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The Educate Debate is an editorial series presented to you by Fort Worth Moms and our sponsors Great Hearts Arlington, Montessori School of Fort Worth, and Uplift Education. To read all the articles included in this series, please click HERE.
Rich Education Without the Price Tag
For my daughter, I wanted her to attend a school where her mind would be challenged academically, her heart inspired towards virtue, and her spirit ennobled by the pursuit of wisdom. My husband and I wanted her to experience the richness of a classical education, but found we could not afford the high price tag of private schools. The local public schools offered a tuition-free program, but lacked the academic excellence and moral formation we desired for our child. The answer to our searching was found in the form of a classical charter school: Great Hearts Arlington.
Classical Charter Schools
For those who don’t know, charter schools are tuition-free, open-enrollment public schools that have the flexibility to set their own curriculum and academic programs, while being held to strict academic and financial accountability standards. Classical schools educate scholars through Socratic teaching methods, rigorous academics, and intentional character development. Classical academies give particular emphasis to the literary and philosophical Great Books of the Western World because of the way it speaks about the universal human condition and the laws of nature. To find a school that combined the principles of classical education with the convenience of being a tuition-free public school was a dream come true for my family!
What to Expect
In every classroom, students are urged to consider the impact their decisions will have on the world around them. Students discover new knowledge, explore the world with wonder, and grow in virtue. They gain perspective from stories, history, discussions, dialogue, and shared experiences. Students are taught to ask questions, perceive patterns, and identify themes that guide their thinking.
As a parent, I appreciate that a Great Hearts education has given my daughter a sense of wonder and taught her how to think critically and ask questions. Because of its unique educational model, classical charter students are confident scholars who can clearly express their thoughts and ideas with others, while continually seeking truth, pursuing wisdom, and expanding their love of goodness and beauty. What a privilege it is to share the richness of the classical tradition with my own child, just as my mother shared this education with me.
Charlotte Garthune was raised in East Texas, and graduated from the University of Texas at Tyler. She is the proud mother a Great Hearts student, an amateur pastry chef, cross-country runner, and licensed massage therapist. Charlotte currently serves at the director of campus operations for Great Hearts Arlington, and oversees a variety of departments at the academy, including the daily operations of the building, admissions, reception, and the medical clinic. 
Great Hearts Arlington is the newest addition to a revolutionary network of tuition-free, in-person, and online public charter schools dedicated to improving education nationwide. A Great Hearts education prepares students to be more than just proficient test takers, but rather, to become great-hearted leaders capable of success throughout their higher education and professional careers. Great Hearts Arlington seeks to inspire the hearts and minds of students in the pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty. We believe in each student’s innate potential to comprehend the rich tradition of Western Civilization and to grow in the virtues that mark a profound, philosophical life. Follow Great Hearts Arlington on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Great Hearts Arlington has the potential to be a great school, but we pulled our daughter out after only 2 weeks. Here were our concerns:
Classical School Concept: they will try to explain this to you, but it is very vague and confusing. Ultimately what it means is that your child is forbid to use any type of technology at all in the school. There are no computers in the classrooms, no tablets, nothing. There is not even a computer on the teachers desk. The teachers do not use any kind of technology in their lessons. This is 2021, kids need to learn how to use technology. Also, the classrooms, school, and hallways are completely bare except for a few artistic paintings they have hanging up in the halls. (Think paintings of churches, buildings, etc.. NOTHING kid friendly) My daughter found the paintings creepy and the teacher never explained what they were or who painted them. Apparently who painted the painting or wrote the book is not important in the classical theory, they only study the work itself. My daughters class had a map on the wall and that was it. No math manipulatives, no class library with books for them to look at, there is literally nothing. Even the art room has nothing on the walls, no pottery or art projects out on the shelves, nothing. There is no color anywhere and it feels like a very sterile cold business like environment. Schools should be warm and welcoming, full of color. There are no clubs or activities for the kids because they want them focused on their studies. We were told if the kids expressed an interest in athletics/sports or starting an activity like drama class, chess club, etc, it would be “considered”, but they do not offer these for the kids at this time.
Resources: this school does not have a library or school counselor. I know they are just starting up, but it’s concerning that children do not have access to these services.
No pop culture: pop culture is absolutely forbidden in the school. It cannot even be talked about in the classrooms. Children cannot wear a coat with pop culture icons. You are told their coat must be a plain color. They cannot even have a water bottle with a pop culture reference on it. Ex/disney characters, cartoons, sports teams, etc.. If they bring a water bottle or lunch box with a pop culture icon on it, you will be getting a note from their teacher and they will get in trouble.Teachers are not allowed to discuss popular culture or even pop culture history in the classroom. History includes pop culture, but it cannot ever be discussed or talked about in the building.
Uniforms: they aren’t cheap. This is supposed to be a charter school. The jumper is $45. The sweater is $40. The polos are special and must have the school logo on them, so you can’t just buy a plain polo from target. They are not allowed to wear any type of sweater inside the classroom except the authorized school sweater. If they wear a coat to school they must keep it in their locker/cubby and only wear the $40 school sweater in the building. And these sweaters get stolen a lot!
Staff: Do not expect to have emails/calls returned. We sent multiple emails to the headmaster and none were returned. We tried to discuss our concerns and only received one returned email from an office assistant with instructions on how to withdraw our student if we were unhappy with the school. They could care less about our concerns or keeping our daughter enrolled. One class was told their teacher would not be returning and the teacher never came back. So staff and teachers are already quiting and it’s only September. Our daughter’s class had 30 kids in one class. They claim to have 2 teachers in every room, but one of her teachers was usually out sick or never in the room because she was helping other classes out or doing tasks for the teacher like making copies. They may claim to have 2 teachers per room, but that does not happen.Think about that, 30 kids to one teacher. Wow!
These are just a few things we wished we would have known before enrolling our daughter. We are now homeschooling.