Jerry Miller of the Leslie, Michigan Chapter of NRRF reports that their application for permission to open a Charter School has been approved.  They have been allowed to tailor the curriculum to the needs of their community.  He writes:

We will be implementing the Core Knowledge Curriculum, along with Reading Mastery and Saxon Math.  The school will serve K-8 with all day kindergarten.

This all began a couple of years ago when we decided to investigate why Leslie's reading scores had dropped for five straight years.  We learned, with help from the NRRF, that five years ago the new Principal (now Superintendent) had thrown out all Phonics materials and implemented Whole Language.  Of course, when asked, he said, "We don't use WL, we use a balanced approach."  But we formed a parents group and observed classroom instruction, including their Reading Recovery pull-out program, and labeled it what it really was.  Most parents didn't have a clue, and were told that their child would eventually catch up.  When we asked the Superintendent why he thought the reading scores were so bad he replied, "Because Leslie is a poor community, and because parents don't read to their children."  Then during their Literacy Night, they distributed fliers on how phonics should be taught.  Implicit and only when needed, published through (you guessed it) the Whole Language Umbrella!

When we finally got the message that what research I provided to the school board had absolutely no impact on each board member's conscience, we moved towards the possibility of starting our own school.  Now it appears that our persistence is going to pay off.  A school in which ALL children can learn to read.  No more calculators instead of mastering the basic skills.  A strong education that is every American's right.

Thank you, NRRF, for all your information and support.  Thank you Bob Sweet, for taking time out of your busy schedule to speak with me on the phone.  Thank you Joy Sweet, for all your support and time.  Thank you, Julie Anders, for e-mailing us a ton of useful information.  And a very special thank you to Cathy Froggatt for always bringing us back into focus when it appeared that "they had won", that our primary mission is to help the children.

And to all those who run into a brick wall, trying to do what is right--NEVER GIVE UP--the children of your community need you!

Thank you,

Jerry Miller
Leslie Chapter, NRRF       

NRRF Note:  We can't wait to hear the report on how all those poor children whose parents don't read to them learn to read perfectly well when they are finally taught using reading instruction based on scientific research.  

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