A Little NJ Private School Context
Our current NJ State Board of Education includes representatives of the Board of Trustees (or Governors) of two very highly respected private independent schools – Peck (a K-8 school in Morristown) and Newark Academy (in Livingston).
http://www.state.nj.us/education/sboe/boe/
Yes, I’ve chosen to look at these schools because of NJBOE member affiliations with them. Further, I am familiar with both schools (in addition to many other similar schools).
I do NOT see as a problem, having supporters of excellent private schools on a state board of education whose policies affect primarily the public education system. In fact, I see it as an opportunity (For those trying to read too much into this and suggest I’m being manipulative or sarcastic. Don’t. I really do think it’s important to take a close look at various types of educational institutions as models. These are a unique set of institutions with long and successful track records. Again, my private school study can be found here:http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/private-schooling-US)
There’s a lot of bluster in the current NJ public education policy debate – over such things as:
- the supposed exorbitant spending levels in NJ schools (with urban legend