From Ken Heffentrager VP TAOA, although this is not about housing or tenant rights this is very important.... Speaking as an informed, concerned ASD parent: No More Charter Schools in Underfunded Allentown SD! The arts are mandated by the Pennsylvania commonwealth as core subject areas, and have always been essential to the public school curriculum. Experiences in the arts should not be reserved for select talented young children, who must audition to attend the arts academy charter school, while other young children suffer at schools where arts have been greatly reduced. Charters promote inequality, and drain funding from traditional public schools. Every child benefits from quality arts education, especially disadvantaged children who may struggle academically or behaviorally. Every public school child should see a certified art teacher at least once a week. Charters skim the cream, weakening community schools, which are the anchors of neighborhoods and a foundation of democracy. Shame on politicians from both parties for promoting efforts to privatize public education, instead of fully funding Allentown SD schools, for the greater good. The best choice is a fully funded, fully staffed neighborhood public school. These long standing schools must be strengthened, not abandoned. These four school board directors should be ashamed of themselves: David Zimmerman, Scott Armstrong, Mike Welsh, and Charlie Thiel. They voted FOR an arts academy for select, elite talented youngsters. The arts academy model does not accept children with behavior problems or special needs. Traditional public schools accept every child.The arts academy model does not even integrate the arts into other subject areas. Charter schools are business ventures, motivated by profit. The arts academy founder plans on expanding his school model to other states. All Allentown school board directors should be focused on reinstating related arts teachers, restoring the ASDs arts programs to what they were 4 years ago. No more charter schools in ASD! Currently ASD spends $19.6 million on charters, while barely able to deliver a basic education. Students are suffering in over crowded classrooms, with minimal opportunities to engage in creative learning activities. Thank you board members who voted AGAINST the charter school: Joanne Bauer, Ce-Ce Gerlach, Debra Lamb, Ellen Bishop, Bob Smith, it was denied!!! (This was originally posted at my blog Angie Villa Art & Education, and I Emailed it to you too)
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 14:43:42 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015