[Actually, I sent this to the School Board, the District Superintendent and the "Policy" office of the school system. Got lots of responses:) Most all assured me they had not planned a closed door session (which would violate NC Sunshine laws). But the topic of axing our Open School magnets schools did get floated at a "working" meeting. What's that quote? "Think globally, act locally." Not sure that's enough in the age of Dubya, but I love a good cause, so local it is. This week.]
From: Jones, Vicki
To: 'gdunlap@bellsouth.net'
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2003 5:23 PM
Subject: Open School Programs in CMS
Dear Mr. Dunlap,
I have heard that the CMS School Board is holding a closed-door session to discuss the future of the Open Curriculum schools in CMS. I am a middle-class parent of three children in the school system and feel very strongly that the only curriculum in the system that fits the needs of my children is the Open Curriculum.
I have had my children in five schools (including a private preschool) over the last 8 years and have been extremely disappointed with two of the public schools. I moved my children out of those schools, although one was a "school of excellence", Bain Elementary in Mint Hill, where I reside. My experience with a local charter school was similarly disappointing, but their curriculum was sound.
The Open Curriculum offers my children a balance of exploration and structure, of guidance and self-directed work, of group activities and individual study. My children have attended Irwin Avenue Open and, beginning this year, Piedmont Open Middle School. I have been greatly impressed by these programs, and specifically chose them over other "non-traditional" programs, namely: Montessori and the Paideia programs.
I volunteer in the schools where my children attend and therefore have directly observed the Open curriculum in action. This curriculum is distinctive in its integrated approach to learning and openness to students' individual learning styles.
If it were not for the Open programs in CMS, I very likely would have moved my children into the private sector, or into another school system, even if that meant relocating. Like many middle-class families, we are lucky to have choices in our educational decisions (my husband and I both earned post-secondary degrees). Indeed quality of education is the largest determination of where we choose to live. However, other families, especially low income populations, do not have the luxury of moving for a better school program.
Our Open school programs in CMS should be strengthened, not compromised. Please let me know the results of your meeting.
Thank you,
Vicki Jones