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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Ha ha found this thread through google. Parent of the original BASIS Tucson here, and good friends with several teachers at new campus. Judging by the interest on this thread, the one thing BASIS does is attract kids with parents who care desperately and who feel there are no decent alternatives short of expensive private schools. BASIS does well because it attracts and retains these families. The BASIS model itself however (aside from emitting "educational salvation" pheremones) leaves a little to be desired. Basically, and despite the best efforts of dedicated caring teachers, it is a Chinese model of education. Here in Tucson the goal is to see how early we can get kids doing calculus and AP testing. Right now our "elite" 5th graders are doing algebra 1 on track for AB Calc by 9th grade. But this simply does not work for the mass of students.  And even those that hang on there are massive sacrifices in terms of emotional & creative development. AP tests are all well and good, but school should be much more than an AP boot camp. Remember, the US News rankings are based solely on number of AP tests taken! But again, what are the alternatives? So students and parents slog it out (although of course many leave), with periodic burn outs and grumbling. As a parent the biggest plus is that is self-selects for "good kids." Say what you want about educational opportuninty... I will not have my child in a school with metal detectors at the door and drug dealers in the bathrooms. The kids at BASIS tucson are really quite amazing, I just think it is a shame they are not given a more well-rounded education. They do well at BASIS in large part despite what BASIS does, not because of it. But it seems they have watered down the DC curriculum to retain enrollment numbers, which actually might be a perfect balance. I would be more worried about their plans to bring DC more into line with Arizona BASIS curriculum down the line.

One thing I would encourage is parent organization. Now no school can be at the mercy of every parent's whim, but parents are the true clients of the school and should develop a communal voice and have their common concerns addressed by BASIS. This is pretty much how a private schools work (and BASIS is a public private school). I would recommend that you start a facebook group to share stories, concerns, strategies for succes, homework assignments, likes and dislikes, and then to communicate with BASIS with one voice to address any critical failures in the system.[/quote]

+100.  An informed voice of reason in the wilderness, bless you and your Googling.  As a Chinese immigrant escaping the dreaded Chinese model, I'm going to cheer for the DC Basis parents who dare to challenge it.
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