Same for the sake of same can be as unhealthy as change for the sake of change, but Shorewood schools has an opportunity to make a change for the right reasons. A change made to acknowledge a success, support a continuation and nurture an evolution. Some background: Eight years ago, Atwater school introduced multiage education to Shorewood. It continues to draw families interested in mixed aged education and has served hundreds of children since it began. The program has attracted knowledgeable teachers committed to its specific philosophies and practices. These teachers learned early on that it would be they who would have to work to adapt multiage life to a single grade school, within a single-grade-minded district. My hat is off to them.
Inspired by the Atwater project, Lake Bluff began a similar although not identical model the following year. Rather than begin with grades 1-4, their approach was more gradual. They began with 1-2, then added 3rd, then 3rd-4th combined, then 5th, and finally 5th-6th combined. This 1-6 model has been complete for nearly three years serving over 120 families. Making the square peg of mixed-grade classes fit the round hole of tradition has proved to be frustrating to those who support, as well as those who aren’t so keen. Now we are finding a way to keep the philosophies separate, but the education equal. Those who want the charter can be happy, and those who don’t…they could be happy too.
Changing the multiage strand at Lake Bluff to The Lake Bluff Charter School is a way to separate the two disparate, although excellent choices for families, while remaining part of Lake Bluff School and the Lake Bluff family. The Board now has the opportunity to act. They will have to make a decision that will help shape the look of Shorewood Schools now and to come. Approving the charter would say to the public that they understand the nature of change and their responsibility to promote innovation, stay current, and encourage growth in the system they serve.
We can handle choice in Shorewood Schools. We’ve already proven that. We manage to live through election cycles together, Republican, Democrat and all the rest. We live harmoniously among people with different or no religious affiliations. Vegans and carnivores frequent the same restaurants and dog owners invite cat owners over for coffee. No problem; and there doesn‘t need to be one here. Kids in our neighborhoods already attend many different schools. They go to Jewish Day School, Holy Family, Milwaukee Public Schools, Montessori, and are home schooled. They interact, play, team, scout and grow together in this one square mile we call home. They always have.
If we’ve made it this far without a civil war, we can handle a charter
