My name is Carl Pearson, and I am the father of a ten-year old who attends an excellent MCCSC public school.
According to Seven Oaks Classical School’s Mission Statement, “In order for Americans to secure the way of life we enjoy, our youth must know and understand the truths and principles that define Western Civilization.” If they truly believe that, then founding a charter school that will serve only a small minority of our district’s students will not achieve their goal. If, as they claim to believe, understanding of Western Civilization is fundamental to securing the American way of life, then they should be fighting for curricular reform at the state level, so that all our children might enjoy the fruits of such an education, rather than a self-selecting minority.
I myself have been classically educated: I have learned Latin and Greek, studied ancient philosophy and the Church Fathers, and know and understand the history of Western Civilization, both its triumphs and its grand failures. But that does not necessarily make me a better citizen. More importantly, however, I have been educated to think critically. Critical thinking allows me to read the rhetoric of the Seven Oaks School and understand their true intentions. It is abundantly evident that what they hope to accomplish is not a well-rounded education founded upon the Western tradition, but a reactionary conservative alternative to mainstream public education. The fact that their charter seeks the endorsement of the fundamentalist Christian Grace College underscores their political agenda.
Because we have a great and tolerant country, Seven Oaks has every right to found a school on whatever foundation it deems appropriate. But it should not be done with taxpayer money.
One final note. I’m all for students having choices in their public education, and Latin should be one of those choices. Let’s dramatically raises taxes on the rich and put a Latin teacher in every high school in Indiana. Let’s teach Arabic, Swahili, and Mandarin too.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Return to Seven Oaks public comments page
According to Seven Oaks Classical School’s Mission Statement, “In order for Americans to secure the way of life we enjoy, our youth must know and understand the truths and principles that define Western Civilization.” If they truly believe that, then founding a charter school that will serve only a small minority of our district’s students will not achieve their goal. If, as they claim to believe, understanding of Western Civilization is fundamental to securing the American way of life, then they should be fighting for curricular reform at the state level, so that all our children might enjoy the fruits of such an education, rather than a self-selecting minority.
I myself have been classically educated: I have learned Latin and Greek, studied ancient philosophy and the Church Fathers, and know and understand the history of Western Civilization, both its triumphs and its grand failures. But that does not necessarily make me a better citizen. More importantly, however, I have been educated to think critically. Critical thinking allows me to read the rhetoric of the Seven Oaks School and understand their true intentions. It is abundantly evident that what they hope to accomplish is not a well-rounded education founded upon the Western tradition, but a reactionary conservative alternative to mainstream public education. The fact that their charter seeks the endorsement of the fundamentalist Christian Grace College underscores their political agenda.
Because we have a great and tolerant country, Seven Oaks has every right to found a school on whatever foundation it deems appropriate. But it should not be done with taxpayer money.
One final note. I’m all for students having choices in their public education, and Latin should be one of those choices. Let’s dramatically raises taxes on the rich and put a Latin teacher in every high school in Indiana. Let’s teach Arabic, Swahili, and Mandarin too.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Return to Seven Oaks public comments page