Today is the textbook definition of a “slow news day” here in Ohio, but maybe that will help us parse the few interesting stories we have a little more deeply. Of interesting note: all of today’s stories are about school choice, from very different perspectives.
- First up, we’re talking about an “oldie but goodie” in the school choice pantheon – vocational education – from the perspective of an avid purveyor of educational options. This is a guest column by the President/CEO of Great Oaks Career Campuses in Southwest Ohio, extolling the virtues of career tech education in the 21st century. This is not your father’s shop class, and the Pres seems a fine advocate for the benefits of CTE for Ohio students. (Cincinnati Enquirer, 7/29/15)
- Second is a relative newcomer to the school choice world – virtual schooling – from a perspective that one might call “opportunistic”, if one were feeling uncharitable. Garaway Schools in eastern Ohio has created a new virtual school in order to stem the flow of money/students from their district to online charter schools; oh, and to give students the flexibility they need to blah blah blah. It is about the district losing less kids to “them”, and the money-centric language is all over this interview and on the website for the school. Sadly, the new academy actually sounds promising – offering both blended and all-online tracks, and something called an “Afterschool Pirate Crew” to extend school hours into the evening. Hopefully there is someone in the Garaway Schools who actually believes in the benefits of the new program to help it reach its full potential on behalf of students who need it, because they seemingly don’t have anyone willing to sell it to families on its merits. (New Philadelphia Times Reporter, 7/30/15)
- Finally, we have a story that doesn’t initially scream out “school choice”, but stay with me here. There is an all-city band camp going on this week in Youngstown, and its director is an enthusiastic supporter of the arts and the kids in his program. All thirteen of them. “Citywide” means students like Jah-Nice, who chooses to attend Youngstown Early College School, is playing and learning with students from Chaney and other Youngstown high schools. Yes, this is just a summer program, but allowing academic choice should necessitate allowing extracurricular choice just like this AND it should mean that it is possible in other areas (sports, Science Olympiad, etc.) all year around. I think that is a perspective the band camp director could get behind, especially in Youngstown. (Youngstown Vindicator, 7/30/15)
