By Scott Tibbs, October 1, 2014
This is a letter I sent last week supporting the charter application for Seven Oaks Classical School.
To the charter school board,
As the father of two sons, I write you today in support of the Seven Oaks Classical School's charter application. While I understand that some in MCCSC (including the school board and employees) are opposed to the application, I believe it should be approved.
I have two primary reasons why I support this application. Their names are Timothy Tibbs and Rob Tibbs. When my sons get older, I want to provide them with the best education possible, and I am excited at the possibility of learning in a classical environment. I am especially excited about instruction in Latin, which will help my boys develop an extensive vocabulary.
I am opposed to vouchers for private schools, because "with government money comes government strings." SOCS is not a private school, despite the dishonest attempts to mischaracterize it as such. It is a public school, bound by the laws of the state of Indiana.
Some have worried about the values this school will teach, and are worried about this being an enclave of conservative thought. As you know, the primary place where children get their values is their parents, not their school. Children from conservative home swill be taught conservative values, regardless of whether they are at SOCS or MCCSC.
For example, Seven Oaks will not be teaching creationism, but many SOCS students will be taught that anyway - by their parents, not the school.
Some within MCCSC have worried about "losing" money to SOCS, but that carries an assumption that that money belongs to MCCSC to begin with. It does not. That money belongs to and follows the students. The objection to losing the money looks more like turf protection than a real concern for the students at MCCSC.
As you know, all children are different. Different methods work for different families. This is a method that will work for many families, and will greatly improve the learning for students. I ask you to allow us this choice, so we can try this method. No one is forced to attend SOCS, but I ask that you be pro-choice and allow Monroe County parents this opportunity.
