It seems like every third person at Harker has attended or has a sibling at the Challenger School. Often, Challenger expats at Harker stick like hot glue, and there does not go a single week, when some aspect of this widely shared experience is mentioned in my presence.
And if there are two generalizations that almost all ex-Challenger kids feel, it’s “Challenger has gotten so bad” and “Barbara Baker is… I can’t even find words to describe how I much hate her.” While it is true that the phrasing can be more negative or more polite—but still really—, the basic fact is that there is a huge amount of discontent with Barbara Baker, and by extension, Challenger.
Having attended the Almaden Challenger campus from second to eighth grade (seven years for those counting), I can say with honesty that I enjoyed my school experience, but that is just because of the campus and the teachers there. With a brother and mother attending and teaching at various Challenger campuses respectively, however, has allowed me to study the situation and Mrs. Baker more objectively, and I must conclude that it is no surprise that she and the administration are vilified by current students, parents, and expats alike.
Barbara Baker, a first-grade teacher back in the 60s, has successfully created an educational institution with around a score of campuses in the United States. Baker’s school has provided academic instruction for thousands of students, and Challenger students, after the eighth grade, often continue on to prestigious public and private high schools. All this being said, a repressive comportment code for students and their parents (few say they have received copies) and a very conservative value system have left many students and parents exasperated; Baker has consistently imposed her political views on students and employees. For many, the problem does not lie with the values the school espouses and inculcates into its students, but find issue with the fact that Baker has imposed her Republican views on everybody.
Take for example, the Obama campaign recently. The administration gave a pamphlet/survey to many campuses which considered that the political race in terms of an animal allegory. The pamphlet, which at every turn stressed the moral superiority of one of the creatures (the Republican) was obviously to influence the political stance of students— a plain words, a brainwashing scheme. Parents were not even notified that their children were being forced to fill out these surveys; the questions and therefore “correct” answers were so blatantly partisan that a student would have no opportunity to disagree. (Note: For personal reasons induced by Baker’s policies, I cannot even publish source documents or unveil sources).
Forcing her views on her faculty is even easier. She routinely tours her campuses, and teachers are forced to attend long sessions where she harangues on the Second Amendment and how Democrats have subverted the Constitution. Teachers were expectedly to respond enthusiastically to her statements, or else.
And nobody can do anything about except leave. Parents at one campus who were dissatisfied about the removal of certain staff sent in a petition to the campus office. The child of the parent who bravely submitted the form was summarily expelled, due a phantom “Parental Comportment Code”. Faculty likewise have been forced to leave when their ideological views are contrary to Baker’s. For all Baker’s brouhaha about the Bill of Rights being destroyed, she obviously does not believe in the freedom of expression.
Which of course sounds reasonable as it is her school, and by her philosophy she can do whatever she pleases (it’s true). But with a poor economy and the migration of many parents and teachers away from Challenger, Baker is shooting herself in the foot. In addition Baker’s listlessness in rejuvenating the educational infrastructure has contributed to many leaving in search of better opportunity. I personally once had utmost respect for her work and drive, but her intolerance has disillusioned many. It is very telling that rival school Stratford is staffed by many ex-Challenger teachers and attended by many ex-Challenger students.
And if there are two generalizations that almost all ex-Challenger kids feel, it’s “Challenger has gotten so bad” and “Barbara Baker is… I can’t even find words to describe how I much hate her.” While it is true that the phrasing can be more negative or more polite—but still really—, the basic fact is that there is a huge amount of discontent with Barbara Baker, and by extension, Challenger.
Having attended the Almaden Challenger campus from second to eighth grade (seven years for those counting), I can say with honesty that I enjoyed my school experience, but that is just because of the campus and the teachers there. With a brother and mother attending and teaching at various Challenger campuses respectively, however, has allowed me to study the situation and Mrs. Baker more objectively, and I must conclude that it is no surprise that she and the administration are vilified by current students, parents, and expats alike.
Barbara Baker, a first-grade teacher back in the 60s, has successfully created an educational institution with around a score of campuses in the United States. Baker’s school has provided academic instruction for thousands of students, and Challenger students, after the eighth grade, often continue on to prestigious public and private high schools. All this being said, a repressive comportment code for students and their parents (few say they have received copies) and a very conservative value system have left many students and parents exasperated; Baker has consistently imposed her political views on students and employees. For many, the problem does not lie with the values the school espouses and inculcates into its students, but find issue with the fact that Baker has imposed her Republican views on everybody.
Take for example, the Obama campaign recently. The administration gave a pamphlet/survey to many campuses which considered that the political race in terms of an animal allegory. The pamphlet, which at every turn stressed the moral superiority of one of the creatures (the Republican) was obviously to influence the political stance of students— a plain words, a brainwashing scheme. Parents were not even notified that their children were being forced to fill out these surveys; the questions and therefore “correct” answers were so blatantly partisan that a student would have no opportunity to disagree. (Note: For personal reasons induced by Baker’s policies, I cannot even publish source documents or unveil sources).
Forcing her views on her faculty is even easier. She routinely tours her campuses, and teachers are forced to attend long sessions where she harangues on the Second Amendment and how Democrats have subverted the Constitution. Teachers were expectedly to respond enthusiastically to her statements, or else.
And nobody can do anything about except leave. Parents at one campus who were dissatisfied about the removal of certain staff sent in a petition to the campus office. The child of the parent who bravely submitted the form was summarily expelled, due a phantom “Parental Comportment Code”. Faculty likewise have been forced to leave when their ideological views are contrary to Baker’s. For all Baker’s brouhaha about the Bill of Rights being destroyed, she obviously does not believe in the freedom of expression.
Which of course sounds reasonable as it is her school, and by her philosophy she can do whatever she pleases (it’s true). But with a poor economy and the migration of many parents and teachers away from Challenger, Baker is shooting herself in the foot. In addition Baker’s listlessness in rejuvenating the educational infrastructure has contributed to many leaving in search of better opportunity. I personally once had utmost respect for her work and drive, but her intolerance has disillusioned many. It is very telling that rival school Stratford is staffed by many ex-Challenger teachers and attended by many ex-Challenger students.
photocredit: Me (image is skewed to prevent identification).
ah, Challenger- the memories- I don't think I appreciated Challenger until I left.
ReplyDeleteChallenger was so much fun. It's also pretty crazy how there are so many people from challenger here at harker.
ReplyDelete