Denied: Hebrew-language charter high school
Turned down twice, organizer says she will apply again
Advertisements
January 26, 2011
The Highland Park woman behind the campaign to start a charter Hebrew-language immersion high school feels confident that it will ultimately be approved despite being turned down by the state Department of Education for the second time.
“Many of those schools approved had applied three or four times, said Sharon Akman, referring to the list of 23 approved charter schools announced Jan. 18. “They did say they really loved our application and seemed to want to work with us, so we are encouraged.”
The state ruling means that the Tikun Olam Charter High School, which would have been the state’s first Hebrew-language charter high school, will not open in September in the Highland Park-Edison area as organizers had hoped. The state also rejected the school’s application in March, citing application deficiencies; Akman said she plans to reapply.
The Hatikvah International Academy charter school opened in September in East Brunswick as the state’s first Hebrew-language charter school, initially serving students in kindergarten through second grade. The Shalom Academy for students in Englewood and Teaneck was among the 23 charter schools approved and will serve youngsters in kindergarten through eighth grade.
Akman said the application process for the high school, which would have served up to 100 students in New Brunswick, Highland Park, and Edison, was more complicated than for an elementary school. It would have opened initially for grades nine and 10.
The school had been opposed by local school boards for budgetary reasons. The state Department of Education would not comment on the reasons for rejecting certain applications.
“I feel the high school years are a stepping stone for college,” said Akman. “Foreign language proficiency really gives young people an edge.”
She said another key component of the projected school is tikun olam, the concept of repairing the world, and the community service to support it. “Community service is so important for college admission,” said Akman.
Akman, a Realtor who has a bachelor’s degree in Hebrew language and a master’s in public health education, said she chose Hebrew because she has a background in the language.
Because charter schools are considered public schools, Tikun Olam would have been forbidden from teaching religion and was expected to attract a multi-ethnic student population.
Akman, who said the school “would not be a substitute for a yeshiva education,” added that her own children did not attend public school. However, if such a charter school had existed when they were younger, “I would have sent them.”
Comments
Campion
February 18, 2011
What a disaster this woman is… The community has tried compromising with her, has bent over backwards to try to respond to her issue, but Akman is determined to ignore any other perspective and ram this through, which will almost certainly destroy the Highland Park High School (ranked the 33rd best high school in the state). The rest of the residents of this community can do nothing—we are held hostage by this nutcase.
Furthermore, how the state can allow a real estate agent who works for Century 21 to radically change the school district like this is beyond me—it is supposed to be against the law for agents even to mention anything about the school district to their clients, but perhaps there is no law against real estate agents working to bring the school system to its knees, is there? (That is a real question, and if anyone knows, please do tell).
Rob
February 18, 2011
As a resident of Highland Park, I staunchly opposed this Charter School. It had little community support. They supposedly found their location at the last minute following polite declines from some other locations. It was at one time to be at a Temple in Highland Park but they did not feel it was right for them or the community.
One of the primary goals of Charter Schools is to provide quality education where it is lacking. Highland Park High School is an exceptional school. Edison and New Brunswick, while not the best, are still fair schools. Allowing this Charter would hurt schools in all three of these towns while providing for only 100 students. One of the requirements is that any Charter school also represent a cross section of the racial and economic groups that it represents. A hebrew language school is not going to accomplish this as that cross section will not be represented.
I also find fault with the idea that learning hebrew should be part of a high school curriculum. It is not a language of trade and commerce nor is it spoken by a large population around the world. It is a language based and supported by a religion.
Again, the Highland Park, Edison, and New Brunswick communities are not in support of this Charter School and it will continue to be opposed.
Paul
February 18, 2011
Quoting Akman from the article - “I feel the high school years are a stepping stone for college,” said Akman. “Foreign language proficiency really gives young people an edge.”
What kind of edge is that? Perhaps they can all become real estate agents like yourself? Is that what we want our college bound children to aspire to?
Look where an education in hebrew language brought her, again, quoting from the article - “Akman, a Realtor who has a bachelor’s degree in Hebrew language and a master’s in public health education, said she chose Hebrew because she has a background in the language.” In the end, Akman is a realtor.
Ta
February 19, 2011
It’s a shame that Akman doesn’t realize the damage she’s doing to students and the school district. Let us hope she soon recognizes what she’s doing before the damage is irreparable.
jen
February 20, 2011
We have a diverse community that is at its best because we have excellent, local public schools. We also have citizens dedicated to fair, public education for all, not just the few. It troubles me that Akman would consider making our schools suffer for her own personal gain. Not sure why the Conservative Temple of HP turned down the Hebrew Charter school, but I applaud their decision. They have always been an example to us all in their sense of community and good will. I hope that Ms. Akman will learn from their example and support our existing, wonderful, diversely populated public schools.
Meejo
March 08, 2011
I went through the excellent Highland Park school system years ago and even now with substantially lower enrollment and budget they continue to maintain schools that are the envy of surrounding towns. I have two children in an HP school and I would hate to see this exemplary system damaged by a selfish, small segment of the community. This woman’s claim that Hebew was chosen because it was what she studied is comlpletely fraudulent.
Simon
March 15, 2011
I cannot believe the hatred of the comments. Akman tries to open a school. What can be wrong with that? If Highland Park school is so wonderful, Akman’s school cannot possibly be a threat. I live in Highland Park and have two kids. I would not send them to a Hebrew school but I think Highland Park schools could really use some competition.
Please stay civil.