By PAUL FUHS
There was a recent opinion piece in the Anchorage Daily News speaking against the recently adopted “Academies of Anchorage” school program for Anchorage students. It seems the author wants to end the program before it even gets a chance to succeed, based on the experience of another school district in Nashville, Tennessee.
The author basically ignores the importance of an Academies program encouraging students to focus and think ahead for what they want to do in life. He laments this focus in favor of a general ‘liberal arts’ program. This is an age-old discussion favoring a general education to make our students “better citizens.” However, these days we even need to question how “liberal” the program is, when liberal is correctly defined as “respect or acceptance of the opinions different from one’s own.” A preferred narrative seems to be the trend.
While it might be useful to look at Nashville and their school data, what is missing from the author’s analysis is something easily found on a simple google search: the Nashville school district is being overrun by a migrant surge with non English speaking students from Congo, Somalia, Kurdistan, Syria, and Nepal to name a few. This may be a more relevant factor in their reduced school scores than the adoption of their academies program.
I hope my own experience with the Anchorage School District may provide some local context.
My daughter, Hazel, now a high school senior, was in the Anchorage School District through her Freshman year at my old Alma Mater, West High. She was in Advanced Placement classes and held a 4.0 average. She is determined to be a doctor, so she picked science related subjects. Still, she felt like something was missing.
Upon a visit to Boise, Idaho she discovered a public pre-medical charter high school called Meridian Medical. It was formed partly because of the shortage of medical personnel in the Boise area, and also to provide a focused program for students wishing to enter the medical field. (Apparently, Anchorage has the same problem with having to import transitory health workers, and may wish to consider this option). The Academies may fulfil this need.
So, she transferred to Meridian Medical Charter School. As part of the educational program, high school students also take college level courses with visiting professors. Upon graduation this year, Hazel will receive both a high school diploma and a two year associate college degree. Quite a head start.
The quality of the program is excellent. Many of the students are members of HOSA, the international association of Future Health Professionals. Every year HOSA holds an international competition for the medical knowledge of high school student members. Hazel focused on pathophysiology, the study of diseases, their causes and treatments. This year 13,000 international students competed in the event and she placed fifth in the world.
While she may be a particular example, it still shows what a well managed, focused program can do for a student.
As for the complaints the author lodges against business involvement in the District’s process, businesses are taking time out of their busy days because of their general feeling that graduating students are unprepared to take a job in the real world and often need remedial training. When we pay for our schools, whether as a business or a parent, we should be able to expect a high quality return on this investment in our children.
Academies of Anchorage should be given that chance.
The author grew up in Anchorage, attending Denali Elementary, Central Junior High and graduated from West High in 1967.
Congratulations to your daughter, more, continued congratulations to you as a parent(s).
Thank you for your presentation. It fly’s in the face of the constant drum of distractions shielding the failings of public education. Carry on to your daughters success and your satisfaction as a Father.
Cheers.
Well, what an exceptional daughter you have. Good for her for already knowing what she wants to do as a career and going after it, and the same for you for being an exemplary parent. That can make all the difference in the world.
The whole premise that businesses should not be involved in school district processes misses the reason we have schools. Schools exist to prepare children for the future. That future inevitably involves businesses. We should evaluate the performance of our schools not based wholly on tests but also on the quality of the product they provide to student’s next level, be it the next grade, a college, or an employer.
Paul Fuhs is a very smart and logical guy. He is a real PATRIOT and has done MUCH for Alaska!
We should ALL listen to him!
Public school system is broken and the proof is look at the young adults and how they act today verses the older generation.
I am 77 I have worked with men & women from 21 to 76…the efforts people make to give respectful dependable service to PAYING clients is ABYSMAL! IT IS WHAT IS KILLING ANY & ALL PROFESSIONS.
Congratulations Paul and your daughter!!! A well thought commentary as well. Something needs changed in our general education system and academies sound worth a try.
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