Burke parent: Give Math & Science charter school fair chance
I am a member of the Charleston Charter School for Math & Science Committee. I am also a parent of a Burke High School student and currently serve as chair of the Burke High School Improvement Council. I am a black woman, a life-long Charlestonian. I write to publicly express my support for the implementation of the charter school at the Rivers Middle campus.
Some have come forward asserting that the charter school's intent is to maintain educational segregation along the peninsula; some of the same people say the school, being a high school, will impede upon the progress we aspire for at Burke High — that the "good students" who live in downtown Charleston will leave Burke or will change their plans to enroll there, opting for the charter school instead.
First, all students are good students. Some face more challenges academically, socially or culturally. Every child has potential. It is the parents' and, overall, the community's duty to tap into our children's potential and see success come to each of them. The Charter School for Math & Science has been established to provide an option, to expand the educational opportunities for children living in Charleston County. I am particularly excited about it for the sake of our children who live along the peninsula.
I want more school choices for our children in District 20. It is no secret that we have schools in District 20 (downtown Charleston) that have a way to go academically. I surmise that one reason for that has been the less than arduous support from the Charleston County School District. I do not mean at present — this goes as far back as 20 years and likely more.
There is no one person responsible for the current state of our schools, and it is futile to point fingers. Which is what I implore local naysayers to stop doing. Stop accusing others of propagating what ails our community and use such energy and focus on improving the community. Back away from the microphone and step off the soapbox.
I fear some of the naysayers are hypnotized by the camera lights, reveling in the attention, for they reverberate the same accusations of racism and imbalance ad nauseum.
There are many who support the charter school. And they, like me, you do not see in the local newspaper or on television broadcasting our support.
Why? Because we are actually working to improve the state of education in our community. We are the parents, the educators and the neighborhood association presidents, who work behind the scenes on the charter committee, and, in my case, with Burke High to make a difference. We do not just talk: We let our actions speak for us.
Regarding the allegation that the charter school will not be a truly integrated school, at the inception of the charter school's concept, we committee members established that we would seek a diverse group of students. We want the return of a racially integrated school on the peninsula. We are committed to that with the Charter School for Math & Science.
As for the school district's plan to merge vocational skills-driven High Tech High with the Charter School on the same campus, I do not see that as a feasible plan. A school like the Charleston Charter School for Math & Science needs to have the room to flourish, as I foresee that it will. It will be the school of the future for Charleston: diverse, tightly structured and challenging.
Vocational instruction is needed more at Burke High. Just this past year, less than half of Burke's seniors graduated. What happens to the other half? The implementation of vocational instruction would be a tremendous plus, for it would give children who are likely not going on to a post-secondary school other viable options to be fruitful members of society.
Burke is out of the rut and back on the road, but we have a way to go to make our goal of a 100-percent success rate. I believe better days are ahead for Burke High School, which turns 100 years old in 2010. To return vocational instruction to this local landmark would be a big step in the right direction.
I love Burke High School. My daughter is blessed to have an excellent group of teachers, all of whom do all they can to help our children there succeed. I do my part as a member of Burke's School Improvement Council. We are on our way.
I beg the opponents of the charter school to not get in the way of the Charter School for Math & Science. I beg the Charleston County School District to wholeheartedly support our efforts. We want what is best for all children.
Jamie Robinson is chair of the Burke High School Improvement Council and a committee member of the Charleston Charter School For Math & Science.
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