Link: OregonLive.com
Looking for more money, districts target home school families
By Julia Silverman, The Associated Press, April 2, 2005
The instructor wanted to know whether Wilson, who is home-schooled
alongside his three brothers, liked being taught by his mother, and why
he didn’t come to public school full-time, instead of just for music
programs….the teacher’s questions were part of a larger effort by the Myrtle
Point school district to persuade home-schooling families in the area
to give the public school system a shot.
Ann: Do teachers have to be trained salespersons these days?
…every home-schooled child that Myrtle Point can woo means an extra
$5,000 or so for the school’s bottom line. District estimates are that
about 100 kids living in the district are home-schooled, which could
bring in up to $500,000.
Ann: Why doesn’t the district simply offer an excellent program and let choice take its course? Or is this really a jobs program that needs to "woo" students to succeed?
Ann: There’s more. This story is being picked up worldwide.
Public Schools Seek to Lure Home-Schooled
By Julia Silverman, The Associated Press, April 7, 2005
Myrtle Point, with an enrollment of 779, is not the only district pursuing such a strategy.
In Walla Walla, Wash., school officials have launched plans for a new learning center that they hope will attract at least 30 home-school students, to help cope with a projected $200,000 in budget cuts next school year.
A school district in Fort Collins, Colo., started a program aimed at drawing home-schooled youngsters into the system with two days a week of art, science and music. In 2003, it earned the district an extra $203,341 in state funding.
Ann: This effort – public schools targeting homeschoolers as an untapped market – is not new. Washington Ohio homeschoolers, among others, have been targeted for years.
Ann: Finally, apparently fearing a First Amendment violation, an award-winning blog posted on this article concerning the potential for "fundamentalizing the curriculum."
Daily Kos
by Aeolus, April 9th, 2005
The scary part [of the article] is where the Myrtle Point Oregon superintendent talks about fundamentalizing the curriculum.
Superintendent Robert Smith said the school system is also willing
to adjust the curriculum – for example, by allowing discussion of
creationism in biology class, or biblical literature in English
courses. “We’re not setting up a church steeple. But students want
academic freedom enough to encourage different things, and that should
not be stifled by relying on exclusive treatments,” Smith said.So the school district, suffering for money, decides they will give
equal weight to these religious beliefs in classes in an effort to lure
students back.
Ann: Recruitment of homeschoolers – just how far will districts go?
HEM
Helen
Tracy
mark
marynix
ann-lahrson-fisher
valerie
sandi
david
It’s been two weeks and this AP story is still being picked up. Cape Cod Times in Massachusetts ran it on April 17.
Be on the watch for more stories about the questionable practice of luring children from one educational venue to another.
It seems bribery and pandering — even religious pandering — is on
the table when it comes to keeping enrollment up.
From the Oregonian article:
“To that end, the district is trying to phase in some courses that
officials think would be particularly appealing to home-school
parents, like forestry, ecology and computer sciences. The district
also has plans to start up an alternative high school and add more
vocational classes, like welding and agricultural mechanics….”
Why would any of those course be particularly appealing to
homeschooling parents? Can’t they get enough kids to enroll by putting
pop machines in the cafeteria? Isn’t college the usual place for
vocational training now that liberal studies have been all but abandoned?
“[Superintendent Robert] Smith said the district is also willing to
make some curricular adjustments to appeal to home-school families ?Äî
for example, allowing previously home-schooled students to discuss the
theory of creationism during biology lessons on evolution, or biblical
literature in English courses.”
As soon as someone comes up with a “theory of creationism,” that is.
That is really pathetic pandering — either the guy doesn’t know he’s
going to have teachers skirting the law by bringing religion into the
classroom, or he knows but doesn’t care because getting that money is
more important.
“We wouldn’t say what they have to believe ?Äî we don’t establish any
certain religious dogma in our school district,” Smith said.
What a relief — I hope he gives equal time to non-Christian
“creationism theories” and religious literature. What will happen when
a previously homeschooled student wants to debate the Koran in the
classroom?
“We would just encourage them to develop skills of debate, discussion
and research.”
Debate, discussion, and research: all things I strongly associate with
public schools and Christian fundamentalism. No thanks, we’ll stay home.
Greg Jorgensen
My freshman daughter and I were told by her high school counselor that she had to be enrolled in at least 5 classes in order to be eligible to play soccer for the school. So she chose 5 electives. Much to my dismay I’ve since been told that this isn’t true, she could’ve played soccer for the school because she was registered through the ESD as a homeschooler.
She’s considered a full-time student now, which I’m guessing gives our district a FT students allotment of funds. I can’t say this was done on purpose, if it was I must say it was clever.
How interesting, Diane. I’d be shocked if the district WASN’T getting FT funds for her attendance. That counselor must feel pretty smug!
Hopefully your daughter is enjoying the classes she is taking. Not a bad way to attend high school actually.
Hmm, I’ll have to think about that.
Fascinating idea.
Ann