Former SSHS (and Wayne) principal Thomas Smith has received approval from Grace College for an all boys charter school in SE Fort Wayne. As principal of SSHS and before that Miami middle school, Mr. Smith is fully aware of the difficulty in educating young black males. He is probably on the right track with an all boys school, since recent studies suggest they help boys do significantly better academically.
Of course Ms. Frisco at the JG objects to the religious connection with grace College. Then she questions if Mr. smith has the experience for such a venture. A decade as principal of SSHS apparently is not good enough for Ms. Frisco. What she's really questioning without saying so is Mr. Smith's competence. Funny she never questioned that while he was working for Wendy and SSHS (and all the other FWCS high schools) was going down the road to a state takeover. Actually she's opposed to anything except more of the same as FWCS
I had several conversations with Mr. Smith when I tutored at SSHS. My take, and his as well, was that he could do very little when he had no control over the kids he got (socially promoted) from the middle schools. He was well liked by the students and the teachers, many of whom tried to follow him to Wayne. He will have an opportunity to prove his administrative abilities with this charter school and we should all hope he succeeds where FWCS has failed.
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11 comments:
The vouchers led the way for the intertwining of church/state/schools. Now our tax money will be going to a Charter school with religious affiliation.
I haven't heard that this school will have any religious leaning. At least it's an alternative to what the regular schools offer and if it works, great. Let's see what happens.
Since he is targeting the ex-Harding HS area why aren't we giving the soon to open East Allen Univerity a chance?
I think he's targeting young black males all over Fort Wayne and the SE in particular. When I talked with him over lunch about 7 years ago he said he knew 50 kids at SSHS who didn't expect to live past their twentieth birthday. A traditional school system, including a Harding Academy, isn't going to reach those kids, so he wants to try something different.
The former head of Bunche in the 1980's opened his own school. He was very well liked, and he fell flat on his face. I honestly don't think it will work, as his business plan is the same crud found in any other school in Allen County, with the exception of Canterbury.
The man from Bunche may have started a private school where he had to attract students who could afford the tuition. Like Keystone, which was well regarded but couldn't make it financially. Smith will be opening a public charter school which gets state money for each student.
But you may well be right. The charter was given for seven years so presumably he will have to show some results.
There is PLENTY of money for private school tuition, the problem is administration seems to lack initiative of getting it. I could actually get more money privately, than Mr. Smith does publicly.
According to data released by the Journal-Gazette, Mrs. Stockman made $76,000+ in 2011. Overpaid?
It's tough talk and offer commentary that means absolutely nothing. Wendy can't do it.
And on another note..... Mark Giaquinta ran his mouth in the JG saying that he would put Tom Smith and his sons out of buiness. And now he's the lawyer for Broadway Joes.
http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120409/NEWS/120409569/1005
I think he should offer limo service from BJ to his bar.
Right! Unlike Krista, GiaQuinta and Wendy occasionally reveal something when they talk. The most amazing revelation is that they can talk with their foot in their mouth.
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