11 new charter applications

[Anonymous]

and FWIW, I don't agree with public funding for ROOTS either, and I'm black...unless there is particular focus on art or music or dance forms, or instruction in african languages

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:and FWIW, I don't agree with public funding for ROOTS either, and I'm black...unless there is particular focus on art or music or dance forms, or instruction in african languages

I'm the PP that pointed out ROOTS. Just to clarify my position - to be honest, I'm not really sure how I feel about ROOTS - I'm not necessarily saying that it shouldn't get funding. But certainly if they are going to allow a charter school that says things like, "The teachers and staff of Roots believe that children of African heritage have unlimited potential, that if nourished properly can flourish and bring about a brighter world." then their is certainly nothing wrong Hebrew language school that says it will welcome children of all backgrounds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:and FWIW, I don't agree with public funding for ROOTS either, and I'm black...unless there is particular focus on art or music or dance forms, or instruction in african languages

I'm the PP that pointed out ROOTS. Just to clarify my position - to be honest, I'm not really sure how I feel about ROOTS - I'm not necessarily saying that it shouldn't get funding. But certainly if they are going to allow a charter school that says things like, "The teachers and staff of Roots believe that children of African heritage have unlimited potential, that if nourished properly can flourish and bring about a brighter world." then their is certainly nothing wrong Hebrew language school that says it will welcome children of all backgrounds.

It's not the selectivity of the student population that's the issue here, though. It's the association of Hebrew with the Jewish face. Just as ROOTS is probably winking at the notion of an open population, the Hebrew school probably will too. But while both are troubling in my opinion, only the Jewish thing represents a faith-based program, no matter what the nominal pledge to be open to all. So, back to the qualm about separation of church and state, which isn't really an issue with ROOTs.

[Anonymous]

^^^ er, Jewish FAITH, not face. Duh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. A charter school with a desired location in Ward 3.

I see a few problems with that one, at least what I get from the executive summary:

Location in Ward 3? Seriously? Unless it's going to be run out of the Islamic Center on Mass. Ave. I can't imagine how they could afford the real estate. And, if they ARE planning on using the Islamic Ctr., then the same arguments against the Hebrew school apply, only more so. The Hebrew school is going out of its way to be language only, not religion. You really can't make the same claim of an Arabic school that's operating out of a mosque.

Full K-12? The PCSB didn't allow BASIS their full MS-HS application, and they have an actual track record (albeit in Arizona). I don't see getting a charter past elementary and middle. Not HS, not on the first try.

How are they possibly going to educate the HS students? The attrition from such an exclusive immersion program would be prohibitive. Hiring Math teachers, Science teachers, building science labs, etc. for what, maybe 40 students in a class? This is exactly why LAMB, Mundo Verde, Stokes, and Yu Ying are pulling together for the DCI.

Now, don't get me wrong. I can see real value to an Arabic immersion school, but if the charter application is as half-baked as the concept expressed in the executive summary, I think they may need a second bite at the apple. They could significantly improve their chances by:

Targeting a location that's more centrally located and also more affordable

Aiming for K-5 or K-8, not K-12

Forming a relationship with one or more of the other immersion schools so that they've got a functional model to describe

I hope they get chartered, though. I really do. And if both this Arabic school and the Hebrew school get chartered, and join up with the DCI, that would be fantastic for everyone - beyond the realm of just DC charter schools.

[Anonymous]

Sincere question. Are there any people who speak Arabic as their native language who aren't Muslim and who don't study Islam (if male)? I guess maybe minority Christians I. Egypt, rIght? And Lebanon ? Or do I have that wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:15:09-- you sound a bit anti semetic. I mean Hebrew is still a living language, spoken by an entire country of Jews, Mulims and Christians alike who live there.

At least it is spoken somewhere...Washington Latin anyone?

No, Latin isn't spoken by anyone ... unless you're a doctor or scientist. And it has no connection to anybody today ... unless you speak a Romance language. And who cares that a classical education forms the basis for much of western thought. I mean, you know, it's like totally irrelevant, duh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sincere question. Are there any people who speak Arabic as their native language who aren't Muslim and who don't study Islam (if male)? I guess maybe minority Christians I. Egypt, rIght? And Lebanon ? Or do I have that wrong.

Most - but not all - children who study Arabic are Muslim, however there are Arabic-speaking Christians, and some other even smaller minorities.

At the university level though, that's not the case. Most large and/or prestigious universities have Middle Eastern Studies departments, and that would include Arabic language. Like Chinese, Hindi, and Russian (among others), the State Dept. considers it a "Critical Need" language, and scholarships exist to support learning it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whatever happened to the Waldorf group? I've been surprised they haven't reapplied. They had a lot of backing from the Waldorf community.

Thank God the Waldorf Wackos haven't re-applied. Now that was a half-baked idea. Yes: let's have a Waldorf school whose founder based the original school on religious (and somewhat racist) ideas. No: we don't teach kids to read until 2nd grade. Sure: it's not going to be a problem on DC-CAS; students will instead put on a fairy dance, iron laundry, sew aprons, and philosophize about wood sprites.

[Anonymous]

what's awesome is when we can get the shat-upon people ripping on each other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what's awesome is when we can get the shat-upon people ripping on each other.

To whom are you referring? Obviously someone's freaked out about the idea of a Hebrew school, but that might be only one person. Hopefully, at any rate.

Now, I didn't make fun of the Waldorf wackos, but I did laugh. I guess that's probably wrong...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:15:09-- you sound a bit anti semetic. I mean Hebrew is still a living language, spoken by an entire country of Jews, Mulims and Christians alike who live there.

At least it is spoken somewhere...Washington Latin anyone?

No, Latin isn't spoken by anyone ... unless you're a doctor or scientist. And it has no connection to anybody today ... unless you speak a Romance language. And who cares that a classical education forms the basis for much of western thought. I mean, you know, it's like totally irrelevant, duh?

Ok Einstein, relax. I never said that Latin isn't important. I just said nobody speaks pure Latin as an everyday language. I mean, you know, like get over yourself, you are sooo smart!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what's awesome is when we can get the shat-upon people ripping on each other.

To whom are you referring? Obviously someone's freaked out about the idea of a Hebrew school, but that might be only one person. Hopefully, at any rate.

Now, I didn't make fun of the Waldorf wackos, but I did laugh. I guess that's probably wrong...

I'm not "freaked out" -- I'm raising questions and expressing skepticism that it will be only nominally secular. Calm down, you.

[Anonymous]

What is meant by "contemporary Israeli culture?"

[Anonymous]

Culture in the country of Israel today.