COVID Helped Save Our Church

[F6Dave]

I never could have predicted this. I attend a church with a K - 8 school. In recent years membership had been static in spite of rapid growth in the surrounding area. The congregation was aging and as a result school enrollment was declining. Staff was reduced through attrition and there was talk of the school closing if something didn’t change.

Things seemed bleak when COVID hit. We endured online-only worship for a while, followed by months of reservations-required services mandated by state limits on gathering sizes.

But when restrictions were lifted something unexpected happened. New families began attending and enrolling their kids in the school. The principal said most new parents asked similar questions. Do you teach critical race theory? Do you tell young children they can choose if they’re a boy or girl? Apparently the endless online learning mandated by the public schools gave parents a glimpse of what those schools were teaching their kids.

Things are different now. The place feels less like a nursing home on Sunday mornings, with more young families and children. Amazingly, school enrollment has increased to a level not seen in 20 years. And this isn’t just happening here. I heard that county wide, one third of students are now in charter schools.

I believe many of our problems today can be traced to indoctrination of children by the public school system. I saw that first hand when my children were young. This trend gives me hope. I hope it’s happening elsewhere.

[Serk]

Homeschooled kids in Texas have gone from 4.5% just a few years ago to 12.3% in 2020, and I'm guessing even higher now...

https://texasscorecard.com/state/homeschool-surge-continues-in-texas/

I've kept a close eye on the triplet's school district, and while it's not perfect, it's been mostly acceptable... If we could we would home school but life gets in the way.

And I wish there were non-religious non-woke private school options, but I know I'm really wishing for a unicorn with that one...

[Valkorado]

 

Fantastic!  Let's hope this will become a trend.  I've said this may be one positive that came from the pandemic.  CRT and gender studies were brought into the light.  The oppressor/victim mentality is dangerous to our youth and society at large.  Many previously disinterested parents have learned the importance of being involved in the education of their children.  There is nothing more important.

[..]

Having driven school bus for gubmint and private schools the difference between the kids is glaringly obvious.

Of course there are exceptions.

The private school students are way ahead re what is taught and the depth of teaching. I've seen test papers from private high and middle school students and in a few instances the  subject matter left me stumped.

[carolinarider09]

I believe many of our problems today can be traced to indoctrination of children by the public school system. I saw that first hand when my children were young. This trend gives me hope. I hope it’s happening elsewhere.

I firmly agree with the above.....

[carolinarider09]

And having said the above, I also admit that it is partly my fault.   I only attended a couple of school board meetings when my children were just beginning elementary school.   Most of the members seemed ok.   

I dropped the ball in later years.   Again, my fault.  Just got lazy I guess.

[Jersey mike]

Hopefully with luck this will trickle down to other areas and other private schools.

[Oss]

watch mindless tv or spend a few hours at a meeting to be a noisy fly on the wall

the choice is clear, the inertia may not be so apparent

We only have so many hours to give and when the kids are home during that time, it is tough to lose the time you have

[F6Dave]

And I wish there were non-religious non-woke private school options, but I know I'm really wishing for a unicorn with that one...

Here in Colorado (and other states) charter schools are a secular alternative to public schools. They actually are public schools, taxpayer funded and subject to the same regulations. But they're governed by a group of parents, who do the hiring and firing, set policies, and establish the curriculum. I was on the board of the charter my kids attended and it makes a huge difference when the teachers and staff share your values. Your kid gets a better education when you can work with the school rather than fight it.

[Serk]

And I wish there were non-religious non-woke private school options, but I know I'm really wishing for a unicorn with that one...

Here in Colorado (and other states) charter schools are a secular alternative to public schools. They actually are public schools, taxpayer funded and subject to the same regulations. But they're governed by a group of parents, who do the hiring and firing, set policies, and establish the curriculum. I was on the board of the charter my kids attended and it makes a huge difference when the teachers and staff share your values. Your kid gets a better education when you can work with the school rather than fight it.

Yup, in theory I love 'em. Our district has one, but word on the street is if you're not Muslim, you're not welcome at it... The Muslims all moved their kids to it and kinda took over the board and made it their school...

[Avanti]

My wife and I each quite working full time and worked part time for 18 years to home school our children. Home schooling can be done, you just have to choose to do it and make the needed changes.

[F6Dave]

And I wish there were non-religious non-woke private school options, but I know I'm really wishing for a unicorn with that one...

Here in Colorado (and other states) charter schools are a secular alternative to public schools. They actually are public schools, taxpayer funded and subject to the same regulations. But they're governed by a group of parents, who do the hiring and firing, set policies, and establish the curriculum. I was on the board of the charter my kids attended and it makes a huge difference when the teachers and staff share your values. Your kid gets a better education when you can work with the school rather than fight it.

Yup, in theory I love 'em. Our district has one, but word on the street is if you're not Muslim, you're not welcome at it... The Muslims all moved their kids to it and kinda took over the board and made it their school...

That's interesting. Here in Colorado a group of parents can start a charter school. They need to develop a very detailed 'business plan' that includes budget, facility plan, curriculum, and a list of families pledging to attend. They submit that to the local school district, and if it meets the required criteria the district MUST grant the charter (though some districts need a judge to remind them). Then the new charter elects a board of directors, gets per-pupil revenue from the state, and they can be up and running as soon as they hire staff and get a facility.

The law was established back when Colorado was run by reasonable Republicans, and it resulted in a charter school boom. There are probably a dozen within 15 miles of where I live. They have to be secular to receive state funding. Most I'm familiar have a rigorous 'back to basics' curriculum.

[Serk]

Interesting, I'd heard it mentioned in parent's groups, never thought to google on it, seems it's a thing for this group of charter schools (Or officially isn't, as the schools claim). Over 10 year old article:

https://www.kcbd.com/story/18409190/us-charter-schools-tied-to-islamic-movement-harmony-public-schools-say-no/

They're officially secular, but I'd heard stories of non-Muslim kids being harassed and bullied until they transferred to other schools.

But luckily for us, our district is big on magnet schools, different campuses dedicated to different ways kids excel. Although it's a PITA getting the triplets to 2 different schools, it's worth it (At one point we had 4 kids in 4 different schools, THAT was a bit much!)

[carolinarider09]

That's interesting. Here in Colorado a group of parents can start a charter school. They need to develop a very detailed 'business plan' that includes budget, facility plan, curriculum, and a list of families pledging to attend. They submit that to the local school district, and if it meets the required criteria the district MUST grant the charter (though some districts need a judge to remind them). Then the new charter elects a board of directors, gets per-pupil revenue from the state, and they can be up and running as soon as they hire staff and get a facility.

The law was established back when Colorado was run by reasonable Republicans, and it resulted in a charter school boom. There are probably a dozen within 15 miles of where I live. They have to be secular to receive state funding. Most I'm familiar have a rigorous 'back to basics' curriculum.

I like that "plan/privilege" will have to check here in S.C.   

[F6Dave]

I think charters were a workaround to the courts banning vouchers, which would let parents take the state's education funds that were earmarked for their kids and use it at a private school of their choice. There are surely other ways to get your kids a real education, like magnet schools, or private schools if you can afford them.

Unfortunately the teacher's unions will fight any effort to improve education.

[F6Dave]

Here's one of the new charter schools close to where I live. It's a lot nicer than when my kids were attending the first charter in the area, where we rented space in a strip mall.

https://lemanacademy.com/parker/

The curriculum is impressive:

https://lemanacademy.com/our-curriculum/

[Oss]

my town for years offered AP courses and your kid could advance 2 or more years in math

no longer

My son had 23 credits when he started at U of Maryland and got a job straight away at Amazon using his computer science major


Today the AP and advanced has been phased out because the education just is not there

I love the idea of charter schools as applied in Colorado and am not offended by religious charter schools if they can give the same high education to those that can benefit from it

I do not trust government to do it for us

[..]

I drove the athletics / special events bus for this school for a few years.

John Smoltz - Atlanta Braves player was one of the founders of this school in an old Harris Teeter grocery store.

https://www.kingsridgecs.org/

You can see that demand has made it grow and grow.  

Another I drove for at the same time

https://www.mountpisgahschool.org/about/history

There are dozens more larger or smaller in the Atlanta area.

My very rough guestimate is there are about 35,000 +/- students.

[carolinarider09]

Thats a very impressive school.

 

[..]

Thats a very impressive school.

 

Wesleyan and Westminster are like college campuses.

As is Rabun Gap in N.E. GA.

[3fan4life]

In Virginia private Christian schools have seen a large increase in enrollment.

Parents are tired of sending their children to failed public schools with extreme leftist agendas.