Except for a brief but meaningful period working construction, I have worked continuously for three decades as an educator in a variety of public and private institutions, serving in teaching and leadership roles. As such, I feel bad for the Turpin family after reading Doug Turpin’s description of his conflict with Charlotte Latin School. However, alarm bells went off when I read the title of his AT post: “Private Schools Should Not Be Able To Expel Children Because Their Parents Ask Questions.”
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Upon reading Mr. Turpin’s description of some of the school’s practices, any conservative would be bothered, as I was. But I suspect that it may be misstating the case to suggest that merely asking questions will get your kid expelled from Charlotte Latin. It’s much more likely that Mr. Turpin kept asking uncomfortable questions and refused to accept the school’s answers. I make that point not to quibble (nor because I support the school, because I don’t know all the facts), but because it is important to clarify issues before making assertions about what private institutions should be “able” to do.
As I see it, there are two basic aspects to this conflict: 1) Were the Turpins mistreated by the school, and 2) if they were mistreated, what is the proper remedy?
As to the first point, that should be easily discernible. Any private school with the success and standing of Charlotte Latin will have an enrollment contract that parents sign after their child has been accepted as a student. Like any contract, it will specify the quid pro quo to which the parents and school are agreeing, and the supporting consideration (tuition and fees). Generally, enrollment contracts are for one academic year at a time, lay out a payment schedule for tuition, and state that the student has the right to attend the school in a specified grade, etc.
Importantly, the contract will usually incorporate by reference a document called something like the Family/Student Handbook, which contains detailed rules and protocols for how the family-school relationship will be conducted as well as student behavioral expectations, etc. For example, a clause in the contract might read, “We agree to comply with all rules and procedures contained in the Handbook and to do so in a spirit of friendly cooperation. We further agree that, in the event of a material disagreement with the school, we will take the matter directly to the person in authority over the area of conflict and try to resolve it amicably and privately.” The Handbook will further provide that if the conflict is unresolvable, the student will be disenrolled.
So the question of contractual mistreatment in a parent-school conflict hinges on whether the school did not meet its commitments to the family or whether the family did not meet its commitments to the school (or some combination thereof). Either situation could constitute a breach of contract and would therefore be resolvable under the language of the enrollment contract and the Handbook incorporated therein, consistent with state contract law. The contract may or may not constitute a good bargain in the opinion of some people, but that is the bargain to which both parties agreed. It’s important to read the details of a contract carefully before committing your family’s time and financial resources to it.
Beyond the contractual relationship, there is also the question of cultural fit for a family. All institutions take on a cultural ethos, and that ethos can change over time. Sometimes the change is gradual, and sometimes it occurs with shocking speed. Accepting Mr. Turpin’s description of events as true for the sake of argument, he and his family were in a truly lamentable situation. Parents in that situation face a decision: Try to influence the culture to be more in line with your family’s values; seek a remedy under contract law; or, in effect, decide, “Well, this is no longer a good fit for our family. Let’s look for a better option.”
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Many elite private schools have drifted leftward, some to the point of being leftist indoctrination factories staffed with communist-adjacent nutjobs, accompanied by assorted sexual perverts. I have observed the results of the left’s long march through educational institutions near and far, and it outrages me. But the solution of getting the government to regulate the parent–private school relationship is a terrible idea. Down that road lies the effectual destruction of private education.
Much better than seeking government regulation (which, after all, is an ironic solution for one seeking a private school) is to choose carefully when it comes to your child’s education. Take the time to meet a broad range of other parents in non-school settings, and ask yourself if these are people you want influencing your child. Don’t rely only on the couple the school provides you as a host family. By design, that family will present only the school’s curated narrative. They may be a good source of information, but they should not be your only source. The more sources, the better.
Another important point is not to fall for marketing hype. This is especially important if it is a faith-based school. The mere fact that it has “Christian” in the name does not mean it is an authentically Christian school any more than the leftist mainline Protestant churches practice authentic Christianity. Again, do some digging, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be embarrassed to ask questions like “What is the school’s position on the biblical view of marriage and sexuality, and how and at what ages is it taught?” and “What is the ideological position of the liberal arts faculty?” Your child’s soul is at stake, and you need clear, forthright answers.
Finally, if you care about forming your child’s character, you should be totally uninterested in prestige. There are prestigious schools out there who have earned and maintained that prestige by providing excellence. But there are also some who have squandered their reputation for excellence through selling out to the highest donor or leftist grant provider. For the second type, prestige and authenticity have an inverse relationship.
If you’re going to invest in private education, I suggest you find the school that aligns with your faith; provides a healthy social setting; trains the habits and manners of civility; and teaches math, reading, verbal and written communication, and critical thinking at a level that is challenging but achievable for your child. Everything else is window dressing. Oh, and don’t forget to do your research before signing anything!
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