Choosing a School
The MOM Podcast (Moms on a Mission) hosts discuss how to choose the right school for your child.
Here are some additional ideas from a mother who founded a Charter school with other parents that wanted more choices:
Interview with Megan Gygi
1. Why did you start Noah Webster?
I began teaching my children to read and perform basic math and science skills from the time they were three. Many people told me that I needed to stop working with my children because they would be way ahead when they got to public school. I didn’t find that acceptable. After much research on curriculum, teaching methods, and schools in my area, I decided that public schools–or government schools as they are more appropriately called–are top-heavy and typically teach to the lowest common denominator at the pace of the lowest common denominator. I also found that the curriculum was inconsistent from one school to the next and often from one grade to the next within a school. How could children be expected to learn and retain information that was never taught to them again?
I wanted a school that would provide a solid foundation for my children. I wanted a school that would appropriately challenge each child regardless of their abilities. And I wanted my children to be able to move at their own pace as much as possible.
I learned about charter schools in my research. When I found Noah Webster, the charter had already been approved by the Utah State Office of Education. I came in first as the director of Public Relations for the School. After about six months I was “promoted” to the Founding Board of Directors. I was involved with the literal creation of the school. I chose colors for carpet, classrooms, paint, etc.; I hired teachers; I ordered curriculum; assisted in writing grants; I acted as HR rep; etc. We opened the doors of the school in August of 2006, just 2 days after my third child was born.
2. Why/How was public school not working for your child?
See above.
3. What are some signs that a certain school is not right for you child?
Parents need to ask themselves if their child is being appropriately challenged. Is he/she bored? Is he or she struggling to keep up with the curriculum? Does the child have lots of friends? Is the school a nurturing environment? Can the child excel or struggle without feeling pressure or criticism?
If a child is struggling, the first step would be to spend some time in the classroom volunteering. This allows the parents to see the curriculum being taught, the expectation, the skill-level of the other kids in the classroom, and compare the ability of their child to their observations. Then they would meet with the teacher and then the administration to try to create a plan of attack–this plan could include switching classrooms or grades, if necessary. If the plan is unacceptable, doesn’t work, or the school staff is apathetic, unresponsive, or unsympathetic, it is probably time for a change of schools.
4. How can we know it is time to make a change?
See above answer.
5. Once we know we need to change, what are some options?
I believe that children do not fit into a box. Each child has different needs and what works for one may not work for another–even within the same family.
Depending on the situation of the child, here are some options to consider:
-Private school (expensive, but may be worth the investment)
-A charter school
-A traditional public (or government) school in a different area
-Home schooling
-A combination of home schooling and private/public schooling
-Continuing at the current school but continuing with the help of a tutor so the child can have one on one attention
-Using the Special Education system available at both charter and government schools
6. Tells us how you went about creating Noah Webster.
First a charter must be written. This is a plan that outlines everything about the school from the curriculum to the hiring/firing policies to a projected 3-year budget. This plan must be approved by the Utah State Board of Education. (Charter schools are subject to all state reporting requirements including curriculum, budget, Special Education, etc.) Once our charter was approved (no small feat in itself) we had to find land on which to build a building and investors who were willing to invest the money to build the school. Once that was done, we had to supervise the building process, making sure that we had all the proper permits and inspections. We hired the staff, purchased furniture, equipment and curriculum, set up retirement and health insurance programs, etc. It was a massive endeavor that took full-time hours over the course of a year and a half.
7. What do you love about Noah?
I love the emphasis on helping each individual child with their respective needs! I love the teachers! I love that the school has an “at will” policy. This means that they can choose not to renew the contracts of subpar staff. This creates a drive among the teachers to perform up to standards so that they can keep their jobs. I love the administration and how hard they work to make it the kind of school that we aimed to create in the beginning. I love that we don’t answer to a district. While we do follow the requirements of the State Board of Education for elementary schools, we have the autonomy to tweak curriculum and alter our budget to best fit our students.
I also love the many parent volunteers who dedicate hours to trying to make this school the best it can be!
8. What do you still wish were different?
I wish that Utah’s education budget had not been cut. I wish there were enough money in our budget to hire full-time teacher’s assistants for every teacher.
9. How is it working for your child?
I am thrilled with my children’s experiences. My son has a teacher this year who is very strict and has high-demands. It is exactly what he needs right now. My daughter skipped kindergarten and is in first grade as a five year-old. She is still sailing through the curriculum and her teacher provides work for her on a monthly basis (not busy work) that challenges her and keeps her thinking. I am so happy that my kids are getting what they individually need!
10. If you could do it over again, what would you change?
Can’t think of anything right now!
Add anything you want!!
My final thought would probably be this:
Many parents view school as a full-time babysitter. They want to send their kids to school and not think about it again. I view education as a partnership. I believe strongly in the mission statement of Noah Webster Academy: Noah Webster Academy assists parents in their stewardship of developing the hearts and minds of children by creating a safe and nurturing environment of classical educaiton that fosters patriotism, cultural literacy, moral virtue, individuality, self-government, and excellence, thereby, inspiring a lifelong love of learning, leadership, and service.
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:27 pm
My husband was pretty bright boy and at times found homework boring and would skip it. To make the math work more interesting, his father taught him how to convert the numbers to binary, add them in binary, and then convert the answer back to decimal. Maybe something like this would work for Alex.