In his letter (“Lionheart columns are fiction,” Aug. 18), Jonn Lord Jr. states that Jeanne Dietsch is a “prolific writer of fiction,” but apart from the discussion of Lionheart Classical Academy itself, does not provide any proof to refute the meticulous facts in Dietsch’s letters or articles.
Many of those facts are a matter of public record and can be verified or refuted as the case may be. For example, the Koch brothers’ political positions and contributions, as well as their opposition to federal regulations adversely impacting their industrial holdings, are well-established and verifiable. Additionally, Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn’s connections to the Trump administration, the Claremont Institute and other conservative causes are readily known.
Lord states that Lionheart is not a religious school and that it is not run by Hillsdale College. These statements may both be true on their face, but do not address the academy’s collaboration with Hillsdale College’s Barney Charter School Initiative or the adoption of a curriculum provided by Hillsdale College.
The Barney Foundation and the Barney Charter School Initiative favor school choice and the development of charter schools in opposition to public schools. Lord’s letters do not indicate whether the local board supports the aims of these initiatives, or if they do not, how the school will insulate itself from the political goals and ambitions of their principal collaborators. Since Hillsdale College states that Lionheart Academy is an “affiliate,” these points would seem to be important.
I hope that Lord and/or the trustees of the school will provide the community with more information in this regard. Perhaps such information will alleviate some of the concerns expressed in the previous letters to the editor.
David Odland
Peterborough