Those who utter sentiments akin to ,”If you are not part of the solution , you are part of the problem,” forget that there are more solutions than public or private school. In fact, that argument is a false dichotomy.

Just because someone doesn’t want to work within the conventional schooling system, doesn’t mean they don’t care about their fellow citizens or educating our young. It just means they want to try something new, something outside the constraints of the existing institution. It is not necessarily a condemnation of the existing system.

If the folks who love and support the public school love and support it then good for the public schools but that doesn’t mean we all have to love and support them….we may have other ideas that we love and support.

It is interesting to witness this debate and I wish the Patrick Henry charter school well. I’d like to see a return of small neighborhood schools, personally. Ones where the teachers live in the neighborhood and the parents work cooperatively to run the schools rather than only being invited to chaperone and fund raise.

It will be a fine day indeed when the papers report that the school board was discussing innovative educational theories, visiting different countries to observe their approaches and talking to the children and families about best practices in community education rather than the daily reporting of corruption, in-fighting and general mayhem.

stepping off soap box.
Kimmy in Fulton Hill

The School Board does deserve to be addressed respectfully and I was appalled at the way some of the opponents to the charter bullied, accused, even threatened the School Board members. I was personally offended at being accused of white supremacy. Certain oppositional speakers lost alot of credibility because of the overbearing and disrespectful tone they took, thier words were so offensive that it made no difference what they were wearing. Several School Board members stated they did not appreciate or respond to being bullied.

We can’t assume that everyone thinks just like we do. In that previous sentence, an “I” would be more respectful and true.

First, the observed tone of the supporters of PHCI was selfish, pedantic, and disrespectful. With the exception of a few speakers, each supporter’s statement was littered with the words “me”, “my”, “mine” and “I”. In contrast the majortity of opponents to the PHCI used the words “we” and “our” when describing their respective neighborhoods and schools. The message I took from the language of PHCI supporters was, “how dare you question this”. As a casual observer, I think the PCHI should take some notes on public speaking from thier opponents and maybe draft Rev. Lewis of the Berryman Center as your spokesman.

Second, when addressing the School Board; the opponents of PHCI were by and large respectful and cognizant of the their position addressing a government body and began their statements with: “Mr. Chairman”, “Madam Superintendent”, and so on. Conversely, the majority of PHCI supporters started their statements with “Hello”, “Hey Everyone”, or no acknowledgement of the governing body whatsoever. This was observed to be highly disrespectful, elitist and full of hubris. Know where you are and with whom you are speaking.

Lastly, I was surprised by the dress of those that had signed up to speak in front of the School Board. Again, opponents of PHCI wore ties, business suits, and appropriate dress for a public hearing. Most of the PHCI supporters showed up in what could be called “garden casual”; sundresses the like. When planning to speak and state a position that is this important; you should look the part.

The PHCI application is professional, well-researched, and sends a clear message in its verbiage. If you want to be taken as seriously as you think we should take you; a closer look at the unspoken message you are sending is imperative. I am a supporter of the PHCI, but after attending last night and listening to your language; the accused undertones of elitism, disrespect for diversity and inclusion are still ringing loudly from that School Board Meeting Room podium.

Great job, PHI folks. Congratulations.

Mr. Braxton specifically addressed the white-flight folks in his comments, which I very much appreciated. He evidently received some emails from people (who’ve never set foot in a city school and refuse to even countenance the idea of sending their kids to a “regular” school) threatening to take their toys and go home if the charter wasn’t approved. The gist of his response was “People have been doing that for years – don’t let the door hit you on the way out.” There are certainly people in the community that see the school as a chance to “get away” and not have to invest in the general community. The point is that the board of the PHSI, and certainly all the people I’ve met that are directly involved in pushing/planning the school, do NOT think that way.
Regarding “resisting collaboration,” I couldn’t disagree more with this, at least as it applies to the PHSI folk. It takes two sides to collaborate, and the PHSI has all its application info on the website, every meeting is on the public calendar, and ANYONE who wanted input on this school was welcome to attend.
“One glaring contradition here seems to be the talking point that the school will be open to all of Richmond’s children and the subtext that it’s really a school for hills and heights residents. Which is it?”

I don’t think it’s so much a contradiction as a muddling of past and present goals. The original intent was to reopen PH as a neighborhood school, then as a neighborhood charter school, then it morphed into a city charter once they found out what the rules were. Obviously most of us would still like to send our kids there, since it *is* in the ‘hood. So, it’s both.

Grey: I understand that every PHCI supporter is not threatening to leave the city if they don’t get to run their own school. The intentions of the School Board are what I think has riled up the rhetoric (and I hope to tone mine down here). The Board’s reaction to having their back against the wall is very telling (and it shouldn’t diminish the excitement around PHCI). When predominantly black community groups spearheaded the Build Schools Now! initiative, they were swept aside and attacked for undermining the successes of Open Enrollment at Fox and Mumford. I think PHCI should have joined their call for a capital investment in schools across the board while maintaining their charter. The impression that is conveyed is that the city gov’t begrudgingly heeds calls for improvements, and when they do, it’s strategically diminished in scale and selective along racial lines. I hope this turns out to be a victory for our kids’ education, but it’s been pretty disheartening as those in power used the issue to divide the people.

Common Sense Mom: Thanks for the clarification about uniforms. I would hate to rule out Patrick Henry cuz Jasper wouldn’t be able to wear his latest outfit (and because his daddy doesn’t want him looking like a private school preppy).

Phil: I hope that people listened to each other last night. The racial division can’t get worse (I hope). There must have been missed opportunities along the way for both sides to unify. It’s not too late.

The public comment section of the meeting solidified my belief that Richmond remains completely divided along racial lines. Distrust and misunderstanding abounds. Hopefully this noble effort at real diversity in education will improve the situation. Hopefully…

Richmond will get its charter school, if contract details can be settled in 90 days, the School Board decided last night.

The School Board voted 5-2 in favor of the application for the Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts. The K-5 program is slated to open in July 2009. The School Board acted against a recommendation from an administration committee and against the advice of the board’s lawyers.

Board Approves Charter School (cbs6 5/19/08)

I understand the desire to move beyond the past with a brave experiment, but this scenario couldn’t be a more transparent appeasement of constituents who continually hold out the threat of white flight (the same self-segregating that has crippled Richmond – not just the schools – since Massive Resistance). How these two sides resisted collaboration and relied on the school board to play arbiter is painfully ironic.

One glaring contradition here seems to be the talking point that the school will be open to all of Richmond’s children and the subtext that it’s really a school for hills and heights residents. Which is it? Haven’t we seen other magnet schools in Richmond fall short of representative diversity?

I’d probably want my kid to go to a school like this (although I’m having trouble swallowing the uniform thing), but this first step isn’t exactly getting off on a good foot.

I must have just missed the vote…my mom and I left just after ten. Once that SB lawyer piped up, we were sure it was going to either be voted down or end up tabled again. I hope those of you that stuck it out got some good celebrating in!