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 The Noble Network of Charter Schools have used the same policy for over 13 years. CHICAGO, IL (Catholic Online) - Students can earn demerits for almost every thinkable reason. After four demerits, the student is then sent to a three hour detention. However, detention's admission fee is $5. Although in use for the past 13 years, some parents and education groups said the policy is being used to push out students. "These extremely punitive, nitpicky programs are not the ones that really work," said Julie Woestehoff, executive director of the Chicago-based advocacy group Parents United For Responsible Education. "The students need to feel they're not like dogs or 2 year olds. They're actually maturing human beings who need some guidance and not someone to jump on top of them." But Michael Milkie, CEO and superintendent of the Noble Network of Charter Schools, said the school's unique system of fees has stopped dividends. Not only is more money now spent on education and less on paying teachers overtime to supervise detention, but test scores have also improved. The average ACT score across Noble's ten campuses last year was 20.3. Chicago Public Schools students scored an average of 17.2. © 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM. - - - Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013 General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him. Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance. |
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