge contributed by the state education system. But nothing could compare to the 10,000 watts afforded by the benefit of parental involvement."

As noted above, Rep. Merrifield has considerable animus for supporters of Charter Schools - that would include the thousands of Charter School parents who believe they, not Merrifield, know best and deserve to choose where to educate their children. A Line of Sight is especially grateful for the contributions to this issue from three of the distinguished Charter Schools in our state.

Dr. Terrance Moore is the principal of Ridgeview Classical, a K-12 charter school in Ft. Collins, which opened in 2001. Ridgeview's high school is currently ranked the number one public high school in the state of Colorado for academic achievement. While most schools and teachers complain about the demands to "teach to the test" (CSAP), Moore says, "my school takes no time to prepare for them, and most of the students find them insultingly easy." The achievement at Ridgeview is accomplished while spending but 70% of other district schools ($5900 vs. $8200 per pupil).

The students and faculty work hard; something Moore is unapologetic about. "This great country began with the injunction of Captain John Smith, "Him that will not work shall not eat." At Ridgeview, the slogan is, "Him that does not work shall not pass." Social promotion is neither fair to the students who do their work nor an effective way to instill a work ethic in those who do not. "

Taking inspiration from the injunction of Captain John Smith, Moore offers his own: "Should public officials not finally stop listening to the claptrap of teachers unions and be willing to move public investment from schools that don't work to schools that do? ... To remain the leader of the free world, this nation must finally take stock in schools that work."

Dr. Carolyn Jones, founder of the Challenges, Choices, and Images Charter School, had a dream "that children of color (particularly African American, children of low income families, and children who had experienced limited success in regular public schools, for whatever reasons) could become academically and socially successful in school." In 2000 Dr. Jones opened the school's doors on the northeast side of Denver Public School District. She embraced a neighborhood and a population that too many have resigned themselves to believing can't or won't make the long climb up the ladder of the American Dream. But through adversity, she has seen great blessings. "We have always had to 'make-do'. We 'made-do' as we moved into our original facility located in a high drug, gang and crime area. This turned into a wonderful experience as it taught us that when surrounded by bad you can also find good."

The greatest fulfillment of course is seeing kids absolutely blossom into successful young adults after much of society just gave up on them. Jones writes, "It is not uncommon to overhear a current CCI student saying to a new student "Yeah! at this 'ole' school you have to wear a uniform, and boys can't wear earrings and sagging pants; and girls can't show off their belly or wear low-cut tops or short skirts, but this school is different, this is a place where learning is happening!"

Learning is happening at CCI, and success and hope has come with it. Jones rightfully boasts of the students accomplishments; "Beginning with the first graduating class in 2001 to the present, over 90% of the graduating seniors have been accepted into college, and for three years 100% were accepted into college with over half receiving full-ride scholarships. For three consecutive years our 3^rd grade scores on the CSAP ranged from 85% to100% proficiency in reading and writing. These academic efforts were recognized as we received the Governors' Distinguished Improvement Award in 2005 and in 2004 the Gains Maker Award from the Colorado Department of Education." At CCI, they are proving that you never now how high you can climb until you start walking.

Colin Mullaney had the good fortune to join Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy as a teacher in 1995 when it first opened its doors. Now he is the principal for the 6^th-10^th grade programs, and Executive Director for the overall system. CMCA expanded to include 9^th grade in 2006, and will add a grade each year until it offers a full K-12 curriculum.

Well known across Colorado already for academic achievement, CMCA has received The John Irwin School of Excellence Award, The Henri Salvatori Award for Excellence in Teaching from Hillsdale College, an Excellent Rating from the Colorado Department of Education every year ratings have been given, and consistent placement among the top performers of all public schools based on CSAPs. The CMCA junior high has placed at the very top for the past six years.

Some might assume that CMCA has a "cherry picked" or somehow exclusive student population to achieve this performance. Actually, according to Mullaney, "21% of the students do come from the Cheyenne Mountain School District, the remaining 79% come from 13 other school districts. Students are selected off of the waiting list based on a lottery that is held each spring. Families commute from as far as Pueblo and Florissant, Woodland Park and Falcon to attend this school. Twenty four percent of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch and 26% are minorities."

What makes the difference then at CMCA? It is the same thing acknowledged by Kevin Swanson on behalf of homeschooling and by the other leaders of their respective Charter Schools. Mullaney puts it right there in the title to his article, "Parental Involvement Leads to Excellence at Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy."

Mullaney has witnessed it since 1995 at CMCA and he's convinced that, "The act of choosing a school engages parents and requires them to think about the purpose of education including the best curriculum and delivery model... Once parents make a choice, they have bought into that system and more often than not will work extra hard to make that system work for their child. As customers with choices, parents are also more likely to hold their school accountable for results. Schools vying for customers will be responsive when their patrons have concerns."

A Line of Sight commends and thanks these dedicated professionals for sharing their insights and experience. They are to be congratulated for their commitment and courage to make a difference on behalf of kids, and in so doing, they are changing lives forever.

Educational choice may not be the silver bullet to fix all the woes in education today, but when you consider results such as these, you have to wonder why public officials like Mike Merrifield have so much hatred for them and by extension the parents and kids that make up their schools.

Freedom of choice seems to work everywhere else in our society, and we expect it as a God given right in America. It really ought to be about the children - a least once - now. Government ought to celebrate it, not get in its way. In the words of Colin Mullaney, "The evidence is in; choice in education is creating success for children." Enough said.