State of Education: National School Choice Week
Kingston Catholic School is participating in National School Choice Week. The mission is to empower parents to select what they feel is the best school for their children. Vince Gallagher reports.
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"I think it's great that we're having National School Choice Week because I think it's very important that there is a choice for parents to pick the school because not every academic situation is right for every child," said Erin Mcdermott, a teacher and parent.
That's the mission: To empower parents to select what they feel is the best school for their children. In this respect, it's Kingston Catholic School.
"For me it was making sure my kids were in a school with a foundation of morals and faith that we are practicing at home," said Jodi Vines, a teacher and parent.
So to celebrate this freedom of choice, more than 250 events took place this week across the nation. Here, it was recognizing moments in history from the California Gold Rush to the Moon Landing, and even Woodstock. But along with events, it really is about bringing other schools in the same "class” as rational public schools.
"It endeavors to draw local and state government's attention to the need to allocate resources to private schools, catholic schools, independent schools, home schools on a more level playing field," said school principal Jill Albert.
While teachers, parents, and administrators recognize National School Choice Week, it wouldn't really be an event without the students...and they got involved in their own special way.
"We've been collecting food for the food drive and we've been doing a lot with the community," said Westcott Tubbs, a student.
"Besides the learning we can all get together and help the community give all the poor people some food so they can have a happy time like us," said another student, Julia Soule.
And they had thoughts about their "school of choice."
"Being in a Catholic school deepens your faith and being able to go to church and things like that, it brings you closer to who you are," said student Taylor Bines.
And on the education side, it's also thought that more options will help a student’s interest in the classroom, something needed with the dropout rates increasing.