Charter School Education

I entered my kids in a lottery for a charter school.  66 spots, half of them reserved for siblings of existing students, and over 500 applicants.  S was pulled in the late 100's, H was pulled 8.  I was ecstatic!   Siblings are automatically accepted, so we're in.

This is a STEM focused charter school with an exceptional academic record.  They are, however, under a lot of scrutiny for non-academic issues, but there is a lot of animosity toward charter schools no matter what.  So I take it in stride.  There are a lot of Turkish teachers and administrators; I had a bunch of Turkish colleagues in grad school, two of whom were good friends back then.  So I'm guessing Turkey must be doing something right with their education system and spreading the wealth.

Then a friend mentioned a TV show about a high quality Turkish education movement led by a man named Gulen.  Turns out to be very controversial - very high quality math/science based education, but a lot of people feel it is a cover for the spread of religious dogma with a world domination agenda.  So I asked my old Turkish friends to debunk this myth - only they didn't.  One says the Gulen movement is backed by the CIA, the other says it's based in Sharia law.  Not the response I had expected.  And I have to admit I have a hard time believing the CIA backs Sharia law.  I also don't know for sure this is a Gulen school, although it does seem to fit the description (Turkish run, STEM based, high quality education) - except for the religious aspect.  I don't see it, and I'm very sensitive to religious dogma!  Still, I will keep my eyes open and proceed with caution.

I have been involved in the past in an organization (hardly that, not sure what the right word would be) that many considered to be a cult.  I was aware of that when I was doing it, and I never felt pressured to be more involved than I was comfortable with.  If I had, I would have left.  I ended up leaving for lack of time rather than lack of interest or anything else.

But here's the bottom line.  Math and science are about logic based on observation.  Religion, especially zealous religion, is about blind faith.  How can training in logic, measurement, and observation be a cover for a blind faith agenda?  It simply makes no sense to me.  Indeed, I do believe the opposite; the best way to perpetuate the blind faith of a religious dogma is to ensure that kids learn regurgitation rather than observation, and obedience rather than critical/logical thought.  And that's what I see in the vast majority of American schools.

My daughters' school friend R who I wrote about last year has been on an aggressive experimental chemo treatment for the last year.  About 2 months ago we heard that the chemo either hasn't worked, or induced a different kind of leukemia; R now needs a bone marrow transplant.  I was in the process of having a breakdown at my nephew's Bar Mitzvah, but I grabbled my face to make it stop - it was my nephew's day to be the center of attention, not mine.  Two days ago my daughters and R graduated elementary school, I thank God she was able to be there - and I hope to God they'll all have other graduations.

I just re-read last year's post on this topic, I was worried for my daughters, but I'm having a hard time with this myself.  I'm reminded of Molly Weasley's boggart from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (no spoilers here, read the chapter titled The Woes of Mrs. Weasley).  R's mom C is living every parents' boggart, and she has to keep it together for her children.  I wish there was something I could do, and I don't ever want to be in her shoes.