Tennessee School Boards and Unions Go Up Against Hillsdale-Affiliated Charter Schools

American Spectator ^ | August 26, 2022 | Shelby Kearns

[T Ruth]

Three Tennessee school boards denied the application of the American Classical Academy, a K-12 charter school system affiliated with Hillsdale College that provides students with a classic liberal arts education. The American Classical Academy alleges that these decisions are politically motivated and based on its ties to Hillsdale, which is Christian and conservative, as well as comments made by Hillsdale’s president, Larry Arnn.

The American Classical Academy filed appeals with the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission, a group appointed by the governor. In two statements of intent, the American Classical Academy said that the Rutherford and Madison school boards did not “keep politics out of the process” because they did not consider the merits of its application but rather the political and religious views of Hillsdale’s president and the American Classical Academy’s board members.

The charter school system argues that its affiliation with Hillsdale “has nothing to do with the legal requirements or best practices” of approving a charter school. Furthermore, these school districts’ decisions “could be construed” as violating American Classical Academy board members’ freedom of association ....

The school boards’ decisions are the latest battle in Tennessee’s education wars. Amid an ongoing effort to expand charter schools, teachers unions and left-leaning officials are pushing back with messaging campaigns, lobbying, and other efforts.

The school boards’ decisions came following the leak of a video showing Arnn disparaging American teachers. “The teachers are trained in the dumbest parts of the dumbest colleges in the country,” Arnn said in June at a reception with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee. “You will see how education destroys generations of people,” he continued. “It’s devastating. It’s like the plague.”

The Tennessee Education Association, the state’s largest union for school faculty and staff, and several Tennessee school districts condemned Arnn’s comments.

***

[T Ruth]

School Boards are among the most corrupt institutions in the country -- and there are a lot of corrupt institutions in the country.

[Maine Mariner]

A similar school is starting in Fargo, N.D. and is expected to begin enrolling students in either 2023 or 2024.

[Rurudyne]

The indoctrinators of the Left are inherently inferior to actual educators.

[Jane Long]

What about the leftist/communist bias of these school boards/districts?

I wonder if there are other states with these Hillsdale-Affiliated schools.

[stars & stripes forever]

PUBLIC SCHOOL EXIT
https://www.publicschoolexit.com/

The mission of Public School Exit is to facilitate an exodus of American children and families from government-controlled education by educating the public and helping families.

[T Ruth]

Thanks for the link!

[rrrod]

Hopefully we can clean house this election. School boards are packed with vile and disgusting people.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Make Hillsdale the Education Department and close down the existing agency. Employ all the Hillsdale graduates out there.

[PGR88]

And the greatest irony is that this American classical academy will be academically better and have higher scores than almost any public- union school

[caww]

Three of my family members graduated from Charter Schools in their high school years after my son pulled them out of public schools. Great teachers and their grades wer good before but were excellent after attending the Charter school.

One of the first things my son noticed after pulling his kids out was all the drama ceased and his home was much more peaceful...his kids were happier.

[MikelTackNailer]

...the leak of a video showing Arnn disparaging American teachers. “The teachers are trained in the dumbest parts of the dumbest colleges in the country,” Arnn said

then tagged in Tully, who did a slingshot suplex for the win to retain the tag team titles.

Sorry, couldn't resist. Seriously though, any obstacle to non-government education must be torn down and all parents must have the option to send their children to superior schools with at least the equivalent of what they'd pay into the tax system anyway. I believe the NEA have proven their worth after their minions have received more money per student than any other nation with the worst results.

That's everyone's (non child-bearing included) money wasted on the most important endeavor in our society while they're focused more on indoctrinating children into socialist/communist conformity and grooming them for sexual predators.

[ApplegateRanch]

California, for one:

Classical Academy, since 1999, in the San Diego/Oceanside area https://classicalacademy.com/

Also, a new Hillsdale College campus near Sacramento.

[Maine Mariner]

I am sure the parents who send their children to the school in Fargo, also part of the Hillsdale group, will be very satisfied with the quality of education the children will receive.

[ReformedBeckite]

They mentioned three counties (School districts) had objections to the charter schools. Two are Democrat strong holds, and old industrial Cities. The third is Rutherford County which surprised me because it is sold Republican, I doubt if even the dog catcher is a Democrat. Anyway I doubt if Rutherford County is really complaining about it etc. If so it probably the complaints are probably from the industrial city of La Vergne on the Northern part of Rutherford County which is solid Democrat.

[Rural_Michigan]

Our system has ceased to function.

[Maceman]

Bfl

[ridesthemiles]

I bought my first house at age 26. Due to inheritance & such, I have had overlapping ownership of properties.

I am now 82.

In 56 years, I have paid 88 years of property taxes.

I had no kids.

IF anyone has a legitimate gripe about the schools-—it is me & others like me.

[Albion Wilde]

I wonder if there are other states with these Hillsdale-Affiliated schools.

Here is the list of Hillsdale-affiliated K-12 schools:
Hillsdale Affiliate Classical Schools

There are also conservative Lutheran Classical K-12 schools, and a Lutheran Classical College.

Today the young people of Christendom languish and perish miserably in our midst for want of the gospel, in which we ought to be giving them constant instruction and training… I would advise no one to send his child where the Holy Scriptures are not supreme. Every institution that does not unceasingly pursue the study of God’s word becomes corrupt... I greatly fear that the universities, unless they teach the Holy Scriptures diligently and impress them on the young students, are wide gates to hell. —Martin Luther, 1520

[Irish Eyes]

Looks like a great site. Thanks, most parents should give it a look.

https://www.publicschoolexit.com

[Chgogal]

What is up with Tennessee?