Spotlight
B3 4 Sept. 2014
www.hillsdalecollegian.com
Barney Initiative opens eighth charter school Emma Vinton Assistant Editor The Barney Charter School Initiative has increased two-fold after opening four new charter schools this summer. Since 2009, the initiative has spread liberal arts education throughout the country. This initiative seeks to institute a classical curriculum in schools that wish to associate with the college in the renewal of education throughout America. Phillip Kilgore, the director of the initiative, said that the college works with communities, parents, educators, and local school districts ward trend of progressive education. “It is really driven by a response to people who are like minded and who share our educational philosophy,” Kilgore said. Eight new charter schools have opened their doors since 2012. This past August four new schools opened, located in Georgia, Florida, Nevada, and Texas. The growth prowith the hope of having 50 charter schools open by 2022. Kilgore said that because the word is out, he receives weekly enquiries about the initiative, even from states that do not have charter school laws. These charter schools, which are publically funded yet inlearning and rigour of the liberal arts education that is taught at the college. These schools have tremendous curricular freedom, Kilgore said, because they are allowed to depart from the state’s dictates for regular public schools. “Hillsdale provides the curricular design,” he said. “Our role is to be the architect of the academic procant piece in that.” Hillsdale hosted a teacher train-
ing session in June, which 100 teachers from four charter schools attended, and over 30 faculty members from the college delivered sessions. Kilgore emphasized the importance of content; teachers have to be knowledgeable in order to fully teach a liberal arts education. “I had Dr. Grant teaching about Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, because there’s a government class. I had Dr. Smith talking about “Henry V” because that book is taught in the eighth grade. I had Dr. Birzer talking about American
where from 2006-2014. Emily Flynn, ’14 currently teaches at the Atlanta Classical Academy (ACA) in Georgia. With a degree in history and a minor in art history,
27 students. Flynn heard about the ACA at the Classical Schools Job Fair that the college hosts every February. “It has been exciting and challenging to be a part of this, especially as a new teacher,” Flynn said. “I have the opportunity to help form a school, and thus its students, in an environment which promotes virtue and academic rigor. It feels very teach that,” Kilgore Hillsdale-ian.” said. “That’s some Flynn added that top-grade teacher “Public schools Dr. Terrence Moore, training.” previous professor of need to be Kilgore also history at Hillsdale, added that every restored to what is the principal at the American should be ACA and is very inconcerned with edu- they once were.” volved in the initiacation because of its — Phillip Kilgore, tive. She said that she connection with the is encouraged by the Barney Initiative support she has rehealth of the republic. ceived from both the director “Education is community at ACA something that and members and factouches every family. There is no ulty back at Hillsdale. one who doesn’t have a dog in the Flynn echoes Kilgore’s aspirations for the initiative and for the Kilgore said that, besides the fact renewal of education throughout the that students throughout America country. The Barney Charter School are educated, he hopes that the ini- Initiative is vital not only as a means tiative will have a leavening effect in for the learning of the liberal arts, public education. but also as an education for leading “We are showing that education a virtuous life. in the public school domain can be “If we only emphasize academdone in the right manner, and we ics, we are forgetting that we are want parents and policy makers to developing human beings, not just see that,” he said. “Public schooling brains,” Flynn said. “Developing needs to be restored to what it once character is an essential component was, and these schools serve as the of ACA and other Barney charter example that it can be done.” schools, and it is this emphasis on The eight schools, which have virtue that will allow the students of a total of 4,000 students enrolled, these schools to excel academically are also a haven for Hillsdale Col- and morally in our world, for they lege alumni. According to Assistant will be able to interpret and seek out Director Rebecca Fleming, there are the good, the true, and the beautia total of 30 alumni working at the ful.” schools, who have graduated any-
1 2 charter school facts
by the numbers
8 30 50 4
Number of current charter schools Total number of Hillsdale alumni who teach in the charter schools Projected total of charter schools by 2022 Number of thousands of students enrolled
3 4
5
6
7 8
1 Founders Academy of Las Vegas: Las Vegas, NV 2 Estancia Valley Classical Academy: Moriarty, NM 3 Founders Classical Academy: Lewisville, TX 4 Founders Classical Academy: Leander, TX 5 Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy: Bentonville, AR 6 Savannah Classical Academy: Savannah, GA 7 Atlanta Classical Academy: Atlanta, GA 8 Mason Classical Academy: Naples, FL
District court judge presides over mock trial team Madeleine Jepsen Freelancer Judge Brent Weigle of the Michigan 3A Judicial District Court will coach the 2014-15 Hillsdale College mock trial team. Weigle will replace former coach Keith Miller, the assistant director of career services. Weigle, who showed an interest in law since the age of 12, managed to incorporate his passion for his work into coaching a mock trial team. “I liked debating, and the give and take of debate,” Weigle said. “I also had a strong desire to help people.” These skills have served Weigle well throughout his career, which began in 1986 after he graduated from Thomas J. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Mich. For four years he served as an assistant prosecutor for Branch County, Mich., and later entered private practice as both a civil and criminal defense lawyer. He served as a magistrate
he was responsible for conducting courts for minor offenses as well as holding preliminary hearings for more serious offenses. In 2009, Weigle was sworn in as a district judge for Michigan’s 3A Judicial District Court in Branch County. He is one of two judges who presides over the court, which handles apranging from seat belt tickets to preliminary hearings for murder charges. He will be up for re-election this November. Weigle said that he is excited to integrate his experience as a lawyer and a judge into his coaching position for the mock trial team, since the proceedings are similar to the workings of an actual court. “It helps that I tried jury trials as a lawyer for both sides,” Weigle said. Weigle added that his judicial experience also gives him an additional perspective on the legal process. “Being neutral, I’m sort of above the source and can see things from a neutral perspective and get the bigger picture,” he
said. Students agree that Weigle’s ample experience in the courtroom will help the team improve. “His experience as a prosecutor will help us present to a jury,” said sophomore Jon Church, one of the team captains. “He will help get us to the next level in terms of courtroom presentation.” In addition to his courtroom experience, Weigle coached the mock trial team for Coldwater High School for more than 15 years. Under his leadership, the team won the state championship. The transition from high school competition to the college level will demand some adjustment, primarily in managing the larger number of students participating on the college team. On the high school team, he coached anywhere from four to ten students, whereas the college team has more than 25 students. “I look forward to the process, the hours spent together, and the friendships we’ll form,” he said. Weigle’s eldest son and Hillsdale alumni, Jon, will act as his assistant coach who participated in his own high school mock trial
team. His team won a state title in high school and went undefeated for a year. sistant coaching,” he said. “I really like the enthusiasm these students have shown. They are very talented, and I think we’ll have a great year.” Weigle’s enthusiasm and dedication to coaching matches the team’s excitement. “We are very excited about having Judge Weigle as the new coach,” said Philip Hammersley, senior and captain. “He has the perspective of what lawyers are looking for while judging, which will help us in competition.” Last week, Weigle had his tive team members. He met the students and shared his coaching philosophy. He will serve as an advisor to the student teams, but ultimately, the case is in the students’ hands. “I will try and put them in a position to be successful and see how things go,” Weigle said. In his address to the team, he added: “Work as hard as you want to work. It’s your case.”
Assistant coaches Jon Weigle ’14 and graduate student Nicholas Sauma oversee the mock trial team’s second practice. (Bailey Pritchett/Collegian)
equestrian From B4 display skills, such as walking, trotting, and cantering, and award ribbons based on their performance. Improvement requires commitment. At least every other week, Marchese and the other members of team swap their desk seats for saddles and head to practice at the Premier Equestrian Center in Hudson, Mich. Here, the team’s coach of two years, Danielle Cole, owns and maintains the team horses. Marchese and Williams agree that the half-hour drive out to the peaceful barn and idyllic countryside provides a welcome way to relax in the midst of hectic campus life. Both girls do English horseback riding, but Hillsdale’s Equestrian Team also includes a branch for Western riding. While competing on the English team involves trotting, cantering, and eventually jumping, the Western team requires reining, barrel racing, and roping. “Western riding is a little
more laidback than English,” said senior Daniel Kish, western team president. “I would recommend it to someone who wants to feel secure and relaxed but be able to compete in a wide array of fun disciplines.” Just as both branches of the team steadily work together to make their dream a reality, Marchese continues at her canter a little longer before calling it a day. As she and Williams brush down the horses, they explain why participation on the team perfectly complements their Hillsdale education. According to Williams, students earning the right to govern themselves can learn from the way riders strive to earn a horse’s respect. For her and the other equestrians, riding is a means of living out the belief that strength rejoices in the challenge. Williams smiles as she recites her favorite Winston Churchill quote: “‘There’s something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.’