In my Viewpoint piece May 17 (“A call to support public education”), I went over the word limit and a bit was cut for space reasons. I’d like to add that here, with context.
I wrote about a nationwide initiative to clone “classical academy” charter schools based on “The Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum” and teacher training offered at no charge by the Christian, politically conservative Hillsdale College in Michigan. I detailed how the initiative is part of a highly organized and funded effort to undermine and replace public schools, indicated by legislation passed by Republican legislators in many states, including New Hampshire, that reflects extreme distrust of public school teachers and curriculums. Lionheart Classical Academy opening in Peterborough this fall is a Hillsdale charter school.
I cited New Hampshire Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut’s desire to bring some two dozen charter schools to New Hampshire. I wrote: “It’s not known how many will be Hillsdale schools.” The following was cut: “It is known that Tennessee’s Republican governor announced ‘a partnership’ with Hillsdale to build 50 in Tennessee with major public funding. His goal: to educate ‘informed patriots . . . preserving American liberty.’” Tennessee was in the news as I wrote. A major part of the effort includes actively demonizing public school teachers and curriculums. As a needed reality check, I cited a recent poll showing solid parental satisfaction with both, even in this time of COVID. As with other conspiracy theories instigated by a small group of extremists, Fox News’ Tucker Carlson fans the flames citing the “civilization-ending poison” of indoctrination by public school teachers. He wants cameras in every classroom, public schools only.
Francie Von Mertens
Peterborough