Comments on: U.S. charter schools tied to powerful Turkish imam
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- http://harmonytx.org/news/Harmony-Public-Schools-and-60-Minutes/
I go to this school. I can assure you that this NOT the truth. That lady who got fired, get a job. Everyone is so against Harmony Public Schools, Why? Because they can't handle the fact that we are more advanced than most public schools. This is a great school, i enjoy it. It has many opportunities for me, and many doors are open. - Reply to this comment
- Here are some important facts that 60 Minutes refused to share/clarify about Harmony Public Schools of Texas that have left some inaccurate impressions. Please note the following facts about Harmony Public Schools, all of which were shared with 60 Minutes before the show was broadcast:
-HPS operates charter schools in Texas only
-HPS are non-profit, open enrollment, Texas public schools, free to all students living in their respective independent school districts or surrounding districts.
-HPS is overseen by the Texas Education Agency and the State Board of Education, and follows the same rules and regulations as any other public school in Texas.
-HPS are not part of a national network of charter schools.
-HPS are not affiliated in any way with any religious or political organizations, including the so-called Gulen movement.
-HPS do not teach religion in any form.
-Approximately 16 percent of HPS teachers are on H-1B temporary work visas due to the well-documented shortage of qualified math and science teachers in the U.S. These teachers go through a rigorous, multiple agency U.S-government visa process before being approved to teach in the U.S.
-Of the more than 1,800 HPS employees, we have two teachers on H-1B temporary work visas who teach English. Both are graduates of an English language or literature program, and meet state and federal definitions of being "highly-qualified" to te ach.
-The former teacher from Ohio who alleged that her husband was required to give a portion of his paycheck to an unnamed organization has never had any association with HPS whatsoever.
-In addition to having two schools ranked in Newsweek's 2011 list of "Top 500" High Schools in America and "Ten Miracle High Schools," three HPS campuses made U.S. News & World Report's "Best High Schools 2012 Rankings."
Please allow the producers of 60 Minutes to explain why these statements were not shared in the broadcast. - Reply to this comment
- Fethullah Gulen is not your "average Islamist" pictured in the mainstream media. A Couple of characteristics that make him different from the "stereotyped Muslim image".
1) He strictly rejects any form of violence including suicide bombing. He calls Ladin a "monster". None of his followers have ever participated in a single violent activity. Gulen advocates mutual and emphatic understanding. He prefers and encourages the use of "pen", not the "sword".
2) He is open to dialog with "any" non-Muslim including the atheists. He met with the late Pope in 1996. He also met with the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Orthodox Christians and Cardinal O'Connor and late David Aseo, the Chief Rabbi of Turkey until 2002.
3) He strictly supports democracy, free speech and human rights. There are more than 40 defamatory books in the market about Gulen, but their authors/publishers have not been incarcerated in any way. Dozens of publications that stridently attack Gulen's teachings have been in circulation for several years and have continued being reprinted even after their authors have been found guilty by Turkish courts of libel and slander. One of these books has recently seen its 22nd reprint!
4) Unlike many "stereotypical Muslims", Gulen praises the United States, its legal and democratic system. That is why, by some Islamists and ultra-nationalists, Gulen is seen as the "man of America". But interestingly, the very same people, when they write their articles in English, they claim that Gulen is going to establish an Islamic state in Turkey. This discrepancy is not even noticed by our American society. - Reply to this comment
- I am a 7th grade student at Harmony School of Innovation El Paso and I can honestly say that I would do anything for my Turkish teachers. They are the sweetest, nicest, and most amazing people I know. They have never made any attemt to teach us their religious beliefs, and my science teacher Mr. Ablak is the sweetest person ever. I will do anything to protect their reputation.
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- Shame on you 60 Minutes. A show my husband and I have watched for years believing it was one of the few news shows left on television that reported on facts only. Well we sadly now know this is not true you are the same as every other news show on TV you report inaccurately so it fits your story. You did not state directly that Harmony is run by Gulen but you sure did strongly suggest it. Where are your facts? Are they from the blogs that are based on personal opinions? Why could you not confirm this is true? Because you know it is not but you needed a charter school to feature in your segment so you choose one of the highest performing charter schools in the nation. Yes my children have Turkish teachers and American teachers and Asian teachers, the school is a melting pot just like America. Harmony has no affiliation with the Gulen Movement, it is over seen by the same State Education Agency and Board of Education that oversees the Public Schools and is not run by or associated with National Network of Charter Schools. Our children love their teachers, are safe, happy and learning above and beyond their years and their friends who are in public schools. I think you should consider how to report news accurately and apologize to the Harmony Schools and people who watched and believed your report. You need to share the rest of the information on the Harmony Schools that you did not to share in your news segment and tell the truth that there is no affiliation between Harmony and Gulen.
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- As a long time Harmony parent with two children in two different Harmony schools and a previous employee who has worked side by side with both teachers and administrators, I can honestly say I have never witnessed any religious teachings or seen any push for the Gulen movement. We have had nothing but a positive, enriching experience during our enrollment and consider it to be a privilege to be a part of this school system. Quite frankly, I am frustrated with the innuendo and subsequent lack of evidence surrounding these schools. There has never been a solid link between this Gulen individual and any of the schools. Dare I say, from everything that I have seen he teaches tolerance and acceptance which is a far better option than the xenophobia and racism offered by their critics. Regardless, we are very proud of the hard work put in by our students as well as all the amazing teachers we are fortunate enough to have teaching in our schools. Approximately 16 percent of Harmony teachers are on visas because there is a well-documented shortage of qualified math and science teachers in America. This is no surprise to anyone and as a parent looking for something better. I appreciate the fact that Harmony looks for highly qualified teacher rather than sticking with the status quo. This is why we CHOSE charter in the first place.
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- From the comments I read here, those from 'jacob' and others, it is evident we do need an improvement in our schools.
The operative word is English. Why can't anyone write worth a damn anymore? Please, at least use a spell checker, maybe look a few words up in a thesaurus, take a few minutes to gather your thoughts before you post them. Just make an effort please, it's embarrassing to see people post here making comments favorable, or unfavorable to a story like this, only to show just how ignorant they are themselves.
Most of the people here should be embarrassed that they can not write, and they should do something about it. Maybe they should have gone to one of these schools?
I don't care for all of these paranoid stories either. If we can't say prayer in public schools today, then my kids better not be asked to participate in a 'Gulen Movement', or any fundamentalist teaching OF ANY DAMN RELIGION period. It's up to parents to take the responsibility to check this out, if they think something wrong is happening, and quit pointing fingers at others. It's your basic responsibility to look after your children, and if you can't handle it, then you will get the kids that you deserve.
As far as I can see no harm is being done, and instead it seems like a lot of good is coming from these schools. But if you have a kid that goes to one of these schools, and you have doubts, then GET INVOLVED, GET OFF YOUR FAT AMERICAN BUTTS (yeah, I have one myself). And please, get an education yourself if you need it (I have one of these as well). - Reply to this comment
- Less than 24 hours after the story aired and the"professional" bloggers have over run the comment board. Pitiful. Read any story on Harmony there will be thousands of comments and most of them are from people spouting lies and links to websites and posting cut and paste "facts" I don't know much about Gulen, but I do know that he has a fairly well organized misinformation campaign that follows him around on the internet. Its a shame we come on here to see which way the wind is blowing and 90% of what we get is bought and paid for propaganda. Pitiful.
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- there's that phrase again; TEACHINGS OF INTOLERANCE...why do I get the shivers when I read that phrase?
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- Iits very ironic to compare socialists with Gulen. These people couldnt visit their home countries for a long time because of the people like Gulen. They suffered with pain and lived very poor life. They never had billion dollars and lived in a farm in usa as Gulen does.
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