When an overwhelmingly black elementary school, such as Edith Frierson Elementary on Wadmalaw Island (92 percent) changes into a Montessori school, "racist" white parents will sent their children there. That's the background for a grass-roots effort to offer Montessori at that public school.
Why?
This phenomenon has already occurred at James Simons Elementary downtown.
The answer is obviously politically incorrect. Middle-class parents of every ethnic background want their children challenged to achieve and fear the drag of a classroom composed of those from poor and high-risk backgrounds. Montessori answers that fear.
"At a Charleston County School Board committee meeting [earlier this month] members of the Frierson Elementary School Improvement Council, District 9 Constituent School Board and Johns Island Community Association, [. . .] endorsed the Montessori plan."
"Proponents of the idea say it could improve results for students, attract white families to local public schools from Wadmalaw and neighboring Johns Island, and boost enrollment at a school that has faced threats of closure in recent years due to low student headcounts."
Start up costs can be a problem, but in a district that can afford to squander millions on "improved" smartboards, we're talking about peanuts.
As one private Montessori school puts it, "Montessori programs are normally more expensive to organize and run than conventional classrooms due to the extensive teacher education needed to become certified and the very high cost of purchasing the educational materials and beautiful furniture needed to equip each Montessori classroom."
It's not like CCSD doesn't have the money!
Has anyone asked, "Would you prefer new smartboards or getting a Montessori classroom?
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment