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<div class="gmail-pb-container"> <div class="gmail-wrapper gmail-clearfix gmail-col-lg-12 gmail-col-md-12 gmail-pb-feature gmail-pb-layout-item gmail-pb-f-sltrib-article-head gmail-col-sm-12 gmail-col-xs-12" id="gmail-frLSud1ENkznMq"> <div class="gmail-slt-article-header gmail-col-xs-12 gmail-clearfix"> <div class="gmail-row"> <div class="gmail-col-xs-12"> <h1 class="gmail-headline">Charter
school administrator is ‘praying for a wall’ to stop illegal
immigration, while her diverse students must speak English and learn
Western manners</h1> </div> </div> <div class="gmail-row"> <div class="gmail-featured-img gmail-col-xs-12 gmail-col-lg-9"> <figure> <div class="gmail-img-wrap gmail-lazy-wrapper gmail-photo-wrapper"> <img class="gmail-image-lazy-blur gmail-img-responsive" alt="Charter school administrator is ‘praying for a wall’ to stop illegal immigration, while her diverse students must speak English and learn Western manners" src="https://www.sltrib.com/resizer/q26lY0kejEdTs-Vcj7P5qx-M7PQ=/0x600/smart/filters:quality(86)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-sltrib.s3.amazonaws.com/public/VBN2YP4AFZHL3OMDDSUXMUZNPY.jpg" style="opacity: 1; transition: all 0.75s ease 0s; display: block;"> </div> <div class="gmail-col-xs-12 gmail-md-lg-no-gutters gmail-no-padding"> <figcaption> <span class="gmail-caption gmail-credit gmail-helv-roman">(Steve
Griffin | Tribune file photo) The American Preparatory Academy campus
in Draper, as seen in 2017. The network of charter schools is facing
controversy over a top administrator’s use of social media, including a
February post objecting to illegal immigration.</span> </figcaption> </div> </figure> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="gmail-wrapper gmail-clearfix gmail-full gmail-pb-feature gmail-pb-layout-item gmail-pb-f-utilities-sltrib-sharebar" id="gmail-f0dogjNENkznMq"> <div class="gmail-social-tools"> <div class="gmail-article-shares gmail-d-flex"> <div class="gmail-icon-wrapper gmail-d-flex"> <a class="gmail-d-flex gmail-justify-content-center gmail-align-items-center gmail-w-100 gmail-h-100 gmail-facebook-link gmail-fb-share" href="https://www.sltrib.com/news/education/2018/03/22/former-teacher-says-utah-charter-schools-racist-policies-include-punishing-students-for-speaking-their-native-languages" tabindex="_tbidx_"> </a></div> <div class="gmail-icon-wrapper gmail-d-flex"> <a class="gmail-d-flex gmail-justify-content-center gmail-align-items-center gmail-w-100 gmail-h-100 gmail-twitter-link" tabindex="_tbidx_"> </a></div> <div class="gmail-icon-wrapper gmail-d-flex"> <a class="gmail-d-flex gmail-justify-content-center gmail-align-items-center gmail-w-100 gmail-h-100 email-link" tabindex="_tbidx_"> </a></div> <div class="gmail-icon-wrapper gmail-d-flex gmail-hidden-xs gmail-hidden-sm"> <a class="gmail-d-flex gmail-justify-content-center gmail-align-items-center gmail-w-100 gmail-h-100 gmail-print-link" tabindex="_tbidx_"> </a></div> <div class="gmail-icon-wrapper gmail-comments-link-wrapper gmail-d-flex"> <a href="https://www.sltrib.com/news/education/2018/03/22/former-teacher-says-utah-charter-schools-racist-policies-include-punishing-students-for-speaking-their-native-languages/comments#disqus_thread" class="gmail-d-flex gmail-justify-content-center gmail-align-items-center gmail-w-100 gmail-h-100 gmail-position-relative gmail-comments-link"> <span class="gmail-slt-comment-count gmail-disqus-comment-count gmail-count-abbrev gmail-helv-medium gmail-position-absolute gmail-formatted">56</span> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="gmail-pb-container"> <div class="gmail-wrapper gmail-clearfix gmail-col-lg-12 gmail-pb-feature gmail-pb-layout-item gmail-pb-f-sltrib-article-byline gmail-col-md-12 gmail-col-sm-12 gmail-col-xs-12" id="gmail-fFG3WQ1ENkznMq"> <div class="gmail-byline gmail-col-xs-12 gmail-col-md-8 gmail-col-md-offset-2"> <div class="gmail-d-flex gmail-align-items-end gmail-flex-wrap"> <div class="gmail-author-wrap gmail-d-inline-flex gmail-align-items-end"> <img src="https://www.sltrib.com/resizer/3m1u69SO1EvwHTn6fbtFww21LNo=/60x60/smart/filters:quality(86)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/sltrib/84944c25-9420-4622-8634-64690f03551b.jpg"> <div class="gmail-author-name gmail-georgia"> <a class="gmail-author-name" href="https://www.sltrib.com/author/bwood" rel="author">By Benjamin Wood </a> </div> <div class="gmail-publish-wrap gmail-d-flex gmail-align-items-end"> <span class="gmail-mid-dot gmail-d-inline-block gmail-georgia"> · </span> <span class="gmail-publish gmail-helv-roman gmail-d-inline-block"> Published: 16 hours ago <br> Updated: 13 hours ago </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="gmail-wrapper gmail-clearfix gmail-col-lg-12 gmail-col-md-12 gmail-pb-feature gmail-pb-layout-item gmail-pb-f-article-body gmail-col-sm-12 gmail-col-xs-12" id="gmail-f0SuV6kENkznMq"> <div id="gmail-article-body" class="gmail-article-body gmail-article-body-elements"> <article id="gmail-article-content"> <div class="gmail-row gmail-paragraph-row"> <p class="element element-paragraph gmail-text-align-override-left">
A network of Utah charter schools is facing backlash over its top
administrator’s use of social media, including a February statement that
criticized illegal immigration for fueling a drug “scourge.”<br></p> </div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-paragraph-row"> <p class="element element-paragraph gmail-text-align-override-left">
Students at American Preparatory Academy, or APA, in West Valley City
protested last week, partly in response to a since-deleted Facebook post
by Carolyn Sharette, executive director of American Preparatory
Schools. <br></p> </div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-paragraph-row"> <p class="element element-paragraph gmail-text-align-override-left">
“Yes let’s offer the dreamers a future,” Sharette wrote, “but let’s not
forget the lost futures and dreams of families and young citizens who
have been devastated by the drug trade that has been fueled by illegals
pouring into our communities.” <br></p> </div> <div class="gmail-sltrib-promo gmail-d-flex gmail-justify-content-center" id="gmail-sltrib-promo-5429201"> <div id="gmail-google_ads_iframe_/89799359/new_sltrib.com/News_Section_2__container__" style="border:0pt none;margin:auto;text-align:center;width:970px;height:250px"></div></div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-paragraph-row"> <p class="element element-paragraph gmail-text-align-override-left">
Her series of posts between Jan. 30 and Feb. 2, which included a link
to news coverage of law enforcement activity in Salt Lake City,
concluded with Sharette writing, “WE MUST SECURE OUR BORDERS and
carefully vet those who want to come be our neighbors. Praying for a
wall.” <br></p> </div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-paragraph-row"> <p class="element element-paragraph gmail-text-align-override-left">
Tayler Khater, a former APA teacher who now works at Skyline High
School, said he was “disgusted” by the immigration-related post. But he
said it was indicative of longstanding attitudes by Sharette toward
racial and cultural diversity. <br></p> </div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-paragraph-row"> <p class="element element-paragraph gmail-text-align-override-left"> “In terms of top-down attitude, it was easily the most racist place I have ever worked,” Khater said of APA.</p> </div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-paragraph-row"> <p class="element element-paragraph gmail-text-align-override-left">
The former teacher said APA students who are not native English speaker
are prohibited from using their birth language on campus. And
violations of that policy, he said, can carry academic consequences. <br></p> </div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-paragraph-row"> <p class="element element-paragraph gmail-text-align-override-left"> “I had multiple students who were suspended from my class just for speaking Spanish,” he said. <br></p> </div> <div class="gmail-sltrib-promo gmail-d-flex gmail-justify-content-center" id="gmail-sltrib-promo-7290681"> <div id="gmail-google_ads_iframe_/89799359/new_sltrib.com/News_Section_3__container__" style="border:0pt none;margin:auto;text-align:center;width:970px;height:250px"></div></div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-paragraph-row"> <p class="element element-paragraph gmail-text-align-override-left">
Khater also took issue with an etiquette program at the school, which
culminates in a celebratory ball where students are instructed to
address each other as “miss” or “master.” <br></p> </div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-paragraph-row"> <p class="element element-paragraph gmail-text-align-override-left">
“It’s just like a 1950s debutante school,” Khater said. “It encourages a
very particular Western, Anglo-Saxon approach and they sell it as
getting [students] ready for the business world.”<br></p> </div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-heading-row"> <div class="gmail-col-md-8 gmail-col-md-offset-2 gmail-col-sm-12 gmail-col-xs-12 element element-heading gmail-text-align-override-left"> <h2>English only<br></h2></div> </div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-related-stories-helper-text"> <div class="gmail-col-xs-12 gmail-col-md-8 gmail-col-md-offset-2 gmail-related-message gmail-helv-bold gmail-text-uppercase">Article continues below</div> </div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-related-stories gmail-screen-width-row"> <div class="gmail-articles gmail-clearfix"> <div class="gmail-col-xs-12 gmail-helv-bold gmail-text-uppercase gmail-heading">Related Article<span class="gmail-hidden-xs gmail-hidden-sm">s</span></div> <div class="gmail-related-items gmail-d-flex gmail-w-100"> <div class="gmail-related-story gmail-col-xs-12 gmail-col-md-3 gmail-has-image"> <a href="https://www.sltrib.com/news/education/2018/02/08/utah-board-of-education-member-calls-attempt-to-repeal-board-authority-over-new-charter-schools-unconstitutional" class="gmail-d-flex"> <img alt="Utah lawmakers agree to give state Board of Education some say in approving new charter schools" class="gmail-image-lazy" src="https://www.sltrib.com/resizer/p5omasPGlsgiUl8pQ75mpEUNpr4=/80x80/filters:quality(100)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-sltrib.s3.amazonaws.com/public/UI2S5HM2PRBFXBLOCYOT5NP7YM.jpg" style="display: block;"> <span>Utah lawmakers agree to give state Board of Education some say in approving new charter schools</span> </a> </div> <div class="gmail-related-story gmail-col-xs-12 gmail-col-md-3 gmail-has-image"> <a href="https://www.sltrib.com/news/education/2017/10/31/growth-in-utahs-charter-school-enrollment-slows-again-as-public-school-students-top-650k" class="gmail-d-flex"> <img alt="Growth in Utah’s charter school enrollment slows again as public school students top 650K" class="gmail-image-lazy" src="https://www.sltrib.com/resizer/it-cQODiuMaNbVREL47FEiMcdNg=/80x80/filters:quality(100)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-sltrib.s3.amazonaws.com/public/AWS4ATV7KVFNNO2FHKAGXPKPFA.jpg" style="display: block;"> <span>Growth in Utah’s charter school enrollment slows again as public school students top 650K</span> </a> </div> <div class="gmail-related-story gmail-col-xs-12 gmail-col-md-3 gmail-has-image"> <a href="https://www.sltrib.com/news/education/2017/08/21/its-new-campus-unfinished-as-school-year-starts-american-preparatory-academy-in-draper-works-to-manage-traffic-overcrowding" class="gmail-d-flex"> <img alt="Its new campus unfinished as school year starts, American Preparatory Academy in Draper works to manage traffic, overcrowding" class="gmail-image-lazy" src="https://www.sltrib.com/resizer/TKaIRUz-ERoVrrytJD76-K5qVfg=/80x80/filters:quality(100)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-sltrib.s3.amazonaws.com/public/SUXTTLJPV5DUROT57OY2MRCVD4.jpg" style="display: block;"> <span>Its new campus unfinished as school year starts, American Preparatory Academy in Draper works to manage traffic, overcrowding</span> </a> </div> <div class="gmail-related-story gmail-col-xs-12 gmail-col-md-3 gmail-d-flex"> <a href="https://www.sltrib.com/news/education/2016/11/25/utah-lawmaker-accuses-charter-school-of-skirting-procurement-law" class="gmail-d-block gmail-news-highlight-bg"> <span>Utah lawmaker accuses charter school of skirting procurement law</span> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-paragraph-row"> <p class="element element-paragraph gmail-text-align-override-left">
American Preparatory Academy operates seven charter schools in Utah.
One of its West Valley campuses is known as “The School For New
Americans,” and the majority of its enrolled students are members of
racial or ethnic minorities. <br></p> </div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-paragraph-row"> <p class="element element-paragraph gmail-text-align-override-left">
The public charters are run by Sharette’s private company, American
Preparatory Schools, with Sharette filling a role analogous to that of a
school district superintendent. <br></p> </div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-paragraph-row"> <p class="element element-paragraph gmail-text-align-override-left">
In emails to The Salt Lake Tribune, Sharette and Brad Findlay, the
school’s governing board chairman, confirmed the school’s English-only
policy and the content of its etiquette lessons, described by Findlay as
an “ambassador” program. <br></p> </div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-paragraph-row"> <p class="element element-paragraph gmail-text-align-override-left">
Sharette disputed Khater’s characterization, describing him as a
disgruntled former employee. If a student is overheard speaking their
native language on campus, she said, the worst sanction they might
receive is a verbal reminder to converse in English.</p> </div> <div class="gmail-sltrib-promo gmail-d-flex gmail-justify-content-center" id="gmail-sltrib-promo-9777122"><div id="gmail-google_ads_iframe_/89799359/new_sltrib.com/News_Section_4__container__" style="border:0pt none;margin:auto;text-align:center;width:970px;height:250px"></div></div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-paragraph-row"> <p class="element element-paragraph gmail-text-align-override-left">
“It is not something that we give referrals or consequences for,”
Sharette said, “because once students understand the rationale, it
usually ceases to be an issue.”</p> </div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-paragraph-row"> <p class="element element-paragraph gmail-text-align-override-left">
The English-only policy is meant to prepare students for higher
education, Sharette said. She compared it to immersion instruction — in
which students learn a new language by using it for large portions of
their school day — and said it has contributed to the academic success
of APA’s English language learners.</p> </div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-paragraph-row"> <p class="element element-paragraph gmail-text-align-override-left">
“Our standard at school is that everyone speaks English at school,
regardless of a student's home language,” Sharette said. “This is part
of our academic curriculum.”<br></p> </div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-paragraph-row"> <p class="element element-paragraph gmail-text-align-override-left">
And the intent of the ambassador program, she said, is to ensure that
students are comfortable in a variety of educational, professional and
social settings. The event includes lessons on navigating a five-course
meal, proper use of utensils, greeting guests and appropriate business
attire. <br></p> </div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-paragraph-row"> <p class="element element-paragraph gmail-text-align-override-left">
“Professional dress instruction is part of our academic curriculum,”
Sharette said. “Some of our girls are Muslim, and their professional
dress incorporates appropriate religious garb.”<br></p> </div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-paragraph-row"> <p class="element element-paragraph gmail-text-align-override-left">
The program begins in fifth grade and is required for all students,
Findlay said, and culminates at a dinner at the upscale La Caille
restaurant in Sandy for ninth-graders. <br></p> </div> <div class="gmail-sltrib-promo gmail-d-flex gmail-justify-content-center" id="gmail-sltrib-promo-531727"> <div id="gmail-google_ads_iframe_/89799359/new_sltrib.com/News_Section_5__container__" style="border:0pt none;margin:auto;text-align:center;width:970px;height:250px"></div></div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-paragraph-row"> <p class="element element-paragraph gmail-text-align-override-left">
“It truly is a highlight evening in their year,” Findlay said. “The
evening ends with the opportunity for each student to dance a waltz with
his or her mom or dad or guardian.”<br></p> </div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-paragraph-row"> <p class="element element-paragraph gmail-text-align-override-left">
Khater, who left the school in 2014, said he did not recall the lessons
being adapted to the culture or religion of individual students. <br></p> </div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-paragraph-row"> <p class="element element-paragraph gmail-text-align-override-left"> “I never saw that,” he said. “Maybe that’s something they say now.” <br></p> </div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-heading-row"> <div class="gmail-col-md-8 gmail-col-md-offset-2 gmail-col-sm-12 gmail-col-xs-12 element element-heading gmail-text-align-override-left"> <h2>Other controversies</h2></div> </div> <div class="gmail-row gmail-paragraph-row"> <p class="element element-paragraph gmail-text-align-override-left">
In addition to her statements on illegal immigration, Sharette has
raised eyebrows for online posts that object to school breakfast
programs for low-income families and question whether Islam is a
peaceful religion. </p></div></article></div></div></div>
<br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+<br><br> Harold F. Schiffman<br><br>Professor Emeritus of <br> Dravidian Linguistics and Culture <br>Dept. of South Asia Studies <br>University of Pennsylvania<br>Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305<br><br>Phone: (215) 898-7475<br>Fax: (215) 573-2138 <br><br>Email: <a href="mailto:haroldfs@gmail.com" target="_blank">haroldfs@gmail.com</a><br><a href="http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/" target="_blank">http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/</a> <br><br>-------------------------------------------------</div>
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