Now accepting applications for the 2011/2012 school year for Kindergarten and a First/Second Grade combination class.
We invite you to our
OPEN HOUSE
Monday, March 21st, 2011
4pm to 7pm
1712 Holman Avenue, Salida
(front Strawberry Door Building)
The Ruby Mountain Day School is a Kindergarten to Fourth Grade, Waldorf-inspired school, in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. We see the children who attend our school not only as students, but also as adventurers, chefs, inventors, investigators, artists and explorers.
We provide an education that considers the needs of the whole child, mentally, physically, and emotionally using a dynamic combination of best practices from a variety of pedagogical theories, proven Waldorf and Project-Based methods, and the Colorado State Standards to guide us. Our program instills a life-long love of learning, fosters social and environmental responsibility, and a respect for individual and cultural diversity.
The Ruby Mountain Day School is a community effort where parents, staff and students all come together to make the best possible learning environment for each child.
Meet the staff, have questions answered and enjoy light refreshments.
Check out Ruby Mountain Day School for more details or contact us at rubymountaindayschool@gmail.com or at 539-2047.
I personally know some of those involved with Ruby Mountain and I know that their intentions are great. Everyone wants only the best for their children and I’m sure that this will be a valuable addition to the community.
Given the current state of finances in the Salida School District, the thought struck me that students who attend private schools are essentially taking money out of the Salida School District. Each child that does not attend Longfellow means less money from state revenue for the school district to operate. As taxpayers, we all pay for that state funding. But the fact is that tough economic times (and decreased tax revenue) are forcing our public schools to look at moves as drastic as enacting a four day week. Even so, they will still not even be close to meeting their budget shortfalls. I would love to know that the great teachers which are already in our community will be able to keep their jobs. But that is not a certainty.
I think that Longfellow has done a great job of teaching our child and I hate to see more financial difficulty for the schools. Of course, I also support free choice and each parent will make the best choice for their child. Some will have the desire and the ability to pay more for what they see as a better option.
I do not have the answer to this question, and I’m not trying to start a firestorm of controversy. But I wonder, does wanting the best for the individual child mean that, at some level, it comes at the expense of the children of the community?
I really do respect the movement behind Ruby Mountain and I wish the best for this new endeavor. I applaud all of the hard work that is required to bring this to fruition.
(I will now be ducking my head)
As we cut funding to public schools we increase the opportunity for students to attend private schools because of a multiple of factors: public schools see increases in class sizes, a drop in professional development funds for educators, etc…
On top of that the people who start sending their kids to these schools are less likely to support increases in their taxes to support a system in which their child does not attend. Poorly funded schools are the quickest way for us to separate people who can afford private education and those who cannot.
Even though I fully support public education and have been a public educator for 10 years, I do believe in schools like the Ruby Mountain School. They are great for raising the bar for our public schools. If there was ever a time to examine how and why things are done in the public school system now is the time. With lack of funding coming in, it is more difficult but not impossible to improve educational practices at Longfellow. We need to look at how we can take an already highly motivated and qualified staff such as Longfellow and give them professional training and support that makes a school so good that parents would never think of sending their kids anywhere else. How we do that is within the walls of Longfellow and the staff. Given the appropriate data and surveys, the staff of Longfellow can make a plan of action that is most appropriate for them and the kids. It has happened in places worse off than the current situation in Salida. The motivation at Longfellow School was always high when I worked there and the teachers were always professional. With the right direction and process they will not only compete with Ruby Mountain School but also continue to be the pride of the community.
In short, yes the timing is bad but is there ever a good time? Competition is not a bad thing when it increases everyone’s motivation and involvement. I welcome the Ruby Mountain School for the purpose of public education progressing and staying ahead.
I just wanted to add that Ruby Mountain Day School has expanded the range of grades to include a 3rd grade offering for Fall of 2011. I just went to the “demonstration day” over the weekend and was thoroughly impressed at what Lisa Hake and Denise Ackert are building there. Perhaps the best of both worlds is one in which alternative programs like RMDA are able to fold into the public system which addresses many issues that Joe and Scott raise.
My comment is slightly off-topic, but certainly on-topic in the greater sense.
For me it is very simple—balanced, healthy societies need strong public education, that is equally available to all. No if-s, and-s, or but-s.
Equally. Available. To. All.
Every parent whose student does not attend a public school is subtly taking from the collective, and the collective suffers for it. Less operating revenue, less prestige, less confidence in the public venue. Extrapolate that vector, and eventually, we “achieve” a polarized, segregated, education/class delineated society. And this becomes a negative feedback loop, that further drives the “have-nots” down.
I think anyone choosing to forgo public education needs to consider this very carefully. It is a road to hard class differentiation. And societies based on class differentiation do not thrive. The bill will come due, someday. It would be far better to put the energy into making the public venue “right” today, rather than taking the “I’ll get mine right now” approach, and having to deal with the societal fallout years from now.
Nobody would claim that the public education system isn’t without myriad faults that need to be rectified. But creating whole new education systems, rather than fixing the lesser faults in the existing one, which is fully egalitarian to begin with, seems like misplaced effort. Especially when that effort will literally “take” from some other kid’s educational experience: Robbing Peter to pay Paul. Who’s going to look out for Peter? Maybe Peter’s parents aren’t as involved and concerned in the greater picture of the schooling world—is that Peter’s fault? As a society, we need to make sure that every “Peter” has the equal opportunity of a “Paul.” People creative, motivated, and smart enough to set up a whole new schools should be creative, motivated, and smart enough to put energy into the existing ones, which already have infrastructure in place. And very importantly, have fully open doors, for one and for all.
I hate to sound harsh, but I believe the fate of public education is a “canary in the coal mine” scenario for our country. If it goes down, I fully believe that we all go down.
I have really hard time understanding the argument that by not sending my kids to public school the school loses money. There area at least two funding streams for schools – the money they get per student from the state and the property taxes they get from those who live in the district. The way I see it, if I choose to send my kids to an out of district school, the district does not get the state per student money for my kids, but I still pay my property taxes. So I am paying the school district money, and they don’t have to spend it to educate my kids. (I have a feeling that they should, and do, spend more money per child than they get from the state.)
There are a number of reasons why I send my kids to school where I do, but that is not really the point. I am certainly not advocating that the state cut funding. I have been and will continue to be a big supporter of the local schools, but like I said, I just don’t understand the math of the argument.
http://www.greateducation.org/statistics-faqs/funding-faqs/ includes some great information regarding School Finance and Colorado Public Schools.
“People creative, motivated, and smart enough to set up a whole new schools should be creative, motivated, and smart enough to put energy into the existing ones, which already have infrastructure in place”
Hi Mark– I know for certain that RMDS organizers tried to work with district leaders for many years to integrate some waldorf-inspired content without success. I think you’re ignoring the reality that some kids learn differently and thrive in a learning environment that the public schools won’t ever be able to offer. If these kids develop a love of learning and graduate with a quality education isn’t this a better contribution for both student and society?